DC Comics' 'Superman' solicits for December 2013

Here are DC Comics's solicitations for all of the "Superman" group books being released this December...

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.







SUPERMAN UNCHAINED #6
Written by SCOTT SNYDER
Art and cover by JIM LEE and SCOTT WILLIAMS
Backup story art by DUSTIN NGUYEN
1:300 B&W Variant cover by JIM LEE and SCOTT WILLIAMS“We Can Be Heroes” Blank variant cover available
On sale DECEMBER 18 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T
Combo pack edition: $4.99 US
 The Man of Tomorrow and the Superman of yesterday go at it—no holds barred! Supes goes full throttle after his would-be ally, Wraith, in a seismic battle ranging from deep space to the ocean’s floor and ultimately the core of the earth! Meanwhile, Lois Lane holds the key to defeating Ascension, but she needs to reach the Fortress of Solitude to ensure its safekeeping—not to mention hers! And she’s being pursued by a heavily armed force, and it isn’t Ascension!
This issue is also offered as a combo pack edition with a redemption code for a digital download of this issue.


ACTION COMICS #26
Written by GREG PAK
Art and cover by AARON KUDER
1:25 B&W Variant cover by AARON KUDER
On sale DECEMBER 4 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T
All hell breaks loose as Superman is caught between an alien menace and the super-powered soldier the U.S. Army has sent to kill it!












SUPERMAN #26
Written by SCOTT LOBDELL
Art by KENNETH ROCAFORT
Cover by KEN LASHLEY
1:25 B&W Variant cover by KEN LASHLEY
On sale DECEMBER 31 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
In the aftermath of “Krypton Returns,” a distraught Man of Steel returns to find that the Parasite is back—and he is very hungry. First on the menu: Lois Lane!











SUPERGIRL #26
Written by TONY BEDARD
Art by YILDIRAY CINAR and RAY McCARTHY
Cover by GIUSEPPE CAMUNCOLI and CAM SMITH
On sale DECEMBER 18 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
 Following the stunning conclusion of “Krypton Returns,” Supergirl arrives back on Earth with a new mission and a clearer understanding of her place in the universe. But a striking new foe prepares to welcome Supergirl home: LOBO! What could the mysterious new character want from Supergirl? Find out as the hot new creative team of writer Tony Bedard (GREEN LANTERN: NEW GUARDIANS) and artist Yildiray Cinar (EARTH 2) launch Supergirl into the next stage of her life in the DC Universe!




 SUPERBOY #26Written by
 FRANK HANNAH and MARV WOLFMAN
Art by ANDRES GUINALDOCover by RAFA SANDOVAL
On sale DECEMBER 11 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
 Lost in time with the Teen Titans, Superboy comes to some startling revelations about his origins and future! Can he and the team rescue Kid Flash and find the way back to their own era?











BATMAN/SUPERMAN #6
Written by GREG PAK
Art and cover by BRETT BOOTH and NORM RAPMUND
1:25 Variant cover by CLIFF CHIANG
1:100 B&W Variant cover by BRETT BOOTH and NORM RAPMUND
On sale DECEMBER 4 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T
Combo pack edition: $4.99 US Throughout the cosmos, one name commands respect and fear above all others. That name is MONGUL, and the world-conquering despot has his eyes set on Earth! And unless Batman and Superman can take down the mad, monstrous might of Mongul, the whole world will suffer!
This issue is also offered as a combo pack edition with a redemption code for a digital download of this issue.





I'm really excited to see what Marv Wolfman's going to do with the Superboy series when he takes over, you don't have to know much comics history to know he's a comic book legend, especially if you're a Teen Titans fan, he  helped creat Raven, Cyborg, Starfire, Tim Drake and loads more. I wrote a bit more about this here.

(Source: DC Comics)

Marv Wolfman to write Superboy while Tony Bedard takes over Supergirl

This December, some creative changes will be coming to the Superman family of books, specifically Superboy and Supergirl...

With the twenty-sixth issues of both series, each will be getting a new writer for at least one arc. Superboy's getting taken over by comic book legend, Marv Wolfman meanwhile Supergirl's new writer will be Tony Bedard.

Marv Wolfman is the co-creator of characters like Starfire, Cyborg, Deathstroke, Trigon, Raven, Tim Drake and many more, and has been the artist of fan-favourite series, The New Teen Titans and Crisis on Infinite Earths. I'm looking at this like a Christmas present to the Teen Titans fans, because having a creator who's been a major part of the Titans' history take on writing duties for the solo series of a member of the team's newest generation is going to be brilliant.

Then there's Supergirl, whose series is getting taken over by writer Tony Bedard, whose recent projects have included Blue Beetle and Green Lantern: New Guardians, and as the cover for Bedard's first issue, issue twenty-six, the first arc by the new writer will feature the much-talked about new look for Lobo.

Both writers start work on their new series this December.

(Source: Bleeding Cool)

DC Comics' Superman solicits for November 2013

DC yesterday released their solicitations for November of this year, previewing what the characters of their fifty-two New 52 series are doing in three months time. Today, I have been posting them here, so far I've posted the Batman, Dark Edge, Green Lantern and Justice League solicits, now it's time for the Superman group. Check them out below!


ACTION COMICS #25 Written by GREG PAK
Art and cover by AARON KUDER
1:25 B&W Variant cover by AARON KUDER
On sale NOVEMBER 6 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T
Retailers: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the order form for more information.
This BATMAN: ZERO YEAR tie-in features the reintroduction of a major character! A cocky young Superman battles the forces of nature to save Gotham City, while a woman from his past tries to do the same thing on a smaller scale. But both are headed for a collision course...

SUPERMAN/WONDER WOMAN #2 Written by CHARLES SOULE
Art and cover by TONY S. DANIEL and BATT
1:25 Variant cover by SHANE DAVIS
1:100 B&W Variant cover by TONY S. DANIEL and BATT
On sale NOVEMBER 13 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T
Combo pack edition: $4.99 US
Retailers: This issue will ship with four covers. Please see the order form for more information.
Whom the gods destroy, first they piss off! Seeking help against Doomsday, Diana turns to her brother Hephaestus for weapons—but a more immediate threat is Apollo and the other gods. They do not approve of Superman as a consort to Diana, and he will have to prove himself in combat!
This issue is also offered as a combo pack edition with a redemption code for a digital download of this issue.

SUPERMAN UNCHAINED #5 Written by SCOTT SNYDER
Art and cover by JIM LEE and SCOTT WILLIAMS
Backup story art by DUSTIN NGUYEN
1:300 B&W Variant cover by JIM LEE and SCOTT WILLIAMS
On sale NOVEMBER 20 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T
Combo pack edition: $4.99 US
Retailers: This issue will ship with eleven covers. Please see the order form for more information.
Superman and Wraith form an alliance to rescue a hostage and strike at the heart of Ascension, but the mission goes awry when it becomes clear the Man of Tomorrow and the soldier from beyond the stars have very different methodologies—and objectives! Plus, secrets are revealed about Wraith’s people!
This issue is also offered as a combo pack edition with a redemption code for a digital download of this issue.

SUPERBOY #25 Written by SCOTT LOBDELL and JUSTIN JORDAN
Art by ROBSON ROCHA
Cover by KENNETH ROCAFORT
On sale NOVEMBER 13 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
“KRYPTON RETURNS,” and our heroes have been sent on missions through Krypton’s history to stop H’El from dooming the universe! Superboy’s mission? Stop H’El from tampering with the history of Krypton days before its explosion. But he must also see to it that Kara Zor-El is kept safe and that the forces of the Eradicator don’t get him first.

SUPERGIRL #25 Written by SCOTT LOBDELL and MICHAEL ALAN NELSON
Art by PAULO SIQUERIA
Cover by KENNETH ROCAFORT
On sale NOVEMBER 20 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
“KRYPTON RETURNS” continues as Supergirl faces the clone wars of Krypton. Just as she was starting to accept Superboy’s clone origins, she faces the horrible past of her home planet. And she must once again face H’El.









SUPERMAN #25 Written by SCOTT LOBDELL
Art and cover by KENNETH ROCAFORT
1:25 B&W Variant cover by KENNETH ROCAFORT
On sale NOVEMBER 27 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Retailers: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the order form for more information.
“KRYPTON RETURNS” concludes! Months before its explosion, Superman finds himself locked in combat against H’El! Can he find a way to save the planet? A most unexpected foe stands in his path: Jor-El! A hero will fall during this epic adventure!

BATMAN/SUPERMAN #5 Written by GREG PAK
Art and cover by BRETT BOOTH and NORM RAPMUND
1:25 Variant cover by JON BOGDANOVE
1:100 B&W Variant cover by BRETT BOOTH and NORM RAPMUND
On sale NOVEMBER 6 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T
Combo pack edition: $4.99 US
Retailers: This issue will ship with four covers. Please see the order form for more information.
When the new Toymaster uses a secret, potentially deadly element in his new video game, the characters created by players manifest in real life! The ultimate fighting game results—and a world-wide network of players must team up to create the most powerful, skilled Super Heroes imaginable with one goal: To kill Batman. Can Superman come to the rescue before the game claims its victim? Find out in this amazing issue that’s printed in a special horizontal storytelling format.
This issue is also offered as a combo pack edition with a redemption code for a digital download of this issue.


(Source: Newsarama)


It seems a little too soon to have another Superman crossover when the last (H'el on Earth) didn't finish all that long ago, and especially the fact that it revolves around the same villain. Seeing Superboy, Supergirl and Superman on Krypton before it's destruction should be interesting, however.

Also, I'm really looking forward to seeing what Greg Pak and Aaron Kuder can do on Action Comics. Pak's killing it on Batman/Superman right now and that Kuder cover for #25, above, looks absolutely brilliant.

Why I have a problem with 'Over in one month' events

So, a comic book company ( and it's usually DC Comics who do this ) are announcing a new event/crossover related to one of your favourite books. This is obviously great since it's a big new story with your favourite characters and something that is hopefully a real stand-out on shelves for the numerous months that the story spans. Hang on, did I say "Numerous months", oh, I'm sorry, I meant ONE MONTH. That's right, this book you're enjoying has one month to tell the entire story it's been building up to for ages.

ONE.

This really gets on my nerves, you wait ages for an event related to one of your favourite characters and it's gone quicker than Joshua Hale Fialkov's run on Green Lantern Corps!

The example I'm going to use right now is 'The Culling'. Now, I'd been a huge fan of the Teen Titans for years and was really enjoying the New 52 run of the book so when I found out about the crossover centred around the series I was really excited. Then I found out that this event would only run through one month. This story was being led up to for almost nine months and I knew it would be building to something important but it's something I wished could've lasted longer.

 Look at some of the major DC Comics crossovers, they last for months (like most of Marvel's too, actually) events such as Blackest Night ( running for eight issues in it's own series and spinning off to include nearly the whole DCU), Flashpoint ( Five issues of it's own solo series, with loads miniseries spinning off from it, although to be fair it did reboot the DCU) and the recent Death of the Family ( four months tying into almost every Bat-book on the shelves for that time ), why not give all of the events the multi-month treatment?

I mean, don't the creators deserve it? they've been building to it for months and months so why not let the climax of their arc last a little longer? This concept was probably exciting when it was first used, that it's so fast-paced and quick but now it's just sort of tiring.

 DC are using this tactic again in October with the next Green Lantern event, "Lights out". It starts in Green Lantern #25, runs through that month's Green Lantern Corps, New Guardians and Red Lanterns then concludes in Green Lantern Annual #2 less than a month after it began.

I feel like this doesn't do the story justice, considering this is the first big story that the new Green Lantern creative teams are facing, and it's something that deserves to be bigger. Getting it done in one month seems like it's being rushed, which isn't exciting to me, it's annoying.

Another point that I want to bring up about this topic goes back to the Teen Titans example, and the fact that after "The Culling" the book didn't keep at a good standard. I feel like that series peaked with the Culling, but it seems that was the last good idea for the book. If the story had been allowed to continue a little longer it could've given the writer some more time to come up with ideas for the next stories because as much as I loved that title around the time of the event, I have to admit, it seems to be running very low on ideas and the only good bit about it now is the characters, really.

There is a pretty easy solution to this problem, why not have the story run just through the main book for several months rather than multiple books for one? You can still include all of the characters from different books, just use them in the one book and let the story run longer, it's most likely what the event and the creative team deserves.

If mainstream events are allowed to go on for months, why not all of the books? It adds more impact to the story if it lasts longer, and the longer the event is on the shelves for, the more new readers are likely to take notice and read it.

Review: Teen Titans #20

I wasn't extremely keen on this issue. I didn't hate it, it just didn't seem to be very appealing and wasn't particularly enjoyable.

This issue was basically Trigon explaining His and Raven's entire history, which, even though it was a good origin, I think could've been told better. The characters Trigon was explaining his story to were his sons, who I'm sure would already know the story, right? I think it could've worked better if Raven was explaining to the Teen Titans after last issue's battle as they obviously wouldn't know the story.

Another thing I wasn't keen on was some of Eddy Barrows' art. Particularly the faces. I loved his work on Nightwing but I feel like it's really stepped down on this book, his landscapes and full body or team shots are great but a lot of the faces just look odd.

This series seems to be at quite a dull level every month, and I really hope it steps up for the next arc, about Kid Flash's origin. The only thing really keeping me from dropping this book is my loyalty to the characters, with a lot of my favourites in this series I don't really want to drop it. It's a shame because Teen Titans' first arc was one of my favourite stories in the New 52, but I haven't enjoyed it nearly as much since then.

Rating: 4/10.

(Despite my bad review, the book got a 3 and not a 1 because the colours were good, some of Eddy Barrows' art was good and I like the characters)

Review: Teen Titans #19

Teen Titans #19 cover.

Teen Titans is a series that hasn't had the best comments from a lot of fans, but I've enjoyed it mostly since the beginning, and I disagree with most of the bad comments it's been getting. That said I did have one or two issues with this...issue, but we'll get onto those later.

Just to quickly sum up what's going on in this issue, Tim Drake has started taking his job more seriously, and isn't really treating the rest of the Teen Titans like equals, more like minions, and they're not taking it too well. They're getting quite suspicious of him, and very impatient with him, since he's barely told them anything about himself but they're risking their lives for his cause. I like that Lobdell is re-enforcing the fact that they aren't a fully formed team yet, and there are still very obvious problems between some of the members, and you would expect arguments between a team of super-powered teens.

I love Eddy Barrows' art on the book, he seems to portray the characters' emotions and movement styles just right. Although it's very different to the previous artist, Brett Booth's, art style which I was a big fan of, it's certainly up to the same standard and is pretty much excellent.

I like Scott Lobdell's writing, and he comes up with some good plots for this book, but I'm not too keen on some of the lines he gives the characters, and he seems to write teenagers quite stereotypically, with too many "like"s. Also, I'm not very keen on his use of thought bubbles, he uses them to explain things that have happened before but makes the characters speak in quite a patronising way for the audience.

My final problem is that you see Beast Boy in this issue, but it's set after the events of "The Ravagers" #12, which doesn't come out until next month, and it sort of spoils what happens in the final story in that book, pretty much revealing that Deathstroke's ruined the Ravagers, and pretty much everything's gone wrong.



Overall, it's a good issue, but I'm not keen on some of the aspects of the story, like how Lobdell writes teens.

Rating:
6/10