The Unexpectedis an ongoingAmericansuperherocomic bookwritten bySteve Orlandoand published monthly byDC Comics.The series was part of the "New Age of DC Heroes" initiative, which launched following the conclusion of theDark Nights: Metalcrossover event,and began publication on June 6, 2018. It focuses on the titular team—consisting ofFirebrand,Neon the Unknown,Viking Judge, and Ascendant—and follows their adventures, which relate to the events ofDark Nights: Metaland the Dark Multiverse.
| The Unexpected | |
|---|---|
 Textless cover toThe Unexpected#1 (June 2018), byRyan Sook,featuring Neon, Viking Judge, Ascendant, and Firebrand. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| Schedule | Monthly |
| Format | Ongoing series |
| Genre | Superhero |
| Publication date | June 6, 2018 – January 9, 2019 |
| No.of issues | 8 |
| Main character(s) | Firebrand Neon the Unknown Viking Judge Ascendant |
| Creative team | |
| Written by | Steve Orlando |
| Artist(s) | Ryan Sook Cary Nord |
DC announced plans to debut new titles following the conclusion ofDark Nights: Metalin April 2017, under the "Dark Matter" initiative, with the titles connecting to the events of the crossover.The Unexpectedwas first announced in October as part of the initiative, which had been renamed to "New Age of DC Heroes". According to Orlando, the titles core theme is discovery, describing it as a cross between "The Dark TowerandSeven Samurai",and deals with numerous aspects of DC's multiverse.
The series ended with its eighth issue.
Plot
editFormerparamedicJanet Fals/Firebrand was killed during the invasion ofthe Dark Multiverse.After her body was released to Civil Solutions, they resurrected her by installing the Conflict Engine into her heart, which requires her to fight every 24 hours or she'll die. While working her shift at aVA hospital,she is attacked by Alden Quench/Bad Samaritan, who wishes to extract the Conflict Engine from her. During the attack, the Unexpected—Neon the Unknown, Viking Judge, and Ascendant—show up to help Firebrand. In the ensuing battle, Bad Samaritan manages to injure and draw blood from Neon, Ascendant, and Viking Judge, using the latter's ax, which he uses to hit Firebrand in the chest, causing an explosion that results in the deaths of himself, Ascendant, and Viking Judge. The explosion also creates a new isotope of metal.
Development and publication history
editBackground and announcement
editFrom June 2017[1]up to March 2018,[2]DC ComicspublishedDark Nights: Metal,consisting of a six-issue limited series and various tie-ins. The story focused onBatmandiscovering the existence of the Dark Multiverse and fighting evil versions of himself led by the dark godBarbatos.[1][2][3]Following the conclusion ofDark Nights: Metal,DC launched the "Dark Matter" initiative and debuted numerous new titles spinning off the event.[4]In October, during theNew York Comic Conthe "Dark Matter" initiative had been rebranded to "The New Age of DC Heroes",[5]withThe Unexpectedbeing one of the titles to debut. The series was written bySteve Orlando,with art byRyan Sook.[6]
Writing and characters
editOrlando described the series as "The Dark TowermeetsSeven Samurai"[6]and focuses on new charactersJanet Fals/Firebrand,Colin Nomi/Neon the Unknown,Turid Goldenaxe/Viking Judge, and Elligh/Ascendant.[7]According to him, the titular team consists of people who are trying to atone for mistakes they made in the past, which they consider to be unforgivable.[7]Orlando stated that Firebrand isThe Unexpected's main connection to the events ofDark Nights: Metal,as she was a paramedic that got injured during the events of the crossover.[8]
Besides the series' connection to the events ofDark Nights: Metaland the Dark Multiverse, Orlando said thatThe Unexpectedalso deals with thepost-FlashpointMultiverse,Crisis on Infinite Earths,Infinite Crisis,andFinal Crisis,showing how many of these stories are connected to each other. Additionally, one of the book's core themes is discovery.[9]
Regarding the characters,Ryan Sooksaid that he designed them based on the descriptions he'd received from Orlando and sent them to DC. While Firebrand's design remained the same throughout development, his original designs for Neon, Viking Judge, and Ascendant were all scrapped and went through various incarnations.[9]
Reception
editCritical response
editThe Unexpectedhas received positive reviews fromcomics critics.At thereview aggregatorwebsite Comic Book Roundup, which assigns aweighted meanrating out of 10 to reviews from comics critics, the series has received an average score of 7.5 based on 51 reviews.[10]
Commercial performance
editThe Unexpected#1 debuted at 69th place onDiamond Comic Distributors' best-selling comics ranking for June 2018, with 28,028 copies distributed, being the 29th-best-selling DC comic book series published as well as the fourth-best-selling title by DC to debut in that month.[11][12]
The second issue fell to 123rd place in July.
References
edit- ^abMcMillan, Graeme (April 2, 2017)."'Dark Nights: Metal' to Explore New Directions for DC's Comic Book Superheroes ".The Hollywood Reporter.Archivedfrom the original on August 10, 2017.RetrievedJuly 27,2018.
- ^abArvendon, Jon (January 31, 2018)."Dark Nights: Metal Introduces Another Hero's Dark Multiverse Analogs".Comic Book Resources.Valnet Inc.Archivedfrom the original on July 27, 2018.RetrievedJuly 27,2018.
- ^Schedeen, Jesse (April 20, 2017)."DC Reveals New Comics Spinning Out of Dark Nights: Metal".IGN.j2 Global.Archivedfrom the original on February 23, 2018.RetrievedJuly 27,2018.
- ^Phegley, Kiel (April 20, 2017)."DC's Dark Matter Artists Tease Series Concepts, Characters".Comic Book Resources.Valnet Inc.Archivedfrom the original on July 27, 2018.RetrievedJuly 27,2018.
- ^Gerding, Stephen (October 5, 2017)."DC Rebrands Dark Matter as 'The New Age of DC Heroes'".Comic Book Resources.Valnet Inc.Archivedfrom the original on February 1, 2018.RetrievedJuly 27,2018.
- ^abJohnston, Rich (October 6, 2017).""Dark Tower Meets Seven Samurai": Steve Orlando And Ryan Sook's 'The Unexpected' For DC Comics ".Bleeding Cool.Avatar Press.Archivedfrom the original on October 8, 2017.RetrievedJuly 28,2018.
- ^abCohen, Jason (October 10, 2017)."Steve Orlando Reveals Details of New DC Series, The Unexpected".Comic Book Resources.Valnet Inc.Archivedfrom the original on June 16, 2018.RetrievedJuly 28,2018.
- ^Damore, Meagan (October 6, 2017)."DC Metal & New Age of Heroes Descend on NYCC".Comic Book Resources.Valnet Inc. Archived fromthe originalon February 3, 2018.RetrievedJuly 28,2018.
- ^abDowney, Meg (March 13, 2018)."New Age of DC Heroes: What to Expect from The Unexpected".DC Comics.Archivedfrom the original on May 24, 2018.RetrievedJuly 28,2018.
- ^"The Unexpected (2018) Comic Series Reviews".Comic Book Roundup.Archivedfrom the original on July 29, 2018.RetrievedJuly 29,2018.
- ^"Top 100 Comics: June 2018".Diamond Comic Distributors.Archivedfrom the original on July 27, 2018.RetrievedJuly 27,2018.
- ^"June 2018 Comic Book Sales to Comics Shops".Comichron.Archivedfrom the original on July 27, 2018.RetrievedJuly 27,2018.
External links
edit- The UnexpectedDC Comics