Good news for fans of big books: Deathstroke, solo Superman, Batman ’66 also in the mix…
Word’s already been floating around that DC is planning an omnibus series covering Superman’s Triangle Era. That’s pretty dang groovy, but only part of the picture: The publisher has actually just added four omnibi to the 2024 schedule, according to online listings.
The two that have me the most fired up? New editions of the World’s Finest: The Silver Age Omnibus Vol. 1 and the Batman ’66 Omnibus. Plus there’s also a first-ever classic Deathstroke: The Terminator Omnibus.
Here are the official descriptions:
BATMAN & SUPERMAN: WORLD’S FINEST: THE SILVER AGE OMNIBUS VOL. 1 (New Edition)
Authors Edmond Hamilton, Jerry Coleman, Bill Finger
Illustrated by Curtis Swan, Dick Sprang
Superman and Batman first teamed up in these stories from comics’ Silver Age, reprinted in one massive hardcover!
Witness Batman and Superman’s first encounter! Gathered for the first time in this singular, expansive collection: the classic stories that cemented their legacy as the medium’s finest team-up.
They had been fighting crime separately for years, but it wasn’t until the historic SUPERMAN #76 in 1952 that Superman, the Man of Steel, finally teamed up with Batman himself. That story proved so popular that the two quickly became the main feature in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS—and the greatest friendship in comics was born. Their adventures together would feature heroes and villains such as Robin, Batwoman, Lex Luthor, Bat-Mite, Mr. Mxyzptlk, and more alien threats than might seem possible.
Collects the classic story of their first meeting from SUPERMAN #76 and their super team-ups from WORLD’S FINEST #71-116. Also includes a foreword from veteran comics writer Mark Waid and an afterword by comics historian Jim Amash.
Hardcover/632 Pages
On sale Oct 29, 2024/$100.00 US
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BATMAN ’66 OMNIBUS (New Edition)
Authors Mike Allred, Jeff Parker and others
Various Artists
The continuing adventures of America’s fun-loving, action-packed pop-culture icons from the classic Batman TV series! Along with the returning regular cast of rogues plaguing Batman, Robin, Batgirl and Commissioner Gordon–the Joker, Riddler, Penguin, Catwoman, Mr. Freeze, Egghead and Olga, Queen of the Cossacks–Gotham City must contend with new appearances from the rest of Batman’s colorful villains– Harley Quinn, the Scarecrow, Bane, Poison Ivy and Two-Face–none of whom ever graced your Bat-TVs!
Collected for the first time in one collection, the entirety of Batman and Robin’s adventures can be read at one Bat-time, including the story behind Harlan Ellison’s outline and adapted comic for the series’ “lost episode.” Featuring a cast of creators, including Jeff Parker, Michael Allred, Laura Allred, Jonathan Case and others, Batman ’66 Omnibus collects Batman ’66 #1-30 and Batman ’66: The Lost Episode #1.
Hardcover/928 Pages
On sale Sep 10, 2024/$125.00 US
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SUPERMAN: THE TRIANGLE ERA OMNIBUS Vol. 1
Authors Roger Stern, Jeremiah Ordway, Louise Simonson
Illustrated by Jackson Guice, Tom Grummett, others
The fan-favorite Superman stories that defined the ‘90s return in a massive omnibus collection!
The 1990s saw a new wave of creative vitality and fan interest in comics’ original superhero, with four tightly connected monthly series bringing the Man of Steel to new heights: Superman, Adventures of Superman, Action Comics, and Superman: The Man of Steel.
These four series, while continuing to retain their own distinct voices, worked closely in tandem with each other, telling a detailed larger narrative of Superman’s never-ending battle. In turn, DC added numbered triangle icons to each cover, indicating to readers exactly where in the story a given Superman issue would fall—ushering in what readers fondly remember as “the triangle era.”
Following years of demand, these revered stories return with Superman: The Triangle Era Omnibus Vol. 1, a comprehensive collection of the first year of these comics from creators including Dan Jurgens, Jerry Ordway, Louise Simonson, Roger Stern, Jon Bogdanove, Bob McLeod, and more. Stories include “Time and Time Again,” “Blackout,” and Clark Kent revealing his secret identity to Lois Lane!
This volume collects Superman #49-64; Adventures of Superman #472-486; Action Comics #659-673; Superman: The Man of Steel #1-8.
Hardcover/1,384 Pages
On sale Sept. 3, 2024/$125.00 US
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DEATHSTROKE: THE TERMINATOR BY MARV WOLFMAN OMNIBUS VOL. 1
Author: Marv Wolfman
Illustrated by Steve Erwin, others
Marv Wolfman returns to one of his most famous creations—now the star of his own stories—in this omnibus collection of the fan-favorite ‘90s classic!
In 1980, comics legends Marv Wolfman and George Pérez introduced Deathstroke the Terminator in the seminal pages of The New Teen Titans—and the deadly villain soon became one of the most popular antagonists in all of comics.
A decade later, Wolfman returned to Slade Wilson, who was now the title character of his own comic book series—Deathstroke: The Terminator! These stories are now collected in the omnibus format for the first time, with Wolfman joined by artists including Steve Erwin and Art Nichols, and fellow writer Steven Grant.
Stories include Deathstroke’s hunt for the Ravager, the man who tried to kill his ex-wife. It’s all-out action as these two super-powered soldiers go toe to toe! Then, someone is knocking off the crime bosses of Gotham City. It’s up to Deathstroke to eliminate the competition—but Batman doesn’t take kindly to him on his turf. And things get even crazier when the masked killer known as the Vigilante enters the fray.
Collects Deathstroke (1991 series) #1-26; Deathstroke Annual #1-2; The New Titans #70; Superman #68; and stories from Showcase ’93 #6-11.
Hardcover/1,000 Pages
On sale Dec. 10, 2024/$125.00 US
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A few thoughts:
— The Batman ’66 and World’s Finest re-releases do not have covers attached. I don’t know if they are getting new ones, so I used placeholder art. Above are the originals.
— I can’t do a story about Deathtroke: The Terminator without including this video:
— I really dug the Triangle Era Superman, so this welcome news. Fans are really fired up about it.
— Standard caveat: None of these have been solicited by DC yet, so anything can change. Keep coming back to 13th Dimension for updates.
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MORE
— EXCLUSIVE: 1952’s MAD #1 to Be Re-Released as a FACSIMILE EDITION in June. Click here.
— CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS: DC to Re-Release Complete Series as MONTHLY FACSIMILE EDITIONS. Click here.
March 23, 2024
I hope we won’t have to go through reprints of both volumes 1 & 2 of Silver Age World’s Finest before we get to a volume 3. Still waiting on that one.
I’m surprised there hasn’t been an article here about the upcoming DC Finest series. Maybe when they actually schedule them then?
March 23, 2024
I’m not that enthusiastic about DC Finest yet. It’s mostly what we’ve seen, repackaged. If they start getting creative like they do with Facsimile Editions, we’ll pay closer attention.
March 23, 2024
There’s a gap between “SUPERMAN: THE TRIANGLE ERA OMNIBUS Vol. 1” and 2018’s “SUPERMAN: THE EXILE OMNIBUS.” Was there another volume collecting those issues that I missed?