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Recently, DC Comics rebooted [mayI use that word?] their website, updating and improving many features.
Whilst wandering, I discovered their graphic novel listings.
Unlike most comic book publishers, DC acts like a regular book publisher, announcing titles six months in advance of publication. [A remnant of when DC was distributed by Warner Books/Little, Brown and Co., now owned by Hachette.]
They also list each title on its own page, making linkage, tweeting, and other sorts of promotion much easier.
DC’s New Releases are available here.
(You’ll have to click the buttons to select your criteria… it defaults to comic books.)
Each listing below has a DC Comics URL attached. Click on the actual title, and you’ll be transported via Zeta beam to the official page. What you do after that is up to you. Maybe you’ll find a pretty girl to rescue.
Here’s what interests me.
What I’m ignoring:
- Most everyone knows that the New 52 volumes are coming out this Spring/Summer, so I won’t list those.
- Ongoing volumes. Archives, Deluxe Editions, Series. Most of these are already on peoples’ radars, or previous volumes have been ignored. I’ll break this rule if it’s something amazing.
- Flashback. [Quite a few cool ideas, but they were hidden by the blood, gore, and death. S!H!A!Z!A!M!, for example… Like most event comics, it’s best to just read the Wikipedia entries.]
If you see something cool, let us know below, we’re always looking for something good to read!
A few caveats:
- The DC website is in beta. [No, I don’t know why they made the beta site their main site. Maybe they forgot to change that logo.] Some pages might not be complete, so some Batman-level deduction skills might be necessary to find more information elsewhere.
- Aside from my comments [noted as such], everything is copied from the DC Comics website. All information is subject to change. Generally, comics shops get books a few weeks (or months) before bookstores and libraries. Some items might be exclusive to comics shops. Caveat [col]lector.
- I work in the publishing industry. Nothing I post here has any official endorsement from my employer. I am a comics evangelist, proselytizing for the medium, spreading the good word.
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ABSOLUTE FINAL CRISIS
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BATMAN: EARTH ONE
• From GEOFF JOHNS and GARY FRANK, the acclaimed team behind SUPERMAN: SECRET ORIGIN and the SHAZAM! stories in JUSTICE LEAGUE!• In the tradition of SUPERMAN: EARTH ONE, this spectacular original graphic novel gives new insight into BRUCE WAYNE’S transformation into BATMAN and his first year as THE DARK KNIGHT. • In this all new take on the Batman mythos, Bruce Wayne is on the hunt for his parents’ killer. His target? The Mayor of Gotham City!• Plus, who is Alfred Pennyworth – and why is he so determined to put an end to the Batman?
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BATMAN: ILLUSTRATED BY NEAL ADAMS VOL. 1
• Early Batman tales by legendary artist NEAL ADAMS!• Includes stories written by Bob Haney, Cary Bates and more.• Collects stories from WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #175 and 176 and THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD #79-85.
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SUPERMAN: KRYPTONITE NEVERMORE
The legendary tale that reinvented Superman for the 1970s is reprinted in trade paperback!• Collects SUPERMAN #233-238 and 240-242!
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THE INFINITE CRISIS OMNIBUS
This incredible omnibus hardcover collects the many titles from the 2005 event that rocked the DC Universe, including DAY OF VENGEANCE #1-6, the DAY OF VENGEANCE INFINITE CRISIS SPECIAL #1, RANN/THANAGAR WAR #1-6, RANN/THANAGAR WAR INFINITE CRISIS SPECIAL #1, THE OMAC PROJECT #1-5, DC COUNTDOWN #1 and WONDER WOMAN #219.OMAC robots are rampaging, magic is dying, villains are uniting, and a war is raging in space. And in the middle of it all, a critical moment has divided Earth’s three greatest heroes: Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman. It’s the DCU’s darkest day, and long-lost heroes from the past have returned to make things right in the universe…at any cost.
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CHALLENGERS OF THE UNKNOWN OMNIBUS BY JACK KIRBY
Now in one amazing volume collecting SHOWCASE 6, 7, 11 and 12 and CHALLENGERS OF THE UNKNOWN #1-8, these are the original 1950s tales of four death defying adventurers and their incredible exploits.
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SHOWCASE PRESENTS: SHOWCASE VOL. 1
DC’s legendary try-out title is reprinted from the start for the first time!• Includes the debuts of the Silver Age FLASH, THE CHALLENGERS OFTHE UNKNOWN and ADAM STRANGE!• Collects SHOWCASE #1-21!
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SEVEN SOLDIERS OF VICTORY VOL. 2
As these heroes learn their place in the DC Universe, they must battle the alien threat of THE SHEEDA!• Collects MISTER MIRACLE #1-4, BULLETEER #1-4, ZATANNA #4, KLARION #4, FRANKENSTEIN #1-4 and SEVEN SOLDIERS OF VICTORY #1!
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JUSTICE
The Legion of Doom — led by LEX LUTHOR and BRAINIAC — band together to save the world after a shared vision of the Earth’s demise.• Collecting the best-selling 12-issue series!
Color/B&W: Color
Page Count: 384
U.S. Price: $29.99
On Sale Date: Jun 13 2012
ISBN:
Trim Size: Comic
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NIGHT FORCE
BARON WINTERS assembles the granddaughter of DRACULA’S greatest foe, a timelost warrior and a parapsychologist to battle an occult evil!• Collects NIGHT FORCE #1-14, the 1982 series from the creative team behind Tomb of Dracula.
The Legion of Super-Heroes finds itself stranded in a distant galaxy, on the home planet of the vicious alien race known as the Progeny, in this new hardcover collecting the cult favorite 12-issue epic. While some of our heroes struggle to repair their damaged spaceship, the rest attempt to forge an alliance with the peaceful Kwai.
In this new, original graphic novel from superstar writer/designer Chip Kidd and artist Dave Taylor, Gotham City is undergoing one of the most expansive construction booms in its history. The most prestigious architects from across the globe have buildings in various phases of completion all over town. As chairman of the Gotham Landmarks Commission, Bruce Wayne has been a key part of this boom, which signals a golden age of architectural ingenuity for the city. And then, the explosions begin.All manner of design-related malfunctions – faulty crane calculations, sturdy materials suddenly collapsing, software glitches, walkways giving way and more – cause casualties across the city. This bizarre string of seemingly random catastrophes threatens to bring down the whole construction industry. Fingers are pointed as Batman must somehow solve the problem and find whoever is behind it all.
The first volume of the series collecting the classic super hero series of the 1990s is now available in trade paperback. In these stories from issues #0-16 of the hit series, Jack Knight – antiques collector and dealer – inherits the name and powers of his father’s old Starman identity from his older brother, who has been assassinated.
Presenting the classic tale of the Dark Knight from writer Jeph Loeb and artist Tim Sale for the first time in DC’s upscale Absolute format!Collecting BATMAN: DARK VICTORY #0-13, this epic continues the story of THE LONG HALLOWEEN. It is early in Batman’s crimefighting career, when James Gordon, Harvey Dent, and the vigilante himself were all just beginning their roles as Gotham’s protectors.Once a town controlled by organized crime, Gotham City suddenly finds itself being run by lawless freaks, such as Poison Ivy, Mr. Freeze, and the Joker. Witnessing his city’s dark evolution, the Dark Knight completes his transformation into the city’s greatest defender. He faces multiple threats, including the seeming return of a serial killer called Holiday. Batman’s previous investigation of Holiday’s killings revealed that more than one person was responsible for the murders. So the question remains: who is committing Holiday’s crimes this time? And how many will die before Batman learns the truth?
For the first time ever, DC reprints the 1975 comics adaptation of the Bible, featuring the earliest chapters of the book of Genesis, including the stories of The Garden of Eden, the Flood, and Sodom and Gomorrah! Don’t miss this once in a lifetime hardcover edition!
After leaving Marvel Comics at the end of the 1960s, Jack Kirby came to DC Comics, where he soon created the series of superhero comics known collectively as “The Fourth World.” But before that came SPIRIT WORLD, a magazine that delved into the occult and the supernatural.Now, DC reprints that hard-to-find title for the very first time in this new hardcover, including four stories completed for the second issue that appeared in WEIRD MYSTERY TALES 1-3 and FORBIDDEN TALES OF DARK MANSION #6, plus a pin-up version of the striking cover image by Kirby and Neal Adams!
Don’t miss these grim tales of vengeance from the pages of SHOWCASE #60, 61 and 64, THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD #72, 75, 116, 180 and 199, THE SPECTRE #1-10, ADVENTURE COMICS #431-440, DC COMICS PRESENTS #29 and GHOSTS #97-99.
In the first installment of this classic storyline, the Dark Knight’s greatest enemies have all simultaneously escaped from Arkham Asylum and are preying on Gotham City. With his city under siege, Batman pushes his body to the limit as he takes on The Joker, the Mad Hatter, Poison Ivy, Killer Croc, The Riddler and the Scarecrow. But things get much worse when Bane, the man behind all the madness, confronts an exhausted Batman – and breaks his back.This massive first KNIGHTFALL volume collects BATMAN: VENGEANCE OF BANE SPECIAL #1, BATMAN #491-500, DETECTIVE COMICS #659-660, SHOWCASE ’93 #7 and 8 and BATMAN: SHADOW OF THE BAT #17-18, including chapters never previously reprinted.
The New Teen Titans battle threats large and small in this massive hardcover collecting NEW TEEN TITANS #21-40, TALES OF THE NEW TEEN TITANS #41-44, NEW TEEN TITANS ANNUAL #1- 2, TALES OF THE NEW TEEN TITANS ANNUAL #3 and BATMAN AND THE OUTSIDERS #5. Betrayal comes from one of their own when it’s revealed that their teammate Terra is secretly working for the Titans’ deadly enemy, Deathstroke the Terminator!
This massive, slipcased edition collects GREEN LANTERN #21-25, GREEN LANTERN CORPS #14-19 and GREEN LANTERN: SINESTRO CORPS SPECIAL #1! Sinestro – Hal Jordan’s former mentor and archnemesis – has gathered an army of soldiers fueled by the fear they instill in others, including Arkillo, Karu-Sil, the Cyborg- Superman and more of the most terrifying villains the universe has ever seen!
The first eight issues of the hot new series are collected in this new, deluxe edition hardcover – which now includes new BATMAN INCORPORATED: LEVIATHAN STRIKES #1! After Bruce Wayne tells the world that he is the financial backer of Batman, he establishes a worldwide franchise of Batmen to protect the entire globe. This is the beginning of a stunning new direction for the world’s greatest detective that will team him with Catwoman, Batwoman and Batman Incorporated representatives on international crimefighting missions against Lord Death Man in Japan, South America and Argentina. Then, from the pages of the LEVIATHAN STRIKES special, Batman realizes to his horror that he’s been outwitted as the true identity of Leviathan continues to elude him.
Once he was Hero of the Beach…and of the Doom Patrol. Now Flex Mentallo, Man of Muscle Mystery, returns to investigate the sinister dealings of his former comrade, The Fact, and a mysterious rock star whose connection to Flex may hold the key to saving them both.Don’t miss this deluxe hardcover collecting the four-issue miniseries from the team behind ALL-STAR SUPERMAN, including a special sketch section and recolored art.
A cult favorite series is collected at last, from HOUSE OF MYSTERY #290, 291, 293, 295, 297, 299, 302 and 304-319 and BRAVE AND THE BOLD #195! Vampiric Lord Andrew Bennett turned his beloved Mary Seward into a vampire, hoping to keep her by his side through eternity. But what happens when her power turns her evil?
The work of Alan Moore (WATCHMEN, V FOR VENDETTA, THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN) during the 1980s is a benchmark for great stories with fresh approaches to iconic characters. Collected in this volume are all of Moore’s Superman and Batman stories, including ACTION COMICS #583, BATMAN ANNUAL #11, BATMAN: THE KILLING JOKE, DC COMICS PRESENTS #85, DETECTIVE COMICS #549-550, GREEN LANTERN #188, THE OMEGA MEN #26-27, SECRET ORIGINS #10, SUPERMAN #423, TALES OF THE GREEN LANTERN CORPS ANNUAL #2 & 3, SUPERMAN ANNUAL #11 and VIGILANTE #17-18, plus VOODOO #1-4, DEATHBLOW: BY BLOWS #1-3 and more!
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A new title starring the adventures of Astro City’s most popular heroes, collecting ASTRO CITY: SAMARITAN #1, ASTRO CITY: ASTRA #1-2, ASTRO CITY: SILVER AGENT #1-2 and ASTRO CITY: BEAUTIE #1. Astra Furst, a third-generation super hero of Astro City, is graduating from college. It’s a time of friends and family, new opportunities, changing relationships – and danger! Featuring the First Family, the creatures of Monstro City, a new hero team and more on a graduation night nobody’s ever going to forget! Also in this volume: at last, the full story of the Silver Agent’s fateful journey through time is revealed – including his origin, his greatest battles and his ultimate fate. Plus, Samaritan has his annual dinner with the Infidel, and Beautie, the life-size super-powered fashion-doll member of Honor Guard, doesn’t know who she is. Now, she’s determined to get answers.
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Lots of good material there.
I hope the Swamp Thing softcover finally restores the lettering missing from one story page for the last decade.
Pushed Flex back again? Jesus DC. Hope you don’t cancel it outright like that golden age Shazam! Monster Society of Evil HC
Re: ignoring “Flashback,” that should be “Flashpoint.”
WOW! Sea Devils! The Losers! I, Vampire (in color, no less)!. I feel as giddy as a schoolgirl right now! Okay, as giddy as a fanboy.
And they are actually reprinting the treasury edition of The Bible? I never thought I’d see the day. I’ve had that issue all these years, and I’ve got to say it’s really impressive, particularly because it READS like a comic book. The panels are laid out well and they have tight, exciting composition by some strong artists, including Joe Kubert and Nestor Redondo.
Ouch… my wallet hurts.
I’ve been looking forward to the Spirit World collection for a while, but forty bucks for 108 pages? I don’t care that it’s “oversized.” That’s too bloody much.
Sinestro Corps War isn’t oversize??? Is that a misprint in the listing or are they seriously making it smaller than a normal absolute edition (and its “Part 1” of sorts, Absolute Green Lantern Rebirth)?
Right… “Flashback” were those reprints from the 70s, 80s, and 90s. No, wait… that was “Retroactive”.
“Flashback” will probably be the name of the next re-iteration, which fixes all of the problems of “Five Years Later”.
(Me, I’m hoping for a “hypertime” solution. Publish series without any universal tie-in. Got a cool idea for a title? Publish six issues, and if it takes off, sign the creator to a Sandman-style deal.)
As for Spirit World, DC probably had to do some restoration work. I imagine the film is long gone, and this would be similar to the work DC did on the original Archives volumes. Note the British pence stamp on the cover…
I felt that the Absolute Planetary volumes were also smaller than what I remember. They were worth the price. Sinestro? I don’t see it. Batwoman? Hell yeah! Astro City? No-brainer! And where’s “The Atlantis Chronicles” deluxe edition?!? Aquaman is outselling all of Marvel!
DC’s PR states it will be oversized:
http://www.dccomics.com/tags/absolute-green-lantern-sinestro-corps-war
Thanks for this! I’m overseas but still have a four color monkey on my back so articles like this are great to help me keep up my Amazon lists.
Hi Torsten… strange intro to your article. I’m reading atuff that says “moz screenshot 3 coming attractions” and what’s your reference to rescue a pretty girl? You lost me.
Nice rest-of-the-article though.
I’m pretty sure the reason for the Flex pushbacks have been Quitely’s slowness on getting his new sketches done.
I’ve had it on pre-order through Amazon for months now, and every few weeks I’ve received an automated email saying “It’s pushed back again…”
I also really, really hope it isn’t canceled. For all I know, the Charles Atlas people could threaten to sue again. I wish DC would have just put it out back in NOVEMBER without bothering to wait SIX MONTHS for Quitely to get done doing a couple more sketches or whatever.
That said, the listing on Amazon now shows a different (new?) cover. So I’m assuming that that’s what they were waiting for from Quitely. I do expect it to come out early next month. But given Quitely’s lateness and the unlucky stars that Flex Mentallo always seems aligned under, it really wouldn’t surprised me if it gets pushed back again if not canceled outright. Until I actually get my copy, I’m not taking anything for granted.
Sorry about the “moz”… that’s some weird remnant that occurs when I copy HTML from other sources. Usually I catch it when I proofreed.
As for the “pretty girl” comment…
DC is printing a Showcase edition of “Showcase”, which features Adam Strange.
Adam Strange is an archeologist hero who gets zapped by a zeta beam to the planet Rann, where he falls in love with a woman named Alanna. Which seems very similar to “John Carter of Mars”. Hence the Wikipedia link.
“John Carter” the movie uses “The Batman Gambit”, so they’re probably even.
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/BatmanGambit
For Mr. Igmus, Flex’s lateness is due to me taking too long to colour it, nothing to do with Frank. One upside though is the inclusion of scans of original pages which are now included because Frank dug up some artwork he had as I asked him if he had any originals, the files DC supplied varied in quality. So as I say lateness my fault, but it’s a better quality book due in large part to my effort.
Sorry about that.
When we gonna see “Crisis on Multiple Earths” Vol. 6?