Martian Sightings for May, 2009

Not one of our finest months, I'm afraid, with lots of satellite business I could barely be bothered to format...



LEVEL-GREEN CONFIRMED:

FINAL CRISIS COMPANION TP
Written by Grant Morrison, Peter J. Tomasi, Greg Rucka & Eric Trautmann and Len Wein
Art by Doug Mahnke, Ryan Sook and others
Cover by J.G. Jones
As the FINAL CRISIS rages on, some of DC’s biggest heroes battle evil in this collection of important supporting issues! Featuring FINAL CRISIS #1: director’s cut, FINAL CRISIS: REQUIEM #1, FINAL CRISIS: RESIST #1 and FINAL CRISIS: SECRET FILES #1!
Advance-solicited; on sale June 10 • 160 pg, FC, $19.99 US

This one contains the pretty good death/funeral of Martian Manhunter one-shot, Requiem. I also liked the Secret Files spotlight on the guy that actually killed J'Onn, Libra. He sure amounted to a lot in the grand scheme, huh?

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA: INJUSTICE LEAGUE TP
Written by Dwayne McDuffie & Alan Burnett
Art and cover by Ed Benes & Sandra Hope, Mike McKone & Andy Lanning and Joe Benitez & Victor Llamas
Cover by Ian Churchill
The adventures of the World’s Greatest Super Heroes continue in this volume collecting JLA WEDDING SPECIAL #1 and JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #13-16! As the wedding of Green Arrow and Black Canary looms, the new Injustice League forms!
Advance-solicited; on sale June 3 • 144 pg, FC, $17.99 US

This took long enough. I was hot for these issues upon release, between the wedding, J'Onn J'Onzz's appearance, and Dwayne McDuffie taking over as writer. By the hardcover announcement, Manhunter was doomed, the wedding a debacle, and my interest waning. Finally, the softcover hits much too late, and I could care less. No money for you, DC!

BLACK LANTERN CORPS:

JLA TROPHY ROOM: GREEN LANTERN RINGS PROP REPLICA
An age-old prophecy foretold the coming of the Blackest Night, and the war of light between the emotional spectrum! The Green Lantern and (yellow) Sinestro Corps are confronted by the Red Lanterns, Agent Orange, the Blue Lanterns, the mysterious Indigo Lanterns, the (violet) Star Sapphires and, ultimately, the Black Lantern Corps.
Now, for the first time ever, all of these Power Rings are collected together in one spectacular display!
Eight plated metal rings (each a different color, signifying the insignia of the various Corps) fit into a battery-operated, light-up resin display base. The rings are protected by a removable glass dome that sits on top of the base.
This special prop replica is linked to the highly anticipated “Blackest Night” storyline!
This mixed-media, hand-painted, limited-edition piece measures approximately 8” high x 5.5” wide x 5.5” deep and is packaged in a 4-color box, along with a 4-color Certificate of Authenticity and an instruction sheet. Batteries are also included.
Manufactured to order.
* Rings are removable but are prop replicas ONLY and are not meant to be worn.
Advance-solicited; on sale October 7, 2009 Prop Replica * $250 US

Too soon?

Lantern Corps Black Symbol T-Shirt
The final two Lantern shirt designs become available this month with the new Black Lantern Symbol and Blue Lantern Symbol T-Shirts. Black Lantern representing death, features a white imprint on a black shirt while the hope symbolized by the Blue Lantern is presented on a denim blue 100% cotton, heavyweight shirt. For those looking for something warmer, we also offer the new Red Lantern Symbol Hoodie powered by the emotion of rage, screenprinted on a deep red, Hanes heavyweight, 10 oz., 90% cotton/10% poly garment. Inspired by the biggest DC Comics editorial event of the decade...Blackest Night is felt by all. AVAILABLE for sale in the US & Canada only.
Release Date: May 27, 2009

One of the cooler designs, but I'm not buying it, on any level.

WANTED: MARTIAN MANHUNTER VILLAINS!

DESPERO:
TRINITY #49-52
Written by Kurt Busiek and Fabian Nicieza
Art by Mark Bagley & Art Thibert, Mike Norton & Ande Parks, Scott McDaniel & Andy Owens and Tom Derenick & Wayne Faucher
Covers by Jim Lee & Scott Williams and Mark Bagley & John Dell
The final showdown. The world hasn't just been changed, it's been destroyed. Can the Trinity still save the day? Not if Morgaine le Fey and Krona have anything to say about it. Answers, revelations and more come fast and furious in the mother of all action finales! Guest-starring just about everyone and featuring a final cover by TRINITY interior artist Mark Bagley!
Issue #49 on sale May 6; issue #50 on sale May 13; issue #51 on sale May 20; issue #52 on sale May 27 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

I think an alternate universal Martian Manhunter is appearing in the book these days as well, but I'm positive I don't much care.

MONGUL
SUPERMAN: WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE MAN OF TOMORROW? DELUXE EDITION HC
Written by Alan Moore
Art by Dave Gibbons, Curt Swan & George Perez, Kurt Schaffenberger, Murphy Anderson and Rick Veitch & Al Williamson
Cover by Brian Bolland
Legendary writer Alan Moore’s seminal Superman issues are collected in this Deluxe Edition hardcover featuring beautiful art from Dave Gibbons (WATCHMEN), Curt Swan (ACTION COMICS) and Rick Veitch (SWAMP THING)! Collects the two-part “Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?” from SUPERMAN #423 and ACTION COMICS #583 as Superman faces his greatest foes and his final battle! Also featuring the classic story “For the Man who has Everything” from ACTION COMICS ANNUAL #11 where Batman, Robin and Wonder Woman fight the evil warlord Mongul for the fate of The Man of Steel. And in DC COMICS PRESENTS #85, Superman meets Swamp Thing, a character fans have identified with Moore for over 20 years!
Advance-solicited; on sale July 8 • 7 1/16" x 10 7/8", 128 pg, FC, $24.99 US

I know Martian Manhunter is on the new Bolland cover, but I don't remember him in the main story at all, where Mongul is the best part of the reprinted Superman Annual. I wish that Wein/Starlin/Levitz Mongul material would get collected someday, as well. Might remind people he was once a good villain, instead of just a vicious thug. Well, okay, he was a vicious thug back then too, but smarter about it.

HUMAN FLAME
FINAL CRISIS AFTERMATH: RUN! #1
Written by Matthew Sturges
Art by Freddie E. Williams II
Cover by Kako
The Human Flame is a dead man. Literally just waking up after the events of FINAL CRISIS, he realizes all the heroes in the DC Universe target him as the lowlife who taped the murder of the Martian Manhunter with his cell phone. On top of that, all the villains in the world want to kill him for selling them out to Libra. He's powerless and penniless, and his only chance for survival is to run! This 6-issue miniseries examines the underbelly of the DCU and what happens when the wrong choices catch up with you. Nothing can prepare you for this chase.
On sale May 6 • 1 of 6 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

I might get this in trade. I might also get a vasectomy. I think the former would be more painful, though.

MISS MARTIAN

TITANS #13
Written by Sean McKeever
Art by Howard Porter
Cover by Andrew Robinson
“Deathtrap” part 4! The Titans, Vigilante and now the Teen Titans all get roped into Jericho’s insane plot. Can their combined forces halt their foe’s master plan? This riveting crossover concludes in VIGILANTE #6!
On sale May 13 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

VIGILANTE #6
Written by Marv Wolfman
Art by Tom Lyle & Scott Hanna
Cover by Andrew Robinson
The horrifying conclusion to the TITANS/TEEN TITANS/VIGILANTE “Deathtrap” crossover! Vigilante takes matters into his own hands to stop Jericho once and for all – even if it means becoming a target himself!
On sale May 20 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

TEEN TITANS #71
Written by Sean McKeever
Art and cover by Joe Bennett & Jack Jadson
“Deathtrap” aftermath! The team picks up the pieces following their crossover with TITANS and VIGILANTE as Ravager returns. But is she friend or foe?
On sale May 27 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

Wow, I think I've been totally cured of any interest in the Titans family over the last few years. Anyone got anything to say in Miss Martian's favor, at least?