The DC Comics trade paperback and hardcover solicitations might be for December 2026, but what we have here are the biggest books of the first half of 2027.
Early February sees both Batman: Bad Seeds and Superman: Kingdom of Zod, which are not only big crossovers for each respective title franchise, but also the last regular series entry currently scheduled for either franchise through June 2027.
That means, from here till the next catalog, no more Batman, Detective Comics, Nightwing, Catwoman, Poison Ivy, Harley Quinn, Superman, Action Comics, Superman Unlimited, or Supergirl. An early mid-season finale, if you will, for a bunch of titles.
So what is the story of the ongoing DC Universe until the summer? These solicitations have some hints, too. Here we’ve got the first volumes of the DC Next Level Deathstroke and Lobo, with the second volumes arriving before the next catalog, and volumes of Fury of Firestorm and The Deadman in subsequent months. It may be quiet among DC’s tentpoles in the first half of the year, but DC Next Level will be coming in loud.
We also see here Absolute Batman Vol. 4, and Absolute Green Arrow Vol. 1, even though these solicitations still don’t have the hoped for Absolute Evil one-shot included in that volume. Jeff Lemire’s JSA ends. DC Finest has Crisis on Infinite Earths Part Four, the final volume in its Crisis series, and Warlord: This Savage World (going straight from omnibus to DC Finest). On the omnibus side, there’s Alan Moore’s full Swamp Thing and the end of Phillip Kennedy Johnson’s Superman.
Let’s look at the full list.
Recent DC Comics Trade Solicitations
- • Absolute Batman Vol. 4: The Straw Man HC
In March, in hardcover and paperback, collecting Absolute Batman #19–25. I hear there’s big doings for issue #25 but I’m shielding myself from spoilers as to what.
- • Absolute Green Arrow Vol. 1: The Longbow Killer HC
In hardcover and paperback in February. Said to collect Absolute Green Arrow #1–6, the extent of the original miniseries, but now it’s been extended to 12 issues. I’m seeing a lot of chatter online about how this ought have the Absolute Evil in it, so let’s hope that happens.
- • Absolute Wonder Woman Vol. 1 Deluxe Edition HC
Issues #1–14, being Absolute Wonder Woman Vol. 1: The Last Amazon and Absolute Wonder Woman Vol. 2: As My Mothers Made Me.
- • Animal Man by Jamie Delano and Steve Pugh Omnibus HC
Good news for me, as the announcement of this omnibus reminded me that a few of the post-Grant Morrison Animal Man runs have already been collected in small trades, and I should really put them on my “buy at the shop when you’ve got money to burn” list. Those are the issues by Peter Milligan, Tom Veitch and Steve Dillon, and Jamie Delano and Steve Pugh and company. To wit, this omnibus is Delano’s Animal Man #51–79, Animal Man Annual #1, Swamp Thing Annual #7, a story from Vertigo Jam #1, and pages from The Children’s Crusade #2 (formerly said to be pages from Children’s Crusade #1–2).
That’s pretty much the Animal Man: Flesh and Blood and Animal Man: Red Plague collections, plus a bit more “Children’s Crusade” stuff. I’d be interested to read the foreword by Jeff Lemire, whose own New 52 Animal Man run was great.
- • Batgirl Vol. 4: Gotham by Knockout TP
The fourth collection by Tate Brombal, in January in paperback. Collects issues #17–22. The next two issues are in Batman: Bad Seeds — Sowing & Reaping.
- • Batgirl: Year One: DC Compact Comics Edition TP
You can have this in deluxe edition in January or Compact in February. Or both!
- • Batman: Bad Seeds HC
In hardcover and paperback in early February, these are the main parts of the story: Batman: Bad Seeds – Sunset #1, Batman #13–14, Poison Ivy #48–49, Detective Comics #1113–1114, and Batman: Bad Seeds – Sunrise #1.
- • Batman: Bad Seeds — Sowing & Reaping HC
In March in hardcover and paperback, the ongoing series tie-ins: Nightwing #142–143, Catwoman #91–92, Harley Quinn #66–67, Batgirl #23–24, and Batwoman #7–8.
- • Batman: Bad Seeds — Streets of Gotham HC
In late February in hardcover and paperback, these are the specials: Batman: Bad Seeds – Gotham Central #1–2, Batman: Bad Seeds – Gotham General #1–2, and Batman: Bad Seeds – Streets of Gotham #1. I thought Gotham Central and Gotham General were new ongoings, but maybe no?
- • Batman: Harley & Ivy: The Deluxe Edition (2027 Edition) HC
Stories from Batman: Harley & Ivy #1–3, Batman Adventures Holiday Special #1, Batman Adventures Annual #1, Batman and Robin Adventures #8, Batgirl Adventures #1, Batman: Gotham Knights #14, and Batman: Black & White #3.
- • Batwoman Vol. 1: Eschatology TP
In paperback in February by Greg Rucka and DaNi, collecting issues #1–6. Also, “Elegy,” “Eschatology”? I think I see you, Greg. The next two issues are in Batman: Bad Seeds — Sowing & Reaping.
- • Catwoman Vol. 4: Where the Heart Is TP
Issues #85–90, in paperback in January, by Torunn Gronbekk. The Bad Seeds tie-in issues are #91–92.
- • DC Finest: Crisis: Crisis on Infinite Earths Part Four TP
Collects the final issues, Crisis on Infinite Earths #10–12, plus tie-ins: All-Star Squadron #57–60, Amethyst: Princess of Gemworld #13, Blue Devil #19, DC Comics Presents #94, Green Lantern #197–198, Infinity, Inc. #25, The Fury of Firestorm #42, and The Omega Men #33. Then as well, there’s History of the DC Universe #1–2, Who’s Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe #10 and #16–18, Christmas with the Super-Heroes #2 (Deadman and Supergirl), JLA: Incarnations #5 (Detroit League), Secret Origins Annual #2 (Barry Allen), and Starman Annual #1 (Prince Gavyn).
- • DC Finest: The Warlord: This Savage World TP
Pleased to see, in the wake of the Warlord omnibuses, this has all been so successful enough for even more attention on the Mike Grell series. Coming in February, this is Warlord #1–36 and 1st Issue Special #8; the first omnibus went to issue #50 and also included Amazing World of DC Comics #12. Now if only we could get these in digital.
- • DC x Sonic the Hedgehog: Metal Legion TP
Collects the five-issue sequel miniseries by Ian Flynn and Adam Bryce Thomas.
- • Deathstroke: The Terminator Vol. 1: The Killer TP
In February in paperback, the first six issues by Tony Fleecs and Carmine Di Giandomenico. High bar to overtake both Christopher Priest and Marv Wolfman.
- • Gotham Academy: First Year TP
In paperback in March. Really what I’d like are new-set Gotham Academy stories, but I’ll settle for new old-set Gotham Academy stories.
- • Green Arrow: Archer’s Quest Omnibus Vol. 2 HC
Completing Judd Winick’s run on the title, Green Arrow #40–75, plus the Chuck Dixon miniseries, Connor Hawke: Dragon’s Blood #1–6, published around this time. I reviewed these as Green Arrow: Moving Targets, Green Arrow: Heading into the Light, and Green Arrow: Crawling Through the Wreckage; in the main I liked this run.
- • Green Lantern Vol. 7: City of Angels TP
Issues #34–39, in paperback in January.
- • JLA Book Four TP
Collecting JLA #27–33, Batman Annual #23, Flash Annual #12, Superman Annual #11, Green Lantern Annual #8, Wonder Woman Annual #8, Aquaman Annual #5, JLA Annual #2–3, Legends of the DC Universe #19, Martian Manhunter Annual #2, JLA: Foreign Bodies #1, and stories from New Gods Secret Files #1.
This is the “Crisis Times Five” storyline by Grant Morrison, plus fill-ins by Mark Millar, Mark Waid, and Devin Grayson, shortly ahead of Morrison’s “World War III” storyline. We also see all of the “JLApe” annual event, though only the JLA “Ghosts”-themed annual, maybe because that wasn’t a continuing story through the other annuals per se. Foreign Bodies is a body-switching story by Len Kaminski and Val Semeiks.
- • JSA Vol. 4: Search for the Spectre HC
Issues #19–24, in hardcover and paperback in February, marking the end of the Jeff Lemire series.
- • Justice League of America: The Bronze Age Omnibus Vol. 2 (2027 Edition) HC
1970s satellite era Justice League stories, from Justice League of America #114–146.
- • Lobo Vol. 1: All Anti, No Hero TP
In February, in paperback, and collecting the first six issues. Here, too, Skottie Young and Jorge Corona have a high bar to match Keith Giffen, Alan Grant, and Simon Bisley.
- • Nothing Butt Nightwing Vol. 2
Episodes #14–26 by Patrick R. Young, Moy R. Marco, and tokitokoro.
- • Princesses of the DC Universe TP
Yara Flor, Steel Natasha Irons, Miss Martian, and Maxima in a YA story by IDW Star Trek: Voyager: Homecoming’s Tilly Bridges and Susan Bridges. Sounds like fun!
- • Sirens: Love Hurts HC
In hardcover in February, collecting the four-issue Black Label miniseries by Tini Howard and Babs Tarr.
- • Starfire by Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti: The Complete Collection TP
I never did get around to reading this. Collects the 12-issue DC You series with its sneak peek.
- • Superman by Phillip Kennedy Johnson Omnibus Vol. 2 HC
This kicks off with “Kal-El Returns” from the end of Phillip Kennedy Johnson’s “Warworld Saga” and Dark Crisis and continues through the end of Johnson’s main run, plus – surprisingly, so soon – all the issues of his Adventures of Superman: Book of El miniseries.
Being Superman: Kal-El Returns Special #1, Action Comics #1047–1060 (just Johnson’s stories, of course), Action Comics 2023 Annual #1, Superman: Son of Kal-El #16–18, Knight Terrors: Action Comics #1–2, and Adventures of Superman: Book of El #1–12, I reviewed these as Superman: Kal-El Returns, Action Comics Vol. 1: Rise of Metallo, Vol. 2: To Hell and Back, and Vol. 3: Revenge of the Demon. Also new “in-universe journal entries”?!
- • Superman: Kingdom of Zod TP
An impressively full collection at a reported 368 pages, in paperback in February. Said to collect the whole story: Action Comics #1100–1102, Superman #41–42, Supergirl #16–17, Superman Unlimited #16–17, Superman Annual: Year One Thousand #1, Superman: Kingdom of Zod Special #1, and Summer of Supergirl Special #1. Remains to see which if any will also be collected in their own series volumes.
The inclusion of the annual is interesting; I didn’t think it tied into “Kingdom of Zod,” but what do I know. And don’t get me started on Summer of Supergirl special being in here when we still haven’t seen the Summer of Superman special collected.
I guess I’m surprised this is paperback but also the page count probably makes hardcover prohibitive.
- • Superman: Brainiac: DC Compact Comics Edition TP
Compact comics edition of Geoff Johns' Action Comics #866–870 and Superman: New Krypton Special #1. I reviewed Superman: Brainiac in 2009, writing, “Superman: Brainiac follows a string of Action Comics successes for Geoff Johns, but this may be the best of the library. … On the eve of the ‘New Krypton’ storyline, Brainiac feels like another reboot – one that firmly grounds Superman in his Metropolis supporting cast and portrays the best Clark Kent I’ve seen in years.”
- • Swamp Thing by Alan Moore Omnibus HC
Being the entirety of Alan Moore’s Swamp Thing run, this collects Saga of the Swamp Thing #16–30, Swamp Thing #31–64 and Annual #2, DC Comics Presents #85, John Constantine, Hellblazer #1–3, and pages from DC Sampler #2–3, Crisis on Infinite Earths #4, and The New Teen Titans (1984) #18 and #22, plus Alan Moore’s proposal for Twilight of the Superheroes and pages from Len Wein and Bernie Wrightson’s never-finished Swamp Thing: Déjà Vu. More complete than the six volumes I read.
- • Teen Titans by Geoff Johns Compendium Two TP
Collects Teen Titans Annual #1 (2006), Robin #146–147, Superman/Batman #26, Teen Titans #32–54, Superman #712, Crisis Aftermath: The Battle for Blüdhaven #1–6, Wonder Girl #1–6, DC Special: Cyborg #1–6, Blue Beetle #18, a story from DC Infinite Halloween Special #1 (Young Frankenstein?!), pages from Countdown #51 and Infinite Crisis #1–7, and character origins featured in Countdown #18 (Doctor Light) and #36 (Deathstroke) and 52 #25 (Nightwing), #31–32 (Robin and Blue Beetle), #41 (Starfire), and #47 (Teen Titans).
That spans Teen Titans: Life and Death, Titans Around the World, Titans East, and Titans of Tomorrow, though notably Johns' last issue was #46 and a contribution to #50. What’s really impressive is some of the extras, the Wonder Girl miniseries and Crisis Aftermath stuff, that Superman issue – remarkably complete.
- • Unfollow: The Complete Collection TP
The whole 18-issue Vertigo series by Rob Williams.
Re: Bad Seeds - Gangs of Gotham by Cantwell is the only ongoing spinning out. I am unclear about what planned changed where..
ReplyDeleteI'm picking up both Absolute ongoings, Zod, GL, JLA, Batwoman, and Gotham Academy. Maybe the Titans Compendium. Seems like a lot.
Is Unfollow any good?
I found Unfollow pretty great, truncated ending an all. I wish Rob Williams and Mike Dowling would work together on something original again.
ReplyDeleteSome good stuff coming up, but I really don't like how JLA Book Four is collecting the entire JLApe crossover just because JLA Annual #3 kicks it off. I'd include a text page recapping the middle annuals and collect just the JLA and Martial Manhunter annuals, which bookend the event and are by the same creative team. If it weren't for JLApe, Book Four could have reached the end of Morrison's run, plus the Earth 2 GN.