DC has announced their plans for next year’s Black History Month in February, which include not only a new anthology and variant covers, but also several projects coming out of Milestone as the imprint celebrates its 30th anniversary.
In addition, several creators coming out of the Milestone Initiative, a program launched last year “to identify, support and elevate emerging diverse writers and artists within the comic book industry,” will see their first work published during Black History Month.
Let’s take a look at the DCU projects first …
Following in the footsteps of DC Pride, DC Festival of Heroes and other anthologies, DC Power: A Celebration will feature stories starring John Stewart, Cyborg, Vixen, Aqualad, Kid Flash, Batwing and more, by creators like Chuck Brown (Black Manta, Bitter Root), Stephanie Williams (Nubia: Queen of the Amazons, Trial of the Amazons), Evan Narcisse (Batman: Gotham Knights – Gilded City), Valentine De Landro (Black Manta, Future State: Superman: Worlds at War), Clayton Henry (Action Comics, Superman Red & Blue, Black Lightning: Cold Dead Hands) and more. The anthology also includes the first DC work from writers Dorado Quick, Morgan Hampton and Jordan Clark, as well as artist Petterson Oilveira, who participated in the Milestone Initiative Talent Development Program. It arrives in stores Jan. 31.
In addition, several DC titles in February will have variant covers by Black creators featuring Black characters:
- The Flash #792 (Wallace West/Kid Flash) by Mateus Manhanini, on sale Feb. 7
- I Am Batman #18 (Jace Fox/Tiffany Fox/Batwing) by ChrisCross, on sale Feb. 14
- Black Adam #8 (Malik White/Bolt) by Taurin Clarke, on sale Feb. 21
- Lazarus Planet Omega #1 (Cyborg) by Edwin Galmon, on sale Feb. 21
- Wonder Woman #796 (Nubia), by Taj Tenfold on sale Feb. 21
- Action Comics #1052 (John Henry Irons/Natasha Irons), by Khary Randolph, on sale Feb. 28
Also coming on Feb. 7 is a new collection, The DC Universe by Dwayne McDuffie, which collects the DC stories the founding member of Milestone Media.
This 280-page collected hardcover features McDuffie-written stories from Action Comics, The Demon, Impulse, JLA Showcase 80-Page Giant, Batman: Gotham Knights (2002), Sins of Youth: Kid Flash/Impulse and Firestorm: The Nuclear Man.
Speaking of Milestone, DC revealed more details on several titles they announced this past summer in San Diego, including Icon vs. Hardware, Static: Shadows of Dakota and the Milestone 30th Anniversary Special.
From the publisher: Eagle-eyed readers who saw the hints dropped in Icon & Rocket: Season One and Milestones In History knew that it was just a matter of time before two of Milestone’s most powerful superheroes would be at odds. This five-issue limited series reunites the Icon & Rocket: Season One writing team of Reginald Hudlin and Leon Chills, with art by Milestone Media co-founder Denys Cowan. In a search to find Icon’s crashed spaceship, Hardware finds a tool even more useful, and potentially more dangerous: a time machine. This sets him on a collision course with Dakota’s powerhouse hero, with the future of the Milestone universe hanging in the balance.
The next phase of the return of Milestone publishing begins February 7, 2023 with the release of Static: Shadows of Dakota. This follow-up to the critically acclaimed Static: Season One features art by rising superstar Nikolas Draper-Ivey, who also takes on the role of co-writer with Static: Season One writer Vita Ayala. This six-issue limited series is the perfect jumping-on point for fans who missed the first series—and especially for fans of the award-winning Static Shock animated series, the super-villain Ebon takes center stage.
This 96-page Prestige format anthology celebrates 30 years of Static, Icon, Rocket, Hardware, and the rest of the characters that made Milestone and the Dakotaverse a true game-changer in comic books.
There is something for every Milestone and comic book fan to enjoy. The anthology includes a feature-length story written by Evan Narcisse in which the current Milestone superheroes encounter their original 1990s counterparts via the powers of a mysterious character known only as Rift. It also features stories written by Chuck Brown, Stephanie Williams, and Nikolas Draper-Ivey, who is also providing art for his story in which Batman Beyond teams up with an adult version of Static, plus a variant cover highlighting the two characters. Along with Denys Cowan and other artists, the anthology features art from Yasmín Flores Montañez, who also participated in the Milestone Initiative Talent Development Program. Cowan provides the main cover to the anthology, an homage to DC’s iconic “Flash of Two Worlds” cover from 1961’s The Flash #123.
Finally, DC will release Milestone Compendium Two, which continues collecting the original Milestone stories in one gigantic volume. This one will also include the 1994 Worlds Collide event, where the Milestone characters first crossed over with the regular DC Universe, meeting Superman and related characters. It’ll arrive in stores Jan. 31.