This would be a really busy week if I reviewed everything and that’s why I don’t! Starting next month (when there finally isn’t a big crossover or even like this “WTF/Gatefold Mont” thing) I’ll set up a poll where everybody votes on what books they most want to see reviews for so be on the lookout for that. In the meantime, I’m going to make sure to write about who is attacking the Justice League’s Watch Tower, the ongoing woes of the really terrible Catwoman series, Nightwing’s move to Chicago, the brand new Red Hood creative team, and the goings-on of the the Batman Beyond Universe.
Here’s a list of all the Batman comics coming out this week, April 17th, graded on a scale of my own anticipation.
Hell no! – I’d rather not – Ambivalent – Interested – 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!
April 17th
JUSTICE LEAGUE #19
Written by GEOFF JOHNS
Art and fold-out cover by IVAN REIS and JOE PRADO
Backup story art by GARY FRANK
MAD Variant cover by The Usual Gang of Idiots
1:100 B&W Variant cover by IVAN REIS and JOE PRADO
On sale APRIL 17 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T
Combo pack edition: $4.99 US
Anticipation Level: Interested
Unless something major happens in JLA, the original Justice League (which actually features Batman) is the only JL I’ll be discussing this week. When we last saw the Justice League they were debating on who to let into their exclusive club of heroes when suddenly it was revealed that there was a traitor among the candidates who hacked the tower’s computers (or something, I remember the computer monitor changed to something threatening and that’s always bad). We can also hope for more great Shazam adventures in the backup so it should be a entertaining issue all around.
CATWOMAN #19
Written by ANN NOCENTI
Art and fold-out cover by RAFA SANDOVAL and JORDI TARRAGONA
On sale APRIL 17 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+
Anticipation Level: Hell no!
Catwoman’s own series begins to acknowledge the Justice League of America connection. Not that you’re actually going to read it. You’re probably just going to tune in on Wednesday to laugh at how mad I will inevitably get.
NIGHTWING #19
Written by KYLE HIGGINS
Art and fold-out cover by BRETT BOOTH and NORM RAPMUND
On sale APRIL 17 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Anticipation Level: Interested
The story’s been good albeit a bit gloomy lately on Nightwing, but the art’s been really hit-or-miss. This week though sees the interiors of Brett Booth and Norm Rapmund and should breathe all new energy into the acrobatics of Dick Grayson. It’s also the first issue in Nightwing’s latest and most personal adventure yet. He’s moving to Chicago to track down none other than the somehow-still-alive Tony Zucco! It has a lot of potential.
RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #19
Written by JAMES TYNION IV
Art and fold-out cover by JULIUS GOPEZ
On sale APRIL 17 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Anticipation Level: Interested
I don’t know much about the story but I do know that the artwork looks amaz–what’s that? Mico Suayan’s interiors and his cover that got everyone so excited are out and Julius Gopez is in. Apparently Suayan wasn’t getting enough pages in on time and there was a change of artist. While not as hardcore looking as Suayan’s pencils, I think Gopez has a much more fun and energetic look that this series needs. Up until now, I would go so far as to say that Red Hood and the Outlaws was the only fun New 52 Bat-title to read. There’s a lot of doom, gloom, and ultra violence everywhere else but if you just want to kick back and have an adventure you could always count on this title. It’ll be interesting to see what sort of direction Tynion, writer of Talon and the Batman back-ups, takes.
BATMAN BEYOND UNLIMITED #15
Written by ADAM BEECHEN, J.T. KRUL and DEREK FRIDOLFS
Art by NORM BREYFOGLE, HOWARD PORTER, LIVESAY and BEN CALDWELL
Cover by HOWARD PORTER and LIVESAY
On sale APRIL 17 • 48 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T
Anticipation Level: Interested
Superman continues to fight in a civil war while Justice League Beyond and Batman Beyond begin all new story arcs. This should be a terrific jumping-on point for new readers. Few other Bat-titles will give you as much bang for your buck or be as exciting and surprising as this series! It’s been terrific so far and I think everyone should give issue #15 a chance. You’ll be behind the times on what’s happening in Superman’s adventure, but Batman and the Justice League will be all new stuff.
GRAPHIC NOVEL WATCH!
It’s the re-release of Batman: Year 100, a book that I’ve only read once and it was about 6 years ago, but I remember loving it. The artwork by Paul Pope is awesome and I still remember it fondly so I look forward to reading this one again.
