What We Learned From DC's FEBRUARY 2013 Solicitations
What We Learned From DC's FEBRUARY 2013 Solicitations
1 of 12by Albert Ching, Newsarama Staff WriterYes, we just got done with the presidential election, and the holiday season is just getting started. But guess what? We're already thinking about February 2013.
DC's advance solicitations for that month were released on Monday, and as always, there were plenty of tidbits we knew before new ongoing series starring Katana and Vibe, Jeff Lemire taking over Green Arrow, 52 variant covers for Justice League of America #1 and plenty revealed in the solicitations themselves.
This list is looking at the latter, so here are 10 things we found worth noting in DC's February 2013 solicitations.
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BEFORE WATCHMEN: ALMOST OVER
2 of 12Before Watchmen has been one of the most controversial and polarizing initiatives at a major publisher in recent memory, with fans and professionals alike debating not only the merits of the actual comics, but whether or not they should even exist.Well, no matter what you think about DC's Alan Moore-less Watchmen prequels, we're getting close to the end. Dr. Manhattan, Rorschach, Comedian and Ozymandias all end in February, leaving the Before Watchmen: Epilogue, presumably out in March. (The Dollar Bill one-shot, pictured, is out January 30.)
NEW TEEN TITANS ART TEAM
3 of 12Teen Titans has a new artist. But sort of an old one.Eddy Barrows, a DC mainstay who worked on the book in the pre-New 52 era (along with credits including Action Comics and Superman), is taking over in February as of issue #17, in place of former series artist Brett Booth. Barrows' frequent collaborator Eber Ferreira joins the book on inks.
JOE KEATINGE'S DC DEBUT
4 of 12With his work on Hell Yeah and Glory at Image Comics among the best received series of the past year, Joe Keatinge is a definite rising star in the comic book industry. And with that comes more comics.In January 2013, he's making his Marvel debut with a new Morbius, the Living Vampire series. The following month, he's making his DC debut with DC Universe Presents #17, a one-shot story starring Arsenal, and also featuring his usual mates Red Hood and Starfire.
GEOFF JOHNS CO-WRITES VIBE #1
5 of 12Over at Blog@Newsarama, Graeme discussed the surprising but seemingly understandable decision to title the new Vibe ongoing series Justice League of America's Vibe. But that wasn't the only newsworthy thing from the issue's solicitation.Turns out, DC chief creative officer Geoff Johns is co-writing the first issue along with Arrow's Andrew Kreisberg. It makes sense Johns has been a vocal supporter of the character, and is writing him in Justice League of America.
THE PRICE OF 53 JLA #1s
6 of 12Speaking of Justice League of America: If you happen to be a big DC fan or just really looking to show your national pride, you can buy all 52 variant covers that's every state, plus Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico along with the standard, American flag edition, in one "shrinkwrapped pack."How much will that set you back? DC's listing a suggested retail price of $149.99, which would actually be a discount of around 60 bucks from buying them individually.
'DEATH OF THE FAMILY' AFTERMATH
7 of 12"Death of the Family" was always promoted as a big deal, and it looks like it'll continue to have major repercussions throughout the Bat-books, at least through the month of February.The story ends that month with Batman #17 but the aftermath will be dealt with in various titles including Batgirl, Nightwing, Red Hood and the Outlaws, Detective Comics and Teen Titans.
DOCTOR FATE IN EARTH 2
8 of 12Another character not yet seen in The New 52 will debut in Earth 2: Doctor Fate, who, like much of that book's cast, is traditionally associated with the Justice Society of America.It's the start of a new story arc from writer James Robinson and artist Nicola Scott, and said to involve new heroes, new villains and emerging "supernatural powers" the latter certainly being familiar territory for Doctor Fate.
YOUNG ROMANCE VALENTINE'S SPECIAL
9 of 12Since the early days of The New 52, there has been a notion among some observers that the books sometiems tend to take themselves a little too seriously, and could maybe lighten up a shade.It appears that DC is addressing that criticism in February in the form of the Young Romance Valentine's Day special, bringing back the Golden Age series for one issue and focusing on the couples of The New 52 with a particularly spirited Superman/Wonder Woman smooth on the cover. The solicitation includes the derived-from-romantic-comedies phrase "meet-cute," and promises "Perforated Valentine's Day cards" inside the issue, so at least at this point without actually seeing any of the inside of the book this appears to be one New 52 title that isn't afraid to have some fun.
JUSTICE LEAGUE EXPANDING, MAYBE
10 of 12The Justice League roster has been evolving since the current incarnation of the book debuted more back in late August 2011, and companion title Justice League of America #1 premieres in February. But it looks like the team might still be growing beyond even that.The text for Justice League #17 asks "What is THE GRIDand what does it mean to expanding the Justice League?" and though we don't know the answer to that yet, it certainly suggests that the Justice League is going to get bigger in the near-ish future. Maybe we'll see the long-discussed return of Ryan Choi as the Atom?
MORRISON'S FINAL ACTION COMICS
11 of 12Grant Morrison on Action Comics was one of the most hyped initial debuts of The New 52, and the run comes to an end in February, with an oversized issue #17. It doesn't look like Morrison is going out quietly, as he's given Superman the considerable task of saving "all of creation" in the story.We already know the next creative team on Action Comics, starting with March's issue #18: Andy Diggle, (Losers, Daredevil) and artist Tony Daniel, recently of Detective Comics.
