From The August Solicits

Well, my order form in due in, so it's time to take a quick look through the catalogue - or rather, through the Newsarama postings for the month. Off we go.

What's New
BATMAN: WIDENING GYRE #1
"Once again, Kevin Smith – the fan-favorite creator behind GREEN ARROW and Daredevil – teams up with Walter Flanagan – the artist on the acclaimed series BATMAN: CACOPHONY – for an all-new adventure starring The Caped Crusader. The stakes are high as Batman encounters a new vigilante under his wing amidst what Smith describes as a “backdrop of romance, intrigue, and geek-bait guest stars galore.”"
I wonder, is there anyone out there, who is not waiting for the trade on this? Or do people still expect Kevin Smith to produce regular output?
BATGIRL #1
"In the wake of “Batman R.I.P.” and BATTLE FOR THE COWL, a new heroine has emerged in Gotham City, and as she begins her nocturnal crusade to take back the night, she will truly learn what it means to wear the mantle of the Bat. But who is this young woman, and why has she donned the cape and cowl?"
Another new Batgirl? Really? Isn't that just Cassandra Cain's outfit she's wearing? Assuming it's not Cassie, of course.
ADVENTURE COMICS #1
"It's the return of one of DC Comics' longest running books and one of its greatest modern-day heroes – Conner Kent! In our first heroic issue, Superboy can't wait to jump back into his life – but which life will it be? With a clarity he's never had before, Conner makes a beeline for the greatest place on Earth...Smallville?"
Superboy, huh? Guess that whole legal dispute thing got settled then. DC's recently punted Superman out of his own titles, figuring that the books will somehow be more interesting without him. Go figure.
THE RED CIRCLE
"J. Michael Straczynski dives into the DC Universe at last – and he’s bringing four of the finest heroes of the Golden and Silver Ages with him!"
Um, I know I'm getting old, but wasn't JMS just doing this particular trick over at Marvel, with The Twelve? Really, DC, have some original ideas, please!
DOOM PATROL #1
"Come one, come all! The world's strangest Super Heroes are back, and they brought those robot guys along with 'em! Thrill to the strange adventures of the Doom Patrol, with script by Keith Giffen and art by Matthew Clark! Whether you think you know 'em or you wouldn't know 'em if they bit you on the behind, this Doom Patrol's for you!"
And here we go again. I'm amazed that DC haven't already announced the cancellation of the last DP relaunch. Admittedly, with Giffen at the reigns, there's a chance that the book won't entirely suck, but my hopes aren't high.
THE MARVELS PROJECT #1 (of 8)
"Ed Brubaker and Steve Epting unveil the defining story of the origin of the Marvel Universe, revealing the hidden connections that unite the earliest costumed champions, and whose reverberations are felt dramatically into the present day! It’s a world on the brink of war, and the race is on to create the world's first super-soldier! Witness the first days of the Human Torch, the Sub-Mariner, and many more-- how they shaped the world to come, and how the future they would create in turn shaped them!"
I dunno about this. Presumably, Brubaker's enjoyed dipping into the nostalgia well in the pages of Cap, but I'm not sure the world really wants a book devoted to the secret history of the Human Torch and Toro.
HOUSE OF M: MASTERS OF EVIL #1 (of 5)
"You’ve seen how the mutants and the heroes were changed in the world ruled by Magneto...but what about the villains? Their story stands revealed at last as The Hood assembles a gang of the deadliest Sapien super-criminals: Madame Masque, The Absorbing Man, Titania, The Wrecking Crew, Nitro, Constrictor, The Sandman, Crossbones and more!"
Marvel continues to milk the House Of M cashcow, and much as I love the Masters Of Evil in pretty much all of their various incarnations, this holds no appeal for me. Bah.

What Makes Me Groan / Laugh / Weep
Well, pretty much all of DC's Blackest Night titles, but especially...
BLACKEST NIGHT: BATMAN #1
"Deadman can't shut out the cries of the dead rising as he comes to the aid of the new Batman. It’s just in time, too, as the duo face a circus of zombies including the Black Lantern Flying Graysons!"
BLACKEST NIGHT: SUPERMAN #1
"Black Lantern Superman has unearthed Pa Kent's grave!"
GREEN LANTERN #45
"John Stewart comes face-to-face with his deceased wife – and longtime Green Lantern – Katma Tui."
Marvel Zombies has a lot to answer for.
THUNDERBOLTS #135
"Norman Osborn! Black Widow II! Songbird! Nick Fury! When you finally learn how these four powderkegs intersect and collide, you will be picking your jaw off the floor!"
Can anyone explain to me why Nick Fury hasn't just capped Norman Osborn? Or, you know, managed to find some evidence that he's a wrong'un? Certainly, I'd expect the all-new, all-serious Nick Fury to be playing a more proactive role in the Dark Reign books.
DAREDEVIL #500
"This is it! The 500th issue of DAREDEVIL! What is the Kingpin's true plan? What do he and Lady Bullseye have in common? What will Matt Murdock do to make things right again? And just how will Ed Brubaker and Michael Lark leave this story for the next creative team to pick it up?"
Hey, wait, what? Next creative team? Brubaker's quitting? When did this happen? Say it ain't so!

What I'm Ordering
UNCANNY X-MEN: SISTERHOOD TPB
"The X-Men get up to the delicate art of living as the Sisterhood plan their imminent demise. The Science Team gets to work, trying very hard not to kill one another first. Simon Trask gains traction in the California state legislature, muscling PROPOSITION X to an emergency ballot vote. If it passes, mutants past and present, powered and otherwise, won't be allowed to breed...all this and a friend returns as a foe and ready for murder. Oh, things are getting ugly."
Matt Fraction continues to hold my attention, and this continues to be the one X-Title I can still be bothered collecting. Besides, who can resist the Sisterhood of Evil Mutants? Not I, that's for sure.

And that's about it. My order form looks a little empty this month, which will make my accountant happy, at least...