I’m really excited for this week! Aside from some delayed issues, we’re going to say goodbye to the “New 52” as we close out some books, some arcs, and venture into the horizon of the new DC! Also, this will be Jesse’s last week to review a title for us as Future’s End comes to an end! And speaking of Futures End, did anyone read last week’s issue? So… the new Batman Beyond… I’m assuming that will carry over into Batman Beyond book in June? I sure hope so!
Looks like we might get that Tim Drake book afterall!
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. After that, you’ll find a poll for this week’s best cover! Should you have trouble picking one cover, no worries! The poll is open so you can select as many covers as you’d like. Then, as always, you’ll find graphic novels scheduled for release this week, along with their cover as well thanks to some requests (note: graphic novel covers will not be included in the poll for best cover). And of course, I (we) want to hear from you in the comments section! 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…
April 1st
Batman & Robin Annual #3
After a year that included death, resurrection and battles with the forces of Apokolips, it’s time for Batman and Robin to get back to basics both as father and son and partners in crimefighting. But have the events of the past year left too great a rift for them to bounce back from?
Written by Peter J. Tomasi
Pencils by Juan Jose Ryp
Inks Juan Albarran, Juan Jose Ryp, Jordi Tarragona
Colored by Sonia Oback
Cover by Guillermo Ortego, Kyle Ritter, and Ardian Syaf
Random Blurb of Excitement: Both Annuals for this title have been spectacular, and driven by emotion. I’m hoping Tomasi delivers the same thing here. There’s nothing that I’d like to see more than a heartfelt send-off for this book after last week’s slightly humorous approach to Damian dealing with his powers.
Batman News Critic: Terry
Batman Eternal #52
This month in BATMAN ETERNAL: The epic Bat-story over a year in the making comes to a stunning end! Gotham City is in flames! Villains are running wild in the streets! Bat-tech has been corrupted! And the mastermind behind it all has put a knife in Batman’s ribs! How will the Dark Knight put an end to this nightmare…and how will it shape the face of Gotham City to come?
Written by Tim Seeley, Scott Snyder, and James Tynion IV
Pencils by David Lafuente, Eduardo Pansica, Robson Rocha, and Tim Seeley
Inks by Julio Ferreira, David Lafuente, Guillermo Ortego, and Tim Seeley
Colored by Gabe Eltaeb, Allen Passalaqua, and Anthony John Rauch, Jr.
Cover by June Chung and Jae Lee
Random Blurb of Excitement: Well… it only took two to three months to make this book interesting again. I’m curious to see what unfolds between Bruce and Lincoln within one issue… And as far as I know, it’s not even an extended issue…
Batman News Critic: Brandon
Batman/ Superman Annual #2
Superman and Batman have defeated the menace that was targeting the Man of Steel for months, but not before he set something deadly in motion – their greatest foes have been given the means to kill Clark Kent. And for Clark, time is running out.
Written by Greg Pak
Pencils by Ian Churchill, Tom Derenick, Tyler Kirkham, Emanuela Lupacchino, and Ardian Syaf
Inks by Vicente Cifuentes, Tyler Kirkham, Ray McCarthy, Jaime Mendoza, and Mark Morales
Colored by Arif Prianto
Cover by Jonathan Glapion and Ardian Syaf
Random Blurb of Excitement: I try to avoid commenting on covers in these posts now since allow you guys to vote for the best cover at the end… but damn I love this cover! I’m curious to see what they do here. I’ve loved this arc, and I’m hoping Pak continues the same quality here.
Batman News Critic: Terry
Futures End #48
“EYE AM YOUR FUTURE!”
Written by Brian Azzarello, Keith Giffen, Dan Jurgens, and Jeff Lemire
Pencils by Allan Goldman, Andy MacDonald, Stephen Thompson, Freddie E. Williams II, and Patrick Zircher
Inks Scott Hanna, Andy MacDonald, Stephen Thompson, Freddie E. Williams II, and Patrick Zircher
Colored by Hi-Fi
Cover by Ryan Sook
Random Blurb of Excitement: I mentioned this early, but after last week, give me this issue, and go ahead and give me June’s Batman Beyond issue as well! NOW!
Batman News Critic: Jesse
Teen Titans Annual #1
The Titans deal with Superboy’s return to the team – and the trail of destruction that he’s left in his wake.
Written by Tom King and Will Pfeifer
Pencils Alisson Borges and Wesley St. Claire
Inks Alisson Borges, Wayne Faucher, and Paul Neary
Colored by Matt Yackey
Cover by Guillem March
Random Blurb of Excitement: I’ve been holding out hope for this title, and I feel like it found its footing during the last two issues. I completely believe this issue will provide that moment that allows this book to stand on its own two feet!
Batman News Critic: Terry
Convergence #0
Where do worlds go when they die?
The Earthquakes felt round the Multiverse, Superman’s lost days after “Doomed,” the World’s End – all these points will converge as the history of the DCU is spun from a new perspective, the perspective of a mad god and his arrogant child. The biggest story in DC history ties into literally every DC story ever told – and it all begins here.
Kingdom Come, Red Son, Wild West Justice League, Captain Carrot and the Zoo Crew – all the worlds you remember can still be found on Telos. Everything matters. Every story matters.
Don’t miss the start of DC’s April/May 2015 event with this special issue!
Written by Dan Jurgens
Pencils and Inks by Ethan Van Sciver
Colored by Marcelo Maiolo
Cover by Marcelo Maiolo and Ethan Van Sciver
Random Blurb of Excitement: Alright folks… it’s all or nothing. This is going to be the last thing I read this week. Beginning with this issue, I’m going to be living and breathing Convergence for two months.
Batman News Critic: Brandon
Earth 2: World’s End #26
Darkseid wins. All hail Darkseid!
Written by Marguerite Bennett, Mike Johnson, and Daniel Wilson
Pencils Eddy Barrows and RB Silva
Cover by Andy Kubert and Alex Sinclair
Random Blurb of Excitement: I really enjoyed the action in last week’s issue. I feel like the previous few issues haven’t flowed well from one to another, and I don’t expect this book to have the strongest close, so I’ve placed it lower on my list… but it definitely has the ability to prove me wrong.
Batman News Critic: Sean
Harley Quinn #16
Not a dream! Not a hoax! Not a…whattaya call it? An imaginary story! This is where everything changes for Harley Quinn for more than forever! Introducing…The Gang of Harleys!
Written by Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti
Pencils and Inks by Chad Hardin
Colored by Alex Sinclair
Cover by Amanda Conner and Alex Sinclair
Random Blurb of Excitement: We Are Harley… er… sorry, wrong book…. The gang of Harleys starts here! If it’s anything like the SDCC issue of Harley Quinn, I’m sure we’re in for a good time!
Batman News Critic: Elena
Gotham Academy: Endgame #1
Gotham City has been overrun by craziness, and the power is out at Gotham Academy! But don’t worry. The kids are safely locked up, huddled around candles and flashlights and telling the Gotham City version of ghost stories: Joker stories! Meanwhile, a mysterious figure connected to the Academy’s past is patrolling the grounds with a crossbow, but who is it?
Written by Becky Cloonan and Brenden Fletcher
Pencils Karl Kerschl
Colored by Sonia Oback
Random Blurb of Excitement: These tie-ins have offered NOTHING worthwhile to Endgame or the characters of these books… I feel confident in saying that this was just another attempt for DC to try and make and extra buck off of their readers.
Batman News Critic: Josh
Arkham Manor: Endgame #1
What do Batman’s villains do on the craziest night in Gotham City? And who will survive when the madness of Arkham Manor spills into the streets?
Written by Frank Tieri
Pencils by Felix Ruiz
Cover by Rafael Albuquerque
Random Blurb of Excitement: This book has come to an end, AND these Endgame tie-ins have sucked… do you think I’d be overly excited?
Batman News Critic: Elena
Batwoman Annual #2
How did Batwoman find herself in space fighting Morgan Le Fey? How did she find herself accompanied by allies as strange as Clayface, Ragman, Etrigan the Demon and her own sinister sister Red Alice?! All the answers are here in the final chapter of the Unknowns saga!
Written by Marc Andreyko
Pencils Ronan Cliquet, Georges Jeanty, Yishan Li, and Roberto Viacava
Inks by Ronan Cliquet, Yishan Li, Karl Story, and Dexter Vines
Cover by Georges Jeanty and Guy Major
Random Blurb of Excitement: Dear Batwoman, I’ve missed you for a while now, aside from your brief appearances in Batman Eternal. I hope to see you again soon! As for this wannabe Batwoman that Andreyko has given us… good riddance.
Batman News Critic: Josh
Notes:
- As a reminder, Batman #40, Justice League #40, and Multiversity #2 have been pushed back until April 29th.
Graphic Novel Watch:
DC Comics: Zero Year (Softcover) – Six years ago, Gotham City weathered its greatest test as The Riddler shut down all power days before a terrifying superstorm! But the Dark Knight isn’t the only hero to surface during this moment in time known as the ZERO YEAR! Journey back to the Zero Year to see the early tales of DC’s greatest heroes and heroines in stories from Batman #24-25, Detective Comics #25, Batgirl #25, Batwing #25, Batwoman #25, Birds of Prey #25, Catwoman #25, THE Flash #25, Green Arrow #25, Green Lantern Corps #25, Nightwing #25, Red Hood and The Outlaws #25 and Action Comics #25.
The New Teen Titans Vol. 2 (Softcover) – In these stories from NEW TEEN TITANS #9-16, the team must stop the Puppeteer from stealing plans for the deadly Promethium Project from Dayton Industries, unaware that Deathstroke is also after them! And after arriving on Paradise Island to save an injured Changeling, they must help the Amazons battle the Titans of myth!
Cover of the Week:
Now, with all of this week’s releases listed above, it’s time for you to sound off! What’s the best cover that is being released this week? If you’re like me, and can’t decide on just one, then you can select multiple if you would like. Vote using the poll below, and we’ll announce the winner next week. Last week’s winner can be found in the spoiler tag!
Best Cover of March 25, 2015: Catwoman #40 by June Chung and Jae Lee with 25% of the votes.
2. Batman & Robin #40 by Patrick Gleason, Mick Gray, and John Kalisz (19%)
3. Batman Eternal #51 by Cliff Chiang (14%)
4. Futures End #47 by Ryan Sook (11%)
5. Gotham by Midnight #5 by Ben Templesmith (8%)
6. Gotham Academy #6 by Karl Kerschl (6%)
7. The Multiversity: Ultra Comics #1 by David Baron and Doug Mahnke (5%)
8. Arkham Manor #6 by Shawn Crystal and Dave McCaig (5%)
9. Earth 2: World’s End #25 by Phil Jimenez, Tomeu Morey, and Juan Jose Ryp (3%)
10. Batman ’66 #21 by Mike Allred (3%)
