Why Did DC Cancel Superman's Team-Up with a Muslim Hero?
Jun 22nd 2011 By: Chris Sims

Ever since it was solicited three months ago, DC has been billing Superman #712 as a story where Superman goes to Los Angeles and meets the West Coast's newest super-hero, Sharif, a young man dealing with a public that might not want his help. If you go to your local comic shop and pick the issue up today, however, that's not the story you're going to get. Instead, the issue now contains a completely different story.

At first glance, this might not seem like a big deal, because after all, fill-ins happen all the time. But given that writer Chris Roberson has said that the entire issue has been completed, it seems like there might be a deeper reason that this story got the axe -- and it's hard to believe it doesn't have something to do with the fact that Sharif is a Muslim.

(excerpt)

Roberson himself in a reaction he gave exclusively to ComicsAlliance:

"As much as I look forward to seeing an unpublished Kurt Busiek Superman story, it's a shame that DC didn't determine that the story we prepared for Superman 712 didn't work in the Grounded storyline in time for us to do a different story. As it happened, the Sharif story was included in the outline for the remaining issues of Grounded that I submitted in November. The outline was approved, and in February the issue synopsis that I provided was used to draft the solicitation text, to work up character designs for Sharif (the grown up version of Sinbad from the early 90s), and for cover art to be pencilled, inked, and colored. The script for the issue was accepted in April, and was drawn, inked, and lettered. Unfortunately, when the issue was ready to be sent to the printer in the third week of May I was informed that the decision had been made not to print it."

DC Comics Solicitations for June, 2011
by CBR News Team, Editor | Posted: 03/15/11

DC Comics has released solicitation information and images for new comics and products shipping in June, 2011. When you're through checking out these solicitations for new releases, be sure to visit CBR's DC Comics forum to discuss these titles and products with fellow readers and fans.

FLASHPOINT #2
Written by GEOFF JOHNS
Art and cover by ANDY KUBERT and SANDRA HOPE
1:25 Black and White Variant cover A by ANDY KUBERT
Variant cover B by IVAN REIS and GEORGE PÉREZ

The world-changing miniseries continues! Where are the World’s Greatest Super Heroes? Barry Allen is on a mission to find out or die trying – and that may be what’s happening as he tries to make lightning strike twice! Meanwhile, around the submerged Paris, the pirate Deathstroke confronts Emperor Aquaman!
Retailers please note: This issue will ship with three covers. Please see the Previews Order Form for FLASH promotional rings.
On sale JUNE 1 • 2 of 5, 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T


FLASHPOINT: SECRET SEVEN #1
Written by PETER MILLIGAN
Art by GEORGE PEREZ and SCOTT KOBLISH
Cover by GEORGE PEREZ

FLASH FACT! One among them will betray them all!
Retailers: Please see the Previews Order form for special FLASHPOINT promotional buttons.

On sale JUNE 1 • 1 of 3, 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T


SUPERMAN #712
Written by J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI and CHRIS ROBERSON
Art by EDDY BARROWS and J.P. MAYER
Cover by JOHN CASSADAY
1:10 Variant cover by GEORGE PÉREZ

Meet Los Angeles’s newest super hero in the latest Chapter of “Grounded”: Sharif! But Sharif discovers that in today’s current cultural climate, some people don’t want his help – they just want him gone. Can Superman aid Sharif and quell a prejudiced public, or are there some problems too big even for the Man of Steel to solve?
Retailers please note: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the Previews Order Form for more information.
On sale JUNE 8 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T

DC UNIVERSE: LEGACIES HC
Written by LEN WEIN
Art by SCOTT KOLINS, ANDY KUBERT, JOE KUBERT, GEORGE PEREZ, J.H. WILLIAMS III and others
Cover by ANDY KUBERT and JOE KUBERT
Acclaimed writer Len Wein chronicles the DC Universe’s epic history in this title spanning five generations of heroes, from the dawn of the Mystery Men before World War II through the present day, starring Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, The Justice League of America, The Teen Titans and more. Collecting the ten-issue series!
On sale AUGUST 24 • 336 pg, FC, $34.99 US

FIRESTORM: THE NUCLEAR MAN TP
Written by GERRY CONWAY
Art by AL MILGROM, GEORGE PEREZ, KLAUS JANSON and others
Cover by AL MILGROM

For the first time, the stories that introduced Firestorm are collected from issues #1-5 of his 1970s series, plus stories from THE FLASH #289-293. After Ronnie Raymond is tricked into nearly blowing up a nuclear reactor, he and Professor Martin Stein are caught in a nuclear incident. Their personalities merge, forming the being called Firestorm!

On sale JULY 20 • 176 pg, FC, $17.99 US

THE NEW TEEN TITANS OMNIBUS VOL. 1 HC
Written by MARV WOLFMAN
Art by GEORGE PEREZ, CURT SWAN, ROMEO TANGHAL and others
Cover by GEORGE PEREZ
In 1980, writer Marv Wolfman and artist George Pérez introduced a timeless team including Robin, Kid Flash, Wonder Girl, Cyborg, Changeling, Raven and Starfire – young heroes with great powers and strong personalities who learned their way in the world through the strength of their friendship and the adventures they shared.
This first omnibus edition collects the team’s debut in DC COMICS PRESENTS #26, plus the first sixteen issues of their smash-hit monthly series, including the first appearances of foes including Deathstroke and Trigon, as well as a confrontation with The Justice League of America.
On sale AUGUST 24 • 464 pg, FC, $75.00 US