What’s Coming for DC Ink and Zoom

DC’s younger reader imprints are off to a mixed start, but there are plenty more titles to come.

DC Ink is for young adult readers, ages 13 and up. The line launched with Mera: Tidebreaker, followed by Under the Moon: A Catwoman Tale, promoted on Free Comic Book Day and out now.

Coming up next, as described here, are Teen Titans: Raven, out early July, followed by Harley Quinn: Breaking Glass in early September.

The latest announcement is Batman: Nightwalker, now available for order from your local comic shop with Diamond code MAY19 0358. It’s adapted by Stuart Moore from the novel by Marie Lu, illustrated by Chris Wildgoose, and due out at the end of September.

DC Zoom is the line aimed at middle grade readers, ages 8-12. After a rocky start with Super Sons: The PolarShield Project, the Free Comic Book Day-promoted Dear Justice League looks adorable, with the full book out early August. Before that, the digital first DC Super Hero Girls: Spaced Out is out next month, as covered here.

Coming this fall are seven more books that have been announced, and we’re beginning to see a trend of teen versions of already known characters.

Superman of Smallville – due September 3 – by Art Baltazar, co-written by Franco – Superman as a teen boy in a comedy adventure

The Secret Spiral of Swamp Kid – due October 1 – by Kirk Scroggs – in that illustrated diary format made popular by the Wimpy Kid books

DC Super Hero Girls at Metropolis High – due October 15 – written by Amy Wolfram and illustrated by Yancey Labat – relaunching the series with a new look to match the cartoon redesign by Lauren Faust; there’s a currently running DC Super Hero Girls digital-first series, Weird Science, that will likely be collected next year with the same look

Black Canary: Ignite – due October 29 – written by Meg Cabot and illustrated by Cara McGee – another hero as a teen story, keeping the idea of Black Canary as a rock vocalist

Super Sons: The Foxglove Mission – due October 29 – written by Ridley Pearson and illustrated by Ile Gonzalez – the sequel to the first DC Zoom book

Diana, Princess of the Amazons – due January 7 – written by Shannon and Dean Hale and illustrated by Victoria Ying – a young hero needs to find a friend

Green Lantern: Legacy – due January 21 – written by Minh Lê and illustrated by Andie Tong – yet another teen hero, a new character who’s given the power of the green power ring