Batman Eternal teasers, the build to Nightwing’s goodbye begins, Batgirl gets a new baddie, and more! Here’s the full list of review comics out this week, February 12th, graded on a scale of my own anticipation:
The 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 a 10 point system. 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 most video game review scores 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!
February 5th
BATGIRL #28
Written by GAIL SIMONE
Art by FERNANDO PASARIN and JONATHAN GLAPION
Cover by ALEX GARNER
1:25 Steampunk variant cover by J.G. JONES
On sale FEBRUARY 12 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Anticipation Level: Intrigued
I like how Gail Simone isn’t afraid to craft her own villains build Barbara’s own rogues gallery. Although I don’t like the character design for the bad guy coming to light in issue #28, the preview that ComicVine posted has me interested. What has me less excited is the solicitation’s mention of Strix showing up again. I just don’t have any desire to spend more time with the mute left over from the Night of the Owls and am honestly just ready for the entire Bat-line to let the Court of Owls rest for a bit. I wouldn’t mind going a few months without seeing another talon.
BATMAN: LI’L GOTHAM #11
Written by DEREK FRIDOLFS and DUSTIN NGUYEN
Art and cover by DUSTIN NGUYEN
On sale FEBRUARY 12 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED E • DIGITAL FIRST
Anticipation Level: Intrigued
Bruce takes Damian to Talia’s house for a supervised visit in one story and Clock King devises a sinister plot around Daylight Savings Time in another. Sounds like fun to me and I definitely wouldn’t miss the title’s penultimate issue. This lighthearted, all-ages series will be sorely missed.
INJUSTICE YEAR TWO #2
Written by TOM TAYLOR
Art and cover by JHEREMY RAAPACK
1:10 DC Collectibles variant cover
On sale FEBRUARY 12 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T • DIGITAL FIRST
Anticipation Level: TAKE MY MONEY
You’d think a video game tie-in would run out of steam after a few issues, but Tom Taylor’s Injustice just keeps ratcheting up the tension. After the brutal ending to issue #1, I’m definitely fired up to see what could possibly happen next as forces outside Earth take notice at what Superman and his cronies have done to our pale blue dot.
NIGHTWING #28
Written by KYLE HIGGINS
Art by RUSSELL DATURMAN
Cover by WILL CONRAD
1:25 Steampunk variant cover by TOMMY LEE EDWARDS
On sale FEBRUARY 12 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Anticipation Level: Intrigued
As we near the end of Kyle Higgins’ run on Nightwing, our hero teams up with Batgirl once again and this time they’ll be fighting none other than Deathstroke. Nightwing vs. Deathstroke? Sounds cool!
BATMAN #28
Written by SCOTT SNYDER
Art & cover by DUSTIN NGUYEN
1:25 Steampunk variant cover by HOWARD CHAYKIN
On sale FEBRUARY 12 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T
Combo pack edition: $4.99 US
Anticipation Level: TAKE MY MONEY
Obviously, this is the comic everyone will be talking about most. Described as “The Spoiler Issue” by its writer, issue #28 takes a break from Zero Year to tease what’s to come over the next year’s worth of weekly Batman Eternal stories (but mostly its an excuse to give Capullo some breathing room so he cane keep delivering awesome artwork). It’s pretty much guaranteed that we’ll see Harper Row, but hopefully not too much. I liked her until she started wearing a catsuit and talking to Batman like she knows better than he does. I prefer to see Harper’s stories as being told through the lens of an average Gotham citizen so hopefully this one-shot moves her back toward that and shows her less as the wannabe sidekick.
Semi-Batman Related Books/Fringe Bat-Titles That I Won’t Be Reviewing:
Forever Evil: Rogues Rebellion #5
Justice League 3000 #3
Justice League of America #12
Graphic Novel Watch!
Batman: Dark Victory TPB NEW EDITION – It’s been like 10 years since I’ve read this so I’m looking forward to checking it out again. However, I expect to take some flack because unless my opinion has changed, I thought this was good but that it definitely didn’t measure up to The Long Halloween. I remember being particularly disappointed by the ending. But who knows? Maybe I’ll like it more this time.
