DC Comics announce Forever Evil: Blight

DC have been making a big deal out of their current event, Forever Evil, and understandably so, it's been pretty great so far, revolving around the Crime Syndicate of Earth 3 ( effectively an evil Justice League, consisting of Ultraman, Owlman, Superwoman, Power Ring, Johnny Quick, Deathstorm and Atomica ) claiming to have killed the main earth's Justice League, and that "The World is Theirs".

The Crime Syndicate's presence has had impacts on every corner of the DC Universe, and now it's heading for Constantine, with who DC claim to be the physical manifestation of evil, named Blight.

 

DC Comics' "Justice League" solicits for December 2013

Below you'll find the solicits for DC Comics' "Justice League" series for December, Forever Evil's till going, and the Justice League are still... wherever the Crime Syndicate has left them. Anyway, check out the full solicits below!

FOREVER EVIL #4
Written by GEOFF JOHNS
Art and cover by DAVID FINCH and RICHARD FRIEND
1:25 Villain A cover by ETHAN VAN SCIVER
1:25 Villain B cover by ETHAN VAN SCIVER
1:25 Villain C cover by ETHAN VAN SCIVER
1:200 B&W Variant cover by DAVID FINCH and RICHARD FRIEND
On sale DECEMBER 24 • 32 pg, FC, 4 of 7, $3.99 US • RATED T
 Combo pack edition: $4.99 US
It’s all-out chaos as the DC Universe continues its march through darkness! War erupts across the Earth between the villains! Allegiances are formed! Rivals are murdered! And at center stage it’s Lex Luthor versus Batman—and their fight couldn’t come at a worse time as Deathstroke’s Hunting Party closes in on the world’s only hope against the Crime Syndicate!
 This issue is also offered as a combo pack edition with a redemption code for a digital download of this issue.

JUSTICE LEAGUE #26
Written by GEOFF JOHNS
Art and cover by IVAN REIS and JOE PRADO
1:25 Variant cover by AARON KUDER
1:100 B&W Variant cover by IVAN REIS and JOE PRADO
On sale DECEMBER 24 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T
Combo pack edition: $4.99 US
A FOREVER EVIL tie-in! Why has the Crime Syndicate really come to our Earth? What are their darkest secrets? And how will their actions fundamentally change the Justice League as we know it? Meanwhile, Grid controls the world’s power and communications, but what does he truly want from the Syndicate? Plus, a member of the League struggling to survive plots a path of return...and revenge.
This issue is also offered as a combo pack edition with a redemption code for a digital download of this issue.



JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #10
Written by MATT KINDT
Art and cover by EDDY BARROWS and EBER FERREIR
A1:25 Variant cover by DALE EAGLESHAM
1:100 B&W Variant cover by EDDY BARROWS and EBER FERREIRA
On sale DECEMBER 11 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T
Combo pack edition: $4.99 US
 A FOREVER EVIL tie-in! The survivors of the Crime Syndicate’s attack now face a world where Earth’s most dangerous criminals are in charge. Can they bring a new team together in time to combat them? This issue is also offered as a combo pack edition with a redemption code for a digital download of this issue.





FOREVER EVIL: A.R.G.U.S. #3
Written by MATT KINDT
Art by PHILIP TAN and JASON PAZ
Cover by MIKEL JANIN
1:25 B&W Variant cover by MIKEL JANIN
On sale DECEMBER 31 • 32 pg, 3 of 6, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Steve Trevor and his small band of surviving A.R.G.U.S. agents track down the deadly Cheetah, who has Wonder Woman’s lasso in her possession. That lasso could be the only hope of freeing the Justice League!







FOREVER EVIL: ROGUES REBELLION #3
Written by BRIAN BUCCELLATO
Art by SCOTT HEPBURN
Cover by DECLAN SHALVEY
1:25 B&W Variant cover by DECLAN SHALVEY
On sale DECEMBER 18 • 32 pg, FC, 3 of 6, $2.99 US • RATED T
 The Rogues continue their flight from the ruthless Crime Syndicate, who have put a bounty on their heads. But en route back to Central City, Mirror Master’s powers malfunction, and they land in the middle of the events of ARKHAM WAR with pretty much every Bat-villain around going after the bounty!








JUSTICE LEAGUE 3000 #1
Written by KEITH GIFFEN and J.M. DeMATTEIS
Art and cover by HOWARD PORTER
1:50 B&W Variant cover by HOWARD PORTER
RESOLICIT • On sale DECEMBER 4 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
The new series starring the heroes of today—tomorrow is resolicited, now with legendary artist Howard Porter (JLA) on board! But what are these heroes doing in the year 3000? And who (or what) brought them there? Get ready for a dose of wonder from the writing team of Keith Giffen and J.M. DeMatteis!









JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA’S VIBE #10
Written by STERLING GATES
Art by ANDRES GUINALDO and MARK IRWIN
Cover by BRETT BOOTH and NORM RAPMUND
On sale DECEMBER 18 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
 Can Vibe save his brother, stop an alien invasion and stay alive? That last one may be a tall order!












KATANA #10
Written by ANN NOCENTI
Art by ALEX SANCHEZ and WAYNE FAUCHER
Cover by ALEX SANCHEZ
On sale DECEMBER 11 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Katana must choose: Side with her new Sword Clan allies or her old friend Shun as the Mad Samurai plots his revenge!












TEEN TITANS #26
Written by SCOTT LOBDELL
Art by TYLER KIRKHAM and ART THIBERT
Cover by BRETT BOOTH and NORM RAPMUND
1:25 B&W Variant cover by BRETT BOOTH and NORM RAPMUND
On sale DECEMBER 31 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Secrets are revealed and trusts tested as the Teen Titans finally begin to understand Kid Flash’s criminal actions before he became a heroic member of the team.








 GREEN ARROW #26
Written by JEFF LEMIRE
Art and cover by ANDREA SORRENTINO
1:25 B&W Variant cover by ANDREA SORRENTINO
On sale DECEMBER 4 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
 “THE OUTSIDERS WAR” begins here! Oliver Queen finally knows the location of the Outsiders’ base, but first he must return to the place where Green Arrow was born: The Island! Secrets are revealed, new villains introduced, and a mind-blowing final page kicks off this new storyline with a bang!









WONDER WOMAN #26
Written by BRIAN AZZARELLO
Art and GORAN SUDZUKA
Cover by CLIFF CHIANG
1:25 B&W Variant cover by CLIFF CHIANG
On sale DECEMBER 18 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
 Wonder Woman’s brother and sister are being held hostage by none other than Cassandra, the sadistic sibling she hasn’t even met yet! And speaking of hostages, we’re taking bets on how long chains can hold the First Born!










SUPERMAN/WONDER WOMAN #3
Written by CHARLES SOULE
Art and cover by TONY S. DANIEL and BATT
1:25 Variant cover by GUILLEM MARCH
1:100 B&W Variant cover by TONY S. DANIEL and BATT
On sale DECEMBER 11 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T
Combo pack edition: $4.99 US
 Zod unleashed! Can Superman and Wonder Woman stop this madman before he gains full power under the Earth’s yellow sun? Guest-starring the JLA, and featuring a shocking conclusion that could mean the end of Superman and Wonder Woman together!
This issue is also offered as a combo pack edition with a redemption code for a digital download of this issue.






WORLDS’ FINEST #18
Written by PAUL LEVITZ
Art by R.B. SILVA and JOE WEEMS
Cover by EMANUELA LUPACCINO
On sale DECEMBER 11 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
 As Power Girl’s abilities grow increasingly uncontrollable and unpredictable, Huntress finds herself without backup as she stalks a new villain preying on the upper crust of New York City glamour.

EARTH 2 #18
Written by TOM TAYLOR
Art by NICOLA SCOTT and TREVOR SCOTT
Cover by ETHAN VAN SCIVER
1:25 B&W Variant cover by ETHAN VAN SCIVER
On sale DECEMBER 4 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
The new Batman of Earth 2 tries to turn the tide in the war against the forces of Darkseid and Apokolips, but even as new allies reveal themselves the planet trembles before its new rulers.

AQUAMAN #26
Written by JEFF PARKER
Art and cover by PAUL PELLETIER and SEAN PARSONS
1:25 Variant cover by PAUL PELLETIER and SEAN PARSONS
On sale DECEMBER 31 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
“Sea of Storms” begins with the debut of new AQUAMAN writer Jeff Parker! The Earth’s crust is grinding to life, releasing deadly volcanoes and bizarre creatures…so humanity’s first instinct is to blame Atlantis! And as the plates pull apart, the pressures of ruling a kingdom under siege are weighing on Aquaman and Mera as well!







THE FLASH #26
Written by CHRISTOS N. GAGE
Art by NEIL GOOGE
Cover by BRETT BOOTH and NORM RAPMUND
1:25 B&W Variant cover by BRETT BOOTH and NORM RAPMUND
On sale DECEMBER 31 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
In this special standalone story, The Flash loses someone important to him. To catch the villain responsible, The Flash must figure out how to use his powers in the one place where they do him little good: the sky!








I've decided on a theory for the Forever Evil Batman, actually, but be warned it will contain a few spoilers for the first issue, so if you haven't read it yet, stop reading this post now... gone yet? good. Anyway, as we all read, Nightwing had his identity revealed to the entire world in the first issue of Forever Evil, and my theory is that the person under Batman's cowl in the Forever Evil covers ( who we can assume is not Bruce Wayne ) is Dick himself, after all, he probably wouldn't want to be running around as Nightwing after the events of the first issue ( Needs a bit of work, I know ), we'll have to wait and see I guess.

I have to say, though, the whole scale is of Forever Evil is starting to look pretty epic, I can't wait to see what happens when the Rogues wind up in the middle of the mass prison breakout in Gotham City...

Also, I've given in and decided to place Teen Titans in the Justice League group, considering the Young Justice group I used to have it in has been pretty much wiped out, I won't bother going into another rant, I said all I wanted to say on that matter last month.

And finally, some Creative changes, as you can probably see two major runs have already come to a close by the time we get to December, with Geoff Johns leaving Aquaman and Brian Buccellato and Francis Manapul departing from Flash, both of the runs end at issue 25. Aquaman will be taken over by Jeff Parker, who's name you'll probably know from one of his current series, "BATMAN '66", then onto the Flash; no permanent creative team has been set for after Buccellato and Manapul but we do know that the issue after they've left will be written by Christos Gage ( With art from Neil Googe), who you'll probably know from his co-writing credits on Amazing Spider-Man and Superior Spider-Man, and the solicit for his one-shot story sounds pretty interesting.

(Source: DC Comics)

Review: Forever Evil #1

It's finally time for the New 52's first Universe-Wide event, Forever Evil, but was the first issue worth all the hype? Check out my review of Forever Evil #1 below! But a bit of a warning here, there will be spoilers for the series below...

 

 

 

 

I have to say, just before I start the main review, I'm a little bit confused as to why DC Comics had trailer Trinity War for so long as their next massive event, when it was simply a set-up event for Forever Evil, and they couldn't have just focused on the current event that I'm talking about here, but I won't let that get in the way of what I thought about this issue...

 

Anyway, I did really enjoy this issue, which is an odd thing to say considering it's very bad for the heroes of the DC Universe, but still, a great issue, and the Crime Syndicate seem like a really interesting group of villains for the series.

I always love reading how Geoff Johns' starts these big event comics, this one begins with a rather sinister business deal being made by Lex Luthor, and it really shows you how evil and self-obsessed he is as a character, that he's perfectly happy to threaten and ruin people's lives just to expand on his empire. I think this scene is deliberately used as an example of how vile a character Luthor is, since we know this series will feature him leading a group of his fellow villains to attempt to save the planet, and I think what Johns wanted to do was demonstrate how desperate the people of Earth are that somebody this evil will have to save them, and the scene is a clever way to show this.

 

I think the method that the Secret Society use to broadcast their message to the world is interesting, and provides a good way to show reactions from characters all around the world, but I do think it's a bit too similar to the how General Zod spoke to the people of Earth, both ways including taking over every device that with a screen or a speaker, such as a phone, an earpiece, televisions...

 

Now, I think the most important part of this issue is what happens to Nightwing, and while I won't spoil what actually happened in this post, I can say that it's massive for the character, and a major change in the status quo, I hope it has an immediate effect on his solo series, which would make Forever Evil really feel like a major event. I am glad this was put in the first issue of the series, because I'm not too keen on events that take months to have a major happening, or a shocking moment, I feel like this kicks off the story well ( obviously not for Dick Grayson, though... ).

 

One problem I do have with the issue though is how annoying Power Ring is, I feel like Johns is forcing the concept that he's the opposite of Green Lantern because he's so cowardly and afraid on us, and it got a bit tedious for me...

 

Now onto the art, and I really can't seem to find any problems with the art at all; I've looked over the issue several times now and there's no fault that springs to mind with it, David Finch's pencils work brilliantly with Richard Friend's inks and Sonia Oback's colours.

 

My favourite sections of the art throughout the entire issue were the four page fold out, showing what I'm almost certain is around one-hundred DC Universe villains ( with three from the Teen Titans animated series, which made me really happy ), and the final page, featuring Lex Luthor, which sums up how lost the world seems at this point, Finch along with Friend and Oback, is a great fit for this series.

 

In conclusion, I think this was a brilliant issue, and it shows you just how powerful the villains are, reading the ways that make the Secret Society the opposites of the Justice League was really interesting. Great writing,  great art, my only real complaint is that I got a little bit bored of Power Ring, apart from that, I really enjoyed it. I definitely suggest picking up this series, a major event for the DC Universe, and a must read for all DC fans.

 

Rating: 9/10