by 
Updated on March 19, 2023
Here’s a look at what’s coming out from DC Comics for April 2018. A full list of solicitations is available here.
Comics
- Action Comics #1000, on sale April 18, $8
- Future Quest Presents #9, on sale April 18, $4
- The Jetsons #6 (of 6), on sale April 4, $4
- Scooby-Doo Team-Up #37, on sale April 25, $3
- Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #92, on sale April 11, $3
- Astro City #52, on sale April 18, $4 (final issue)
Trade paperbacks/graphic novels
- DC Super Hero Girls: Out of the Bottle, on sale Aug. 1, $10 (digital first)
- Future Quest Presents, vol. 1, on sale May 2 (resolicited), $17
- Scooby-Doo Team-Up, vol. 5, on sale May 30, $13
Comments
“The Jetsons” ends its shortened run this month.
Also ending this month, to my surprise, is “Astro City.” The series has had delays, but still seems a shame to see it go. For now, anyway… it’s ended before and came back.
“Future Quest” this month focuses on the Herculoids.
“Action Comics” hits its 1000th issue; Superman gets his red shorts back
The biggest comics news this month is that “Action Comics,” the title that debuted with Superman’s first appearance back in 1938, is hitting its 1000th issue this month.
While that’s quite a landmark, it’s not the highest numbered comic in the world, or at least the United States. The latter’s title is held by Dell’s “Four Color Comics” anthology series, which ran for 1,354 issues between 1938 and 1962.
Given the major landmark of “Action” this month (it’s also marking Superman’s 80th anniversary), the book is an extra-sized 80-page issue featuring a variety of creators.
“Action” was an anthology, with Superman as its star, for much of its run. Thus, hopefully #1000 features appearances by characters who started off in “Action”; to list a few:
- Lois Lane (she was in issue #1 alongside Superman)
- Supergirl
- Lex Luthor
- The Parasite
- Metallo
- Brainiac
- Vixen
There’s also characters who had noteworthy backup features in the title; among others:
- Zatara (Zatanna’s father, who was also in issue #1)
- Aquaman
- Green Arrow
- Black Canary
- The Human Target
- Tommy Tomorrow
- Air Wave (Harold “Hal” Jordan version)
- The Atom
Finally, as of issue 1000, Superman’s getting his red shorts back! They were ditched in 2011 as part of “modernizing” Supes’ costume with the New 52 reboot (and the then-upcoming “Man of Steel” film). While there are fans of the short-less look, the resulting costumes always looked ugly and odd to me, so I’m glad to see the shorts back.
Scooby-Doo meets the Girl (and Cat) of Steel
This month’s “Scooby-Doo Team-Up” features Supergirl, with Streaky the Super-Cat in tow!
Supergirl makes sense, given she has a popular show on the CW. The Maid of Might’s appeared in the series before, though not front-and-center like here.
Given the series’ tone, I assume Supergirl will reflect her Silver/Bronze Age version. Perhaps she gets called her old nickname “the Stanhope Sensation” while her alter-ego attends Stanhope College? Or (reflecting her TV show) she’s based out of National City and working for Cat Grant?
Streaky first appeared in 1961 as Supergirl’s pet. Originally an ordinary Earth cat, Streaky would sporadically gain Kryptonian-style powers from exposure to “X-Kryptonite,” a piece of kryptonite Supergirl had experimented on. Streaky mostly disappeared from the comics after the early 70s brought changes in the Superman books’ writing/tone.
However, recently Streaky’s made a comeback in non-DCU material, including “Tiny Titans” and as a main character in the 2000s “Krypto the Superdog” cartoon.
