Forward Thinking: DC Comics for July 2006

It's an all-star Forward Thinking this month, as Chris Hunter, JK Parkin, and I light some fireworks under DC's July solicitations.


ABSOLUTE DARK KNIGHT HC
TB: Last month Marvel solicited an oversized Eternals hardcover and I wondered who would buy it. This month DC solicits Absolute Dark Knight and I wonder who needs it.

JK: An Absolute Dark Knight Returns sitting on the shelf next to a copy of Absolute Watchmen? That I can see. The whole thing is kind of spoiled by the inclusion of Dark Knight Strikes Again, however. Although maybe it reads better all in one sitting …


BATMAN #655 and DETECTIVE COMICS #821
TB: My expectations for these books are so high, I have to call the fire department to get them down.

CH: Morrison and Andy Kubert? Eh, more a fan of Adam Kubert to be honest, but I may check this one out. Morrison is much less hit-and-miss for me than other prominent writers and I liked what he did with the character back in his days as writer of JLA.

JK: I'm with Tom … bring them on! I'm probably looking forward to Dini on Detective as much as, or maybe even more than, I am to Morrison on Batman.


ALL STAR BATMAN AND ROBIN, THE BOY WONDER #5
TB: Jim Lee does "Hush" and gets to draw Superman. He does "For Tomorrow" and gets to draw the Justice League. Now he's back on Batman and guess who's guest-starring? Just get on the regular JLA book already!

CH: What a second, where's #3? Am I missing it? Did I just overlook that it's come out already? To be honest, I'm still trying to figure out what Miller is doing with this series because so far it has been dreadful.


ALL STAR SUPERMAN #5
TB: Weren't we worried that this would be the late All-Star book?

CH: Now this is how an All Star title should be done. Morrison and Quitely's work on this series thus far is pure magic and the ideas never end in each issue. We need more of this.


SUPERMAN #654
CH: I'd love to be interested in this more than I am, but Pacheco really left a bland taste in my mouth with his most recent work on Green Lantern and there hasn't been a lot of stuff by Busiek that has really grabbed my attention like his Avengers work did. This issue is a maybe for me.

TB: Busiek and Geoff Johns' "Up, Up And Away" has been the highlight of "One Year Later" so far for me, and Pacheco drew a real purty Superman in Superman/Batman. The only downside may be the "new" Clark Kent having to take a backseat to Superman.


HAWKGIRL #54
TB: This issue's tease of Hawkman reminds me that DC got along pretty well without a Hawkman for a few years. Does it figure it can do so again?

JK: "Beaten and bruised from her fight with Khimaera, Hawkgirl is caught by surprise when a friend from her past makes an unexpected appearance. Could it be the return of Hawkman?" Why does the only logical answer seem to be "No"? This is one of four DC titles I ended up dropping because the One Year Later issue just didn't work for me (the others being Outsiders, JSA and Green Arrow).


JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #0
TB: See? Jim Lee! Also, I would like to think that the Perez, McDonnell, Maguire, Jurgens and Porter work won't be reprints.

CH: This issue appeals to me because of all of the talent involved. The ongoing series doesn't so much because I'm just not a fan of Ed Benes artwork. I'll give this issue a chance to change my mind or I'll just WFTT.


CATWOMAN #57
TB: Nice cover homage to Lone Wolf & Cub.


THE ALL-NEW ATOM #1
TB: I like this book's pedigree, but I hope Ryan Choi isn't the new Kyle Rayner.


THE BLUE BEETLE #5
CH: What the heck is the deal with Cully Hamner? He's only doing the first two issues? Geez. I liked #1 and I'm interested in what the series seems to be offering even if only to see how much it ticks off all of the old Blue Beetle fanboys. The old concept of the character never worked for me unless he was in a comedy setting like in the JLA days.


52, WEEKS 9-12
TB: Look at that heading the wrong way and it's 52: 9 1/2 Weeks. Yes, I'm 12.


THE FLASH: FASTEST MAN ALIVE #2
TB: This solicit makes it sound like Walter West (from Waid's last arc) is coming back. Pretty risky, I think, if that pans out.


AMERICAN VIRGIN #5, THE EXTERMINATORS #7, LOVELESS #9 and DMZ #9
JK: Vertigo titles debut in waves, and while usually those waves include hits and misses, this latest one has more of the former than the latter. It doesn't hurt that they've recruited a lot of top talent who cut their teeth on indy books, like Tony Moore, Brian Wood and Becky Cloonan. A company like Vertigo is all about reinvention, and they've managed to keep the momentum going in that area since they debuted.


GREEN LANTERN: THE GREATEST STORIES EVER TOLD TP
TB: Solid representation of GL stories, even without G'Nort.


ION #4
TB: You know, I would get this (another Hal/Kyle fight), but it'll just be in 2009's Greatest GL Stories Vol. 3.


JACK OF FABLES #1
JK: Jack's back! What's better than one Fables book every month? Two Fables books every month. And if any Fables character can support his own book (beyond Bigby, anyway) it's Jack. It ought to be fun seeing what kind of trouble he can get into each month out on the road.


JSA #87
TB: Last issue? DC got along without the JSA for a few years too -- is this another Hawkman situation?


SECRET SIX #3: I really dug the Villains United mini-series, and I have a great affinity for Catman and Deadshot … so this should be a lot of fun.


UNCLE SAM AND THE FREEDOM FIGHTERS #1
CH: This would get a chance from me if it didn't have the name Acuna listed for the artwork. Man, those covers he's done are garish. I can only imagine what the interiors will be like.


WONDER WOMAN #2
TB: "New career?" That sounds like Donna Troy talk! DC, I thought we had an understanding....


DOOM PATROL: MUSCLEBOUND TP
JK: For anyone who missed these the first time around, here's your chance to pick up Morrison's insane rendition of the Doom Patrol, including the issue where Flex Mentallo came to the dance.


JUSTICE SOCIETY VOL. 1 TP
TB: I will buy this book, but I question the size of its audience. Now I want to see which "Apprentice" team could make more money using only this book and that Eternals hardcover. Also, I love Brian Bolland, but why does Dr. Mid-Nite have boy-band hands?


SUPERMAN/BATMAN COLLECTOR SET
TB: A small part of me wants to buy this set, open the book, and have the figures "narrate" the story. Maybe after I'm done coloring Nextwave.

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