The DC Comics June 2022 solicitations have arrived, and we’ve assembled some Comics Bookcase contributors to weigh in on the highlights, as has become tradition around here, at least so far in 2022. This is an interesting month for DC Comics, with the Pride Month publications perhaps serving as a headliner. The other major occurrence of note is that Dark Crisis — the tentpole summer event — is getting underway.

As always you can find the full list of DC Comics June 2022 solicitations via our friends at The Beat, with our full list of highlights below…enjoy!

DC Comics June 2022 Solicitations - The Highlights

THE ANIMAL MAN OMNIBUS (2022 EDITION) - Due Out August 23, 2022
Written by GRANT MORRISON
Art by CHAZ TRUOG, DOUG HAZLEWOOD, and others
Cover by BRIAN BOLLAND
$100.00 US | 712 pages | 7 1/4″ x 10 7/8″ | Hardcover
ISBN: 978-1-77951-632-9
ON SALE 8/23/22
Offered again! Grant Morrison’s epic run on Animal Man collected in one massive hardcover.
Buddy Baker has been experiencing visions of aliens, people transforming into strange pencil-like drawings, and hints of a terrible crisis. As his odyssey of self-discovery gives way to spiritual enlightenment as well as the depths of despair, Buddy meets his maker: a writer named Grant Morrison! Includes Animal Man #1-26 and a tale from Secret Origins #39.
Why It’s Cool: This run is essentially writer Grant Morrison’s first prolonged outing with a North American superhero comics publisher, and it’s a pretty idiosyncratic and memorable run at that, featuring as it does a young Morrison finding their voice and knack for metafictional storytelling that goes a bit deeper. It’s must-read stuff, and I’m glad we’re getting a new edition. (Zack Quaintance)

BATMAN’S MYSTERY CASEBOOK - Due Out August 30, 2022
Written by SHOLLY FISCH
Art and cover by CHRISTOPHER UMINGA
$9.99 US | 144 pages | 5 1/2″ x 8″ | Softcover
ISBN: 978-1-77950-586-6
ON SALE 8/30/22
Batman is a great detective, but he rarely works alone. His sidekicks Robin and Batgirl, his butler Alfred, and the police of Gotham City all play a role in helping him keep his city safe. You can too!
Look for clues!
Analyze evidence!
Solve riddles!
Learn history!
Help the Batman as he goes on his adventures and see if you can spot the answers to these mysteries before he logs them into his casebook.
Why It’s Cool: I love seeing creative superhero concepts aimed at the next generation of comic book readers. Batman’s Mystery Casebook looks exceptionally fun, inviting youngsters to help Batman along the way as he solves cases. Activities such as finger print identification and memory games are aimed at education and fun. This is one I’ll be excited to give to and read with my godson. (Larry Jorash)

BLACK ADAM #1 - Due Out June 21, 2022
Written by CHRISTOPHER PRIEST
Art by RAFA SANDOVAL
Cover by IRVIN RODRIGUEZ
Variant covers by RAFA SANDOVAL, MIKEL JANÍN, and LUCIO PARRILLO
1:25 variant cover by CRYSTAL KUNG
1:50 throwback variant cover by CULLY HAMNER
1:100 foil variant cover by LUCIO PARRILLO
Team variant cover by TRAVIS MERCER and DANNY MIKI
$3.99 US | 32 pages | Variant $4.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 6/21/22
There is no forgiveness for Black Adam.
This is the reality Teth-Adam, immortal man of indomitable will, must face when he discovers he has been infected with an incurable plague destroying his immortality. Haunted by the specter of centuries of dark deeds, Black Adam transfers his powers to a worthy successor who will redeem Adam’s legacy and defend their ancestral homeland of Kahndaq, only to subsequently become mystically “handcuffed” to him when Adam’s plague is arrested, giving birth to perhaps the most volatile and dysfunctional super-team in DC history! Powered by stunning art by Rafa Sandoval (Justice League) and breathtaking painted covers by Irvin Rodriguez (Detective Comics), writer Christopher Priest (Deathstroke, Justice League) brings his trademark wit and skill for character deconstruction to an entirely fresh examination of the man you love to hate! Get ready to ride the lightning!
Why It’s Cool: I knew a Black Adam comic was bound to happen with a new movie on the way later this year. What I didn’t know is that it would have a creative team as perfectly-suited for the character as Rafa Sandoval and Priest. I even wrote about why it’s such a good fit. (Zack Quaintance)

BLACK MANTA - Due out August 2, 2022
Written by CHUCK BROWN
Art by VALENTINE DE LANDRO and MATTHEW DOW SMITH
Cover by VALENTINE DE LANDRO
$16.99 US | 160 pages | 6 5/8″ x 10 3/16″ | Softcover
ISBN: 978-1-77951-713-5
ON SALE 8/2/222
Black Manta is dying. After unearthing a rare and powerful metal at the bottom of the ocean, Manta finds himself plagued by excruciating pain. But the hunt for his salvation puts Manta in the crosshairs of Devil Ray, a dangerous new rival who aims to become the new Scourge of the Seven Seas! Collects the Black Manta short from Aquaman 80th Anniversary 100-Page Super Spectacular #1 and Black Manta #1-6.
Why It’s Cool: I’ve been hearing a lot of good things about this one from basically everyone on Twitter, so even without the Valentine De Landro artwork, this book has been on my radar for some time. And now that they’re collecting it in trade? Well, I too can finally know what all the fuss is about! (Keigen Rea)

DARK CRISIS #1 - Due Out June 7, 2022
Written by JOSHUA WILLIAMSON
Art and cover by DANIEL SAMPERE
Variant covers by JAMAL CAMPBELL, INHYUK LEE, GREG CAPULLO, JONATHAN GLAPION, and BRUNO REDONDO
1:25 variant cover by DAN SCHOENING
1:50 variant cover by STEVE BEACH
1:100 foil variant cover by GREG CAPULLO and JONATHAN GLAPION
Team variant cover by MAHMUD ASRAR
$5.99 US | 40 pages | 1 of 7 | Variant $6.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 6/7/22
Crisis on Infinite Earths. Infinite Crisis. Final Crisis.
And now…Dark Crisis!
The epic event years in the making is finally here! Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, and the rest of the Justice League are dead. The remaining heroes are left to protect the world from an onslaught of violent attacks by DC’s greatest villains! Can the legacy heroes step out of the shadows of the classic heroes to form a new Justice League? And will that be enough to stop a darkness greater than anything they’ve ever faced from destroying everything?
Don’t miss out on the first issue of the blockbuster event of the summer!
Why It’s Cool: Look, I love a good summer event, one that swings big and does too many things, and gets hyped for months, if not longer. Dark Crisis is all of those things. It also involves Pariah (an excellent move), and a vow from the creative team that there is no interest here in tinkering with DC Comics continuity. Just count me in for all of it, the auxiliary series and the main book. (Zack Quaintance)

DC PRIDE 2022 #1 - Due Out May 31, 2022
Written by DEVIN GRAYSON, STEPHANIE WILLIAMS, TRAVIS G. MOORE, ALYSSA WONG, and others
Art by NICK ROBLES, BRITTNEY WILLIAMS, EVAN CAGLE, W. SCOTT FORBES, and others
Cover by PHIL JIMENEZ
Wraparound variant cover by JOSHUA "SWAY" SWABY 1:25 foil variant cover by JEN BARTEL
$9.99 US | 104 pages | One-shot | Prestige Format
ON SALE 5/31/22
DC's 2022 celebration kicks off with more stories, more characters, and more pride than ever before! This anthology features 13 all-new stories spotlighting LGBTQIA+ fan-favorites new and old including Superman (Jon Kent), Nubia, Tim Drake, Kid Quick, Aquaman (Jackson Hyde), Green Lantern (Jo Mullein), Alysia Yeoh, the Ray, Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy, Batwoman, and more! This special also includes: • A Multiversity: Teen Justice kickoff story spotlighting Kid Quick and written by the miniseries team, Danny Lore and Ivan Cohen!
• An introduction by activist, actress, and real-life superhero Nicole Maines that
will include a teaser for her upcoming Dreamer project!
• Pinups by P. Craig Russell, J.J. Kirby, and more!
Why It’s Cool: There’s a lot to like about DC Comics Prime Month publishing plans, chief among them that they involve a number of interesting books that will continue on past June, as well as efforts to promote some of the related excellent OGNs from DC’s back catalog. I wrote about it all here. (Zack Quaintance)

DC VS. VAMPIRES– KILLERS #1 - Due Out June 28, 2022
Written by MATTHEW ROSENBERG
Art by MIKE BOWDEN
Cover by HICHAM HABCHI
Variant cover by BRETT BOOTH and JONATHAN GLAPION
$3.99 US | 32 Pages | One-shot | Variant $4.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 6/28/22
In the shadow of the new Vampire World Order, Harley Quinn rules the human underworld in this age of darkness. She has survived by only looking out for herself...but she might have just found the key to saving the world.
Why It’s Cool: DC v Vampires has been a fun story to follow and I’m excited for any and all new content at this point. This one in particular also promises major revelations as Harley will figure out the key to victory for the living. Also, with a title like, “Killers,” you just know there’s some juicy action sequences ahead. (Larry Jorash)

Filya Bratukhin Variants for Batman #124 Variant & Deathstroke Inc. #10
Why They Are Cool: You see those covers??? I know you did! I could stare at ‘em all day y’all…I gotta get those covers…

MILESTONES IN HISTORY #1 - Due Out June 14, 2022
Written by REGINALD HUDLIN, PAT CHARLES, TANANARIVE DUE, KARYN PARSONS, ALICE RANDALL, TOURÉ, and others
Art by RAY-ANTHONY HEIGHT, JAMAL IGLE, ARVELL JONES, DOMINIKE "DOMO" STANTON , RON WILSON, and others
Cover by CHRISCROSS
Variant cover by DOUG BRAITHWAITE
$9.99 US | 96 pages | One-shot | Prestige
ON SALE 6/14/22
The Dakota Universe is built on the shoulders of giants—and it is time for their stories to be told! In this massive oversize special, a who's who of talent from many disciplines tell the tales of trailblazing Black and African figures throughout every era of humanity! From the realms of literature, aviation, music, dance, military conquest, and more, the history of the world is Black history, and this special aims to prove it! Plus, don't miss the shocking final-page reveal that points to the future of the Milestone Universe line!
Why It’s Cool: This book tells the story of real-life heroes through the eyes of the characters in the Milestone Universe. It’s a great concept, and if that weren’t enough, the solict text is teasing an ending that foreshadows the future of the revived Milestone line. (Zack Quaintance)

POISON IVY #1 - Due Out June 7, 2022
Written by G. WILLOW WILSON
Art by MARCIO TAKARA
Cover by JESSICA FONG
Variant cover by WARREN LOUW
1:25 variant cover by NICK ROBLES
1:50 variant cover by FRANK CHO
1:100 foil variant cover by WARREN LOUW
Team variant cover by DAN MORA
PRIDE variant cover by KRIS ANKA
$3.99 US | 32 pages | 1 of 6 | Variant $4.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 6/7/22
Pamela Isley has been a lot of things in her life. A living god, a super-villain, an activist, a scientist, and dead. In a new body that she didn't ask for and with a renewed sense of purpose, Ivy leaves Gotham and sets out to complete her greatest work—a gift to the world that will heal the damage dealt to it…by ending humanity.
Spinning out of the pages of Batman, DC is proud to present the unbelievable next chapter in Poison Ivy's life by the incredible creative team of G. Willow Wilson and Marcio Takara. Featuring a stunning cast of variant cover artists, including Warren Louw, Frank Cho, Dan Mora, Nick Robles…and introducing main cover artist Jessica Fong!
Why It’s Cool: This one has me excited. We don’t get a lot of truly great Poison Ivy stories and I’m excited to dive into her new solo run. The plot sounds quite mysterious, too, and I expect big things to come with an exceptional display of wild cover work on the multiple variant covers. (Larry Jorash)