It’s time once again to look at graphic novels of interest coming out for November 2022 (and beyond).
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DC Comics
A full list of solicitations is available here.
- Diana and Nubia: Princesses of the Amazons, on sale Nov. 8, $10 (Bookshop)
My thoughts
Archie’s been reviving its mostly-dormant Golden and Silver Age superheroes lately, usually in one-shot stories or some crossovers with their Riverdale-based characters. Case in point: a one-shot this month with “Bob Phantom,” a New York City-based superhero with invisibility powers that Archie first published in 1939. Bob Phantom’s alter-ego’s day job involves writing up his own heroic exploits for a newspaper. In the rebooted comic’s case, the twist is that the hero finds himself with less crime to actually fight, since New York’s crime rates have declined, just like in real life. This leads the hero to make questionable choices to deal with this situation.
Seems like an interesting story idea, especially for acknowledging that real-life violent crime rates have actually declined since the 90s. Not that you’d know it from most modern versions of Batman, where Gotham is basically a cross between 70s Big Apple stereotypes and “murderville.” For me, it’s one reason some of the grimdark aspects of Batman feel not just nihilistic, but also dated?
A Nubia November
Nubia is receiving attention from DC’s solicitations this month. She’s getting a special featuring her joining the Justice League. There’s also a reprint of her first appearance (February 1973’s “Wonder Woman” #204), a few 50th anniversary variant covers, and (on December 6) a hardcover of a recent miniseries, “Nubia: Queen of the Amazons.” Also out in November is the YA graphic novel “Diana and Nubia: Princesses of the Amazons.” Originally announced back in August, it’s a sequel to the 2020 graphic novel “Diana: Princess of the Amazons.”
Art by Victoria Ying. (DC Comics)
