Well… this has been an interesting week. In case you’ve been living under a rock, DC made some pretty big announcements this week concerning their New 52 brand, and new titles they’ll be launching after Convergence. If you missed it, then check out Jay’s post DC Comics is Killing the New 52, New Slate of Books Coming in June for all of the details. Make sure you take a moment to weigh in on all of these details over there!
Other than that, we’re continuing the status quo for now! This week’s releases are listed in order of what I’m most excited to read, to what I’m least excited to read. For each title, I’ll include the official solicitation, the talent credits, more of my randomness, and the Batman News team member that will be covering each book. After that, you’ll find a poll for this week’s best cover! Should you have trouble picking one cover, no worries! The poll is open so you can select as many covers as you’d like. Then, as always, you’ll find graphic novels scheduled for release this week, along with their cover as well thanks to some requests (note: graphic novel covers will not be included in the poll for best cover). And of course, I (we) want to hear from you in the comments section! What titles are you picking up? What do you hope to see? And what are your thoughts about the order of my list? So, without further ado…
February 11th
Secret Six #2
What is Catman’s strange secret – and how will it affect this new team? Find out in the second sensational issue of SECRET SIX!
Art by: Ken Lashley
Cover by: Dale Eaglesham
Variant cover by: Ethan Van Sciver
Written by: Gail Simone
Random Blurb of Excitement: More than two months after the first issue was released, we’re finally getting issue #2! And considering the whole debut issue was essentially nothing but set-up, it’s cruel that DC forced us to wait this long. Regardless, I’m still excited, and I can’t wait to see how Simone continues this story. I’m seriously hoping that these delays don’t harm the title though, because we have another two month hiatus right around the corner.
Batman News Critic: Josh
Injustice: Gods Among Us Year Three #9
The new Deadman tracks down The Spectre but makes a shocking discovery. Meanwhile, Trigon launches an attack on Superman, and not even the power of Wonder Woman is enough to help. Plus, the identity of Superman’s secret protector is revealed.
Art by: Various, Mike S. Miller, Bruno Redondo
Cover by: Neil Googe
Written by: Brian Buccellato
Random Blurb of Excitement: This issue definitely steps it up in the action department, and it does so on a big scale! While I miss Tom Taylor, Buccellato has been doing a decent solid job. There’s honestly only been about two moments where the dialogue felt “off” compared to what I’m used to getting with Taylor.
Batman News Critic: Elena
Harley Quinn: Valentine’s Day Special #1
Love is in the air in New York City! The planet’s richest bachelor, Bruce Wayne, is in town for a charity auction – and the highest bidder gets a date with Mr. Tall, Dark, and Brooding! Good thing Harley Quinn just came into some money (please, whatever you do, don’t ask how). But can Bruce really spend a night with Harley without her learning how he spends his nights?
Art by: John Timms
Cover by: Amanda Conner
Variant cover by: Amanda Conner
Written by: Jimmy Palmiotti, Amanda Conner
Random Blurb of Excitement: This is another one of those instances where I’m going to break my rule with Harley Quinn, and pick up the issue rather than wait for the trade. I can only imagine what’s going to go down in this book, and I can’t wait to see the reactions Bruce has towards her! It’s going to be priceless!
Batman News Critic: Elena
Batman Eternal #45
Nothing in his experience with cutting-edge technology could prepare Batwing for a battle against the vengeful spirits who’ve taken control of his armor!
Art by: Javier Fernandez
Cover by: Ethan Van Sciver
Written by: Tim Seeley, Kyle Higgins, Ray Fawkes, James T Tynion IV, Scott Snyder
Random Blurb of Excitement: This book has been severely disappointing lately. I feel like nearly everything that’s taken place during the previous few issues should have happened much earlier in the plot. The spirits from Arkham and the nanites plots – which are B plots – should have wrapped up much earlier in this book when they were relevant, instead of interrupting the climax of the A plot. This book has COMPLETELY lost its momentum.
Batman News Critic: Brandon
Earth 2: Worlds End #19
Superman and Power Girl team up to turn the tide in the fight with Darkseid’s Furies.
Art by: Jorge Jimenez, Eduardo Pansica, Eddy Barrows, Tyler Kirkham
Cover by: Guillem March
Written by: Mike Johnson, Marguerite Bennett, Daniel H. Wilson
Random Blurb of Excitement: I really enjoyed last week’s issue of World’s End! I enjoyed it so much that I was tempted to rank this issue higher on my list, but I didn’t simply due to how inconsistent this book is. Regardless, it’s still worth reading if you’re not doing so.
Batman News Critic: Sean
Justice League 3000 #14
Beetle and Booster! Fire and Ice! The Injustice League! Etrigan the Demon! Not to mention the Justice League (no, not that one, the one we’re doing). C’mon, people, we’re bending over backward here! At least meet us halfway – maybe flip through the issue at your local comics shop?
Art by: Howard Porter
Cover by: Howard Porter
Written by: J.M. DeMatteis, Keith Giffen
Random Blurb of Excitement: So I finally picked up the first volume of this title, and I’m glad to say that it’s a fun book! I’m not emotionally invested yet, but it is definitely entertaining! I’m probably going to treat this title like I treat Harley Quinn and wait for the trades rather than invest in the monthly releases, but it is something I’ll continue to read!
Batman News Critic: Sean
Futures End #41
The Justice League splits into teams to battle the dual threat of Brainiac and the Blood Moon, while the Batman team and Mr. Terrific try to take down Brother Eye – in the present and the future!
Art by: Scott Hanna, Scott Eaton
Cover by: Ryan Sook
Written by: Keith Giffen, Dan Jurgens, Jeff Lemire, Brian Azzarello
Random Blurb of Excitement: Jesse gave Futures End a 7.5 last week, and mentioned that the story ramped up quite a bit! If Jesse continues to give this book a solid score for the remainder of its run, I might pick it up beginning with Brainiac’s debut just to help lead into Convergence and Batman Beyond.
Batman News Critic: Jesse
New Suicide Squad #7
As Deadshot recovers from serious injuries in Belle Reve prison, Black Manta struggles to keep the team’s current mission in China from imploding. But after they’ve awakened the country’s newest super-weapon, the whole team – including Harley Quinn and Reverse-Flash – won’t all be coming back.
Art by: Rob Hunter
Cover by: Juan Ferreyra
Written by: Sean Ryan
Random Blurb of Excitement: Do we care? I mean, really? It’s going to take a huge turnaround for this book to get back on my good side! HUGE!
Batman News Critic: Josh
Worlds’ Finest #31
“Signs” of the Apocalypse? Death and destruction are increasing on Earth-2, and only the watchful eye of Batman sees how the patterns fit. Can he persuade Superman to take precautions before the price becomes very personal?
Art by: Jed Dougherty
Cover by: Yildiray Cinar
Written by: Paul Levitz
Random Blurb of Excitement: They really should’ve ended this book the moment Huntress and Powergirl went back to Earth 2…
Batman News Critic: Sean
Notes:
- Batgirl #39 has been pushed back to February 18th.
- Batman #39 has been pushed back to February 25th.
- And as mentioned last week, Gotham Academy #5 has been pushed back to February 25th.
Graphic Novel Watch:
Batman: Dark Knight, Dark City (Softcover) – In this tale from BATMAN #452-454 and DETECTIVE COMICS #629-633, Batman is led through an urban labyrinth by the Riddler, who seems to have become a monster determined to drive Batman insane. In his quest, the Riddler is working with an occultist who has summoned a demon to stop Batman – but in the process, the Riddler himself is slowly changing into a nightmarish beast!
Batman the Dark Knight Vol. 4: Clay (Softcover) – In these tales from BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT #22-29, the origin of Clayface is revealed! Batman and Commissioner Gordon are forced into a tight corner as Clayface embarks on a murder spree throughout Gotham City. But what led Clayface to become a monster?
DC: The New Frontier Deluxe Edition (Hardcover) – Darwyn Cooke’s acclaimed take on the Silver Age heroes of DC Comics is back in a new hardcover collecting the 6-issue miniseries plus, for the first time, JUSTICE LEAGUE: THE NEW FRONTIER SPECIAL #1! When Cold War paranoia outlawed the heroes of the Golden Age, stalwarts such as Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman continued to fight for truth and justice. But as the world hurtled toward an uncertain future, a new breed of hero would define the American Way!
Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure (Softcover) – The sequel to the video game SCRIBBLENAUTS UNMASKED arrives in this title collecting SCRIBBLENAUTS UNMASKED: A CRISIS OF IMAGINATION chapters #1-9, plus a digital short never before available in print! Following the events of Scribblenauts Unmasked, Madame Xanadu and Phantom Stranger enlist the help of MaxAt last, the origins of The New 52’s World’s Greatest Heroes are revealed in stories from SECRET ORIGINS #1-4! Included here are the origins of The Last Son of Krypton and Kara Zor-El, Supergirl, Harley Quinn, Green Lantern, Batwoman, Batman, Aquaman, Green Arrow and many more!well and Lily to save the DC Universe as we know it.
Secret Origins Vol. 1 (Softcover) – At last, the origins of The New 52’s World’s Greatest Heroes are revealed in stories from SECRET ORIGINS #1-4! Included here are the origins of The Last Son of Krypton and Kara Zor-El, Supergirl, Harley Quinn, Green Lantern, Batwoman, Batman, Aquaman, Green Arrow and many more!
Secret Six Vol. 1: Villains United (Softcover) – Collecting the stories that led into INFINITE CRISIS from VILLAINS UNITED #1-6, the SECRET SIX 6-issue miniseries and VILLAINS UNITED: INFINITE CRISIS SPECIAL #1! Six of justice’s deadliest enemies have banded together to keep the super-heroic community from tampering with their minds – and to show just how deadly they can be!
Cover of the Week
Now, with all of this week’s releases listed above, it’s time for you to sound off! What’s the best cover that is being released this week? If you’re like me, and can’t decide on just one, then you can select multiple if you would like. Vote using the poll below, and we’ll announce the winner next week. Last week’s winner can be found in the spoiler tag!
Best Cover of February 4, 2015: Detective Comics #39 by Francis Manapul with 39% of the votes.
- Grayson #7 by Mikel Janin (24%)
3. Earth 2 #31 by Ken Lashley (14%)
4. Batman Eternal #44 by Ethan Van Sciver (11%)
5. Earth 2: World’s End #18 by Guillem March (6%)
5. Futures End #40 by Ryan Sook (6%)
