DC Comics May Solicits: Top Picks For Your Consideration

Another month and another busy batch of new solicitations to sift through from DC Comics as we head into the summer and the season of crossovers, continuity-threatening crises and more anniversaries to celebrate. There’s a lot there, but here’s my top picks for your reading consideration.

Dark Nights: Death Metal #1
Talking of continuity-threatening crises, let’s start with the debut issue of Scott Synder and Greg Capullo’s sequel to Dark Nights: Metal and a comic book series you’ll probably want to pock up if you’re any fan of the DCU. As much as it loathes me to spend even more money on a saga that never seems to end, how can you not be enamoured with Snyder and Capullo and the promise of more multiverse mayhem in Dark Nights: Death Metal #1? These guys are comic book crack addition, I’m afraid.

Get ready for the earth-shattering encore! The legendary team behind Dark Nights: Metal and Batman: Last Knight on Earth take center stage and reunite for one last tour.
When the Earth is enveloped by the Dark Multiverse, the Justice League is at the mercy of the Batman Who Laughs. Humanity struggles to survive in a hellish landscape twisted beyond recognition, while Batman, Wonder Woman, and Superman have all been separated and fight to survive. Unleash the beast and let the head banging begin!

Green Lantern 80th Anniversary 100-Page Spectacular #1
Alan Scott was the first to wear the ring, but not the last, as we remember in this oversized celebration of all who have taken the oath and fought against tyranny, evil and more right across the universe, with a roll call of some of the comic book industry’s greatest.

In brightest day, in blackest night, no evil could ever escape their sight! The Green Lanterns are celebrating 80 years of keeping the DC Universe safe. Join us to see tales of all of the universe’s most legendary Green Lanterns: Alan Scott, Hal Jordan, John Stewart, Guy Gardner, Kyle Rayner, Jessica Cruz, Simon Baz, and appearances from other cosmic favorites! A legendary lineup of creators including Geoff Johns, Peter J. Tomasi, Jeff Lemire, Ivan Reis, and others will be keeping the galaxy glowing bright!

Batman #94, Batman #95
With DC Comics touting new Bat-villain, Punchline, as the next Harley Quinn, can you afford to not pick up these two issues of Batman that lead to the ‘Joker Wars’ breaking out this month and infected other Bat-titles like Joker venom put into the Gotham waterways?

The Designer’s machinations have left Batman’s life in tatters! Gotham City’s ambitious rebuilding has skittered to a halt as new powers are rising to shape its destiny—and Batman is powerless to stop them! With no Alfred or Bat-Family to lean on, the Dark Knight stands alone against the ascendance of his greatest adversary!

It was always going to come to this. The Clown Prince of Crime and the Dark Knight Detective go head-to-head for the last time. The Joker has never wanted to win before, he’s never wanted his battle with Batman to end, but now his motivation has shifted. He has decided that one way or another, this will be the final chapter to their story. “Joker War” begins here!

Strange Adventures #2
Tom King and Mitch Gerads with Evan ‘Doc’ Shaner continue to get into the head of Adam Strange, a man from Earth but making his home in a galaxy far, far away, but now lumbered with the accusation of murder hanging over him.

Can Adam Strange handle the truth? After the cosmic adventurer was accused of murder and had his whole record as a soldier questioned, he turned to Batman for help clearing his name. But someone else was needed to ensure that the investigation would be truly impartial. Enter Mr. Terrific, the man for whom “Fair Play” is a credo to live by.
Be careful what you wish for, Adam Strange, because your life is about to be turned upside down. This could be one of the greatest tests you’ve ever faced. Like when you had to prove yourselves in Rann’s gladiatorial arena.
This adventure between two worlds continues, with Mitch Gerads drawing the gritty Earth sequences and Doc Shaner showing us the splendor of Adam Strange’s battles in outer space!

Batgirl #47
‘Joker Wars’ tie-in. ‘Nuff said.

Knock knock!
Who’s there?
The Joker.
The Joker who?
The Joker who’s here to have a nice chat with Barbara Gordon!
Don’t miss this devastating tie-in to “Joker War”!

Detective Comics #1023
Another ‘Joker Wars’ tie-in? It’s going to be an expensive summer.

Just when you thought it was safe to crack a smile, The Joker is back to crash the party! Hot on the heels of “Joker War,” the Clown Prince of Crime is revealed as the mastermind behind Two-Face’s turmoil—but to what end? Batman will need all the allies he can get, and what better ally than Harvey Dent? Can the Dark Knight cure his friend once and for all in time to fight the greatest battle of his life?

The Flash #755
A Reverse-Flash family? I’m intrigued. You may be too as the newest storyline shoots out of the starting blocks this May from DC Comics

At last—the Flash is free of Paradox, but that freedom came at a great cost. For years, the Reverse-Flash has wanted Barry Allen to suffer, but he’s always been defeated by the Flash Family! Now the Reverse-Flash is going to build his own family to help him get the revenge he demands! This issue kicks off a new, epic story that will force the Flash into what may be his final race!

Justice League Dark #23
New incoming writer, Ram V’s first supernatural story-arc concludes with this issue. As a long-time fan of Ram’s I can see why DC have grabbed him up, alongside fellow White Noise writers. Well worth checking out.

“The Parliament of Life” concludes—as the world burns! The villain at the dark heart of the war between the parliaments stands revealed as Anton Arcane! Zatanna lies wounded, her destiny now in jeopardy. Doctor Fate, Wonder Woman, and Animal Man must form an uneasy alliance with Abigail Arcane and the Floronic Man to protect humanity’s fate. Betrayals and twists abound, with repercussions for the very future of the Justice League Dark!

SHAZAM #13
Who can resist the teased return of Superboy-Prime, the self-entitled brat who just can’t be kept down it would seem. From the writer, Geoff Johns, the man who knows him best and forged him into the character he became. This should be a fun read.

He’s baaaaaaack!
The greatest kid superhero ever faces the worst teen supervillain as Billy Batson and the Shazam family confront Superboy Prime. Superboy Prime has the powers of Superman and none of his heroic morality—can even Shazam stop the most powerful threat he and his family have ever encountered?

That’s my top ten pick. What titles are you looking forward to this May?