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While last week we saw what Marvel has in store for the month of April (Avengers vs. X-Men and lots of it), this week we get to see what’s up DC’s sleeve! You won’t see any new series or new #1 issues in April, but you will see the end of an era in one of our favorite Vertigo series; a crossover between I, Vampire and Justice League Dark; and (including what I missed last month but include here) the first wave of collected editions for the New 52! But first things first: BATMAN.
BATMAN #8
Written by Scott Snyder
Art by Greg Capullo, Jonathan Glapion
Broken and beaten, Bruce Wayne has retreated from Gotham City – the city of Owls – to Wayne Manor. But no place is safe, because the Court is about to strike at the heart of city, and nothing will ever be the same. Be there for the start of the battle for Gotham City’s soul…and the prelude to "The Night of the Owls." And in the first chapter of a new backup story, learn the secret history of The Court of Owls – as well as the secrets of Gotham City and the Wayne family!
The Court of Owls story has been absolutely epic, winning this series multiple honors in the Top Twenty. And it’s not even done yet! But if you’ve been waiting for the chance to get in on the action, this may be your break. Sure, the next story is also an Owls-related story, but it’s a NEW Owls-related story!
NORTHLANDERS #50
Written by Brian Wood
Art by Paul Azaceta
Final issue! "The Icelandic Trilogy" concludes with "Waygone," rounding off the epic, centuries-spanning tale of the Haukssons, Iceland’s notorious organized crime family, also bringing Brian Wood’s critically acclaimed series to an end.
Well, unlike Batman, I guess we can’t really call this a good jumping-on point, seeing as it’s the final issue of the series and all. But nevertheless I thought it was worth mentioning. Northlanders has had some ups and downs but overall it’s been one of the most unique titles in the Vertigo stable and always worth picking up just to see which vikings are feuding and getting speared through the guts this time.
Taken together with last month’s issues, this month’s Justice League Dark and I, Vampire make for a four-part crossover story called "The Rise of the Vampires"! I, Vampire has been one of the more surprising titles in the New 52, gaining fans and critical acclaim alike. Meanwhile, Justice League Dark features some of the coolest characters in the DCU, like Zatanna, Madame Xanadu and Deadman! Looking forward to this crossover, most definitely.
JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK #7 & 8
Written by Peter Milligan
Art by Mikel Janin
Straight off the shocking events of last month’s I, Vampire #6, vampires across the world have gone berserk, attacking anyone and everyone with a pulse. Fearing her apocalyptic vision of the future has come to pass, Madame Xanadu mobilizes the team to intervene. But everything the JL Dark members know about how to slay a vampire is useless, for the world has changed. It’s a crossover that had to be, continuing into this month’s I, Vampire #7!
The crossover with I, Vampire heats up as Zatanna and Shade stand alone against an army of single-minded vampires, with their most powerful teammates out of the action! Plus: Constantine and Deadman have gone to the ends of the earth and beyond in search of the only two powers who can put a stop to the bloody rise of Cain – but what they bring back will change the face of sorcery forever! To be concluded in this month’s I, Vampire #8!
I VAMPIRE #7 & 8
Written by Joshua Hale Fialkov
Art by Andrea Sorrentino
Straight off the shocking events of last issue and continuing the story from this month’s Justice League Dark #7, Andrew Bennett finds himself in a place he never thought he’d reach during his countless decades walking the Earth. But his absence on Earth signals a deadly loss of order in the vampire hierarchy, as the savage attack on humanity he’s long feared looks like its coming to pass.
As the Justice League Dark team faces the end of all magic – and perhaps life itself – only one man can challenge the dark force known as Cain: Andrew Bennett. He’s back from the dead, but whose side is he on? Regardless of the answer, nothing will be the same for either series when "Rise of the Vampires" is over!
These next four picks are a little bit of catch-up, because they’re actually from last month’s solicitations, but sadly I neglected to include them in Looking Forward. Why so important that I had to go back?? Well, these four hardcovers represent the first four collections of DC Comics’ New 52! From the outstanding storytelling of Batman to the all-out action of Justice League to the rivalry and intrigue of Green Lantern and finally to the pure creativity of Brian Azzarello’s Wonder Woman. It will likely be a while before we see trade paperbacks of these titles so if you were waiting for collected editions… this is them!
BATMAN HC VOL 01 THE COURT OF OWLS
Written by Scott Snyder
Art by Greg Capullo, Jonathan Glapion
Following his groundbreaking, critically acclaimed run on Detective Comics, writer Scott Snyder (American Vampire) begins a new era of The Dark Knight with artist Greg Capullo (Spawn) and a new beginning for Batman! In this hardcover collecting the first six issues, a series of brutal murders rocks not only Gotham City to its core but also the Caped Crusader himself when the prime suspect is one of Batman’s closest allies – Dick Grayson!
JUSTICE LEAGUE HC VOL 01 ORIGIN
Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Jim Lee, Scott Williams
Comics superstars Geoff Johns and Jim Lee make history with the first hardcover collection of a Dc Comics – The New 52 series! In a universe where Super Heroes are strange and new, Batman has discovered a dark evil that requires him to unite the World Greatest Heroes! Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, Aquaman, The Flash and Cyborg unite for the first time to form the Justice League! Don’t miss the thrill-a-minute hardcover collecting the first six issues of the best selling comic!
GREEN LANTERN HC
Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Doug Mahnke, Christian Alamy
The first six issues of the star-spanning series from DC Comics – The New 52 are collected in hardcover, with stories by superstar writer Geoff Johns and artist Doug Mahnke! There’s an unexpected new Green Lantern in town: Sinestro. And now, this renegade GL has set a course for Korugar with one purpose: To free his homeworld from the scourge of his own Sinestro Corps – with the not-so-willing help of Hal Jordan!
WONDER WOMAN HC
Written by Brian Azzarello
Art by Cliff Chiang, Tony Akins
The first six issues of the critically acclaimed new Wonder Woman series are collected in hardcover! Hippolyta, queen of the Amazons, has kept a secret from her daughter all her life – and when Wonder Woman learns who her father is, her life will shatter like brittle clay. The only one more shocked than Diana by this revelation? Bloodthirsty Hera – so why is her sinister daughter, Strife, so eager for the truth to be told? Superstar writer Brian Azzarello creates a new direction for one of DC’s best-known heroes, with spectacular art by Cliff Chiang and Tony Akins!
As for this month’s solicitations, we can look forward to a couple more hardcovers. Look for Tony Daniel’s Detective Comics series, which boasted arguably the most talked-about first issue in the entire New 52, and Batwoman, which is easily one of the most beautiful comics coming out today.
DETECTIVE COMICS HC VOL 01
FACES OF DEATH
Written by Tony S. Daniel
Art by Tony S. Daniel & Various
As a part of the acclaimed DC Comics – The New 52 event, Detective Comics is relaunched for the first time! With the first seven hard-hitting issues from acclaimed writer/artist Tony S. Daniel, Bruce Wayne returns as Batman – and sets his sights on the Gotham Ripper, who in turn has his sights on Batman. Meanwhile, Bruce Wayne explores a budding romance with TV journalist Charlotte Rivers, who’s visiting Gotham City to cover the gruesome slayings. But time is running out as Commissioner Gordon and Batman work to uncover the secret of the dread Dollmaker!
BATWOMAN HC VOL 01
HYDROLOGY
Written by J. H. Williams, Haden Blackman
Art by J. H. Williams, Amy Reeder-Hadley
As a part of the acclaimed DC Comics – The New 52, Batwoman’s new series begins from the team of J.H. Williams III and W. Haden Blackman with this title collecting issues #0-5!
Who or what is stealing children from the barrio, and for what vile purpose? Will Kate train her cousin, Bette Kane (a.k.a. Flamebird), as her sidekick? How will she handle unsettling revelations about her father, Colonel Jacob Kane? And why is a certain government agency suddenly taking an interest in her? These are some of the questions that will be answered in these spectacular stories!
And finally this month, look for trades for two of our favorite DC Comics series. Animal Man we’ve written about often. Jeff Lemire (Sweet Tooth) has created one of the most bizarre and fascinating stories in comics, and Travel Foreman’s psychedelic and often terrifying artwork only adds to the overall feeling of horror. Meanwhile, Stormwatch is likely the strongest remnant of the old WildStorm Universe and home to one of the best superhero teams at DC, perhaps behind only Justice League.
ANIMAL MAN TP VOL 01
THE HUNT
Written by Jeff Lemire
Art by Travel Foreman & Various
One of the breakout hits from DC Comics – The New 52! In these tales from issues #1-6 of the new series, Buddy Baker has gone from "super" man to family man – but is he strong enough to hold his family together when Maxine, his young daughter, starts to manifest her own dangerous powers? As these new abilities continue to terrify Buddy and his wife Ellen, things take a turn for the worse as Buddy and Maxine begin a journey into the heart of The Red. Don’t miss the amazing series from writer Jeff Lemire (Sweet Tooth) and artist Travel Foreman (The Immortal Iron Fist)!
STORMWATCH TP VOL 01
THE DARK SIDE
Written by Paul Cornell
Art by Miguel Angel Sepulveda, Alejandro Barrionuevo
Stormwatch returns in this DC Comics – The New 52 title collecting the first six issues of the team’s new series! Jack Hawksmoor, Midnighter, Apollo, The Engineer and Martian Manhunter comprise a dangerous super human police force whose existence is kept secret from the world. This covert team of sci-fi super heroes must battle the Earth’s moon itself and find a way to hide its monstrous metamorphosis from the rest of the Earth! Featuring writing from Doctor Who and Superman: The Black Ring scribe Paul Cornell, and art from rising star Miguel Sepulveda.
