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And here I thought since there's a holiday this coming weekend there wouldn't be any comic news to talk about. Luckily, the March solicitations are out!

First of all: Azrael got cancelled. I think we all knew that was coming. I'm just surprised it took so long. I'm sure my co-blogger will have more to say about that later in the week. Now on with the show!

GREEN LANTERN: EMERALD WARRIORS #8
Written by PETER J. TOMASI
Art by FERNANDO PASARIN & CAM SMITH
Cover by FELIPE MASSAFERA
1:10 Variant cover by TYLER KIRKHAM & BATT
In “War of the Green Lanterns” part 3, it’s the main event! Guy Gardner vs. Hal Jordan – winner take all!
Retailers please note: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the Previews Order Form for more information.
On sale MARCH 30 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

"War of the Green Lanterns," huh? I think I remember hearing about that, but DC doesn't seem to be pushing it the same way they did with Blackest Night and Brightest Day. I will say this, though: if anyone is going to win a war between the Green Lanterns of Earth it's going to be this Guy:

Hal Jordan doesn't stand a chance.

XOMBI #1
Written by JOHN ROZUM
Art and cover by FRAZER IRVING
1:10 Variant cover by BRENDAN MCCARTHY
You can’t keep a good XOMBI down! The immortal David Kim – kept “alive” by nanotech enhancements – returns to the DC Universe in a new ongoing series! Creator John Rozum and hot BATMAN AND ROBIN artist Frazer Irving team up to deliver the finest in contemporary urban horror – with a Super Hero twist! As an undying, unchanging Xombi, David Kim must watch the world consume itself and burn while humanity grows more distant from each other due to the rise of technology. What would a Xombi do just to feel change again? And where will he ever be able to find a kindred soul?
On sale MARCH 16 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

I've expressed my love of the previous XOMBI before. I can't say much more than that here. But I do want to urge everyone who has a few extra bucks to at least try XOMBI #1. I really don't want this book to be canceled early. I want it to get at least two years. Maybe more. Give it a shot!

BIRDS OF PREY #10
Written by GAIL SIMONE
Art by INAKI MIRANDA
Cover by STANLEY “ARTGERM” LAU
This is it! The astonishing conclusion to “The Death of Oracle,” featuring nearly everyone whose life has been touched by Oracle – villain and hero! How will the DCU operate without its premier infojock, and how will this event affect the Birds of Prey? All this, plus a fan-favorite operative works with the Birds for the first time ever!
On sale MARCH 9 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

Okay, a few things: what is Barbara wearing? Could the "fan-favorite" be one of my favorites? And what exactly is Gail Simone planning with this book? When Birds of Prey came back I expected it to be pretty similar to what came before. But it hasn't been. It's been different, in a good way. And if Cassandra Cain shows up? All the better.

ACTION COMICS #899
Written by PAUL CORNELL
Art by PETE WOODS
Cover by DAVID FINCH & BATT
Lex Luthor has left no stone unturned in his quest for the Black Lantern energy, but he’s not the only one searching for it – Brainiac wants the energy and the knowledge it offers all to himself. Trust us, this is gonna be the most vicious Luthor/Brainiac team-up ever. It all sets the stage for both a conclusion and a beginning in next month’s historic ACTION COMICS #900, featuring the return of you-know-who…
On sale MARCH 30 • 32 pg, FC $2.99 US

Is this the end for the greatest villain of them all? If this is the end of Lex Luthor's story in Action I'll be okay with that. But honestly? I want the April solicitations to offer up Lex Luthor #1 written by Paul Cornell. Make it happen, DC.

According to the February solicitations (and a post on the Source) the next big Superman event involves... Doomsday?

Forgive my bluntness, but hasn't Doomsday been, well, done to death? The character made a big splash (not surprisingly) during the Death and Return of Superman arc in which he was introduced. There, Doomsday served his purpose well: as a nigh unstoppable force of nature which only Superman could stop And only then at the cost of his own life. Doomsday was really more of a prop than anything else. A tool to set up the much more interesting "Return" part of the equation.

But rather than let the MacGuffin fade away DC kept bringing Doomsday back. Over and over again. Bits were added to his origin along with intelligence, drive, and any number of other things. And the result was a monster villain that became a muddled mess.

Each further appearance was less interesting that the one that came before. Eventually we got to Infinite Crisis (which I believe was Doomsday's last appearance up until now) and Doomsday was beaten by a pair of Supermen in something like two pages. Whatever power he had as a character was wiped out then and there.

Which brings me to this storyline (apparently called "Reign of Doomsday") where Doomsday shows his face for the first time in a number of years. Now it's true that I have a fondness for some of these characters (like Doomsday) that were created in the 90's. But unless the writers of this story can bring back that "force of nature" feeling to Doomsday while instilling the character with a new sense of menace (no easy feat) I'll probably end up passing the story by.

Good Lord... It's the DC December solicitations. That puts us only months away from the dawning of the terrifying year 2011. It sounds like the future, but it feels like... Now.

Anyway, solicitations! What looks good and what looks bad in the final month of 2010? Let's see, shall we?

AZRAEL #15
Written by DAVID HINE
Art by CLIFF RICHARDS
Cover by GUILLEM MARCH
The prophecy is fulfilled! Azrael has been found crucified, and a mystery swirls around his fate. It’s time for the world’s greatest detective to step in and figure out how this destiny came to pass. And how will this continue to play into the founding of Batman, Inc? Guest-starring The Dark Knight!
On sale DECEMBER 22 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

What the..? I know one of my co-bloggers has been exploring this issue, but really? This comic is still going on? It seems bizarre that a solo comic featuring a spin-off character from an event who is a legacy character of a replacement character could make it to fifteen issues. Is it selling really well or something? Only eight-six issues to go if they want to break the record...

KNIGHT & SQUIRE #3
Written by PAUL CORNELL
Art by JIMMY BROXTON
Cover by YANICK PAQUETTE & MICHAEL LACOMBE
Cyril and Beryl have the fight of their lives on their hands when Shakespeare’s most evil monarch, Richard III, returns! And he’s brought with him a cloned army of all the worst Kings of England, intent on taking back the country through the use of social networking! Yes, that’s the plot!
On sale DECEMBER 8 • 3 of 6 • 32 pg, FC $2.99 US

I may be one of those people who think Richard was actually innocent, but that doesn't mean I'm not looking forward to this story. Paul Cornell has been doing fantastic stuff with Lex Luthor over in Action, and I want to see how well his wacky DC Universe Britain stacks up with the second-hand information I've received from British friends...

ACTION COMICS ANNUAL #13
Written by PAUL CORNELL
Art by MARCO RUDY and ED BENES
Cover by ETHAN VAN SCIVER
While present-day Lex Luthor is busy fighting an array of the DCU's most vile foes over in ACTION COMICS, this annual takes a look back at two formative encounters Luthor had before he became the bald mad genius we know and love (to hate) today! Marco Rudy illustrates a story of young Lex and Darkseid, while Ed Benes tackles a tale starring Luthor and Batman foe Ra's al Ghul!
On sale DECEMBER 1 * 56 pg, FC $4.99 US

Speaking of Paul Cornell... This is going to be a hell of a lot of fun. I imagine in thirty-two scant pages Mr. Cornell will prove once again why Lex Luthor is the greatest villain in the DC Universe. Those other guys don't stand a chance...

JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #46
Written by MARC GUGGENHEIM
Art by SCOTT KOLINS
Cover by SHANE DAVIS & SANDRA HOPE
With Monument Point still down after Scythe's devastating attack on U.S. soil, looting begins! Enter Collatoral Damage, a new team of villains set to lay claim to the riches yet to be found in the rubble of the once great American city! Luckily, there are new heroes flooding into the JSA's new hometown to help stabilize and rebuild alongside Earth's First Super Hero Team!
On sale DECEMBER 29 * 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

I'm intrigued by Marc Guggenheim's upcoming run on JSA. Some will say that taking the JSA away from New York is a bad idea. But I've always been a fan of the "Fictionopolis" model. You can't really build a city if you have to deal with the real thing. Here's hoping Monument Point will be a welcome -- and refreshing -- member of DC's league of cities.

That's all for tonight... What are you looking forward to at the close of this year?

And... We're back! I had a good week off, but I'm happy to be diving back into the world of blogging. It's become a semi-daily routine for me, and being without it for a week has left a strange, empty feeling inside me.

You know what else has left an empty feeling inside me? A lack of Freedom Fighters comics. I really enjoyed the two Freedom Fighters minis that Palmiotti and Gray put out a few years ago. And I really wish there could be more.

What's that you say? A Freedom Fighters ongoing has been announced? Why, that's exactly what I want!

In all seriousness, I was really surprised to see the new ongoing announced. There hasn't been a Freedom Fighters comic since the last mini, and that was quite a while ago. I enjoyed them a lot, but I just figured that there wasn't enough buzz to warrant another mini-series -- let alone an ongoing.

But then, maybe there wasn't. DC these days seems to like throwing stuff at the wall and seeing what sticks. Nobody was clamoring for a Magog ongoing. The new direction of Titans isn't something people seem all that excited about either. And let's not get into The Rise of Arsenal.

Still, I'm happy to see the book. Uncle Sam and his motley gang of patriotic heroes are a lot different from most of the characters in the DC Universe. I feel like there is a place for them, and I hope this ongoing is it.

Not much to talk about for the August solicits. I mean, only half a dozen of these DCU titles haven't already been "previewed." Interesting to note that Magog has been canceled at issue #12. I think we all saw that one coming. I give Azrael until the end of its current story arc.

But then, this is just me being cranky because I'm tried. I'm trying to rush this post of so I can get to bed. I'm taking a two week Chinese language class here at the beginning of the summer and I have to get up early for it. Spoiler: for an English speaker Chinese is really hard. I think it's the hardest language I've dealt with yet.

Anyway, Guy Gardner's new series starts this month. I think that's probably the thing I'm most excited about. I used to not like Guy. Then I started to realize that the brain-damaged sycophant that was in the JLI wasn't really Guy Gardner. And that the real guy was actually pretty freakin' awesome. Thanks for that, Kalinara.

I continue to be mildly annoyed at one Geoff Johns. Consider the recent solicitations for Green Lantern. On the cover we are once again treated to the gruesome, drooling visage of one Hector Hammond.

Is this what you want to see when you pick up your weekly comics? Hector Hammond is neither attractive nor charming. He's not even a particularly effective nemesis. He just sits there whining about how he wishes he were Hal Jordan.

Know this: I have never wished I was Hal Jordan. Indeed, I would not wish the fate of being Hal Jordan on my greatest enemy. Incidentally, my greatest enemy happens to be Hal Jordan.

But I digress. My main point should be clear right now: why is Johns reusing Hammond and not Doctor Polaris? This "Brightest Day" gives ample opportunity to bring back the greatest of Hal Jordan's adversaries.

Instead, Johns gives us poor, deluded, sick in the head Hector. A travesty. Know this Geoff Johns: I have been patient with you. But even my compassion has limits. Do what you know you must do or face the consequences.

Well, there's nothing like a nice long weekend to rejuvenate you. Or so they say. In reality, my first day back at school has been exhausting. As such, I'm not going to write a big long post for tonight.

Still, let's talk about severed limbs.

Specifically, I want to talk about what happened in Cry for Justice. The now infamous "severing of Roy Harper's arm." It was a pretty graphic scene. I'm not sure it was entirely necessary and I don't know if the character direction they've decided to go with is the right one.

What I do know is that far too many people are simplifying the matter. I heard grousing about how it wasn't a big deal as he was once on a team with a guy who had multiple cybernetic limbs. Seeing as he was going to get a new arm, having his arm removed wasn't a big deal.

Those people were right about one thing: he did get a cybernetic arm. From the looks of it it's Cyborg's technology as well. That certainly makes story sense; the guys are good friends.

But as the solicitation says, "getting a prosthetic arm doesn’t make him whole again." The trauma of what happened to Roy Harper isn't merely physical. Such things never are. And though I'm still not sure they took the right direction (in fact, I think they probably didn't) that doesn't mean that they can't turn it into an interesting story. I really hope they do, even if I probably won't be reading it...

RRARRR! Black Lantern Azrael here to talk about the solicitations for March. Did you jerks notice that they mentioned my old employer the Order of St. Dumas? What do you think that means?

I don't care what you think. Know that I think it means they might actually mention me. They'd better, or I'm going to march right up and tear out Michael Lane's heart. Of course, I'm probably going to try and do that anyway. RRARRRR!

Where's the Azrael/Blackest Night crossover, huh? Stupid new Azrael probably can't carry a book for too long without some sort of big name crossover. Give me the chance to fight my replacement. I've earned that much, haven't I? RRARRR!

Okay, let's do this, folks. They came out on Monday but I'm talking about them now. February 2010 solicits. Hit it.

ADVENTURE COMICS STARRING BLACK LANTERN SUPERBOY #7
On Sale February 10 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US
Written by Tony Bedard • Art by Travis Moore • Covers by Francis Manapul
TOP SECRET!
Retailers please note: This issue will ship with two covers. For every 10 copies of the Standard Edition (with a cover by Francis Manapul), retailers may order one copy of the Variant Edition (with a cover by Francis Manapul and renumbered ADVENTURE COMICS #510). Please see the Previews Order Form for more information.

There are a lot of Blackest Night tie-ins this month. But this one is the one I want to talk about. What do you think they mean when they "Black Lantern Superboy"? Consider: during Legion of Three Worlds Superboy was resurrected a thousand years in the future from a body that had been rejuvenating under the Fortress of Solitude for that long. In the present that corpse is still there. How creepy is that?

BATMAN AND ROBIN #8-9
Issue #8 on sale February 10 • Issue #9 on sale February 24 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US
Written by Grant Morrison • Art and Variant covers by Cameron Stewart • Covers by Frank Quitely
BATMAN AND ROBIN double-ships in February with part 2 and 3 of “Blackest Knight” guest-starring Batwoman, Knight and Squire! Only months into his new role as Batman, Dick Grayson faces perhaps the biggest threat of his life. In hopes of attaining his heart’s desire, has Dick instead unleashed a terror the likes of which the world has never seen?
Meanwhile, back in Gotham City, Alfred and a recuperating Robin are at the mercy of someone both fearsome and familiar...
Retailers please note: Both of these issues will ship with two covers each. For every 25 copies of the Standard Editions (with covers by Frank Quitely), retailers may order one copy of the Variant Editions (with covers by Cameron Stewart). Please see the Previews Order Form for more information. Issue #8 on sale February 10; issue #9 on sale February 24 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

Look, I know I'm supposed to like Dick Grayson as "Batman." Everybody else does. But I don't. I want the real Batman back. I want Bruce Wayne. I want the Batman I've known for my whole life and then some.

Good God, is this what the Hal Jordan fans felt like?

JUSTICE LEAGUE: CRY FOR JUSTICE #7
On Sale February 24 • 7 of 7 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US
Written by James Robinson • Art and cover by Mauro Cascioli
This is the big one! After the catastrophes seen in issues #5 and #6, a hero loses control, leading to an unexpected ending that will fundamentally change the lives of the World’s Greatest Heroes forever. This issue launches a major storyline in the DC Universe and is not to be missed!

The guy has a quiver on his back. Between this and "Black Lantern Green Arrow #30" what the hell is going on with Green Arrow?

We keep hearing that he's a character to watch next year. But I don't have any idea what is supposed to happen. And what's the deal with him being a Black Lantern? Did a black ring somehow regenerate a body from the bits that Parallax didn't use to reconstruct Ollie's body? Or does Green Arrow die in Cry for Justice #7?

Full solicits for January are up. Let's have a look see at what we haven't seen yet.

GREEN LANTERN #50
Written by Geoff Johns
Art and cover by Doug Mahnke & Christian Alamy
Variant cover by Jim Lee
Sketch Variant cover by Doug Mahnke
BLACKEST NIGHT spreads with an oversized anniversary issue! Surrounded by friends and enemies, Hal Jordan goes into battle with a being he will never defeat – the Black Lantern Spectre! Can Saint Walker, Sinestro and the others put a stop to this bizarre Spectre rebirth?
Plus, Atrocitus reveals a tie to a power that may make him the most unbeatable of all the Lanterns!
Retailers please note: This issue will ship with three covers. For every 25 copies of the Standard Edition (with a cover by Doug Mahnke & Christian Alamy), retailers may order one copy of the Variant Edition (with a cover by Jim Lee). For every 100 copies of the Standard Edition, retailers may order one copy of the Sketch Variant Edition (with a cover by Doug Mahnke). Please see the Previews Order Form for more information.
On sale January 27 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US

So many Blackest Night tie-ins this month! And so many more damn variant covers.

Really, I've come to expect this variant cover crap. But it just seems to get excessive. Does anybody really buy multiple covers of the same comic? I mean, if you really like the cover I can see it. Is there any other good reason? It's not like any of these comics are ever going to be worth anything...

AZRAEL #4
Written by Fabian Nicieza
Art by Ramon Bachs & John Stanisci
Cover by Francesco Mattina
Guest-starring Batman! A murder weapon that could shatter Michael Lane's life. Azrael's sword of justice turned against the woman he loves. A Dark Knight forced to protect a murderer. If the truth is a lie, what do Batman and Azrael do when justice demands a killer go unpunished?
On sale January 20 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

Wow. I'm still on the fence about this new Azrael series, but I'll say this for this issue at least: it's got one of the prettiest covers of the month. Seriously, if you haven't seen it yet you should take a peek. If it's true that covers can sell a comic this one ought to fly off the shelves.

ADVENTURE COMICS #6
Written by Geoff Johns
Art and covers by Francis Manapul
Geoff Johns and Francis Manapul say goodbye (for now) to Superboy with a spectacular 30-page issue! Ever since Superboy returned from the grave, he has been obsessed with Lex Luthor, believing that there must be some good in the master villain somewhere. So for Luthor, it’s time to put up or shut up. With Superman off planet, it’s time to do some good for the planet earth. Superboy is willing to do what it takes to make Lex’s dreams come true, but what Superboy will discover is that one man’s dreams, are another man’s nightmares.
Retailers please note: This issue will ship with two covers. For every 10 copies of the Standard Edition (with a cover by Francis Manapul), retailers may order one copy of the Variant Edition (with a cover by Francis Manapul and renamed and renumbered ADVENTURE COMICS #509). Please see the Previews Order Form for more information.
On sale January 13 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US

I like dinosaurs.

And that's all I've got to say. It's been a somewhat rough day for me, so I can't really muster up the strength for much more tonight. Hopefully Az or Doctor P can pick up some of the slack for me tomorrow...

What manner of madness is this? A post on Saturday? Well, I've found myself with some unexpected free time here betwixt this thing and that thing. So I figured I'd throw one up. I can't always take the weekend off, now can I?

A few of the January solicitations are up already.Seeing as they are there I don't see any good reason why I should wait for Monday and the full solicits before I start talking about them.

BATMAN #695
Written by Tony Daniel
Art by Tony Daniel & Sandu Florea
Cover by Tony Daniel

The unthinkable happens when Batman and the Penguin join forces to thwart the mass murder and mayhem of their common foe, the Black Mask. Plus, Batman confronts an adversary from days past who has a score to settle with The Dark Knight.
On sale January 13 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

"An adversary from days past"? Looking at that cover I can only assume that this is a reimagining of... The Reaper! (Incidentally, I'm pretty sure that the Reaper was the inspiration for the Phantasm in Batman: Mask of the Phantasm but I don't have any concrete evidence to back it up. Still, it would make sense, no?)

JUSTICE LEAGUE: CRY FOR JUSTICE #6
Written by James Robinson
Art and cover by Mauro Cascioli

After a shocking loss, Prometheus reveals an even greater threat to the team than they thought possible! How will this new crisis change the face of the DC Universe? Find out in the penultimate chapter of this groundbreaking miniseries event!
On sale January 27 • 6 of 7 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US

Wait, he's throwing CDs? Seriously? C'mon Prometheus. This is the 21st century. It's all digital. But I guess you can't whack guys in the face with an iPod...

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #41
Written by James Robinson
Art and covers by Mark Bagley & Rob Hunter

Be here for the start of a new Justice League era! The JLA have been getting a pounding in the last couple of months, but NO MORE! The team regroups with a new roster that will transcend time and space! Make way for the World’s Greatest Heroes – Batman, Green Lantern, the Atom, Green Arrow, Donna Troy, the Guardian, Cyborg, Mon-El, Starfire, Dr. Light and, yes, Congorilla!

This issue features two covers by Mark Bagley which are seperately orderable. Cover A features Green Lantern and Green Arrow; Cover B features Batman and Mon-El. The cover images will be revealed online before the issue’s Final Order Cutoff date.
On sale January 20 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US

Despite what we've been getting from Cry For Justice I'm actually really excited about this. Even though it doesn't make any sense, I actually blame the art for a lot of the problem with Cry for Justice.

Really, though, I'm just excited to see the Guardian and Mon-El in the frickin' Justice League. I love what Robinson has done with them, and I'm really excited to see what he'll do with them and all the rest of the team.

Well, the solicitation for the third issue of the new Azrael series is out. And still no mentioning of me.

But hey, it's not like I'm upset or bitter or anything. Oh, dear St. Dumas no. There's nothing wrong with ignoring the guy who started the whole Azrael legacy in comics (setting aside my ancestors who held the position before me).

That said, how long do you think this guy's comic will last? Eleven issues? Fifteen? I'm going with the middle ground and guessing thirteen.

Oh, and in case you forgot my series ran for one hundred issues. I'd like to see the new guy beat that.

Oh, you know it's time for solicitations!

What, pray tell, do we have in store for the month of December?

BLACKEST NIGHT #6
Written by Geoff Johns
Art and cover by Ivan Reis & Oclair Albert
Variant cover by Rodolfo Migliari
Sketch variant cover by Ivan Reis
The secrets of Nekron are revealed as darkness consumes the DC Universe.
Everything else: TOP SECRET.
Retailers please note: This issue will ship with three covers. For every 25 copies of the Standard Edition (with a cover by Ivan Reis & Oclair Albert), retailers may order one copy of the Variant Edition (with a cover by Rodolfo Migliari). For every 100 copies of the Standard Edition, retailers may order one copy of the Sketch Variant Edition (with a cover by Ivan Reis). Please see the Previews Order Form for more information.
On sale December 23 • 6 of 8 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US

Well, Blackest Night will be hitting the home stretch. But what will we see? Wait, TOP SECRET? I suppose that means we're going to get some sort of continuity altering event? Maybe, maybe not. Regardless, I'm sure we'll get more super-powered zombies ripping out peoples' hearts...

SUPERMAN: WORLD OF NEW KRYPTON #10
Written by Greg Rucka & James Robinson
Art by Pete Woods
Cover by Gary Frank
Variant cover by Dustin Nguyen
New Krypton is a planet so fresh, s experiencing countless things for the first time. Its first spring. Its first blooms. Its first birth of a child. And now its first homicide. When an important figure in Kandor is murdered, the suspect seems obvious to everyone but Superman. But can he make Zod or the Council believe this is more than an open-and-shut case? And can he uncover the real killer in time to save the life of the accused? s a dark mystery, but R.E.B.E.L.S. star Adam Strange arrives in time to help find answers& even though the truth may blow apart the civilized trappings of Kandorian society in the process.
This action-packed arc leads all the way to the series final issue, which itself sets the stage for huge happenings in the DC Universe next summer!
Retailers please note: This issue will ship with two covers. For every 25 copies of the Standard Edition (with a cover by Gary Frank), retailers may order one copy of the Variant Edition (with a cover by Dustin Nguyen). Please see the Previews Order Form for more information.
On sale December 2 • 10 of 12 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

It sounds like something big is brewing for next summer with the Superman books. I'm actually looking forward to that even more than I'm looking forward to the post-Blackest Night status quo.

Oh, and my prediction is this: the "murderer" is Superman's New Krypton "pal."

JSA ALL-STARS #1
Written by Matthew Sturges
Art and cover by Freddie Williams II
Variant cover by Ryan Sook
An all-new ongoing series! The Justice Society spin off group struggles to pull itself toward some semblance of order after the s devastating split! New home base, new training methods, new villains all bringing the JSA All-Stars face-to- face with one of their greatest villains again for the first time! Join writer Matthew Sturges (JUSTICE SOCIETY, JACK OF FABLES) and artist Freddie Williams II (ROBIN) for a new chapter in the JSA legacy.
Retailers please note: This issue will ship with two covers. For every 25 copies of the Standard Edition (with a cover by Freddie Williams II), retailers may order one copy of the Variant Edition (with a cover by Ryan Sook). Please see the Previews Order Form for more information.
On sale December 2 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US

The big JSA split happens this month, and I'm still not sure what I want to do. I have favorites on both teams as well as characters I don't like on both teams. Also, I don't have infinite money. What's a guy to do? I'll probably at least try out the first issue of All-Stars. But who knows if I'll stick with it. I mean, it's got Magog.

POWER GIRL #7
Written by Jimmy Palmiotti & Justin Gray
Art and cover by Amanda Conner
A blast from the past! The alien Vartox has come to Earth to claim a wife and her name is Power Girl! PG may have wanted a boyfriend, but not quite like this! The fan-favorite team of Palmiotti, Gray and Conner craft another winner!
On sale December 16 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

VARTOX! VARTOX! VARTOX! I'm so glad I didn't drop this book.

What are you looking forward to in December?

It seems that either I or my no-PhD-no-MD-doppelganger will be appearing in Justice Society of America.

Based on the garish colors, misuse of metallics, and truly atrocious hair, I can only assume that it is not I but rather that insipid MBA. I am truly disappointed to find that he survived his last encounter with the Blue Beetle.

I had hoped he might suffer some sort of debilitating injury or accident that would lead to his demise or abandonment of the moniker that is rightfully mine.

Still, I am not terribly concerned. As long as there is a Mister Polaris running around the stage is set for a classic comic cliffhanger. Consider:

The scene: a city street. A pathetic MBA does battle with the JSA. Without a medical degree is is outmatched by Doctor Mid-Nite. He is defeated. The Flash ties him up and the rest of the team prepares to retire to their mansion for "egg-creams." Someone says something intended to be witty such as "well, that ties up Doctor Polaris." To the team's surprise the foolish MBA is then crushed by two tons of steel.

Splash page: Doctor Polaris appears. "Fools!" he says. "I am Doctor Polaris!"

To be continued.

Wouldn't you rather read that?

August Solicitations for DC Comics are out. And I am scared witless.

Sometimes people have irrational fears and phobias. I am one such person. My irrational fear is somewhat inconvenient for someone living in the modern world. You see, I am deathly afraid of zombies.

I won't watch zombie movies. As a rule, I avoid pretty much anything with zombies in it. Now, I'm no fool: I know zombies don't exist. But that doesn't keep me from being paralyzed with fear at the very thought of them.

I'm sure you can see my predicament.

As a loyal DC Comics fan I can ill afford to miss what may be the comic event of the decade. A comic event awash in zombies. Just look at all the Blackest Night tie-ins. Look at all the horrible covers. I'm terrified, but I can't afford to look away.

I've known this was coming, but I've put it out of my mind. With the solicitations before me I can no longer avoid it. Perhaps this is the time to face my fear.

After all, isn't that what Green Lantern is all about?

New solicitations are out!

July is going to be a big month... Because it's time for Blackest Night! I think it's safe to say that this is the biggest Green Lantern event in, well, ever.

We've had a lot of "Batman events" over the years and "Superman events." But this is the capstone of a GL-centric event that's been brewing since Rebirth. That Geoff Johns sure knows how to plan in advance.

I'm not going to go into any details about what they're showing us in the solicits because of big spoilers. Some people might not owant to know. Suffice to say... A lot of predictions will be proven right or wrong here in a few months.

The Blackest Night is coming...

Oh, and there won't be a post tomorrow as I'm going to be out of town. But we'll be back on Wednesday!

And... We're back! Just in time for... Solicitations!

Oh, how I love this time of the month. Getting sneak peaks at comics that won't come out for another three months. Looking at the covers. Reading those delightfully vague and fantastically misleading issue teasers. What a fine, fine day it is.

Let's get started.

BATMAN #687
Written by Judd Winick
Art by Ed Benes & Rob Hunter
Cover by Tony Daniel & Sandu Florea
Variant cover by JG Jones
In this special epilogue to BATTLE FOR THE COWL, new BATMAN writer Judd Winick rejoins the Bat Family! This 40-page issue explores the final moments of the Battle for the Cowl as the new Batman learns that winning the Cowl comes at a high price! Witness the new Batman taking to the streets of Gotham City for the first time! Putting a new man inside the Bat-suit was the easy part – now the fun begins! Guest-starring Superman and Wonder Woman, this issue is a must-read for any Batman fan.
Retailers please note: This issue will ship with two covers. For every 10 copies of the Standard Edition (with a cover by Tony Daniel & Sandu Florea), retailers may order one copy of the Variant Edition (with a cover by JG Jones). Please see the Previews Order Form for more information.
On sale June 10 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US

It's the birth of the new Batman! Who is he? What's his game? And which of these books am I going to get?

Well, I know I'll be getting this one. Judd Winick's previous Batman run was one of my all time favorites. As for the others... I'll most certainly be getting Detective and I think the Manhunter back-up has pushed me into picking up Streets of Gotham. We'll have to see about the others...

BOOSTER GOLD #21
Written by Dan Jurgens and Matthew Sturges
Art by Dan Jurgens & Norm Rapmund and Mike Norton
Cover by Dan Jurgens & Norm Rapmund
“Day of Death” part 1! When Booster Gold learns of Batman’s death, he visits the Batcave, but runs into a new Dark Knight. Fists will fly and Batman will die...again! And in the debut of a new 10-page co-feature, Blue Beetle is back! While enjoying a peaceful lunch with his friends, Jaime Reyes – and all of El Paso, Texas – are attacked by a marauding 50-foot robot, and only Blue Beetle can stop this mechanized monster.
On sale June 19 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US

Hooray! More Blue Beetle!

That is all.

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #34
Written by Len Wein
Art by Jose Luis & JP Mayer
Cover by Ed Benes & Rob Hunter
The cards are against the remnants of the Justice League! And those cards are the Royal Flush Gang! Can even Superman and Wonder Woman save a team whose luck has run out? Featuring the deadly return of an old foe in part 1 of a 2-part story.
On sale June 24 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

Okay. I lived in Japan for several years. I've literally seen thousands of Japanese people in my day. I've lived with them. I've taught their children.

And they don't have blue eyes, dammit!

Seriously. Japanese people have brown eyes. All of them. So unless it's explained away as a cosequence of her super-powers (which is a stupid explanation) the colorist mucked that up. Details matter, people.

JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #28
Written by Jerry Ordway
Art by Jerry Ordway & Bob Wiacek
Cover by Jerry Ordway
A Japanese spirit has appeared to exact revenge on the living symbols of America’s atomic warfare while the rest of the JSA reaches out to another founding member for assistance: The Spectre! Continuing the haunting new arc by Jerry Ordway and Bob Wiacek.
On sale June 24 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

This looks interesting. I hope Ordway deals with the issue of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings in the proper way. I imagine he will, but it's still a difficult subject to take up. A lot of raw nerves even after all this time. Those were some of the darkest days in human history...

Also, dragons? Really more Chinese than Japanese... If you want something that's real Japan, well...

FINAL CRISIS AFTERMATH: DANCE #2
Written by Joe Casey
Art by ChrisCross
Cover by Stanley “Artgerm” Lau
The following is a message on behalf of the Super
Young Team:
The Super Young Team would like to formally and publicly sever all ties with the manufacturers of OXY-GEN. When the team agreed to be celebrity sponsors of the product, their contracts in no way disclosed the potential deadly side effects. We in no way endorse a product that could cause our fans to be harmed, and will be making a donation to the charities helping the victims of the OXY-GEN tragedy. In the meantime, please visit our website where you can leave video messages for your favorite member of Super Young Team, and be sure to take part in the trivia challenge!
On sale June 17 • 2 of 6 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

Oh yeah.

I'm back! I spent a few days visiting a friend in Louisville, Kentucky. My friend does not have the Internet, so it was like being thrown back in time to the 1990's. I'm pretty sure I saw Azrael and Superman's mullet.

Luckily, Louisville does have a fine selection of comic book stores and I was able to spend much time rifling through 50 cent bins and the like. One store had a delightful box full of "complete runs" packaged together in sets. I managed to score the entire run of Chase (which I've heard good things about) for five dollars. Can't beat that, eh?

On other notes, here be solicits:

BATMAN: BATTLE FOR THE COWL #3
Written by Tony Daniel
Art by Tony Daniel & Sandu Florea
Covers by Tony Daniel
With the destruction of Arkham Asylum, the return of the Black Mask, and dozens of Gotham City’s most lethal villains rioting through the streets, Nightwing, Robin and their allies seem to have their hands full. But when you add a deadly Jason Todd masquerading as a gun-toting Batman to the mix, things have definitely spiraled out of control!
This is the issue everyone’s been waiting for – find out who wins the Battle for the Cowl! Who earns the right to take on the mantle of the Bat? Will it be Robin? Jason Todd? Nightwing? Azrael? Catwoman? Two-Face? Damian Wayne? Batwoman? Or someone completely unexpected? This 3-issue series continues to shock and surprise as the battle comes to a startling finale for the ages!
Retailers please note: This issue will ship with two covers. For every 10 copies of the Standard Edition (with a cover by Tony Daniel), retailers may order one copy of the Variant Edition (with a cover by Tony Daniel). Please see the Previews Order Form for more information.
On sale May 20 • 3 of 3 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US

Completely unexpected, eh? Is that Killer Moth I spy on the cover? The original anti-Batman? Perhaps the Moth's day has finally come!

SUPERMAN: WORLD OF NEW KRYPTON #3
Written by James Robinson & Greg Rucka
Art by Pete Woods
Cover by Gary Frank
Variant cover by Eric Canete
With Superman now drafted into New Krypton’s Military Guild, it seems that General Zod finally has the Man of Steel under his control. But when given a command to commit an act of brutality against his fellow Kryptonians, Superman must choose between following orders and following his conscience – at the risk of being branded a traitor by his own people!
Retailers please note: This issue will ship with two covers. For every 25 copies of the Standard Edition (with a cover by Gary Frank), retailers may order one copy of the Variant Edition (with a cover by Eric Canete). Please see the Previews Order Form for more information.
On sale May 6 • 3 of 12 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

This *wham* is *bam* me *crack* banging my head against the wall! *WHAM*

Twelve months of this New Krypton crap? I'm bored of it already. Sure, I'm looking forward to Mon-El and the Guardian and Nighwing and Flamebird and all that. But I do not want to read about Superman getting conscripted into some damn Kryptonian militia or some such bull.

Braniac! Luthor! Get Kandor back in that bottle stat!

BATMAN: BATTLE FOR THE COWL – THE NETWORK #1
Written by Fabian Nicieza
Art by Don Kramer
Cover by Ladrönn
A wave of heroes arrive in Gotham City in this one-shot with hopes of helping stem the tide of chaos threatening to overwhelm everybody! Starring Huntress, Batgirl, Misfit, Ragman, Manhunter and many others. Will these heroes succeed – or will they be victims of Gotham City's madness? And if they do succeed, what does the future hold for them?
On sale May 6 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

YAH! Jeezy Creezy, you see that cover? What the hell is up with Batgirl's breasts? Yeah, something ain't right about that. Look, I'm only an amateur artist who doodles for fun. But even I know that women's breasts don't look like that. I know they're hard to draw, but even I can draw better breasts than that. Does DC wish to pay me to draw boobs? I will, you know.

Oh, and where's Green Lantern? Delays are not acceptable...

Sorry about taking the weekend off... I'm caught in one of those disturbing turns where I have nothing to do each day so I do nothing each day. And it creeps into the things I usually do.

Luckily, the DC April solicitations are out, giving me something to talk about! Quite a month it's looking to be. Final Crisis will be over, Battle for the Cowl will be humming along, and Trinity will be winding up. And to top it all, Blackest Night is right on the horizon. Oh, and don't forget The Flash: Rebirth.

TEEN TITANS #70
Written by Sean McKeever
Art by Joe Bennett & Jack Jadson
Cover by Andrew Robinson
“Deathtrap” Part 3 of 5! Straight from the pages of VIGILANTE #5, the team gets roped into Jericho’s insane plot to take out both Titans teams. But how can they fight back against a menace who can possess their bodies? Continued in TITANS #13, on sale in May!
On sale April 29 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

Dammit. I hate it when a book I do buy (such as Teen Titans) crosses over with books I do not buy and have no intention of buying. Am I going to have to buy them anyway? Am I going to have to sneak a peek in the store? Will I have to imagine what happens?

THE OUTSIDERS #17
Written by Peter J. Tomasi
Art and cover by Lee Garbett & Trevor Scott
“The Deep” part 3 of 6! While The Outsiders find their hands full dealing with a new group called the Thrashers, a battle of the minds between Jack Ryder and his Creeper persona shakes the group to its core. And in the shadows, The Insiders make an offer to Deathstroke that he can't refuse. All this plus Owlman tries proving himself to the team!
On sale April 22 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

Don't ask me why, but I loves me some Outsiders. I only wonder if Batgirl will still be around... She's on the cover of Battle for the Cowl, but I don't think she's in here anymore. Is Halo a fair trade off?

ORACLE #2
Written by Kevin VanHook
Art by Don Kramer & Jay Leisten
Cover by Guillem March
The Calculator will go to any lengths to save the life of his daughter Wendy – even if it means using remnants of the Anti-Life Equation to do so! But when Oracle intervenes, she soon finds out that the Calculator has been killing Internet hackers from across the globe to get his hands on the Equation, and the final name on his list is hers!
On sale April 15 • 2 of 3 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

I'm really torn about whether or not to buy the Oracle mini> I'm not real familiar with VanHook's work, but I love Don Kramer. If they can manage to do an Oracle/Calculator story that hasn't already been done (no easy feat) I'll give it a whirl.

THE FLASH: REBIRTH #1
Written by Geoff Johns
Art and covers by Ethan Van Sciver
Through the decades, many heroes have taken the mantle of The Flash, but they all ride the lightning that crackles in the wake of the greatest hero the DC Universe has ever known, the man who sacrificed himself to save the Multiverse: Barry Allen!
Following the events of FINAL CRISIS, Barry has beaten death and returned to a fast-paced world that a man out of time wouldn’t recognize. Or is it a world that is only just now catching up? All the running he’s done before was just a warmup for the high-speed race that he and every other Flash must now run, because even though one speedster might have beaten death, another has just turned up dead! From Geoff Johns and Ethan Van Sciver, the visionaries responsible for the blockbuster GREEN LANTERN: REBIRTH and THE SINESTRO CORPS WAR, comes the start of an explosive and jaw-dropping epic that will reintroduce to the modern age the hero who single-handedly birthed the Silver Age of comics! DC history will be made, and the Flash legacy will be redefined!
Retailers please note: This issue will ship with two covers. For every 25 copies of the Standard Edition (with a cover by Ethan Van Sciver), retailers may order one copy of the Variant Edition (with a cover by Ethan Van Sciver). Please see the Previews Order Form for more information.
On sale April 1 • 1 of 5 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US

Here's the big one, folks. Geoff Johns did the impossible in making me tolerate Hal Jordan. He's got an easier road here, but not by much. Here's hoping it's half as successful as the first Rebirth... And leaves all the Flashes alive.

Well, there certainly is a lot going on in DC's March solicitations. Things are especially heady in the Batman section. And of course, the big news around these parts is the upcoming Azrael: Death's Dark Knight miniseries.

There's not a lot the be gleaned from that solicitation, however. It seems pretty clear that the Azrael we all know and love will not be taking on the role in this mini. That doesn't mean Jean Paul won't be showing, up, but he's not the "Azrael" mentioned in the title.

That fellow is described thusly: "He was a husband and a father. A brother and a friend. A cop and a dark knight." That's pretty vague, but I imagine that it's probably a reference to one of the "Three Ghosts of Batman" that we've seen in Grant Morrison's Batman run. But that's only speculation.

What we need is one of those all too common Newsarama/CBR interviews with the writer of an upcoming project where he or she teases us with cryptic hints regarding the comic. So c'mon, Fabian Nicieza. Give us a little something. If the newsies won't interview you, I will. Lord knows I've got questions...