DC is doing something I never thought I'd see: they are actually publishing Bob Haney's final Teen Titans story, which has been in the can for several years. Here is the solicitation copy:
TEEN TITANS: THE LOST ANNUAL
Written by Bob Haney
Art by Jay Stephens & Mike Allred
Cover by Nick Cardy
Don’t miss the TEEN TITANS LOST ANNUAL, featuring the original Teen Titans: Robin, Kid Flash, Wonder Girl, Speedy and Aqualad! Classic Teen Titans writer Bob Haney sends the Titans into space to rescue President John F. Kennedy in this story illustrated by Jay Stephens (The Land of Nod) & Mike Allred (Madman, X-Statix)! Meet new alien races, witness a startling betrayal, and more! It’s a secret space adventure that couldn’t be told…‘til now!
On sale January 9 • 64 pg, FC, $4.99 US
Man, this just sounds completely awesome: JFK in space! Plus, Jay Stephens and Mike Allred have the right artistic sensibilities to pull this off. Even if you don't read comics, you still need to get this.
By the way, I was sitting next to Chris Sims at Heroes Con in Charlotte when he demanded from Dan DiDio that he publish this comic. DiDio's response, and I'm not making this up, was, "Whatever you say, Mr. Sims! You own the internet."
Other things that make me happy in DC's January/February comics:
DIANA PRINCE: WONDER WOMAN VOL. 1 TP
Written by Dennis O’Neil & Mike Sekowsky
Art and cover by Sekowsky & Dick Giordano
In this volume, featuring stories that have never been collected before from issues #178-184 and SUPERMAN’S GIRL FRIEND LOIS LANE #93, Wonder Woman faces Mars, god of war, the murderous Dr. Cyber, and more!
Advance-solicited; on sale February 6 • 176 pg, FC, $19.99 US
These 70s Wonder Woman comics, where she loses her powers, dresses like Diana Rigg, and travels the world with her blind martial artist companion, I Ching, are chock full of crazy. I love these comics, and they are truly hard to find in back issues, so I'm looking forward to this collection like you wouldn't believe.
TIME MASTERS TP
Written by Bob Wayne & Lewis Shiner
Art and cover by Art Thibert & José Marzan Jr.
Collecting the often-requested TIME MASTERS #1-8 and material from SECRET ORIGINS #43, featuring 52’s Rip Hunter! Hunter forges alliances with DC heroes including Cave Carson, Metal Men creator Doctor Will Magnus, Dr. Fate, the Viking Prince, Arion and others to stop the threats of immortal super-villains including Vandal Savage and his Illuminati.
Advance-solicited; on sale February 13 • 224 pg, FC, $19.99 US
I have a lot of fondness for this series, and I've re-read it pretty recently. Parts of it won't hold up very well--especially the way that disaffected teenagers are depicted. Still, Wayne and Shiner did their homework on conspiracy theories about the Illuminati's influence on world history, and they tie it into the DC Universe well. As far as I can tell, though, the rules about time travel they establish here have never been enforced in any story after this one.
THE SPIRIT #14
Written by Sergio Aragones & Mark Evanier
Art by Mike Ploog
Cover by Jordi Bernet
Join the new SPIRIT creative team of writers Sergio Aragones & Mark Evanier (Groo the Wanderer) and Mike Ploog (Abadazad) for a case of murder! A string of killings is plaguing Central City…and the Spirit — with Commissioner Dolan — is on the case!
On sale January 16 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US
I was saddened by the news that Darwyn Cooke would be leaving this series, but the announcement that Sergio Aragones and Mark Evanier would be writing piqued my interest. Now the news comes that Mike Ploog will be drawing it makes this the greatest comic ... of 1974! Seriously, Ploog is a great choice for this job, and I, for one, will be glad to see his art appearing regularly in a comic again. The plot summary here, though, sounds like they could have just written, "Insert generic SPIRIT plot here."
Things that have me nervous:
CATWOMAN #75
Written by Will Pfeifer
Art by David Lopez & Alvaro Lopez
Cover by Adam Hughes
The Joker. The Rogues. The Cheetah. And they’re just the beginning of Catwoman’s problems.
The world’s most violent and dangerous villains have been sent to the Hell Planet from SALVATION RUN, and Catwoman’s just arrived! Selina Kyle’s got skills, cunning and craftiness, but she’s also going to need to make a deal with the devil in order to stay alive!
On sale January 16 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US
I have loved what Will Pfeifer has been doing with this series since the One Year Later jump, but I worry about including her in the Salvation Run storyline. Pfeifer has done a great job of establishing Selina as a new mother, but shipping her off to a prison planet seems to undermine that ongoing storyline. I'm going to trust Pfeifer on this, though.
Oh well:
GREEN ARROW/BLACK CANARY #4
Written by Judd Winick
Art and cover by Cliff Chiang
The second story arc of this hit new series begins with a tragedy for Oliver Queen!
On sale January 9 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US
I have a feeling this solicitation might spoil something. Am I wrong?
Addendum to the Catwoman concerns: It appears, from Lying in the Gutters and other sources, that Selina's motherhood issues will be resolved in such a way as to turn the character back to her criminal life before this issue. I'm not sure how I feel about that.
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