There’s a lot to cover this week! It’s one of those weeks where I’m not really sure what to read first, but I know I need to start with the two titles I’m reviewing, but I really don’t want to… AKA – This is going to be an awesome week in comics! And on top of that excitement, I’m already getting excited about SDCC because press submissions are open… I know it’s not until July, but it’ll be my first Con (I know… I know… but if anyone plans on going, please say “hi.” I’ll be the guy that looks overwhelmed, lost, and on the verge of tears… happy tears though) and I’ll hopefully be able to score some interviews with some creative teams. Be honest, how many of you wish Nocenti were still overseeing Catwoman so I could interview her… Don’t lie…
In other news: as you know, I recently moved. I’m completely unpacked, but I still need to do quite a bit of organizing. All of my belongings have shifted, and I keep forgetting where I put some things. It’s making me feel like I’m kind of crazy, and I’ve been caught talking to myself on a few occasions (just a few, I promise). This has resulted in me retracing my steps, trying to remember what I packed up, what I packed it with, and if I actually did pack it. It’s exhausting – which was my own fault because I didn’t hire movers. So of course, in one of my exhaustedly random mind wanders, I thought about what it would be like if I had three people from the Batman verse to help me move. So who would I pick? Easy. Dick Grayson and Harley Quinn to help me with packing (think about it – they would be a riot going through all of your stuff. Especially all of the weird nostalgic things you’ve held onto for years, forgotten about, and then when you stumbled across them, wondered why you kept them…), and Oracle to help me with unpacking and organizing. What about you?
Anyway, this week’s releases are listed in order of what I’m most excited to read, to what I’m least excited to read. For each title, I’ll include the official solicitation, the talent credits, more of my randomness, and the Batman News team member that will be covering each book. And of course, I (we) want to hear from you! What titles are you picking up? What do you hope to see? And what are your thoughts about the order of my list? So, without further ado…
November 19th
Batman Eternal #33
Batman’s arsenal of weapons is turned against Gotham City!
Art by: Jason Fabok
Cover by: Rafael Albuquerque
Written by: Tim Seeley, Kyle Higgins, Ray Fawkes, James T Tynion IV, Scott Snyder
Random Blurb of Excitement: I loved last week’s issue! I felt like the team tightened the story back up, and are preparing for a race to the finish line. Yes, we still have roughly twenty issues left, but if I’m being honest, the previous 32 issues have flown by. Bring it on!!!
Batman News Critic: Brandon
Justice League #36
“THE AMAZO VIRUS” continues! A bizarre disease has been unleashed, America has been quarantined and the whole world is at a stand still – but no one on the League may be more affected by this than Batman! What deadly secret about the League does the Amazo Virus hold? Where did it come from? Who unleashed it and why? And what does it mean for the future of the world’s greatest heroes?
Art by: Ivan Reis
Cover by: Ivan Reis
Variant cover by: Joshua Middleton
Written by: Geoff Johns
Random Blurb of Excitement: I’m just going to throw this out there, but I think this is going to end up being the best Justice League arc of the New 52. If I’m wrong at the end of this, then I’ll let you take away some of my Batman-related prediction cred…
Batman News Critic: Jesse
Batman & Robin #36
“Robin Rises” continues as Batman and his allies make their push toward the heart of Apokolips!
Art by: Mick Gray, Patrick Gleason
Cover by: Mick Gray, Patrick Gleason
Written by: Peter J. Tomasi
Random Blurb of Excitement: The cover alone makes me excited to read this! Last month, Tomasi set us up for what is sure to be one hell of an issue! I predict that the remainder of Robin Rises will be EPIC!
Batman News Critic: Jesse
Injustice: Gods Among Us Year Three #4
In the recent uprisings against Superman, one of his allies has been conspicuously absent: the mystical being known as Raven. Find out what has become of her and what role Constantine has played in her absence.
Art by: Tom Derenick, Bruno Redondo
Cover by: Neil Googe
Written by: Tom Taylor
Random Blurb of Excitement: Year Three isn’t really packing the punch that Year One and Two delivered, but that does NOT mean this book is bad. I still think it’s one of the better books out at the moment, and if you’re not reading Injustice, then you’re doing yourself a disservice.
Batman News Critic: Elena
Teen Titans #4
A major villain is revealed to be behind the new Teen Titans’ problems! You won’t believe what’s next!
Art by: Kenneth Rocafort
Cover by: Kenneth Rocafort
Written by: Will Pfeifer
Random Blurb of Excitement: Some of you might think Teen Titans is a little too high on my list, but I feel like this book is still setting up some plots that we’re not completely aware of. And if you remember the debut issue of this re-launch, then you’ll remember that there is the possibility of brilliance.
Batman News Critic: Jesse
Harley Quinn #12
Harley’s over the moon about teaming up with the all-powerful Power Girl…but it won’t take X-ray vision for Power Girl to see that something’s not right with her new best bud!
Art by: Chad Hardin
Cover by: Amanda Conner
Variant cover by: Amanda Conner
Written by: Jimmy Palmiotti, Amanda Conner
Random Blurb of Excitement: So far, I’ve held strong to not buying the monthly releases of Harley, but that doesn’t mean I’m not excited… It just means that my excitement is going to build until the trade comes out!
Batman News Critic: Elena
Batman 66: The Lost Episode #1
During the original Batman television series run, legendary science-fiction writer Harlan Ellison turned in an outline for a story that would have introduced Two-Face. The story never made it to air, and Two-Face never entered the TV show’s Rogues Gallery. Now, “The Two-Way Crimes of Two-Face” is adapted to comics by two comic book legends: writer Len Wein and artist José Luis Garcia-Lopez. Also included in this special edition are Ellison’s original prose story outline and the complete, original pencils by Garcia-Lopez.
Art by: Joe Prado, José Luis García-López
Cover by: Alex Ross
Story By Harlan Ellison
Variant cover by: Joe Prado, José Luis García-López
Written by: Len Wein
Random Blurb of Excitement: I’m really excited to read this issue! Batman 66 has a special place in my heart because I have a personal connection to the television series. No, not because I watched the show… One of my former clients, and now friend, grew up on the set of this series. Why? Because her dad was Stanley Ralph Ross (who wrote 23 episodes of Batman, and developed Wonder Woman). Because of that, and the conversations we’ve had about her father and his time on the show, it just feels more personal. Especially since it is an un-filmed script.
Batman News Critic: Jay
Batman Meets the Green Hornet #6
FINAL ISSUE! A bomb falls from the sky, threatening the good people of Gotham City, and Batman and the Green Hornet have just one chance to take out this deadly threat. Meanwhile, Franco Bollo, the man whose stolen stamps started General Gumm and The Joker’s current crime spree, has himself been stolen. Will this enable the terrible twosome to fly away scot-free? Or will our heroes finally save the day?
Art by: Ty Templeton
Cover by: Alex Ross
Written by: Ralph Garman, Kevin Smith
Random Blurb of Excitement: It’s the final issue of what’s been an incredibly fun read! If you’re looking for something that’s family friendly, or maybe just something nostalgic, then pick this up.
Batman News Critic: Jay
Earth 2: World’s End #7
Mister Miracle and the World Army prepare their final assault on Apokolips!
Art by: Tyler Kirkham, Eddy Barrows, Jorge Jimenez, Jan Duursema-Mandrake, Stephen Segovia, Robson Rocha
Cover by: Paulo Siqueira
Written by: Mike Johnson, Marguerite Bennett, Daniel H. Wilson
Random Blurb of Excitement: Earth 2 and World’s End disappoint me a little more each week/month. There is nothing that I would like to see more than for this title to hit the stride Earth 2 originally had.
Batman News Critic: Sean
The Multiversity: Pax Americana #1
Brace yourselves for the next exciting chapter of THE MULTIVERSITY as the acclaimed ALL-STAR SUPERMAN team of writer Grant Morrison and artist Frank Quitely investigate the conspiracy on Earth-4, home of Pax Americana! Told backwards through an experimental storytelling technique that reveals new mysteries with each turn of the page, PAX AMERICANA stars The Question, Blue Beetle, Captain Atom, Nightshade and Peacemaker like you’ve never seen them before! As the assassination of the U.S. president leads to political intrigue, interpersonal drama and astro-physical wonder, the truth behind the crime and those involved will blow your mind! What confidential conversation between the president and Captain Atom could reveal everything? How far will The Question take his hunt for the truth before he hurts his former friends – or himself? And who is the steel-handed bogeyman operating in the shadows?
Art by: Frank Quitely
Cover by: Frank Quitely
Variant cover by: Patrick Gleason, Ryan Sook, Frank Quitely, Grant Morrison
Written by: Grant Morrison
Random Blurb of Excitement: I’ve enjoyed Multiversity much more since they’ve been focusing on individual worlds. I would have ranked this higher, but I’m still asking the question, “What’s the point of all of this?”
Batman News Critic: Josh
Batman/ Superman #16
New artist Ardian Syaf joins the hit series as a mystery begins! An unseen terror launches deadly strikes against major cities…and the only clue is Kryptonite! Can Batman and Superman bring an invisible foe to justice before more damage is done?
Art by: Sandra Hope, Ardian Syaf
Cover by: Danny Miki, Ardian Syaf
Variant cover by: Kevin Wada
Written by: Greg Pak
Random Blurb of Excitement: I’m going to be completely honest with you… I would much rather DC scrap these Batman & Superman titles (this and Worlds’ Finest), for the possibility of books featuring other characters. I just feel that both titles are average at best, and there’s so much more potential out there.
Batman News Critic: Jesse
Red Hood & the Outlaws #36
The Outlaws never thought things would look this bad, as Jason Todd gives in to his addiction to Venom in order to find the missing Starfire!
Art by: RB Silva
Cover by: Stephen Segovia
Written by: Scott Lobdell
Random Blurb of Excitement: I still think that the best thing DC could do with this book, would be to pull Scott Lobdell off of it! It’s never a good sign when the better interpretations of a character are taking place in books other than his own…
Batman News Critic: Sean
Futures End #29
The meaning of Firestorm – and heroism – will change for everyone whose lives have been touched by the matrix in this special issue devoted to Jason, Ronnie, Madison and Tim’s fight for survival against a man pushed to the edge by grief.
Art by: Patrick Zircher
Cover by: Ryan Sook
Written by: Keith Giffen, Dan Jurgens, Jeff Lemire, Brian Azzarello
Random Blurb of Excitement: Right as this book was picking up momentum, it took a dip. I was hoping the momentum would continue to build, but it looks like I’ll just stick to Jesse’s reviews.
Batman News Critic: Jesse
Batwoman #36
“Batwoman and the Unknowns” continues as Batwoman crosses paths with the mysterious Jason Blood.
Art by: Georges Jeanty
Cover by: Rafael Albuquerque
Written by: Marc Andreyko
Random Blurb of Excitement: Everything about this should be awesome… And if the former creative team were overseeing this book, I’d bet money that it would be… but they’re not. Andreyko is. So not only has the narrative taken a nose-dive in quality, but the art has as well since Jeanty has stepped on-board. This is now my least favorite book that I review, so I’m hoping for a creative change, or – forgive me for saying this – a cancellation.
Batman News Critic: Josh
Infinite Crisis: Fight for the Multiverse #5
Based on the hit videogame INFINITE CRISIS! On the Gaslight world, master inventor Lex Luthor visits the Arkham Sanatorium to try to convince The Joker to join him in the battle against the coming crisis. Meanwhile, back in Mecha Metropolis, Prime Zatanna, Cyborg and The Flash team up with a recharged Mecha Superman for a final, desperate showdown against the rampaging, gigantic Arcane Doomsday once and for all.
Art by: Freddie E Williams II, Tom Derenick
Cover by: Carlos D’Anda
Written by: Dan Abnett
Random Blurb of Excitement: I haven’t been reading this title, and Sean hasn’t really had anything positive to say about it… so it’s at the bottom of my list.
Batman News Critic: Sean
Graphic Novel Watch:
Detective Comics Vol. 4: The Wrath (Softcover) – The Caped Crusader is challenged by the mystery of the 900 in a special tale celebrating the 900th issue of DETECTIVE COMICS! Plus, Batman faces two new foes: Emperor Penguin and the deadly vigilante known as The Wrath! Collects DETECTIVE COMICS #19-24 and ANNUAL #2
Detective Comics Vol. 5: Gothtopia (Hardcover) – Who – or what – has created this twisted vision of the Dark Knight’s hometown? As far as anyone knows, Gotham City is and always has been a crime-free utopia, patrolled by the white-clad Batman and his sidekick, Selina Kyle, a.k.a. Catbird. Don’t miss the strange adventure from DETECTIVE COMICS #25-29, including the amazing DETECTIVE COMICS #27!
Catwoman Vol. 5: Race of Thieves (Softcover) – As the fabled Catbird of Gotham City, Selina Kyle fights alongside Batman to keep the city safe. So why does it all feel so wrong? Who is behind this twisted – yet strangely pleasant – version of Gotham City? Find out in these tales from issues #25 and 27-34!
Teen Titans Earth One (Hardcover) – In this new, original graphic novel, the young heroes of the Teen Titans never felt like normal kids…but they had no idea how right they were. Their seemingly idyllic Oregon upbringing hides a secret – one that will bring killers, shamans, and extraterrestrials down on their heads, and force them into an alliance that could shake the planet to its foundations! The superstar team of writer Jeff Lemire (ANIMAL MAN, GREEN ARROW) and artist Terry Dodson (WONDER WOMAN, HARLEY QUINN) reinvent DC’s youngest heroes, with an all-new mythos in an all-new world!
