Slugfest is a roundup of cool announcements about projects coming to a shelf near you. This edition focuses on DC’s November titles, plus a few extras.
DC is getting a little naughty this November, with a holiday special putting the spotlight on the villains of the DC Universe, but that’s hardly all the publisher has in store. November also brings three oversized 25th issues, a new Absolute Batman special, a Gangs of Gotham series spinning out of the Batman: Bad Seeds crossover and plenty more.
Here’s a look at what’s coming.
DC’s Naughty List #1
DC’s holiday special puts the spotlight on the villains who aren’t making Santa’s nice list, with stories by Alex Segura, Che Grayson, Alyssa Wong, Dave Baker, Charles Skaggs, Jude Ellison S. Doyle, Murewa Ayodele, Laura Braga, Lisa Sterle, Alex Nieto, Raül Fernandez and more. Poison Ivy, Livewire, Catman, Mr. Freeze and more will celebrate the season everywhere from Arkham Asylum to the Phantom Zone, likely having less interest in “Peace on Earth” than the usual holiday crowd.
Ethan Young provides the main cover, with variants by Sorah Suhng and Nathan Szerdy. The 80-page DC’s Naughty List #1 goes on sale Nov. 25 for $9.99.
Gangs of Gotham #1
Christopher Cantwell and Mike Henderson spin out of the “Bad Seeds” storyline — specifically out of the Gotham Central miniseries — with Gangs of Gotham #1. Anarky has been given a deadly ultimatum by the Torus: unite Gotham’s 100 independent street gangs under its control, or die trying. If Lonnie Machin can pull it off, he’ll earn a seat at the table, but failure means lights out for Anarky.
Ariel Olivetti provides the main cover, with variant covers by Martin Simmonds and Christian Ward. Gangs of Gotham #1 goes on sale Nov. 4.
Absolute Batman: Beyond Ark M #1
This special was teased last month in San Diego. Scott Snyder and Frank Tieri return to the twisted world of Ark M, with the always awesome Francesco Francavilla on art, for Absolute Batman: Beyond Ark M #1. As the Joker surveys his growing empire of Arks, the story ventures beyond the locations explored in the previous Ark M Special, promising a look at the dark secrets, horrifying challenges and other surprises lurking within the Joker’s domain.
Francavilla also provides the cover, with Dustin Nguyen contributing a freaky variant cover. Absolute Batman: Beyond Ark M #1 is due in comic shops on Nov. 11.
Absolute Superman #25
Sticking with the Absolute Universe, the third title DC launched in the line hits its 25th issue, following October’s Absolute Batman #25 and Absolute Wonder Woman #25. Jason Aaron writes the oversized conclusion to “Get Brainiac,” with Juan Ferreyra, Carmine Di Giandomenico and Rafa Sandoval on art. After being hunted, tortured and nearly driven insane by Brainiac, the Last Son of Krypton finally faces his tormentor in a climactic showdown.
Sandoval provides the main cover, with variant covers by Terry Dodson and Ferreyra, Bryan Hitch and Björn Barends. The extra-sized Absolute Superman #25 goes on sale Nov. 4.
Batgirl #25
Absolute Superman isn’t the only title to hit issue #25 in November — DC has two more that’ll get the oversized treatment. First, Tate Brombal writes the oversized 25th issue of Batgirl, with Takeshi Miyazawa and Damion Scott on art. The celebration of Cassandra Cain’s latest milestone quickly takes a turn, however, with the long-awaited return of her father, David Cain. Scott, who co-created Cassandra, also returns for a backup story.
David Talaski provides the main cover, with variant covers by Mike Choi and Nogi San. Batgirl #25 arrives Nov. 4.
Justice League Unlimited #25
The All In saga hits another milestone in the oversized 25th issue of Justice League Unlimited, with Mark Waid and Dan Mora revealing mroe about the post-K.O. tournament “visions” the participants had. The League must track down Dreamer, the fugitive precog whose powers may be the key to controlling the sudden surge of future-seeing abilities, while Waid and Mora assemble a new core team of the DCU’s greatest minds to confront what lies ahead. Nicole Maines and Fico Ossio also continue Dreamer’s journey from fugitive to unlikely savior in a back-up story.
Mora did the main cover, with variants by Kyuyong Eom, Bruno Redondo, Daniel Sampere, Seba Fiumara, Nathan Szerdy, Vincenzo Riccardi and Rafael Perez, plus a Watchmen 40th Anniversary variant by Clay Mann. The 40-page Justice League Unlimited #25 hits stores Nov. 25.
Batman 2026 Annual #1
Ongoing Batman writer Matt Fraction also writes this year’s Batman Annual, with Brian Ching and Jesse Lonergan providing art. The issue delves deeper into the Torus, the criminal organization that has taken control of Gotham’s underworld, and the mysterious Minotaur at its center. Fraction and Ching investigate how the Minotaur transformed Gotham’s criminal chaos into an organized empire, while Fraction and Lonergan explore the Calculator’s own algorithm for crime.
Ching drew the main cover, with variants by Mattia De Iulis and Ben Oliver. The 48-page Batman 2026 Annual #1 comes out Nov. 25.
Supergirl’s Zoo-per Heroes: Scent of Justice
Looking a bit further into the future, DC also solicited a new all-ages Supergirl graphic novel for next year. Rob Justus. who has done numerous all-ages books for DC at this point, writes and draws the next adventure of DC’s Zoo-per Heroes, following the animal heroes after their escape from the zoo. With Supergirl counting on them to track down the rest of the Justice League’s enchanted laundry, Krypto leads the team into the stinky underbelly of Metropolis, following the scent of magic while searching for the city’s best food.
Supergirl’s Zoo-per Heroes: Scent of Justice is scheduled to arrive Feb. 2.
Princesses of the DC Universe
Then in March, DC’s newest Wonder Girl takes center stage. Yara Flor isn’t exactly sure she’s ready to lead a teen superhero squad, but Wonder Woman encourages her to give it a shot, and even brings donuts to the first meeting. Things get more complicated when Princess Maxima crashes the gathering and, by royal decree, Yara, Steel and Miss Martian are required to accompany her back to her home planet. Road trip!
Tilly & Susan Bridges write this new middle-grade graphic novel, with Alba Glez providing the art. Princesses of the DC Universe is set to arrive March 2.
Green Lantern: Destiny
Writer Minh Lê and artist Andie Tong bring their trilogy that began with Green Lantern: Legacy and continued with Green Lantern: Alliance to its conclusion in Green Lantern: Destiny. As Sinestro prepares to descend on Earth, Tai Pham remains convinced that the Justice League is underestimating the threat. He’ll have to prove that he’s ready to become an official member of the team before Sinestro makes his move.
Green Lantern: Destiny comes out next year on April 6.
The Manifestations of Bobby Park
And then finally, Jeremy Holt, writer of Made in Korea, and manga artist Chong Hou introduce a new hero to the DC Universe in The Manifestations of Bobby Park. The 16-year-old is a science prodigy helping his immigrant parents run a laundromat in Central City’s Koreatown, but after a racially charged attack leaves his father hospitalized, Bobby’s anxiety manifests in a deeply personal way. When he develops a serum to cure his acne, the experiment instead creates a powerful alter ego named Atlas Ahn, and ultimately unleashes the Hulk-like monster Gemini.
The Manifestations of Bobby Park arrives April 6.