Is it the end or is it a new beginning? Will there be a death in the family or will there be a wedding…or would such a wedding mean the death of the family? This is going to be a pretty good week for Batman comics. Not only do we have Batman #15 driving the Death of the Family story forward, but we have some exciting things going on in Batgirl, a Damian-only special in Batman & Robin, and Harley Quinn is spending some quality time with Mr. J as well. Kind of makes you wonder how Joker finds the time, don’t it? Of course if you want to take a break from all the cross-over hoopla there’s always the Arkhamverse and the Ame-Comi girls.
Here’s a list of all the Batman comics coming out this week, December 12th, 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 week!
DECEMBER 12th
BATMAN #15
Written by SCOTT SNYDER
Backup story written by SCOTT SNYDER and JAMES TYNION IV
Art by GREG CAPULLO and JONATHAN GLAPION
Backup story art by JOCK
Cover by GREG CAPULLO
Variant cover by GREG CAPULLO
1:100 B&W Variant cover by GREG CAPULLO
40 pg, $3.99 US • RATED T
Combo pack edition: $4.99 US
Anticipation Level: TAKE MY MONEY
I’ll just let the preview images do the talking.
BATMAN AND ROBIN #15
Written by PETER J. TOMASI
Art by PATRICK GLEASON and MICK GRAY
Cover by GREG CAPULLO
32 pg, $2.99 US • RATED T
Anticipation Level: Eh…meh.
This series is pretty weak right now. It hasn’t had a really good issue in a long time, but last month’s comic ended strong with a couple of pages that got back to the Bruce/Damian relationship. Those pages were great, but not enough to overcome the zombie apocalypse nonsense. This time we have an official Death of the Family tie-in that focuses on Robin’s confrontation with the Joker. I want it to be good, but as I’ve said the last few months have been poor and the Court of Owls tie-in that was Damian-centric wasn’t very good either.
BATGIRL #15
Written by GAIL SIMONE
Art and cover by ED BENES
32 pg, $2.99 US • RATED T
Anticipation Level: TAKE MY MONEY
Last month’s issue was really terrific and I can’t wait to see what happens next. The crossover event is called Death of the Family but it appears as if Joker is instead wanting to join the batfamily in a rather unholy union. Will Barbara be forced to take part in a very Beetlejuice-like wedding ceremony with the Clown Prince of Crime? Will James Jr. attend the reception?
ARKHAM UNHINGED #9
Written by DEREK FRIDOLFS
Art by PETER NGUYEN & Craig Yeung
40 pg, $2.99
Anticipation Level: Eh…meh.
Vicki Vale is captured by the Mad Hatter and it’s up to Batman to save the day. The Gotham City Sirens will be making appearances in this issue as well, but I have no clue where this story would fit as a prequel to the Arkham City game. Honestly, it might be about time to wrap this series up. It feels very restricted like it can’t go too far before or beyond the Arkham City game without possibly contradicting whatever the next video game will be or the games it’s based on.
AME-COMI GIRLS : FEATURING DUELA DENT #3
Written by JUSTIN GRAY & JIMMY PALMIOTTI
Art by TED NAIFEH
40 pg, $3.99
Anticipation Level: Bring it.
Last month’s issue was rather colorful and quite fun. I’m curious to see what happens next in this world where only the girls come out to play and Jim Gordon is in a wheelchair rather than Barbara.
SUICIDE SQUAD #15
Written by ADAM GLASS
Art by FERNANDO DAGNINO
32 pg, $2.99
Anticipation Level: I’ll get to it…eventually.
Here’s hoping that this issue actually adds something to the Death of the Family story because last month’s tie-in was littered with scenes that didn’t tell us anything we didn’t already know. I also hope this one focuses on Harley exclusively since the rest of the squad’s story is going to take a backseat no matter what.
