Looking Forward - DC's January Solicitations

Books to be released by the Distinguished Competition in the month of the god of doorways.

DETECTIVE COMICS #827
Written by Paul Dini
Art by Don Kramer & Wayne Faucher
Cover by Simone Bianchi
Meet the all-new Ventriloquist! After surviving a near-fatal explosion, Batman discovers the Ventriloquist and Scarface are back - with a vengeance. As the Dark Knight tries to unravel the mystery behind his enemies' resurrection, Scarface unites the most feared names in the Gotham Underworld and introduces them to a surprising new ally in their war against Batman.

Was anyone really pleading for the return of The Ventriloquist?

SUPERMAN/BATMAN #33
Written by Mark Verheiden
Art by Matthew Clark & Andy Lanning
Cover by Phil Jimenez
Mark Verheiden (Battlestar Galactica, Smallville) brings you the conclusion of the epic story pitting DCU aliens against the Earth. You won't believe who the Last Son of Krypton and the Dark Knight must face in this finale!

Nice concept on this cover, but the execution needs some work.

BLUE BEETLE #11
Written by Keith Giffen & John Rogers
Art by Rafael Albuquerque
Cover by Andy Kuhn
Lost in space - again! But this time the Beetle's got Metron of the New Gods on his side - if he can survive the hostile world where they've met.

The New Gods are a recurring theme in these solicits

CHECKMATE #10
Written by Greg Rucka
Art and cover by Jesus Saiz
"Pawn 502" concludes! All spy agencies have special forces. Only Checkmate has Shadowpact - but even magic may not stop a survivor of Luthor's Everyman Project from blowing this op sky-high!

The Shadowpact and The Everyman Project in the same issue? The threads of 52 pull tighter.


JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #2
Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Dale Eaglesham & Art Thibert
Cover by Alex Ross
Variant cover by Eaglesham
The new adventures of America's greatest super-team continue! After a deadly arrival at their new headquarters, the JSA must discover who's hunting down their descendants. Will the youngest member, Cyclone, be the next victim?

How badass is this cover?

TEEN TITANS #43
Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Tony Daniel & Jonathan Glapion
Cover by Daniel
Part 1 of the eagerly anticipated "Titans East" story! Led by Deathstroke, a Teen Titans team consisting of Batgirl, Risk, Match, Alter Boy, Enigma, Sun Girl and Inertia is out to chew gum and kick butt…and guess what? They're all out of gum!

I want this book now!

No solicits for Justice League, Green Lantern, Firestorm and Wonder Woman this time. That's not a good sign.