Amidst Brainiac's assault on New Krypton, General Zod has brandished the Legion of Super-Heroes terrorists and imprisoned them. Superboy will do his best to free them, but he'll have to go through Supergirl first -- wait, what? You read right, folks. It's the Super-brawl you weren't expecting, courtesy of writer Sterling Gates and artist Jamal Igle.
SUPERGIRL #51 hits 3/17.
[gallery link="file"]
If there’s one book that just screams “fun,” it’s TINY TITANS. The book bristles with the pure energy and joy creators Art Balthazar and Franco pour into the book each month. This week’s issue #25 is no exception, especially with special guest writer Geoff Johns, who joins the TINY TITANS duo for a special tale featuring a character that Johns is all-too-familiar with, Conner Kent – and Match?!
Let’s see what Art, Franco AND Geoff have got in store. Take it away, gents:
“This issue was just a blast to write! It was great to have another person like to Geoff to bounce ideas off just because of the back info he has on these characters,” Franco said. “It was also cool cause he told us all the Blackest Night and Brightest Day secrets and now we get to auction them off to the highest bidder! ... or use them as our own stories in future Tiny Titans issues!”
Huh, I don’t even know those secrets. Then again, I usually don’t! Geoff?
“ Aww yeah Art and Franco!!! I jumped at the chance to work with them and the Tiny Titans!”
“AW YEAH CONNER! AW YEAH RINGS! Man, we've been waiting to use Conner Superboy since issue #1! Getting to write with the same guy who brought Conner BACK from the dead was awesome! This issue is truly historical! I'm a big fan of Geoff Johns! I'm a fan of Franco too!”
And we’re fans of all three of you. Here are a few pages from the issue, which hits 2/24.
[gallery link="file"]
You read that correctly. An interstellar conflict waged at superspeed.
Could this be in any way related to THE WAR OF THE SUPERMEN, which we announced not too long ago?
Same thing, folks, and it's all hitting in May, courtesy of writers Sterling Gates and James Robinson.
An epic, defining battle for the Man of Steel unleashed in one month. Because super-beings that fly fast? Well, they fight pretty fast, too.
But let's move past the high concept and dive into the nitty gritty, shall we? We pestered Superman Group Editor Matt Idelson on his day off to give us the goods, so take it away, Matt:
"The war between New Krypton and Earth has been the worst kept secret in comics the last several months. The number of mocking 'Wouldn't a world of supermen defeat Earth in five minutes?' questions I've been assaulted with have undone years of therapy. Now, thank Freud, the time for secrets is over, as the two sides are finally going to war! And it's going to last a lot longer than five minutes--100, to be exact, told in 25 minute increments. That doesn't count the few minutes before the clock starts, in WAR OF THE SUPERMEN #0, our contribution to this year's FREE COMIC BOOK DAY. There, we'll bring new readers up to speed on everything they really need to know, while hitting our regular loyalists with a tense tale the ending of which baps you between the eyes. Yay, war!
Jokes aside, this 100 minute thing made us realize that spreading the story over several months would kind of deaden the impact of the timeframe device, not to mention starting the war a month after #0. Besides, with five covers by Mr. Eddy Barrows, and Eddy being joined on this thing by the likes of Aaron Lopresti, Jamal Igle and Eduardo Pansica, why wait to put the issues out?"
But there's more.
With Superman caught between the war-hungry factions of General Zod and General Lane, could any victory be much more than Pyrrhic? What side will Supergirl take, and could it find her at odds with her cousin? Where are the other "Supermen" of the DCU, like Steel and Superboy? Right in the thick of it, is the answer.
War is declared. Time is of the essence. May is going to be a game changer for Superman, and if you don't believe me yet, maybe these stunning in-progress Eddy Barrows WAR OF THE SUPERMEN covers -- along with the cover to #0 -- will help sway you.
[gallery link="file"]
The title is pretty ominous on its own: ADVENTURE COMICS STARRING BLACK LANTERN SUPERBOY. But what more can we reveal about the issue, which is written by Tony Bedard, with art by Travis Moore? Well, we're not saying a ton, but ADVENTURE COMICS editor Brian Cunningham has a few choice words to share. Take it away, Brian:
“The title is ‘What Would Black Lantern Superboy Do?’ and, frankly, he says some pretty outrageous stuff, plumbed from Conner’s subconscious. In fact, we learn an awful secret about Conner that I kinda wish I didn’t know. And there is a HUGE moment in this issue that no one will want to miss. ADVENTURE #7 tangibly pushes the character forward in a way you won’t expect.”
Thanks, Brian. And now, let's take a look at these covers, shall we? From Aaron Lopresti and Francis Manapul.
ADVENTURE COMICS #7 hits 2/10.
Geoff Johns and Francis Manapul say goodbye (for now) to Superboy in this epic 30-page issue. What happens? Well, take a peek below. ADVENTURE COMICS #6 hits 1/13.
[gallery link="file" columns="2"]
What is the LAST STAND OF NEW KRYPTON? Well, it's basically New Krypton's worst nightmare come to life, as Brainiac attacks the planet, determined to recapture the city of Kandor.
But General Zod has prepared for this moment since Brainiac first attacked the original Krypton. Only problem? Zod's plan to save New Krypton will mean the destruction of the future.
So it's up to Superman, Supergirl, Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes to save the people of New Krypton and ensure the Legion won’t be wiped from the future’s existence. Good luck! Or, to quote editor Matt Idelson:
“This is the story that ties together tons of threads that have run through all the Super-books up to now, clearing the decks for the war we all knew was coming. And I don’t know about you, but I’ve been waiting months to see Brainiac restored to his full, horrific glory. And at last, we’ll get to see Superboy interact on an ongoing basis with the rest of the Superbooks’ characters.”
LAST STAND is a three-issue miniseries, weighing in at 30 story pages each, from writers James Robinson and Sterling Gates and artist Pete Woods. The first issue sports an amazing Andy Kubert cover and kicks off the latest chapter in the New Krypton saga, "Brainiac & The Legion of Super-Heroes," which we teased right here not long ago. “Brainiac & the LOSH” is an eight-part story (plus an epilogue and a prologue) that will run in LAST STAND, SUPERGIRL, SUPERMAN, and because you demanded it, ADVENTURE COMICS. Secrets will be revealed, loyalties tested and would-be lovers will be reunited—for the first time? And, knowing that all signs are pointing to an epic WAR OF THE SUPERMEN, why not hop aboard now?
SUPERMAN: LAST STAND OF NEW KRYPTON hits in March.
Geoff Johns and artist Jerry Ordway team up to present you with the return of Superboy-Prime. The grasp of BLACKEST NIGHT knows no bounds, and it's reached the doorstep of Superboy-Prime. And, if you can believe it, Prime has met his match. But we can't say much more. What we can do is show you a batch of pages from the issue.
ADVENTURE COMICS #4 hits 11/18.
[gallery link="file"]
Superboy is back and he's enlisting one of his oldest friends, Tim Drake, formerly known as Robin. Tim's now traveling the globe as Red Robin. But the reunion isn't all hugs and smiles, as secrets Tim has kept from the Boy of Steel could endanger their very friendship. Join writer Geoff Johns and artist Francis Manapul as they continue to chronicle the adventures (get it?) of Connor Kent.
ADVENTURE COMICS #3 hits 10/14.
[gallery link="file"]
Geoff Johns and superstar artist Francis Manapul continue to tell the tale of the revived Conner Kent, as Superboy settles back into life in Smallville. But all is not well in Superman's hometown. And while Conner reunites with Wonder Girl to discuss their future, Lex Luthor and Brainiac form a partnership that will put the entire DCU at risk.
Meanwhile, in the Legion of Super-Heroes co-feature, co-writers Geoff Johns and Michael Shoemaker team with artist Clayton Henry to spotlight the heroes of the 31st century, as Lightning Lad travels to the prison planet of Takron-Galtos to confront his brother, Lightning Lord, and to learn an unexpected family secret that could set in motion a war to end all wars. Yeah, that big.
ADVENTURE COMICS #2 hits 9/9.
[gallery link="file"]
