Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Sensational Comics for September, 2010

Sorry for the posting delay, but I got tied up (rimshot!) Look for our first story synopsizes this week!



Wonder Woman
WONDER WOMAN #603
Written by J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
Art and cover by DON KRAMER & MICHAEL BABINSKI
1:10 “DC 75th Anniversary” Variant cover by J.H. WILLIAMS III
Diana discovers that the men out to kill her and the other surviving Amazons are only the tip of the iceberg...but can even Wonder Woman survive her battle with the horrific creatures called the Keres?
Retailers please note: This issue will ship with two covers. See the Previews Order Form for more information.
On sale SEPTEMBER 29 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US
Nice cover, but I'm really looking forward to that variant.
WONDER WOMAN: CONTAGION TP
Written by GAIL SIMONE
Art by AARON LOPRESTI, NICOLA SCOTT, MATT RYAN and DOUG HAZLEWOOD
Cover by NICOLA SCOTT
Five mysterious young men with a dark and terrible secret have arrived on Paradise Island with one mission: to kill Wonder Woman! Plus, Wonder Woman battles Power Girl and more in these stories from issues #40-44!
On sale October 13 • 128 pg, FC, $14.99 US

Tossing through these issues, I'm glad I dropped the trades.

JLA DELUXE EDITION BOOK 4 HC
Written by GRANT MORRISON
Art by HOWARD PORTER, JOHN DELL, DREW GERACI, ED MCGUINNESS, DEXTER VINES and FRANK QUITELY
Cover by HOWARD PORTER & JOHN DELL
In this latest deluxe edition HC collecting JLA #34 and 36-41, plus JLA CLASSIFIED #1-3, the team is up against a new, deadly Injustice Gang led by Lex Luthor. With Prometheus, the man who almost single-handedly defeated the JLA, as well as the General and Queen Bee, it looks as if the Justice League may lose even if they win.
This amazing new title also includes JLA: EARTH II, featuring the art of Frank Quitely, in which Ultraman, Owlman, Power Ring and Johnny Quick rule an alternate earth without mercy or opposition.
On sale November 10 • 368 pg, FC, 7.0625” x 10.875”, $34.99 US
A pretty lousy adventure for the Amazing Amazon, but what else is new? Once again working from the sidelines. Huntress also comes off less than stellar here...

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA: WHEN WORLDS COLLIDE TP
Written by DWAYNE MCDUFFIE • Art by ED BENES, SHANE DAVIS, SANDRA HOPE, JOSE LUIS and others
Cover by ED BENES
The heroes of Milestone Comics return to battle the Justice League in this title collecting JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #27, 28 and 30-34, now in paperback!
On sale October 20 • 176 pg, FC, $14.99 US
I've never read this. Not sure I'm gonna.

Icons: The DC Comics & Wildstorm Art of Jim Lee [Hardcover]
One of the most successful and popular artists to work in comics, Jim Lee is revered by fans worldwide thanks to his hyper-dynamic artwork and innovative character and costume design.

Now, his work on Batman and Superman — not to mention his legion of WildStorm heroes including WildC.A.T.s, Divine Right and Deathblow — is celebrated in this beautiful hardback, which includes an exclusive interview with Jim Lee, a tour of his studio and hundreds of full-colour illustrations and pencils spanning his entire career!

Plus an all-new cover by Lee and an exclusive, all-new eight-page comic strip, written by Paul Levitz (Legion of Super-Heroes) with art by Lee!
# Hardcover: 296 pages
# Publisher: Titan Books (August 17, 2010)
I like Lee, and hopefully someday we'll get some long form Wonder Woman work out of him... but only with a decent writer, please.

DC Super Heroes Ultimate Pop Up Book Deluxe Limited Edition
W/A) Matthew Reinhart Critically acclaimed pop-up engineer Matthew Reinhart celebrates the history, heroes, and villains of the DC Universe in this ultimate 3-D masterpiece! Bursting with over 25 impressive pop-ups, this deluxe format features a variety of unique novelty elements-including a light-up Bat-Signal, a cosmic Justice League of America battle scene, a twirling Lasso of Truth, and a transparent Invisible Jet! Starring Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, and many more favorite DC characters, this momentous pop-up exploration releases just in time for DC Comics' 75th Anniversary! Signed and numbered by Matthew, this stunning special edition also features a cloth slipcase and an exclusive extra pop-up, making it an absolute must-have for die-hard DC Super Hero fans of all ages! Limited to 250 copies worldwide!
MSRP: $250.00
Estimated to ship in Oct-2010
Um... no. Are you kidding? It's a pop-up book, not a hip, arty coffee table thing.

DC Comics: The 75th Anniversary Poster Book [Paperback]
Here are 100 of the most important, most incredible, and most bizarre comic-book covers from DC's incredible archives—all perforated and ready to display in your apartment, dorm room, or cubicle. From Action Comics #1 and Batman #1 to lesser-known heroes like Mister District Attorney, this oversized compilation features every major milestone in DC's extraordinary history: Wonder Woman, Swamp Thing, Watchmen, Fables, 100 Bullets, and much more.

On the reverse of each poster are images of related covers and entertaining commentary, often with remarks from the cover artists themselves. Complete with a foreword from longtime DC Comics veteran Paul Levitz, this amazing anthology is a must-have item for any comic-book fan.
208 pages
Publisher: Quirk Books (September 15, 2010)
$40.00 US
DC Adventures RPG Hero's Handbook: Super-Hero Roleplaying in the DC Universe [Hardcover]
Join the never-ending battle for truth and justice in the world's greatest super-hero universe, using the world's greatest super-hero roleplaying game! The DC Adventures Hero's Handbook is a complete super-hero RPG, based on the award-winning Mutants & Masterminds system. Take on the roles of legendary DC heroes like Superman, Batman, or Wonder Woman, or create your own! Get started right away with a wide selection of hero archetypes, or build from scratch using a comprehensive creation system. The Hero's Handbook provides everything you need for hours of adventure in the DC Universe, including all the rules of the game, an overview of the original comic-book setting, and details on major heroes and villains, complete with game information. It's all presented in gorgeous full-color, with art by some of DC's most famous illustrators. Experience super-hero adventure in the world that defined the genre: Become a hero of legend with the DC Adventures Hero's Handbook!
On sale August 31, 2010 • 256 pages, $39.95 US

Wonder Girl (Cassie Sandsmark)
TEEN TITANS #87
Written by FELICIA D. HENDERSON
Co-feature written by REX OGLE
Art by JOSÉ LUÍS & MARIAH BENES
Co-feature art by TED NAIFEH
Cover by EDUARDO PANSICA
The conclusion to “The Hunt for Raven” has arrived! The quest has ended, but what damage has it dealt to the Teen Titans? Who is left standing, and who is ready to walk away?
In the co-feature, the time has come for the Coven of Three to make their final choice: take the wishes they’ve earned and run – or save the world and lose everything forever!
On sale SEPTEMBER 29 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US

This damned book just keeps on trucking, eh?

TINY TITANS #32
Written by ART BALTAZAR & FRANCO
Art and cover by ART BALTAZAR
Enter the new kid at Sidekick City Elementary – Kalibak! Will he fit in? Will he join the Titans in the treehouse or hang out with the Fearsome Five on the playground? And what would Kalibak’s father, Lunch Lady Darkseid, say about all of this?
On sale SEPTEMBER 15 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US


Wonder Girl (Donna Troy)
NEW TEEN TITANS: GAMES HC
Written by MARV WOLFMAN & GEORGE PÉREZ
Art by GEORGE PÉREZ, MIKE PERKINS and AL VEY
Wraparound cover by GEORGE PÉREZ
Twenty years in the making, TEEN TITANS: GAMES is a can’t-miss for fans new and old. Harking back to the era when NEW TEEN TITANS was the best-selling monthly comic series comes this lost tale from legendary creators Marv Wolfman (CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS) and George Perez (FINAL CRISIS: LEGION OF THREE WORLDS) starring their fan-favorite characters just in time for the NEW TEEN TITANS’ 30th anniversary!
Set in the 1980s during the height of the New Teen Titans popularity, this stand–alone hardcover features a mysterious villain playing a deadly game with New York City as the game board–and the Teen Titans as the pieces! Like something out of a time capsule, this never-before-seen epic is the New Teen Titans story from their original creators that has never been told...until now!
On sale NOVEMBER 3 • 144 pg, FC, $24.99 US
My eyes bugged at this. Man, the Games ball has been dropped so many times, I never thought it would be completed. Shame I'm at least fifteen years out from caring.
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #49
Written by JAMES ROBINSON
Art by POW RODRIX
Cover by MARK BAGLEY & ROB HUNTER
1:10 Variant cover by FRANCIS MANAPUL
The BRIGHTEST DAY shines a spotlight on Jade as she adjusts to the repercussions of the JLA/JSA crossover. She and Donna Troy head to the San Francisco Bay area to make themselves a new home but are confronted with old and new threats – including the New Teen Titans!
Retailers please note: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the Previews Order Form for more information.
On sale SEPTEMBER 22 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US
I keep forgetting that the Titans are now the JLA, and the Brotherhood of Evil is now the Titans.
DC UNIVERSE LEGACIES #5
Written by LEN WEIN
Art by GEORGE PEREZ & SCOTT KOBLISH and WALTER SIMONSON with SCOTT KOLINS
Cover by GEORGE PEREZ & SCOTT KOBLISH
1:25 Variant cover by WALTER SIMONSON
Red Skies hang over the entire DC Universe as each and every hero on Earth gathers for what will be the first in a series of universe-spanning Crises!
Meanwhile, Walter Simonson helps us shift the focus from Earth to the heroes of outer space – and beyond!
Retailers please note: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the Previews Order Form for more information.
On sale SEPTEMBER 15 • 5 of 10 • 40 pg, FC $3.99 US
I'm not 100% sure whether Wonder Woman existed at this point or not. She was in the actual COIE, but retroactively removed in Legends, then Hippolyta would have taken her place after Byrne, but Dan Didio now says there was no Golden Age Wonder Woman after all. Diana seemed to be restored as a JLA founder following Infinite Crisis but who knows? In an amazing turnabout, Donna's clearly in continuity here.

Giganta
SECRET SIX #25
Written by GAIL SIMONE
Art by J. CALAFIORE
Cover by DANIEL LUVISI
This is the showdown you’ve been waiting for, as two Secret Six teams head for a nasty collision! Who is left standing, and will there even be a Secret Six when the dust settles? Bad guy guests galore in this explosive issue!
On sale SEPTEMBER 1 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

Another Wonder Woman foe making the rounds outside her book? Well cool then.

The Huntress
BIRDS OF PREY #5
Written by GAIL SIMONE
Art by ALVIN LEE
Cover by ALINA URUSOV
Join writer Gail Simone and guest artist Alvin Lee as two Birds track down a missing team member in Thailand...where someone is hunting them to make sure they never return! Plus, the shocking events of BRIGHTEST DAY continue to rock Hawk and Dove, the newest recruits to Oracle’s organization!
On sale SEPTEMBER 15 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US
I'm afraid I missed Huntress last month, but I'll keep her regular from now on.

7 comments:

mathematicscore said...

Yeah, the Benes JLA is sorta worth the time, but certainly not the money.

Tom Hartley said...

If Wonder Woman's status as a JLA founding member has finally been restored (now that the "new" Wonder Woman has been around for 20 years), wouldn't that necessitate her having participated in Crisis? (Unless the Crisis has retroactively been placed prior to the founding of the JLA, which would only create more confusion, which, of course, is standard operating procedure for modern super-hero comics.)

Diabolu Frank said...

M.C., I'll be reading and reviewing some McDuffie/Benes stuff in the near future. Not as terrible as I'd heard, but not exactly good, either.

Tom: Yes. No. Possibly. Definitely maybe. What was the question again?

Tom Hartley said...

Sorry about the confusion. I was referring to your comment on DC LEGACIES #5, which takes place during Crisis. You wonder if the current version of DC history, which restores Wonder Woman as a JLA founding member, also has Wonder Woman participating in Crisis.

Diabolu Frank said...

Just being sarcastic about the messy continuity, my friend.

Tom Hartley said...

Speaking of confusion, why are they even doing another Crisis story? Is it a "lost" episode from Crisis? A retelling of part or all of Crisis with some retroactive continuity "fixes"? I'm left with the question I ask about 90% of what DC (and Marvel) publishes these days: What the hell is the f###ing point?

Diabolu Frank said...

I asked myself that about the whole Legacies concept. Is anyone reading this? Does it matter?