So — 52 new #1s launching from DC in September, right? Since the initial announcement of Geoff Johns and Jim Lee on Justice League, the announcement have been coming daily, up to the point where now we’re at, by our count, 34 new series announced. (Batman Incorporated is coming back in 2012, so presumably that doesn’t count as one of the 52.) The simple art of subtraction tells us that means 18 are left to be announced.
What will these titles be? A couple are obvious — Superman and Action Comics, duh. Teen Titans seems like another safer-than-safe bet.
Beyond that, let’s look at the August solicitations. Here are the previously ongoing series of a currently unknown status: Booster Gold, Batman Beyond, Red Robin, Gotham City Sirens, Superboy, Supergirl, Superman/Batman, Adventure Comics, Legion of Super Heroes, The Spirit, Doc Savage, Jonah Hex, Justice Society of America, Secret Six, Power Girl, T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents, Titans, Xombi, Zatanna.
Booster Gold is front-and-center in the Justice League International promotional art, so it’s quite possible (though not certain) he won’t be in his own solo title come September. One would think Red Robin and Gotham City Sirens would have been announced with the barrage of Bat-titles yesterday (and the new Catwoman book may make GCS effectively redundant), so those seem like likely goners — unless Red Robin’s fate is tied to Teen Titans. Batman Beyond is an alternate future, so who knows? Superboy and Supergirl both seem like good bets, and probably part of a forthcoming announcement along with the rest of the Superman books. Superman/Batman is much more of a question mark, but might be the place where DC establishes the relationship between the two icons in the post-Flashpoint DCU.
The Legion having two books seems like a stretch as it is, so this might be a chance to shed one. The First Wave line has been rumored to be canceled for months, so this seems like an opportunity to jettison The Spirit and Doc Savage for the time being (also, though technically taking place in one of the Multiverses, not really part of the DCU proper). Jonah Hex has gotten a good amount of critical attention and could be deemed worth keeping, especially since it represents a different genre than just superheroes. Newsarama proper has expressed reasonable doubt on the future of Justice Society of America, which if it was continuing would seem to be part of the initial Justice League announcements. Secret Six and Power Girl are fan-favorite books that both seem to have fighting chances, if not guarantees. With Nick Spencer exclusive to Marvel and sales not spectacular (and it’s status in the DC Universe unclear), T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents is probably headed out the door. You’d think that Zatanna would be part of today’s supernatural-heavy announcements, but it was not. Exactly what a continuity-heavy book like Titans would mean in the post-Flashpoint DCU is murky, and Xombi just started but may not have the numbers to keep it going beyond August’s #6.
Let’s take a bullish approach say that we’ve got some rough combination of Superman, Action Comics, Teen Titans, Superboy, Supergirl, a Legion title, Secret Six and Power Girl all sticking around. That still leaves 10 mystery titles, and as today’s announcements suggest, there’s probably going to be some stuff no one will see coming, and quite possibly some more slots from former Wildstorm characters, a la Voodoo. And since DC has talked a lot about diversity — Steel? Blue Beetle? Static? What about some new takes on old DC concepts, like Suicide Squad? Maybe something with the (Captain) Marvel family?
Feel free to give us your guesses as to what might be next, and the full list of titles announced thus far after the jump.
Justice League #1
Wonder Woman #1
Aquaman #1
The Flash #1
The Fury of Firestorm #1
The Savage Hawkman #1
Green Arrow #1
Justice League International #1
Mister Terrific #1
Captain Atom #1
DC Universe Presents #1
Green Lantern #1
Green Lantern Corps #1
Green Lantern: The New Guardians #1
Red Lanterns #1
Batman #1
Detective Comics #1
Batman and Robin #1
Batman: The Dark Knight #1
Batwoman #1
Batgirl #1
Catwoman #1
Birds of Prey #1
Nightwing #1
Red Hood and the Outlaws #1
Batwing #1
Swamp Thing #1
Justice League Dark #1
Animal Man #1
Demon Knights #1
Frankenstein, Agent of Shade #1
Resurrection Man #1
I, Vampire #1
Voodoo #1
June 7th, 2011 at 4:49 pm
I’m going to guess:
Action Comics, Superman, Supergirl, Superboy, Legion, Grifter, Superman/Batman, Jonah Hex, Teen Titans, Justice Society of America (set in WWII), Power Girl, Static Shock, Captain Thunder. That’s all I got. This is fun.
June 7th, 2011 at 5:39 pm
I feel as though we’re probably going to have a Superman day, as you mentioned, and then a Teen Titans day as well. I’m thinking that Red Robin, Kid Flash, Static, and other former or current Titans may be revealed at that time.
June 7th, 2011 at 5:48 pm
OMAC is apparently on the list of Bleeding Cool, as well as Grifter. I think Hex is not coming back, from Jimmy Palmiotti’s twit saying he has nothing to announce post-Flashpoint. I don’t think Power Girl is coming back…
June 7th, 2011 at 6:37 pm
Yeah, I doubt Power Girl and Secret Six.
I think Blue Beetle is a safe bet, given his appearances in Brave and the Bold. I would also expect him to be a Teen Titan, like Static, who will probably also get his own book, and Kid Flash, who will get his own book, too.
I can’t imagine seeing a Titans book. If the idea is to get back to the iconic versions of these comics, than Teen Titans will stand alone.
I would not be surprised to see Steel a part of the Superman related books.
Hex is a Vertigo book, yes? So does it count?
Because we haven’t heard anything about any of the Johnny DC books.
June 7th, 2011 at 7:14 pm
I wouldn’t count out Jonah Hex. In one of the early DCNu press releases, Didio (I think it was him) did mention that DC’s line would include westerns.
June 7th, 2011 at 7:54 pm
I’m still not sure if Bart Allen is going to make it to the DCNu, he’s very confusing origin-wise. I don’t know how they haven’t announced a Red Robin book, or something starring Tim Drake he’s starred in his own comic that’s always sold well to the best of my knowledge and in my opinion has pretty much always been good, with a few missteps here and there. I think they’re toying with me, but then again I’m quite paranoid.
June 7th, 2011 at 8:09 pm
All I know is I want a nice twist and we get Blue Beetles, starring Ted and Jamie, the plot being that the legacy of the Blue Beetle is passed down every generation. Dan Garrett is also alive, now retired and serving as a supporting character.
June 7th, 2011 at 8:38 pm
What about Tiny Titans? Nobody’s mentioning those guys and they rule! Aww Yeah Titans!
June 7th, 2011 at 9:55 pm
I think the identifies the sure bets: Action Comics, Superman, Supergirl, Teen Titans, and Legion of Super Heroes. Jonah Hex and Secret Six have loyal followings so I hope they’ll be back. They previously announced a new Static title, we’ll likely see it. Not sure if Superboy, Power Girl, or JSA are a lock.
Books I’d love to see, though some would never happen:
1) Kamandi: great concept, Planet of the Apes movie coming up, and original Kirby series will out on HC this fall.
2) Blue Beetle: TV series in development?
3) Freedom Fighters: pre-Crisis concept where they’re on an Earth in which WWII is still going and the Nazis are winning.
4) OMAC: closer to original Kirby creation than the recent version.
5) Starman: a new Robinson-written series taking a different path.
6) World’s Finest: team-up book with not only Superman/Batman, but also their respective family members.
June 7th, 2011 at 10:19 pm
Scott – awesome point about Red Robin perhaps being part of a Teen Titans announcement.
whoisparker – I’m guessing since Tiny Titans is outside mainstream continuity and an all-ages title, it’ll be unaffected and not count as part of the 52 (totally a guess based on nothing but a hunch).
June 8th, 2011 at 9:04 am
The Superman books should be announced on Saturday as per the initial announcement of Geoff and Jim at Hero Complex.
That leaves two days for two more groups of books. Sci-fi/Fantasy is probably one of them (OMAC, outer-space like R.E.B.E.L.S., Kamandi I can only hope). The other day could be “non-groupable” like maybe Westerns, Horror, Romance, and I hope I hope Earth-2 books (JSA and Power Girl back to their original continuity).
June 8th, 2011 at 10:20 am
I don’t like the looks of most of this green arrow aquaman yes , everything else dear god please fix have you guys seen teen tins? It looks like something from image all of it . This is gonna be bad for dc.
June 8th, 2011 at 10:29 am
So…I’ve been wishing for a new uniform for Superboy. But that was not what I had in mind. A tattoo on the Boy of Steel? Sleeveless shirt? Cmon DC. Red Robin’s suit looks ok, but the caption makes it seem like he may never have been Robin or a member of the bat family. And this is the character who has sold well in either Robin or Red Robin for over 15 years without a miss. Heck Robin was only cancelled so they could do a new number one with his switch to Red Robin. And dont even get me started on Wondergirl. A thief? Geez.
June 8th, 2011 at 11:18 am
Apparently, DC hates my money. Looking at their launching titles, it looks like my DC pull list is going way down. I only see 9 books on that list I’m going to be getting.
June 8th, 2011 at 1:00 pm
Please DC, don’t cancel Jonah Hex or Zatanna. I love my six-shooters and fishnets.
And may I get some clarification as to what will happen to Stephanie Brown, since Barbara Gordon is Batgirl now. I really like Steph and her self-deprecating humour. She’s grown as a character, and I would hate to see her return as Spoiler or … eek, killed off! If you can make Cassandra Cain into the Black Bat, why not make Steph um … the Purple Bat? Or, something.
June 8th, 2011 at 2:45 pm
DC
The new third best selling comic company. Stupidest idea ever. On every level.
My wallet needed a break anyway.
June 8th, 2011 at 7:47 pm
Oh well…we had a good run, DC…time to say goodbye.
June 8th, 2011 at 8:01 pm
I remain cautious though I’ll probably pare way down and only get the Legion book(s).
June 9th, 2011 at 6:20 pm
Flashpoint should not even be a 5 issue event. If it ends in a year, really 17 months. Just extend it.
Nu-DC is a dumb name anyway. It reminds me of nu-metal. You know Limp Bizkit, Korn, Linkin Park, Kid Rock. Cutting edge music of 10 years ago. *sarcasm*
Enjoy!
August 31st, 2011 at 12:30 am
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April 19th, 2012 at 10:16 pm
Is there such a word as artificial intelligence? i prefer the term acquired intelligence than artificial. It seems so unreal.