This Summer Belongs To Supergirl, According to DC

Summer of Supergirl Special #1 main cover art by Belén Ortega

Ahead of the release of the upcoming Supergirl movie, a 48-page comic, the Summer of Supergirl Special, is due to hit stores on June 24.

According to the publisher:

This celebratory anthology brings together an all-star roster of writers and artists for a trio of stories honouring Kara Zor-El’s legacy across the DC Universe.

The creators involved include writers Sophie Campbell, Mark Waid, and Gail Simone, and artists Belén Ortega, Cian Tormey, and Emma Kubert.

The main cover is illustrated by Ortega, with variant covers by Tula Lotay and Pablo Villalobos, plus a Supergirl movie variant cover by Mahmud Asrar.

The book's lead story is by the current ongoing Supergirl writer Sophie Campbell, with artist Belén Ortega. It sees the quiet town of Midvale shaken when Supergirl comes face-to-face with the galactic bounty hunter Lobo. Can the Maiden of Might stand up to the Main Man?

Clearly this is to echo the movie where Lobo and Supergirl cross paths in live-action, but I suspect in Campbell's hands the story will be more light-hearted and Silver Age. The movie trailer looks like it's positioning her halfway between Guardians of The Galaxy and the Snyderverse. I could be wrong... I often am.

I have to admit I've also never been a fan of Lobo (although, surprisingly, I enjoyed his appearance in the 2019 Krypton TV series, where he was portrayed by the excellent Emmett J Scanlan). The character was always seemed too much of a one joke/one note creation who outstayed his welcome.

But then again I felt the same about Deadpool and Venom when they were first "breaking out" and I've subsequently changed my mind on both of those characters (although comic book Deadpool will never be as funny as cinematic Deadpool).

The Summer of Supergirl Special also includes two other stories - one by Mark Waid and Cian Tormey, and another by Gail Simone and Emma Kubert - each celebrating Supergirl as she resumes her rightful place as the Heir to El.

Supergirl movie variant cover art by Mahmud Asrar

Variant cover art by Tula Lotay

Variant cover art by Pablo Villalobos

The Complete Timeline Of The Fantastic Four

This video looks at all the complete publishing history of the Fantastic Four from its beginning in 1961 to modern times. It highlights the major developments, changes in creative teams and why the title has stopped and started numerous times over the last six decades.

Another quality feature from the marvellous Strange Brain Parts, the erudite king of comic book analysis on YouTube.

This 13-minute film breaks down the various incarnations of the main Fantastic Four title, since their creation by Stan Lee and Jack Lee, right up to the modern Ryan North era. It also offers some suggested "jumping on" points for newcomers to the title.

"What's Your Favourite Superman Story?"

Hope. Legacy. The ultimate symbol of truth and justice.

Join DC’s superstar creators as they celebrate the timeless tales that made us believe a man could fly. What’s your favourite Superman story?

Comic Book Collecting Isn't Just A Hobby, It's A Lifestyle

Latest comic book mail call: a pair of vintage issues of The Mighty Marvel Western

A combination of factors has necessitated constant revisions to my monthly comic book pull-list at Paradox Comics in Poole in recent years.

Not only do I find shelf space increasingly limited (despite dedicating most of the wall space in our office to my comic book collection, coupled with numerous short boxes under the bed and stacks of "to be read" books), but the cost of a single, new, comic book continues to rise while my pool of disposable income shrinks.

Yet while my list of new titles contracts, I can't help myself but seek out vintage back issues, either to fill holes in my collection or latch onto new (to me) titles that I decide I want to collect.

The latest arrival in this category is a pair of 1970's The Mighty Marvel Western (which, in turn, reprinted tales from the '50s and '60s), creating a fresh category on my list of titles to look out for.

There are 46 issues in that title, so that's going to take some work to fill up. But the joy is in the hunt.

Other comic book runs I'm gradually tracking down include Shang-Chi, Master of Kung-Fu (which I'm nearly there on); Blue Devil (I'm only a handful issues away from finishing the original run of this title); and Jonah Hex (which I have a long way to go on).

Jonah Hex #40, from 1980: one of my recent acquisitions

While I collected the modern Jonah Hex run as they were published (well, at least, until he got zapped forward in time - again - to contemporary Gotham City) and the gorgeous Joe Lansdale and Tim Truman horror mini-series from the '90s, I'm currently on the hunt for the Bronze Age books.

I'm aiming for the first volume of Jonah Hex, the 92 issues published between 1977 and 1985, with the idea that I'll then look further back in time and try to collect his appearances in All-Star Western and Weird Western Tales (1972 - 1977).

Ultimately, I can see my pull-list of new titles shrinking down to, primarily:

• Superman Family books, 
• Fantastic Four titles, 
• and Titan's Robert E Howard books (currently Conan The Barbarian, Savage Sword of Conan magazine, and my top comic of the year so far Solomon Kane)

Hopefully, there'll be a bit of wiggle-room to still embrace the Justice Society and Justice League, Green Lantern and Daredevil. I'd like to also be able to squeeze some Archie in there too.

Sadly, top indie publisher Mad Cave's excellent books aren't getting distributed over here at the moment (because of the collapse of Diamond), which makes it easier to drop those titles and the first wave of EC horror books are coming to an end soon, so that'll make a convenient point to jump off.

Even though I've loved those books.

This month's Summer of Superman Special

New Miniseries Celebrates Lives and Times of Marvel's First Family

Cover art by Matteo Scalera

While DC is having its Summer of Superman to coincide with the new Superman movie, Marvel is aiming its spotlight on the Fantastic Four... who also happen to have a movie coming out in July.

Fantastic Four: First Steps welcomes the greatest superhero family in comics to the Marvel Cinematic Universe and ahead of that a celebratory new four-issue miniseries is being launched called Fantastic Four Fanfare.

"...while the team embark on captivating new adventures in Ryan North's current comic book run and play a pivotal role in the upcoming One World Under Doom event, fans can also look forward to timeless tales set across Fantastic Four history in Fantastic Four Fanfare... launching this April.

"Fantastic Four Fanfare invites some of the most influential FF storytellers, including Jonathan Hickman, Mark Waid, Dan Slott, Alan Davis, J. Michael Straczynski, Chip Zdarsky, Mike Allred, Mark Bagley and more, to tell new stories that capture the spirit and heart of the super hero team that started it all!

Each issue will spotlight a different member of the team in spectacular tales that are perfect for longtime fans and new readers alike.

"Here’s what to expect in the book’s inaugural outing:

• Mark Waid and Ramon Rosanas depict an escalating prank war between the Human Torch and the Thing!
• Alan Davis sends the team into hazards deep underground!
• Andrew Wheeler and Sara Pichelli reveal what happens when the Mole Man interrupts Johnny Storm’s star-making turn on reality television!"

With new movies pushing both my all-time favourite comic book team, the Fantastic Four, and my favourite DC hero, Superman, to the fore this Summer, my bank balance will soon realise it's clobberin' time!

Krypto Is Best In Show With His Cute Variant Cover For The Summer of Superman

I'm lost for words over the cuteness of this Krypto variant cover by Chrissie Zullo-Uminga

Following on from the recent announcement of the new Superman Unlimited ongoing title by Dan Slott, DC has unveiled further details of its Summer of Superman initiative (that just happens to coincide with the release of James Gunn's highly-anticipated Superman movie).

First out the gate, on April 16, will be the 48-page oversized one-shot Summer of Superman Special #1, featuring the work of Dan Slott, Mark Waid (Justice League Unlimited, Batman/Superman: World’s Finest), Joshua Williamson (Superman, DC All In Special) and Jorge Jiménez (Batman, Super Sons).

In this oversize issue, Slott, Waid and Williamson deliver a single story in three acts, highlighted by Jiménez’s dynamic art style that has made him a favourite of comic book fans worldwide.

The wedding of Lana Lang and John Henry Irons (a.k.a. Steel) serves as the backdrop for an outpouring of love and support from family and friends. However, their big day will also be big trouble, as threats from the past, present and future will spawn major new conflicts for the Superman family.

Featuring a main and variant cover by Jiménez, this... features additional variant covers by Alexander Lozano, John Giang, Mahmud Asrar, and Dan Jurgens, plus an adorable variant cover featuring Krypto, (Super)man’s best friend, by Chrissie Zullo-Uminga.

Main cover art byJorge Jiménez for Summer of Superman Special #1

Variant cover by Dan Jurgens and Norm Rapmund

This is quickly followed by Superman Day on April 18, celebrating the anniversary of the 1938 publication of Action Comics #1, which will be marked - at participating outlets - by special releases and rereleases of a curated collection of Superman's most "epically heroic and heartwarming" tales.

Oversize (48-page) issues of Superman's regular titles - Superman and Action Comics - will also be appearing in April. 

June sees the publication of new anthology Superman: The World, highlighting the character's global impact, and then in July Superman's Good Guy Gang debuts, the first in a multivolume series for early readers, following the adventures of an eight-year-old Clark Kent and his superpowered friends.

More details about these releases can be found over on the DC website here.