FINALLY...

So CBR posted DC's December solicitations today, and 2 items in particular caught my attention. Well, 3 actually, but I'm most interested in the first 2. I'll talk about the 3rd in a minute. There's a nice selection of trades coming out that month, but the 2 that caught my eye in particular are:


Fallen Angel volume 2 and Manhunter volume 2.

It's about time DC's gotten off the shnide and gotten a little more diligent about collecting stuff that doesn't have "Super" or "Bat" in the title (not that there's not plenty of that stuff in December too, but that's another post). With so much of DC's output "written for the trade", it seems counterintuitive not to collect it. I'm not the first person to observe that many people wait for the trade before deciding if they like a new series. But a lot of people decide whether or not to continue with a series based on their assessment of whether or not it'll continue to be collected. And let's face it, DC's record on this issue spotty at best. Sure, they collected all of Transmetropolitan and Preacher, but they're still missing a Starman trade (the rest of the Times Past issues), and they just gave up on Hitman.

I'm not a big Marvel guy, and I've been plenty critical of some of the things they do. But I'll give them this: they trade almost everything. It may not stay in print forever, but it's at least available for a little while. And it's diverse too, in the sense that they don't just trade X- and Spider-titles. They trade EVERYTHING. And DC, while it's got a more diverse publishing history than Marvel is just getting smoked on the collected editions thing. For example, the Essential/Showcase collections. Marvel's been putting out the Essential editions for a few years now, and they've been casting their net far and wide. Essential Ant-Man? Really? Hey, someone'll buy it. So when DC finally gets into the game with their Showcase editions, what do they start with? JLA. Probably the most reprinted series they have! Oy vey! At least now they're starting to explore some of their diversity: Metamorpho, The Haunted Tank, Green Arrow. Finally, the Showcase is living up to it's name.

Which brings me back to my original point: Fallen Angel and Manhunter FINALLY get second collections. Manhunter after being on the brink of cancellation, and Fallen Angel after being cancelled and revived at another publisher (IDW, in case you're not following it). Seriously, DC should be ashamed of themselves. FA is almost getting more of a push from DC now than when they were publishing it.

So with all that in mind, Here's a list of what I'd like to see DC collect, either in trade or in Showcase. I'm not that picky, and I'm not unaware that there are financial considerations in these sorts of decisions. Anyway, here's the list, in no particular order:

1. The Spectre (Ostrander/Mandrake): Ok, so I lied about the order thing. I know that the Spectre isn't at the same point Ostrander/Mandrake left him, but that doesn't mean this series shouldn't be collected! This is
arguably one of the best things DC published in the last 20 years.
2. Aztek: The Ultimate Man: This Morrison/Millar series was criminally ignored by fandom at large, and
frankly, fandom should be ashamed too. That's all I have to say about that.
3. Hitman: Come on, DC. If you won't collect the rest of the series in trade, then how about a Showcase
edition or two? Please?
4. Suicide Squad: Another Ostrander series that's just brilliant. Long-running subplots that eventually get
resolved, interesting character interaction, and a nice mix of drama and humor. In many ways it was ahead of
its time. So DC should collect it and make it available for everyone to enjoy!
5. Starman: Since I'm putting together a wish list, I might as well wish for a trade collecting the rest of the
series. While it's true that those Times Past issues don't detract from the overall story, they certainly enrich
and contribute to it. Include the 2 TP: Shade stories from the Showcase minis, and you're in business.
6. Justice League International/Europe/America/Etc.: I know it seems like the current editorial regime has
initiated Jihad against the Giffen/DeMatteis-era Justice League, this is still great stuff. It was a breath of fresh
air when most comics were all about the Grim-N-Gritty. It's a crime that this isn't collected beyond 2 trades
of the first series.
7. Captain Carrot and his Amazing Zoo Crew: Come on now. Funny animal superheroes? What's not to
like? Besides, you can throw the 20 issues, plus the 3-issue Oz-Wonderland War into a nice sized Showcase
and everyone goes home happy.
8. Mike Parobeck's Batman Animated run: Parobeck was a trailblazer, and died way too young. His art
deserves a wider audience.
9. The Fly: From DC's Impact Comics line, this was 17 issues of fun heroics from Len Strezewski (I know I
slaughtered that name, but it's after 12:30 and I don't feel like digging in the boxes to find the correct spelling
of his name) and Mike Parobeck. It's great stuff that shouldn't be ignored just because the line degenerated
into an unintelligible mess by the end.
10. I'm sure there's at LEAST one more, but I'll be darned if I can think of it right now. Why don't you suggest
#10? Again, these aren't in any particular order, so whatever you'd care to suggest is OK with me. Post
your suggestions in the comments section.