Just when you thought it was going to be a light month, April 30th arrives with its onslaught of annuals, printed editions of digital first titles, the latest installment of Batman Eternal, and an oddly timed Forever Evil Aftermath issue that hits stores before Forever Evil actually ends.
Here’s the full list of review comics out this week, April 30th, 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 30th
BATMAN ETERNAL #4
Written by SCOTT SNYDER, JAMES TYNION IV, JOHN LAYMAN, RAY FAWKES and TIM SEELEY
Art by DUSTIN NGUYEN
Cover by JASON FABOK
On sale APRIL 30 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Anticipation Level: TAKE MY MONEY
I really liked last week’s issue and am really looking forward to seeing what Falcone does next. However, this chapter will apparently have a Batman vs. Batgirl moment and I’m not all that interested in that because those types of hero vs. hero scenes never really go anywhere. I’m very much interested in Falcone’s takeover of Gotham though. Plus I’m just having fun getting a new issue every week. It’s nice not having that month long break between every chapter for a change.
FOREVER EVIL AFTERMATH: BATMAN VS. BANE #1
Written by PETER J. TOMASI
Art and cover by SCOT EATON and JAIME MENDOZA
1:25 Variant cover by KEVIN NOWLAN
ONE-SHOT • On sale APRIL 30 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T
Anticpation Level: NOcenti
This is the epilogue to Arkham War and I thought Arkham War was awful. I couldn’t care less about watching Batman and Bat-Bane slug it out. And I wouldn’t be at all surprised if it ended with the cliched tampering/damaging of Bane’s venom hoses. Notice how nobody in Batman Eternal seems to mention how Gotham was cut into pieces and distributed between the Arkham inmates just a month or so ago? That’s how little this story mattered.
BATGIRL ANNUAL #2
Written by GAIL SIMONE
Art by ROBERT GILL
Cover by CLAY MANN
On sale APRIL 30 • 48 pg, FC, $4.99 US • RATED T
Anticipation Level: “You don’t have to thank me.”
Rarely does a regular-sized issue of Batgirl entertain me so a super-sized one has me even less excited. This annual will begin an all-new story arc in which Batgirl unravels a mystery surrounding Poison Ivy.
BATMAN BEYOND UNIVERSE #9
Written by KYLE HIGGINS and CHRISTOS N. GAGE
Art by THONY SILAS and DEXTER SOY
Cover by TREVOR McCARTHY
On sale APRIL 30 • 48 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T • DIGITAL FIRST
Anticipation Level: Intrigued
Both stories from Batman Beyond 2.0 and Justice League Beyond 2.0 intertwine in a crossover event called “JUSTICE LORDS BEYOND” that begins right here. I’m excited for it. We’ll also learn more about what became of Wonder Woman in the years between Justice League Unlimited and Batman Beyond.
INJUSTICE YEAR TWO #4
Written by TOM TAYLOR
Art by BRUNO REDONDO
Cover by JHEREMY RAAPACK
On sale APRIL 30 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T • DIGITAL FIRST
Anticipation Level: TAKE MY MONEY
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed every issue of Injustice Year Two so far and so naturally I’m greatly looking forward to another chapter in this tie-in series that continues to outshine the video game it was based on. One surprising thing is that Year Two has been more of a Green Lantern title than anything else, with all three previous chapters being heavily focused on Oa’s reaction to Superman’s takeover of Earth. If you’re a Green Lantern fan then you should be reading this.
BATMAN ‘66 #10
Written by JEFF PARKER
Art by DAVID WILLIAMS, KELSEY SHANNON and ERIC WIGHT
Cover by MICHAEL ALLRED
On sale APRIL 30 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED E • DIGITAL FIRST
Anticipation Level: Intrigued
The series inspired by the Adam West TV series is always fun and typically has some fantastic artwork, plus every issue is a new story so it’s easily accessible. This issue has two stories, one about a snowstorm hitting Gotham with Mr. Freeze at the center of it all and another tale that sees Barbara Gordon on a solo adventure. I’m way more excited for this Batgirl story than the Batgirl Annual.
Semi-Batman Related Books/Fringe Bat-Titles That I Won’t Be Reviewing:
- Batwoman Annual #1
- Teen Titans Annual #3
- Scribblenauts Unmasked: A Crisis of Imagination #4
Graphic Novel Watch!
- Batman/Superman, Vol. 1: Cross World — Hardcover collects issues #1-4 of the New 52 series plus Villains Month’s Darkseid #1
- Superman/Batman, Vol. 1 — Sure to cause much confusion in the online orders of casual fans is this similarly title softcover featuring issues #1-13 from 2003 and 2004
- Suicide Squad, Vol. 4: Discipline and Punish — Softcover collecting issues #20-23 of the New 52 series as well as Villains Month issues Deadshot #1 and Harley Quinn #1
