By Todd Allen
Yesterday, DC announced their book line-up (HC/TPB) for Spring 2013. OK, you’re expecting a regular slate of New 52 collections. But what else is in there and does anything indicate a new series is in the works? This time out, not that much. Shazam and the Metal Men being the odd things popping up. Plenty of pre-movie Superman, though. You can follow the link or I can save you a little time. Here are the highlights:
Hard Time Vol. 2: Sixteen TP
Writer: Steve Gerber
Artist: Brian Hurtt
Collects: Hard Time #7-12
$14.99 US, 144 pg
I seriously doubt Hard Time is coming back, but this was an under-appreciated series from the late Steve Gerber. A sort of meditation on the post-Columbine justice system with some super powers thrown in on the side. It deserves to be in print.
Showcase Presents: Justice League of America Vol. 6 TP
Writers: Len Wein, Felton Marcus, Dennis O’Neil, Cary Bates, Elliot S. Maggin, Gerry Conway and Martin Pasko
Artists: Dick Dillin, Dick Giordano, Frank McLaughlin
Collects: Justice League of America #107-132
$19.99 US, 528 pg
Always nice to see the Showcase line going strong. Vol. 7 should contained Steve Engleharts highly influential, yet oddly unheralded run, probably most notable for introducing the robotic Manhunters into the Green Lantern mythology.
Superman: The Man of Steel Vol. 7 TP
Writers: John Byrne and Jerry Ordway
Artists: John Byrne, Jerry Ordway, Keith Williams, Leonard Starr, Karl Kesel and John Beatty
Collects: SUPERMAN #13-15, ACTION COMICS #596-597 and ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN #436-438
$19.99 US, 192 pg
That’s right, Vol. 7. Byrne wasn’t on Superman that long chronologically, but doing three books at once, he cranked out a lot of material in that time. Say, is there a Superman film coming out in ‘13?
Batman/Deathblow Deluxe Edition HC
Writer: Brian Azzarello
Artists: Lee Bermejo and Tim Bradstreet
Collects: Batman/Deathblow: after the fire #1-3
$22.99 US, 168 pg
Now there’s a blast from the past (2002). I believe that’s the first Azzarello / Bermejo collaboration. Before Luthor. Before they sold a gazillion copies of Joker. Probably should have been back in print earlier. It may or may not mean Deathblow’s getting more prominent in ‘13.
Green Arrow: Salvation TP
Writers: J.T. Krul and Jason Patrick
Artists: Diogenes Neves and Agustin Padilla
Collects: Green Arrow #8-15
$16.99 US, 192 pg
A television show will unearth some more pre-relaunch material.
Showcase Presents: Sgt. Rock Vol. 4 TP
Writer: Robert Kanigher
Artists: Joe Kubert, Russ Heath and Jack Abel
Collects: OUR ARMY AT WAR #181-216
$19.99 US, 520 pg
Showcase keeps marching on.
Superman: For Tomorrow TP
Writer: Brian Azzarello
Artists: Jim Lee, Scott Williams, Richard Friend,13 Comments on Highlights From DC’s Spring Graphic Novel Schedule, last added: 6/22/2012Display Comments Add a Comment
How about the Alan Moore Omnibus with his Wildstorm work? Isn’t that new?
I am not the audience for the New 52. However, I am the audience for most of these. Approaching movie or not, it’s good to see so much fun, classic Superman material kept in print. Overall, sign me up for Marshal Law: The Deluxe Edition (fantastic stuff, it will be great to have in one complete edition), Superman: The Death and Return of Superman Omnibus (love those stories), The New Teen Titans Omnibus Vol. 3 (the first two are wonderful) and Tales of the Batman: Archie Goodwin (a chance to have Walt Simonson’s Manhunter/Batman in hardcover? Sign me up!).
If I can’t get good new stories from DC, I’ll happily enjoy the old stuff.
Rhetorical question: Why is it that some of these reprints (like the Archie Goodwin and Jose Luis Garcia Lopez) sound a heck of a lot more interesting than anything coming out of the New 52?
Because the Nu52 is mostly not very good, as one would expect from the current leadership at DC.
Picked up “Hard Time” on ComiXology some time ago, and I recommend it extremely highly. Perhaps it sold well enough there to warrant a new print volume. On that note, DC, will you frikking get the frikking second series digitized already?
Is “Superman: For Tomorrow” really 12 issues for $20? Doubtful.
“Legion from 2001. All Legion stories get reprinted eventually.”
This actually follows directly on the recent “DC Comics Presents: Legion of the Damned” and the “Legion Lost” TP reprints, so there is a logic to it.
The archives and the chronicles for me!
Still waiting for the Flash issues by Waid to be collected.
With Impulse getting a trade, there is hope.
Yeah DC, get those Waid Flash trades out! He’s as high profile as Morrison, Johns, or Millar has ever been. An excellent run in an excellent series for the ONE TRUE FLASH! :D
Those Mike Baron issues could use a collection as well.
“All Legion stories get reprinted eventually.”
Except what really truly deserves reprinting: the Giffen-Biernbaums’ run (known as v4), which was the most sophisticated sci-fi ever committed to print under DCU. Current direction wishes it would simply vanish to never be remembered again. And second-rate material (like Legion Worlds) gets reprinted.
Would still love to see collections for Tomahawk, Rip Hunter Time Master and Sea Devils (in color).
@Mycroft – Waid’s run on Flash is my all time favorite (well, up to #118 anyway!). Great characters like Impulse, Max, Jesse Quick and John Fox!! Amazing artists like Ringo and Jimenez!! And 5-6 part major arcs where things actually happened!! – take note nu52 DC!!!!
Superman: For Tomorrow TP
Writer: Brian Azzarello
Artists: Jim Lee, Scott Williams, Richard Friend, Sandra Hope and others
Collects: SUPERMAN #204-215 and the JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA SPECIAL #1
$19.99 US, 320 pg
This was a slow ass story. I dont think I’ve even read it a 2nd time, guess I should try it again. Whats the JLA special??? Never heard of it??? – And with no other writer of artist mentioned is it by the same team???
Still no ‘mazing Man trade?
When are we going to get a trade of Cary Bates “SUPERMAN THE LAST FAMILY OF KRYPTON” from 2010??
This was a great story but they didn’t even do 2nd prints for the issues.
How about new printings for the “BOOKS OF MAGIC” series?