Legion of Super-Heroes, Vol. 1
(Legion of Super-Heroes (2019) #1)
by Brian Michael Bendis, Ryan Sook (Illustrator), Wade Von Grawbadger (Illustrator), Jordie Bellaire (Colorist), Travis Moore (Goodreads Author) (Illustrator), Mikel Janín (Illustrator), Scott Godlewski (Illustrator), Jim Lee (Illustrator), Dustin Nguyen (Illustrator), Andrea Sorrentino (Illustrator), André Lima Araújo (Illustrator), Scott Williams (Illustrator), Alex Sinclair (Colorist), John Kalisz (Colorist), Dave Stewart (Colorist), Nikola Scott (Illustrator), Jim Cheung (Illustrator), Jeff Dekal (Illustrator), Tomeu Morey (Colorist)
The Synopsis
The future of the DC Universe is NOW! Join superstar writer BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS and visionary artist RYAN SOOK for an all-new incarnation of a legendary superhero team!
One thousand years into the future, a new generation of young heroes has gathered, inspired by the actions and lessons of the greatest heroes of the past. They are the Legion of Super-Heroes, and they’re here to stop the universe from repeating its past mistakes.
But by inducting the 21st century’s Superboy, Jonathan Kent, into the Legion, they’ve broken the United Planets’ cardinal rule: never, ever mess with the time stream. Now, they’ve placed themselves in the crosshairs of the powers that be.
Origins will be revealed. Secrets will be uncovered. Friendships will be forged–and shattered. New members of the Legion will be inducted–including Superboy’s best friend Damian Wayne, a.k.a. Robin!
And one thing’s for certain: the future is not what it used to be!
This bold new reinvention of an iconic DC franchise unleashes fresh, new reader-friendly stories! Guest-starring a legion of special guest artists, including JIM LEE, JIM CHEUNG, NICOLA SCOTT, ANDREA SORRENTINO, and more, this first volume collects Legion of Super-Heroes: Millennium #1-2 and Legion of Super-Heroes #1-6!
The Verdict
A thrilling new chapter in the future DC Universe, the return of the Legion of Super-Heroes is a much needed addition to the company. Introducing Jon Kent to the future heroes was a great welcome, and the amount of detail and mythos the writers unveiled made this a masterful story that blends the past and the future into one cohesive story.
Naomi: Season One
by Brian Michael Bendis, David F. Walker, Jamal Campbell (Illustrations)
The Synopsis
When a fight between Superman and Mongul crashes into a small northwestern town, Naomi begins a quest to uncover the last time a super-powered person visited her home–and how that might tie into her own origins and adoption.
DC’s biggest, newest mystery starts here!
Follow Naomi’s journey on a quest that will take her to the heart of the DC Universe and unfold a universe of ideas and stories that have never been seen before. Join writers Brian Michael Bendis, David Walker and breakout artist Jamal Campbell in Wonder Comics’ massively ambitious new series and star…Naomi!
Aimed at providing readers with honest and innovative reading experiences, Brian Michael Bendis’ Wonder Comics is a celebration of the moments of in life when discoveries are made – when purpose and meaning are revealed and destinies are defined. Featuring the young heroes of the DC Universe as penned by all-star creative teams in exciting new adventures that will celebrate the wonders of life, love and comics.
Collects Naomi issues #1-6.
The Verdict
A fantastic new story and an even more amazing new hero for the DC Universe, the series is the perfect start to the newest chapter of the character. Naomi is destined for greatness in the DC Universe, and the blend of her origin story with her connection to the multiverse and the beautiful artwork the story included made this a thoroughly enjoyable read.
Batman and the the Outsiders, Vol. 1: Lesser Gods
(Batman and the Outsiders (2018) #1)
by Bryan Edward Hill, Dexter Soy (Illustrations), Cian Tormey (Illustrations), Veronica Gandini (Colors), Adriano Lucas (Colors), Clayton Cowles (Letters), Carlos M. Mangual (Colors)
The Synopsis
When the quest for justice drives Batman into morally ambiguous territory, he calls in the most moral man he knows: Jefferson Pierce, a.k.a. Black Lightning, and his team of elite operatives known as the Outsiders!
Several years ago Batman personally put the Barrera family into hiding after they suffered through terrible experiments at the hands of an organization called The Ark. Now all but one of them has turned up dead … and Batman needs to locate Sofia Barrera before the wrong people get their hands on her–and her surprising power! But it wouldn’t be Batman without a hidden agenda, would it? And when Black Lightning, Katana, the Signal and Orphan find out what Batman is really up to, their very loyalty will be called into question!
Get ready for an intense, action-packed thrill ride from author Bryan Hill and artist Dexter Soy in Batman and the Outsiders Vol. 1!
Collects Batman and the Outsiders #1-6.
The Verdict
A gritty and amazing new chapter in the world of The Outsiders. Black Lightning shines as the series star, reluctantly leading this group of vigilante heroes as he grows as a hero himself. Leading next to Katana, Jefferson Pierce is a great character and perfectly matches Bruce Wayne’s Batman in both leadership and wit. Orphan and Signal are great additions to the team, and the series villain is a welcome return for a classic DC villain. A must-read for DC Comics fans.
The Terrifics, Vol. 1: Meet the Terrifics
by Jeff Lemire, Evan Doc Shaner (Illustrator), Ivan Reis (Illustrator)
The Synopsis
A billionaire genius. A shape-shifting wise guy. An intangible alien. An elemental powerhouse. At first glance, these four heroes have nothing in common. But when Plastic Man, Phantom Girl, Metamorpho and Mr. Terrific are thrown together by fate, they become something greater than the sum of its parts…something truly terrific!
Unleashed by a tragic accident, supernatural forces have bound this unlikely team together, stranding them deep in the nightmare realm known as the Dark Multiverse. Now they must learn to work together to find a cure for their condition, a pathway home…and a missing hero who just might hold the key to it all.
But something even deeper than their shared plight binds them together. In each of these incredible characters, the spirt of exploration and the hope for a better tomorrow burns so brightly that not even the black magic of the Dark Multiverse can snuff it out!
Join the journey in The Terrifics Vol. 1: Meet the Terrifics. The all-star creative team of Jeff Lemire, Ivan Reis, Evan “Doc” Shaner and Joe Bennett usher in a new age of heroes with the most talked-about team book of the year!
Collects The Terrifics #1-6.
The Verdict
A wonderful blend of zany, off-the-wall humor and action with cosmic-level storytelling and a fantastic blend of characters, The Terrifics have quickly taken over as the DC Universe equivalent of the Fantastic Four, bridging science with heroism as four individual heroes are forced to stick with one another to help battle a threat of multiversal proportions. The artwork is reminiscent of a blend of classic and modern looks, and the return of heroes like Plastic Man and Mr. Terrific make this a must-read for the DC Universe.
Harley Quinn & Poison Ivy
(Harley Quinn & Poison Ivy #1-6)
by Jody Houser (Goodreads Author), Adriana Melo (Illustrator)
The Synopsis
During the catastrophic events of Tom King’s Heroes in Crisis, Poison Ivy was killed, and Harley Quinn holds herself responsible. But when Poison Ivy is resurrected, Harley decides to take care of her best friend, who is now evolving into a creature who is as much flora as she is fauna. Bad-girl BFFs Harley Quinn and Poision Ivy are back togther–but what happens when a newly reformed Harley discovers that Ivy has gone full-on evil?
Harley has also been pardoned from the Suicide Squad, so even if the killings at Sanctuary during the events of Heroes in Crisis hadn’t already inspired her to be better, the need to stay out of Belle Reve gives her added incentive to stay on the straight and narrow.
What, then, is she to do when Poison Ivy reveals she’s had enough of the humans who not only killed her, but are destroying the environment day by day? Can Poison Ivy entice Harley to join her in the plant world, or will Harley have to prove herself by stopping whatever plot Ivy is cooking up?
From critically acclaimed author Jody Houser comes a story of two best friends fighting over good and evil. Collects Harley Quinn & Poison Ivy #1-6.
The Verdict
Such a fun yet emotional miniseries for one of DC’s favorite couples, the series does a great job of blending Harley’s penchant for humor in the face of danger with the confusion Ivy is feeling after her resurrection during the events of Heroes in Crisis. The emotional toll on each of these characters as Harley misses the love of her life while Ivy searches for her place in the world makes for a beautiful if not tragic story and the attacks from allies and foes alike make this a must-read miniseries for the company.
Flash Forward
by Scott Lobdell, Brett Booth (Illustrator), Norm Rapmund (Illustrator.)
The Synopsis
When the border between the Multiverse and the Dark Multiverse starts to buckle, Wally West must answer the call and journey to these worlds and purge them of this darkness, but the greater darkness is that from within.
His name is Wally West–and he was the Fastest Man Alive. That is, until the Multiverse was rewritten without him or his family in it. Wally returned and tried to make it work, but the damage was done. Spinning out of the events of Heroes in Crisis, follow the man who called himself Flash on an adventure to find redemption in a cosmos that has fought so hard to destroy him.
Collects Flash Forward #1-6, Generation Zero: Gods Among Us Special Edition #1.
The Verdict
For any fan of The Flash and Wally West, in particular, this is the story you need to read. The story feels not only like a redemption arc for the very lost and tragic hero of the Rebirth era but feels like a return to the more upbeat and self-assured Wally that fans know and love in many ways. The multiverse has never been more alive than in this story, and the threats and allies Wally makes along the way all help lead into the Dark Nights: Death Metal event.
Year of the Villain: Hell Arisen
(Year of the Villain: Hell Arisen #1-4)
by James Tynion IV, Steve Epting (Illustrator), Javier Fernández (Illustrator), Scott Snyder (Goodreads Author), Brian Michael Bendis, Jim Cheung (Illustrator), Alex Maleev (Illustrator), Francis Manapul (Illustrator), Nick Filardi (Colorist), Tomeu Morey (Colorist)
The Synopsis
DC’s “Year of the Villain” leaps into a new phase as the ultimate battle between Lex Luthor and the Batman Who Laughs rages–and the heroes of the DC Universe are forced to take sides in this epic struggle.
Year of the Villain: Hell Arisen ties together some of DC’s biggest epics of 2019, including The Batman Who Laughs, Batman/Superman, and DC’s “Year of the Villain,” which ran across numerous titles. In this collected edition, Lex Luthor faces off against the Batman Who Laughs. On the one side are Luthor’s forces of injustice–and on the other are the Batman Who Laughs’ agents, known as the Infected…corrupted versions of heroes including Supergirl, Shazam, Commissioner Gordon and others. Year of the Villain: Hell Arisen also sets the stage for the next phase of DC’s “Year of the Villain” and beyond.
This title collects the five-issue miniseries Year of the Villain: Hell Arisen.
The Verdict
This is the perfect culmination of so many of DC’s stories during the Year of the Villain event. Luthor’s battle with the Batman Who Laughs makes for one of the biggest villain fights in DC Comics history, at least for the villains of the multiverse. The scary reality of how far the Batman Who Laugh’s dark infection has spread among the DC Universe is explored here, as is the power that Luthor has finally achieved. The ultimate villain is crowned, and the fate of the multiverse hangs in the balance by the book’s end.
Batman: Damned
by Brian Azzarello, Lee Bermejo (Illustrator)
The Synopsis
New York Times bestselling graphic novel!
The Joker has been murdered. His killer is a mystery. Batman is the World’s Greatest Detective. But what happens when the person he is searching for is the man staring back at him in the mirror?
THE JOKER IS DEAD.
There is no doubt about that. But whether Batman finally snapped his scrawny neck or some other sinister force in Gotham City did the deed is still a mystery.
Problem is, Batman can’t remember…and the more he digs into this labyrinthine case, the more he starts to doubt everything he’s uncovering.
So who better to set him straight than…John Constantine?
The problem with that is as much as John loves a good mystery, he loves messing with people’s heads even more. So with John’s “help,” the pair will delve into the sordid underbelly of Gotham as they race toward the mind-blowing truth of who murdered the Joker.
Batman: Damned is a groundbreaking supernatural horror story told by two of comics’ greatest modern creators: Brian Azzarello (Dark Knight III: The Master Race, 100 Bullets) and Lee Bermejo (Hellblazer, Joker).
This hardcover volume collects Batman: Damned #1-3 and features a behind-the-scenes extras gallery with an afterword by Brian Azzarello.
NOTE: Enhanced cover will only be on first printing copies!
The Verdict
A grim yet amazing horror story set within the gritty world of Batman, the partnership between Constantine and Batman is a welcome addition to the Dark Knight’s tale. This Elseworld style story sees some of Gotham’s and DC’s magical world in some new light, and the shocking loss of The Joker sends Batman down a hellish road that breaks into some of the amazing horror tales that DC Comics houses. A must-read miniseries.
DCeased: The Unkillables
by Tom Taylor (Goodreads Author), Karl Mostert (Illustrator), Trevor Scott (Inker), Neil Edwards (Inker), John Livesay (Inker), Rex Locus (Colorist), Saida Temofonte (Letterer)
The Synopsis
Discover what the villains of the DC Universe did during the events of DCeased!
From the hit series DCeased comes a villain’s story about survival during the zombie apocalypse!
Vandal Savage hasn’t lived for thousands of years without being prepared. Seconds after the virus breaks out, he has already made contact and begun to assemble a team of people to help him ride out the end of the world. Some of the world’s greatest mercenaries and fighters are brought to his side, all tasked to protect Savage. All Vandal can offer them is survival.
Collects DCeased: The Unkillables #1-6.
The Verdict
A bloody and chilling new chapter in DC’s DCeased series, the Unkillables does an excellent job of exploring some of DC’s most ruthless anti-heroes and villains, as well as some of the more resilient humans and heroes who have learned to adapt to this cold new world. The shocking turn of one of DC’s most powerful and iconic heroes into the Anti-Life Virus’s most deadly drone makes the series scare factor level up, and the grim and haunting artwork adds to the series dark setting.
DCeased: Dead Planet
(DCeased (Collected Editions) #2)
by Tom Taylor (Goodreads Author), Trevor Hairsine (Illustrator)
The Synopsis
Five years after the end of the world…anti-life goes on in this sequel to the smash-hit series DCeased.
The survivors of the infected apocalypse that ravaged Earth in the pages of DCeased have found a haven on a second Earth. The Justice League rebuilt with new members–Damian Wayne, Jon Kent and Cassie Sandsmark–and for the most part, life is good. Until a faint signal is received that is coming from the planet everyone had fled five short years ago…
Somehow Cyborg is transmitting a message–he survived, and there might be a cure! Suspecting a trap, but with too much on the line, the new Justice League must make their way home to the dead planet to see what awaits them and who is left to be saved!
The Verdict
The shocking sequel to DCeased is a fantastic chapter in this new world of the DC multiverse. The surviving heroes of the DC Universe return to their doomed world years after the events of DCeased, finding a still living Cyborg and a host of undead heroes and civilians alike. Working alongside the survivors of Earth, the heroes work to stop not only the Anti-Life Virus and cure those infected but must stop a host of other threats, from a shocking cabal of villains and a demonic threat that could destroy Earth once and for all. John Constantine, the new Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman, and Cyborg all shine in this story, as does the gritty artwork of this series. A must-read for fans of the original miniseries.
Winter Soldier: Second Chances
by Kyle Higgins (Goodreads Author), Rod Reis (Illustrations)
The Synopsis
Bucky Barnes believes in second chances. Having survived death, manipulation, loss of identity and a lifetime of murder, the man known as the Winter Soldier has worked hard to atone for his many sins. But now…he’s going to go one step further. What do you do after you’ve found redemption? You help others do the same! Bucky is becoming a “fixer,” working to help others leave behind their lives of crime. It’s his way of channeling his own pain in a productive, personal way…by helping others find the salvation that he has found. But not all paths are the same – and not everyone can be saved… COLLECTING: WINTER SOLDIER 1-5
The Verdict
A great chapter in the life of Bucky Barnes, this series blends the gritty reality of Bucky’s life as the Winter Soldier with the hope and heroism that Cap inspired in his friend. Bucky’s trip to save people seeking a new life away from crime is a heartfelt welcome, as is the new cast of characters who begin throwing themselves in his path. The artwork brings to life the espionage and grim nature of Bucky’s world to life perfectly, making this a must-read.
Falcon & Winter Soldier: Cut Off One Head
(Falcon & Winter Soldier #1-5)
by Derek Landy, Federico Vicentini (Illustrations)
The Synopsis
An office of dead government agents. A gifted new killer. Two ex-Captain Americas…When a dramatic attempt on the life of Bucky Barnes reunites him with Sam Wilson, the two old friends are plunged headlong into a race to uncover the new leader of Hydra before a mass casualty event announces the terror group’s resurgence to the world. The clock is ticking…
COLLECTING: FALCON & WINTER SOLDIER (2020) 1-5
The Verdict
This book does a great job of exploring the relationship between Bucky and Sam while also introducing a humorous yet deadly group of new villains looking to delve into the HYDRA organization. The shocking revelation of one villain leads to the shocking civil war erupting within the organization, and the two heroes find themselves caught in the middle. A great new story in the life of both heroes.
Ironheart, Vol. 1: Those With Courage
by Eve L. Ewing (Goodreads Author), Luciano Vecchio (Illustrator), Kevin Libranda (Illustrator), G. Geoffo (Illustrator)
The Synopsis
Riri Williams, the armored hero called Ironheart who took the comics world by storm, takes center stage! When a group of world leaders is held hostage by one of Spider-Man’s old foes, Riri must step up her game. But she’s thrown for a loop when an old acquaintance from back in Chicago re-enters her life! Now, Ironheart is caught between her need for independence and her obligations at M.I.T. – and when an old friend is kidnapped, she needs to make some tough decisions! Luckily, Riri has a will of steel, a heart of iron…and a brand-new A.I. system on her side! CHAMPIONS artist Kevin Libranda joins award-winning poet Eve L. Ewing, as Ironheart steps boldly out of Tony Stark’s shadow to forge her own future!
COLLECTING: IRONHEART 1-6
The Verdict
A great new chapter in the Iron Man corner of the Marvel Universe, Riri Williams proves herself to be a fantastic and exceptional hero all her own. Her brilliance and need to help others make her a worthy successor to the legacy Tony Stark has built and her bumpy road between heroism and her personal life gives a whole new perspective for the character and the Marvel Universe as a whole that is so needed in the world right now.
Empyre: X-Men
by Jonathan Hickman (Writer), Gerry Duggan (Goodreads Author) (Writer), Benjamin Percy (Goodreads Author) (Writer), Tini Howard (Writer), Leah Williams (Goodreads Author), Ed Brisson, Vita Ayala (Goodreads Author), Zeb Wells, Matteo Buffagni (Illustrations), Lucas Werneck (Illustrations), Andrea Broccardo (Illustrations), Jorge Molina (Illustrations), Adriano Di Benedetto (Illustrations), Nolan Woodard (Color Artist), Rachelle Rosenberg (Cover Artist), Clayton Cowles (Letterer)
The Synopsis
Alien plants versus mutant zombies! Plant people from outer space have come to Earth as part of the cosmic events of EMPYRE – but wouldn’t you know it, they happen to arrive just as millions of deceased mutants rise from the grave as undead creatures hungry for human flesh! What are the odds? And can even the X-Men handle two simultaneous crises? The X-Men return to the graveyard island of Genosha in a tale so crazy, it’s taking the entire writing crew of the Dawn of X line to tackle it! COLLECTING: EMPYRE: X-MEN (2020) 1-5
The Verdict
One of the new era of X-Men’s first major crossover events in the Marvel Universe, getting to see the iconic mutant heroes fighting against a group of magical plant-like warriors from space is the perfect story for the X-Men. The artwork is phenomenal, and the overall crossover connection is perfectly balanced with the individual stories of the X-Men as a whole, making this a great addition to the X-Men’s new and growing mythos.
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