DC Preview Review for May Part 2 of 2

AS PROMISED PART II - Note due to a technical glitch Part 1 was up, then disappeared and is not back on the blog!

NEMESIS: THE IMPOSTERS #3 (of 4)
On sale MAY 5
3 of 4
32 pg, FC, $2.99 US
Written by IVAN BRANDON
Art by CLIFF RICHARDS
Cover by DANIEL LUVISI
Nemesis is on the verge of finding out the truth – the real truth – about his adversaries, and in doing so he hopes to find a cure for what seems to be his increasing mental illness. Is this the moment he's been waiting for – or the beginning of his final days? Uncover hidden secrets of the DCU in this issue!

Lee: Ummmm, DC has it fair share of ridiculous covers but usually they try to stay away from the bloody ones. Is it me or is this a weeeee bit extreme?
Jim: I’m just confused because the advertised cover for issue #3 is the same cover as issue #1 had.
Gwen: Blood, guts gore... it's hard to phase me anymore with the amount of this stuff out there. I mean thanks to Garth Ennis I may never be shocked by comics again.

ZATANNA #1
On sale MAY 19
32 pg, FC, $2.99 US
Written by PAUL DINI
Art by STEPHANE ROUX & KARL STORY
Cover by STEPHANE ROUX
1:10 Variant Cover by BRIAN BOLLAND
At last – the Mistress of Magic in her own ongoing series! Zatanna Zatara has long made her home in San Francisco, but right under her nose a sinister threat has developed – a crime boss who dominates the criminal underworld with the dark powers of the magical underworld! The terrifying Brother Night is making his play for San Fran, and the police force – including hunky detective Dale Colton – turn to Zee for help. But Brother Night is a whole new kind of criminal and if Zatanna thinks she can backwards-talk him down, then she’s in over her top-hatted head! Superstar writer Paul Dini (BATMAN: MAD LOVE) is paired with the gorgeous art of Stephane Roux (BIRDS OF PREY), making his anticipated DC debut on interior art! There’s only one thing to say – T’NOD SSIM TI!

Jim: The only thing that could make me happier this month between this and Legion would be an Absolute All Star Superman solicitation. Dini has a great affection for the character so I have high hopes for this series. Of course the annoying thing si gnivah ot dear sdrawkacb.
Lee: Dini should do a great job on this. I wonder if he’ll carry over any of the idea’s from Morrison take on her in Seven Soldiers.
Gwen: This is excellent. I've always loved the Zantanna character and Dini is a great writer. This seems to be a good month so far.

WONDER WOMAN #44
On sale MAY 26
32 pg, FC, $2.99 US
Written by GAIL SIMONE
Art by NICOLA SCOTT & DOUG HAZLEWOOD
Cover by NICOLA SCOTT
Wonder Woman does battle against the Citizenry’s terrifying secret weapon, a weapon with a remarkable connection to Diana herself! It’s the final chapter before the landmark WONDER WOMAN #600, and this issue will have ramifications on Diana’s life forever! Don’t miss it!

Lee: Aaarrrggghhhh maties! It’s Wonder Pirate Woman! All she’s missing in the parrot!
Jim: I’m just pleased that we are getting a new writer soon, but even good writers (like Gail) are forced to walk the plank after trying their hand on Wonder Woman.
Gwen: There is no one that isn't cooler as a pirate Lee. Duh.

ABSOLUTE ALL-STAR SUPERMAN HC
On sale OCTOBER 20
320 pg, 8.24” x 12.5”, FC, $99.99 US
Written by GRANT MORRISON
Art and cover by FRANK QUITELY
The Eisner Award-winning 12-issue series from Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely is now available in Absolute format! The Man of Steel battles Bizarro, Zibarro and more before facing the final revenge of Lex Luthor. Also includes a bonus sketchbook section and more!

Jim: My cup runneth over as the reprint I have been waiting for is here. This was the best Superman story ever done and I’m thrilled to be getting this is a high end format. Lee: I have this in the smaller, easier to read hc format. I’m passing.
Gwen: Jim is probably the one dancing here.

BLACKEST NIGHT: TALES OF THE CORPS HC, 176 pg
BLACKEST NIGHT: GREEN LANTERN CORPS HC, 272 pg
BLACKEST NIGHT: GREEN LANTERN HC, 264 pg
BLACKEST NIGHT: BLACK LANTERN CORPS VOL. 1 HC, 256 pg
BLACKEST NIGHT: BLACK LANTERN CORPS VOL. 2 HC, 240 pg
BLACKEST NIGHT: RISE OF THE BLACK LANTERNS HC, 256 pg
BLACKEST NIGHT HC
On sale JULY 7
304 pg, FC, $29.99 US
Written by GEOFF JOHNS
Art by IVAN REIS & OCLAIR ALBERT
Cover by IVAN REIS & RUDOLFO MIGLIARI
As the war between the different Corps rages on, the prophecy of the Blackest Night descends in this hardcover collecting the best–selling BLACKEST NIGHT #0-8. Now, Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps lead DC’s champions into battle to save the universe from an
army of Black Lanterns made up of the DCU’s deceased heroes and villains!

Jim: Since I mail my copies away I feel compelled to pick this up. I know someday they will redo it a high end format, but that just mean Gwen gets this book for free.
Lee: Pick up what? The entire Black Lantern saga???? On one had, it’s a great idea to release the entire black lantern saga in hc format all at once. DC is striking while the iron is hot and they should. But that’s 1,768 pages of story in one month. I know there are people who will get all of these but that’s gonna dent even the biggest budget in one month.
Jim: Lee added the other books I’m just getting Blackest Night. On one hand I applaud DC getting this out so quick, on the other hand that is too many hard covers over one month.
Gwen: Yay! future free books!

ADVENTURES OF SUPERBOY VOL. 1 HC
On sale JULY 28
224 pg, FC, $39.99 US
Written by JERRY SIEGEL AND DON CAMERON
Art by JOE SHUSTER & OTHERS
Cover by JACK BURNLEY
The original adventures of Superman when he was a boy are collected for the first time, from MORE FUN COMICS #101-107 and ADVENTURE COMICS #103-121. Set in Smallville, the future Man of Steel learns responsibility as he deals with problems of every sort in the post-World War II Midwest.

Jim: History beckons me to get this book as it was a strange set of circumstances that ended up splitting the rights of Superman and Superboy and has made many lawyers a lot of money.
Lee: Definitely not getting this. Superboy was well before my time and I just don’t care anymore.
Gwen: I'm with Lee on this one.

ICON: MOTHERSHIP CONNECTION TP
On sale JUNE 2
232 pg, FC, $19.99 US
Written by DWAYNE MCDUFFIE
Art by M.D. BRIGHT, MIKE GUSTOVICH & OTHERS
Cover by DENYS COWAN & JIMMY PALMIOTTI
With the secret of his origin in danger, Icon must abandon Dakota, leaving Rocket in charge. Plus: Don’t miss the amazing exploits of Buck Wild! Collecting ICON #13, 19-22, 24-26 and 30.

Lee: I picked up the first trade and it was great! This held up really, really well and I’m excited to read more. Now, maybe they’ll get to some of the other great Milestone stuff like Blood Syndicate and Xombi.
Jim: For the most part I remember this as being good stuff, but I’m not looking to re-read it, so it is a pass.
Gwen: I'm not really interested in the Icon material.

SHOWCASE PRESENTS: SUICIDE SQUAD VOL. 1 TP
Resolicit
On sale JUNE 16
552 pg, B&W, $17.99 US
Written by JOHN OSTRANDER, KEITH GIFFEN & J.M. DEMATTEIS
Art by LUKE MCDONNELL, ERIC LARSEN & OTHERS
Cover by LUKE MCDONNELL
Captured villains are offered an ultimatum: Go on near-impossible covert missions or rot in jail. For the first time, DC collects SUICIDE SQUAD #1-19, DOOM PATROL/SUICIDE SQUAD SPECIAL #1 and JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL #13.

Jim: Well I hope this time the book actually sees print as the last time they solicited this book was about a year ago. I read the reprint rates they had negotiated back in the day this book was published was making it impossible to produce the book at this price point. I assume John Ostrander getting some recent work from DC allowed them to smooth out any issues. A very underrated series, that is work your $18.
Lee: I too am glad this will finally see the light of day. Here’s a shocker, I have all these issues too. It was a great story and a ton of fun.
Gwen: I never read much of the Suicide Squad material. I already have too much to read as it is.


A GOD SOMEWHERE TP
On sale JUNE 2
200 pg, FC, $24.99 US
MATURE READERS
Written by JOHN ARCUDI
Art and cover by PETER SNEJBJERG & BJARNE HANSEN
After a mysterious disaster, a young man named Eric finds that he has just as mysteriously developed extraordinary abilities. He starts out trying to help people, but his solitary position in the world isolates him in ways no ordinary human could understand. This original graphic novel written by John Arcudi (B.P.R.D., WEDNESDAY COMICS) charts the arc of Eric’s evolution from man to…something else, as seen through the eyes of his family and his best friend, Sam.

Lee: I’m surprised Jim didn’t pick this. I’m a huge Snejbjerg fan, and Arcudi is a very good writer so I’m sold. This looks to be an excellent story of lone superhero is a world of men.
Jim: Is this the first time out for this material? I skipped it because I saw it as a TP and thought it was an old reprint. It sounds good.
Gwen: This could be interesting but the solicitation doesn't really grab my interest. I'd like to know more before deciding to try this out.

I, ZOMBIE #1
On sale MAY 5
32 pg, FC, $1 US
MATURE READERS
Written by CHRIS ROBERSON •Art and cover by MICHAEL ALLRED
1:10 Variant cover by DARWYN COOKE
Gwen Dylan is a gravedigger in an eco-friendly cemetery…and a zombie detective. Once a month, she has to eat a human brain – both to keep from going all “Night of the Living Dead,” and to keep her own memories intact. As a result, Gwen’s mind is crowded with the dead person’s thoughts. And lately, she feels compelled to fulfill their final requests. Torn between a mysterious mummy and a dashing young monster-hunter, Gwen is set for adventures beyond imagination! A were-terrier, a swinging ’60s ghost and a pack of paintball blasting vampires complete the cast of I, ZOMBIE.
Written by World Fantasy Award finalist Chris Roberson (CINDERELLA: FROM FABLETOWN WITH LOVE) with art by Eisner Award-winning superstar artist Michael Allred (X-Statix, Madman), I, ZOMBIE is a monster of a tale with razor-sharp prose and powerful pop artistry.
Don’t miss this special debut issue launching Vertigo’s next monster hit, priced at just $1.00!

Jim: First off it is only $1 to try it out, so there is no real investment hurdle there at all. Second it is Vertigo and while every book is not a hit, they have earned my at least checking out issue #1.
Lee: The $1 first issue ploy seems to be working really well for DC. You’ve tried a whole bunch of stuff because of it. And I’m sure more people commit to at least three issue than drop it after the first.
Gwen: $1! I'd be willing to give most stories a shot for such a low price!

REVOLVER HC
On sale JULY 14
192 pg, two color, $24.99 US
MATURE READERS
Written by MATT KINDT
Art and cover by MATT KINDT
REVOLVER is an original graphic novel by acclaimed writer/artist Matt Kindt (Super Spy, 3 Story: The Secret History of The Giant Man) that’s a tale of two worlds — and how both test a man to his limits. Stuck in a dead-end job with a boss he can’t stand and a materialistic girlfriend, Sam rises from a late night of barhopping to discover his whole world has changed. Literally.
An avian flu outbreak has killed millions, the nation’s infrastructure has crashed and a dirty bomb has destroyed Seattle. Forced to go on the run, Sam awakes to a normal world the next day – and to chaos again the day after that. A single constant between the two worlds will undo all the damage, if he can find it – but that seems impossible. In one world, anything goes. In the other, he’s out of danger and sleepwalking through life. So Sam’s got an even bigger problem: Which world to choose?

Jim: I have enjoyed all of the recent Vertigo Graphic Novels and have heard high praise for Matt Kindt’s other work, so I’m in on this one.
Lee: I am a HUGE Matt Kindt fan. He’s excellent! I’d compare him to Jeff Lemaire on the indie scene he’s that good. I’m sold and this is well worth getting. Let’s do the shameless plug, read “Three Story” or “SuperSpy” if you’re curious about Kindt’s older work. Both are great.
Gwen: This looks cool so I'll have to borrow it from Jim at some point.

WOMEN OF THE DC UNIVERSE SERIES 3: POWER GIRL BUST
Designed by Amanda Conner
Sculpted by Jack Mathews
This sassy, muscle-flexing version of Power Girl, designed by illustrator Amanda Conner, is the latest character to join the popular WOMEN OF THE DC UNIVERSE bust series. The hand-painted, cold-cast porcelain bust measures approximately 5.5” high x 2.25” wide x 3” deep and is packaged in a 4-color box.
Limited Edition. Manufactured to order. Advance-solicited; on sale October 6, 2010 * Bust * $60 US

Jim: Yes it is.
Lee: Uuummm, yeah. Gwen, your thoughts?
Gwen: Where are all the burly half naked men statues? I'm tired of Powergirl's breasts.

Jim: May looks to be a fantastic month from DC, after Final Crisis DC failed to capitalize on that series at all. If it wasn’t for Batman dying it would be like Final Crisis never happened. DC is playing off Blackest Night this time and I think to good effect. No matter what between Legion, Zatanna and Absolute All Star Superman this is a great month.
Lee: Actually, it is a good month. I’m liking the new ogn’s from Matt Kindt and Arcudi.
Gwen: LEGION!!! YAY!!!!