FIRST LOOK: Manchester Black’s debut — and four Batman titles…
Over here Thursday we showed you five DC characters who will get Super Powers variant covers for a bunch of Facsimile Editions in the works.
Now, we take a look at the books themselves, as revealed on the back of the John Constantine Super Powers cover for The Saga of the Swamp Thing #37 Facsimile Edition, coming March 12.
None of these have been solicited yet but they are expected in the coming months — Action Comics #775, Batman #655, Detective Comics #880, Batman: Harley Quinn #1 and Batman #635.
And if you’re wringing your hands wondering if DC is all of a sudden abandoning their fabulous Golden, Silver and Bronze Age Facsimile Editions, don’t. That ain’t changing, folks — as you’ll see very soon.
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Action Comics #775. This 2001 issue by Joe Kelly, Doug Mahnke, Lee Bermejo and co. is considered a modern classic. It also features the first appearance of Manchester Black, who is getting the Super Powers variant for this one. There’s been speculation that Manchester Black will be in the upcoming Superman movie.
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Batman #655. This 2006 issue kicked off Grant Morrison’s uneven-but-at-times-genius run on the Dark Knight. It also features the first appearance of Damian Wayne, who gets the Super Powers cover.
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Detective Comics #880. This 2011 ish is one of Scott Snyder’s early Batman stories. For reasons that aren’t entirely clear to me, it’s very expensive on the secondary market, possibly because of Jock’s well-known cover. Anyway, Batman here is Dick Grayson, who gets the Super Powers variant. (If you know why this issue commands a high price, let me know in the comments because I’m drawing a blank.)
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Batman: Harley Quinn #1. A 1999 one-shot written by co-creator Paul Dini that introduced Harley Quinn to the mainstream DC comics universe. Famous Alex Ross cover, too. Harley gets the variant here, though her actual comic-book first appearance is also part of this wave — the Animated Universe-set Batman Adventures #12. That issue will have a Batgirl variant because she actually stars.
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Batman #635. Came out in late 2004 and features the first appearance of Jason Todd’s Red Hood, who gets the variant. I’ve been stumping forever for a Detective Comics #168 Facsimile Edition, featuring the Joker’s original 1950 Red Hood origin. Wouldn’t that pair well with this? It sure would.
Look for more details soon, here at 13th Dimension.
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MORE
— EXCLUSIVE: DC Reveals the Next FIVE Characters Getting SUPER POWERS VARIANT COVERS. Click here.
— DC’s SUPER POWERS VARIANT COVERS: A Goldmine Just Waiting There for McFARLANE TOYS. Click here.
February 13, 2025
It is absolutely the Jock cover art responsible for the price on #880.
February 13, 2025
I also figured it’s also due to being a Joker cover, making it even pricier than #881 which ended the original run.
February 14, 2025
Yes, I didn’t mean to imply that it was the cover artist “name” that was driving the demand. Instead, it is the fact that Jock here created a Joker cover design that really had not been done before.
February 13, 2025
Hey Dan, did you see the solicitation for Fantastic Four #5 facsimile edition? Somebody put in the wrong copy, but:
“The astonishing first chapter of the all-time-classic saga that fans call the Galactus Trilogy!
Everything changes for the Fantastic Four – and the entire Marvel Universe – when they meet the enigmatic Silver Surfer, herald to the world-eating Galactus! The FF are still reeling from being caught between the Inhumans and Black Bolt’s treacherous brother, Maximus the Mad, when the sky above New York City is seemingly engulfed in flame – and soon the Watcher arrives with a portent of doom. The Silver Surfer, wielder of the awesome Power Cosmic, is on his way to Earth as the advance scout for one of the most powerful entities in the universe. And when the being known as Galactus arrives, this world will be his next meal! It’s one of the all-time great Marvel comic books, boldly re-presented in its original form, ads and all! Reprinting FANTASTIC FOUR (1961) #48. Marvel is reprinting the original Galactus trilogy as it originally appeared, over the next three months!”
(Source: https://previewsworld.com/Catalog/FEB250984)
Only problem here is that if you’re a facsimile nut like me, Marvel’s FF run will look weird when it’s all finished: we’ll have #1-12, #48-50, #52 (1st Black Panther), and Annual #6 (Birth of Franklin).
That one issue gap between #50 and #52 is going to drive me crazy, especially since it’s such an important issue. (And hell, throw in #53 since it finishes the story in #52.)
February 15, 2025
Yep: https://13thdimension.com/fantastic-four-marvel-to-publish-galactus-trilogy-as-facsimile-editions-across-three-months/
And there’s also this: https://13thdimension.com/marvel-sets-dates-for-mays-landmark-fantastic-four-and-x-men-facsimile-editions/
February 14, 2025
Action Comics # 775 is my absolute favorite Superman story. Hope they make a foil variant as well!