CONSTANTINE #3

Written by JEFF LEMIRE and RAY FAWKES

Art by RENATO GUEDES

Cover by JUAN JOSE RYP

1:25 B&W Variant cover by JUAN JOSE RYP

On sale MAY 8 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+

John Constantine’s quest to find the last piece of a powerful mystic artifact before his enemies do brings him to a city that could kill him the moment he sets foot in it: London!

THE PHANTOM STRANGER #8

Written by DAN DIDIO and J.M. DeMATTEIS

Art by PHILIP TAN

Cover by GENE HA

On sale MAY 1 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T

The Phantom Stranger investigates his past and is quickly reminded of the price he must pay for being part of The Trinity of Sin!

SWORD OF SORCERY #8

Written by CHRISTY MARX

Art and cover by AARON LOPRESTI

On sale MAY 15 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T • FINAL ISSUE

Eclipso brings destruction to the heart of House Amethyst in an epic 30-page story! Will Amaya finally master her heritage? On this day, a princess dies!

JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK #20

Written by JEFF LEMIRE and RAY FAWKES

Art and cover by MIKEL JANIN

On sale MAY 22 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T

The Flash and Swamp Thing guest-star as the team struggles to recover the stolen House of Mystery from Dr. Destiny!

ANIMAL MAN #20

Written by JEFF LEMIRE

Art by JOHN PAUL LEON and STEVE PUGH

Cover by JAE LEE

On sale MAY 1 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+

The battle against the Rot has left Buddy’s family in ruins, and now they must withstand another force trying to subvert him: his own celebrity!

SWAMP THING #20

Written by CHARLES SOULE

Art by KANO

Cover by ANDY BRASE

On sale MAY 1 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+

It’s Swamp Thing vs. Superman for the fate of Metropolis—and why are all of Swamp Thing’s worst nightmares coming true? Plus: Who is the mysterious Capucine?

DIAL H #12

Written by CHINA MIEVILLE

Art by ALBERTO PONTICELLI and DAN GREEN

Cover by BRIAN BOLLAND

On sale MAY 1 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+

Nelson and Roxie are on the run from the Centipede and The Fixer! Their only hope of rescue lies in the hands of Open Window Man! But who is that masked avenger?

DEMON KNIGHTS #20

Written by ROBERT VENDITTI

Art by ROBSON ROCHA and OCLAIR ALBERT

Cover by BERNARD CHANG

On sale MAY 8 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T

After decades of questing, the Demon Knights have a lead on the resting place of the Holy Grail—but are they ready for what they’ll have to fight through to get it? And has time run out on one knight’s immortal life?

Click here to see a gallery of covers for the above titles.

(JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK #20 cover by Mikel Janin)

CONSTANTINE #2

Written by JEFF LEMIRE and RAY FAWKES

Art by RENATO GUEDES

Fold-out cover by JUAN JOSE RYP

1:25 Variant cover by RENATO GUEDES

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

• Which ghostly menace haunts Constantine today?

THE PHANTOM STRANGER #7

Written by DAN DIDIO and J.M. DeMATTEIS

Art and fold-out cover by GENE HA and ZANDER CANNON

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

• Do you dare ask who slayed the Stranger?

SWORD OF SORCERY #7

Written by CHRISTY MARX

Backup story written by MARC ANDREYKO

Art and fold-out cover by AARON LOPRESTI

Backup story art by ANDREI BRESSAN

On sale APRIL 17 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T

• What is the great evil Constantine unleashes on Gemworld, and why is Amethyst powerless to stop him?

JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK #19

Written by JEFF LEMIRE and RAY FAWKES

Art and fold-out cover by MIKEL JANIN

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

• The House of Mystery is under seige—can special guest star The Flash help Justice League Dark battle this unexpected threat?

ANIMAL MAN #19

Written by JEFF LEMIRE

Art by STEVE PUGH

Fold-out cover by JAE LEE

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

• As Animal Man's popularity grows, the paparazzi follow him everywhere. But is there one place he wishes they just wouldn't go?

SWAMP THING #19

Written by CHARLES SOULE

Art by KANO

Fold-out cover by ANDY BRASE

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

• What could Swamp Thing possibly fear more than The Scarecrow?

DIAL H #11

Written by CHINA MIEVILLE

Art by ALBERTO PONTICELLI and DAN GREEN

Fold-out cover by BRIAN BOLLAND

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

• What? The? Flash?

DEMON KNIGHTS #19

Written by ROBERT VENDITTI

Art and fold-out cover by BERNARD CHANG

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

• What undead menaces threaten the lives of the Demon Knights?

I, VAMPIRE #19

Written by JOSHUA HALE FIALKOV

Art by FERNANDO BLANCO and ANDREA SORRENTINO

Fold-out cover by ANDREA SORRENTINO

On sale APRIL 24 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+ • FINAL ISSUE

• With this, the final issue, will Andrew Bennett survive to dawn’s light?

Click here to see a gallery of covers for the above titles.

(The cover for JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK #19 by Mikel Janin)

BATGIRL #14 hit comic shops this week, and reading that issue reminded us of exactly how strong Barbara Gordon is—both in the physical sense (we'd last about three seconds doing what she does, as that's probably how long it would take for us to fall over and curl into the fetal position) and in the sense of being just a fantastic, all-around-amazing example of a great, well-written female character.

In fact, we here at DC love our female characters. We love them in the totally respectable "we love to read them" way…and, uh…not in the weird "they're printed on our cuddle pillow" way. From the super-strong to the willfully powerful to even the psychotically malicious, we've got some of the most fun, creative and widely recognizable female characters in comics—heck, pop culture, even—and every week a number of them prove their awesomeness by taking center stage in some of the best titles currently on shelves.

Whether via comic books, toys or collectibles, it truly is a great time to be a fan of the DCU females. We’re certainly in that camp. You could even say we have a bit of a heroine addiction. It’s one addiction we’re very proud to have. So proud, in fact, that we’re listing off the 5.2 Reasons We’re Addicted to Our Super-Heroines!

1. Wonder Woman

Wonder Woman has been around since 1941 and she still looks great—especially with Cliff Chiang drawing her monthly in the pages of the critically acclaimed and brilliantly written Wonder Woman series by Brian Azzarello. Infusing Greek mythology with superheroics, Azzarello has crafted a Wonder Woman tale that encompasses everything that makes the character great and conveys it all through a tone vastly different from what's come before—one a little more mature and sophisticated while still balancing superhero adventure and fantasy. From her compassion and strength of character to her, you know, actual strength and general badassery, it's really no wonder we love Wonder Woman.

2. Bats and Cats and Birds (Oh My!)

When it comes to strong female characters, like with all things, Batman has it covered. From the feline fatale Catwoman to the aforementioned butt-kicking Batgirl to the all-female team the Birds of Prey (whose member Katana will soon be getting her own ongoing) to the Batwoman and even the Huntress (and by extension her BFF Power Girl), the female members of the Bat Family almost make us want to go to Gotham and commit a crime just so we can experience their awesomeness firsthand. We don't think we'd be able to handle the hospital bills, though.

3. Amaya, Princess of House Amethyst

Although a newer member of DC COMICS – THE NEW 52, Amaya of House Amethyst (appearing monthly in the pages of Sword of Sorcery) had us along for the ride from the get-go—simply by way of its cool creative team—but once the story’s action took us to Gemworld, things took a turn toward Awesome Town (about 28 miles outside of Crazy Town and a few stops away from Amazingville). Amaya’s hilarious sarcasm and "what am I even doing here" attitude brings a great level of fun and teenage cynicism to an already entertaining fantasy adventure.

4. Ame-Comi

We've been really big fans of the Ame-Comi line of statues for quite some time. From the extremely creative designs to the fun little details, they're a great addition to our shrine of nerdiness (also known as, you know, our office). But what's even more excellent is that their popularity spawned a new digital first series Ame-Comi Girls, which features characters inspired by the line. It's a really fun read scripted by the All-Star Western team of Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray, and each installment gets us excited about who is going to appear next and what twist to classic comic mythos and characters will occur.

5. Kickass Co-Stars

Whether we’re talking about the water-controlling warrior queen Mera from the pages of Aquaman, the alluring, if psychotic Harley Quinn in Suicide Squad, the face-punching powerhouse Cassie Sandsmark in Teen Titans, or Horsewoman, Exoristos and Shining Knight from Demon Knights, you don't have to headline a title to steal the show.

5.1 The Awesomeness that is Supergirl

5.2 The Upcoming Return of Stargirl

Nothing like awesome comics and stunning statues to feed our little Heroine addiction. So what are your reasons for loving DC’s heroines? Let us know in the comments!

THE PHANTOM STRANGER #4

Written by DAN DIDIO

Art by BRENT ANDERSON and PHILIP TAN

Cover by BRENT ANDERSON

1:25 B&W Variant cover by BRENT ANDERSON

On sale JANUARY 9 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T

• John Constantine and Justice League Dark are about to learn the hard way why it’s never a good idea to make the Phantom Stranger angry!

• But why do the defenders against the dark arts need the Stranger’s presence in the first place?

SWORD OF SORCERY #4

Written by CHRISTY MARX

Backup story written by MARC ANDREYKO

Guest art by TRAVIS MOORE

Backup story art by ANDREI BRESSAN

Cover by WALTER SIMONSON

1:25 B&W Variant cover by WALTER SIMONSON

On sale JANUARY 23 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T

• Amaya travels home to Earth from Gemworld only to find new trouble! What will happen to her powers when she becomes Amy Winston again?

• Guest-starring John Constantine!

• And in the new backup story, enter a world of modern magic and terror with Stalker, the man without a soul!

ANIMAL MAN #16

Written by JEFF LEMIRE

Art by STEVE PUGH, TIMOTHY GREEN II and JOSEPH SILVER

Cover by STEVE PUGH

On sale JANUARY 9 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+

• “ROTWORLD: THE RED KINGDOM” part four!

• Animal Man has Constantine, Steel, Black Orchid, Beast Boy, Frankenstein and a whole army of patchwork men and women at his back — but is that enough to go up against Anton Arcane at the heart of the Rot?

• Team Red sets off for Metropolis to recruit a powerful new ally!

SWAMP THING #16

Written by SCOTT SNYDER

Art and cover by YANICK PAQUETTE

On sale JANUARY 9 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+

• “ROTWORLD: THE GREEN KINGDOM” races toward its epic conclusion!

• It’s Swamp Thing vs. Rotmonster as Superman as Arcane’s ultimate plan is revealed!

• What sacrifice must Swamp Thing make to cleanse the Earth of the Rot?

• And what secret did Batman leave behind in the ruins of Gotham City?

JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK #16

Written by JEFF LEMIRE and RAY FAWKES

Art and by MIKEL JANIN

On sale JANUARY 30 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T

• The team is trapped on a magic-less planet that makes a horrible mockery of their powers!

• With time running out, Tim Hunter may be the team’s last chance to escape…if Steve Trevor doesn’t seal their fate first!

• Keep an eye out for a new character based on a winning design from SyFy’s popular show Face Off!

FRANKENSTEIN, AGENT OF S.H.A.D.E. #16

Written by MATT KINDT

Art and cover by ALBERTO PONTICELLI and WAYNE FAUCHER

On sale JANUARY 16 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T • FINAL ISSUE

• Don’t miss this final issue finale!

• Frankenstein and his team of misfit S.H.A.D.E. agents are sent in to stop a group of superpowered biological terrorists from detonating a

dirty bomb in Central City!

DIAL H #8

Written by CHINA MIEVILLE

Art by ALBERTO PONTICELLI and DAN GREEN

Cover by BRIAN BOLLAND

On sale JANUARY 9 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+

• The Centipede creeps in and strikes!

• Nelson and Roxie are on the trail to unlock the mysteries of the H-dial while being stalked by the mysterious Centipede, who may have the answers they are looking for...and his own dark and deadly motivations.

• Everything combusts when Flame War appears and ignites a confrontation that must be read to be believed!

DEMON KNIGHTS #16

Written by ROBERT VENDITTI

Art by BERNARD CHANG

On sale JANUARY 16 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T

• It’s the DC debut of new writer Robert Venditti (X-O Manowar, The Surrogates)!

• It’s been thirty years since the Demon Knights last rode together — and they’re less than happy to see each other!

• What has happened during this time? Who lives? Who’s dead? Who’s going to stop the massive vampire invasion that threatens all life? The Demon Knights had better find some answers fast!

I, VAMPIRE #16

Written by JOSHUA HALE FIALKOV

Art by DENNIS CALERO

Cover by ALEX GARNER

On sale JANUARY 30 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+

• The true origin of vampires in The New 52 is revealed here through the life and times of Cain!

• Andrew’s plans as King of Vampires are coming together, and that’s not good for humanity.

Click here to see a gallery of art for the above titles.