10 Thoughts on DC’s Solicits for 1/19/11 Comic Book Releases (Batman, Starman, Supergirl)

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1. Batman #706 by Tony Daniel

“A powerful relic, hidden and protected by an ancient order, falls into the hands of one of Batman’s deadliest foes! The Dark Knight and his allies are outnumbered and outmatched as they struggle to free themselves from their merciless adversary. With death and destruction imminent, Batman must make a crucial sacrifice…”

Seriously, this is one of the worst solicits I’ve ever read. It not only makes the story sound generic, but the enemy isn’t aptly foreshadowed at all (unless its Ra’s, and even then, too soon!). Worse yet, there’s no indication of which Batman is within the book and the cover is not only unattractive, but also doesn’t appear to be either of the current Bat Costumes.

2. Young Justice #0 by Greg Weisman, Kevin Hopps, and Mike Norton

“Based on the upcoming hit animated show from Warner Bros. debuting on Cartoon Network! Robin, Superboy, Kid Flash and Aqualad star in this explosive issue kickstarting an all-new ongoing series! They’re four young superheroes learning how to be a team…and maybe doing a bit of growing up along the way – but only just a little bit!”

People won’t read this because it’s a cartoon tie in, but I urge you to remember, so was Superman Adventures, which gave us Mark Millar. On top of that Weisman is a Gargoyles writer, and anyone old enough knows how awesome that show was. Add in Kevin Hopps, who did Spectacular Spider-Man, Marvel’s best show ever, and this is must-read.

3. Legion of Superheroes #9 by Paul Levitz and Yildiray Cinar

“The Durlan plot against the United Planets explodes before the Legion’s eyes with one assassin still free – and she’s the deadliest of them all! As far as one particular Legionnaire is concerned, the fight just became very, very personal!”

One, I liked the Durlans as being mostly harmless and well-intentioned despite people’s mistrust of them. It worked well with the Legion themes. Two, for people who don’t believe Authority changed superhero comics, try this out or Clairemont’s X-Men Forever and note the difference in storytelling.

4. Green Lantern Corps #56 by Tony Bedard, Tyler Kirkham and Batt

“The Sinestro Corps battles the Weaponer as the Green Lantern Corps finds itself caught in the middle of the mayhem! Will the GLC shatter its truce with the yellow fear masters to protect innocent Qwardians? Has the Weaponer brought doom upon his world? And what role does Firestorm play in this BRIGHTEST DAY tie-in?”

I… don’t want this to tie in with Brightest Day at all. This has been Bedard’s best story so far, with real intrigue to Sinestro handling a problem that both affects his daughter and Corps, while Kyle is desperately trying to do the right thing between a rock and a hard place. I dislike Brightest Day greatly and this cannot end well for me.

5. Brightest Day #18 by Geoff Johns, Peter Tomasi, Ivan Reis

“Hawkman and Hawkgirl pay a visit to the Star Sapphires, but with the Hawks’ connection to the cosmic corps, it looks like this meeting may end in bloodshed. And more even more blood may be drawn as Captain Boomerang hunts down Deadman and Dove!”

Blood, murder! I guess blood shines brightest in the sunlight. I really prefer the “Heroic Age” outlook to this doom and melodrama.

6. Power Girl # 20 by Judd Winnick and Sammi Basri

“Racing headlong into the adventure and turmoil of GENERATION LOST, Power Girl is hot on the trail of Max Lord – seeking answers and looking for payback. But a trip to Project Cadmus leaves her with a bit more than she can handle, and monstrously outnumbered.”

I have a huge amount of trouble taking Power Girl seriously with her terrible and absurd costume. Winnick has been all misses for me after his Outsider’s run. With those two true, I was in no way going to pick this up, but Grey Scherl having it as a Book You Should Be Buying convinced me to at least give it a look.

7. Superman/Batman #80 by Chris Roberson and Jesus Merino

“Okay, so not only is the 853rd century in dire peril, so is the 21st! Surely the combined might of the DC ONE MILLION Batman and Superman and the present-day Bats and Supes is enough to save the day, right? No? Shoot. Well, this looks like a job for Robin, The Toy Wonder! Written by up-and-comer Chris Roberson (CINDERELLA) with art by Jesus Merino (JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA)!”

I didn’t like Roberson’s Superman one iota, but then he’s working off someone else’s plot there. This, however, is far more like it, as Roberson is playing in the awesome sandbox of Grant Morrison, Abnett and Lanning, rather than the broken toy that is JMS’ Superman. Judge Roberson on this, if you must judge based on Superhero work, not his weak Superman. Seriously. Robin the Toy Wonder. If that doesn’t sell you, well, we just don’t get each other anymore, Nexus readers.

8. Supergirl #60 by Nick Spencer, James Peaty, and Bernard Chang

“SUPERGIRL welcomes aboard writer Nick Spencer (JIMMY OLSEN, T.H.U.N.D.E.R. AGENTS, Morning Glories) and artist Bernard Chang (WONDER WOMAN, SUPERMAN) for a Girl of Steel story unlike any other! Someone is trying to kill the young heroes of the DC Universe! Who is this villain, and how can Supergirl stop him? Maybe her friends can help – namely, Batgirl, Blue Beetle, Miss Martian, Static and…Robin?! Buckle up, folks, because this one puts the pedal to the metal on page one and doesn’t let up for a second!”

I don’t read Supergirl but I do read Nick Spencer. Spencer is a future superstar so he wins out. His iZombie and Jimmy Olsen backups are excellent. That Spencer breaks out favorites of mine like Batgirl, Blue Beetle and Robin for this really puts it over the top. This is must-read goodness and exactly what a solicit should do- get me excited for the book. You can hear an awesome Spencer interview over at War Rocket Ajax.

9. Batman: Streets of Gotham # 19 by Paul Dini, Dustin Ngyugen

“In the next chapter of “House of Hush,” a forgotten villain steps into the spotlight – Dr. Death! Batman is shocked to learn that the very first villain he ever faced once posed a deadly threat to his mother and father. Now, years later, the bad doctor is back, and Hush has him! Their sinister alliance spells destruction for all The Dark Knight holds dear!”

Dr. Death… right after Lord Death-Man in Batman, Inc is poorly coordinated and this does the opposite of the previous solicit, where despite a great creative team, we get Hush who’s bother overexposed and almost impossible to care about at this point, and some more origin related nonsense, because we don’t have nearly enough about that at this point. I miss Dini’s one and done stories.

10. Starman Omnibus Volume 6 by James Robinson and Peter Snejbjerg

“In this final STARMAN OMNIBUS hardcover featuring issues #61-81 of the classic series, Jack Knight’s worst nightmare becomes reality, as Opal City burns to the ground and chaos ensues, with hundreds of villains seizing the chance to strike.

Then, after a meeting with Superman and a last talk with his brother David, Jack must uncover the mystery of the Starman of 1951 — by going back in time to meet him face to- face!”

Check out the final cover here. It’s not on the DC site yet.

To go out on a good note, one of the best comic series ever has its collection wrapped up. It’s a shame this wasn’t around for Christmas or I would have had someone grab it for me. This is truly wonderful comics and I’d like to close by thanking DC for reprinting it in this manner.

Glazer is a former senior editor at Pulse Wrestling and editor and reviewer at The Comics Nexus.