Preview: DC's October Solicitations

CBR has DC's October Solicitations up, and here's what I'm particularly looking forward to reading and/or snarking:

BATMAN: GOTHAM COUNTY LINE #1

Written by Steve Niles; Art and cover by Scott Hampton
Acclaimed writer Steve Niles (30 Days of Night) joins distinctive painter Scott Hampton (BATMAN: NIGHT CRIES) for a 3-issue Prestige Format miniseries that uncovers the investigation of grisly murders outside Batman's usual territory…in the Gotham suburbs! Commissioner Gordon calls on the Dark Knight for help in solving the mystery, although Batman has never delved into the suburbs of Gotham before. But the series of murders is so shocking that Batman must respond, despite being in unfamiliar territory!
On sale Oct 5 o 1 of 3 o Prestige Format o 48 pg, FC, $5.99 US Edited by Joey Cavalieri

I enjoyed the couple of IDW titles I've read from Niles, Secret Skull and The Lurkers, and have reconciled myself to the fact that I'll have to get my Batman fix via his mini-series at least until Infinite Crisis is finished, so I'm really looking forward to this one.

BATMAN: GOTHAM KNIGHTS #70

Written by A.J. Lieberman; Art by Al Barrionuevo & Bit; Cover by Claudio Castellini
Batman and Hush race to find the former Clayfaces and unravel the mystery of the shapechangers! Just when Hush thought he had control over this new Clayface, he's proven wrong. Dead wrong! And when is one Clayface too many?
On sale Oct 19 o 32 pg, FC, $2.50 US

This title has really fallen off lately, which is disappointing because I thought Lieberman initially had a much better handle on Hush than Loeb did. Just got the axe from my pull list and doesn't look like it's coming back anytime soon. Sad.

ARKHAM ASYLUM ANNIVERSARY EDITION SC

Written by Grant Morrison; Art and cover by Dave McKean
In celebration of the 16th anniversary of the critically acclaimed Batman story that helped launch the U.S. careers of Grant Morrison and Dave McKean, DC Comics is proud to present a softcover edition of the ARKHAM ASYLUM ANNIVERSARY EDITION, reprinting the now-classic confrontation between the Dark Knight and his archnemeses the Joker, Two-Face, Scarecrow, Poison Ivy, and more in the black heart of Gotham City's house for the criminally insane.
On sale October 5 o 212 pg, FC, $17.99 US o MATURE READERS

I'm embarassed to admit I've never read this, but I will be rectifying that in October! Maybe it'll be the Morrison story that finally wins me over?

BATGIRL #69

Written by Andersen Gabrych; Art by Pop Mhan & Jesse Delperdang; Cover by Tim Sale
Don't miss the debut of new penciller Pop Mhan (ROBIN) and cover artist Tim Sale (BATMAN: THE LONG HALLOWEEN)! Encased in ice by Mr. Freeze and held hostage by Nyssa, Batgirl is offered a choice: regain her destiny with the legendary League of Assassins or die a slow, frozen death!
On sale Oct 19 o 32 pg, FC, $2.50 US

My favorite Bat-book not called Gotham Central, I'm really liking what Gabrych's been doing here. But yet another Mr. Freeze appearance? WTF?!!?

BATMAN: UNDER THE HOOD TP

Written by Judd Winick; Art by Doug Mahnke, Tom Nguyen and others; Cover by Matt Wagner
Shocking revelations and age-old foes make this new collection - featuring BATMAN #635-641 - a must-have! Batman is confronted with a hidden face from the past - it's the return of the Red Hood! With Black Mask controlling the Gotham underworld, what role will Red Hood have when all is said and done?
On sale Oct 26 o 176 pg, FC, $9.99 US

Yeah, right! F' you, Winick. Lazy hack. Not even for free!

GOTHAM CENTRAL #36

Written by Greg Rucka & Ed Brubaker; Art by Kano & Stefano Gaudiano; Cover by Sean Phillips
The conclusion of the "Dead Robin" storyline! The cops have a dead kid in a Robin outfit, and the evidence is pointing inescapably toward Batman. But how can they catch the Dark Knight? Plus, the leak within the GCPD is revealed!
On sale Oct 5 o 32 pg, FC, $2.50 US

I'm just happy to NOT see "Final Issue" in the solicitation text! Why aren't more people reading this series? Idiot fanboys. You deserve your House of Infinite Constipation crossovers!

INFINITE CRISIS #1

Written by Geoff Johns; Art by Phil Jimenez & Andy Lanning; Covers by Jim Lee & Sandra Hope and George Pérez
On sale October 12 o 1 of 7 o 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US

Ugh! Speaking of "idiot fanboys," guess who'll be buying this despite avoiding all of the lead-in minis? Yeah. I suck.

...Am I the only one whose eyes glaze over through the section of the list with Aquaman, Green Lantern, Green Arrow, et al? Sales figures say no. Damn copyright laws!

SON OF VULCAN #5

Written by Scott Beatty; Art by Keron Grant; Cover by Ed McGuinness
Featuring a cover by Ed McGuinness (Superman/Batman)! With the evil Witchazel, Monkey-in-the-Middle, and Dino-Mite hot on his heels, things are looking pretty bad for Mikey Devanté - especially since the Coalition of Crime thinks he really is the son of Vulcan!
On sale Oct 5 o 5 of 6 o 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

My issues with the art aside, this is a fun comic book! I mean, Monkey-in-the-Middle and Dino-Mite? How you can pass this stuff up and then look yourself in the mirror as you bag and board your copies of House of Infinite Constipation? C'mon y'all!

TEEN TITANS #29

Written by Geoff Johns; Art by Carlos D'Anda & Marlo Alquiza; Cover by Tony S. Daniel & Alquiza
The Red Hood pays the Titans a visit to claim his rightful place…over Robin's dead body! And what does Donna Troy's return mean for the team?
On sale October 19 o 32 pg, FC, $2.50 US

Phew! Glad I'm dropping this one when Liefeld comes onboard. I refuse to endorse this Red Hood nonsense in any way, shape or form. F' you, Johns, for playing along with that lazy hack Winick! (I should add here that Juniper Lee is actually pretty decent, though Danny Phantom is way better!)

ASTRO CITY: LOCAL HEROES TP

Written by Kurt Busiek; Art by Brent Anderson; Cover by Alex Ross
The fifth volume in the ASTRO CITY collection includes ASTRO CITY VOL. 2 #21-22, ASTRO CITY: LOCAL HEROES #1-5 and the ASTRO CITY special, plus the the short story from DC's SEPTEMBER 11th VOL. 2 and the promotional story done to announce the LOCAL HEROES miniseries! This softcover edition features a new painted cover by Alex Ross!
On sale Oct 12 o 256 pg, FC, $17.99 US

I enjoyed Dark Age #1, so I may pick this up, or one of the previous TPBs, out of curiosity.

LOVELESS #1

Written by Brian Azzarello; Art and cover by Marcelo Frusin
Wes Cutter is a wanted man running from a violent past - the horrors of the Civil War, a brutal stint in a Union prison camp, and the savage fallout of Reconstruction. Now he's on a quest for the one thing in short supply: peace. Joining Wes is his beautiful wife Ruth, a woman who has been to hell and back herself - and hides dark secrets of her own. The road they travel will be a bloody one, leaving a trail of bodies stretching from Missouri to the Pacific Ocean. This is a tale only Azzarello - the mind behind some of the hardest-hitting comics of the last decade - could tell.
On sale October 26 o 40 pg, FC, $2.99 US o MATURE READERS o Edited by Will Dennis

This actually sounded really interesting at the Vertigo panel in Philadelphia last month, so I may check it out.

THE LOSERS #29

Written by Andy Diggle; Art and cover by Jock
Part 1 of "Endgame." It's all been building to this: With New Jerusalem behind him, Max lays it all on the line - his plans, his origins, and the stakes, which are nothing short of global. Now it's Max vs. the Losers with the world hanging in the balance, and the Losers will have to play every card in their hand to win.
On sale Oct 26 o 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US o MATURE READERS

Sounds like it's finally coming to an end. I'm really going to miss this book. *sigh*

What are you looking forward to?