During today’s Comics are Fun for Everyone panel at San Diego Comic Con, DC Comics announced a new young adult Superman graphic novel from cartoonist Sina Grace, and offered first looks at a number of other projects for readers of all age groups, from Batman: The Audio Adventures to Constantine: Distorted Illusions to Blue Beetle: Graduation Day.
Superman: The Harvests of Youth is cartoonist Sina Grace’s new YA graphic novel from DC, due out in October of 2023. Here’s how DC Describes the book:
The book looks at a young Clark Kent, in high school in Smallville, as he grapples with the mortality of his friends and family, teen isolation and the seductive nature of online subcultures built around hate and anger. It features characters familiar to longtime Super-fans, like Lana Lang, as well as introducing new characters. Grace is joined on the book by interior colorist Cris Peter (Casanova). Written and drawn by Sina Grace, the book promises to be a moving look at the difficulties of growing up, and all the pressures and fear that surround that, as well as the joy of taking flight.
Along with the graphic novel announcement, DC previewed a number of other projects that are coming out later this year. Here’s a quick rundown of those:
Batman: The Audio Adventures (7-issue miniseries from writer Dennis McNicholas, artists Anthony Marques & J. Bone, and cover artist Dave Johnson):
Picking up right after the season finale of the audio-series, the comic follows a string of attacks that have plagued Gotham City’s seedy underbelly, sending criminals into a panic. But it’s not Batman who is striking at the heart of the city, it’s a group of mysterious assailants on the hunt for an ancient artifact. As Batman hunts down these assassins, he finds clues that keep drawing him to their true goal: the sword of King Scimitar!
Constantine: Distorted Illusions (Young Adult graphic novel from writer Kami Garcia and artist Isaac Goodhart):
John Constantine is, and has always been, a magician of the highest caliber—who decides he doesn’t need any additional training or guidance. Sensing an opportunity for independence, Constantine falsely accepts an apprenticeship in the United States to instead become the lead singer of his best friend’s punk band, Mucous Membrane. When the band begins to dabble in magic, a complicated spell gets out of hand with disastrous consequences that might be more than Constantine can handle. With stunning art, pulling direct references from iconic Punk venues in their heyday, this book is a fantastic, fast-paced look at punk rock, magic, friendship, and recovering from bad decisions.
Blue Beetle: Graduation Day (six-issue miniseries from writer Josh Trujillo and artist Adrián Gutierréz):
The upcoming series will follow Jaime Reyes as he grapples with heroics and his future. When The Reach interrupts Jaime’s high school graduation, he has to decide what’s best for his future while grappling with both The Reach and his Scarab. Trujillo talked about bringing Starfire into the series, writing mentorship, and introducing a new location, Palmera City, to the DC Universe!
Trujillo also teased that the series will introduce a new color of Beetle with the Yellow Beetle:
Along with new projects, DC also previewed the next issue of Daniel Warren Johnson, Juan Geddeon, & Mike Spicer‘s Jurassic League, and premiered the cover to the series’ final issue:
DC also previewed the debut issue of DC Horror Presents: Sgt. Rock vs. the Army of the Dead, written by Bruce Campbell and illustrated by Eduardo Risso:
Miss any of The Beat’s earlier SDCC ’22 Coverage? Find it all here!
