After the recent release of DC Comics’ May 2018 solicitations, news started pouring in about the fate of several current DC books, and when they are getting the axe. There have, so far, been six ongoing titles announced as cancelled and three that are up in the air following their absence from the May solicitations list.
Here is the list of cancelled books, and any information we have on them:
TRINITY #22
Written by JAMES ROBINSON • Art by PATCH ZIRCHER • Cover by GUILLEM MARCH • Variant cover by BILL SIENKIEWICZ
“MAN DOWN” finale! The Trinity and Warlord have discovered Deimos’ plan to use the Skartaran Time Weapon to reduce his enemies to dust—but time itself is not on our heroes’ side! It’s up to Superman, Wonder Woman and Batman to save Steve Trevor, defeat Deimos and seal the breach with Skartaris before the entire world is consumed by magic powerful enough to melt millennia! .
On sale APRIL 25 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T • FINAL ISSUE
This cancellation was revealed in DC’s April 2018 solicitations.
BATGIRL AND THE BIRDS OF PREY #22
Written by JULIE BENSON and SHAWNA BENSON • Art by ROGE ANTONIO • Cover by TERRY DODSON and RACHEL DODSON • Variant cover by KAMONE SHIRAHAMA
“WHO IS ORACLE?” revisited! Batgirl and Black Canary must find Huntress and save her from Calculator and Blackbird’s nefarious plan. But everything comes full circle when the answer to Calculator’s question—“Who is Oracle?”—is at last revealed. The Birds of Prey have always been a tight-knit team, but here, in what could be their final hours, they truly become a family.
On sale MAY 9 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T • FINAL ISSUE
Co-writer Shawna Benson had this to say about the cancellation:
Thanks everyone for your kind words regarding Batgirl & the Birds of Prey. We still have 3 issues to get out the door and would love to have you along as we come "Full Circle." And Yes! We are writing Green Arrow Annual #2 which is crazy exciting! pic.twitter.com/Y4h6TmtgzK
— Shawna Benson (@shawnabenson) February 20, 2018
DC’S BOMBSHELLS UNITED
DC Comics released a statement on Twitter from the writer of Bombshells United, Marguerite Bennett:
"It's with gratitude, and not grief, that today I tell you that BOMBSHELLS will be entering its final arc. It means so much for you to be here as we bring this saga to an end. So one last time — Let's fly." –@EvilMarguerite pic.twitter.com/q40JPOAz05
— DC (@DCComics) February 20, 2018
No final issue was named, though Bennett said the series is “entering its final arc” with May’s Bombshells United #17 and #18.
SUPER SONS #16
Written by PETER J. TOMASI • Art by CARLO BARBERI and ART THIBERT • Cover by JORGE JIMENEZ • Variant cover by DUSTIN NGUYEN
“END OF INNOCENCE” part two! The epic battle between the Super Sons and Kid Amazo crashes to a close, and Superboy and Robin must decide how to pick up the pieces of the disastrous Amazo Project. The Super Sons face tomorrow in this latest chapter of their journey together!
On sale MAY 30 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T
Even though it wasn’t confirmed in the solicitations, it WAS confirmed in the Previews catalogue, and if you look close at the cover art, you’ll see the words “The End” in the bottom left side:
And then Peter J. Tomasi confirmed it as well:
Wow! The love and sadness for Super Sons being cancelled is knocking me out! So, before too much time passes let me be the first to tell you that I’m not done with our two favorite boys and new news will be forthcoming soon! pic.twitter.com/UzIyRJaqjk
— Peter J. Tomasi (@PeterJTomasi) February 21, 2018
However, according to Tomasi, it wasn’t sales that brought Super Sons to an end:
Good Crikey my Twitter account is exploding! Brothers and sisters, keep thinking good things! It is not being cancelled for bad sales. There are plans afoot I can't share at this early juncture but you will be happy with the results – Super Sons lives!
— Peter J. Tomasi (@PeterJTomasi) February 21, 2018
And we’ll even be getting a fun Hanna-Barbera crossover with the boys before it all ends:
Here's a little surprise to ease the temporary pain. It's coming out the fifth week in May but didn't make Previews (will be in June issue of Previews). Super-Sons/Dyno-Mutt Special #1. 38 pages of our boys knocking heads with Dyno-Mutt and the Blue Falcon! pic.twitter.com/KrKwmvmhWg
— Peter J. Tomasi (@PeterJTomasi) February 22, 2018
But it’s not completely over, as it seems Super Sons will be joining the new DC Zoom imprint as a graphic novel:
And here’s the synopsis:
These super sons abandoned by their fathers, will meet a young woman and rightful heiress of a continental empire facing four rival girls. They will work together, be friends together, be middle school kids and solve a world crisis. Maybe.
SUPERGIRL #20
Written by STEVE ORLANDO and JODY HOUSER • Art and cover by ROBSON ROCHA • Variant cover by STANLEY “ARTGERM” LAU
Supergirl must fight both Mokkari and the out-of-dimension Viking Judge to save Director Bones from the fury of the Viking’s magical ax! Meanwhile, with Director Bones out of the picture, Cameron Chase and Lar-On must break into the D.E.O. to save Veritas before the clock counts down to zero and the psycho-redactor erases her memories forever!
On sale APRIL 11 • 32 pg, FC • $3.99 US • RATED T7
And even though DC’s Supergirl was absent from DC’s May 2018 solicitations, series writer Steve Orlando explained that April’s Supergirl #20 (as seen above) would be its series finale.
While the story that began in Supergirl:Rebirth concludes in #20, I couldn't be more grateful for what we've accomplished in #Supergirl. Wherever Kara goes next will be amazing! Thank you all for your incredible support, for this singular run, and to my co-creators and editors!
— Steve Orlando (@thesteveorlando) February 21, 2018
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #29
Written by STEVE ORLANDO • Art by HUGO PETRUS • Cover by DAVID WILLIAMS • Variant cover by FRANCESCO MATTINA
“DAWN OF TIME” finale! Chronos has won. Super heroes are non existent in the new timeline he’s manipulated into existence. The League will have to find each other, reform and fix the time stream or all of time will be at Chronos’s command.
On sale APRIL 25 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Newsarama has confirmed that Justice League of America is ending with April’s #29. To be certain, I reached out to Steve Orlando and asked him to confirm, which he did:
Unfortunately it is! As in @IGN's original No Justice announcement, we'll be concluding JLA with issue 29
— Steve Orlando (@thesteveorlando) February 26, 2018
Harley Quinn #42, Teen Titans #19, and Titans #22 all hit shelves in April, however, when the May solicitations dropped, there was no sign of any of these books. None of the creatives on these books have commented and I have even reached out myself to all of the writers. If any confirmation, one way or another, comes out, I will surely let you know.
As for some of these missing titles, Justice League: No Justice co-writer Scott Snyder tweeted that the weekly May series would be “rolling in” Justice League, Justice League of America, Teen Titans, and Titans.
JL: NO JUSTICE is a mini every week of May, rolling in JL, JLA, TT, T and spinning out some new books, some new versions of existing books. Rosters in NO JUSTICE are part of the mystery of that story. No spoilers about teams spinning out after! https://t.co/NE6rpi5GJU
— Scott Snyder (@Ssnyder1835) January 28, 2018
Given that DC has already confirmed that Justice League would return with a new creative team after No Justice, it’s possible that Teen Titans and Titans may return as well, under the realm of “new versions of existing books.” Or they could go they way of Justice League of America.
The future of Harley Quinn has not been addressed by DC or any of its creators publicly as of yet.
And be sure to check out the 4-part weekly miniseries Justice League: No Justice this May.
