DC - The Edge (And More)

I'm not gonna bury the lead. It hasn't been solicited, but here is the cover of Superman #1 rendered by comic art GOD George Perez, who actually manages to make the new super suit look not completely shitty... and at the same time, highlights just how stupid Jim Lee's designs are. What the fuck is up with the metal bands around his calves? Is he part cyborg down there? Are his calves his weak point, now? And Superman doesn't need knee pads! I don't haaaate the extra detailing on the top, although they seem fussy and unnecessary. A few seams are okay as long as it looks like they serve a purpose, but these... don't. HATE the boots. I still miss the shorts, but I guess that's too old fashioned for DC. Maybe they should throw a leather jacket on him while they're at it. Leather jackets are cool! Just ask Fonzie. What's that? That was 35 years ago? You are correct!

Oh, it's a Super Twofer! Behold the new Supergirl! Hmm, you know what? Call me crazy, but I kinda like it! Minus the priest-y collar. The boots are actually really cool-looking EXCEPT the the weird points over her knees. Those seem tacked on and WHY would she leave her knees exposed? I mean, Superman is suddenly pussying up and putting on knee PADS, but Supergirl is removing all covering from her's? Okay, I get that she's Supergirl and doesn't really need clothing to protect her, but it just seems... odd. I don't hate it! I actually kinda dig the whole thing over all, but the Jim Lee aesthetic strikes again. I do wish there'd been some attempt at a skirt, but this is okay for a change. I wonder why he gave her the classic Super V in the front of her boots, but didn't do the same with Superman? Those points look like ballz. But over all, I like the Supergirl suit and it's a trillion times cooler looking than Superman's! Which is a damn shame.

The titles DC actually did reveal today are considered "The Edge"... edgy. Which... okay, I do think it's a cool idea to work properties like Vertigo and Wildstorm into the mainstream universe and I also wish them luck offering different genres like westerns and war as part of their core line. So, anyway, let's take it away...

Harley Quinn! Deadshot! King Shark! They’re a team of death-row super villains recruited by the government to take on missions so dangerous – they’re sheer suicide! Who will be the first to crack under the pressure? Find out in SUICIDE SQUAD #1, written by Adam Glass (FLASHPOINT: LEGION OF DOOM) with art by Marco Rudy (THE SHIELD).

Well, that looks like shit. HATE the Harley redesign! So much for modesty. No word yet on DC's other villain team Secret Six. It may have been dropped, since Deadpool is in this shit stew now. Too bad. No more smoldering sexual tension between him and Catman. I said I would give a lot of these titles a shot, but NOT THIS ONE!

A metahuman mercenary who made a living taking out the toughest targets, Deathstroke will reclaim his fearsome legacy by any means necessary in DEATHSTROKE #1, a new series from rising star Kyle Higgins (Batman: Gates of Gotham) and artists Joe Bennett and Art Thibert.

I just don't like villain-led books, so I will fo sho be skipping this one. How many chances is DC going to give this guy? Just let him be a villain and pop up once a year to fight some good guy. Also, someone let Batman know that we found his missing glove fins.

Oh, someone remind me after I don't buy or read Deathstroke, that I need to not buy or read Grifter!

Ex-black ops agent Cole Cash is a charming grifter that few can resist. And yet he’s about to be branded a serial killer when he begins hunting and exterminating inhuman creatures hidden in human form – creatures only he can see. Can the biggest sweet talker of all time talk his way out of this one when even his brother thinks he’s gone over the edge? Find out in GRIFTER #1, written by Nathan Edmondson with art by CAFU and BIT (the team behind T.H.U.N.D.E.R. AGENTS).

I never liked Grifter, because he was OBVIOUSLY calculated to be the "cool guy" in WildCATS. You'll remember that another WildCATS character, Voodoo was already revealed to be getting a new series in the mainstream DCU. Um... that... I don't really have anything else to add to that, sorry.

Stormwatch is a dangerous super human strike force whose existence is kept secret from the world. Jack Hawksmoor and the rest of the crew look to recruit two of the deadliest super humans on the planet: Midnighter and Apollo. And if they say no? Perhaps the Martian Manhunter can change their minds. Featuring a surprising new roster, STORMWATCH #1 will be written by the critically-acclaimed Paul Cornell (Superman: The Black Ring, “Dr. Who”) and illustrated by Miguel Sepulveda.

I never read The Authority, because it seemed too dark and violent for me, but I know Apollo and Midnighter were supposed to be Superman and Batman except as gay lovers. So... that could lead to some interesting things. Like the WildCATS these are former Wildstorm properties being integrated into the mainstream DCU, so we'll see how that goes. You know the ONE Wildstorm property I ever liked? Gen 13? Are they coming back? Also, poor Martian Manhunter, being cut from the JLA to nurse these second-stringers!

Blackhawk is an elite group of mercenaries made up of brave men from around the world equipped with the latest in cutting-edge hardware and vehicles. Their mission: Kill the bad guys before they kill us. A set of contemporary tales that battle the world’s gravest threats, BLACKHAWKS #1 will be written by Mike Costa and illustrated by Ken Lashley.

That sounds like a big fat slice of I Don't Care Cake!



The grandson of the original Sgt. Rock assumes the command of Easy Company, a team of crack ex-military men financed by a covert military contractor, as they brave the battle-scarred landscape carved by the DC Universe’s super-villains. SGT. ROCK AND THE MEN OF WAR #1 is contemporary military story fighting under modern conditions, and will be written by Ivan Brandon and illustrated by Tom Derenick.

Mmmm, this also sounds like a big fat slice of I Don't Care Cake, although I do think it's a neat idea to update these classic characters to modern incarnations. Nothing personal, but if it's in any way "military" I absolutely have ZERO interest. Unless it's GI Joe. Or a Marine that's had a little too much to drink.

Even when Gotham City was just a one-horse town, crime was rampant – and things only get worse when bounty hunter Jonah Hex comes to town. Can Amadeus Arkham, a pioneer in criminal psychology, enlist Hex’s special brand of justice to help the Gotham Police Department track down a vicious serial killer? Featuring back-up stories starring DC’s other western heroes, ALL-STAR WESTERN #1 will be written by the fan-favorite Jonah Hex team of Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti and illustrated by Moritat.

Hmmm... setting it in olde Gotham City is clever. Palmiotti and Gray did a crackerjack job on Power Girl, but that was a horse of a different color. Plus, they had the lovely Amanda Conner drawing that. I may or may not be down with this. I reserve judgement. Westerns like war books just skew too... I guess manly for me. Who's hotter, a man in uniform or a cowboy? Hmmmm...

A man loses control of his life as the omnipresent Brother Eye transforms him against his will into a powerful killing machine OMAC #1, written by DC Comics Co-Publisher Dan DiDio and co-written and illustrated by Keith Giffen and Scott Koblish.

It's cute that they're mimicking Kirby's art style on this. Is this set in the present? Well... overall, I'm not really interested. So... y'know... next


The final book to be announced today is Blue Beetle.

It’s not easy being Jaime Reyes. He has to deal with high school, family and all the drama that comes with being a teenager. Also, he’s linked to a powerful scarab created by an alien race who seek to subjugate planets – or annihilate them. It’s up to one teen hero to turn this instrument of destruction into a force for good in BLUE BEETLE #1, written by Tony Bedard (GREEN LANTERN CORPS) and illustrated by Ig Guara (FLASHPOINT: GRODD OF WAR) and Ruy Jose.

I was wondering about him. I still wonder why he isn't in Justice League International. He looks WAY grown up, though! He's usually so skinny and gangly. I also don't know if this book is meant to be lumped in with "The Edge" books. I hope not!

So let's update our tally:
1. Justice League of America
2. Action Comics
3. Detective Comics
4. Wonder Woman
5. Aquaman
6. Green Lantern
7. GL Corps
8. GL: New Guardians
9. Red Lanterns
10. Green Arrow
11. Hawkman
12. Flash
13. Captain Atom
14. DC Universe Presents
15. Nightwing
16. Batgirl
17. Justice League International
18. Mr. Terrific
19. Justice Society of America
20. Firestorm
21. Teen Titans
22. Birds of Prey
23. Batman
24. Batman: The Dark Knight
25. Batman & Robin
26. Nightwing
27. Red Hood & The Outlaws
28. Catwoman
29. Batwoman
30. Batwing
31. Swamp Thing
32. Animal Man
33. Demon Knights
34. Frankenstein
35. I, Vampire
36. Resurrection Man
37. Justice League Dark
38. Voodoo
39. Legion of Super Heroes
40. Legion Lost
41. Teen Titans
42. Static Shock
43. Hawk & Dove
44. Suicide Squad
45. Deathstroke
46. Grifter
47. The Authority
48. Blackhawks
49. Sgt. Rock
50. All Star Western
51. OMAC
52. Blue Beetle

Wait a sec... weren't there only supposed to be 52 titles TOTAL?! What about Superman and Supergirl? Plus, you know Superman has to have five titles, just like Batman! What's going on here?