#he KNOWS thawne always comes back no matter what and yet he cannot make the logical conclusion that this will only hurt eo EVEN MORE

[tacagen]

can we talk about how wrong the finish line ending is. can we talk about how barry sees snapping thawne's neck as their point of no return when thawne directly expressed hope barry can still live up to his idealised expectations several times and even spoke of how exactly he can achieve that. can we talk about how barry while having the best intentions fucks with thawne's speed and timeline resetting him to a humble curator with no powers and makes their situation a THOUSAND times worse when thawne comes back as reverse-flash because that reset is a direct and ultimate confirmation of barry's desire to forget thawne and make it like he never existed (the very thing that motivates thawne to mess with barry at all, the very thing he went insane about and which led him to becoming reverse-flash) and how thats similar to creation of the flashpoint which was done with good intentions and changed the world forever even after being undone. can we talk about how it also resembles lobotomy as in permanently fucking up persons brain and its necessary functions to make them more calm and controllable in their mental illness instead of actually helping them which takes a lot more time thought and effort and how that was a quick and seemingly effective but inherently destructive solution. can we talk about how barry by taking away eobard's powers also takes his freedom from societal expectations and standards of his time he clearly didnt fit in and 25th century in general. can we talk about how barry also took the only good memories thawne ever had aka their moments together and especially their first meeting which thawne saw as perfect and held very dearly just like any other interaction with barry including the reverse era ones. can we talk about how fucking intrusive, invalidating and selfish is the whole concept of erasing any kind of memories from another persons brain, no matter how hurtful or bad or self-sabotaging those can be especially involuntarily and how only the said person should have control over that because that is their damn life. can we talk about what such betrayal will do to a man who previously became the reverse-flash just because of one single phrase that he thought was something special only between him and barry. can we talk about how this time thawne paradoxically didnt even do anything to deserve that because he never met barry and never had such possibility in the first place. can we t

[stillthewordgirl]

CC/LOT fic: Nemesis (ch. 2)

The sequel to "Thief & Assassin," my CaptainCanary/Arrowverse fantasy AU. Leonard and Sara are content as lovers and heads of their respective Guilds in Centralis. However, newcomers to the city may ruin all that--and the peace of the kingdom itself.

Sorry for the delay on this second chapter! Yes, it’s veering even more toward TimeShip. No regrets. Many thanks to LarielRomeniel for the beta.

Can also be read here at AO3 or here at FF.net.

Sara went back and forth on telling Leonard about Malcolm Merlyn’s presence in the city for the next few hours, even as she bid a concerned Amaya farewell and took Sin back to the Guild hall. Merlyn was dangerous. Someone else should know about him—and they should tell the king, too.

But if she told Leonard about Merlyn, she should tell him about more of her own past. About how she ended up in the League. About her family. About Stella.

About the Pit.

And that’s where she always mentally recoiled, taking deep breaths to calm herself. She’d killed Damien Darhk because she’d caught him using dark magic, death magic. How would her friends here take it if they knew Sara’d been the recipient of that sort of magic herself? Even though it hadn’t been by her own will?

As it turns out, she doesn’t need to make a decision that night, because Leonard doesn’t show up. And that’s fine, really—they hadn’t made plans, and he has his own Guild to run (and she knows he keeps his hand in on jobs, too). But it does mean she doesn’t sleep well, undistracted by a lover, staring at the ceiling and thinking about the nightmares that still lurk in the darkness behind her eyes.

Fortunately, though, Sara didn’t have anything to do early the next day. She did a little research on the cases of the day before, chose candidates for the guard job, and led some middle-level Guild members through a rousing sparring session. Then she washed, changed, and headed for the palace.

There have been a number of surprises in her life since moving to Centralis. Her friendship with the seneschal is one of them.

Gideon glanced up as Sara entered her office, smiling, but she didn’t stop speaking to the young palace worker who was watching her so intently. Sara leaned against the wall and waited, idly inspecting the space, from the weapons that Gideon now displayed openly to the painting of a sky strewn with stars that hung on another wall.

Then a word or two in the conversation caught her ear. Sara’s eyes snapped to Gideon, who very carefully didn’t look at her. And after a few more moments, the girl left and the two women regarded each other, Gideon with quiet expectation and Sara with great trepidation.

Finally, the latter spoke.

“A full royal ball,” she said carefully, moving toward the desk. “Really?”

The seneschal nodded. She looked amused at Sara’s dismay, but there was something else there too...

“When?” Sara asked again before she could try to analyze it—yet.

“A seven-day.” Gideon looked through some papers on the desk then, avoiding Sara’s eyes. “Which everyone keeps saying isn’t enough time, but I think we’ll be fine. The tailors and dressmakers will be frantic, of course, but they’ll also be making quite a good bit of money from this, so they won’t complain too much. It'll be announced tonight.”

“Why...”

Before Sara could finish the question, though, a kitchen servant poked his head in and asked politely if they were planning to eat in one of the gardens, the small dining room, or Gideon’s office—all of which they’ve done since starting this standing tradition. The seneschal, with a glance at Sara for confirmation, suggested one of the gardens, and they started that way as the man nodded and vanished to retrieve their food from the kitchens.

They didn’t pick up their conversation again until they’d settled, in an out-of-the-way corner of one of the lesser trafficked gardens—and even then, Gideon directed that conversation mostly to lighter topics, inquiring about happenings in the city, mutual acquaintances and Guild business. She was from her own country’s equivalent of the Assassins Guild, after all, brought in as a guard for the young prince, and the fact that her organizational skills made her ideal for the cover of the seneschal’s position had just been happenstance.

Sara took the misdirection with mostly good grace, concentrating on her lunch, but once that was done and they were simply chatting over a cup of cold tea, she looked directly at her friend again.

“Why?” is all she said. It’s all that was needed. And Gideon nodded.

“Now that Druce isn’t working his way behind the scenes, plotting and messing things up, it has occurred to other kingdoms and localities that we have an unmarried king,” she said, folding her hands in front of herself, her voice precise and utterly without emotion. “Not a stripling, indeed, but still able to father heirs—or, equally or more convenient to some, one who already has an heir, should they decide to suggest the suit of a man, or a woman who does not wish to or cannot produce children. The connection is what’s most valuable.”

It shouldn’t be a surprise. But it was, somehow, and Sara just blinked at her for a long moment.

“But...a ball?” she managed finally. “That’s...like something out of a really cliché story...”

Gideon acknowledged that with a flicker of amusement and a tip of her head. “There are a few so-called royal or noble envoys arriving just before that time,” she said. “In reality, we’re quite certain they’re here to...see how they’ll suit. The king, I mean. Might as well get it all out there in the open. They’ll know why we’re doing it.”

There was a certain practicality there. But Sara just shook her head, unable to picture it.

“But what about you?” she blurted out after a moment.

“What about me?” But the seneschal glanced away, a tell she rarely displayed, a sign of unhappiness and discomfort. Sara waited, letting her decide how she wanted to address the matter, the reality that the king and his seneschal have been in a romantic relationship for a while now—and they’d been in love for even longer than that.

Finally, Gideon looked back at her, expression composed once again.

“I am...no one special in my country of origin, Sara,” she said carefully. “And monarchs do not often marry for love. Rip...the king was fortunate that he could, with his queen. I cannot even provide him with another heir.” She glanced away. “It’s possible he could wed again with the provision that he and his spouse would both keep separate households and we could...carry on, I suppose.” She looked down, though, at her hands, and Sara knew.

“You’ll leave,” she said regretfully. “Won’t you?”

Gideon hesitated only a moment before she nodded. “When the king weds, yes. I believe I shall resign. And leave. Perhaps I will return to my Guild.” She spread her hands out before her as Sara digested that “when.” “It was never meant to be, Sara. We are not the same kind.”

The words made Sara angry, for some reason, a rush of rage that’s not directed at Gideon or at the king, but rather at circumstances. The anger, she thought, has been sitting in her since she saw Malcolm Merlyn in this place where she’d been making a home for herself—here, she fears, to damage her life again, in one way or another. And now she might lose this friendship that has become precious to her as well.

“You make him happy,” she told the other woman heatedly, sitting back in her chair. “I haven’t known him for long, and I can see that. Isn’t that more valuable than any alliance based on a falsehood?”

“That’s not for me to say.”

“Well, then, maybe I need to talk to the king.” But as Sara pushed back her chair and rose, Gideon did too, holding her hands up in a clear plea.

“Please,” she said quietly. “He doesn’t know. That I plan to leave. Let me be the one to tell him.”

“Will you do it before he agrees to wed someone else?” Sara shook her head as the seneschal hesitated. “You won’t, will you? You’ll let him make that mistake, knowing...”

“I can’t interfere in policy," Gideon told her, her own tone getting a little sharp. “I came here to guard the prince; I took on this role because it fit. I’ve become involved too much already, here. I...”

But her voice ran off then, and she glanced away. Sara’s a little startled to see what might almost be a sheen of tears in the usually pragmatic woman’s eyes. Then Gideon turned back toward her—and maybe it was just a trick of the light. She looked stoic yet again.

Maybe.

“I won’t,” Sara said into the silence. “But, Gideon...talk to him. Please. Don’t let him make this mistake without knowing, at least.”

Her friend, to Sara’s great regret, made no promises.

After the day and night he’s had, Leonard would, truly, like nothing more than to track down Sara, wrap his arms around her and fall into bed. To sleep, to talk, to lose himself in her so he doesn’t have to think about some of the sorry decisions he’s made in his life, including this latest one.

And that’s the last thing he should do.

He’d fallen in with Thawne, now, much to his current regret, in part because he was trying to distract the man and keep him away from Sara. Of course, the whole thing wound up being more complicated than that, and he’s pretty sure Thawne hasn’t told him everything, either.

So. He’ll get through it. He’ll finish the job, see Thawne and his still-unnamed associate out of his city with alacrity. And then it will be back to normal. Right?

Leonard looked down at the plans on his desk and sighed. He was increasingly sure that this was a mistake. And he was really, really sure that he needed to know more about the target…targets…than Thawne had told him.

Somehow, he needed to get to the university and do some research. How, and when…he wasn’t so sure.

“Hey.”

And while he knew he shouldn’t go to see Sara with this hanging over him, he’d been utterly unable to tell the doorkeeper to keep her out should she come to him. He took a deep breath and looked up, glancing over at where Sara leaned against the doorway, watching him with an oddly uncertain expression.

“Hey,” Leonard returned. He reached out casually for his journal, moving it toward him—and over the drawings. Sara didn’t seem to notice. She did move closer, though, studying him.

“Haven’t seen you since before the council meeting,” she asked. “How’d it go?”

Leonard snorted. Plans covered, he leaned back in his chair. “Talk, talk, talk. For far too long. But…” He shrugged. “I lived. And presumably, I’ll live through the next few meetings. I hope.”

Sara laughed, a little. The sound didn’t have much humor. She studied him a little longer. “What’s wrong?”

Leonard lifted his eyebrows. “Nothing.”

“Bullshit.”

He blinked and stared at her. Frowning, Sara stared back.

Now, though, he looked closer. Saw the fault lines of trouble and worry etched between her eyes, in her frown. And he knew that something was bothering her just as much as something was bothering him. More, even.

“What’s bugging you, then?” he retorted, then held up a hand when she scowled. “I tell you, you tell me.”

Sara hesitated, then nodded. “You first.”

Leonard thought it through, then sighed. “I took a job that I…wish I hadn’t,” he said. “I’m just trying to get it done with and over. It’s really that simple.” He eyed her. “And you?”

Sara shook her head. “Not nearly that simple.” She moved into the room, closing the door behind her carefully, everything about her demeanor cluing Leonard in that the situation was bothering her far more than just his absence or an irritating job. He started to stand, concerned, but she waved him down again, pulling over the other chair in his office, turning it around and taking a seat. The back of the chair was between them, and she clutched it like a weapon, mouth still a straight line.

Sara took a deep breath and Leonard watched her, trying to look receptive and encouraging, even as a tendril of fear (of what, he’s not quite sure) coiled inside.

“I saw someone,” she said finally. “Yesterday afternoon, in the market. Someone from my past.”

Leonard studied her, considering who would draw this reaction. “Someone from the League?” he asked after a moment, when she remained quiet.

Sara’s lips twitched, but not in a smile. “Yes, actually, but that’s actually beside the point.” Her eyes went to his. “Not Nyssa.”

He nodded. He knew about Sara’s former love. This reaction…this wasn’t that sort of uncertainty. It was almost fear. Or was fear? From Sara?

“He’s dangerous,” she said, and maybe she didn’t realize how white her fingers were as they clutched the back of the chair. “And I don’t know why he’s here. He was surprised to see me; he’s not here for that. Still…it can’t be good.”

“Did you tell the Guard?” Len asked quietly, wanting to reach out to her but uncertain how that would be taken by a Sara in this odd, frightened mood. “You know Joe West is a good man. And I know you’re friendly with Kendra…”

But Sara shook her head quickly. “There are reasons I don’t want people to know about the connection,” she said, then stopped. Leonard let her work through whatever she was thinking, realizing that she was trying to decide what to tell him. This thing between them….it was still new, and he tried not to be a trifle disappointed that she hesitated so long. But they both had their pasts, and their secrets—he glanced briefly down at the hidden plans on his desk—and Sara was entitled to hers.

“You don’t have to tell me,” he said quietly as her silence drew out.

That actually seemed to galvanize her. “No,” Sara said, shaking her head. “Someone needs to know. And I’d rather tell you than anyone else.” She gave him a tiny smile, but it’s a bit weary and uncertain. Leonard leaned forward, clasping his hands, eyes on her face, trying to look encouraging and nonjudgmental.

“Do you remember…” she started, then stopped. Sighed. Continued. “There was a reason I had a reaction to the stone that held Savage’s soul. Even though I don’t have any magic of my own.”

That was…not what he was expecting. Leonard tilted his head, trying not to show surprise, eyes still fixed on Sara’s face. And she continued, the words sending a chill down his spine.

“I was dead, Leonard,” she told him, voice bleak. “Dead. For about a year.” Her shoulders hunched as a chill ran down his spine, and she shook her head, glancing away “And dark magic brought me back—through no will of my own, but still.”

She glanced at him, clearly expecting some sort of reaction, and not a good one. But Leonard was no idiot, and he wasn’t the sort to recoil without reason. He knew Sara Lance, in more ways than one, and he trusted that knowledge and bond between them. He studied her a moment, but then nodded matter of factly, keeping eye contact.

“You’re clearly alive now,” he said drily, reaching out a hand out, resting it gently on her still-tense hands. “And even if dark magic brought you back, that doesn’t mean it’s part of you. Right? Harrison would have sensed that.”

Sara stared at him like she couldn’t believe his reaction. “Well, no…I don’t think so. And, yes, I’m alive now; I’m not reliant on it. I…” She shook her head. “It wasn’t that easy, though. I didn’t have a soul at first, and…and then there was this…bloodlust…”

Her voice trailed off, and she sighed. “I think I’m past that. Finally. But it was bad enough at first that I couldn’t go back to Stella. And I’m still giving it some time. Eventually I’ll go, contact my father and sister again.”

She’d never mentioned her family before. Leonard considered her thoughtfully. “Do they know…”

“That I’m alive at all? Yes. My sister…” But Sara shook her head again, stopping, and Leonard felt a twinge of regret at the loss of more information about her. “It’s a long story. But…my very existence is against all manner of basic rules governing the use of magic, and if people find out…”

“What’s done is done, and it’s not your fault.”

“Still.” Sara shrugged. “I’d rather not have it get out.”

Leonard tilted his head. “Understandable.” He paused. “What does this all have to do with the person you saw?”

He figured it’s one of two things. It’s either the person who brought her back, or…

“He’s the one who killed me,” Sara told him bluntly, turning her hand over to contract her fingers around his. “Well, arranged to have me killed. And he knows. How I came back, and far too much about me.” She shuddered, and Leonard felt a rush of icy rage.

This man needed to die. But he wasn’t going to step on any toes. He’d be just as happy to help Sara kill him.

“We’ll find him,” he told her. “And y’know, you can call challenge on him. That’s still a thing. The Guard…”

But Sara was shaking her head. “I just want him to go away,” she said with another sigh, “and preferably, never see him again.”

After a moment, Leonard nodded. And neither of them said anything more, not for the moment.

They just sat there, hands connected.

Leonard didn’t want to be here.

He wanted to be back at the Guild hall--one of their Guild halls--with Sara. Distracting her, showing her that what she’d told him didn’t change how he looked at her at all. No matter the past, she was one of the most alive people he knew.

He’d admit, too, that there was a certain protective “mine” instinct that was coiled inside him at the notion of this man who’d hurt the woman he cared for so much. Leonard knew his city, and he knew that, given the opportunity, he could track the man down. Make him pay. Perhaps for good.

But Sara hadn’t even wanted to give him the guy’s name, let alone a description, probably because she understood that instinct. He wasn’t sure why she didn’t want to challenge the man herself—he’d seen her fight, and he found it unlikely that she wouldn’t win. Presumably, it was the same reason she wouldn’t go to the Guard, that she didn’t want the story to get out.

All in all, it made him distracted and frustrated, even as he tapped his fingers against the long, shallow wood case he was holding, the sign of a successful job. He’d arranged to meet Thawne—and presumably, Thawne’s associate—here in this tavern in the seedier side of the city, the sort of place where everyone knew perfectly well who the head of the Thieves Guild was and to stay the hell away from whatever was going down. It was surely not the sort of place he’d go for his own enjoyment.

“Snart.”

The name, as always, made a chill run down Leonard’s spine, and his eyes narrowed as he turned his head, watching Thawne and another man approach the back booth that Leonard preferred. Not good. He’d been so distracted that he hadn’t seen them come in.

Thawne seemed to realize it, too. That cold smile was just a little too knowing. He nodded to Leonard, then turned to his companion, a smirking, handsome, black-clad man. The newcomer slid easily into the booth and rested his elbows on the table and his head on his clasped hands, regarding the thief.

“This is my associate, Malcolm Merlyn,” Thawne said smoothly, joining the other man. “I presume you have…it.”

Merlyn wasn’t overly threatening, but he tripped something in Leonard’s sense of people not to fuck with. Both dangerous and smart…and even more so, clever. He’d rather like to study the other man a little longer, but Thawne was staring at him challengingly, and he wanted both men gone more.

“Please,” he drawled, placing the case on the table. “They don’t even know it’s gone. And I’ll thank you to do nothing to indicate that it is, at least not yet. Stealing from the Temple District is a lovely way to wind up cursed.”

Merlyn’s smirk grew, like he found that amusing, but Thawne merely pulled the box toward himself, opening it to regard the item within. After only a moment, though, he nodded, closed it and looked back up at Leonard even as he made the case vanish.

“We still need the other two pieces,” he said coldly.

Leonard inclined his head toward the man, trying to keep his dislike off his face “As you’ve said. And you’ll have them. One at a time.”

“The next two nights?” Merlyn spoke, finally, a light and almost amused tone that raised the hairs on the back of Leonard’s neck for some reason. He regarded the other man coolly, which only made the smirk grow more. Merlyn leaned forward even as Leonard leaned back, and he spoke as though confiding a secret to a friend.

“And…something from the Assassins Guild,” he said. “Can we add that to our contract?”

Leonard’s eye narrowed, though he tried to keep the alarm from showing. Precisely what does this man want to steal from Sara’s Guild?

“We have alliance with them,” he said sharply. “I’m not going to break that word.”

Thawne actually laughed, drawing Leonard’s attention back to him.

“The word of a thief?” he said, a little scorn in his tone. “Truly, Master Snart?”

“Not my name,” Leonard retorted, letting some anger into his own voice. “And yes. The word of a thief. Would you like it if I broke my contract with you?”

It was a threat, and Thawne heard it. His own eyes narrowed, and the two men stared each other down, with Merlyn as an amused witness. But Thawne broke first, shaking his head roughly and sliding out of the booth to his feet.

“How will you let us know when you have them?” he snapped as Merlyn followed him.

“Come back to this tavern. If I have them, I’ll be here.” Leonard tilted his head to indicate the booth, pleased to have another way to make these troublemakers in his city dance to his tune.

“If you don’t…”

“I will.” Leonard’s voice was utterly cold. “Best get going now. You don’t want to be seen with a thief, after all.”

He watched as the two men left, then sighed, running a finger down the condensation on his untouched drink.

And not for the first time, he cursed Lewis, even years after his death, for bringing these two to his door.

This was going to end in trouble. He just knew it.

He just hoped it didn’t end in tears.

[smoaking-greenarrow]

Crisis on Earth-X: Crossover’s Top Five MVPS

Number Five

Number Four

Yep, I’m counting Olicity as one person, because they’re MARRIED so I CAN.

Felicity has always been a hero in her own way. But Crisis on Earth-X saw her willing to die for Kara Danvers twice. And the best part? She looked scared as hell while doing it. Her hero counterparts always look calm when a gun or shaking hand that can rip their hearts out are pointed at them. Felicity looked terrified, but she still did it. And that was okay. It was so okay. It doesn’t mean that she’s less of a hero than them because she gets scared. 

And how fantastic was it to see Felicity Smoak protecting Supergirl? To see her climbing through vents with Iris, making plans, kicking Nazi ass and taking down a spaceship? She was definitely an MVP of this crossover by herself and with the people she was working with, which was such a highlight because she kind of got pushed aside in last year’s crossover.

I cannot tell you how important Felicity Smoak and the special actress who plays her are. If you don’t get it by now, you probably never will. And that is your loss.

Anyway, Olicity. 

I want to count them both as number four on this list, both individually and as a couple, because their relationship, them together is what made the crossover better. But they also did just fine on their own. Even when they weren’t in the same scene, or even on the same earth, they were always thinking about each other. We got so much of them this crossover, more than even Barry and Iris. 

Oliver blew his cover because he couldn’t kill Earth-X Felicity. He didn’t know her, she wasn’t his Felicity, and it still wasn’t worth it to him. I don’t think that it was just that the girl was Felicity’s doppelganger, though. Oliver grows every season, and it is what makes Arrow so enjoyable. Watch the pilot again, I dare you. That guy doesn’t seem like the Oliver I’ve gotten used to on my screen lately at all.

I think Oliver’s empathy for Earth-X Felicity showed us his growth. He saved her because she’s innocent. Oliver’s moral compass may not be as righteous or perfect as Barry’s or Kara’s, but Arrow is a different show because of it. I don’t think that Barry and Oliver were every truly meant to be compared. They’re different kinds of heroes. Still, room full of evil Nazis be damned, Oliver couldn’t execute an innocent person just to keep his cover. He’d rather risk a shoot out.

I love that there was no evil Felicity. I can get on board with this idea. No matter what earth it is, every version you meet of Felicity Megan Smoak is going to be kind, brave, and selfless. I’m down for that. And it would have been even better if every version of Felicity somehow made Oliver into a better human being. But I’ll just block Nazis from my brain and go with that instead. 

I did have one problem with the scene though. Oliver’s “the strong protect the weak” line was bullshit. Earth-X Felicity was living and surviving in a literal concentration camp. She was risking her life to feed starving children. She was not weak. How dare you call someone like her weak???

Since I talked about Felicity on her own, Oliver Queen deserves a little celebration too.

For starters; the one, and only thing that this Nazi invasion did was show that Oliver is better than Kara and Barry in a way. Kara kind of got off the hook, her evil twin was dying anyway, so she didn’t have to deal with the “to kill or not to kill” superhero stuff. Oliver and Barry both had to face the decision, though.

But Barry let’s Thawne go? With a stupid, cheesy, “see ya next time, my evil nemesis!” LAME. I get it, Barry doesn’t kill. But Thawne should have been an exception. I’m sick of him. It’s not interesting anymore. It’s not fun to watch. The story is old. I would have been more surprised if he was really dead than I was that he lived. That’s when you know you’ve exhaused a character. Get some new material. He needs to die and he needs to stay dead. Also, IF YOU ALIGN WITH NAZIS, YOU ARE A NAZI. Barry Allen literally let a powerful, murderous Nazi walk away. And it pissed me right the hell off. So you know what, fuck Barry.

But you know who didn’t hesitate to kill the evil Nazi that shared his face? Oliver Queen. He had the shot and he took it. I didn’t take that as, “well Oliver’s the only one okay with killing.” or “he didn’t have to.” I took that as, “Oliver knows when to kill and when not to kill. And he made the right choice.” He doesn’t have the abilities that Barry and Kara do, so giving Nazi Oliver a chance to live would have been a risk that Oliver wasn’t willing to take. Barry took that risk with Thawne, and it was stupid as fuuuuuck. 

I love Oliver Queen, I really do. And I’m glad that the crossover didn’t overshadow him or the other “non-powers” players. They seemed like they were consciously writing the story to make sure that Oliver, Sara, and Alex weren’t just twiddling their thumbs or contributing to the plan, but they were also leaders.

But anyway, Crisis on Earth-X gave time to Olicity that it didn’t last year and sure as hell hasn’t in a while. Season six scenes have been great, but we still haven’t seen them talk. They had a lot of baggage, and we assume that they worked it out, but we need to see it! That’s how TV shows work! So Crisis on Earth-X took some time to do it. That meant Felicity getting the chance to tell Oliver, and us, what she’s afraid of.

But she sooo wants to marry you. Honey is just scared, okay!? Honestly, the only unbelievable thing about this to me was that Oliver couldn’t guess why she didn’t want to marry him. She yells at him that she doesn’t want to marry him, but then they talk. She assures him that it’s not about him, because she loves him and wants to be in a committed relationship with him. She just doesn’t want the title of husband and wife.

She wants everything about marriage, just without calling it marriage.  Oliver can be thick headed sometimes, but he’s not that dumb. Of course she’s afraid of something. 

Unlike what we’ve seen in the past (SEASON FOUR) Felicity gets a scene where she tells Iris why she doesn’t want to be legally married to Oliver. And everything she says is valid and fair. Slow clap it out for Felicity Smoak, sharing and talking through her feelings with someone she trusts. Once you do that, it’s only a matter of time until you either talk to your person about it or you resolve the issue inside of you and move forward. She did that, finally, and it was wonderful. 

Her explanation was something that I honestly hadn’t considered, which made it powerful and sweet. Felicity was shot and paralyzed on her engagement night. Then they broke up. The night they got engaged, as beautiful as it was, was extremely traumatizing for her. She associates the end of their relationship with the beginning of their lives as a married couple, because that night was when the train went off the rails and they couldn’t get it back. 

She loves him so much, and she still wants the relationship with him, it’s just the public marriage and ring on her finger that scream bad signs to her. I loved being able to see this side of Felicity. I’m glad that they gave her the screen time to explain it. 

And I’m so happy that we got to see this scene. Oliver Queen is moping. He just wants to marry his honey and give her kisses for the rest of his life but she’s scared and she’s not ready to tell him that yet and it’s hurting his feelings. Both of their responses and feelings were honest and understandable. They were kind to each other. They expressed themselves. Oliver was upset, but Felicity still made sure that he knew how much she loved him. And Oliver respected her choice and didn’t push it, even though he clearly still wasn’t satisfied with her answer. This is the kind of fighting I want to see.

What I really loved about this though was that not only was it a fair fight, where they both had valid things to say, but we knew that they would resolve it. This fight had a clear beginning, middle, and end. The writers were not just throwing shit at us and seeing if Olicity would survive it. Which, isn’t that literally what they told us season four was going to be?

The Olicity arc in Crisis on Earth-X was well-paced, fair, and entertaining. What more could you ask for?

Okay yeah, Oliver kissing Felicity while in the Green Arrow suit was fantastic. I didn’t ask for that but fanfic dreams do come true.

Oh, a wedding?

WELL YOU GOT IT.

Congratulations, Olicity!

[faithfulnews]

Life and Death in the World of ‘The Punisher’

“Tonight, you’re gonna have to break your one rule.”

Close your eyes and imagine a long-running battle between a hero and a villain coming to an end. It doesn’t matter which hero or which villain; they’re all interchangeable here. It doesn’t matter how long the two have been pitted against each other — ten episodes, maybe twenty, maybe 110 minutes of a two-hour movie.

It always comes down to this.

The hero, after coming this close to losing the last battle, finally has the upperhand. He stands over the villain who lies prone in the dirt, rain pelting his face, spitting out what he knows will be his last furious words. He’s killed dozens. Hundreds. Maybe thousands. Terrorized a city — or a country — or a planet. Caused untold pain and suffering. Yet, he’s still full of rage. The world is what’s wrong; not him.

You can see it in the hero’s eyes. He can finally end this. He can put the bad guy in the ground — end his villainy for good. He wants to. He knows he should. 

But he hesitates. Somewhere in the back of his mind, a law emerges. A law which says he must be better than his enemy. And that means he, the hero, cannot kill the villain.

A (Problematic) Double Standard?

I’m not sold on the hero-can’t-kill-the-villain rule that seems to be the norm in the comic book-based TV and movie productions beloved by millions. Death, for some villains, seems justified in my opinion. Not long ago, I advocated that Supergirl & Co. would have been well within their rights to take the life of the Kryptonian Worldkiller Reign at the end of Season 3. But the decision not to is typical of superhero fare: heroes choose not to kill their archenemies either due to their own moral code (Batman vs. the Joker in The Dark Knight) or due to urging by a secondary character that the hero must be better than his enemy (Barry Allen vs. Eobard Thawne in The Flash). Admittedly, there is a smaller subset of stories where the villain dies at the hands of a secondary character (Catwoman vs. Bane in The Dark Knight Rises) or brings about his own death due to events already in motion or by forcing the hero’s hand (Superman vs. Zod in Man of Steel). But these climaxes only serve to keep the hands of the hero clean and uphold the virtue of the hero in the eyes of the audience.

Worldkiller Reign was dead, but Supergirl brings her back to life because… she felt bad or something.

Netflix’s The Punisher, however, introduces us to a “hero” who kills his enemies without compunction — with the cold conviction that Bad. Guys. Must. Die. That conviction carries through Season 1, with Frank Castle killing, or attempting to kill, numerous enemies — until the final episode when he faces his greatest enemy and the author of all his nightmares, his ex-military buddy Billy Russo. Castle opts to let Russo live, severely damaging his face in an attempt to force him to be reminded of his evil deeds for the rest of his days.

And, so, the most bloody, violent, and death-filled adaptation of a comic book property in recent history submits to the rule that the hero can only maintain his heroism by not killing the villain, no matter the villain’s crimes. Somehow, we’ve come to accept this as just and right.

In a cruel and ironic twist, Punisher Season 2 opens with Billy Russo suffering from memory loss — thereby escaping the punishment Frank Castle designed for him.

The oddity of Frank Castle not, well, punishing in his usual manner carries throughout Season 2 with Castle laying down his gun at times when he otherwise would have put a bullet (or several) through his adversary.

A hero’s motivations for killing (or, more likely, not killing) his ultimate enemy — and our (the audience’s) acceptance of these heroes’ stories — raise interesting questions about our collective perspective on life, death, and punishment in the real world.

No-Kill Rule? Y/N/IDK

Deep down, do we agree with a hero’s decision not to kill a murderous villain? Or are we simply committed to preserving our own high moral ground of never sinking to the level of our enemies — no matter how much they deserve it? Certainly, it makes us feel better to say we are superior to our adversaries.

But isn’t justice an eye for an eye? Or is there no more appetite for this brand of punishment in the present day (at least in the West)? 

What about the families of those killed or otherwise affected by a villain’s actions? Is escaping a punishment that fits the crime justice for them? 

What justifies letting a villain live if he has blood on his hands?

Billy Russo, the Punisher’s ultimate enemy, shortly before he dies.

The Bible and The Punisher

I could argue from the Old Testament that The Punisher is an accurate depiction of biblical restitution. I could argue that even from the New Testament, for it’s in Romans that we read, “the wages of sin is death.” Sin — all sin, any sin — deserves death in God’s eyes. And maybe that’s why we as humans reject that view. If all have sinned, and the wages of sin is death, then all deserve death. But who among us will admit our own death-deservingness, and who among us will advocate for the death-deservingness of others? Humans, sinful as we are, seem to think we are more reasonable than God: that God is too harsh and that our ways are better, nicer.

In the Old Testament, God authorizes the death of the wicked, but also declares that He takes no pleasure in it and that He would rather the wicked repent than die. Similarly, the Punisher takes no pleasure in his kills. We never see him celebrating the demise of his enemies.

The debate over “gun culture” aside, can we, as a society, embrace a “hero” like the Punisher? After all, didn’t the “mighty men” and women of the Old Testament operate in the same vein? David slaughtered hundreds of Philistines, took the skin off their foreheads, and brought it to Saul. Ehud tricked the servants of anm obese Canaanite king so he would have the opportunity to stab him when his guard was down. Jael was celebrated for driving a tent peg through the skull of an enemy general whom she lulled to sleep in her tent. The newly-anointed King Jehu rode into Samaria and called for those “on the Lord’s side” to throw the wicked Queen Jezebel out of an upper story window, after which he trampled her under his horse’s hooves, and left her body in the street for the dogs to eat. And can we forget Elijah’s slaughter of the 400 prophets of Baal? Or Samson’s slaughter of hundreds of Philistines in brutal fashion on multiple occasions?

Mighty men riding to punish the enemies of God.

Repulsed?

Fine. Take a breather. Let’s say it was a wilder, rougher, more difficult time then. Things change. The world changes. Even God told David he didn’t want him to build his Temple because he had so much blood on his hands.

Ethic of Life

Is the superhero ethic of life comparable to the New Testament ethic of mercy and grace? Could it be an embodiment even? When the Punisher decides not to kill, is he making a more ethically and morally commendable decision? Is he making a godlier choice?

Maybe our support of the tendency to choose life — even for the worst of villains — shouldn’t come as a surprise. 

Maybe this is progress.

Maybe it’s a move toward a godlier, nobler, more life-embracing world.

Go to the article

[not-a-mimic]

Come and Hold My Hand

Allenbert Week Day 1: Pre-Flashpoint Relationship

Continuation of my Pilot!AU - After the accelerator explosion Central City is left to pick up the pieces, minus some of their loved ones.

Come and hold my hand

I wanna contact the living

Not sure I understand

This role I’ve been given

I sit and talk to God

And he just laughs at my plans

My head speaks a language

I don’t understand

Barr. Where are you? I don’t understand, why arent you replying? I need to hear you. Please. Where are you?

Frost licked at his heart and soles as Julian scrambled to get to the station. He had to see his boyfriend - he had to know he was ok. But, as humanity decreed, thousands of loved ones in Central that night had the same idea as him - They needed to make sure their lovers, parents, siblings and family were safe. The roads clogged, slowing down to match the steady pace of Barry’s voicemail - a torturous experience that left Julian half mad by the time he got to the station. What if I lost my rock? I already lost Emma - I can’t lose Barry as well. It’s just my luck though.

By the time Julian finds Joe in the swarm of cops his vision blurs against his will and his knees tremble. Somehow in the short period of time since the explosion Joe’s aged 20 years. Shadows twist around him, shoulders slumped and Julian is struck about how much he looks like a parent who just lost their child, something Julian is all too familiar with (He remembers once having to tell a mother they found her son in the river - The way the slim, tiny, strong spark of hope disappears as quickly as her world shifted. He’d seen people lose loved ones before - his own parents and family themselves - but there he was, watching a woman lose everything. She lost everything and held herself together long enough to see them to the door before following her son into the void. Julian swore then to never forget her.)

He knows he’s watching Joe fall down that same path, following his son down and Julian just knows. Suddenly it doesn’t matter where he is, who’s watching with their dark glares and whispering comments.

He just breaks.

I just wanna feel

Real love feel the home that I live in

‘Cause I got too much life

Running through my veins

Going to waste

I don’t wanna die

But I ain’t keen on living either

Before I fall in love

I’m preparing to leave her

It’s Iris who drags him to the hospital, his body on autopilot. Of course it’s Iris - sweet perfect Iris who Julian had to fight claw and tooth with (without her knowledge) to win Barry’s affections - He’s not bitter ( I’m only a little bitter. Ok I’m bitter. Better? ) but seeing how she is still as perfect as ever even with her makeup smudged from tears and eyes scarlet. All he can focus on his Barry’s heartbeat, teh too-fast pattern of beeps in the stark room that makes his stomach turn and in turn his heart to race faster. It’s no where near Barry-speed, but it’s the thought that counts.

No-one ever mentioned what it would feel like to lose the love of your life - He knows he should be angry, angry at STAR Labs for building the Accelerator, angry at Harrison Wells for ever dreaming up it or angry at the world for taking his light like it too the mother’s son - But he’s just tired. Already he wants to hear Barry’s voice, to see his smile or listen to another stream of god-awful jokes that he’s heard a hundred times before but Barry still tries to make him laugh at and succeeds every time. He wants his boyfriend back - or he wants to know he’s at peace, not stuck in the half-limbo-half-sleep that’s a coma.

Joe joins him at the 3 hour mark, long after they have taken Barry away for another set of tests. He just wants it to be over already, already weary to the bone and its only the first day. He wants to be home in bed with his boyfriend, a tangle of limbs and sheets but happy.

No-one mentions that he’s sitting by a empty bed, still grasping at thin air and dreaming for the impossible.

They don’t want to pledge the hesitant over the edge after all.

Scare myself to death

That’s why I keep on running

Before I’ve arrived

I can see myself coming

Singh takes one look at him and puts him on mandatory leave. Noone’s complaining - Julian looks like he would be at home on the Walking Dead with no problem - and that’s coming from a group of men (and women) who live off cheap coffee and snack while they spend their days cleaning up a city wrecked by a impossible explosion and more impossible people. Julian would say he was interested, he knows he would of before and Barry would of died (he did practically - but whatever god is out there hasn’t held their end of the bargain. Yet. ) to see how Central has evolved over time, the impossible becoming possible and Barry’s half-mad rambles seeming more and more plausible each day.

Julian doesn’t want to go home, doesn’t want to think about the missing body next to his and the nights spent in front of the TV, watching everything from documentaries to reality TV trying to get Julian to crack - Barry never succeeded ( And he may never do so, a traitorous part of him whispers , He may do nothing ever again. )

It’s funny, watching the same things now seem to always get him to crack. He’d be fooling himself if he lied about why, the only light in his life a muted one when Joe and Iris invite him over for dinner. We don’t want you to feel excluded Julian (Iris never called him Julian before - It was always Albert or Desmond or some pun or joke about the two. Never Julian.) You lost as much as both of us that day. (He ignores how the West’s exchange looks at this - Like they know that they all lost an important person to them but that he lost the only important person to him, heart slashed in to and crumbling every second Barr’s asleep, every time he sees anything that reminds him of Barry.)

I just wanna feel

Real love feel the home that I live in

‘Cause I got too much life

Running through my veins

Going to waste

And I need to feel

Real love and the love ever after

I cannot get enough

Harrison Wells comes to them 2 months in, and leaves with Joe’s permission and a bruised lip. Julian comes away with a bloodied fist and glimer of hope in his heart that died months ago. It doesn’t matter about how much he tries to help Barry. Everything he doesn’t rubs Julian the wrong way - Something is wrong with the man and Julian does not want to be there when that’s exposed. Speaking of the devil…

“Mr Albert. I wasn’t aware of you and Mr Allen's… relationship. Isn’t there a policy against it at the CCPD? You both seem to be such talented scientists… Shame if either of you lost your job over a simple romance.”

“Do you dig into every relationship of your patients? Ones who are suffering because of your own mistakes? Or are you threatening me Mr Wells?”

Wells chuckles and Julian would swear later that his eyes flashed with something darker. Or in this case, something more red. He was an army kid - and he’d grown up shunned by his family, spent years in the shadows where the monsters live. Julian didn’t scare easy but this? This innocent man who is handicapped in a wheelchair made every instinct in him scream.

“Of course not Mr Albert, Just the ones who are breaking every rule in the rulebook for them. Neither of us would want Allen to lose his job over it would we? You do care about him.”

“I can’t believe what I’m hearing - You are cold hearted and selfish, thinking it’s appropriate to threaten my own relationship when you have not had one in 15 years. You’re our only hope to save Barry, yes I understand that but I will not stand for being insulted constantly.”

The doctor just smiles his sly snake smile and wheels past Julian, surprisingly strong arms working tirely as he disappears around the corner.

I just wanna feel

Real love feel the home that I live in

I got too much love

Running through my veins

To go to waste

I just wanna feel

Real love and the love ever after

There’s a hole in my soul

You can see it in my face

It’s a real big place

“I don’t trust his Joe - The Meta’s obviously originated at the particle accelerator and now we’ve left Barr there hoping they’ll do something to help him. Wells… Well I don’t trust him.”

“I know… I looked into his other staff - One Cisco Ramon and Caitlin Snow. Ramon’s clean and all reports say he’s a genius with a heart. Snow lost her fiance in the explosion - I don’t know why she’s still there and loyal to Wells but she is, and I have to give her credit for it.”

“So Wells only has 2 people left? Isn’t that a little… “

“Strange? It is a abandoned biohazard created by a impossible explosion. I wouldn’t want to hang around after my life was ruined by it too. It works to our advantage too - Less people to worry about when everything inevitably goes wrong.”

“Hmmm. I just don’t feel like it’s a good idea to leave Barr there - I know it’s our only hope but something’s not right.”

“Julian… We all want him back. Iris is… she’s dating Detective Thawne now. I don’t approve but I always wanted her to end up with Barr…”

“And then he went out and started dating me. A coworker who’s male, none else. Iris is coping in her own way - she’s lost the one person she can confide in, of course she’ll find someone else to help her. Thawne… he’s not a bad guy. A bit upbeat and pretty yes, bad guy no.”

“He’s also modest.”

“I knew I forgot something - But really, please try be nicer to Thawne? He’s good for Iris and is a decent cop Joe. He also bought you coffee that one time without ulterior motives-”

“He was trying to get on my nice side.”

“- Unlike Iris, who uses it as blackmail. How did she even learn to do that anyway?”

“… I’ll go look into STAR Labs.”

Come and hold my hand

I wanna contact the living

Not sure I understand

This role I’ve been given

Not sure I understand

Not sure I understand

Not sure I understand

Not sure I understand

[aion-rsa]

DC Comics’ May 2017 Solicitations

DC Comics has released solicitation information and images for new comics and products shipping in May 2017. When you’re through checking out these solicitations for new releases, be sure to visit CBR’s DC Comics forum, Batman forum, Superman forum or Wonder Woman forum to discuss these titles and products with fellow readers and fans.

DC Comics Solicitations – Last Six Months

Product shipping April 2017

Product shipping March 2017

Product shipping February 2017

Product shipping January 2017

Product shipping December 2016

Product shipping November 2016

ACTION COMICS #979

Written by DAN JURGENS • Art by PATCH ZIRCHER • Cover by RODOLFO MIGLIARI • Variant cover by GARY FRANK

“REVENGE” part one! Superman, Lois and Jon return to their lives in Metropolis while Eradicator, Cyborg Superman, Metallo and Mongul unite to destroy the Man of Steel!

On sale MAY 10 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T

ACTION COMICS #980

Written by DAN JURGENS • Art by PATCH ZIRCHER • Cover by RODOLFO MIGLIARI • Variant cover by GARY FRANK

“REVENGE” part two! Both Superman and the Revenge Squad must traverse the deadly Black Vault in a race against time to reach General Zod! Amanda Waller’s secret Kryptonian weapon reveals himself to the world, but Cyborg Superman and Eradicator move in to recruit him. Tying directly into the events of this month’s Suicide Squad issues—and no matter who wins in this epic showdown, it spells certain doom for the Last Son of Krypton!

On sale MAY 24 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T

ALL STAR BATMAN #10

Written by SCOTT SNYDER • Art and cover by RAFAEL ALBUQUERQUE • Variant cover by CHRIS BURNHAM • Variant cover by FRANCESCO FRANCAVILLA

“The First Ally” part one! When the Dark Knight is taken down by a new enemy whose attacks he cannot counter, he uncovers a plot spanning generations…whose mastermind might be one of his closest allies! But who is the First Ally?

On sale MAY 10 • 32 pg, FC, $4.99 US • RATED T

AQUAMAN #22

Written by DAN ABNETT • Art by PHILIPPE BRIONES • Cover by BRAD WALKER and ANDREW HENNESSY • Variant cover by JOSHUA MIDDLETON

“H20” finale! Dead Water has taken possession of one of Aquaman’s key allies and he must race to find a cure for Agent Ajar’s condition, as she wreaks havoc in the base. Even if he succeeds, Dead Water’s next target may be the Atlantean king himself!

On sale MAY 3 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T

AQUAMAN #23

Written by DAN ABNETT • Art by SCOT EATON and WAYNE FAUCHER • Cover by BRAD WALKER and ANDREW HENNESSY • Variant cover by JOSHUA MIDDLETON

“CROWN OF ATLANTIS” part one! Beleaguered by ceaseless conflict with the surface world and rising frustration with their outsider king, the people of Atlantis take steps to depose Arthur from his throne. And he won’t let go without a fight! The next major movement of the AQUAMAN saga begins here!

On sale MAY 17 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T

BATGIRL #11

Written by HOPE LARSON • Art and cover by CHRIS WILDGOOSE and JON LAM • Variant cover by FRANCIS MANAPUL

“Son of Penguin” finale! Batgirl races to free Burnside from Ethan’s plot…but has Burnside already changed too much to be saved? Even if she manages to save the day, will Barbara ever be able to truly go home again?

On sale MAY 24 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T

BATGIRL AND THE BIRDS OF PREY #10

Written by JULIE BENSON and SHAWNA BENSON • Art by ROGE ANTONIO • Cover by YANICK PAQUETTE • Variant cover by KAMOME SHIRAHAMA

“Blackbird” finale! The Birds now know how the mysterious new metahuman known as Blackbird has turned also-rans into dangerous killers…but what’s her endgame? And are they prepared for the terrible secret of what her powers can really do?

On sale MAY 10 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T

BATMAN BEYOND #8

Written by DAN JURGENS • Art and cover by BERNARD CHANG • Variant cover by MARTIN ANSIN

“RISE OF THE DEMON” part three! Having only recently taken back the mantle of Batman and far from his familiar home turf of Gotham City, Terry arrives in Tibet on a dangerous mission to rescue Bruce Wayne from the League of Assassins. But when he finally gets an audience with Ra’s al Ghul, he’s in for the shock of a lifetime…

On sale MAY 24 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T

BATMAN #23

Written by TOM KING • Art and cover by DAVID FINCH and DANNY MIKI • Variant cover by TIM SALE

“AFTERMATH”! In the wake of Bane’s attack, Batman must face the destruction left behind and follow through on his promises to Gotham Girl and Catwoman by making the most crushing sacrifices yet.

On sale MAY 17 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T

BATWOMAN #3

Written by MARGUERITE BENNETT and JAMES TYNION IV • Art and cover by STEVE EPTING • Variant cover by J.G. JONES

“The Many Arms Of Death” part three! Batwoman’s identified the cancer spreading through the lawless nation of Coryana, but to fight back, she’s going to need an army…and the only soldiers at hand belong to the island’s deadly warlords and gang leaders! Can Kate rally every one of these cutthroats to a common cause? Or will Coryana collapse into the same wretched hive of scum and villainy it’s always been? The fate of one of Kate’s greatest loves hangs in the balance…

On sale MAY 17 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T+

BLUE BEETLE #9

Written by KEITH GIFFEN and J.M. DeMATTEIS • Art and cover by SCOTT KOLINS • Variant cover by TYLER KIRKHAM

The battle with the evil entity that’s been lurking under El Paso for thousands of years reaches its penultimate chapter! Jaime Reyes has wanted nothing more than to rid himself of the scarab on his back. But in order to save his city, his family and his friends, he must decide whether to become Blue Beetle again—only this time, the change will be permanent!

On sale MAY 24 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T

CYBORG #12

Written by JOHN SEMPER JR. • Art by ALLAN JEFFERSON and TONY KORDOS • Cover by ALLAN JEFFERSON • Variant cover by CARLOS D’ANDA

“DANGER IN DETROIT” part three! After going missing for a month Cyborg finds Detroit in a state of chaos. Anomaly’s hold on S.T.A.R. Labs has only gotten stronger. Ratattack and Haxaan have to bring in the final component for Anomaly’s world domination: Cyborg!

On sale MAY 3 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T

DEATHSTROKE #18

Written by CHRISTOPHER PRIEST • Art by JOE BENNETT and NORM RAPMUND • Cover by BILL SIENKIEWICZ • Variant cover by SHANE DAVIS

“Twilight” finale! In the wake of his fiancé’s death, Jericho seeks revenge against the suspected murderer—his own father! But was Deathstroke truly responsible for Etienne’s demise? And if not, who could have committed such a nefarious crime? It’s a Wilson family affair as Slade, Joseph and Rose clash in the blood-soaked finale to “Twilight!”

On sale MAY 3 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+

DETECTIVE COMICS #956

Written by JAMES TYNION IV • Art by MARCIO TAKARA • Cover by EDDY BARROWS and EBER FERREIRA • Variant cover by RAFAEL ALBUQUERQUE

“League Of Shadows” finale! It’s all out war against the single most ruthless villain Batman’s ever faced: Lady Shiva and her army of nihilistic killers! But at least one member of the team might wind up swallowed whole by the darkness of the League…

On sale MAY 10 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T

DETECTIVE COMICS #957

Written by GENEVIEVE VALENTINE and JAMES TYION IV • Art by CARMEN CARNERO • Cover by ALVARO MARTINEZ • Variant cover by RAFAEL ALBUQUERQUE

“The Wrath Of Spoiler”! Stephanie Brown wants nothing more than to save Gotham City from the epidemic of costumed vigilantes and madmen that regularly tear the city apart. But before she can try to stop them, she must face the challenge of one in particular: the insane idealogue the Wrath is back, and Stephanie knows what he has planned—but she refuses to let Batman risk more lives to stop him. That means it’s all on her…and a very unlikely ally!

On sale MAY 24 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T

THE FLASH #23

Written by JOSHUA WILLIAMSON • Art and covers by CARMINE DI GIANDOMENICO • Variant cover by HOWARD PORTER

“RUNNING SCARED” prelude! Barry Allen is at a crossroads. He’s lied to the woman he loves about his life as The Flash, and a rift is growing between him and his heroic young partner. Now, his greatest enemy has threatened to strike down everyone close to him! It’s time to make a tough choice that will launch The Flash into his most incredible mission yet: a siege on the 25th century stronghold of Eobard Thawne!

On sale MAY 24 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T

GREEN ARROW #22

Written by BENJAMIN PERCY • Art and cover by JUAN FERREYRA • Variant cover by MIKE GRELL

“THE RISE OF STAR CITY” part two! The Ninth Circle’s puppet mayor Nathan Domini cripples Seattle’s ability to defend against the ever-increasing chaos of disease, fires and crime while Green Arrow and Black Canary face a confederacy of foes unlike anything they’ve encountered before as Cheshire, Brick and Eddie Fyers tear the city apart!

On sale MAY 3 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+

GREEN ARROW #23

Written by BENJAMIN PERCY • Art and cover by JUAN FERREYRA • Variant cover by MIKE GRELL

“THE RISE OF STAR CITY” part three! As Green Arrow discovers the Ninth’s Circle’s true plan for Seattle, so too does Oliver Queen learn the truth about his family’s ancient role in the city’s coming destruction. Shocking secrets are laid bare as the biggest GREEN ARROW story ever drives toward its epic conclusion.

On sale MAY 17 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+

GREEN LANTERNS #22

Written by SAM HUMPHRIES • Art by RONAN CLIQUET • Cover by MIKE McKONE • Variant cover by EMANUELA LUPACCHINO

“LOST IN SPACE” part one! The Green Lantern duo of Simon Baz and Jessica Cruz venture into space to train with the rest of the Green Lantern Corps for the first time! But will both of them reach the Corps after Jessica is jettisoned out of transluminal travel and forced to find her way through the void of space?

On sale MAY 3 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T

GREEN LANTERNS #23

Written by SAM HUMPHRIES • Art by EDUARDO PANSICA and JULIO FERREIRA • Cover by MIKE McKONE • Variant cover by EMANUELA LUPACCHINO

“LOST IN SPACE” part two! The Green Lantern Corps make a pact to work with the reformed, and searching for redemption, Sinestro Corps to protect the universe, one Green and one Yellow per sector. So what does this mean for Sector 2814—and Simon and Jessica’s partnership?

On sale MAY 17 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T

HAL JORDAN & THE GREEN LANTERN CORPS #20

Written by ROBERT VENDITTI • Art by RAFA SANDOVAL and JORDI TARRAGONA • Cover by RAFA SANDOVAL and JORDI TARRAGONA • Variant cover by KEVIN NOWLAN

PRISM OF TIME part three! As a final confrontation between the prism beasts of Sarko and the remaining Green Lanterns comes to a head on Mogo, the Corps tries to hold their ground as Hal Jordan embarks on a stealth mission to the planet where he forged his Green Lantern ring! But what he finds there brings Hal back to past decisions he’ll now regret.

On sale MAY 10 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T

HAL JORDAN & THE GREEN LANTERN CORPS #21

Written by ROBERT VENDITTI • Art by RAFA SANDOVAL and JORDI TARRAGONA • Cover by ETHAN VAN SCIVER • Variant cover by KEVIN NOWLAN

PRISM OF TIME finale! To stop Sarko and save the future of the Green Lantern Corps, a Lantern must die—but can a returning Green Lantern find a way to save a life instead of taking one?

On sale MAY 24 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T

HARLEY QUINN #19

Written by AMANDA CONNER and JIMMY PALMIOTTI • Art by JOHN TIMMS

Backup story written by PAUL DINI and JIMMY PALMIOTTI • Backup story art by BRET BLEVINS and J. BONE • Cover by AMANDA CONNER • Variant cover by FRANK CHO

“DEADLY SIN” finale! Harley Sinn’s shown Harley her absolute worst…but she—and you—are not ready to see Harley Quinn’s rage unleashed! This one will shock you to your core! And in the backup story, “Harley Loves Joker” part three, a simpler time in the past for Harley and The Joker becomes much more complicated when they’re forced to mix it up with Batman!

On sale MAY 3 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+

HARLEY QUINN #20

Written by JIMMY PALMIOTTI and AMANDA CONNER • Art by CHAD HARDIN

Backup story written by PAUL DINI and JIMMY PALMIOTTI • Backup story art by BRET BLEVINS and J. BONE • Cover by AMANDA CONNER • Variant cover by FRANK CHO

“FUTURE KILL” part one! You’ve seen her story begin to unfold in prior issues…who in the world is Bat-Fan, and why does she think Harley Quinn must die to save existence itself?! And in the backup story “Harley Loves Joker” part four, Harley’s mistakes have forced her to hide out with The Joker in a low-rent motel…unfortunately, they’ve had to bring their entire goon squad—and a pack of very poorly behaved hyenas—along!

On sale MAY 17 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+

THE HELLBLAZER #10

Written by SIMON OLIVER • Art by PHILIP TAN • Cover by RILEY ROSSMO • Variant cover by YASMINE PUTRI

“THE SMOKELESS FIRE” part four! John Constantine has a lead on the missing journal, but has Misabel created a false trail? Mercury doesn’t trust the looks of the club where they end up, and only an old enemy can save them!

On sale MAY 24 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T+

JUSTICE LEAGUE #20

Written by BRYAN HITCH • Art by BRYAN HITCH and DANIEL HENRIQUES • Cover by BRYAN HITCH • Variant cover by YANICK PAQUETTE

“ENDLESS” part one! The League find themselves trapped in a time loop after they are attacked by a man wielding a mysterious alien weapon. The result is one member dead, and many civilians obliterated!

On sale MAY 3 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T

JUSTICE LEAGUE #21

Written by BRYAN HITCH • Art by BRYAN HITCH and DANIEL HENRIQUES • Cover by BRYAN HITCH • Variant cover by YANICK PAQUETTE

“ENDLESS” finale! In order to save the lives of a fallen friend and many innocents, the League must make the dangerous time loop work for them and stop it all from happening. All that stands in their way is one man’s hatred—and a hammer that can bend time!

On sale MAY 17 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #6

Written by STEVE ORLANDO • Art by ANDY MACDONALD • Cover by IVAN REIS and JOE PRADO • Variant cover by DOUG MAHNKE

“MYTHIC” part two! Aegeus’s mythic horde continues to steamroll over the battered landscape of Penn City, and the only thing standing in their path is…the Atom?? Also: Lobo is laid out, his healing factor neutralized, and the only thing that could possibly save him requires a level of violence that we may not be allowed to print!

On sale MAY 10 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #7

Written by STEVE ORLANDO • Art by FELIPE WATANABE and SCOTT HANNA • Cover by IVAN REIS and JOE PRADO • Variant cover by DOUG MAHNKE

“FATAL ATTRACTION”! Batman and Xenos work on the Secret Sanctuary while the Ray and Vixen perform community outreach. But it’s not all fun and games for DC’s newest superhero team, as the Atom and Killer Frost face off against the Terrorsmith (and their own budding romance) while Lobo and Black Canary come to blows in a casino caper. And it’s all capped off with a moment fans have been waiting for since DC UNIVERSE: REBIRTH!

On sale MAY 24 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T

NEW SUPER-MAN #11

Written by GENE LUEN YANG • Art by BILLY TAN • Cover by PHILIP TAN • Variant cover by BERNARD CHANG

“THE ZERO ULTIMATUM” part one! Dr. Omen’s deadly first experiment, the original New Super-Man of China, frees himself! Kenan Kong may be learning to control his super abilities, but to survive an encounter with Super-Man Zero he’ll need to learn faster! Plus, the shocking origin of the ultra-powerful All-Yang reveals a surprising connection to Kenan’s teacher—Master I-Ching!

On sale MAY 10 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T

NIGHTWING #20

Written by TIM SEELEY • Art and cover by JAVIER FERNANDEZ • Variant cover by IVAN REIS and OCLAIR ALBERT

“NIGHTWING MUST DIE” finale! Very few villains have ever broken Batman—but the man who’s been tormenting Nightwing is one of them! Why has he chosen Nightwing, and not Batman, to serve him in the dark new world he sees coming?

On sale MAY 3 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T

NIGHTWING #21

Written by TIM SEELEY • Art and cover by MARCUS TO • Variant cover by IVAN REIS and OCLAIR ALBERT

“BLOCKBUSTER” part one! After years of living in the shadows of others and traveling the globe, Nightwing has found a purpose and a city to call his own in Blüdhaven. Now, Blüdhaven’s prodigal son, Blockbuster, returns to reclaim his city and dispose of Nightwing by any means necessary.

On sale MAY 17 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T

RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #10

Written by SCOTT LOBDELL • Art by DEXTER SOY • Cover by NICOLA SCOTT • Variant cover by GUILLEM MARCH

“Who is Artemis?” part two! After getting shot out of the sky by the Bow of Ra, the Dark Trinity finds itself stranded and separated in the war-torn country of Qurac. While Artemis squares off against her long-forgotten foe responsible for the Bow of Ra’s disappearance, Bizarro comes across a group of innocent refugees looking for a savior. Meanwhile, Red Hood faces a crisis of conscience when he’s forced to relive the trauma of his own death and comes face to face with his greatest enemy—himself!

On sale MAY 10 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T+

SUICIDE SQUAD #17

Written by ROB WILLIAMS • Art by TONY S. DANIEL and SANDU FLOREA • Cover by TONY S. DANIEL • Variant cover by WHILCE PORTACIO

“EARTHLINGS ON FIRE” part two! Driven to extreme measures by the globe-spanning conspiracy known only as the People, Amanda Waller has done the unthinkable: made General Zod a full-fledged member of Task Force X! His first mission? Destroy the Annihilation Brigade, the People’s own, much deadlier version of the Suicide Squad!

On sale MAY 10 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+

SUICIDE SQUAD #18

Written by ROB WILLIAMS • Art by TONY S. DANIEL and SANDU FLOREA • Cover by TONY S. DANIEL • Variant cover by WHILCE PORTACIO

“EARTHLINGS ON FIRE” part three! The moment SUICIDE SQUAD has been building to from the beginning is here! The Suicide Squad has everything they want. Deadshot is reunited with his daughter. Harley Quinn and Rick Flag’s mutual attraction is becoming a true romance. And Amanda Waller has defeated all her enemies. Or has she? Sitting in a Belle Reve prison cell is the biggest gamble the Wall has ever played, and it’s one for which the entire world will pay.

On sale MAY 24 • 32 pg, FC, Each $2.99 US • RATED T+

SUPERGIRL #9

Written by STEVE ORLANDO • Art and cover by BRIAN CHING • Variant cover by BENGAL

“Escape from the Phantom Zone” part one! Trapped in the Phantom Zone, Supergirl and Batgirl must face the Phantom King to escape! But what deadly team is Emerald Empress building? And what does it have to do with the future of the Girl of Steel?

On sale MAY 10 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T

SUPERMAN #22

Written by PETER J. TOMASI and PATRICK GLEASON • Art by DOUG MAHNKE and JAIME MENDOZA • Covers by RYAN SOOK • Variant cover by TONY S. DANIEL

“BLACK DAWN” part one! What is the secret of the Dead Man’s Swamp? Superman is tested by a mysterious force that pushes his convictions to the limit. Can the Man of Steel save face in the eyes of Hamilton and his son, Superboy?

On sale MAY 3 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T

SUPERMAN #23

Written by PETER J. TOMASI and PATRICK GLEASON • Art by DOUG MAHNKE and JAIME MENDOZA • Cover by RYAN SOOK • Variant cover by TONY S. DANIEL

“BLACK DAWN” part two! The mysterious force behind Superman’s defeat reveals itself. Superboy wonders what is so great about Truth, Justice and the American way. Will Jon turn against his father?

On sale MAY 17 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T

SUPER SONS #4

Written by PETER J. TOMASI • Art and cover by JORGE JIMENEZ • Variant cover by DUSTIN NGUYEN

“When I Grow Up” part four! As our young heroes struggle to break free of the deadly Kid Amazo’s control, they discover the truth behind this young villain’s power! But with an army at his command, and his sights set on total domination, the boys will need to put up the fight of their young lives to stop him! Is the key to stopping him not beating him but helping him?

On sale MAY 17 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T

SUPERWOMAN #10

Written by K. PERKINS • Art by STEPHEN SEGOVIA and ART THIBERT • Cover by KEN LASHLEY • Variant cover by RENATO GUEDES

“Rediscovery” part one! Superwoman is on the hunt for the man responsible for landing Natasha Irons’ father, Crash, in jail—the deadly Skyhook! But Steel is urging caution, and the three heroes are at odds over how much they can trust Crash’s motives. The true history of Steel’s family tree will be revealed as the group is torn apart.

On sale MAY 10 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T

TITANS #11

Written by DAN ABNETT, BENJAMIN PERCY and CHRISTOPHER PRIEST • Art by BRETT BOOTH and NORM RAPMUND • Cover by MIKE McKONE • Variant cover by BRETT BOOTH and NORM RAPMUND

“THE LAZARUS CONTRACT” part one! When Deathstroke discovers that Wally West’s return holds the key to bringing his son back from the dead, he’ll stop at nothing to do just that! Don’t miss the debut chapter of the epic crossover event that you’ve been waiting for!

On sale MAY 10 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T

TEEN TITANS #8

Written by DAN ABNETT, BENJAMIN PERCY and CHRISTOPHER PRIEST • Art by KHOI PHAM and WADE VON GRAWBADGER • Cover by MIKE McKONE • Variant cover by PHIL JIMENEZ

“THE LAZARUS CONTRACT” part two! The Teen Titans collide with the Titans after both groups are targeted by the World’s Deadliest Assassin—Deathstroke! But when Robin interrogates Nightwing about his history with Deathstroke, dark secrets are revealed and alliances are broken!

On sale MAY 17 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T

DEATHSTROKE #19

Written by DAN ABNETT, BENJAMIN PERCY and CHRISTOPHER PRIEST • Art by CARLO PAGULAYAN and JASON PAZ • Cover by MIKE McKONE • Variant cover by TONY S. DANIEL

“THE LAZARUS CONTRACT” part three! Will Slade succeed in reuniting with his son even at the risk of cataclysmic disaster? Or will the Titans and the Teen Titans be fast enough to stop him from changing the world as we know it? Find out what happens when the World’s Deadliest Assassin becomes the Fastest Man

Alive!

On sale MAY 24 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+

TEEN TITANS ANNUAL: THE LAZARUS CONTRACT #1

Written by DAN ABNETT, BENJAMIN PERCY and CHRISTOPHER PRIEST • Art by PAUL PELLETIER • Cover by MIKE McKONE

“THE LAZARUS CONTRACT” finale! The conclusion to our epic crossover is here, the consequences of which will be felt for years to come! What does the future hold for the Titans teams after this game-changing run-in with their greatest enemy? Find out here as we set the stage for the next era of Titans, Teen Titans and Deathstroke!

On sale MAY 31 • 48 pg, FC, $4.99 US • RATED T

TRINITY #9

Written by FRANCIS MANAPUL • Art and cover by FRANCIS MANAPUL • Variant cover by BILL SIENKIEWICZ

“ALL ALONG THE WATCHTOWER” part one! The Trinity is trapped in the Justice League Watchtower, and there’s a traitor in their midst! No one is what they seem as our heroes fight back against their own home turf!

On sale MAY 17 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T

TRINITY ANNUAL #1

Written by ROB WILLIAMS • Art and cover by GUILLEM MARCH

You don’t betray Ra’s al Ghul and legendary sorceress Circe and just walk away. That’s what Lex Luthor is about to learn the hard way. Now, he has to unite with his former Justice League teammates if he wants to stay alive. Meanwhile, the Trinity fear this ordeal will push Lex back to the dark side.

On sale MAY 31 • 48 pg, FC, $4.99 US • RATED T

WONDER WOMAN #22

Written by GREG RUCKA • Art and cover by BILQUIS EVELY • Variant cover by JENNY FRISON

“Godwatch” part four! Veronica Cale will do anything to save her daughter. If that means destroying the Amazing Amazon, it’s a small price to pay.

On sale MAY 10 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T

WONDER WOMAN #23

Written by GREG RUCKA • Art and cover by LIAM SHARP • Variant cover by JENNY FRISON

“The Truth” part five! The conclusion to Diana’s search for the truth takes her on a journey into darkness. But the price of understanding may be one sacrifice too many for Wonder Woman…

On sale MAY 24 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T

WONDER WOMAN ANNUAL #1

Written by GREG RUCKA and others • Art by NICOLA SCOTT, LIAM SHARP and others • Cover by NICOLA SCOTT

The world of the Amazing Amazon expands in a collection of short stories that take Wonder Woman around the globe! In the days after “Year One,” Diana comes face-to-face with Superman and Batman for the first time, as illustrated by “Year One” artist Nicola Scott…and years later, Liam Sharp brings you the story of how their friendship has evolved!

On sale MAY 31 • 48 pg, FC, $4.99 US • RATED T

DC SUPER HERO GIRLS VOL. 3: SUMMER OLYMPUS TP

Written by SHEA FONTANA • Art and cover by YANCEY LABAT

School’s out for summer, which means Wonder Woman is preparing for her annual trip to visit her father, Zeus—and this year, he says she can bring along a few friends, including Bumblebee, Batgirl, Beast Boy and Katana! When they arrive at Olympus, it’s not long before distrustful Ares turns this family reunion into a family competition—and the prize is Wonder Woman’s soul! But when Ares and Strife join forces to work their battle magic on Wonder Woman’s friends, will the girls end up fighting each other instead of the real enemy?

On sale JUNE 21 • 128 pg, FC, $9.99 US

BANE: CONQUEST #1

Written by CHUCK DIXON • Art and cover by GRAHAM NOLAN • Variant cover by KELLEY JONES

The co-creators of Bane make a triumphant return to the character, with a twelve-issue series that will push him to the limit! Bane is seeking to create a global criminal empire with the help of his original gang, Bird, Trogg, and Zombie. The Man Who Broke The Bat moves beyond Gotham to find new cities to conquer and new enemies to crush. He won’t stop until he stands at the top of the world of crime! For Bane, it’s all about CONQUEST.

On sale MAY 3 • 32 pg, FC, 1 of 12, $3.99 US • RATED T+

BATMAN/THE SHADOW #2

Written by SCOTT SNYDER and STEVE ORLANDO • Art and cover by RILEY ROSSMO • Variant cover by TIM SALE • Variant cover by CHRIS BURNHAM

The second chapter in the historic team-up of history’s greatest vigilantes is here! The Shadow must convince Batman of his innocence so the two can seek out their true common foe, the Stag, before he takes out Batman’s greatest allies. Co-published with Dynamite Entertainment.

On sale MAY 24 • 32 pg, FC, 2 of 6, $3.99 US • RATED T

DARK KNIGHT III: THE MASTER RACE #9

Written by FRANK MILLER and BRIAN AZZARELLO • Art by ANDY KUBERT and KLAUS JANSON • Minicomic art by FRANK MILLER and KLAUS JANSON • Cover A by ANDY KUBERT and FRANK MILLER • Cover B by FRANK MILLER • 1:10 variant cover by MIKEL JANIN • 1:25 variant cover by KLAUS JANSON • 1:50 variant cover by CHIP KIDD • 1:100 variant cover by FRANK QUITELY • 1:500 variant cover by JIM LEE and SCOTT WILLIAMS

The epic conclusion to DARK KNIGHT III: THE MASTER RACE is here from the all-star creative team of Frank Miller, Brian Azzarello, Andy Kubert and Klaus Janson! This is Earth’s last stand. Quar’s Kryptonian Army has conquered the planet, but Batman and his allies don’t believe the world is beyond saving. They’ll rally once more against Quar and save the world or die trying.

On sale MAY 31 • 32-page comic – 6.375” x 10.1875” • 16-page minicomic – 5.5” x 8.5”, FC, 9 of 9, $5.99 US

DARK KNIGHT III: THE MASTER RACE COLLECTOR’S EDITION #9

Written by FRANK MILLER and BRIAN AZZARELLO • Art by ANDY KUBERT, KLAUS JANSON and FRANK MILLER • Sketch cover by JIM LEE

This oversized paper-over-boards Collector’s Edition features both stories from DARK KNIGHT III: THE MASTER RACE #8 at the same size, with cover art that’s a pencils-only version of Jim Lee’s 1:500 variant cover. This final Collector’s Edition ships with a slipcase designed to hold the entire Collector’s Edition set!

On sale JUNE 14 • 40 pg, FC, 9 of 9, 7.0625” x 10.1875”, $12.99 US

JUSTICE LEAGUE/POWER RANGERS #5

Written by TOM TAYLOR • Art by STEPHEN BYRNE • Cover by KARL KERSCHL

The Justice League and the Power Rangers have arrived in the Rangers’ home dimension, but the heroes of these two worlds are too late to prevent Angel Grove’s shocking fate. With the Earth now on the chopping block, can these teams come together to undo the damage wrought by Zedd and Brainiac? Co-published with BOOM! Studios.

On sale MAY 10 • 32 pg, FC, 5 of 6, $3.99 US • RATED T

THE WILD STORM #4

Written by WARREN ELLIS • Art and cover by JON DAVIS-HUNT • Variant cover by JASON HOWARD Variant cover by JIM LEE and SCOTT WILLIAMS

There’s a covert action team out in the wild, and I.O. has proof of it for the first time. This changes everything. The woman who tipped the first domino in this cascade of secrets and lies is on the run. And the other great power of the hidden world is on the scene. Henry Bendix is noticing things from on high, and that doesn’t bode well for I.O., Angela Spica or the planet. The storm is building.

On sale MAY 17 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T+

INJUSTICE 2 #1

Written by TOM TAYLOR • Art by BRUNO REDONDO and JUAN ALBARRAN • Cover by JIM LEE and SCOTT WILLIAMS • Variant cover by BRUNO REDONDO

The all-new prequel to the highly anticipated Injustice 2 video game begins here! Original INJUSTICE writer Tom Taylor continues the story from the hit series INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US. Superman is imprisoned, and it’s up to Batman to put the world back together. But with Superman’s iron-fisted regime eliminated, other forces rise up to fill the void. And Batman doesn’t have a lot of allies left to help stop them.

On sale MAY 3 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+ • DIGITAL FIRST

INJUSTICE 2 #2

Written by TOM TAYLOR • Art by BRUNO REDONDO and JUAN ALBARRAN • Cover by JIM LEE and SCOTT WILLIAMS

A new Suicide Squad has been assembled for a mission—but it doesn’t turn out to be the one they originally expected. Who is the mystery villain pulling their strings? Plus, has Batman really gone over the edge?

On sale MAY 17 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+ • DIGITAL FIRST

INJUSTICE: GROUND ZERO #11

Written by CHRISTOPHER SEBELA • Art by MARCO SANTUCCI and TOM DERENICK • Cover by MIKE S. MILLER

As events reach their climax, Regime forces finally locate the headquarters of Batman’s Resistance, and Harley assembles a new army to bring justice to the streets of Gotham City. Two Wonder Women battle on Themyscira for leadership of the Amazons, and the two Batmen reach a decision to bring over the Superman from the parallel Earth.

On sale MAY 10 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+ • DIGITAL FIRST

INJUSTICE: GROUND ZERO #12

Written by CHRISTOPHER SEBELA • Art by TOM DERENICK, DANIEL SAMPERE and JUAN ALBARRAN • Cover by MATTHEW CLARK

The story of the original video game reaches its dramatic conclusion! It’s Superman versus Superman for the liberation of the Injustice Earth. Leads directly into the INJUSTICE 2 prequel comic series.

On sale MAY 24 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+ • DIGITAL FIRST • Final Issue

BATMAN ’66 MEETS WONDER WOMAN ’77 #5

Written by MARC ANDREYKO and JEFF PARKER • Art by DAVID HAHN and KARL KESEL • Cover by MICHAEL ALLRED

The action heats up in 1970s Gotham City as the Amazon Princess arrives in Man’s World in search of her old ally, Batman! Instead, she finds a new hero: a motorcycle-riding daredevil with a familiar face and a new crime-fighting costume!

On sale MAY 24 • 32 pg, FC, 5 of 6, $3.99 US • RATED E • DIGITAL FIRST

DC COMICS: BOMBSHELLS #26

Written by MARGUERITE BENNETT • Art by CARMEN CARNERO, RICHARD ORTIZ, RACHAEL STOTT and MIRKA ANDOLFO • Cover by ANT LUCIA

We take a moment to see what each Bombshell is up to…before they all collide! Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy leave Atlantis in hopes of using Ivy’s powers to help the famine in Russia. Also heading to Russia are Supergirl and Steve Trevor, who run into trouble when they bump into Lex Luthor!

On sale MAY 3 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T • DIGITAL FIRST

DC COMICS: BOMBSHELLS #27

Written by MARGUERITE BENNETT • Art by MIRKA ANDOLFO, LAURA BRAGA and CARMEN CARNERO • Cover by ANT LUCIA

The journey to Russia continues as Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy find a magical stowaway: Raven! Then, Supergirl and Steve Trevor’s train to Russia is halted when Supergirl’s reaction to Kryptonite knocks the train off its rails! How can she save her fellow passengers while fighting Russian spies, German spies…and Lex Luthor?!

On sale MAY 17 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T • DIGITAL FIRST

GOTHAM ACADEMY: SECOND SEMESTER #9

Written by BRENDEN FLETCHER, BECKY CLOONAN and KARL KERSCHL • Art by ADAM ARCHER, MSASSYK and SANDRA HOPE • Cover by KARL KERSCHL

“The Ballad of Olive Silverlock” part one! With alliances irrevocably shifted, the loyalty of the Detective Club undergoes its most crucial test. The time has come to leave school behind and fight for each other and the city they love.

On sale MAY 10 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T

THE ODYSSEY OF THE AMAZONS #5

Written by KEVIN GREVIOUX • Art by RYAN BENJAMIN and DON HO • Cover by RYAN BENJAMIN

The Amazons return from Valhalla, more powerful than ever. They are going to need every ounce of their strength as the Storm Giants face off against the fire demons of Surtr, lord of Muspell, in a battle that could bring about the arrival of Ragnarok and the end of the world. Hessia battles the Queen of the Storm Giants and learns, to her horror, the real reason why her Amazon sisters were kidnapped.

On sale MAY 17 • 32 pg, FC, 5 of 6, $3.99 US • RATED T+

THE FALL AND RISE OF CAPTAIN ATOM #5

Written by CARY BATES and GREG WEISMAN • Art by WILL CONRAD • Cover by STEVE RUDE

“Quantum Mechanic” part five! Still shaken by the secret General Eiling and Dr. Megala went to extraordinary lengths to conceal, Captain Atom would like time to adjust. But a serial killer who wields astounding powers that rival his own has other plans!

On sale MAY 3 • 32 pg, FC, 5 of 6, $2.99 US • RATED T

THE KAMANDI CHALLENGE #5

Written by BILL WILLINGHAM • Art by IVAN REIS and OCLAIR ALBERT • Cover by GARY FRANK • Variant cover by IVAN REIS

After the high-octane cliffhanger of the last issue, Bill Willingham and Ivan Reis take us on a unforgettable trek through the jungles of South Asia where Kamandi meets a tiger detective who promises to help him find the clues that will locate his missing parents. Is a family reunion in Kamandi’s near future? This issue ends with the most dramatic cliffhanger to date—you dare not miss it!

On sale MAY 24 • 32 pg, FC, 5 of 12, $3.99 US • RATED T

THE FLINTSTONES #11

Written by MARK RUSSELL • Art by STEVE PUGH • Cover by JILL THOMPSON • Variant cover by CHRIS BURNHAM

There goes the neighborhood! After Fred’s birthday gift from Barney leads to outrage on their street, he is called to appear before the menacing neighborhood association. Can Fred reason with them? Or will the Flintstones be run out of Bedrock?

On sale MAY 3 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T

SCOOBY APOCALYPSE #13

Written by KEITH GIFFEN and J.M. DeMATTEIS • Art by DALE EAGLESHAM • Cover by HOWARD PORTER • Variant cover by NICK BRADSHAW

After a disastrous meeting with Velma’s evil brother, the gang must battle their way out of his terrifying skyscraper. With danger on every floor, how will they make it out alive?

On sale MAY 10 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T

LOONEY TUNES #237

Written by DEREK FRIDOLFS • Art by DAVE ALVAREZ • Cover by DEREK FRIDOLFS

Duck Dodgers has always been the 24-1/2 century’s greatest hero—until today! His faithful partner, Eager Young Space Cadet, was just promoted to the rank of Commander, placing Dodgers in unfamiliar territory. As the new Commander takes the conn, their new mission is to go beyond Planet X to discover…Planet Y! Will they uncover the universe’s greatest secrets, or will Dodgers become the Uneager Old Space Curmudgeon and steer them off course?

On sale MAY 24 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED E

SCOOBY-DOO, WHERE ARE YOU? #81

Written by SHOLLY FISCH • Art and cover by WALTER CARZON and HORACIO OTTOLINI

Everyone knows trolls live under bridges, and when the Mayor’s grand opening for the city’s newest bridge is cut short because of a huge, fearsome troll who claims the bridge as his new home, it’s up to Scooby and Mystery Inc. to save the day. They’ll have to unravel the mystery, evict the hulking squatter and get the bridge up and running—hopefully before rush hour!

On sale MAY 10 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED E

SCOOBY-DOO TEAM-UP #26

Written by SHOLLY FISCH • Art and cover by SCOTT JERALDS

Scooby and the gang can handle phony ghosts and goblins, but a gang of high-kicking martial arts dragons? Only one superhero can help them: that Number One Super-Guy, Hong Kong Phooey! By the time the dust clears, will Scooby solve the mystery and earn a black belt around his waist, or just a yellow streak down his back?

On sale MAY 24 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED E

DIRECT CURRENTS #2

Batman! The Flash! Justice League! Get a backstage pass inside DC comics and be the first to learn the secrets of EVERY DC Universe title. Sneak peeks at exclusive artwork, creator interviews, upcoming storylines—see it all first in DIRECT CURRENTS! This issue: Go inside DC’s classified summer event! Want to know more? DIRECT CURRENTS is the magazine you need!

RESOLICIT • On sale MAY 31 • 32 pg, FC, 8.125” x 10.875” • FREE

BUG!: THE ADVENTURES OF FORAGER #1

Written by LEE ALLRED • Art and cover by MICHAEL ALLRED • Variant cover by JAMES HARVEY • Variant cover by PAUL POPE

An all-new Young Animal miniseries begins! Forager is just one of the Hive before he breaks out of his cocoon and finds himself in a mysterious house in an unknown realm. There he meets all kinds of strange creatures: a ghostly girl, a talking teddy bear and otherworldly weirdos that have literally jumped out of his worst nightmares. But these interdimensional oddballs are nothing compared to the evil General Electric, who is on the hunt for a reality-bending metal that could alter the fabric of life itself. To stay one step ahead of him and preserve the multiverse, Forager must travel through alternate dimensions to seek the metal and, hopefully, catch up with that cagey stuffed bear. If he does it, will he finally be able to distinguish himself as a New God?

DC’s Young Animal celebrates Jack Kirby’s centenary with this new six-issue miniseries—and who better to tackle this task than the Eisner Award-winning Allred clan! Featuring scripts by Lee Allred (BATMAN ’66), art by Michael Allred (Silver Surfer) and colors by Laura Allred (Lady Killer), BUG! is truly a family affair.

On sale MAY 10 • 32 pg, FC, 1 of 6, $3.99 US • MATURE READERS

CAVE CARSON HAS A CYBERNETIC EYE #8

Written by JON RIVERA • Art and cover by MICHAEL AVON OEMING • Variant cover by YANICK PAQUETTE

Cave Carson has a cybernetic eye! Or, more accurately, he had one. After the fallout with the Whisperer and his cult in issue #6, the eye has run amok—and it’s up to Cave and the rest of Team Carson to find it. What’s that cognizant ocular computer chasing, anyhow?

On sale MAY 17 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • MATURE READERS

CAVE CARSON HAS A CYBERNETIC EYE VOL. 1: GOING UNDERGROUND TP

Written by GERARD WAY, JON RIVERA and TOM SCIOLI • Art by MICHAEL AVON OEMING and TOM SCIOLI • Cover by MATT WAGNER

Cave Carson has done it all: survived countless adventures below the Earth’s surface, met the love of his life, and gotten a cybernetic eye…somehow. Now, newly widowed, Cave tries to piece his life back together when a knock on the door of his secret underground lab pulls him back into a past that he and Eileen thought they had left buried deep within the Earth.

In these tales from issues #1-6, Cave must determine if his recent hallucinations are the work of his mind or his mysterious cybernetic eye. (Spoiler: It’s the eye.)

On sale JUNE 28 • 176 pg, FC, $16.99 US • MATURE READERS

DOOM PATROL #8

Written by GERARD WAY • Art by NICK DERINGTON • Backup story art by BRANDON BIRD • Cover by NICK DERINGTON • Variant cover by JAMES O’BARR

What is S**t, and why is everyone eating it? Cliff doesn’t like it, but Casey can’t get enough. Sure, Cliff doesn’t like a lot of stuff, but that doesn’t mean he’s wrong to be suspicious this time around. Meanwhile, we find out where Lotion the cat got off to, and how his journey has changed him. Life on the streets has made him an entirely different animal!

On sale MAY 31 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • MATURE READERS

MOTHER PANIC #7

Written by JODY HOUSER • Art and cover by JOHN PAUL LEON • Backup story written by JIM KRUEGER • Backup story art by PHIL HESTER • Variant cover by TOMMY LEE EDWARDS

A life Mother Panic once saved is again struck by tragedy, causing her to take a deeper look at her mission of revenge and her role in Gotham City. And with the shadow of the Bat looming ever closer, she may not have much time to decide where she stands! And don’t miss chapter seven of the backup story, “Gotham Radio”!

On sale MAY 24• 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • MATURE READERS

SHADE, THE CHANGING GIRL #8

Written by CECIL CASTELLUCCI • Art by MARLEY ZARCONE • Backup story art by AUDREY MOK • Cover by BECKY CLOONAN • Variant cover by JEN BARTEL

Shade hits the road! After her high school friends made it clear they didn’t want her around, Shade realized she doesn’t want to be there anyway. Map in hand, she decides to explore America. First stop: Gotham City. The city’s population may have seen its fair share of madness, but never like this. The only thing Shade didn’t factor in is that embracing her powers ends up signaling her home planet as to her whereabouts, and Meta police are going to come looking for her stolen coat.

On sale MAY 3 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • MATURE READERS

BATMAN BEYOND VOL. 1: ESCAPING THE GRAVE TP

Written by DAN JURGENS • Art by BERNARD CHANG, RYAN SOOK and PETE WOODS • Cover by RYAN SOOK

Terry McGinnis takes on the Batman cowl amid rumors that the original Joker has returned. An entire section of Gotham City has descended into the Jokerz’ hands, creating a community of clown-worshipping crazies called Jokerztown! Rising from the chaos, Terminal unifies the gang of Jokerz and he’s after the new Batman.

Collects issues #1-5 and BATMAN BEYOND: REBIRTH #1.

On sale JUNE 28 • 144 pg, FC, $16.99 US

HARLEY QUINN VOL. 2: JOKER LOVES HARLEY TP

Written by AMANDA CONNER and JIMMY PALMIOTTI • Art by JOHN TIMMS, CHAD HARDIN and others • Cover by AMANDA CONNER

In these tales from issues #8-13, Harley’s bond with Poison Ivy is severely tested! Then, The Joker is back—and he’s out to win Harley’s heart back, no matter who gets in the way…especially not Red Tool!

On sale JUNE 21 • 144 pg, FC, $16.99 US

NEW SUPER-MAN VOL. 1: MADE IN CHINA TP

Written by GENE LUEN YANG • Art by VIKTOR BOGDANOVIC and RICHARD FRIEND • Cover by VIKTOR BOGDANOVIC

#1 New York Times best-selling author and National Book Award nominee Gene Luen Yang introduce readers to Kong Kenan, an all-new superhero who could change the world…or be the end of it, in these tales from issues #1-6.

On sale JUNE 21 • 144 pg, FC, $16.99 US

NIGHTWING VOL. 2: BACK TO BLUDHAVEN TP

Written by TIM SEELEY • Art by MARCUS TO, MARCIO TAKARA and MINKYU JUNG • Cover by MARCUS TO

Nightwing takes off for the city of Blüdhaven, hoping to find a fresh start. Instead, he finds foes who’ve waited years for payback against the one-time Boy Wonder as a serial killer stalks the streets, framing him for crimes he didn’t commit.

Collects NIGHTWING #9-15!

On sale JUNE 14 • 168 pg, FC, $16.99 US

SUPERMAN: ACTION COMICS – THE REBIRTH DELUXE COLLECTION BOOK 1 HC

Written by DAN JURGENS • Art by PATCH ZIRCHER, TYLER KIRKHAM and STEPHEN SEGOVIA • Cover by IVAN REIS and JOE PRADO

In these stories from ACTION COMICS #957-966 and JUSTICE LEAGUE #52, collected for the first time in hardcover, Superman returns to Metropolis just in time to meet the city’s newest protector: Lex Luthor. But the dueling titans soon meet someone unexpected: Clark Kent! Can these enemies put aside their differences and face the common threat of Doomsday, as Jimmy Olsen tries to uncover the truth of Clark Kent’s identity.

On sale JUNE 28 • 240 pg, FC, 7.0625” x 10.875” $34.99 US

SUICIDE SQUAD VOL. 2: GOING SANE TP

Written by ROB WILLIAMS and SI SPURRIER • Art by JIM LEE, SCOTT WILLIAMS, SEAN “CHEEKS” GALLOWAY, STEPHEN BYRNE, CARLOS D’ANDA, CHRISTIAN WARD, GIUSEPPE CAMUNCOLI and others • Cover by JIM LEE and SCOTT WILLIAMS

Amanda Waller needs Kryptonite, and only Lex Luthor has it! But a deal like this won’t be cheap—or easy. And soon, the dark energies of the Black Vault are driving everyone in Belle Reve Penitentiary to acts of violent, bloody madness. Everyone except Harley Quinn, who’s somehow been…cured? Plus: welcome to Evil Anonymous, the support group for super-villains in need, where no problem is too insane or homicidal.

Collects SUICIDE SQUAD #5-8 and the HARLEY QUINN AND THE SUICIDE SQUAD APRIL FOOL’S SPECIAL #1!

On sale JUNE 7 • 144 pg, FC, $16.99 US

TEEN TITANS VOL. 1: DAMIAN KNOWS BEST TP

Written by BENJAMIN PERCY • Art by KHOI PHAM, JONBOY MEYERS and DIOGENES NEVES • Cover by JONBOY MEYERS

The Teen Titans are further apart than ever before…until Damian Wayne recruits Starfire, Raven, Beast Boy and the new Kid Flash to join him in a fight against his own grandfather, Ra’s al Ghul!

Collects issues #1-5 and TEEN TITANS: REBIRTH #1.

On sale JUNE 14 • 144 pg, FC, $16.99 US

TRINITY VOL. 1: BETTER TOGETHER HC

Written by FRANCIS MANAPUL • Art by FRANCIS MANAPUL, CLAY MANN, EMANUELA LUPACCHINO and RAY McCARTHY • Cover by FRANCIS MANAPUL

The Dark Knight. The Man of Steel. The Amazon Warrior. The three greatest heroes in the DC Universe unite when the threats to our planet are bigger than any one of them can handle. But now, the deadly White Mercy has Superman, Wonder Woman and Batman in its terrifying grasp! But who would dare to orchestrate this attack—and why? All will be revealed as the three most powerful heroes in the DC Universe fight for their very souls!

Collects issues #1-6.

On sale JUNE 7 • 144 pg, FC, $24.99 US

JUSTICE LEAGUE VS. SUICIDE SQUAD HC

Written by JOSHUA WILLIAMSON, ROB WILLIAMS and TIM SEELEY • Art by JASON FABOK, RILEY ROSSMO, TONY S. DANIEL, JESUS MERINO, FERNANDO PASARIN, ROBSON ROCHA, HOWARD PORTER, GIUSEPPE CAFARO, CHRISTIAN DUCE and others • Cover by JASON FABOK

The wildly popular JUSTICE LEAGUE VS. SUICIDE SQUAD is here in this title collecting stories from JUSTICE LEAGUE VS. SUICIDE SQUAD #1-6, SUICIDE SQUAD #8-10 and JUSTICE LEAGUE #12-13. The Justice League has discovered the existence of the Suicide Squad, and the World’s Greatest Heroes can’t let that stand! But Amanda Waller and Task Force X won’t go down without a fight!

On sale JUNE 21 • 312 pg, FC, $29.99 US

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA: ROAD TO REBIRTH TP

Written by STEVE ORLANDO and JODY HOUSER • Art by IVAN REIS, JOE PRADO, MIRKA ANDOLFO, STEPHEN BYRNE, JAMAL CAMPBELL and ANDY MACDONALD • Cover by IVAN REIS and JOE PRADO

Spinning out of JUSTICE LEAGUE VS. SUICIDE SQUAD, as a part of DC Universe Rebirth, the most diverse Justice League of America ever returns! Explore the roots of four very different metahumans in stories from Justice League Of America: Rebirth #1, Justice League Of America: Killer Frost #1, Justice League Of America: The Ray #1, Justice League Of America: The Atom #1 and Justice League Of America: Vixen #1

On sale JUNE 7 • 128 pg, FC, $14.99 US

BATMAN: THE COURT OF OWLS ADULT COLORING BOOK TP

Art by GREG CAPULLO and others • Cover by GREG CAPULLO

With over 90 pages of Greg Capullo’s breathtaking art presented in incredible detail, any Batman

fan will want to dig in and color this epic tale of the Court of Owls!

On sale SEPTEMBER 6 • 96 pg, B&W, $15.99 US

BATWOMAN BY GREG RUCKA AND J.H. WILLIAMS III TP

Written by GREG RUCKA • Art by J.H. WILLIAMS III, JOCK and SCOTT KOLINS • Cover by J.H. WILLIAMS III

Writer Greg Rucka and artists J.H. Williams III and Jock’s legendary run of Batwoman adventures from DETECTIVE COMICS #854-863 are collected in a single title for the first time! In these stories, Kate Kane takes on the Religion of Crime and struggles to save Gotham City from the surreal villainy of Alice. Plus, learn the origin of Batwoman!

On sale JUNE 14 • 256 pg, FC, $24.99 US

BATMAN: DETECTIVE COMICS VOL. 9 — GORDON AT WAR TP

Written by PETER J. TOMASI and RAY FAWKES • Art by FERNANDO PASARIN, SCOT EATON and others • Cover by ANDREW ROBINSON

In these tales from issues #47-52, a case from Jim Gordon’s past may decide the future of Batman. And Gordon must balance the new freedom he has as a superhero with his belief in the system he helped build.

On sale JUNE 14 • 176 pg, FC, $16.99 US

DC COMICS BOMBSHELLS VOL. 4: QUEENS TP

Written by MARGUERITE BENNETT • Art by MIRKA ANDOLFO, LAURA BRAGA, MARGUERITE SAUVAGE, SANDY JARRELL, PASQUALE QUALANO, MATIAS BERGARA and RICHARD ORTIZ • Cover by ANT LUCIA

Introducing two new Bombshells: Vixen and Hawkgirl! Joined by Batwoman and Renee Montoya, the group comes face to face with Cheetah and mechanical gods that prompt the return of Wonder Woman!

Collects issues #19-24.

On sale JUNE 21 • 200 pg, FC, $19.99 US

DC COMICS/DARK HORSE COMICS: BATMAN VS. PREDATOR TP

Written by DAVE GIBBONS, DOUG MOENCH and CHUCK DIXON • Art by ANDY KUBERT, ADAM KUBERT, PAUL GULACY, RODOLFO DAMAGGIO and others • Cover by MIKE MIGNOLA

After investigating a series of gruesome murders, Batman realizes that these crimes aren’t perpetrated by anyone from Gotham City…or even this planet. Soon, the Dark Knight finds his real enemy—the intergalactic hunter called the Predator!

This collection features BATMAN VS. PREDATOR #1-3, BATMAN VS. PREDATOR II: BLOODMATCH #1-4 and BATMAN VS. PREDATOR III: BLOOD TIES #1-4 and is co-published with Dark Horse Comics.

On sale JUNE 7 • 408 pg, FC, $34.99 US

DC HORROR: HOUSE OF SECRETS VOL. 1 HC

Written by LEN WEIN, GERRY CONWAY, JACK OLECK and others • Art by BERNIE WRIGHTSON, JIM APARO, SERGIO ARAGONES, WALLY WOOD and others • Cover by BERNIE WRIGHTSON

Experience DC’s classic horror series in the retro collection as it was originally printed. Collecting HOUSE OF SECRETS #92-97, including the first appearance of Swamp Thing, this book includes contributions from writers and artists Len Wein, Bernie Wrightson, Jim Aparo and many others and sets the groundwork for classic DC Universe horror stories for years to come.

On sale JUNE 28 • 304 pg, FC, $49.99 US

THE FLASH VOL. 9: FULL STOP TP

Written by ROBERT VENDITTI and VAN JENSEN • Art by JESUS MERINO, PHILIPPE BRIONES, PAUL PELLETIER, GUS VAZQUEZ and others • Cover by IVAN REIS and JOE PRADO

In the aftermath of his clash with Zoom from issues #48-52, The Flash is on the run from the law—and the task force charged with arresting him is made up of the Rogues! With villains like Captain Cold, Weather Wizard and Mirror Master nipping at his heels, the Scarlet Speedster must clear his name while a new enemy emerges: the Riddler!

On sale JUNE 28 • 168 pg, FC, $16.99 US

THE FLASH UNWRAPPED BY FRANCIS MANAPUL HC

Written by FRANCIS MANAPUL and BRIAN BUCCELLATO • Art by FRANCIS MANAPUL • Cover by FRANCIS MANAPUL

For the first time ever, experience Francis Manapul’s acclaimed run on THE FLASH through beautifully reprinted original ink art that showcases the artist’s masterful skill and creative vision.

THE FLASH BY FRANCIS MANAPUL UNWRAPPED collects THE FLASH #0-8.

On sale JULY 19 • 200 pg, B&W, $34.99 US

DEATH OF HAWKMAN TP

Written by MARC ANDREYKO • Art by AARON LOPRESTI and LIVESAY • Cover by BILL SIENKIEWICZ

When Adam Strange returns to Rann to find his newly adopted home planet razed to the ground, war with neighboring planet Thanagar seems inevitable. On the other side of the battle lines? Katar Hol, a.k.a. Hawkman! Can the two find out the real villain behind it all? Or will they destroy each other first? Find out in this title collecting the six-issue miniseries.

On sale JUNE 21 • 160 pg, FC, $16.99 US

HAWKMAN BY GEOFF JOHNS BOOK ONE TP

Written by GEOFF JOHNS and JAMES ROBINSON • Art by RAGS MORALES, MICHAEL BAIR, TIMOTHY TRUMAN and others • Cover by ANDREW ROBINSON

Geoff Johns’ epic run on Hawkman reinvents the winged warrior as Carter Hall and Kendra Saunders unravel the mysteries within the southern epicenter called St. Roch, travel to exotic lands and battle creatures and villains of ancient and new myth!

Collects HAWKMAN #1-14 and HAWKMAN SECRET FILES #1!

On sale JUNE 14 • 376 pg, FC, $29.99 US

THE NEW TEEN TITANS VOL. 1 OMNIBUS HC NEW EDITION

Written by MARV WOLFMAN • Art by GEORGE PEREZ, CURT SWAN, ROMEO TANGHAL and others • Cover by GEORGE PEREZ

In 1980, writer Marv Wolfman and artist George Pérez introduced a timeless team including Robin, Kid Flash, Wonder Girl, Cyborg, Changeling, Raven and Starfire—young heroes with great powers and strong personalities who learned their way in the world through the strength of their friendship and the adventures they shared. This omnibus edition collects the team’s debut in DC COMICS PRESENTS #26, plus the first sixteen issues of their smash-hit monthly series, including the first appearances of foes including Deathstroke and Trigon, as well as a confrontation with the Justice League of America.

On sale AUGUST 30 • 688 pg, FC, $75.00 US

INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US YEAR FIVE VOL. 2 TP

Written by BRIAN BUCCELLATO • Art by MIKE S. MILLER, BRUNO REDONDO, JUAN ALBARRAN, XERMANICO and MARCO SANTUCCI • Cover by DAVID YARDIN

In these stories from issues #8-14, Catwoman returns to her life of crime, joined by Harley—but why is Damian transforming himself into the new Nightwing? Plus, can Superman and the Regime stop Bizarro before his destructive blunders lead to a major disaster? And what happens when Batman and the new Nightwing find themselves on opposing sides of the conflict that’s tearing their world apart?

On sale JUNE 7 • 160 pg, FC, $16.99 US

INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US YEAR FIVE VOL. 3 HC

Written by BRIAN BUCCELLATO • Art by MIKE S. MILLER, TOM DERENICK, XERMANICO and MARCO SANTUCCI • Cover by DAVID YARDIN

In these tales from issues #15-20 and ANNUAL #1, Earths collide as Batman and his team work to stop a rampaging Superman and his allies. In this, the final battle of the best-selling digital-first series, allegiances are tested, lives are won and lost and heroes old and new face off in one of the most intense and epic clashes any corner of the DC Universe has ever seen.

On sale JUNE 7 • 160 pg, FC, $24.99 US

SUPERBOY AND THE LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES VOL. 1 HC

Written by GERRY CONWAY, PAUL LEVITZ, PAUL KUPPERBERG and JACK C. HARRIS • Art by RIC ESTRADA, MIKE GRELL, GEORGE TUSKA, JAMES SHERMAN, WALTER SIMONSON, JIM STARLIN, JOE STATON and others • Cover by MIKE GRELL

These classic 1970s stories are collected in hardcover for the first time! In stories from SUPERBOY AND THE LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #234-240 and ALL-NEW COLLECTORS’ EDITION #C-55, the Legion give Superboy a treatment that blocks his memory, try to stop the Worldsmith from terraforming the surface of Braal and witness the wedding of Saturn Girl and Lightning Lad!

On sale JUNE 21 • 320 pg, FC, $49.99 US

THE LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES: THE SILVER AGE OMNIBUS VOL. 1 HC

Written by OTTO BINDER, JERRY SIEGEL, EDMOND HAMILTON and others • Art by AL PLASTINO, CURT SWAN and others • Cover by J. BONE

The tales that introduced the teen-team known as the Legion of Super-Heroes are collected in an Omnibus Edition for the first time! Don’t miss these stories from the pages of ADVENTURE COMICS #247, #267, #282, #290, #293 and #300-328; ACTION COMICS #267, #276, #287 and #289; SUPERMAN #147; SUPERMAN ANNUAL #4 and SUPERMAN’S PAL JIMMY OLSEN #72, #76; and SUPERBOY #86, #89, #98 and #117.

On sale AUGUST 2 • 680 pg, FC, $75.00 US

SUPERMAN: ACTION COMICS VOL. 9: LAST RITES TP

Written by GREG PAK, AARON KUDER and PETER J. TOMASI • Art by AARON KUDER, ARDIAN SYAF, PAUL PELLETIER, DALE EAGLESHAM and others • Cover by AARON KUDER

Superman is becoming desperate to regain his powers in these stories from issues #48-52! The situation is dire, as he must rescue his fellow Justice Leaguers and save the lives of the soldiers facing Vandal Savage—the very force standing between him and the Fortress of Solitude.

On sale JUNE 7 • 152 pg, FC, $16.99 US

TALES OF THE BATMAN: GERRY CONWAY HC

Written by GERRY CONWAY • Art by JOSE LUIS GARCIA-LOPEZ, JIM APARO, STEVE DITKO, MICHAEL GOLDEN, DON NEWTON and others • Cover by JIM STARLIN

Get ready for some of the greatest Dark Knight tales ever in this new title featuring Two-Face, Deadshot, Killer Croc, the new Robin, Jason Todd and more! These tales written by Gerry Conway are collected from BATMAN #295, 305, 306 and 337; BATMAN FAMILY #17; THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD #158, 161 and 171-174; DETECTIVE COMICS #463, 464, 497-499 and 501-504; MAN-BAT #1 and WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #250 and 269.

On sale JULY 12 • 464 pg, FC, $49.99 US

SUPERMAN: THE GOLDEN AGE VOL. 3 TP

Written by JERRY SIEGEL • Art by JOE SHUSTER and others • Cover by MICHAEL CHO

In these fast-paced tales from ACTION COMICS #32-40, SUPERMAN #8-11, WORLD’S BEST COMICS #1 and WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #2, the Man of Tomorrow must protect the citizens of Metropolis from a variety of threats, ranging from insurance scans and gangsters to spies and saboteurs!

On sale JUNE 21 • 376 pg, FC, $29.99 US

WONDER WOMAN BY GEORGE PEREZ VOL. 2 TP

Written by GEORGE PEREZ and LEN WEIN • Art by GEORGE PEREZ and others • Cover by GEORGE PEREZ

This collection of 1980s tales begins as Wonder Woman battles Silver Swan at a charity fair. And while Zeus plans for the Olympian gods to find a new home among the stars, the Amazons decide to open their island home of Themyscira to visitors for the first time ever. Plus, the murder of one of Wonder Woman’s closest mortal associates is investigated by the Boston police as Hermes appears on Earth to make more trouble for Wonder Woman.

Collects WONDER WOMAN #15-24 and WONDER WOMAN ANNUAL #1.

On sale JUNE 7 • 288 pg, FC, $24.99 US

BATMAN: SECRETS—SAM KIETH GALLERY EDITION HC

Advance solicit • On sale August 2017 • 248 pg. FC, 12″ x 17″ • $125.00 US

Sam Kieth’s unforgettable depiction of the Dark Knight fills the pages on the new BATMAN: SECRETS—SAM KIETH GALLERY EDITION. Focusing on Kieth’s artwork from the 124-page BATMAN: SECRETS series, this large-format, Smythe-sewn hardcover edition is sourced from and captures the look and feel of the original boards. Rounding out this 248- page presentation is the complete art from BATMAN: CONFIDENTIAL #40, BATMAN/LOBO #1, Kieth’s eight-page story from BATMAN #38 and an extensive gallery section containing covers and pages from SCRATCH, ARKHAM ASYLUM: MADNESS and BATMAN: THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS.

Graphitti Designs’ Gallery Editions replicate the look, feel and attitude of the original artwork. Every page is reproduced at full board size on heavy paper stock to provide fans and collectors with museum-quality reproductions that are unobtainable from any other source.

Containing samples of Kieth’s art from his early days (1992) to the present (2015), this book gives the fan, collector and art student a never-before-seen overview of his incredible work.

ASTRO CITY #45

Written by KURT BUSIEK • Art by BRENT ANDERSON • Cover by ALEX ROSS

“WHAT BROKE THE BROKEN MAN?” part one of two! Astro City’s tangled history of superheroes, music, counterculture, serpents and darkness comes to a head. Heroes are destroyed, minds are shattered…and an unlikely savior rises.

On sale MAY 17 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T

DARK NIGHT: A TRUE BATMAN STORY TP

Written by PAUL DINI • Art and cover by EDUARDO RISSO

The Caped Crusader has been an icon of justice and authority for generations. But in this surprising original graphic novel, now in trade paperback for the first time, we see Batman in a new light—as the savior who helps a discouraged man recover from a brutal attack that left him unable to face the world. In the 1990s, Eisner Award-winning writer Paul Dini had a flourishing career writing the hugely popular Batman: The Animated Series and Tiny Toon Adventures. Walking home one evening, he was jumped and viciously beaten to within an inch of his life. His recovery process was arduous, hampered by the imagined antics of the villains he was writing for television, including The Joker, Harley Quinn and the Penguin. But Dini also always imagined the Batman at his side during his darkest moments.

DARK NIGHT: A TRUE BATMAN STORY is the harrowing and eloquent autobiographical tale of Dini’s courageous struggle to overcome a desperate situation. It is a Batman story like none other and one that will truly resonate with fans, with art by Eduardo Risso (100 BULLETS).

On sale JUNE 14 • 128 pg, FC, $16.99 • MATURE READERS

LUCIFER #18

Written by RICHARD KADREY • Art and cover by LEE GARBETT

A shocking death sows chaos in Hell and forces leadership over the kingdom into question. In Los Angeles, Lucifer takes radical measures to preserve his own domain on Earth as the staff of Ex Lux confronts their strange fate at the hands of Malphas. Not to be overshadowed by affairs below, God’s new pawns descend from Heaven with a mission to end Lucifer once and for all.

On sale MAY 17 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • MATURE READERS

EVERAFTER: FROM THE PAGES OF FABLES #9

Written by DAVE JUSTUS and LILAH STURGES • Art by TRAVIS MOORE • Cover by TULA LOTAY

Tension prevails and emotions flare as the Shadow Players monitor the hostage situation at Plano South Senior High. With options dwindling, Bobby Speckland intervenes with a message for the young captors. Across town, Tanner locks horns with Bo and Connor at the height of their breakneck escape from some vindictive giants of Texas folklore—who are hot on their heels with an arsenal of weaponized livestock.

On sale MAY 3 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • MATURE READERS

SAVAGE THINGS #3

Written by JUSTIN JORDAN • Art by IBRAHIM MOUSTAFA • Cover by JOHN PAUL LEON

New York is under attack. The Black Forest cell has hit the Big Apple with everything it has, creating chaos through random attacks. It’s panic in the streets as Abel and Kira race to stop the bad guys and stem the mayhem. Abel grew up with these killers and should know their every move, but that doesn’t mean taking them down will be easy—especially when fighting them also puts Kira’s life in danger.

On sale MAY 3 • 32 pg, FC, 3 of 8, $3.99 US • MATURE READERS

AMERICAN WAY: THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION TP

Written by JOHN RIDLEY • Art by GEORGES JEANTY, KARL STORY and RAY SNYDER • Cover by GEORGES JEANTY and KARL STORY

Academy Award-winning author John Ridley (12 Years a Slave, Three Kings) presents an alternate U.S. history with the Civil Defense Corps, a team of superheroes, and their handlers, the FDAA (Federal Disaster Assistance Administration). The FDAA stages showdowns between “superheroes” and “super-villains,” but in reality they are little more than superpowered actors that front for the public. What will these manufactured superheroes do when real danger arrives at the door?

Collects THE AMERICAN WAY #1-8 in a new anniversary edition that includes bonus material!

On sale JUNE 7 • 208 pg, FC, $19.99 US • MATURE READERS

ABSOLUTE Y: THE LAST MAN VOL. 3 HC

Written by BRIAN K. VAUGHAN • Art by PIA GUERRA, GORAN SUDZUKA and JOSE MARZAN JR. • Cover by MASSIMO CARNEVALE

The conclusion of the three-volume Absolute treatment of Brian K. Vaughan’s hit series, Y: THE LAST MAN! Continuing the international adventure, Yorick and his friends travel the world to find his fiancée, Beth and the epic cat-and-mouse game with Alter finally comes to an end!

Collects issues #41-60.

On sale JUNE 28 • 544 pg, FC, 8.25” x 12.5”, $125.00 US • MATURE READERS

SANDMAN MYSTERY THEATRE BOOK THREE TP

Written by MATT WAGNER, STEVEN T. SEAGLE and NEIL GAIMAN • Art by GUY DAVIS, WARREN PLEECE and TEDDY KRISTIANSEN • Cover by GAVIN WILSON and RICHARD BRUNING

In these tales from SANDMAN MYSTERY THEATRE #25-36, Wesley Dodds meets the Hourman, battles the Python and faces the Night of the Butcher. Plus, the mortal Sandman meets the godlike Morpheus in the SANDMAN MIDNIGHT THEATRE #1.

On sale JUNE 21 • 368 pg, FC, $29.99 US • MATURE READERS

BATMAN VS. HARLEY QUINN BATTLE STATUE

Sculpted by ALEJANDRO PEREIRA

DC Collectibles takes excitement to a new level with its latest Battle Statue. Batman and Harley Quinn make their debut in this dynamic statue line—along with Harley’s faithful companions, Crackers and Giggles! This massive statue must be seen to be believed.

Limited Edition of 2,500 • Measures Approximately 14.00” Tall • $375.00 US • On Sale SEPTEMBER 2017

DC BOMBSHELLS: HARLEY QUINN DELUXE STATUE

Designed by ANT LUCIA • Sculpted by TIM MILLER

The first DC Bombshells Deluxe Statue is here! Harley Quinn drops through the clouds in this extraordinary new statue that displays her original, full-concept Bombshells depiction.

Limited Edition of 5,000 • Measures Approximately 14.46” Tall • $200.00 US • On Sale SEPTEMBER 2017

DC ICONS: NIGHTWING ACTION FIGURE

Nightwing is ready to face evil on the streets of Blüdhaven with spare hands, Batarangs and battle staffs.

Nightwing – 6” • $28.00 US • On Sale SEPTEMBER 2017

DC ICONS: SUPERGIRL ACTION FIGURE

Supergirl battles for justice in the skies over National City with four sets of hands, a heat-vision head and hover base.

Supergirl – 6.09” • $28.00 US • On Sale SEPTEMBER 2017

DC ICONS: ROBIN AND SUPERBOY ACTION FIGURE 2-PACK

DC’s newest heroic duo, Robin and Superboy, team up in this new action figure 2-pack. Each figure comes with spare hands. Robin comes with a bo staff, and Superboy comes with a hover base.

$60.00 US • On Sale SEPTEMBER 2017

DC DESIGNER SERIES: WONDER WOMAN BY FRANK CHO STATUE

Designed by FRANK CHO • Sculpted by JONATHAN MATTHEWS

Wonder Woman takes sword and shield in hand in this powerful new Designer Series statue from renowned artist Frank Cho!

Limited Edition of 5,000 • Measures Approximately 12.18” Tall • $150.00 US • On Sale SEPTEMBER 2017

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