Monday, July 18, 2005

Foraging For Comics: The October DC Solicits

The beginning of Infinite Crisis, Catwoman's breasts, another Vertigo sampler, and more, behind the cut.


BATMAN: GOTHAM COUNTY LINE #1 Written by Steve Niles, art and cover by Scott Hampton. Acclaimed writer Steve Niles joins distinctive painter Scott Hampton for a 3-issue Prestige Format miniseries that uncovers the investigation of grisly murders outside Batman's usual territory...in the Gotham suburbs! Commissioner Gordon calls on the Dark Knight for help in solving the mystery, although Batman has never delved into the suburbs of Gotham before. But the series of murders is so shocking that Batman must respond, despite being in unfamiliar territory.

When Spider-Man did this, it was played for laughs. I don't know if I want to see Batman in suburbia played straight.

BATGIRL #69 Written by Andersen Gabrych, art by Pop Mhan and Jesse Delperdang, cover by Tim Sale. The debut of new penciller Pop Mhan and cover artist Tim Sale. Encased in ice by Mr. Freeze and held hostage by Nyssa, Batgirl is offered a choice: regain her destiny with the legendary League of Assassins or die a slow, frozen death.

Pop is a great fit for this book. Check out hsi previous work on Spyboy if you don't believe me.

CATWOMAN #48 Written by Will Pfeifer, art by Pete Woods, cover by Adam Hughes.
Some of the nastiest villains in the DCU have laid siege to the East End, and Catwoman is the only thing keeping them from running riot! But now that she's dead center in their sights, even Batman won't be able to talk her off a path that leads straight into the heart of danger!


Brian Cronin points out how Selina's breasts are shadowed on this cover. I point out that it's still hot. God bless Adam Hughes.

INFINITE CRISIS #1 Written by Geoff Johns, art by Phil Jimenez and Andy Lanning, covers by Jim Lee and Sandra Hope and George Pérez It's finally here: the comics event so massive that it built over the first half of 2005, through Countdown, Day of Vengeance, Rann/Thanagar War, Villains United and The OMAC Project. Prepare for the dawn of the DCU's darkest day in Infinite Crisis, a 7-issue miniseries written. Surrounded by their most fearsome enemies, the world's greatest heroes are divided within and without. DC's icons -- Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman -- are joined by Nightwing, Supergirl, Donna Troy, Superboy, Robin, Wonder Girl, Green Lantern, the Flash and more as they face their most dire hour. What happens next will destroy friendships and lives, dictating the direction of the universe for the next generation! Years in the making, the greatest event to hit the DCU in over two decades is about to explode. This issue will ship with covers by Lee and Williams (50 percent) and Pérez (50 percent).

Jim Lee does love his Photoshop.

GREEN LANTERN CORPS: RECHARGE #2 Written by Geoff Johns and Dave Gibbons, art and cover by Patrick Gleason and Christian Alamy. The 6-issue mini-series following the adventures of the Green Lantern Corps continues! The first assignment for two rookie Lanterns may be their last. Plus, Kyle Rayner meets an old love, and the biggest Green Lantern of all comes under attack.

It couldn't be... unless it could... Mogo?

SHOWCASE PRESENTS: METAMORPHO VOL. 1 TP Written by Bob Haney and Gardner Fox, art by Ramona Fradon, Jack Sparling, Mike Sekowsky and others, cover by Sal Trapani. This massive black-and-white volume collects all Metamorpho's Silver Age adventures, from The Brave and The Bold #57-58, 66, 68, Metamorpho #1-17, and Justice League of America #42. Guest-starring Batman, the Justice League of America, the Metal Men and more.

Man, I hope some little kid doesn't try to find any Element Girl comics after reading this.

ROBOTECH: PRELUDE TO THE SHADOW CHRONICLES #1 & 2 Written by Tommy Yune, Jason Waltrip and John Waltrip, art and cover by Omar Dogan and Udon Studios. The legendary Robotech saga continues! After 20 years, the mysterious circumstances behind the disappearance of Admiral Rick Hunter will be revealed in this 5-issue miniseries featuring much of the original Robotech cast as well as a behind-the-scenes look into the production of the upcoming Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles DVD! In 2022, an Expeditionary Force departed from Earth in search of the homeworld of the Robotech Masters. However, its discovery would spark an interstellar conflict that would last decades. An uneasy alliance is finally reached, but a secret pact with an enemy within the ranks threatens to start a new war that could destroy the Expeditionary Force and the human race! And in issue #2, the treachery of General Edwards is revealed, but not before the SDF-3 is nearly destroyed! When betrayal harms the very ones that he loves, how far is Admiral Rick Hunter willing to go to take retribution? With their flagship in ruins, Rick sends Captain Vince Grant with the upgraded battlefortress Tokugawa in hot pursuit to the Invid homeworld of Optera, but will it be enough to take on Edwards's new alien technology?

Would it be mean of me to say that there are probably only five people looking forward to this?

VERTIGO: FIRST OFFENSES TP Written by Grant Morrison, Garth Ennis, Bill Willingham, Mike Carey and Matt Wagner, art by Steve Dillon, Scott Hampton, Steve Leialoha, Guy Davis, Lan Medina and Steve Yeowell, cover by John J. Hill. Vertigo: First Offenses is a special volume created to introduce new readers to comics' most provocative imprint. Collecting the premiere issues of five of Vertigo's signature series, this 168-page trade paperback is priced at a mere $4.99 US, allowing thrill-seeking ordinary civilians the chance to do hard time with some of comics' heaviest hitters. Included are The Invisible #1 (written by Grant Morrison and illustrated by Steve Yeowell), Fables #1 (written by Bill Willingham and illustrated by Lan Medina & Steve Leialoha), Preacher #1 (written by Garth Ennis and illustrated by Steve Dillon), Sandman Mystery Theatre #1 (written by Matt Wagner and illustrated by Guy Davis) and The Sandman Presents: Lucifer #1 (written by Mike Carey and illustrated by Scott Hampton).

Glad to see this will be a semi-regular thing. I should note for non-comicy folk that the Sandman who has the Mystery Theatre and the Sandman who presents Lucifer are two different characters. Both good books, though.

That's all for this month. The full solicits are here.

Git.

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