Solicitations! Buy Their Crap!

Hey kids! Let's have a li'l gander into DC's August solicitations (courtesy of CBR), shall we? (click on that link for bigger pictures than I'm posting here, if they interest you. Like if you want Power Girl boobie closeups, or whatnot) It was fun last time! Wheee!

First off, I can't help but notice that there's no All Star Batman and Robin entry. I'm shocked. Shocked. And stunned.

I know I shouldn't, but I like that cover. I think it's the whole Zatanna / Mary / Stage Magic dynamic. I'm a sucker for those two characters. And a top hat scene. It's drawn real purty, too.

But, Good Googly-Moogly!, is that ever a short skirt, Mary!!

COUNTDOWN TO ADVENTURE #1
Written by Adam Beechen and Justin Gray
Art by Eddy Barrows, Fabrizio Fiorentino & Julio Ferreira
Cover by Ivan Reis & Oclair Albert
Flying out of the pages of 52, it's Adam Strange, Starfire and Animal Man in an explosive new series! Now that they've returned to their respective homes, where do they go from here? Find out what the future holds for these heroes in the DCU!
And in the 8-page backup, from the pages of COUNTDOWN, it's a tale of Forerunner! Find out more about this awesome new character and her relationship with the Monitors.
On sale August 29 o 1 of 8 o 48 pg, FC, $3.99 US Edited by Eddie Berganza

Let the unnecessary big event cross-overs ... Begin!

And Devon has it right - keep Starfire in space, team her up with Adam Strange and make her DC comic's Barbarella. That sounds about right to me.

ALL-NEW BOOSTER GOLD #1
Written by Geoff Johns & Jeff Katz
Art and cover by Dan Jurgens
& Norm Rapmund
Exploding from the pages of 52 and exploring the timeline of the DC Universe comes a new monthly book featuring the greatest super-hero history will never know: Booster Gold!
Following the universe altering conclusion of 52, Booster Gold wants what's due to him - a spot on the Justice League of America! But the time stream's in trouble, and Booster Gold is in the center of it! Now he must make a choice: reclaim his former glory or do the right thing, forgoing the credit.
ALL-NEW Booster Gold will take you through time and space, to the greatest moments of the DCU that have happened and will happen.
"52 Pick-Up" begins in this extra-sized issue #1! Someone is exploiting the ravaged time stream, hoping to eliminate the world's greatest heroes - and only Booster Gold can stop them. But, really - Booster Gold? Why him? What does Rip Hunter truly want? And what shocking figure is behind it all?
And coming up in the months ahead in DC's time spanning monthly: the world's greatest Green Lantern - Sinestro, Jonah Hex, Barbara "Batgirl" Gordon, Flash and Kid Flash, and plenty more of DC's super stars from throughout its past and future!
For a signed edition, please see the Dynamic Forces section of Previews.
On sale August 15 o 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US Edited by Michael Siglain

I'm thinking this could be great. Heck, this could be fantastic. It's a great concept, and it could function to let the readers explore the new DC universe in a very clever way.

But, I'm real wary about it. It could just as easily do a lot of damage. Wait and see...

OUTSIDERS: FIVE OF A KIND - WEEKS 1-5:
NIGHTWING/BOOMERANG
KATANA/SHAZAM
THUNDER/MARTIAN MANHUNTER
METAMORPHO/AQUAMAN
GRACE/WONDER WOMAN

Get ready for FIVE OF A KIND - five issues, five top creative teams, one team-up per week, as Batman takes control of the Outsiders by using these adventures to pick his new lineup!

If ever there was a gimmicky series... here ya go. Wow. The gimmicky-esque gimmick to ever mick a gimm. (HaHa! That one was for me!) Weekly team-ups, different talent, pulling from the previous big company gimmick, an all-Batman tie in, with the end result creating a new series? I'm suprised there's no 1-900 number for readers to call in and vote.

BATMAN ANNUAL #26: HEAD OF THE DEMON
Written by Peter Milligan
Art by David Lopez & Alvaro Lopez
Cover by Tim Sale
The definitive origin of Ra's al Ghul, Batman's greatest foe, is finally revealed in this annual from writer Peter Milligan (JLA CLASSIFIED, X-Static) and the art team of David Lopez & Alvaro Lopez (CATWOMAN)! A deadly rivalry between two immortals spanning more than 400 years of history causes a chain reaction that not even Batman could have predicted! Learn how the secret past of this legendary villain has a reverberating effect on the future of the Dark Knight.
On sale August 29 o 48 pg, FC, $3.99 US Edited by Jeanine Schaefer

*Sigh* I know I've mentioned this before, but with some characters It's better not to know the origin, despite how popular they've become! Jeez, people! Some characters just work better with that mystique: Joker, Wolverine, (and Mystique, come to think of it.. heh), Phantom Stranger, and absolutely, definitely, Freckin' Ra's al Ghul! Gah!

SUPERMAN #666
Written by Kurt Busiek
Art and cover by Walter Simonson
An extra-sized spectacular featuring art by Walter Simonson, as Superman goes to Hell - literally - during the most nightmarish adventure of his heroic career, and a dread portent of that which may be coming! Who, or what, is "The Beast from Krypton"? This issue - featuring the Phantom Stranger, Zatanna, the Demon and a host of other DC superstars from Wonder Woman to Animal Man - is guaranteed to send chills down your spine!
For a signed edition, please see the Dynamic Forces section of Previews.
On sale August 8 o 48 pg, FC, $3.99 US

I believe I'll be getting this one, even though I normally don't get Superman titles. Except for that one. It'll nicely bookend my upcoming Batman #666. Plus, it has the Phantom Stranger, Zatanna, and Animal Man - three of my favorite characters. And that Walt Simonson cover is creepy as hel.. opps.. heck.

SUPERMAN CONFIDENTIAL #7
Written by Jimmy Palmiotti & Justin Gray
Art and cover by Koi Turnbull & Sandra Hope
An early adventure of Superman from art sensation Koi Turnbull (Black Panther, Fathom) and the writing team of Jimmy Palmiotti & Justin Gray! The fate of Metropolis is at stake when Superman gets mixed up with Lori Lemaris!
On sale August 29 o 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

DC mentions two rival companies as the previous works from Koi Turnbull. It might be just because those are the only two you can mention, or might be his best works. I don't know. But, I seem to have noticed that Marvel does not do this. I might be wrong, but I can't think of an example of Marvel giving a credit that involved a DC book. Hmmm...

52: THE COVERS HC

Does anyone buy these? I mean, people must or it wouldn't be here, but isn't this just a coffee table book for friends and relatives that won't understand it at all? Sure, there's some great covers here.. but is there actually a market for a Hard Cover book full of funnybook covers? Just askin'

THE FLASH: THE FASTEST MAN ALIVE #15
Written by Marc Guggenheim
Art by Tony S. Daniel & Art Thibert
Cover by Doug Braithwaite
Variant cover by Daniel Acuña
Continuing the storyline so explosive we can't give anything away - and it's destined to be one of the most talked-about tales of 2007!
Retailers please note: This issue will ship with two covers in approximately 50/50 ratio. Standard Edition A features a cover by Doug Braithwaite, while Standard Edition B features a cover by Daniel Acuña. Please see the Previews Order Form for more information.
Fans: Remind your retailer early and often to order you a copy!
On sale August 15 o 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

Barry Allen Alert!

Wouldn't it be a great inside joke if this book was late?!

(Only people reading a comics blog will laugh at that. Trust me, though. It's funny.)

GREEN ARROW/BLACK CANARY: FOR BETTER OR WORSE TP
BLACK CANARY ARCHIVES VOL. 1 HC
GREEN ARROW: YEAR ONE #3-4
BLACK CANARY #3-4

Is this because of the wedding thing? That's a lot of GA/BC action there. I'm assuming it includes that awkward torture/rape scene in Green Arrow. I forget which issue that was in.

But a Diggle/Jock Green Arrow series.. hmmm... Might get that one.

That's a real fun cover, there. Really pulls you in.

I used to own every individual comic contained in these trades.

Used to.

I'm with Rachelle on this one- Please, please DC... Make this into a poster. I'll give you a foot massage....

Yes, I will be buying this. Oh, yes. That's a thing of beauty, right there.

Likewise, I may pick this one up just based on that cover, though I don't normally get the DC Cartoon stuff.. But, man! That's a wicked funny cover idea! Tell me you don't want to read what happens in that funnybook!

Whoo, boy! Ummm... There really is a market for these things. The terrorists have already won.

Still.. get a toy robot, a rubber octopus, and a little bit of string for bondage... you've got yourself some Hentai action fun!

Oh, God.. too much comedy ... Ack... Overload!... Brain hurts...

OK, got it. Think I'm going to go with this:

*Ahem!*

DC Toy Dept: We've got this great idea for a 13" Power Girl Deluxe!
DC Exec: Really? Sounds good! PG always sells to the fanboys! Gonna make her teh sexay?!?
DC Toy Dept: Oh, you bet! Fully articulated.. know what I mean? Nudge Nudge...
DC Exec: Nice geek reference! OK, I'm sold - what do we charge? $20?!?
DC Toy Dept: Did we mention that Power Girl's wearing an actual fabric costume over her nude plastic body?
DC Exec: ....
DC Exec: ....
DC Toy Dept: It's removable....
DC Exec: ....
DC Exec: ....
DC Toy Dept: Classic easy-fanboy-access Peek-A-Boo Cleavage Window....
DC Exec: ............. Umm.. OK ... Sorry 'bout that. *whew* OK... (Did I mention that I love you guys?) OK... I'm thinking $50!
DC Toy Dept: Did we also mention that she's "Realistically Proportioned?!?"
DC Exec: Ding Ding!!! $70!!!

That said.. I want one. I'm shallow like that.

And I know .... KNOW ... that if I bought one there would be someone in the LCS asking if I would take it out of the box before I leave to "look at it."

Yes. That would happen.

Most Wanted

Not a very good week for top tier anticipation, I'm sorry to say. There was only one book that leapt out at me as I headed home from the LCS. As I do every week, I pick that most looked-forward to book and read it first thing so I can write a post about it. And since I'm not really looking forward to the World War books all that much, and the Ultimates are what they are, this week's choice really was made for me.

The Spirit #5
Artist / Writer: Darwyn Cooke

The Spirit is an enterprise that I completely missed out on growing up. It was only after I expanded my comic history knowledge that I even heard the name Will Eisner, and later of this, his most famous creation. And, in hindsight, I'm a bit ashamed that I never really thought to go and pick up some of his stuff just to see what all the fuss was about. Just as well, I suppose, because knowing what I now know, I really wouldn't have appreciated it much. I didn't understand storytelling, pacing, plotting, and all of the other subtleties that Eisner's stories are just riddled with. It wasn't "Fuck, Yeah!" enough for the young Soup. So, until recently, I just knew of the character - that he was some kind of goofy Batman detective type that got beat up a lot. Oh, and it had pretty splash pages with "The Spirit" cleverly hidden in the backgrounds.

Then Eisner died, and all that attention got me to really look into him. And I started reading back issues, finally. And I was very impressed. That guy could write! I mean, freaky good write! I didn't get all collector mentality on it, and I certainly didn't read enough to see all of the ways Eisner was using The Spirit as a way to frame stories - so he could push them into different areas, but I read enough to have a healthy respect for the man. Especially after all of the biographical information his death brought to the surface.

So, when DC released The Spirit / Batman one shot last year, I picked it up. Now, I'm not a big fan of Leob's writing - unless it's something television-related (Heroes starts up again next week! Yay!), so I picked it up with a little trepidation.

It was decent. The story was neither fantastic nor off-putting. All in all, it was a pleasant read.

But the art! Great Galvanized Gorillas, Batman! was that some sweet artwork! And thus, I learned of Darwyn Cooke. And thus, I added "anything drawn by Darwyn Cooke" to the list.

Shortly afterwards, I learned of The Spirit ongoing. And that Mr. Cooke was going to be writing as well as doing the artwork. That was a happy day. I think I got to play with puppies, too.

Since it's first issue, The Spirit has been fantastic. These "done-in-one" stories are near-perfect comics. They're just the right balance of crime drama, character advancement (Cooke had to re-introduce and modernize the entire Spirit universe), adventure, whimsy, and gosh-darnit just out and out fun. They're a joy to read. And, of course, the artwork is incredible. His use of style, mood and pacing is as good as it gets. Oh, and don't forget those awesome splash pages - which I may collect and get framed together in some sort of poster. And it just occurred to me that J. Bone and Dave Stewart deserve a lot of credit for that mood and style as the finishing and coloring are perfect compliments.

That's The Spirit in general. In this issue, we get gangland hits, stolen identities, pet vultures, Russian mob bosses, exploiting the children and The Spirit gets beat up again. Oh, and beans. Lots and lots of beans. Beans. Delicious, delicious beans.

If you're not reading The Spirit - I'm not going to convince you if everyone else in the freckin' comics blogosphere hasn't already. Pick it up, already. Or better yet - since this is issue #5, wait a month and get the trade. However you do it, this book deserves to succeed. Imagine the incredible honor to Mr Cooke if The Spirit ends up winning "Best ongoing series" from the award named after its creator. Me, I'd plotz. That'd be like winning the Emmy from Mrs. Lou Harris. Or an Oscar from this guy.

All in all, The Spirit really is just an example of darn fun comics, and I have it on good authority, that that's the way they oughta be.

Most Wanted Panel:
Peace out.