What do Earth 2, a sumo wrestler, Tim Drake, and Batman Beyond have in common? They’re all featured in this week’s new Batman comic book releases!
Here’s the full list of review comics out this week, May 7th, 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!
May 7th
THE NEW 52 – FUTURES END #1
Written by KEITH GIFFEN, DAN JURGENS, BRIAN AZZARELLO and JEFF LEMIRE
Art by PATRICK ZIRCHER
Cover by RYAN SOOK
1:50 Variant cover by JOHN ROMITA, JR. and KLAUS JANSON
On sale MAY 7 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Anticipation Level: Intrigued
“Five years from now, the DC Universe is reeling from a war with another Earth, leaving the world unprepared for an approaching evil that threatens to destroy the future. Can a time-traveling Batman Beyond help a massive cast of the DCU’s finest avert the impending apocalypse? Find out in this new weekly series that will forever alter the direction of The New 52! In this debut issue of The New 52’s weekly series, Batman Beyond arrives five years later! Grifter turns against humanity! And a Justice League member DIES!” –I can’t promise that I’ll review this book week after week, but I’m definitely going to do issue #1 and see how that goes. I’m not so much excited about it as I am just insanely curious about what the heck this thing series is.
BATMAN ETERNAL #5
Written by SCOTT SNYDER, JAMES TYNION IV, RAY FAWKES, JOHN LAYMAN and TIM SEELEY
Art by ANDY CLARKE
Cover by ANDY KUBERT
On sale MAY 7 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Anticipation Level: TAKE MY MONEY
“As the Dark Knight’s weekly series continues, Red Robin takes center stage in a major Gotham City mystery that has Harper and Cullen Row caught in the crosshairs!” — Tim Drake? Doing something of importance? In a Batman comic? Get outta town! Seriously? You better not be playin’ with me, DC! This better not be like that Night of Owls issue that showed him on the cover and then only put him in one panel of the comic without ever letting him utter a line of dialogue!
DETECTIVE COMICS #31
Written by FRANCIS MANAPUL and BRIAN BUCCELLATO
Art and cover by FRANCIS MANAPUL
1:25 BATMAN ‘66 variant cover by MICHAEL ALLRED
On sale MAY 7 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T
Combo pack edition: $4.99 US
Anticipation Level: TAKE MY MONEY
“Death comes to Wayne Manor – and the number one suspect is Bruce Wayne! In order to solve this mystery, Batman’s investigations will lead him to the mysterious man known as Sumo!” — I was impressed with Manapul & Buccellato’s first issue and I want to know what they have planned for Sumo, a new villain who is often confused with Big Top.
BATMAN/SUPERMAN #10
Written by GREG PAK
Art and cover by JAE LEE
1:25 MAD Variant cover
On sale MAY 7 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T
Combo pack edition: $4.99 US
Anticipation Level: Mixed
“Following the events of FIRST CONTACT, witness the last days of Batman and Superman of Earth 2 from a new perspective.” — On one hand I’m glad that First Contact and we’re starting something new, but on the other hand it doesn’t sound like we’re moving on to anything new at all. When are we going to be done with all of the Earth 2 references and have a new storyline? I know the Mongul thing was a bust, but that doesn’t mean we have to give up on new concepts altogether.
Semi-Batman Related Books/Fringe Bat-Titles That I Won’t Be Reviewing:
- Earth 2 #23
- Justice League 3000 #6
- Scooby-Doo Team-Up #4
- Batwing #31 (Yeah, after 31 straight issues– remember there was a #0– I’m dropping Batwing from the regular review rotation and I’ll be reviewing the graphic novels only)
Graphic Novel Watch!
- Batman, Vol. 4: Zero Year Secret City — Harcover collects issues #21-24.
- All-Star Western, Vol. 4: Gold Standard — Softcover collects issues #17-21
