May Covers

Bleeding Cool gave us a look at some covers for the May books last week. They are not necessarily all variants, some are for books that did not a include a cover image with its promotional text.

The first that they showed was, oddly enough, very much revealed when The Lazarus Contract was announced. It is the regular Mike McKone cover for Deathstroke #19 (though BC seems to indicate it is for #18, but I believe that is an error on their past) so I've ignored it.

But what I believe is the "real" cover to #19 was displayed as well. That's it below, by Ivan Reis.

Hard to top Ivan Reis but goddamn if Phil Jiminez doesn't do exactly that in his cover for Teen Titans #8.

Naturally, I became a Deathstroke fan as a result of being a New Teen Titans fans first during the Marv Wolfman / George Perez years. I liked the new characters just fine (well, except for Changeling, he's a pain in the ass) but even at the time there was just something about the original characters that I found more compelling. I was always more interested in stories that featured those guys than Cyborg, Starfire, etc. I'm glad that they have their own book, though I admit I don't think it's quite hit the mark.

Variant Cover To Titans #11

The four books that combine to tell the Lazarus Contract story all have similar covers by Mike McKone but three of them have variants as well (the Teen Titans annual apparently does not).

Today, Bleeding Cool had the variant for Titans #11 on display. It is the work of Norm Rapmund. The story gets underway with that book's release on May 10th.

Oh my...Deathstroke #21 solicitation

I have a feeling this will get a negative reaction because it will be taken a little too literally and/or seriously.

DEATHSTROKE #21
Written by CHRISTOPHER PRIEST
Art by DIOGENES NEVES
Cover by RYAN SOOK
Variant cover by SHANE DAVIS

*Includes a code for a free digital download of this issue. 

“DEFIANCE” part one! A new day has dawned for Deathstroke. Having emerged from the Speed Force a changed man, Slade Wilson takes aim at living a better life—a life in service of justice. But when the world refuses to accept the new Deathstroke, Slade recruits a group of young heroes to join him including including former Teen Titans Kid Flash and Power Girl, his children, Rose and Jericho, and the bombastic Terra! 

But has Slade truly shed his villainous past? And what other shadowy forces are working against him? Find out as Deathstroke’s bold new direction begins here! 

On sale JULY 5 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T+#

The resemblance to the oft-copied cover Justice League International #1 can hardly be a coincidence.

And like very other time he has led a team, this will be short-lived, if he even truly "leads" them. Even the solicitation text questions Deathstroke's sincerity. It wouldn't be the first time he's had an agenda.

The thing of it is though...That's a pretty cool looking bunch right there. I'd buy the hell out of that book. Since Deathstroke's own title is being reduced from being published twice a month to only once, maybe that team could complement it. Unlikely, since most of the characters are unknown but perhaps if the premise is good...

Dreaming, I know. But while the image does pack a jolt at first sight for a long-time Deathstroke fan, with a few minutes to take it in, it certainly has me curious.

Cover image and solicitation text first spotted on bleedingcool.

Lazarus Contract Hardcover Scheduled For November 2017

According to Amazon, that is. They already have it listed even though we're several weeks from the first issue of the arc being released. Mind you, the 6-month gap in publication is pretty consistent.

Now word on when the softcover version might be available. And as usual with Amazon, the promotional image being used currently may not be the final cover image.

Titans past, present and future collide with their eternal enemy Deathstroke in this monumental crossover from DC Rebirth TITANS: THE LAZARUS CONTRACT!  

When Deathstroke discovers that Wally West's return holds the key to bringing his son back from the dead, he'll stop at nothing to do just that. Standing in his way? Both the Teen Titans and the Titans! But will both teams kill each other before Deathstroke does? Or will the Titans and the Teen Titans be fast enough to stop him from changing the world as we know it?  

With a powerhouse creative team of Dan Abnett, Benjamin Percy and Christopher Priest, TITANS: THE LAZARUS CONTRACT sets the stage for the next era of Titans, Teen Titans and Deathstroke, the consequences of which will be felt for years to come! 

Collects TITANS #11, TEEN TITANS #8, DEATHSTROKE #19 and TEEN TITANS ANNUAL #1