DC Comics released their March 2014 solicitations of the DC New 52 and beyond. Below are the Top 5 solicits.
(5) Starfire’s Goddess Debuts
For long-time fans of the New Teen Titans from the 1980’s and even those DC New 52 fans of Red Hood and the Outlaws, you are likely familiar with Starfire – the orange hued alien Tamaranean warrior princess – and her common refrain of “X-Hal”. This is similar to what those may exclaim as “Jeez” or “god” or in Superman’s case “Rao”. Well in March 2014, Kyle Rayner – DC’s White Lantern – and his New Guardians meet X-Hal herself!
GREEN LANTERN: NEW GUARDIANS #29
Written by JUSTIN JORDAN
Art and cover by BRAD WALKER and DREW HENNESSY
On sale MARCH 19 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
The powerful God-Killers are coming for the Tamaranean goddess X’Hal – but she’s taken a VERY strong interest in Kyle Rayner! But is her dark side too much for Kyle to bear?
(4) Suicide Siren
Suicide Squad, in its current super-villain work-release programme incarnation, is a concept I have loved since it was introduced by wrote John Ostrander in the 1980’s. Since then, particularly in DC Comics’ New 52, it has become an important title for editorial. In March we get two helpings of the Suicide Squad.
The first is with a new standalone one-shot featuring Amanda Waller.
SUICIDE SQUAD: AMANDA WALLER #1
Written by JIM ZUB
Art by ANDRE COELHO
Cover by GIUSEPPE CAMUNCOLI
One-shot • On sale MARCH 26 • 48 pg, FC, $4.99 US • RATED T+
As head of both Suicide Squad and A.R.G.U.S., Amanda Waller has made a lot of enemies over the years. And now, without either of those groups at her disposal, one of those enemies has come to kill her! She must stop him all by herself or die trying…
The second is your usual monthly dose of the Squad in Suicide Squad #29.
SUICIDE SQUAD #29
Written by MATT KINDT
Art by PATRICK ZIRCHER
Cover by STEVE SKROCE
On sale MARCH 12 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+
The Squad must stop The Thinker from delivering OMAC to the Crime Syndicate, but with Belle Reve in ruins and the team betrayed by one of their own, do they really stand a chance?
(3) Earth 2’s Long Shadow
Like with the Suicide Squad concept, I have loved the concept of DC’s multiverse back to when I first encountered it in an ongoing series called All Star Squadron in the 1980’s. I then quickly gobbled up all the Justice League / Justice Society annual yearly cross-overs back to the Silver Age.
In the DC New 52, Earth 2 is an ongoing series that has carved its own destiny not tied to the World War II roots of the original Earth 2 Justice Society. It is a book that has fully embraced the alternate Earth concept and built up something fresh yet tied to DC’s storied legacy.
That book also casts a shadow into another title called Worlds’ Finest that features Earth 2’s Robin and Supergirl as Huntress and Power Girl “stuck” on the main DC Comics’ Earth a.k.a. Prime Earth according to DC Comics Co-Publisher Dan DiDio. In March, the cross-over between Worlds’ Finest and the Superman/Batman series continues.
BATMAN/SUPERMAN #9
Written by GREG PAK
Art and cover by JAE LEE
1:25 Robot Chicken Variant cover
On sale MARCH 5 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T
Combo pack edition: $4.99 US
Retailers: This issue will ship with three covers. Please see the order form for more information.
“First Contact” continues from last month’s explosive WORLD’S FINEST #20 as Batman, Superman, Huntress and Power Girl battle a massive new threat to the DC Universe! As Kaizan Gamorra unleashes the means to take down Superman, an unbelievable discovery is made that will have major repercussions in 2014!
This issue is also offered as a combo pack edition with a redemption code for a digital download of this issue.
WORLDS’ FINEST #21
Written by PAUL LEVITZ
Art by R.B. SILVA and JOE WEEMS
Cover by EMANUELA LUPACCHINO
On sale MARCH 12 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
The “First Contact” crossover with BATMAN/SUPERMAN reaches its conclusion as Kaizan Gamorra unleashes a plot to depower Power Girl and unlock the secrets of Superman of Earth 2!
In addition, March 2014 also brings us more alternate Earth with Earth 2 #21. Has Earth 2’s new all-powerful joined up yet?
EARTH 2 #21
Written by TOM TAYLOR
Art by NICOLA SCOTT and TREVOR SCOTT
Cover by KEN LASHLEY
1:25 Robot Chicken Variant cover
On sale MARCH 5 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Retailers: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the order form for more information.
Last issue’s major new addition to Earth 2 tests his new powers against the Parademon hordes!
(2) Forever Evil Concludes
Forever Evil reaches is climactic end in March 2014 and we also learn how the Justice Leagues finally escape their prison.
FOREVER EVIL #7
Written by GEOFF JOHNS
Art by DAVID FINCH and RICHARD FRIEND
Cover by DAVID FINCH
1:25 Robot Chicken variant
1:25 Variant cover by ETHAN VAN SCIVER
1:50 Variant cover by ETHAN VAN SCIVER
1:100 Variant cover by GARY FRANK
On sale MARCH 26 • 48 pg, FC, 7 of 7, $3.99 US • RATED T
Combo pack edition: $4.99 US
Retailers: This issue will ship with six covers. Please see the order form for more information.
It’s evil versus evil in the shocking “take-no-prisoners” conclusion to FOREVER EVIL! What will be the fate of Lex Luthor and his Injustice League? Who will live – and who will die? And why is The Hooded Man the most feared being from the Syndicate’s world? Do not miss this startling finale that will leave the DC universe reeling and reveal the secrets to the future!
This issue is also offered as a combo pack edition with a redemption code for a digital download of this issue.
While both the Justice League and Justice League of America series have tied into Forever Evil, it’s been the latter that has tackled the fate of the Justice Leagues after Trinity War. The great escape appears to happen in March.
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #13
Written by MATT KINDT
Art and cover by EDDY BARROWS and EBER FERREIRA
1:25 Robot Chicken Variant cover
On sale MARCH 12 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T
Combo pack edition: $4.99 US
Retailers: This issue will ship with three covers. Please see the order form for more information.
The fate of the Justice League revealed! Will Manhunter and Stargirl be alive long enough to learn the truth?
This issue is also offered as a combo pack edition with a redemption code for a digital download of this issue.
Justice League also ships in March with its 26th issue featuring DC’s big push on the Metal Men; all three Forever Evil mini-series – ARGUS, Arkham War and Rogues Rebellion – conclude and tie-into Forever Evil #7; plus the Justice League Dark centric Forever Evil Blight also concludes in March. A lot of Forever Evil for you all.
(1) DC Comics The New 41?
DC has moved from the New 49 in December 2013 to New 44 in January 2014 to the New 45 in February 2014 to the New 41.
In March 2014 DC officially cancels Batman: The Dark Knight with its 29th issue, Talon with its 17th issue and Animal Man with its #29th issue. Stormwatch is set for cancellation as announced by DC with its 30th issue in April 2014.
So, it would appear that April 2014 would need to launch at least ten new ongoing series to make its DC Comics “New 52″ branding accurate; DC has stated from the beginning that the New 52 referred to 52 ongoing series.
With Stormwatch’s cancellation in April, will DC launch a new series replace it in May 2014 so that DC has 52 ongoing series or will DC just launch all 11 new series and make April 2014 a one month DC New 53?
(BONUS) Page-Turner Superboy
Superboy is a book I can’t put down nowadays with all its time travel, alternate futures and teasing of the importance of Superboy to the Legion of Super-Heroes despite that book’s cancellation and its replacement by the Justice League 3000. It is isn’t even clear whether the LOSH is from Prime Earth’s future of an alternate Earth’s future as teased in LOSH’s final issue.
Looks like Superboy’s evil doppelgänger – the future son of Superman and Lois Lane – and his evil Legion of Super-Heroes take center stage in March 2014.
SUPERBOY #29
Written by SCOTT LOBDELL
Art and cover by ED BENES
1:25 Robot Chicken Variant cover
On sale MARCH 26 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Retailers: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the order form for details.
Superman and Starfire must deal with a cache of deadly alien weapons – and its horrifying impact on the innocents who find them! But first, these two heroes will have to stop fighting each other before someone ends up dead!
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