What to Read on Wednesday - 29/06/2011

Solicitations for the ten comic books to check out this week.

Batman Incorporated #7 (DC Comics)
Written by Grant Morrison
Art & Cover by Chris Burnham
Man-of-Bats and his protégé, Red Raven, continue to aid the Dark Knight in tracking down a shadowy, sophisticated killer. Will these two members of The Club of Heroes become the newest additions to BATMAN INCORPORATED? Or will they die before they can even be offered the chance?

Detective Comics #878 (DC Comics)

Written by Scott Snyder

Art by Jock & Francesco Francavilla

Cover by Jock

Off the coast of Gotham City, with no help for miles, the vicious smuggler and pirate Tiger Shark holds Batman captive on his ship. Can Batman escape in time, or will he become food for Tiger Shark's deadly pets? Plus: The saga of James Jr. continues. Is he a victim of circumstance or vicious killer? You decide. Don't miss the shocking conclusion to "Hungry City."

FF #5 (Marvel Comics)

Written by Jonathan Hickman

Art by Barry Kitson

Cover by Mark Bagley & Skottie Young

The War of Four Cities: Part Two
As the War of Four Cities heats up, the Universal Inhumans enter the fray! What role will the FF play in things to come? Prepare for epic battles, live lost and saved, and the awaited return of a beloved Marvel hero!

Flashpoint: Green Arrow Industries #1 (One-Shot) (DC Comics)

Written by Pornsak Pichetshote

Art by Mark Castiello

Cover by Viktor Kalvachev

FLASH FACT! He makes money from war!

Flashpoint: Hal Jordan #1 (of 3) (DC Comics)

Written by Adam Schlagman

Art by Ben Oliver

Cover by Rags Morales

FLASH FACT! He never got the ring!

Flashpoint: Project Superman #1 (of 3) (DC Comics)

Written by Scott Snyder & Lowell Francis

Art & Cover by Gene Ha

FLASH FACT! They experimented on him in a lab for years!

Flashpoint: The Canterbury Cricket #1 (One-Shot) (DC Comics)

Written by Mike Carlin

Art & Cover by Rags Morales

FLASH FACT! His power is his curse!

Scalped #50 (DC Comics)

Written by Jason Aaron

Art by R. M. Guera, Dean Haspiel, Denys Cowan, Igor Kordey, Jill Thompson, Timothy Truman & Others

Cover by Jock

This landmark fiftieth issue features two special stories, one detailing the long bloody history of scalping and scalphunters, and the other spotlighting the founding of the Prairie Rose rez as seen through the eyes of Dash Bad Horse's ancestor, His Many Bad Horses. Don't miss this all-star celebration of all things SCALPED!

The Sixth Gun #12 (Oni Press)

Written by Cullen Bunn

Art & Cover by Brian Hurtt

Drake, Becky, and a host of armed priests travel by rail as they escort the dead-but-dreaming corpse of General Hume to his final resting place.
But this is the Old West, so you can be sure a train robbery is in the cards and it's The Sixth Gun, so you can be sure this is a robbery like no other!

Venom #4 (Marvel Comics)

Written by Rick Remender

Art by Tony Moore

Cover by Mike McKone

The long awaited grudge match between Venom and Spider-Man is here! Big action! Big intrigue! All presented in the mighty Marvel fashion! Rick Remender (X-Force, Punisher) and Tony Moore (Punisher, The Walking Dead) bring you a knock down street brawl for the ages in the closing chapter of the first arc of Marvel's hottest new series!

What to Read on Wednesday - 22/06/2011

Solicitations for the ten comics to check out this week.

Batman: Gates of Gotham #2 (of 5) (DC Comics)
Written by Scott Snyder & Kyle Higgins
Art & Cover by Trevor McCarthy
Murder, mayhem and the building of an empire! Issue #2 throttles up the action as Batman tries to find the source of the attacks before the killer can strike again. But with the reveal of the fourth family of Gotham City and an old case from the early days of the city, is Batman playing right into the villain's hands?

Brightest Day Aftermath: The Search for Swamp Thing #1 (of 3) (DC Comics)
Written by Jonathan Vankin
Art by Marco Castiello
Cover by Ardian Syaf & Vicente Cifuentes
Following the events of Brightest Day, the new protector of Earth has been chosen. But one reluctant hero making his return to the DCU is trying to convince Batman, Superman and the others heroes of the DC Universe that this may not be a good thing, because he can see that things are not right and mankind's brightest days are indeed over.

Flashpoint: Kid Flash Lost #1 (of 3) (DC Comics)
Written by Sterling Gates
Art by Oliver Nome
Cover by Francis Manapul
FLASH FACT! Where is he? Or should we say when?












Flashpoint: Lois Lane and the Resistance #1 (of 3) (DC Comics)
Written by Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning
Art & Cover by Eddy Nunez
FLASH FACT! She is ready to reveal the Amazons' secret!

Flashpoint: The Outsider #1 (of 3) (DC Comics)
Written by James Robinson
Art by Javi Fernandez
Cover by Kevin Nowlan
FLASH FACT! He won't join the war! (It could dirty his new suit.)












Flashpoint: The Reverse Flash #1 (One-Shot) (DC Comics)
Written by Scott Kolins
Art by Joel Gomez
Cover by Ardian Syaf & Vicente Cifuentes
FLASH FACT! He's more powerful than ever...

Rocketeer Adventures #2 (of 4) (IDW)
Written by Mark Waid, Darwyn Cooke & Lowell Francis
Art by Chris Weston, Darwyn Cooke, Geoff Darrow & Gene Ha
Cover by Alex Ross & Dave Stevens
This issue of ROCKETEER ADVENTURES continues to soar with a trio of stories crafted by masterful comics creators. 
Mark Waid and Chris Weston provide a pulse-pounding story of revenge set to a colorful backdrop of the opening of the Golden Gate Bridge.
Lowell Francis and Gene Ha put Cliff through his paces in an-all action extravaganza that has him fighting tooth and nail for his very survival - plus a special guest star! 
Finally, Darwyn Cooke delivers the goods (as always!) with a tale that we won't say one word about - it's too good to even hint at and ruin the surprise! 
Plus, a pair of pin-ups, BOTH by Geof Darrow - his incredible piece was just too massive to be held to the confines of a single page, so he's supplying a gorgeous TWO-PAGE pin-up!


Ultimate Avengers vs. New Ultimates #5 (of 6) (Marvel Comics)
Written by Mark Millar
Art & Cover by Leinil Francis Yu
Conspiracies intensify, loyalties are questioned, and tragedy has struck. What will become of our heroes and the rest of the Ultimate Universe? When you don't know who to trust, the only certainty is chaos...

Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #160 (Marvel Comics)
Written by Brian Michael Bendis
Art & Cover by Mark Bagley
"The Death of Spider-Man." The final issue.

Wolverine #11 (Marvel Comics)
Written by Jason Aaron
Art by Renato Guedes & Jose Wilson Magahales
Cover by Jae Lee & June Chung
"Wolverine's Revenge" Part 1 & 2
First, Wolverine was sent to hell. Then he was forced to fight for control of his own mind against demonic invaders. All thanks to the machinations of a mysterious group called the Red Right Hand. Who are they and what is their grudge against Logan? And how do they hope to survive now that Wolverine has come looking for some revenge of his own?

What to Read on Wednesday - 15/06/2011

Solicitations for the ten comics to check out this week.

Alpha Flight #1 (of 8) (Marvel Comics)
Written by Greg Pak & Fred Van Lente
Art by Dale Eaglesham
Cover by Phil Jiminez & Dale Eaglesham
FEAR ITSELF TIE-IN 
A FEAR ITSELF maxi-series spinoff! 
Do you fear...your country turning on you? Alpha Flight has long been the protector of an entire nation...but what happens when that nation needs to be protected from itself? 
New York Times best-selling authors Greg Pak and Fred Van Lente, along with red-hot artist Dale Eaglesham, bring back the team you demanded - the original Alpha Flight! Sasquatch, Snowbird, Northstar and Aurora have been joined by their revived allies Guardian, Vindicator, Shaman, and Marrina as the paragons and protectors of an entire nation. 
But as FEAR ITSELF takes over, their own country turns on the Flight and brands them traitors for the shocking actions of one of their closest allies. As the borders close and an entire nation hunts them down, will the newly reunited Alpha Flight survive?

Avengers #14 (Marvel Comics)
Written by Brian Michael Bendis
Art by John Romita Jr.
Cover by Alan Davis
FEAR ITSELF TIE-IN
As the Avengers are stretched to the breaking point by the events of FEAR ITSELF, prepare for a SURPRISE EVENT too SHOCKING to be revealed here--presaging a change in the ranks! 
And we can guarantee you the biggest shake-up in the Avengers roster since AVENGERS DISASSEMBLED!




Batgirl #22 (DC Comics)
Written by Bryan Q. Miller
Art by Pere Perez
Cover by Dustin Nguyen
When Stephanie Brown arrives in London for a top-secret Batman Incorporated assignment, jet lag, lost luggage and those terribly difficult accents are the least of Batgirl's problems - the actual Greenwich Mean has been stolen, and as all of London literally grinds to a halt, it's up to Batgirl and Squire to save the United Kingdom! Tally-ho!




Flashpoint: Deadman and the Flying Graysons #1 (of 3) (DC Comics)
Written by J. T. Krul
Art by Mikel Janin
Cover by Cliff Chiang
FLASH FACT! For their last performance - an escape act!

Flashpoint: Wonder Woman and the Furies #1 (of 3) (DC Comics)
Written by Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning
Art by Scott Clark & David Beatty
Cover by Ed Benes
FLASH FACT! If she can't have the world - no one will!













Invincible #80 (Image Comics)
Written by Robert Kirkman
Art & Cover by Ryan Ottley & FCO Plascencia
DINOSAURUS returns! 
Hellbent on righting what he sees as wrong in the world he comes face-to-face with Invincible and the result is devastating.







Northlanders #41 (DC Comics)
Written by Brian Wood
Art by Marian Churchland
Cover by Massimo Carnevale
Set in the desolate Hebridean islands, a young woman, newly orphaned, steps into her late father's rather large and intimidating shoes. In her teens and in command of the largest army in the region, will she fail to lead - or will she live up to the title "Thor's Daughter"? Featuring gorgeous artwork by Marian Churchland (Beast, Elephantmen, HOUSE OF MYSTERY).

Power Girl #25 (DC Comics)
Written by Judd Winick
Art & Cover by Sami Basri
Power Girl juggles her life like a true businesswoman: helping Batman defeat a weather-wielding metahuman, using her news network to clear an innocent man's name and stumbling into a blossoming romance. But she'll need all her resources to take on Dr. Day, her corporate archnemesis!

Superman/Batman #85 (DC Comics)
Written by Joshua Hale Fialkov
Art by Adriana Melo & JP Mayer
Cover by Miguel Sepulveda
The start of a new story arc! A body has washed up in Metropolis, and it looks like Batman's the killer! Superman knows better, but Clark Kent gets assigned to go to Gotham to investigate. And that's when things start to get freaky...









Uncanny X-Men #538 (Marvel Comics)
Written by Kieron Gillen
Art & Cover by Terry Dodson & Rachel Dodson
Blood has been shed on the island of Utopia as Powerlord Kruun's Night of the Knives draws to a close. Who has perished? Who has survived? Discover the answers as vengeance rears its ugly, alien head!

The DC Comics Announcements: A Final Word

And with that, DC Comics finished announcing their 52 titles set to begin in September. There were some good ones (Justice League, Nightwing) and some bad ones (Detective Comics, The Fury of Firestorm); then there were some awful ones (The Savage Hawkman, Hawk & Dove) and some excellent ones (Action Comics, Justice League International). But at the end of the day, DC Comics has officially changed and while some may argue that this is a good thing, I'm not entirely sure it is.

For one thing, three of my favourite books, Power Girl, Secret Six and Booster Gold have all been cancelled; they've been replaced with titles such as Catwoman, Suicide Squad and Blue Beetle which will probably continue the great style and fun, but I was enjoying my old books. Scott Snyder's move from Detective Comics to Batman means he'll be making the eponymous Batman title a must-read, but to do so, he's traded the fantastic double-team of Jock and Francesco Francavilla for the '90s-infused pencils of Greg Capullo. And I like Greg Capullo just fine, and I'm excited for Batman to be a good book again, but there's nothing explosive about that announcement. Snyder was already writing a Batman series, and now that series will be written and drawn by Tony Daniel, the man who has been single-handedly responsible for driving the eponymous title into the dirt.

There seems to be no logic behind these decisions, from a modern point of view. The majority of the 2000s was spent trying to bring people back to comics after the horrendous era of the 1990s, and now it seems as though we're taking a step back, with creators like Scott Lobdell, Fabian Nicieza and Rob Liefeld all being handed a role in this revival of DC Comics. But why give work to those who were part of the problem to begin with? Is it because they're friends with Bob Harras, the new Editor-In-Chief? It feels as though they're deliberately trying to force modern readers away from the material, and make it more like it was during the speculator period. The period in which Marvel Comics was on the edge of self-destruction, and the majority of comic readers despise.

It could all turn out to be folly, and these books will actually all be really good. But right now I just have a nagging feeling that this is the beginning of the end for DC Comics; the books I love so much all seem to be fading away, dying or being handed over to creators I loathe. Hopefully Grant Morrison's Action Comics and  Dan Jurgens' Justice League International will drag my sour feelings out of the gutter.

The DC Comics Announcements: Part 8 - Superman

DC Comics are slowly announcing their 52 new series which will kick off in September. Everything is going back to Issue 1, and while I am partially offended by that, let's see what the books/creative teams are shaping up like so far, and whether or not this is shaping up to be a good move from DC.

Superman #1
Written by George Perez
Art by Jesus Merino
Cover by George Perez
Wow. Just wow. George Perez, who single-handedly made Wonder Woman awesome back in the day, is going to write the main Superman title. It's a shame he's not drawing it, but then again, Perez is getting on a bit now, so writing is fine enough. Jesus Merino is a decent talent to have on the book, too. There's a lot of intrigue in the cover, too; just check out Superman's spanking new costume, and if DC's teaser is to be believed, something critical will happen to his life as Clark Kent.
Potential for Success: 10/10

Supergirl #1
Written by Michael Green & Mike Johnson
Art & Cover by Mahmud Asrar
I'm liking the sound of where DC is going with these Superman family books. Supergirl will no longer be the naive young alien girl on Earth trying to blend in; now she's going to be badass and human-hating. That makes for a really interesting contrast to the current book, as well as a lot of potential for the decent writing team of Michael Green and Mike Johnson to explore. The fact that the art is by Mahmud Asrar, too, makes me genuinely excited; I've loved his work since "Dynamo 5" and to see him work on a major title is truly thrilling.
Potential for Success: 9/10

Superboy #1
Written by Scott Lobdell
Art & Cover by R. B. Silva & Rob Lean
This is the only Superman family book I'm not really excited for. The fact that they're going for a more science fiction kind of deal is interesting, and turning Superboy into a cyborg adds a lot of potential for great stories, but I'm not convinced that Scott Lobdell has improved at all since his awful work in the 1990s. Unfortunately, the only other thing going for this book is the artwork by R. B. Silva and Rob Lean, and already I have to say: Not a fan.
Potential for Success: 4/10










Action Comics #1
Written by Grant Morrison
Art & Cover by Rags Morales
I squealed. I genuinely jumped up and squealed at this. Grant Morrison has transformed the Batman books into a sprawling epic over the better part of the last decade, and now it looks like he's set to do the same to Superman. All we know is that Superman will somehow be at odds with the people of Earth and that humanity will have given up trusting the Man of Steel. I am super excited for this series (no pun intended) and there is no better team for a number one issue than Grant Morrison, the number one writer in comics, and Rags Morales, an artist who has proved himself to be absolutely fantastic in every way. This truly makes me happy to be reading comics, and almost single-handedly makes up for every bad announcement and cancellation this week. I can't wait.
Potential for Success: 10/10

The DC Comics Announcements: Part 7 - The Quick One

DC Comics are slowly announcing their 52 new series which will kick off in September. Everything is going back to Issue 1, and while I am partially offended by that, let's see what the books/creative teams are shaping up like so far, and whether or not this is shaping up to be a good move from DC.


Prior to today's "Superman" announcements, DC released two other teasers of September titles, which rounds the total up to the aforementioned 52.

Blue Beetle #1
Written by Tony Bedard
Art by Ig Guara
Cover by Tyler Kirkham
This series has been a long time coming. DC has made no secret of the fact that Jaime Reyes, the current Blue Beetle, is an important character; he was one of the first characters to be featured in the "Batman Brave & The Bold" cartoon, and he played a prominent part in "Justice League: Generation Lost." Tony Bedard should write the character capably, but that's not really the draw; the draw is Ig Guara on art chores. This is fantastic news. Ig Guara is a talent that DC are lucky to have, and he's certainly reason enough to check this book out.
Potential for Success: 10/10

Suicide Squad #1
Written Adam Glass
Art by Marco Rudy
Cover by ??
I squealed. That's how happy I was to see this title on the list. I was so worried that we wouldn't have a team to fill the void left by the non-revival of "Secret Six." And now we do. And not only that, but it's also a series that inspired the "Secret Six" in the first place, and is a revival of a series I love very dearly. Written by Adam Glass with art by the fantastic Marco Rudy, this new incarnation of the Suicide Squad will feature, at it's core, Harley Quinn, Deadshot and King Shark. Those three names, together in one book, make me happy just to begin with. This is certainly one of the best announcements from DC this week.
Potential for Success: 10/10

The DC Comics Announcements: Part 6

DC Comics are slowly announcing their 52 new series which will kick off in September. Everything is going back to Issue 1, and while I am partially offended by that, let's see what the books/creative teams are shaping up like so far, and whether or not this is shaping up to be a good move from DC.

Stormwatch #1
Written by Paul Cornell
Art & Cover by Miguel Sepulveda
Another example of the Wildstorm universe shifting into the regular DC continuity comes in the form of Stormwatch, which will feature Apollo and Midnighter, from The Authority, joining forces with the Martian Manhunter. Paul Cornell is handling writing duties, which means this could be a lot of fun; but Miguel Sepulveda's artwork leaves much to be desired.
Potential for Success: 7/10










Blackhawks #1
Written by Mike Costa
Art & Cover by Ken Lashley
The Blackhawk characters have always been intriguing to me, but whenever I've read a storyline featuring any variation of them I've always found it bland and unexciting. This series turns them into mercenaries, trying to kill the bad guys before they themselves are killed. It sounds like it could be the moment the characters find their feet in the DC Universe. Mike Costa is writing, which is excellent news; the art, meanwhile, could be better.
Potential for Success: 7/10

Sgt. Rock and the Men of War #1
Written by Ivan Brandon
Art & Cover by Tom Derenick
Sgt. Rock is one of my favourite characters in comic books, and this series makes me both extremely excited and extremely worried. They're updating the character (by having his grandson take centre stage) and bringing it into modern warfare. Ivan Brandon has proven himself to be a capable writer, while Tom Derenick's artwork is easy on the eye; but I'm just not sure whether or not this will work at all.
Potential for Success: 7/10

All-Star Western #1
Written by Jimmy Palmiotti & Justin Gray
Art & Cover by Moritat
Oh, this is exactly the announcement I needed. Jonah Hex has been a floundering book (sales wise) for quite a while, so it's a relief to see he'll be coming back as the star of a new Western book with the reboot. The issues will feature back-up stories starring other Western characters, but it's the main tale, featuring Jonah Hex in Gotham City that pulls the character back into the DC Universe and adds a layer of awesomeness to the proceedings. Palmiotti and Gray remain on writing duties, and the art will be by the sensational Moritat.
Potential for Success: 10/10

Deathstroke #1
Written by Kyle Higgins
Art by Joe Bennett & Art Thibert
Cover by Simon Bisley
So, Deathstroke the Terminator is getting his own series. This, at the very least, means that the godawful "Titans" book he's currently in will not be returning. Kyle Higgins is a name that intrigues me; he's writing a book about Dick Grayson, and a book about his arch-nemesis, so that has a lot of potential in itself. Joe Bennett on art, too, makes me a bit excited for this book. Hopefully this one is a joy to read.
Potential for Success: 8/10

Grifter #1
Written by Nathan Edmonson
Art & Cover by CAFU
You take two of the most exciting talents in comics right now; Nathan Edmonson, writer of the extraordinary series "Who is Jake Ellis" and CAFU, the wonderful artist on "T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents" and you put them on a book that is essentially a Wildstorm reject? What is wrong with you, DC Comics? Sure, that team will get me to check this book out, but I honestly don't care about this character in the slightest, and unless I am absolutely blown away by it, I'll be woefully disappointed.
Potential for Success: 7/10

OMAC #1
Written by Dan DiDio & Keith Giffen
Art & Cover by Keith Giffen & Scott Koblish
If you put a Jack Kirby-esque cover on your book, I will want to read it. That's how simple things are. This series continuing the adventures of OMAC, presumably with ties to the Max Lord story that'll be featured in JLI, may very well be awesome. Keith Giffen is a top class creator and Scott Koblish infuses me with joy; the only flaw here is Dan DiDio, who has more recently proven to me that while he understands most of the DC characters from an editorial and business perspective, he is an awful, awful writer when it comes to plot and dialogue. But hopefully Giffen will tame him.
Potential for Success: 8/10

The DC Comics Announcements: Part 5

DC Comics are slowly announcing their 52 new series which will kick off in September. Everything is going back to Issue 1, and while I am partially offended by that, let's see what the books/creative teams are shaping up like so far, and whether or not this is shaping up to be a good move from DC.

Legion Lost #1
Written by Fabian Nicieza
Art & Cover by Pete Woods
The reason Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning's graphic novel is being released in hardcover this month, I'm sure; this series will serve as an homage, propelling members of the Legion back in time for science fiction adventures. Fabian Nicieza is fairly hit and miss, of late, but the artwork by Pete Woods should prove interesting to say the least. It's just a shame I don't care about the Legion of Super-Heroes in the slightest; they're boring characters and apart from "The Great Darkness Saga" (which is a Darkseid story, and therefore awesome) I don't think I've ever read a good story featuring them as the focus.
Potential for Success: 5/10






Legion of Super-Heroes #1
Written by Paul Levitz
Art & Cover by Francis Portella
Paul Levitz continues to control the fate of the Legion of Super-Heroes, but as stated previously, the team does absolutely nothing for me. Apparently this series will feature a reduced team, given that lots of the characters will be appearing in the above book; but even with the potential of new characters to help me build an interest it just lacks any kind of punch whatsoever. I just don't care.
Potential for Success: 4/10

Teen Titans #1
Written by Scott Lobdell
Art by Brett Booth & Norm Rapmund
Cover by Brett Booth
This is a combination of awesomeness and sheer disappointment. It's awesome to see Brett Booth drawing a book, as well as to know that Tim Drake isn't going to die as a result of "Flashpoint." It's also great to see some decent redesigns of the characters. It's disappointing, meanwhile, that Scott Lobdell is writing the title; that, and the feel I get from the cover is that this is going to try and be 'extreme' and 'hard edged' like most of the crap churned out in the 1990s. I'll remain optimistic until I read the first issue, but so far, I'm worried. At least Tim's not dead, though (although, it's frankly insulting that he no longer has a solo book - he's maintained one of the best comics being published for the last twenty years).
Potential for Success: 7/10

Static Shock #1
Written by John Rozum & Scott McDaniel
Art & Cover by Scott McDaniel
This was an exciting announcement; given that Static Shock's creator, Dwayne McDuffie, passed away recently it's nice to see they're bringing back the character to the DC Universe. With that said, this excitement soon turned to anger - John Rozum is all well and good, but Scott McDaniel's art style has deteriorated over the last decade to the point where it is ugly and unappealing. I'm hoping this will be a return to form for him, but I just can't see it.
Potential for Success: 6/10

Hawk & Dove #1
Written by Sterling Gates
Art & Cover by Rob Liefeld
What. The. Fuck. Not only are Hawk and Dove two of the most irritating characters in the DC Universe (characters who don't even warrant their own series, particularly when Deadman is relegated to the pages of the anthology book), but DC have got Rob Liefeld to draw it. Rob Liefeld is the embodiment of everything that is wrong with comic books; his style is single-handedly responsible for damning the entire industry during the Dark Ages of the 1990s. Sterling Gates is a capable writer, but even he can't compete with the horrendous art of the man who hates feet, anatomy and logic. This will be a train wreck.
Potential for Success: 1/10

The DC Comics Announcements: Part 4

DC Comics are slowly announcing their 52 new series which will kick off in September. Everything is going back to Issue 1, and while I am partially offended by that, let's see what the books/creative teams are shaping up like so far, and whether or not this is shaping up to be a good move from DC.

Note: All covers taken from IGN

Swamp Thing #1
Written by Scott Snyder
Art & Cover by Yanick Paquette
Scott Snyder is proving to be the defining feature of these recent DC announcements; he's starting to rise to the same status of genius newcomer that Geoff Johns enjoyed a decade ago. And DC are giving him the reigns on their newly resurrected character, Swamp Thing; following on from "Brightest Day" and (we can assume) Alan Moore's classic run on the character is no small feat, it looks to be just as engaging under Snyder's control; that and the artwork is by Yanick Paquette who was excellent on recent issues of "Batman Incorporated." This gives me a good feeling.
Potential for Success: 10/10




Justice League Dark #1
Written by Peter Milligan
Art & Cover by Mikel Janin
This is a strange announcement; a third Justice League book with a team consisting on magic characters from the DC Universe. It looks set to be horror-based with characters such as Deadman, Madame Xanadu, Shade the Changing Man and John Constantine all taking places on the roster. This is my problem, though; Constantine isn't a team player, so how this works I have no idea. Still, Peter Milligan has impressed me recently, and this could continue that; the art, too, looks nice though I'm not familiar with Mikel Janin's art. That Constantine thing really bugs me, though.
Potential for Success: 6/10

Animal Man #1
Written by Jeff Lemire
Art & Cover by Travel Foreman & Dan Green
"Animal Man" by Grant Morrison is one of my favourite runs in comic history, and so to see Jeff Lemire, a creator whose work I adore, take over the reigns of this series and push Buddy Baker in a new, darker direction is an absolute treat. It gives me all the right goosebumps when I read about it, and even though I'd rather have Lemire draw it, too, Travel Foreman & Dan Green will do a damn fine job. The premise seems to deal with Buddy's daughter manifesting powers similar to his and Buddy being forced to deal with that; it's another simple plot, but hopefully, like everything Lemire has written so far, it will be fantastically engaging.
Potential for Success: 10/10

Demon Knights #1
Written by Paul Cornell
Art by Diogenes Neves & Oclair Albert
Cover by Tony Daniel
This is an interesting premise for a book; it follows the adventures of Etrigan the Demon, leading a quest to defend humanity in the Middle Ages. It's set in Camelot, so that explains why DC's resident Brit, Paul Cornell, is writing it and hopefully it'll be more along the lines of his "Knight & Squire" series than his "Action Comics" run, in that it will remain good throughout rather than wavering horribly towards the end. I'm not familiar with the artists, but they've got to be a damn sight better than Tony Daniel who provides the "meh" cover.
Potential for Success: 8/10

Frankenstein, Agent of SHADE #1
Written by Jeff Lemire
Art & Cover by Alberto Ponticelli
This is an oddity; DC seem to be bringing back all of their supernatural characters and Frankenstein is getting his own series. It sounds fairly good, and it has Jeff Lemire on writing chores, so it should have a decent story at least. In this, Frankenstein is an Agent of SHADE (The Super Human Advanced Defense Executive) and goes about dealing with strange international problems. I'm intrigued more than invested as of yet, but the artwork by Alberto Ponticelli is also a happy sign that this might be a surprise hit.
Potential for Success: 8/10






Resurrection Man #1
Written by Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning
Art by Fernando Dagnino
Cover by Ivan Reis
Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning are two creators I know best for their work on the Marvel Cosmic line of comic books (which were all fantastic, save the most recent "Annihilators" mini-series). But this is a character the pair were known for back in the day, and it's nice to see them come back to him and make him relevant again; and they're bringing the excellent art of Fernando Dagnino, to boot. The premise is genius: It's about a hero who gets new powers every time he comes back to life. The story possibilities are endless, and I am irrationally excited about this.
Potential for Success: 10/10

I, Vampire #1
Written by Josh Fialkov
Art & Cover by Andrea Sorrentino
This is the strangest announcement from the supernatural sector of the DC Universe; it's a series about the Queen of the Damned, and it's written by an up-and-comer. I'm not familiar with either creators' work, so this could go either way, but the premise involving a vampire trying to stop his true love (the aforementioned Queen of the Damned) from wiping out humanity seems to be your fairly standard horror book plot. We'll see how it goes, but right now I'm not amazingly excited for this.
Potential for Success: 5/10








Voodoo #1
Written by Ron Marz
Art & Cover by Sami Basri
This is another weird one. This is a book about Voodoo. A Wildstorm character. That's the first example of Wildstorm being integrated into the DC Universe proper. The fact that Ron Marz is writing it doesn't fill me with much confidence, but Sami Basri's recent artwork on "Power Girl" has been nothing short of perfection, so there's a lot of potential there on the art alone. Voodoo, for those of you who don't know (ie: everyone) is a half-alien, half-human hybrid who has fantastic powers and must use them to confront the dark world that surrounds her. It sounds wrought, but hopefully there will be some decent stories to tell; and let's not forget, the artwork will be gorgeous no matter what.
Potential for Success: 7/10