Martian Sightings for May, 2013

Martian Manhunter

SMALLVILLE SEASON 11 SPECIAL #1
Written by BRYAN Q. MILLER
Art by AXEL GIMENEZ and DIANA EGEA
Cover by CAT STAGGS
On sale MAY 29 • 48 pg, FC, $4.99 US • RATED T • DIGITAL FIRST

Detective John Jones, the Martian Manhunter, steps into the Smallville spotlight in “Effigy,” a stand-alone adventure! A grisly murder in Gotham City sends Martian Manhunter on a quest to confront his past. Guest-starring Batman and Nightwing!

Folks have been telling me this has been running online, and I look forward to reading it in print. The costume sucks, but I'm so happy to see a Manhunter spotlight strengthening his long moribund ties to Batman and shedding light on his role in Smallville. Of course, a Middletown reference would just be icing...

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #4
Written by GEOFF JOHNS
Backup story written by MATT KINDT
Art and cover by DAVID FINCH
Backup story art by SCOTT CLARK
Variant cover by TYLER KIRKHAM and BATT
1:100 B&W Variant cover by DAVID FINCH

On sale MAY 8 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T
Combo pack edition: $4.99 US
Retailers: This issue will ship with four covers. Please see the order form for more information.

The League uncovers the leader of The Secret Society of Super-Villains—but can such a diverse group of heroes defeat the collective might of the Society? And in the backup story, Manhunter goes behind the scenes to learn more about the Secret Society! This issue is also offered as a combo pack edition with a redemption code for a digital download of this issue.

One hand giveth whilst the other taketh away? Despero debuts in the other Justice League book with Firestorm and Lady Atom, but Martian Manhunter finally gets to tackle Silver Age baddies like the Shaggy Man he missed in the '70s while in publishing limbo. Despite the ridiculous cleavage on Catwoman, she's the figurative beard (and Shaggy the literal one) helping to cover for the forced slash fiction perpetrated against Hawkman and the Alien Atlas. I'm happy that this profile confirms that Finch is drawing a classic J'Onn head instead of the New 52 seashells, though I wonder about the loss of the Cossack pants/boots. Swiped from here, which reminds me that battling Shaggy Man is a double redemption, as he was also a Silver Age villain from an issue during the Marco Xavier hiatus.

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA’S VIBE #4
Written by STERLING GATES
Art by PETE WOODS and SEAN PARSONS
Cover by BRETT BOOTH and NORM RAPMUND
1:25 B&W Variant cover by BRETT BOOTH and NORM RAPMUND
On sale MAY 15 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Retailers: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the order form for more information.

Why is Vibe battling Batman? Our hero is in way over his head when he’s forced to turn against A.R.G.U.S.!

I initially read that as "Why is Vibe belittling Batman?" I would pay $9.95 for an issue of nothing but Paco Ramon busting snaps on the Caped Crusader. I even already had an answer in mind. "It's simply Vibe's way!" I'm still ordering this book, even with the grave foreshadowing of a change of writer with the fourth issue (though nice to see Sterling Gates jumping onto a book instead of being pushed out.)

THE SAVAGE HAWKMAN #20
Written by TOM DeFALCO
Art and cover by JOE BENNETT and MARC DEERING
On sale MAY 22 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T • FINAL ISSUE

Hawkman vs. Blockbuster round two! Hawkman transforms his Nth metal armor into a new berserker mode! Blockbuster’s true identity is revealed! Plus, don’t miss an appearance by the new JLA!

The Martian Manhunter is on hand for the final issue of another Hawkman volume? J'Onn showed up pretty late in Hawkworld too, and it meant the death of Sharon Parker and revelation of Fel Andar as a spy.

CATWOMAN #20
Written by ANN NOCENTI
Art and cover by RAFA SANDOVAL and JORDI TARRAGONA
On sale MAY 15 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+

Membership in the Justice League of America is going to cost Catwoman the rest of her nine lives as Selina comes to grips with the deadly reality of her current imprisonment!

Can we please get to a place where I don't have to list Catwoman comics here? Hypety hype hype. Way off topic, but The Green Team and The Movement each sound really interesting, mining previously verboten political veins.



Despero

JUSTICE LEAGUE #19
Written by GEOFF JOHNS
Art and fold-out cover by IVAN REIS and JOE PRADO
Backup story art by GARY FRANK
MAD Variant cover by The Usual Gang of Idiots
1:100 B&W Variant cover by IVAN REIS and JOE PRADO
On sale APRIL 17 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T
This issue is also offered as a combo pack edition with a redemption code for a digital download of this issue.

Combo pack edition: $4.99 US Retailers: This issue will ship with four covers. Please see the order form for more information.

• Who is the one person dangerous enough to use Kryptonite against Superman?

This gatefold cover managed to obscure the New 52 debut of Despero, which is why I added it to this month's list for retroactive representation. They kept the reveal "WTF Certified" for whole weeks, ya'll.

JUSTICE LEAGUE #20
Written by GEOFF JOHNS
Art and cover by IVAN REIS and JOE PRADO
Backup story art by GARY FRANK
Variant cover by HOWARD PORTER
1:100 B&W Variant cover by IVAN REIS and JOE PRADO
On sale MAY 15 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T
Combo pack edition: $4.99
Retailers: This issue will ship with four covers. Please see the order form for more information. This issue is also offered as a combo pack edition with a redemption code for a digital download of this issue.

The PROLOGUE TO TRINITY WAR continues as a revelation about Batman could destroy Wonder Woman and Superman’s relationship! Plus, in the backup story, the penultimate chapter of the tale of Shazam finds Billy Batson learning the shocking secret of Black Adam!

I know it's just a facial close-up, but I'm sincerely shocked at the fidelity to the Pre-Flashpoint Kalanorian. You'd figure that they would maybe add a goatee or reorient the fin, like they did in the cartoons. Obviously I'm bummed Despero didn't turn up drawn by Dave Finch against the new Justice League of Detroit to fight the Martian Manhunter, but rather in the more conservative Reis book with the Super Six + Cyborg. I wonder if this is Despero's first encounter with a League, or if there was still a Silver Age version that later transformed through the Flame of Py'tar?