Villains Month is over (I never was clear on whether or not it was “Villain‘s Month” or “Villains Month”… seemed to be typed different everywhere I looked) and it’s time to get back to the regularly scheduled stories. Hopefully it will be a month of filler-free comics to make up for– what I believe was– a rather uneventful September. It’s important to keep in mind that while Gotham was turned into an absolute hellscape last month in all those Villains issues and Forever Evil #1– the stories happening in all of the ongoing titles will NOT catch up to the Crime Syndicate/Arkham War event until 2014.
Here are the review comics coming out this week, October 2nd, 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!
Upcoming Comics: October 2nd
FOREVER EVIL #2
Written by GEOFF JOHNS
Art and cover by DAVID FINCH and RICHARD FRIEND
1:25 Villain A variant cover by ETHAN VAN SCIVER
1:25 Villain B variant cover by ETHAN VAN SCIVER
1:25 Villain C variant cover by ETHAN VAN SCIVER
1:200 B&W Variant cover by DAVID FINCH and RICHARD FRIEND
On sale OCTOBER 2 • 32 pg, FC, 2 of 7, $3.99 US • RATED T
Combo pack edition: $4.99 US
Anticipation Level: TAKE MY MONEY
I enjoyed last month’s Forever Evil #1 and am very curious to see what comes next for Lex Luthor, the Crime Syndicate, and, above all, Dick Grayons, who has been outed as Nightwing and is being held captive. If you missed chapter 1 or were just a really huge fan of it, you can pick up a “Director’s Cut” reprint this week.
DETECTIVE COMICS #24
Written by JOHN LAYMAN
Art and cover by JASON FABOK
1:25 B&W Variant cover by JASON FABOK
On sale OCTOBER 2 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T
Combo pack edition: $4.99 US
Anticipation Level: TAKE MY MONEY
I know it’s only been a month, but it feels like forever ago (or should I say “forever evil ago”?) that I was reading the terrific-so-far Wrath arc. It’s going to be good to finally get back to this and see the final confrontation between Batman and The Wrath, who had a really great plan for conquering Gotham if I recall correctly… man, I’m going to have to go back and re-read issue #23 before I pick this one up!
BATWING #24
Written by JUSTIN GRAY and JIMMY PALMIOTTI
Art by EDUARDO PANSICA and EBER FERREIRA
Cover by DARWYN COOKE
On sale OCTOBER 2 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Anticipation Level: Ambivalent
These Darwyn Cooke covers are phenomenal, hopefully the content inside measures up– and no, Darwyn Cooke isn’t illustrating the full issue. In the latest tale of what used to be the Batman of Africa, Batwing travels to Italy to compete in an MMA tournament, gets an upgrade to his armor, and goes head to head with Lady Vic and Charlie Caligula, a Grant Morrison creation from Batman: R.I.P. It wounds like a pretty fun issue, but it’s still Batwing and I continue to be amazed that it’s still around.
BATMAN BLACK AND WHITE #2
Written by RAFAEL GRANPA, DAN DIDIO, RAFAEL ALBUQUERQUE, JEFF LEMIRE and MICHAEL USLAN
Art by RAFAEL GRAMPA, J.G. JONES, RAFAEL ALBUQUERQUE, ALEX NINO and DAVE BULLOCK
Cover by JIM STERANKO
On sale OCTOBER 2 • 48 pg, B&W, 2 of 6, $4.99 US • RATED T
Anticipation Level: TAKE MY MONEY
Issue #1 was an absolute must-buy that kept the tradition of excellence this Eisner Award-winning series is known for alive. And with this installment featuring a fresh cast of terrific talent delivering beautifully illustrated, out-of-continuity stories about the Dark Knight, I full expect it to be a can’t-miss as well.
Graphic Novel Watch!
The Batman, Vol. 1: The Court of Owls Book & Mask Set is out and it features the first installment of the Owls saga in softcover and a PVC owl mask. A $1 reprint of Batman issue #1 is also available. Speaking of new printings, Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely’s JLA Earth 2 gets a special Deluxe Edition this week.
