October 2013 DC Comics Diamond Previews Review
Time to close off the year 2013 with a look at the October Previews and product shipping beginning in December 2013. DC crosses the halfway mark with their crossover “Forever Evil” with the 4th issue of the 7 issue series. Geoff Johns is crafting the ultimate story of evil winning while still remaining tight lipped about the fate of the heroes, most notably the Justice Leagues. Speaking of the Justice Leagues Forever Evil continues to control Dark, of America, and the original Justice League.
Justice League #26 focuses its attentions on Grid and his actual motivation within the Crime Syndicate, while Justice League Dark #26 showcases the Sea King, who was dead the last time we saw him at the end of “Trinity War”. Both Sea King, and Grid, are two of the three new additions to the New 52 Crime Syndicate, and are two of the characters that fascinate me the most. Aquaman has risen in the ranks of prominence in the New 52, and the idea of an evil counterpart must mean one of the cruelest characters in the Syndicate. I envision the Sea King as a bitter Aquaman who transferred all of his frustrations with how he was perceived into pure, unadulterated evil. With the recent solicitations for the Syndicate action figures I hope that Grid and Sea King have action figure counterparts, maybe in a future 7 figure box set? Hint, hint DC Direct.
For crossover completists it should be noted that Forever Evil has three mini’s; A.R.G.U.S. #3, Rogues Rebellion #3 and Arkham War #3 solicited for December, in addition to visiting the pages of Suicide Squad #26, Constantine #9, Trinity of Sin: Pandora #6, and Trinity of Sin: The Phantom Stranger #14. With the just announced 18 part crossover: Forever Evil: Blight it seems that DC is trying really hard to push the Dark, and I hope it works. While it seems to be one of the more richly entwined corners of the New 52 universe that not enough people are trying.
When the Legion of Superheroes was cancelled, the last issue hinted at the Legion being part of a different universe, possibly Earth 2 and the reason for the clean slate would be Justice League 3000 #1 with the artist Howard Porter handling the drawing duties this time instead of the previously solicited Kevin Maguire. One thing in the solicitation that kind of raised my eyebrow was the description of Howard Porter as legendary. Don’t get me wrong I am a fan of his art, and enjoy how his style has evolved but I wouldn’t put him quite at the level of legendary, and I think soliciting it in that fashion is a bit of a slap to the face of Kevin Maguire who has done stellar work for DC, including the character, and career defining work of Justice League International. While I will be picking up Justice League 3000 #1 I think DC should revisit how they write solicitations.
Geoff Johns passes the reigns of Aquaman over to Jeff Parker, a strong writer whose best known work for DC is Batman ’66. Aquaman #26 widens the gap between Mera and Aquaman as the stress of ruling a kingdom that is under threat of destruction tests what there relationship means. I would love to see Mera headline her own mini-series. Her character has been wonderfully developed in the pages of Aquaman and it would be wonderful to see her shine on her own. DC has not had much luck with mini’s in the New 52 but I can hold out hope that Mera could get a chance to shine on her own.
Jeff Lemire (W) and Andrea Sorrentino (A) continue to mesh the television series Arrow with the New 52 series Green Arrow. Issue #26 of the series begins the Outsiders War. Oliver returns to the island where it all began. This run reminds me of the history that was created for Iron Fist over at Marvel when he last had his short lived series. Character defining with a rich tapestry that adds history, and evolves the character far beyond what they were. This book should be going home with more people.
With the digital first title Injustice: Gods Among Us coming to an end, that sadly means the end of the print series in issue #12. With the high sales this series receives in digital format it will surely return, probably in the form of mini-series, much like the Smallville model.
For those of you who missed any of the Villain month titles, DC is correcting their mistakes and releasing a complete set, including all 3-D motion covers, plus the Forever Evil #1 3-D motion cover variant. Even though these are second printings, it would make a nice set for any completest and I am debating picking up a set for myself.
Vertigo have a couple of notable releases in December. The Dead Boy Detectives, created in the pages of Neil Gaiman’s Sandman get their own monthly title from Toby Litt (W), Mark Buckingham (W, A) and Gary Erskine (A). The series kicks off with Edwin Paine and Charles Rowland returning to St. Hilarions to investigate their own deaths, and in the process are joined by Crystal, who becomes a detective in her own right, and brings the characters into a very modern world. This will be worth checking out for fans of Gaiman’s Sandman universe.
If you missed The Wake by Scott Snyder (W) and Sean Murphy (A) you have your chance in December with The Wake Part One #1, a collection of the first 5 issues of this underwater mystery adventure. Having read only the first issue I will be getting this to get caught up.
Astro City #7 by Kurt Busiek (W) and Brent Anderson (A) looks to play with the “trinity” of the Astroverse in a story that begins a 4 part epic focusing on Winged Victory, Samaritan, and Confessor.
And that is DC Comics and what they have for us in December. Coming up next, Marvel.