Woo hoo!!! It’s SDCC Week… And I have NO IDEA what I’m getting into! I’m like an indecisive kid whenever I look at the schedule. I keep rotating and re-prioritizing what I want to attend or see. This is my first time, so please feel free to share any tips! Andrew and Elena will also be there, and it looks like we’ll have some cool Batman News tees to give away, so keep an eye out for us if you go! Also, I know I’m going to post as many pictures and updates to Twitter as possible, so make sure you follow me. I’m willing to bed that Andrew and Elena will do the same thing, so give them a follow as well if you’re interested in the shenanigans we’re getting into!
Other than the SDCC excitement, we have a big week ahead of us with quite a few comics being released. Brandon needed to take this week off, so I’m going to cover Batman and Gotham Academy in his absence. Thank God I’m off work on Wednesday, because I’ll need that free time to kick these reviews out! Also, Justice League of America was pushed to this week, so I’ve included it below, but it will not be included in the Best Cover poll since it was included last week. And speaking of covers, I’ll have the Best Cover of Q-2 post pulled together soon, so make sure you check that out as well and vote!
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…
July 8th
Injustice: Gods Among Us Year 4 #5
The appointed “Judgment by Combat” continues between erstwhile allies Superman and Wonder Woman. Just when it looks like there might be a winner, all hell breaks loose, and the Amazons get into a full-scale war against The Man of Steel’s army of Super Soldiers.
Art by Juan Albarran and Bruno Redondo
Cover by Tom Raney
Written by Brian Buccellato
Random Blurb of Excitement: Injustice, I knew I could count on you to delivery weekly (I read this digitally), “Oh my God!” moments again! It feels like old times, and I’ve loving every second of it! I’ll just go ahead and read the rest of Year 4 now.
Batman News Critic: Elena
Gotham Academy #8
Classes are suspended for a funeral. So, is it really true that grieving students get all A’s?
Written by Becky Cloonan and Brenden Fletcher
Pencils by Karl Kerschl
Colored by MSASSYK and Serge Lapointe
Random Blurb of Excitement: So, based on last month’s issue, I’m going to assume that the funeral is for Olive’s mother… I’ve learned to not underestimate this book, so I’m REALLY looking forward to what’s in-store for us here!
Batman News Critic: Josh (filling in for Brandon)
Catwoman #42
Everything Selina Kyle accomplished as both crime boss and Catwoman is about to be ruined when Stephanie Brown makes a guest appearance!
Written by Genevieve Valentine
Pencils and Inks by David Messina
Colored by Lee Loughridge
Cover by Kevin Wada
Random Blurb of Excitement: Stephanie’s coming in to screw things up! I’m actually looking forward to this. Considering the events of Batman Eternal, it makes perfect sense that Spoiler would pop back up in this book. Including another “mask” could also help add some energy to this books growing momentum as well!
Batman News Critic: Josh
Batman #42
More surprises around every corner as the all-new Batman hits the streets of Gotham City!
Written by Scott Snyder
Pencils by Greg Capullo
Inks by Danny Miki
Colored by Francisco Perez
Cover by Greg Capullo, Danny Miki, and Francisco Perez
Random Blurb of Excitement: I’ve been very open that I haven’t been crazy about this whole, “Gordon is Batman” thing, but its starting to sink in a little now. That doesn’t mean I’m a fan of it, it just means that I’m less bothered by it. My faith in this book comes from Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo. Hopefully with the reveal of Bruce at the end of the last issue, we’ll get some details into what he’s been up to.
Batman News Critic: Josh (filling in for Brandon)
Justice League of America #2
The JLA learns more about the armada of religious zealots that has arrived on Earth – and their stunning ties to Krypton!
Written by Bryan Hitch
Pencils by Bryan Hitch
Inks by Andrew Currie, Daniel Henriques, Bryan Hitch and Wade von Grawbadger
Colored by Alex Sinclair
Cover by Bryan Hitch and Alex Sinclair
Random Blurb of Excitement: I thought the debut was a lot of fun, but it did have its faults. There are a number of things that I feel like I could really pick apart, but I think it’s still too early in the book’s run for that. So for now, I’m going to enjoy it, and wait and see what Hitch has in-store for us!
Batman News Critic: Josh
Earth 2 Society #2
After the shocking assassination of one of Earth-2’s most prominent leaders, humanity’s survivors struggle to believe their world can last. Can even Superman help build a society better than their previous world?
Written by Daniel Wilson
Pencils and Inks by Jorge Jimenez
Colored by Anthony John Rauch, Jr.
Cover by Jorge Jimenez and Anthony John Rauch, Jr.
Random Blurb of Excitement: The Earth 2 franchise received a jolt of energy with the launch of Earth 2 Society. The last time the book was this good, was before World’s End, so I’m hoping this momentum continues. If you remember, there was a time when this book was taking top honors from me. It would be a nice surprise to see it reach that spot again.
Batman News Critic: Sean
Justice League United #11
The Convergence is over! Now, Alanna Strange, Stargirl and Equinox must assemble brand-new and wildly untraditional teams of heroes and villains to work together and stop another cosmic catastrophe before it happens. In this issue: Mera, Poison Ivy, Swamp Thing and Etrigan!
Written by Jeff Parker
Pencils and Inks by Travel Foreman
Colored by Jeremy Cox and Andrew Robinson
Cover by Tony Harris and Andrew Robinson
Random Blurb of Excitement: Hey! We’re covering this now! Why? Well, this book is going to cycle characters in and out throughout different arcs, including Batgirl, Catwoman, Poison Ivy, and more. I caught up with this title during Convergence, and while I really enjoyed the main characters – especially Animal Man – the plot itself was a little shaky. Hopefully it’ll build a stronger foundation as it moves forward, because as far as potential is concerned, the sky is the limit!
Batman News Critic: Terry
Batman/ Superman #22
The Superman epic you never expected – “TRUTH” continues! Can Superman accept the truth about his new partner? Featuring the all-new Batman!
Written by Greg Pak
Pencils by Ardian Syaf
Inks by Vicente Cifuentes
Colored by Ulises Arreola Palomera
Cover by Danny Miki, Ulises Arreola Palomera, and Ardian Syaf
Random Blurb of Excitement: I haven’t had the chance to read TRUTH yet because of my schedule, but Terry has been giving it high marks. It’s definitely on my list of things to read, so I’ll try to get caught up before the arc ends.
Batman News Critic: Terry
Red Hood/ Arsenal #2
How can Red Hood and Arsenal possibly survive an attack of killer mimes? Yeah, you read that right: mimes!
Written by Scott Lobdell
Pencils and Inks by Denis Medri and Paolo Pantalena
Colored by Tanya Horie
Cover by Hi-Fi and Howard Porter
Random Blurb of Excitement: This too was a slight surprise for me as well. It reminded me more of when Red Hood and the Outlaws first started. It was a fun, energetic book. Hopefully that energy sticks around for a little while. That being said, killer mimes will either be really awesome, or really bad… I doubt there will be an in-between.
Batman News Critic: Sean
New Suicide Squad #10
What do you get when you take on an unstable breakaway faction from the League of Assassins? Dead Squad members, that’s what!
Written by Sean Ryan
Pencils and Inks by Phil Briones
Cover by Juan E. Ferreyra
Random Blurb of Excitement: I’m too smart to get too excited about the fact that New Suicide Squad’s return last month was enjoyable! I don’t want to discredit the quality of last month’s release, but it’s going to take consistency to change my opinion on this title… and I don’t foresee that happening.
Batman News Critic: Josh
All Star Section 8 #2
It’s Green Lantern’s turn in the sight as Sixpack’s quest for the eighth Section Eighter continues. But what does GL himself think about all this? Why is Sixpack hearing voices? And can Bueno Excellente really have found love? Find out in part two of the miniseries the creative team themselves are calling an unprecedented masterpiece.
Written by Garth Ennis
Pencils and Inks by John McCrea
Colored by John Kalisz
Cover by Amanda Conner and Paul Mounts
Random Blurb of Excitement: I have no intention of reading this book… especially after Jay’s review last month.
Batman News Critic: Jay
Graphic Novel Watch:
Batman Eternal Vol. 2 (Softcover) – After Commissioner Gordon’s arrest, Batman’s world is turned upside down in these stories from issues #22-34 of the hit weekly series. New allies emerge, old allies fall and his rogues gallery of villains are not quite who they seem. With a new power structure being established in Gotham City amid rising tension and chaos, can Batman adapt to the changing status quo?
Batman: The Jiro Kuwata Bat Manga Vol. 2 (Softcover) – Get ready for five more stories direct from 1960s Japan, written and illustrated by Jiro Kuwata. See Batman and Robin take on a new, more deadly incarnation of their shape-changing foe in “The Revenge of Clayface.” Then, the Caped Crusader goes toe-to-toe with a masked wrestler who has taken his bad-guy act out of the ring in “The Hangman of Terror.” And is it really curtains for Alfred, Batman’s loyal butler, in “The Mystery of the Outsider”? Two more epic tales are included, as well as a 2013 essay by Jiro Kuwata reflecting on his goals from fifty years ago when he was given the chance to bring America’s most popular costumed crimefighter to a Japanese audience.
Justice League Vol. 6: Injustice League (Hardcover) – In these tales from issues #30-39, heroes quit, villains join and a Justice League roster you’ve never seen before emerges, led by the world’s greatest hero – Lex Luthor?! The violent consequences of FOREVER EVIL must be dealt with as a new and deadly force targets the Justice league. And who knows how the new Power Ring will affect the team? Plus: The Chief and the treacherous Doom Patrol join The New 52 – and they’re out to show the world that their leader is Luthor’s superior in every way!
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.
Best Cover of July 1, 2015: Detective Comics #42 by Francis Manapul with 47% of the votes.
- Batman Arkham Knight #6 by Dan Panosian (14%)
3. Batman Beyond #2 by Bernard Chang and Marcelo Maiolo (13%)
4. Midnighter #2 by ACO and Romulo Fajardo, Jr. (12%)
5. Justice League of America #2 by Bryan Hitch and Alex Sinclair (10%)
6. Bat-Mite #2 by Michael Atiyeh and Corin Howell (4%)
