DC Comics November 2024 solicitations are here and we learn even more about the state of the DC Universe post-Absolute Power. We got hints of Absolute Power’s aftermath in October but it looks like the full impact of the latest DCU event will be felt most starting in November. We see that with not only the launch of a new Justice League series but also for JSA. There are also several heroes getting new solo series beyond Batman. Find out what the biggest takeaways from DC Comics’ November 2024 solicitations below.
MARK WAID & DAN MORA’S JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED
Given how things are going in the Absolute Power event it is no surprise that the month after its end we will be getting a new Justice League series. While the Titans have done a good job at filling in the role of their predecessor’s team it is clear the hole left by the Justice League is too great for one team. And unfortunately, outside the Titans we haven’t seen much success with other teams getting momentum, the closest is the Birds of Prey but it hasn’t caught on.
With that said the launch of Justice League Unlimited does solidify the importance of the Absolute Power event. The results of it showed that no one team, the Justice League or Titans, can carry being the main protectors of the DC Universe. This is why for the relaunch we are seeing Unlimited as part of the title. This does signal that we are likely not to just see Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Black Lightning, Star Sapphire, and Captain Atom as the sole members of the team. There will likely be some rotation going on during the lifespan of Justice League Unlimited.
For such a concept there is no better team for DC Comics to assign this book to than Mark Waid and Dan Mora. Already two issues in Mark Waid and Dan Mora have shown in Absolute Power they know how to capture the voice of every character in the DC Universe. That’s what you want from your Justice League creative team. They also bring their Batman/Superman: World’s Finest experience where they also showed a strong handling of the greater DC Universe together as a creative team. So there is no doubt that Justice League Unlimited will be a great series.
ABSOLUTE SUPERMAN BRINGING BACK THE DCEU?
A month after Batman and Wonder Woman kicked off the Absolute Universe we will see Superman join his fellow Trinity members. Absolute Superman will be handled by the creative team of Jason Aaron and Rafa Sandoval. From a creative perspective that is an A-list team for DC Comics to ensure the best of the best are on their Absolute Universe titles. It certainly shows a strong investment in the launch.
As for what Absolute Superman appears to be from the covers and solicitation of the first issue there is a tone that is reminiscent of the DCEU version of the character. Absolute Superman #1 drives home the idea we will be seeing a Man of Steel who is “without the fortress…without the family…without a home…” That teaser gives a feeling we will see a darker version of Superman like we did in the DCEU.
While the DCEU left a bad taste in a lot of our mouths it is not a completely bad thing. After all both Aaron and Sandoval have a lot of credibility based on their high-quality comic book work. If there is one creative team that can make this type of direction work it is them. This direction for Absolute Superman also will help it stand out from its main DCU counterpart. However, it does create a question if we will see Clark Kent or if he will be Superman 100% of the time in this Absolute Universe direction.
COURT OF OWLS RETURN TO DESTROY GOTHAM CITY
The first storyline coming out of Absolute Power for Batman titled “The Dying City” is very appropriate. We’ve seen since City of Bane that Gotham City has been on the brink of completely changing. Events like the Joker War and Fear State have further driven change to happen in Gotham City. However, those changes have still stayed to what we normally see happen in Gotham City with new people coming into power.
That is what makes “The Dying City” such an intriguing idea. Chip Zdarsky could start moving Gotham City more into a period of both destruction and revitalization in the form of Neo Gotham. The Court of Owls and The Riddler can play key roles in causing that change to happen. It would certainly elevate both villains if they create a change in Gotham City we haven’t seen in the main DC Universe before.
The change would certainly play into Bruce Wayne bringing the rest of the Batman Family to live with him in Gotham City’s downtown. Gotham City burning down could give a new direction and purpose for the Batman Family. It would certainly be needed given that only Batman, Nightwing, and Oracle have clear directions right now.
CASSANDRA CAIN GETS NEW SOLO BATGIRL SERIES
Speaking of the Batman Family needing direction, there is at least one member that is getting some investment beyond Bruce Wayne, Dick Grayson, and Barbara Gordon. That Batman Family member is Cassandra Cain. Not only is Cassandra getting her series but it is a solo Batgirl title.
This is significant because it does appear that Cassandra will now be the sole Batgirl. Up to this point, she’s been sharing the Batgirl identity with Stephanie Brown. However, since the end of Batgirls we’ve seen DC Comics go away from the shared Batgirls title. Cassandra has been the only active Batgirl as she has been a member of the Birds of Prey without any sign of Stephanie. This could indicate that the next time we see Stephanie Brown she will be going back to being Spoiler.
In terms of this new Cassandra Cain-led Batgirl series, while I am a fan of Takeshi Miyazawa’s art style I have zero familiarity with series writer Tate Brombal. Based on his catalogue he has been working mostly indie work starting in 2019. His lack of experience working in the DC Universe, not even a one-shot or short story, is concerning. Though the solicitation for Batgirl #1 teasing the focus will be telling martial arts-centric stories is an exciting one. Hopefully, Brombat can instantly knock things out of the park. Cassandra Cain deserves a great, critically and commercially well-received title.
BLACK LIGHTNING GETS NEW SERIES
With his membership in the Justice League Unlimited, it is not surprising that Black Lightning is getting a new comic book series. Black Lightning has not been a major player for several years. If we are to buy into his membership it is important to establish him not only in Justice League Unlimited but also in his own series. This can help Black Lightning reestablish himself as a solo hero to amplify his Justice League Unlimited work.
Black Lightning’s All In updated design is also a great move forward. All the core elements of the character fans recognize are there. The changes made to his costume appear to be very modern and a fitting next step for the character at this point in his life.
Even more important is the fact that the new Black Lightning series will also be a family title. Black Lightning’s family aspect is one of the things that sets him apart from other solo heroes. Both Lightning and Thunder can provide a different perspective of the younger generation. Coming out of Absolute Power is an important thing to explore as the view of metahumans in the DCU won’t likely be very high in November and beyond. How Black Lightning, Lightning, and Thunder deal with that will be very interesting to see.
JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA SERIES IS FINALLY HERE
There are a lot of heroes and super teams that DC Comics have tried to elevate to the level of Trinity but have failed to achieve. At the top of that list is the Justice Society of America. In the last few years, DC Comics has used various events to try to make the JSA important, including Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths and Absolute Power. But even when they did get a title with Geoff Johns and Mikel Janin it became a series with many problems, mostly creative delays, that the JSA didn’t catch on.
Now DC Comics is going to try again by finally getting the series away from Geoff Johns. While Johns is a legendary writer it is clear his attention is more on his creator-owned comics and other media work. Handing the JSA reigns over to Jeff Lemire is a smart call. With other major creators like Scott Snyder and Joshua Williamson busy writing other major initiative titles for DC, Lemire gives JSA instant credibility. Lemire has a long history of writing various mainstream superhero titles over the years including Hawkeye, Green Arrow, Terrifics, Superboy, and JLA.
Lemire and Diego Olortegui will have a good starting point as JSA appears to be a key series following up the events of Absolute Power. Along with the Justice League Unlimited and Titans, the JSA can immediately establish their importance in protecting the recovering world. There are sure to be plenty of new threats for them to face. One of them is the teased Injustice Society of America which brings to mind several major villains that they will likely fight. Hopefully, that potential is something Lemire and Olortegui can tap into and make JSA a commercial and critical success.
BLACK CANARY GOES SOLO
If there is one hero that DC Comics has failed to fully tap into their potential as a solo hero it is Black Canary. Both through her time on Birds of Prey and Justice League, Black Canary has proven herself as one of DC’s best field leaders and interesting characters. But even then she hasn’t been able to get her own solo success as she’s spent the majority of her time on team titles or with Green Arrow. Now that finally changes as Dinah Lance is getting her own Black Label mini-series titled Black Canary: Best of the Best.
Bringing on Tom King and Ryan Sook as the creative team does show Black Canary: Best of the Best is a big-time mini-series. While Tom King has failed to impress me with his work on Wonder Woman when it comes to mini-series it’s a different story. As he has shown with his work on Vision, Mister Miracle, and Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, King is at his best when writing six to twelve-issue mini-series. His writing is also at its best when writing more grounded personal stories. Adding in Ryan Sook, who did great work on Legion of Super-Heroes even if his writing partner wasn’t the best, ensures this Black Canary series will look great.
With Black Canary: Best of the Best being a Black Label series King and Sook will be able to do even more with the type of story they’ll tell. Given that the pitch for this Black Canary series is for Dinah to fight Batman, Wildcat, Lady Shiva, and the original Black Canary to prove who is the best fighter there is that immediate hook to grab readers’ attention. As a Shonen manga fan, I love a good martial arts tournament and this pitch sounds like what it will be. Seeing cool martial arts battles between Black Canary and other great DCU fighters is something that makes this a book that is already a must-read.
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