DC's Heroes in Crisis Covers Tease Death of Superman Tie-In

CBR

Sook's Heroes in Crisis Variants Explore Key Tragedies from DC Continuity

By Stephen Gerding

Published Aug 22, 2018

Ryan Sook brings some of DC Comics' biggest tragedies back to the forefront in his special Heroes in Crisis variant cover series.

In addition to exploring the current state of the heroes and villains of the DC Universe, Tom King and Clay Mann's upcoming Heroes in Crisis event series will look back at some of the biggest tragedies to befall its residents via a series of special variant covers.

Illustrated by Ryan Sook, the themed variants will place some of the biggest tragedies involving the likes of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and Harley Quinn in new context, envisioning them as case files from the archives at Sanctuary, the mental health facility at the center of Heroes in Crisis' story. The first three issues deal with the death of Superman, Bane breaking Batman's back, and Wonder Woman killing Maxwell Lord. Not only will they firmly establish these defining moments as part of the Rebirth era, they'll "reframe" them in the context of current DC continuity and the Sanctuary project.

Ryan Sook's variant cover for Heroes in Crisis #1

"I think these momentous occasions fit so naturally into the scope of the project as a whole. Many devoted readers know these events, but even new readers can instantly connect to them or may be aware of them already," Sook explained in an interview with DC. "Like the death of Superman or Batman’s back being broken—these defining moments have already come out in other media like film, animation and games, because they are lasting, character-defining moments. They go beyond the comic book page into something human that we can all relate to. It’s what makes the series so compelling, to see how the heroes have to deal with [trauma]"

In addition to the three covers released today, Sook will illustrate pieces that depict Aquaman losing his hand, Jason Todd's death at the hands of the Joker, Hal Jordan killing Kilowog, and an as yet undisclosed moment featuring Harley Quinn. Every aspect of the cover has been considered, Sook assures fans, down to the dates and numbers written on the photographs holding special meaning.

Each of Sook's covers will be available as open-to-order variants, meaning there are no limitations set on them by DC Comics. The covers will feature a spot varnish treatment, causing the photographic elements to shine more than the rest of the cover.

Heroes in Crisis #1, by Tom King and Clay Mann, arrives in stores Wednesday, September 26.