A long-delayed and now totally unnecessary Batman & Superman team-up, a re-telling of Dick Grayson’s origin, and the latest from the weekly Batman Eternal are all on deck this week in Batman comics!
Here’s the full list of review comics out this week, April 23rd, 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!
April 23rd
BATMAN ETERNAL #3
Written by SCOTT SNYDER, JAMES TYNION IV, JOHN LAYMAN, RAY FAWKES and TIM SEELEY
Art and cover by JASON FABOK
On sale APRIL 23 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Anticipation Level: Intrigued
Last week’s issue raised more than enough questions so I’m curious to see what comes next. What’s Carmine Falcone’s game? What’s Deacon Blackfire up to? How does Doctor Phosphorus factor in? In what way are these villains related to what happened with Jim Gordon in the subway station? Was that The Spectre?! And if all of that weren’t enough, issue #3 will also mark the New 52 debut (not counting the teaser issue) of Stephanie Brown!
SECRET ORIGINS #1
Written by TONY BEDARD, KYLE HIGGINS and GREG PAK
Art by PAULO SIQUEIRA, WILL CONRAD and others
Cover by LEE BERMEJO
1:25 Variant cover by ANDY KUBERT
On sale APRIL 23 • 48 pg, FC, $4.99 US • RATED T
Anticipation Level: Intrigued
I’ll be reviewing “Secret Origins” anytime there’s a Batman character getting the origin treatment. The series’ inaugural issue includes an origin for the first Robin, Dick Grayson, written by Kyle Higgins. I’m excited to see how Higgins approaches the subject after Nightwing #0 and Nightwing #29. This comic also features a cool cover by Lee Bermejo and a retelling of Superman and Supergirl’s origin. I’m a little put-off by the price though… especially for a book that re-tells stories we’ve heard so many times before.
BATMAN/SUPERMAN #9
Written by GREG PAK
Art and cover by JAE LEE
1:25 Robot Chicken Variant cover
On sale APRIL 23 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T
Combo pack edition: $4.99 US
Anticipation Level: “You don’t have to thank me.”
Expect a short review for this one, folks! It’s the long-delayed 3rd chapter of “First Contact” published 1 month after DC already released chapter #4 so… who cares? We already saw the ending and it wasn’t good so I predict this issue will be pretty “meh” with some of that Jae Lee art everyone seems to enjoy. It’ll have to be pretty impressive to earn a recommendation.
Semi-Batman Related Books/Fringe Bat-Titles That I Won’t Be Reviewing:
- All-Star Western #30
- Catwoman #30
- Teen Titans #30
- Teen Titans Go! #3
Graphic Novel Watch!
There aren’t any Batman-related graphic novels this week, but don’t worry, there are a bunch next week.
