March is my favorite month. We get the March Madness NCAA Men’s Basketball tournament, St. Patrick’s Day, my birthday is this month, and all of these comics are coming. Get excited.
Here’s a list of all the Batman comics coming out this month graded on a scale of my own anticipation:
None. – I’ll get to it…eventually – Eh…meh. – Bring it. – TAKE MY MONEY
Scroll to the bottom of the page and post in the comments section what books you’re most looking forward to this month.
3/7/2012
Batwing #7
Written by Judd Winick
Art by Ben Oliver
Cover by Jason Fabok
32 pages
$2.99
Batwing has tracked Massacre (who he let walk away in the last issue) to Gotham City. There, Batwing will team up with Nightwing, Batgirl, Robin, and Batman in an obvious effort to get more folks to buy this book. Other than the cameos of characters we already see in around 10 other books, the big draw here is the promise of answers. Answers regarding The Kingdom’s (Africa’s former equivalent to a Justice League) dark past. This is also be the last issue drawn by Ben Oliver.
Anticipation Level: Eh…meh.
Detective Comics #7
Written by Tony S. Daniel
Art by Tony S. Daniel and Sandu Florea
32 pages
$2.99
There will be a 1:25 black and white wrap-around variant cover
The previous issue ended with Batman and Charlotte caught in a death trap that was some kind of ice machine or something—it wasn’t really clear. It also introduced us to Charlotte’s sinister, eye-patch-wearing sister and a new villain named Snakeskin who can change his face at will (ya know, like a snake). The past two issues have heavily advertised an appearance by the Penguin, but he has yet to do anything but talk about his shiny new vault. Maybe, just maybe, Cobblepot will play a bigger role in this issue. Expect more great art, zero detective work, and maybe some more hilariously bad writing like the last issue’s CSI: Gotham Batman who said the line “Looks like someone was taking a bath…a bloodbath.”
Anticipation Level: I’ll get to it…eventually
3/14/2012
Batgirl #7
Written by Gail Simone
Art by Ardian Syaf and Vincente Cifuentes
32 pages
$2.99
Here’s an interesting one! Batgirl #7 is the beginning of a new story arc that dives into the classic Alan Moore tale “Batman: The Killing Joke”, but this time we’ll be looking at it from Barbara’s perspective. That’s quite the undertaking. There will also be a new villain named Grotesque who, hopefully, will be better developed than the past two throw-away baddies Mirror and Gretel.
Anticipation Level: Bring it.
Batman and Robin #7
Written by Peter J. Tomasi
Art by Patrick Gleason and Mick Gray
32 pages
$2.99
Here it is, the penultimate issue in the “Born to Kill” saga, easily one of the most riveting tales in any bat title of the New 52. “Batman & Robin” has one of the best new villains, uses Alfred better than any other title, and I’ve found its focus on Bruce’s past and his tense relationship with his son has been absolutely captivating. Great story, great art, and a great villain. I’m definitely looking forward to this one.
Anticipation Level: TAKE MY MONEY
Batwoman #7
Written by J.H. Williams III & W. Haden Blackman
Art by Amy Reeder and Rob Hunter
Cover by Amy Reeder
32 pages
$2.99
There will be a 1:25 black and white wrap-around variant cover
With around 6 different narratives going on at one time, the last issue left the impression that something grand was at play, but it was also unclear exactly what was going on. By breaking the story down so much the “To Drown the World” saga is going to be better enjoyed as a TPB than a monthly serial.
Anticipation Level: Eh…meh.
3/21/2012
Batman #7
Written by Scott Snyder
Art by Greg Capullo & Jonathan Glapion
Cover by Greg Capullo
Variant cover by Dustin Nguyen
32 pages
$2.99
If you have the money for it, there’s a 1:200 black and white variant
Batman recuperates after surviving the Court of Owl’s labyrinth. DC promises the reveal of secrets that will change Batman’s world forever…which sounds like a bit much. After all they hype there’s really no reason to oversell this book. It’s widely agreed that “Batman” is the best bat title. If you haven’t been reading this series then you’re doing yourself a disservice as a fan of the Caped Crusader.
Anticipation Level: TAKE MY MONEY
Batman Beyond Unlimited #2
Written by Adam Beechen, Derek Fridolfs, and Dustin Nguyen
Art by Norm Breyfogle, Dustin Nguyen, and Derek Fridolfs
Cover by Dustin Nguyen
48 pages
$3.99
You can go ahead and read these books ahead of time by going to comixology.com, but if you’re not into the whole digital-comics-thing then this is the week when all the previous online installments get rolled into a whopping 48 page comic. “Batman Beyond” will continue with Dana’s creepy brother raising an army of Jokerz in Gotham which sounds like it could lead to something pretty cool, but the previous issue left a lot to be desired. “Justice League Beyond”, on the other hand, I thought was fantastic. The art and writing had the perfect feel of a classic Beyond adventure. Whereas the last issue was more about giving little winks to past continuity, issue #2 will dive head first into a new storyline involving Micron, who has possibly been brainwashed by the group known as Kobra.
Anticipation Level: Bring it.
Batman: Odyssey #6 (of 7)
Written by Neal Adams
Art by Neal Adams
40 pages
$3.99
1:10 black and white variant cover
It’s the 2nd to last issue. Second. To. Last. We’re so close—I am so very close to never having to read another issue of Neal Adams’ “Batman Odyssey” that I can almost taste it. This series is the Batman equivalent to those Sci-Fi original movies (I refuse to call that channel “SyFy”), terrible but if you look at it while in the proper state of mind you’ll have a good laugh.
Anticipation Level: None.
Catwoman #7
Written by Judd winick
Art and cover by Guillem March
32 pages
$2.99
Things are about to get shaken up on the Catwoman title. She’s had a falling out with Batman, the corrupt cops will likely be hunting her down, and she’s reunited with an old friend who will serve as a new fence and hopefully a new and interesting supporting character. Whether you’ve been looking for a good jumping-on point for this series or just want to see Catwoman steal a few cars, this is the issue to grab.
Anticipation Level: Bring it.
Justice League #7
Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Gene Ha & Gary Frank
Cover by Jim Lee & Scott Williams
1:25 Variant cover by Gary Frank
1:200 Black and white variant cover by Jim Lee
40 pages
$3.99
Now that all the introductions are out of the way and we’ve seen Cyborg’s origin story, it’s time to jump to the present time and see the Justice League (or “Super Seven” as Flash calls them) in action. I always like it when a story jumps ahead in time and we have to see what’s changed over the years. I guess that’s why I liked the last couple seasons of “LOST” and (more germane) am looking forward to the bold direction “The Dark Knight Rises will take (an 8 year jump, but you knew that already). Geoff Johns is still writing and if you caught the end of the previous saga, it’s clear that he has big plans for the series. Jim Lee, on the other hand, is taking a breather and will be replaced by Gene Ha of “Top Ten” and “The Adventures of Cyclops and Phoenix” fame.
It might surprise you, however, to know that the biggest draw here isn’t the Justice League at all. Nope. This issue features a back-up tale titled “The Curse of Shazam!” (also written by Geoff Johns, but illustrated by Gary Frank). This will give an all new origin story for Captain Ma—oops. He’s just called “Shazam” now. And I know a lot of folks have complained about this because Shazam was the wizard and all, but it’s quite the travesty when DC spent the past few decades unable to put Captain Marvel’s name on the title of any book. This is easier. It would be sort of like if Coca-Cola had a mascot called Captain Pepsi and his catch-phrase was “Fizz!” – just call him Fizz.
Anyway, I’m excited to see what Johns has planned for this new story arc, what’s changed for the Justice League over the past 5 years (I expect to see Cyborg as quite the badass since he’s had time to mature and be trained by each member of the league), and, of course, the debut of “Shazam” in the New 52.
Anticipation Level: TAKE MY MONEY
Nightwing #7
Written by Kyle Higgins
Art by Eddy Barrows and Paulo Siqueira
32 pages
$2.99
The last issue of “Nightwing” before the Night of the Owls crossover begins promises to answer all the questions about Haly’s Circus and give us a final showdown between Nightwing and Saiko. It’s a storyline that’s taken half a year to wrap up and it’s finally here. I can’t say I’m that stoked about it though. The Saiko arc lost a lot of its urgency around issue five when Nightwing fought a voodoo demon.
Anticipation Level: I’ll get to it…eventually
3/28/2012
Batman: The Dark Knight #7
Written by Paul Jenkins & David Finch
Art by David Finch and Richard Friend
32 pages
$2.99
There will be a 1:25 black and white wrap-around variant
Batman and Bane, who is now super-smart due to his altered venom formula (wasn’t the pre-New 52 venom supposed to enhance your mental abilities already?), fight a bunch and we find out what happened to Poison Ivy and Flash.
It’s one of the best selling comic books. Period. But that doesn’t mean it’s good. Not to me, anyway. It’s consistently been the weakest Batman title in my opinion. If money earned was equal to a work’s quality then “Transformers: Dark of the Moon” would be the 4th best movie of all time.
Anticipation Level: None.
