Scott Snyder & Greg Capullo’s Batman arrives after a one-week delay, Forever Evil is pushed back to February but Justice League fills the void, and other great titles arrive on-time and ready to entertain with updated origin stories (Batman & Two-Face #27), 60’s nostalgia (Batman ’66 #7), and late 90’s/early 00’s nostalgia (Batman Beyond Universe #6).
Here are the review comics coming out this week, January 22nd, graded on a scale of my own anticipation:
The All-New Anticipation Scale
NOcenti – A comic I downright dread reading and if I wasn’t a reviewer, I would never buy it. (I capitalized the word “NO” on purpose, it seemed clever)
“You Don’t Have to Thank Me” – The idea of reviewing it doesn’t make me ill or angry, but it definitely sounds like it’s going to be a chore. Still, I’m reading it for you. I’m putting it at the bottom of the pile, but I’m reading it for you.
Mixed – A middle of the pile comic. It’s probably got the same chance of being dreadful as it does of being stupendous. I’m neither looking forward to it or avoiding it, whatever happens… happens.
Intrigued – I think this comic has potential to be a fantastic read. There’s some slight hesitation there, but it’s definitely going to be at the top of the pile.
TAKE MY MONEY – Everything about this issue has me excited. If I don’t get to read this book on Wednesday, I will be furious. I would pay extra just to have it in my hands right now! That’s how much I’m looking forward to it!
And just in case you’re wondering, the regular review scale is still the same as always. 5 is mediocre/average and the more toward “10″ we go the more awesome/worth buying it is and the more toward “1″ we go the more awful/not worth buying it is. That’s how I rate things. It’s not like a video game review score where everything under 8 is crap and it’s not like a school report card where everything under a 7 is failing or close-to-failing. Think of it as if it were a 4-star or 5-star scale. But Andrew, why don’t you just switch to a star system yourself? Because we’re pot committed to this 10-point scale, that’s why!
Scroll to the bottom of the page and post in the comments section what books you’re most looking forward to this week!
January 22nd
BATMAN #27
Written by SCOTT SNYDER
Art by GREG CAPULLO and DANNY MIKI
Cover by GREG CAPULLO
1:25 SCRIBBLENAUTS UNMASKED variant cover
On sale JANUARY 22 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T
Combo pack edition: $4.99 US
Anticipation Level: Intrigued
Batman’s hunt for the mysterious Doctor Death continues and we get more answers regarding Jim Gordon’s past. I’m honestly more interested in the Jim Gordon flashbacks and whatever is happening in those occasional desert cutaways than I am the Doctor Death storyline. It’s okay, and I hope this issue makes Doctor Death a more interesting villain, but I feel like the blackout and Riddler aren’t getting enough attention.
BATMAN AND TWO-FACE #27
Written by PETER J. TOMASI
Art and cover by PATRICK GLEASON and MICK GRAY
1:25 SCRIBBLENAUTS UNMASKED variant cover
On sale JANUARY 22 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Anticipation Level: Intrigued
This has been the best storyline to follow besides “Zero Year” and so I’m excited to see what happens next. The new 52 Two-Face origin has been surprisingly captivating so far and Erin McKillen was probably the best new Bat-character of 2013, of course, my opinion on all of this could change between this issue and the next, but I’m optimistic.
BATMAN ’66 #7
Written by JEFF PARKER and TOM PEYER
Art by CHRISTOPHER JONES and DEREC DONOVAN
Cover by MICHAEL ALLRED
On sale JANUARY 22 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED E • DIGITAL FIRST
Anticipation Level: Intrigued
I’ve really loved this series and it had become one of my most anticipated Bat titles due to its fantastic art and terrific sense of humor, but last month’s issue of this Adam West tribute was a huge letdown. I’m hoping this issue featuring the Joker and False Face pulls the quality back up to the heights it reached in issues #1-5.
BATMAN BEYOND UNIVERSE #6
Written by CHRISTOS N. GAGE and KYLE HIGGINS
Art by IBAN COELLO and THONY SILAS
Cover by KHARY RANDOLPH
On sale JANUARY 22 • 48 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T • DIGITAL FIRST
Anticipation Level: TAKE MY MONEY
Bruce and Terry are teaming up after a year of silence in one story and Brainiac is making his “Beyond” debut in the other. Sounds like this should be a really exciting issue for the Justice League and the Batman Beyond portion might even shine some light on what happened to cause such a schism between McGinnis and his mentor.
JUSTICE LEAGUE #27
Written by GEOFF JOHNS
Art and cover by IVAN REIS and JOE PRADO
1:25 SCRIBBLENAUTS UNMASKED variant cover
On sale JANUARY 22 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T
Combo pack edition: $4.99 US
Anticipation Level: TAKE MY MONEY
With Forever Evil #5 delayed until February, Justice League #27 is our only hope of getting some plot progression on this event. Unlike the previous issues that dealt solely with the origins of the various members of the Crime Syndicate, issue #27 sees Cyborg coming back online to lead the fight against the forces of evil. This should be Cyborg’s time to shine and prove to readers that he definitely deserves his position on the Justice League.
Semi-Batman Related Books/Fringe Bat-Titles That I Won’t Be Reviewing:
Scribblenauts Unmasked: Crisis of Imagination #1
Red Hood and the Outlaws #27
Harley Quinn #2
Birds of Prey #27
Batwoman #27
Graphic Novel Watch!
Batwing, Vol. 3: Enemy of the State — Collects issues #13-18.
