Comics come on a Tuesday again to make way for the New Year. Our final week of 2013 comics include a silent Batman issue, the third chapter of the Damian Wayne mini-series, the final chapter of Injustice: Season One, James Tynion’s farewell to Talon, and a whole fleet of other fringe titles.
Here are the review comics coming out this week, December 31st, 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! Also, if you have any suggestions for a new “Anticipation Level” chart for 2014, feel free to post those in the comments section as well. I like “TAKE MY MONEY” though, that’ll probably stay. Nightwing65 suggested in last week’s comments section that I just use Ann Nocenti’s name instead of “Hell no!” and I’m totally in favor of that.
December 31st
DAMIAN: SON OF BATMAN #3
Written by ANDY KUBERT
Art and cover by ANDY KUBERT
1:25 Variant cover by PATRICK GLEASON
1:100 B&W Variant cover by ANDY KUBERT
On sale DECEMBER 31 • 32 pg, FC, 3 of 4, $3.99 US • RATED T
Anticipation Level: Hell no!
Unless something drastic happens, Damian: Son of Batman is going to go down as one of the worst Batman stories of 2013. If you’ve been curious about reading this one I would back away slowly or drop to the ground and curl up into a ball hoping this book sniffs around, assumes you’re dead, and ambles away. It’s this year’s Batman: Odyssey.
BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT #26
Written by GREGG HURWITZ
Art by ALEX MALEEV
Cover by CHRIS BURNHAM
1:25 B&W Variant cover by CHRIS BURNHAM
On sale DECEMBER 31 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Anticipation Level: Ambivalent
“A sweeping visual tale of Gotham City’s forgotten citizens: the abused and the voiceless.” This is being marketed as a mostly silent issue and it’s the first half of an uncharacteristically short (for this series) 2-part story and that kind of sounds promising. Batman & Robin #18 was silent and that might just be my favorite single issue of the year. But this is “Batman: The Dark Knight” we’re talking about, the worst of the Batman solo titles (it’s even getting canceled) and I saw a preview of Alex Maleev’s visuals that would have to carry this story and was less than impressed.
TALON #14
Written by JAMES TYNION IV
Art by EMANUEL SIMEONI
Cover by EMANUEL SIMEONI
On sale DECEMBER 31 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Anticipation Level: Interested
I started out not caring about this series, then I gave it a shot and loved the ride, but as soon as the Bane arc began this thing has really gone downhill. I’m mostly just curious to see how series creator James Tynion IV exits the title with this being his final issue and all, the story itself has waned. And while it’s not been confirmed by DC that this title is getting canceled in the next couple of months, all signs point to yes and I must say that that’s probably the smart choice. It feels like this story and these characters have ran their course. Check out Batman News’ exclusive preview of this issue here.
INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US #12
Written by TOM TAYLOR
Art by MIKE S. MILLER and TOM DERENICK
Cover by MICO SUAYAN
1:10 DC Collectibles photo variant cover
On sale DECEMBER 31 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US
RATED T • DIGITAL FIRST • FINAL ISSUE
Anticipation Level: TAKE MY MONEY
This comic has risen above all expectations of what a video game tie-in can be and I can’t wait to see how this series ends and the next one begins. While this is the final issue of “Injustice: Gods Among Us” it will return soon with “Injustice: Season 2.” What do we have to expect from this issue? Well, if a panel I saw pop up on reddit is to be believed, we’re talking
Fringe Bat-titles coming out that I won’t be reviewing:
- All-Star Western #26
- DC Universe vs. Masters of the Universe #5
- Batwoman #26
- Beware the Batman #3
- Catwoman #26
- Teen Titans #26
Graphic Novel Watch!
Batman: Arkham Unhinged, Vol. 3 collecting issues #11-16
Batman/Judge Dredd TPB — I reviewed this one already when it was released in hardcover. You can read that by clicking HERE.
