DC Trade Solicitations for May 2026 - Batman and Robin Vol. 3: The Quiet Man, Batman: Black Casebook Deluxe, Nightwing Vol. 3: Cirque Du Sin, Get Jiro! Complete, Poison Ivy Vol. 7, DC Finest: Batman: Blind Justice, Planetary Compendium
When we next look at upcoming trades, most likely we’ll have seen the DC fall catalog and have much more to talk about. The relative dearth of items in the DC Comics May 2026 trade paperback and hardcover solicitations is a sure sign we’re on the cusp.
Among regular series, I’m in for Poison Ivy Vol. 7 and Nightwing Vol. 3, and also Batman and Robin Vol. 3, which I hadn’t realized was the end of the title, closing Phillip Kennedy Johnson’s run after three volumes. Also of note to me was the deluxe Batman: Black Casebook, apparently with expanded contents — I’m not sure “why now” that DC has decided to release this, but an interesting artifact. DC Finest: Batman: Blind Justice continues the path of DC Finest collecting the Batman: Caped Crusader and Batman: Dark Knight Detective volumes; and I have some affection for the late Anthony Bourdain, such that I’m pleased to see the Get Jiro! all-in-one volume.
That’s … kind of it, so here again on the cusp of the DC Fall 2026 catalog, I thought I’d do a really quick list of five things I’m hoping to see in the next release:
- Doom Patrol: The Bronze Age — There are large collections of these, but I’m interested in the post-Crisis, pre-Morrison Doom Patrol collected smaller and more digital friendly; this is the missing piece to my grand Doom Patrol read-through.
- Twelve-issue miniseries collected in one volume — We got Dark Knights of Steel recently, but there’s still DC vs. Vampires and Danger Street out there that I’d like to see all-in-one.
- Milestone — I’ve been pleased with to see these Milestone Compendiums, but again, it’d be great if they were smaller and more digital-friendly. Some assurance that New History of the DC Universe: The Dakota Incident will be included in a trade would be nice, too.
- Supergirl Through the Ages — As we’ve been talking about the weird swing in New History of the DC Universe where the Superman/Batman Kara is supposedly the pre-Crisis Kara, I wonder if “Summer of Supergirl” could give us a “Supergirl Through the Ages” collection, something like Action Comics #252, Crisis on Infinite Earths #7, John Byrne’s “Supergirl Saga” from Superman #21–22, and then Action Comics #644 (Matrix leaves Earth). I guess the entirety of “Panic in the Sky” is probably ridiculous, but maybe Action Comics #674 (the Matrix-centric prologue) and pages from Action Comics #676. Also Roger Stern’s Supergirl miniseries? Clearly I’m showing my Matrix bias. Plus something from Jeph Loeb’s inaugural Supergirl run; maybe the first issue of Peter David’s, or the Matrix issues. Oh and I guess we have to get Cir-El in there. Well, you get the point.
- “Memory Lane” — Joshua Williamson had a story in Mark Waid’s Action Comics #1075 called “Memory Lane,” drawn by John Bogdanove, that established something big for Williamson’s Superman run, but was not collected where it would have naturally fell. I hope DC doesn’t leave it out of the Williamson trades entirely.
What are you prognosticating from the new catalog (two or three DC KO books, for sure)? What interests you from the May list? Let’s take a look, below.
Recent DC Comics Trade Solicitations
- • Absolute Infinite Crisis (2026 Edition) HC
Collects the seven-issue miniseries and extras. I reviewed Infinite Crisis in 2005–2006.
- • Absolute Ronin (2026 Edition) HC
The six-issue, 1980s miniseries by Frank Miller and Lynn Varley.
- • Batgirl of Burnside DC Compact Comics Edition TP
The hip run by Brenden Fletcher, Camron Stewart and Babs Tarr that veritably transformed the New 52 into the DC You. Collects Batgirl #35–45 (previously to issue #52), Batgirl Annual #3, Secret Origins #10, and DC Sneak Peek: Batgirl #1. I reviewed Batgirl Vol. 1: Batgirl of Burnside, Batgirl Vol. 2: Family Business, and Batgirl Vol. 3: Mindfields in 2015 and 2017.
- • Batman and Robin Vol. 3: The Quiet Man TP
Coming in late June in paperback by Phillip Kennedy Johnson and company. Collects #25–30, the final issues of this series.
- • Batman and the Monster Men (2026 Edition) TP
New collection of the six-issue miniseries by Matt Wagner.
- • Batman: The Black Casebook: Deluxe Edition HC
This seems a much expanded Black Casebook volume, following the one that was published in 2009. The first collection contained Batman #65, #86, #112, #113, #134, #156, and #162; Detective Comics #215, #235, and #267; and World’s Finest Comics #89. The new collection adds to that Batman #62, #77, #153, #180, and #452–454; Detective Comics #148, #241, #247; and World’s Finest Comics #223, plus Grant Morrison and Chris Burnham’s story from Detective #1027. Presented, the solicitation says, "as an in-world artifact from the DC Universe," it includes an introduction by Bruce Wayne (as written by Burnham).
- • Batman: The Bronze Age Omnibus Vol. 1 HC
Collects Detective Comics #393–422 and Batman #217–241.
- • Batman/teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Deluxe Edition (2026 Edition) HC
The original six-issue miniseries, with extras.
- • DC Finest: Batman: Blind Justice TP
Due out in July, this includes Batman #430–435, Batman Annual #13, Detective Comics #596–603, Detective Comics Annual #2, and stories from Secret Origins #36 and #39. That’s of Batman: The Caped Crusader Vols. 1–2 and some of Batman: The Dark Knight Detective Vols. 3–4.
- • DC Finest: The Fourth World: When the Old Gods Die TP
Said to collect Mister Miracle #1–4, The Forever People #1–4, The New Gods #1–3, Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen #133–143, Superman’s Girl Friend, Lois Lane #111 and 115, and pages from Superman #233 and Superman’s Girl Friend, Lois Lane #114. The contents mostly span about the first Jack Kirby’s Fourth World Omnibus and into the second, though I’m still wondering what the significance is of those Superman and Lois Lane issues.
- • Elseworlds: Justice League Omnibus Vol. 1 HC
Seems to be “Vol. 1” because this includes a variety of the 1994 Elseworlds annuals that were not collected in the Elseworlds: Justice League paperbacks, as well as 1996 “Legends of the Death Earth” annuals: Justice League America Annual #8 and #10, Justice League International Annual #5, Guy Gardner: Warrior Annual #2, Green Lantern Annual #3 and #5, Aquaman Annual #2, Flash Annual #7 and #9, Wonder Woman Annual #5, Kamandi: At Earth’s End #1–6, Kingdom Come #1–4 (really?! Again?!), League of Justice #1–2, Superman/Batman Doom Link (a "Kenner Custom Comic"), and Golden Age #1–4 (strange, that).
- • The Flash by Joshua Williamson Omnibus Vol. 3 HC
Collects Flash #70–88, #750–762, and #800; Flash Annual #3; Dark Nights: Death Metal: Speed Metal #1; and stories from DC Cybernetic Summer #1 and Infinite Frontier #0. This is Flash: Year One, Flash Vol. 12: Death and the Speed Force. Flash Vol. 13: Rogues Reign, Flash Vol. 14: The Flash Age, and Flash Vol. 15: Finish Line, concluding Williamson’s run.
- • Get Jiro! the Complete Collection TP
Collects Get Jiro! and Get Jiro! Blood & Sushi by the late Anthony Bourdain. I reviewed Get Jiro! in 2015.
- • John Constantine, Hellblazer by Paul Jenkins and Sean Phillips Omnibus HC
Collects John Constantine, Hellblazer #51, #85–128, and #250; Vertigo: Winter’s Edge #1; and Hellblazer/Books of Magic #1–2.
- • Justice League of America: The Silver Age Omnibus Vol. 1 (2026 Edition) HC
Said to be Brave and the Bold #28–30 and Justice League of America #1–30, though previous versions were Brave and the Bold, Justice League of America #1–8, and Mystery in Space #75.
- • Nightwing by Tom Taylor and Bruno Redondo Omnibus Vol. 2 HC
Collects Nightwing #97–118 (previously listed as starting at #101) and Nightwing 2022 Annual #1, being Tom Taylor’s Nightwing Vol. 4: The Leap, Nightwing Vol. 5: Time of the Titans, Nightwing Vol. 6: Standing at the Edge, and Nightwing Vol. 7: Fallen Grayson. Includes an introduction I’d be interested to read by Devin Grayson.
- • Nightwing Vol. 3: The Cirque Du Sin HC
In hardcover and paperback in July from Dan Watters and Dexter Soy, collecting issues #130–135.
- • Planetary Compendium HC
Collects Planetary #1–27, Planetary/Batman #1, Planetary/JLA #1, and Planetary/Authority #1
- • Poison Ivy Vol. 7: Amuse-bouche HC
In hardcover and paperback in July, the next collection by G. Willow Wilson and Marcio Takara and company. Collects Poison Ivy #38–41, Poison Ivy/Swamp Thing: Feral Trees, and Poison Ivy 2025 Annual.
- • Robin: Year One (2026 Edition) TP
New printing of the miniseries by Chuck Dixon and Scott Beatty.
- • Shadow of the Batgirl (2026 Edition) TP
Originally published in 2020, by Sarah Kuhn and Nicole Goux. Every Day is Like Wednesday’s Caleb Mozzocco reviewed Shadow of the Batgirl for School Library Journal.
- • Superman: Action Comics by Dan Jurgens Omnibus Vol. 2 HC
Picking up after the “Superman Reborn” storyline, this is said to be Action Comics #976–999 plus the Action Comics Special that ended Jurgens' run, along with his story from Action Comics #1000 and his “”Doom Rising" story across the Death of Superman 30th Anniversary Special story and his backups from Action Comics #1051–1057 (this says #1053).
- • Teen Titans: Together TP
Sixth and seemingly culminating volume in the popular YA graphic novel series by Kami Garcia and Gabriel Picolo.
- • Wonder Woman by George Pérez Omnibus Vol. 2 (2026 Edition) HC
New printing, collecting issues #25–45 and the Wonder Woman Annual #2.
Just Batman stuff for me this month - B&R for sure, Blind Justice for sure, maybe I'll upgrade Black Casebook after I look up what the new stories are.
ReplyDeleteAs to what I want to see in the next catalog:
1. I really want to know where Triangle v3 ends. I'm going thru Fall of Metropolis at least. I need to allocate shelf space
2. YOLO (Yellow/Orange Lanterns Omnibus) - the New 52 Sinestro and Larfleeze series
3. Batgirl Finest v3 - we've never had 38-50 in trade before. It's time
4. Levitz LOSH - what in the world is keeping us from getting the rest of this run? Start an omnibus line, DC Finest, something! Please! To a lesser extent, the post-ZH Legion books could use more coverage
5. DC Finest Armageddon 2001, Day of Judgement, Final Night, etc - I'm not against omnis if there's enough actual content to go from ~20 issues to 35ish (my internal counter for what's worthy of an omnibus
6. GL Kyle Compendium v2. Please. Pretty please. Also start the GA Connor Hawke Compendium line
All great suggestions. That DC Finest: Batgirl seems an obvious win for DC, and you know I want to see Armageddon 2001 collected *somehow* eventually.
DeleteI'm with Bob on the Black Casebook upgrade -- I need to do more research, but I'm tempted to upgrade anyway just because I'm a Morrison ride-or-die. I do like the aesthetics of my battered paperback Casebook, so I might keep it for nostalgia (since Morrison's run got me back into comics, and I never left).
ReplyDeleteThat Fourth World DCF is interesting, but not worth the switch-out for me. While Kirby was doing his King thing, those Lois Lane issues included Intergang subplots, with Darkseid and his minions making an occasional cameo. Maybe #233 is being included for the Morgan Edge of it all? I appreciate the attention to the thickness of continuity, but I've never thought of those stories as part of Kirby's tapestry.
And I'll definitely get Bronze Age Batman, particularly given the pointed solicitation copy about "original colors," but I'm a little surprised to see the Silver Age line stalling out after one volume. (Looking back, it does seem that we finished out the Golden Age in ten volumes!)
Finally, are you looking for a Doom Patrol Bronze Age reprint? That omnibus landed in 2019, but it seems to be hard to find. We're also missing the Arcudi run from 2001, which has never been reprinted.
Great post. I’m +1 on the Levitz LOSH deluxe editions to continue. (And not a fan of huge thighbusting Omnibus volumes). Must be some Bizarroworld leaking into earth prime here for, say, Brimstone or another edition of Salvation Run to have been published before more of the Levitz/Lightle/LaRoque run sees a.collection.
DeleteAs far as adding to the wishlist, I’m a bit surprised we have yet seen TPB editions of Hellblazer: Dead in America or Fables: Black Forest yet. DC/Black Label’s letting us “unified format shelvers” down.
I’m not one to sneeze at extra issues being included in DC Finest books, but do I understand those Lois Lane issues indeed aren’t by Kirby? I feel like the “definitive Kirby’s Fourth World” has been so mapped by now that adding new issues to it feels like sacrilege, especially if it wasn’t Kirby’s work directly.
DeleteYes, I’d indeed like that Doom Patrol: The Bronze Age Omnibus chopped down to more manageable size.
Okay, slow day at the office, so I took a look at the new contents for Black Casebook. On the whole, it looks like they're leaning more toward making this a "Grant Morrison Companion," which is actually a pretty savvy move for a run as dense and referential as this one. And so I'm pretty sold on double-dipping!
ReplyDelete* Batman #62 -- "The Batman of England." First appearance of Knight & Squire.
* Batman #77 -- Probably "The Secret Star," in which Gordon recruits a few agents to replace Batman in case of injury (definite Morrison resonance). Or am I forgetting a Morrison appearance by Mister Blank and the Crime Predictor?
* Batman #153 -- "Prisoner of Three Worlds." A sci-fi yarn with Batwoman Kathy Kane. Moments from this story bleed throughout Morrison's run.
* Batman #180 -- "Death Knocks Three Times!" First appearance of Lord Death Man.
* Batman #452–454 -- "Dark Knight, Dark City." Almost required reading as an ersatz prequel to Morrison's run. This is the story that introduced Barbatos and connects him to the Miagani.
* Detective Comics #148 -- "The Experiment of Professor Zero." First appearance of the Black Casebook itself, though this particular case is closed by the end of the issue.
* Detective Comics #241 -- "The Rainbow Batman." Genuinely surprised this one wasn't in the first Black Casebook!
* Detective Comics #247 -- "The Man Who Ended Batman's Career." First appearance of Professor Milo, while Batman moonlights as Starman. I can't immediately recall which comes to bear on Morrison's run.
* World’s Finest Comics #223 -- "Wipe the Blood Off My Name." First appearance of Thomas Wayne, Jr. Simon Hurt masqueraded as a different Thomas Wayne, though Morrison's Owlman was Thomas Wayne Jr. in Earth-2.
And, for what it's worth, there is some but not very much overlap with the most recent edition of "Batman in the Fifties."
Zachary - Professor Milo is very briefly in 52 (as part of the Questions plot), but I don't think that has a lot of valence for any Morrison plots. I have this very vague recollection that Carter Nichols (Time and the Batman) and Professor Milo overlapped in Morrison's head somehow (maybe from an interview or the end notes of their second omnibus?), but it's not super likely I'm able to track that down or back it up
DeleteMuch appreciated.
DeleteI think you're right, Bob -- I do have a vague memory of that note, too, Grant admitting to a rare slip of the brain. A quick google of both names only turns up a reference to a beat in Batman RIP, in which Bat-Mite identifies Zur-En-Arrh as "a place you once saw in a flashback hallucination induced by Professor Milo’s gas weapon." Only, we know it was Simon Hurt, not Professor Milo... perhaps the editors are as confused as we are.
DeleteAnd was it the Questions plot, or the Ralph Dibny plot? I have another vague recall of Milo's wheelchair containing a mystical artifact, and I thought that was Ralph's story. But I am LONG overdue for a reread of 52!
Interestingly, the Elseworlds omnibuses for Justice League and Superman largely contain material that was not previously published in the respective Elseworlds TPBs.
ReplyDeleteYes, it seems like those are mostly the Elseworlds-themed annuals, which I'm glad they're collecting them, but from the "have your cake and eat it too" department, hopefully the second volumes of each of those omnibuses collects the Elseworlds titles proper.
DeleteI'm guessing/hoping that "Memory Lane" will be collected in the sixth volume of Williamson's run, along with the Summer of Superman Special and Superman #28-30, even though it really belonged chronologically in Vol. 4.
ReplyDeleteI hope! I had a moment at some point where I came upon the certain electoral victory from "Memory Lane" and I thought, did I miss when that happened? But no, it's just not collected yet. And with Jon Bogdanove no less, though his thicker lines in that story are more reminiscent of Howard Chaykin.
Delete