It’s been a hot one up here in the Great White North this July. There have also been some hot books for DC this month, especially if you’re Peter David and got thrown into the fire to be roasted like you’ve long deserved in Dark Crisis: Young Justice #2.
The News
The biggest news for DC Comics this month was the lack of presence that they had at San Diego Comic-Con. DC and Warner Brothers usually have a dominating presence on the con-floor at SDCC, a massive sprawling space where costumes are on display, where signings occur, and where they have a little interview area set aside for reporters to talk to creators. This year that giant booth was nowhere to be found, and DC’s presence was limited to a handful of panels. This is as Discovery starts making adjustments after the merger, and hopefully, their presence will be back next year.
Highlights
Dark Crisis: Young Justice #2
Laura Braga (artist), Pat Brosseau (letters), Max Dunbar (cover), Meghan Fitzmartin (writer), Luis Guerrero (colors and cover)
July 19, 2022
I talked last month about how the first issue of this series went hard at Peter David, but oh boy, was I not ready for how hard the second issue would go. Fitzmartin really took a hard look at the stylings and plots of Peter David’s comic, and took away the rose-colored glasses that some fans still use to look at the series. I went into exactly how she deconstructed David’s work over at the Beat, but this has become one of my most anticipated monthly books thanks to how it’s looking at the past.
Grade: A+
Poison Ivy #2
Jessica Fong (cover), Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou (letters), Arif Prianto (colors), Marcio Takara (artist), G. Willow Wilson (writer)
July 6, 2022
This new Poison Ivy series is one that is an absolutely poignant look at the role of an eco-terrorist in today’s world of speed-running climate change. There are some fans that are taking umbrage to Ivy killing people in this book, but really, trying to make the character into an idealized version who has never been a terrorist is doing just as much of a disservice to the character as those who want to make her a Bond villainess. She’s neither of those things, as she’s more nuanced than both of those portrayals. She’s a villain, but she’s one that has good causes but she does take it to the extreme in trying to accomplish them. That’s not new, and pretending like it is is weird. Also, Takara’s art is just breathtakingly beautiful throughout this series so far.
Grade: A
Dark Crisis #2
Clayton Cowles (letters), Tom King (writer), Clay Mann (art and cover), Tomeu Morey (colors)
July 19, 2022
Alright, I’m in. The lead-up to this event didn’t really grab me as I’d hoped, but the actual event is really making up for it. Dark Crisis takes an interesting entry point into an event, starting when the heroes already seem to have lost, and how the remaining heroes have to scramble to pick up the pieces and take their places as the next generation. It’s a great way to play with the legacy that DC has been using so much as of late, while still showing that this next generation still isn’t quite ready to step into the shoes of their mentors. I’ve been a fan of Sampere’s art for some time, and it’s really nice getting to see him showcased like this on the biggest book of the year.
Grade: A
Grades
A+
Dark Crisis: Young Justice #2
A
Action Comics #1045
Aquamen #6
Artemis: Wanted #1
Batman #125
Batman Beyond: Neo-Year #4
Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #5
Catwoman #45
Dark Crisis #2
Poison Ivy #2
Superman: Space Age #1
The Flash #784
The Sandman Universe: Nightmare Country #4
B
Aquaman & the Flash: Voidsong #2
Batgirls #8
Batman ’89 #6
Batman: Fortress #3
Batman: The Knight #7
Batman: Urban Legends #17
Black Adam #2
DC vs. Vampires #7
Deathstroke Inc. #11
Detective Comics #1062
DUO #3
Fables #153
Harley Quinn #17
I Am Batman #11
Jurassic League #3
Monkey Prince #6
Multiversity: Teen Justice #2
Nightwing #94
Nubia: Queen of the Amazons #2
Robin #16
Rogues #3
Superman: Son of Kal-El #13
The Joker #15
The Swamp Thing #15
Wonder Woman #789
Wonder Woman: Evolution #8
C
Black Adam – The Justice Society Files: Hawkman #1
Blood Syndicate: Season One #3
Dark Crisis: Worlds Without a Justice League – Superman #1
DC vs. Vampires: All-Out War #1
DC: Mech #1
Future State: Gotham #15
Justice League vs The Legion of Super-Heroes #4
Naomi: Season Two #5
Suicide Squad: Blaze #3
Task Force Z #10
D
Batman: Killing Time #5
F
Flashpoint Beyond #3
Solicitation Situation
This month DC’s solicitations have been delayed due to SDCC, so they were not ready by the time we went to press. I will include thoughts on this month’s in next month’s Pubwatch!
Next month sees the long-awaited (by me) launch of The New Champion of Shazam! so I’ll see you then!
