The weather outside is frightful, but DC Comics is so delightful this month, December 2023, as the publisher is releasing a slew of new issues throughout the holiday season.
From a weekly event teaming up Batman with his old mentor… Santa Claus? To the expansion of the Titans: Beast World event in a series of miniseries and one-shots, there’s a lot to unwrap under ye olde comic book tree. So let’s break down 11 must-buy titles from DC Comics for the month of December 2023.
1. Batman/Santa Claus: Silent Knight #1-#4
Release Date: December 5, 12, 19, 26, 2023
The weekly event series Batman/Santa Claus: Silent Knight teams up The Dark Knight and Jolly Old Saint Nick — his old mentor — to solve a mystery in Gotham City over four issues. Written by Jeff Parker with art by Michele Bandini, it seems like this wild series won’t shy away from the weird darkness of the premise. But if we don’t get some sort of Catwoman “claws/Claus” pun by the end? We riot.
2. Birds of Prey #4
Release Date: December 5, 2023
Is this DC Comics’ best ongoing series? Possibly! The Kelly Thompson-written, Leonardo Romero-drawn tale is fast, funny, and gorgeous to look at, thanks to Romero’s art that effortlessly mixes a Jack Kirby-esque style with more modern panel layout techniques. There are a lot of books that have begged the question “Is this the next Hawkeye?” but so far, Birds of Prey is the only superhero book that seems to match that high standard.
3. Poison Ivy #17
Release Date: December 5, 2023
If Birds of Prey isn’t DC’s best ongoing, then it’s definitely Poison Ivy. Written by G. Willow Wilson, and this issue drawn by the excellent Luana Vecchio, the title continues to dig into Ivy’s villainous path while letting her, inch by inch, push through into her… Well, if not a heroic future, then at least aim to discover if she has any future at all. Also: gross plant stuff!
4. Danger Street #12
Release Date: December 12, 2023
Speaking of Jack Kirby, Tom King and Jorge Fornés’ ambitious mash-up of some of the King’s classic creations comes to an end in this issue. There are a lot of plotlines to juggle here, as you can see from the massive cast on the cover. Will they stick the landing? Will Darkseid give out more hugs? Stay tuned.
5. Titans: Beast World #2
Release Date: December 12, 2023
There are a lot of tie-ins to the Titans: Beast World event coming out this month. While they all look like fun (who doesn’t like animal/superhero mash-ups), if you pick up one issue it’s got to be the main title. Written by Tom Taylor, with art by Ivan Reis, the first issue delivered on the hype and premise. Now, we get to see how the Beast World plays out.
6. Outsiders #2
Release Date: December 12, 2023
After last month’s debut of Outsiders reveals the show was a not-so-stealthy reboot of Wildstorm’s Planetary, the hype is on to deliver in issue #2. Written by Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly, with art by Robert Carey, the book teams Luke Fox, Batwoman, and a mysterious character named Drummer as they explore weird mysteries in the DC Universe. And it sounds like we’re going to meet their opposing force this issue: the Challengers of the Unknown.
7. Batman: City of Madness #2
Release Date: December 12, 2023
There are two very good Batman Black Label books out on the same day: Batman: City of Madness from Christian Ward, and Batman: Gargoyle of Gotham by Rafael Grampá. They’re both gorgeous to look at, and both well worth your time. City of Madness gets the edge, though, for the wild swings it’s taking on Batman mythology — and Two-Face, in particular. And isn’t that what the Black Label, er, label, is all about?
8. Wonder Woman #4
Release Date: December 19, 2023
Probably the most hotly discussed and argued about title currently on the stands, Tom King and Daniel Sampere’s run on Wonder Woman continues in this issue. And while the deliberate layouts and pacing are building the tension to an inevitable showdown with The Sovereign (the secret King of America), the real gem might be the back-up stories featuring Wonder Woman’s daughter getting baby-sat by the Super-Sons.
9. Batman: Off-World #2
Release Date: December 19, 2023
Jason Aaron and Doug Mahnke continue the story of a young Bruce Wayne training against nearly impossible-to-defeat aliens in this issue. The first issue ruled. Will the second issue also rule? Probably!
10. The Flash #4
Release Date: December 26, 2023
Si Spurrier and Mike Deodato, Jr. continue the darkest story of The Flash maybe… Ever? The horror-infused tale is pitting an out-of-his-depth Wally West against an old threat called The Folding Man and a new threat called The Stillness. It’s weird, it’s wild, and Deodato Jr.’s art will haunt your nightmares.
11. Action Comics Annual 2023
Release Date: December 26, 2023
Phillip Kennedy Johnson’s run on Action Comics wraps up not in the pages of the regular book, but with this annual, as the entire Superman family battles the Empire of Shadows — an evil Earth out of the Dark Multiverse that is ruled by the daughter of Batman and Talia al Ghul. Max Raynor provides the art, and while Johnson has teased he might not be done with Superman entirely, this issue is sure to close his run with some big action, emotion, and style.
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