October 2015 Solicitations

October 2015 Solicitations

There’s been a lot of exciting news in the past week! DC made a lot of announcements during San Diego Comic Con, and it all starts coming into play beginning in October! We have a new Eternal book, and we’re finally getting Cassandra Cain back in our lives. There’s a new Teen Titans book, some creative changes, and this month doesn’t even cover all of the newness! More exciting books are scheduled for November and beyond! My birthday month is going to be good!

For the month of the October, DC will also release Monster themed variant covers. After all of the solicitations, you’ll see I’ve provided the variant cover for each of the books we cover, along with a nice Best Monster Variant Cover poll! Make sure you vote! The winners will be announced in next week’s Upcoming Comics post, and will be included in their quarterly Best Cover poll.

Alright, if you’re still with me, below you’ll find the solicitations for each issue, as well as the cover art (if DC has released it). As a reminder, I’m not putting the talent credits in this post because there’s already a ton of information here. But you know me… I can’t post anything without adding my two cents, so you’ll see some of my randomness for a few titles. Make sure you give me a piece of your mind in the comments as well! I want to hear what you’re excited about, worried about, your predictions, etc… If you have something to say, I want to know! And although I think this should be understood, this post is one big spoiler!

 

 

October 7^th

Bat-Mite #5
Bat-Mite faces his greatest makeover challenge yet when he comes up against those dolorous denizens of the DC Universe, The Inferior Five! The Light Mite wants them to go from Inferior to Superior, but the half-witted heroes are not quite ready for prime time.

 

Batman & Robin Eternal #1
It’s here at last—the sequel to the blockbuster weekly series BATMAN ETERNAL!

Five years ago, Batman and Robin worked the most disturbing case of their crimefighting careers—bringing down the organization of the ultimate human trafficker, the mysterious woman known only as Mother. At the time, Dick Grayson never quite understood the scope of that case, but now its darkest secrets are coming back to haunt him and everyone else who ever worked with Batman! With  Bruce Wayne now lost to them, Dick and all his allies are out in the cold! Who can they trust? Is someone among them not who they say they are? And who is the deadly, silent young woman in black who’s come to Gotham City looking for Batman?

Prepare yourself for six months of international intrigue, twists and turns, and new additions to the world of Batman and Robin, from showrunners James Tynion IV and Scott Snyder, and writers Tim Seeley, Steve Orlando, Genevieve Valentine, Ed Brisson, and Jackson Lanzing & Collin Kelly!

Yes. Yes! Yes! Yes! I CAN’T WAIT! First off, Cassandra Cain is back! Secondly, there are three leads for this book: Cassandra (Yes!!!), Dick (Yes!!!), and Harper (Ye…uh… Meh.). Another thing that I love is that instead of running a full year, this book will only run for 6 months, so it will hopefully be a tighter, well thought out story. AND, in my opinion, we have a stronger writing team. Scott Snyder is mainly overseeing the project, but I think there are people writing this book that might be a little more “hungry” to prove themselves.
 

 

Batman Arkham Knight #9
It’s the team-up you’ve been waiting for! Batman, Nightwing and…Deadshot?! And just when you thought things couldn’t get any crazier—enter: Metamorpho!

Arkham Knight has consistently been a solid read. And the deeper we get into the mythos, the more excited I get!

 

 

Batman Beyond #5
It’s all-out war for Neo-Gotham and humanity as Brother Eye and his army pour over the city, with the cyborg Justice League in the lead! But this isn’t a city that will go down without a fight; it’s a city with history—and with defenders. Be on the lookout for some fan favorite characters coming out of the woodwork to stand in humanity’s last defense and to join Batman Beyond in the DCU!

It’s still too early for me to fully give a verdict on this book, but so far, I’m enjoying it. It’s different, but that doesn’t mean it’s bad. There are a lot of new elements and characters that this book is introducing us to, and I think that by the time we get to this issue, everything will feel more natural. I can’t wait to see what “fan favorite” characters they use either!

 

 

Detective Comics #45
A brand-new epic begins as the superstar team of writer Peter J. Tomasi and artist Marcio Takara takes the new Batman on his first mission with the Justice League! When Jim Gordon is approached by the Justice League to solve a series of mysterious mass murders, he must turn his focus away from Gotham City and test his mettle with the World’s Greatest Heroes!

We’ve got a new creative team! I teased a while back that Tomasi would be working on a new title come October. I thought it was going to be Eternal, but it turns out that I was wrong. However, I did predict that there would be a creative change for Detective as well. Anyway, I’m curious to see what Tomasi and Takara bring to the table. I thought Tomasi had some really nice moments on Batman & Robin, so I hope he brings that level of quality to this book.

 

 

 

Injustice: Gods Among Us Year 4 #11
The series builds toward its climactic finish as a still-absent Superman leaves an open window for Earth’s leaders to launch a nuclear attack against his reeling allies! Meanwhile, former enemies Wonder Woman and Harley Quinn set off to save Queen Hippolyta.

Buccellato is rocking this book this year! I feel like it’s back to the point that if you’re not reading it, you’re missing out. I still have an interview with him from SDCC that I need to post, so you’ll see it by Tuesday!

 

 

Justice League of America #5
With the League utterly defeated by Rao, only the failsafes devised by Batman can possibly save them now!

At the moment, I’m enjoying this book. Hitch’s writing feels like it’s a classic Justice League story, so that alone is a nice change of pace. I’m concerned that he’s pulling both writing and art duties because we’re only two issues in, and we’ve already had a delay. If he continues both responsibilities, I’m afraid this book will slip into that void of delays that Batman/ Superman was seeing a while back.

 

 

Midnighter #5
Grayson and Midnighter have finally cornered the man selling the tech that was stolen from the God Garden! Unfortunately for them, he’s saved all the best toys for himself! Somebody’s not leaving Russia alive…

I’ll take this now, thank you! Midnighter has become one of my favorite characters! He’s a badass. Although I didn’t think the second issue was as strong as the first issue, this book still has a lot of promise. And its nearly impossible to make something worse by adding Dick to the story!

 

 

 

 

October 14^th

All Star Section 8 #5
Sixpack learns the awful truth about his somewhat unlikely return to Gotham City, as a mysterious guide takes him beyond the bounds of life itself and into the mystical realms. Dogwelder receives a clue to his origins, and the rest of Section Eight begin to drift apart. But just when things are at their bleakest, it turns out that there’s one more hero still to go…

 

Batman #45
When Batman almost gets taken out by a new threat, Jim Gordon might have to reevaluate what it means to wear the cowl before it’s too late for Gotham City!

So, I inadvertently had some information spoiled for me about this current arc. Ultimately, I’m indifferent to the whole thing. At this point, it’s not terrible, but it’s not great, and I think it’s going to stay that way for me. I will be honest, if this were an elseworld story, I would probably enjoy it more.

 

Batman & Robin Eternal #2
Five years ago, Batman and Robin worked the most disturbing case of their crimefighting careers—bringing down the organization of the ultimate human trafficker, the mysterious woman known only as Mother. At the time, Dick Grayson never quite understood the scope of that case, but now its darkest secrets are coming back to haunt him and everyone else who ever worked with Batman! With  Bruce Wayne now lost to them, Dick and all his allies are out in the cold! Who can they trust? Is someone among them not who they say they are? And who is the deadly, silent young woman in black who’s come to Gotham City looking for Batman?

 

Batman/ Superman #25
What impact will the revelation of Superman’s secret identity have on the rest of the heroes of the DC Universe? As Superman seeks to serve justice to the villains behind his power loss, find out who the Man of Steel’s new crime fighting partner will be!

 

Catwoman #45
In the wake of a tragedy, Selina and Eiko try to pick up the pieces. Can they each control their side of the turf war when a shocking development in Selina’s quest to find Batman is revealed?

Hmmm…. Tragedy… I’m calling it now, I bet that Antonia bites the bullet… which is a shame. I’m not sure what other “tragedy” could occur… Unless Penguin takes the thrown of Gotham and we’re considering that a tragedy. I, on the other hand, consider that good writing!

 

 

DC Comics Bombshells #3
A dark ritual is performed in a German cabaret, and a supernatural servant is brought forth to serve the Reich— has Zatanna been manipulated by The Joker’s Daughter? Plus, Batwoman leaves Gotham City, and Amanda Waller introduces her to an unearthly ally. And Wonder Woman gets into combat as she joins Mera on the European war front.

I’m looking forward to this book, and I’m curious to see the direction they run with it. Until then though, all I’m going to say is that this cover looks fantastic!

 

Earth 2 Society #5
As the hunt for the traitor who stalks Earth-2 comes to a close, the Fastest Man Alive may not be quick enough to escape his fate on this new world!

This book is a little convoluted at the moment, but it’s the best it’s been in a long time, and feels promising! I can’t wait until the new Earth 2 is “settled” so we can get to narratives that focus a little more on the character. But seriously, if you dropped Earth 2 heading into or during World’s End, it’s worth giving a second chance! Also… I think that’s Ollie’s decapitated head…

 

Gotham Academy #11
The gang is going downtown! Olive and Maps use Kyle’s tennis tournament as an excuse to explore Gotham City and investigate the mysterious appearances of Calamity. Could Olive’s mom really be alive?

I adore this book. That’s all.

 

 

Harley Quinn #21
Harley’s trip to California takes a dangerous turn—she stole a stone-cold killer’s gig, and he’s not taking it well! They say Hollywood has a dark side…but so does Harley Quinn!

Red rum! God I can’t wait to see Jimmy and Amanda write Hollywood!

 

 

 

Justice League United #14
“Warzone” continues as more long-lost DC heroes join the fray! What bizarre force is causing Sgt. Rock, Enemy Ace and the Creature Commandos to fight the same, insane war over and over again, and how can the team of Stargirl, Batgirl, Steel, Robotman, and Vandal Savage set things right?

I like the idea of bringing in various heroes and villains for this title, but I hope that each time a new team comes in, we don’t spend a whole issue recruiting them… that will get old very fast. Otherwise, this book is definitely worth keeping your eye on… and reading! It’s also a fantastic way for DC to keep characters that don’t have their own books current and relevant.

 

New Suicide Squad #13
A brand new story begins! Task Force X tries to pick up the pieces after their harrowing mission against the League, and more questions are raised about the enigmatic Vic Sage.

Sean Ryan made the comment, “if I’m still writing Suicide Squad at that time” during a panel at SDCC, and I secretly hoped this book was getting a new writer… Well, apparently, it’s not. I however, did write a script, and I’m working with one of my friends that’s an artist to create a spec of what I would do with the book. Once it’s done, I’ll put it online so you can read it if you want. (Just keep in mind we both work full time jobs, and my friend has a wife and kids).

 

Red Hood/ Arsenal #5
The brawl with Batman continues as Roy and Jason go head-to-head with both the new hero of Gotham City and the villainous Underbelly in the streets! Plus, a shocking revelation leads Jason to a secret rendezvous with an old friend…

 

 

 

 

 

October 21^st

Batman & Robin Eternal #3
Five years ago, Batman and Robin worked the most disturbing case of their crimefighting careers—bringing down the organization of the ultimate human trafficker, the mysterious woman known only as Mother. At the time, Dick Grayson never quite understood the scope of that case, but now its darkest secrets are coming back to haunt him and everyone else who ever worked with Batman! With  Bruce Wayne now lost to them, Dick and all his allies are out in the cold! Who can they trust? Is someone among them not who they say they are? And who is the deadly, silent young woman in black who’s come to Gotham City looking for Batman?

 

Batman Arkham Knight: Genesis #3
Based on the smash-hit game Batman: Arkham Knight! Dive even further into the secret origin of the titular character in our darkest and most twisted issue yet—this is the one you’ve been waiting for!

I’m really looking forward to this title! If the character ends up being as good as I want him to be, then I hope DC finds a way to write him into continuity.

 

 

Black Canary #5
The secrets of Ditto’s bizarre abilities come to light—and Dinah and her newfound nemesis Bo Maeve come face to face! It’s not gonna be pretty…

I know it won’t happen any time soon, but I really want to this book to focus less on the band, and more on Dinah. That being said, Fletcher, in my opinion, is the first writer since the New 52 that actually gets Dinah, so I’m not going to complain at all! And I’m curious to see what the details are surrounding Kurt. The last time we saw him, he had amnesia, and went with Amanda Waller after that terrible BoP arc.

 

 

Harley Quinn & Powergirl #5
The battle against Oreth Odeox reaches its climax—and so does WAIT WAIT NO STOP RIGHT THERE!

 

Injustice: Gods Among Us Year 4 #12
The shattering conclusion to the Year of the Gods! In this final issue of Year Four, the balance of power may be tipped by the arrival of a force that could challenge even the Gods of Olympus. Also, Wonder Woman must make a stand, and the final fate of Ares is revealed.

I already praised this book, but seriously… this cover! This is the best cover I’ve ever seen from Injustice!

 

 

Justice League #45
The critically acclaimed “Darkseid War” continues as the second wave of war begins with “Darkseid War: Gods and Men”! Writer Geoff Johns is joined by superstar artist Francis Manapul for this special issue featuring the all-new, all-powerful Justice League! In the aftermath of the cataclysmic events of JUSTICE LEAGUE #44, members of the League have gained great power —the power of Gods!— but at a great price. And that price may be their destruction, unless Wonder Woman and Mister Miracle can help the League escape the curse of the New Gods and hold on to their humanity.

It looks like Darkseid War is going to be a year-long arc! I’m down with that! This book also feels like it could contain lasting consequences for the DC Universe! Also, I’m wondering who all will join this “all new, all powerful Justice League.” Personally, I feel that if we’re going to have the JLA feature the “main” League members, then this book should predominantly consist of other members (Shazam, Power Ring, Mister Miracle, Lex, Captain Cold, etc). It will give this characters a chance to take the spotlight a little more going forward.

 

 

 

Robin: Son of Batman #5
Damian, Mya, and Goliath are attacked by the mysterious faction known as the Lu’un Darga, and dragged deep inside the earth where they find…Talia al Ghul?! How will Damian face the mother who betrayed him?

I enjoy this book, but I’m not crazy about it… and that makes me sad because I LOVE Damian. Ultimately, Gleason isn’t as strong of a writer as I would like. He has A TON of potential, and I think what we’re seeing are some growing pains and lack of experience so I DO NOT want him to stop writing, but I wish he were writing a different title, and a stronger writer were covering this book. Also, can we kill Nobody II please? She’s annoying!

 

 

Secret Six #7
A new epic begins, and a major turning point in the life of Black Alice gets underway! With the world drained of all its arcane energies, the great mages of the DC Universe gather to learn who—or what—is responsible. The answer points to the Secret Six’s most powerful member, and it’s going to drag the team into unfamiliar territory: the realm of magic.

I’m crossing my fingers that this book will find its footing and build momentum soon. It’s been a rough start, which is a shame because there’s no reason there should be nothing but praise for Simone and the Secret Six!

 

Teen Titans Go! #12
Raven thought things couldn’t get any worse after Starfire posted an online dating profile…until she posted one for Raven, too! But she quickly learns things can get a whole lot worse when their “perfect dates” start showing up at their door!

Titans Hunt #1
CONVERGENCE is over, but the ripples are still being felt, especially by a young precog named Lilith. What are these visions she’s having of a Teen Titans team the world never knew? And why does she feel compelled to seek out Dick Grayson, Roy Harper, Donna Troy and an Atlantean named Garth and warn them that something dark and sinister is coming after them? Who are Mal, Gnarrk, Hank Hall and Dawn Granger, and what is their connection to the others—and to the fate of every soul on Earth? This is the Secret History of the TEEN TITANS!

This could be interesting… I thought this was an interesting title to pull from following Convergence, but it’s a welcomed one.

 

 

 

 

October 28^th 

Batgirl #45
As Barbara’s friends gather for a major celebration, a familiar face from her past returns…and he’s got a lot to say about their future together!

I’ve pretty much reached the point that I’m completely indifferent about this book. I think it’s become hokey, and Barbara feels less relevant to Gotham now than she has for years! That’s not a winning combination in my eyes.
 

Batman ’66 #28
Two new additions to the ’66 Rogues Gallery are introduced in two stories. The Scarecrow is here to say “boo” to the good citizens of Gotham City, and to chase off the Caped Crusader. Then, a former henchman of King Tut has taken on a green, scaly look and roams the sewers under the city streets!

I love seeing all of these “modern” additions to the 66 verse! I hope the creative team continues to introduce new ideas and characters.

 

Batman & Robin Eternal #4
Five years ago, Batman and Robin worked the most disturbing case of their crimefighting careers—bringing down the organization of the ultimate human trafficker, the mysterious woman known only as Mother. At the time, Dick Grayson never quite understood the scope of that case, but now its darkest secrets are coming back to haunt him and everyone else who ever worked with Batman! With  Bruce Wayne now lost to them, Dick and all his allies are out in the cold! Who can they trust? Is someone among them not who they say they are? And who is the deadly, silent young woman in black who’s come to Gotham City looking for Batman?

 

Gotham by Midnight #10
After the shocking ending of the Internal Affairs investigation into the Midnight Shift, Drake and Corrigan find themselves on the run from the GCPD! Can Corrigan face The Spectre once and for all in order to save Drake…and all of Gotham City?

I’m really curious to see the results of the Internal Affairs investigation! This has been ongoing since the very first issue, so I’m hoping it’s a good payoff.

 

Grayson #13
Back on the job at Spyral, Dick now has a mission all his own: find out more about Agent Zero. What could this mysterious shadow leader want with Agent 37?

Yes! I may or may not have joked with Seeley and King that I would proofread their issues before sending them to their editor, strictly out of the kindness of my heart… no other reason… Just helping them out. Also, this cover is the bomb.com!

 

 

Justice League 3001 #5
There’s a new Batman in town—and the real Batman takes it upon himself to seek this imposter out. Plus, a new threat approaches our galaxy. Will the Justice League be prepared for it?

 

Justice League: Gods & Men – Batman #1
As the Darkseid War rages on, Batman’s role in Gotham City-—and the world—alters drastically as he’s forced to accept his new role as a God of Knowledge.

If Geoff Johns wasn’t the writer, I’d be extremely excited… But Geoff Johns is the writer, so I’m just excited.

 

Teen Titans #13
With Superboy’s fate revealed and the world turned against them, the Teen Titans must decide a new course—or go their separate ways!

I strongly recommend that you give this book a shot if you’re not reading it. This book had an amazing debut, stumbled a little, then really hit its stride when they re-introduced Superboy. It’s been fast paced and incredibly entertaining since then, and not enough people are talking about it!

 

 

We Are Robin #5
Some of the Robins are ready to return to the streets, but others aren’t putting the “R” back on until they knows who’s pulling the strings behind The Nest. Meanwhile, a new player takes interest in the Robins. Will they all be united or pulled apart forever?

This book has a lot of promise and a lot of potential… as long as the creative team doesn’t make these Robins a group of ass-kicking kids. If they’re all on the level of our other heroes, I’m not going to buy it. BUT, it looks like that’s not the direction this book will go.

 

 

 

Noteworthy Releases:

 

Deathstroke #11
It’s the Suicide Squad vs. Deathstroke! He’s battled gods, slain his enemies, and even sacrificed parts of himself he never thought he could live without! But Deathstroke’s biggest challenge still lays ahead, and if he wants to succeed he’ll need to defeat the assembled might of the Suicide Squad! Will this be his chance to get back at Harley Quinn after their previous battle?

I’m fully expecting to see the Suicide Squad depicted better here than they have been during Ryan’s entire run.

 

Justice League: Gods & Men – The Flash #1
The Flash is forced to take on the role of the Black Racer, harbinger of death! But can anyone escape this unlikely grim reaper?

This will tie into the Darkseid War arc. I’m not sure how critical these Gods & Men one-shots will be, so I’m not sure if we’ll provide full reviews or have Terry cover it like he’s covering the Truth arc for Superman. Once we get more details, we’ll make a decision.

 

 

Monster Variant Covers:

Batman #45 by Andy Kubert

 

Batman Beyond #5 by Dan Panosian with colors by Brad Anderson

 

Batman/Superman #25 by Michael Oeming

 

Black Canary #5 by Michael Allred with colors by Laura Allred

 

Catwoman #45 by Robbi Rodriguez

 

Detective Comics #45 by Bill Sienkiewicz

 

Grayson #13 by Jenny Frison

 

Harley Quinn #21 by Ryan Sook

 

Justice League #45 by Szymon Kudranski

 

Justice League of America #5 by Whilce Portacio with colors by Alex Sinclair

 

Robin: Son of Batman #5 by Ty Templeton

 

New Suicide Squad #13 by Cary Nord

 

Teen Titans #13 by Aaron Lopresti

Best Cover: Q-2 2015 Results

We recently held a poll for the Best Cover: Q-2 2015 and I’m here to deliver the results. The plan was to announce the top six covers that will move on, but there was a three-way tie for sixth place… so eight covers are advancing. The winners, in no particular order, are: