Happy post-Halloween! I hope everyone is content with lots of candy goodness! I know I am! Not because I went trick-or-treating, but because I bought a ton of candy for trick-or-treaters, and had none… seriously, not a single kid… and I only live one block up from where I previously lived for six years. BUT, the night went on, and I ended up going to a festival that was full of crazy goodness! What I love the most is seeing people in costume though, so… if you dressed up (especially as a Gotham related character) share your Halloween pics in the comments section! Jay made it a family affair, and it was something that I had to share!
That’s what I call good parenting!
In other news, we filled Sean’s position and are excited to announce our newest team member…
Brittany Anne
(AKA: Cat)
Hey there! Call me Brittany, Call me Cat. My love for Batman is what brought me to this amazing website and ultimately to join the most awesomest comic book review team ever! I have a full-time job within the mental health industry and attend UTRGV Grad School to obtain my Licensed Professional Counseling degree. Oh, I definitely apply my knowledge on psychology/mental health within comic books, because why not? That’s what makes DC Comics’ characters so intriguing. Cosplaying is my passion and I try to attend every convention in Texas, while I visit comic book stores to keep building my action figures/statues collection. When I’m not playing video games, reading comic books, or watching anything DC Comics related, I’m usually eating and thinking about what I’m going to eat next. I’m just a message away if you want to have heated discussions on DC Comics and anything Batman related. Hope you all enjoy my reviews!
I don’t know about you guys, but I think it’s awesome that we’ve added another female to our team! She’s super cool, so make sure you say hello and give her a warm welcome! Feel free to ask her any questions you might have as well! She doesn’t have any books being released this week, so you’ll have to wait another week before you can check out her reviews.
Now, one final note before we jump into business. There were only two non-themed variant covers of the books we review for the month of October (Batman & Robin Eternal and Titans Hunt), so we are going to hold on having a cover poll for those two books, and will include them in November’s Non-Themed Variant Cover Poll.
Alright, on to business! 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 reviewing 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 (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…
November 4th
Batman & Robin Eternal #5
Grayson vs Red Robin! Grayson digs deeper into Red Robin’s true origins. Will he find the answers he seeks, or will it splinter the Bat-team forever!
Written by Steve Orlando, Scott Snyder, and James Tynion IV
Pencils by Scot Eaton
Inks by Ronan Cliquet, Wayne Faucher, and Steve Pugh
Colored by Gabe Eltaeb
Cover by Francis Manapul
Random Blurb of Excitement: The quality of this book has been dropping with each issue… This would be a good time for the creative team to turn it around. By comparison, the book is still far from bad, but when you have a strong of a debut as this title had, you set your own standard.
Batman News Critic: Brandon
Midnighter #6
Midnighter’s always lived his life believing nothing could ever hurt him-but that was before he let someone he cared about into his world! When a mysterious enemy targets the family of the man he loves, all bets are off…
Written by Steve Orlando
Pencils and Inks by ACO
Colored by Romulo Fajardo, Jr.
Cover by ACO and Romulo Fajardo, Jr.
Random Blurb of Excitement: Midnighter’s love interest is clearly going to be hurt or killed in this issue. Honestly, I have no connection to the character (I can’t even remember his name), so I could care less. What will make this interesting is seeing Midnighter react to this. He’s not like a normal hero, so he’s not going to play by the rules. And unlike his previous love interest (Apollo), this guy isn’t capable of taking care of himself.
Batman News Critic: Josh
Justice League: Darkseid War: 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?
Written by Rob Williams
Pencils and Inks by Jesus Merino
Colored by Guy Major
Cover by Francis Manapul
Random Blurb of Excitement: I don’t read The Flash, but I’m pretty interested in this one-shot due to the events of the last two issues. If any of these new gods have been set-up with a story to tell, it’s definitely Flash! Batman and Luthor take a very close second.
Batman News Critic: Terry
Justice League: Darkseid War: Superman #1
Evolving into a God of Strength, Superman has become an angry, violent brute. But what unlikely hero can save him?
Written by Francis Manapul
Pencils by Bong Dazo
Cover by Francis Manapul
Random Blurb of Excitement: The Batman one-shot was interesting. It played with a lot of ideas, and brought about the question of what the Mobius Chair really does to people. In the end, it was good enough that it convinced me to check out the other one-shots.
Batman News Critic: Terry
Batman Arkham Knight #10
When a new string of calendar-themed murders starts in Gotham City, Batman and Gordon name Julian Day—a.k.a. Calendar Man—the prime suspect!
Written by Peter J. Tomasi
Pencils by Viktor Bogdanovic
Random Blurb of Excitement: I’m still waiting for a theme and plot to this book. So far it’s been a rotation of rogues with Arkham Knight popping up in the background, but I’m beginning to want more… especially since this book is written well and isn’t fully utilizing it’s potential.
Batman News Critic: Jay
Harley Quinn & Power Girl #5
The battle against Oreth Odeox reaches its climax—and so does WAIT WAIT NO STOP RIGHT THERE!
Written by Amanda Conner, Justin Gray, and Jimmy Palmiotti
Pencils and Inks by Stéphane Roux
Colored by Paul Mounts
Cover by Amanda Conner and Paul Mounts
Random Blurb of Excitement: After a small delay, we are getting the next chapter of Harley Quinn & Power Girl. This hasn’t been my favorite arc, but it’s still good for some (at time many) inappropriate laughs. And considering the solicitation, I can’ only imagine what this issue has in store for us.
Batman News Critic:
Detective Comics #46
For the first time since taking on the mantle of Batman, Jim Gordon has left Gotham City. But he’s not alone! Recruited by the Justice League, Gordon taps into his detective skills to help Superman, Wonder Woman, and the World’s Greatest Heroes solve the murder of a mysterious, super-powered being.
Written by Peter J. Tomasi
Pencils and Inks by Marcio Takara
Cover by Francis Manapul and Andrew Robinson
Random Blurb of Excitement: I wasn’t super impressed with this team’s debut on Detective, but I’m not completely writing them off yet. I’m sure a large portion of my opinion stems from my dislike of Gordon being Batman (and the fact that the direction of the character, as well as the city’s/Powers’ involvement, is inconsistent from book to book), but there is a chance they could turn this arc around. I like reading good comics, so I’m hoping for the best.
Batman News Critic: Brandon
Bat-Mite #6
Bat-Mite’s mission on Earth comes to a conclusion as he finds not just his roommates (and Batman) but the entire world fed up with him and his attempts to “improve” everything and everyone—but that won’t stop him from telling the President how to clean things up! Plus, secrets are revealed as we learn the identity of stuck-in-the-past bad guy Gridlock, and get a glimpse of Bat-Mite’s home world!
Written by Dan Jurgens
Pencils and Inks by Corin Howell
Colored by Michael Atiyeh
Cover by Michael Atiyeh and Corin Howell
Random Blurb of Excitement: Last issue… Can’t say that I’m sad…
Batman News Critic: Brandon
Notes:
Batman Beyond #6 has been pushed back to November 11th.
Graphic Novel Watch:
Batman: Arkham – Two Face (Softcover) – BATMAN: ARKHAM—TWO-FACE collects this villain’s greatest stories from the pages of DETECTIVE COMICS #66, 68, 80, and 513, BATMAN #234, 346, 410 and 411, WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #173, BATMAN: TWO-FACE #1, BATMAN: THE LONG HALLOWEEN #11, BATMAN CHRONICLES #8, THE JOKER’S ASYLUM: TWO-FACE #1 and BATMAN AND ROBIN #23.1: TWO-FACE.
Batman: Kelly Jones Gallery Edition (Hardcover) – Graphitti Designs proudly launches their new, large-format hardcover book series with BATMAN: KELLEY JONES GALLERY EDITION. For the first time ever, Dark Knight fans and collectors will have the opportunity to see and own museum-quality reproductions of memorable Batman art…as it was originally conceived by the artist. Printed in color from high-resolution scans of the actual original art, this first entry in Graphitti Designs’ new Gallery Editions line replicates the look, feel and attitude of the artwork. Every page is reproduced at original size on heavy paper stock, capturing the artwork – stray pencil marks, whiteout, coffee stains and all! The pages are alive with all of the subtleties and nuances one would expect from investment-quality original comic art.
BATMAN: KELLEY JONES GALLERY EDITION is the first in a series of deluxe, hardcover books from Graphitti Designs that faithfully reproduces the original art from select, key DC Comics series. This inaugural volume contains the covers and interior pages from BATMAN #515 through #525, minus the interior of issue #520, which Kelley did not draw. These stories are written by Doug Moench, with most pages inked by John Beatty.
Graphitti Designs’ Gallery Editions reproduce the look, feel and attitude of the original art as it was originally created by the artist. Though it appears to be printed in black and white, the contents of these books are sourced from high-resolution, full color scans taken directly from the artwork. Each high-quality, Smythe-sewn hardcover book captures every detail of the art at actual-size, and are printed at 200 line-screen on a rich, heavy paper stock. Replicating the original art experience is our goal. Our Gallery Editions are the next best thing to holding the original art in your hands – and easier on the wallet, too!
Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #5 (Softcover) – In these stories from LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT 100-PAGE SUPER SPECTACULAR #4-5, there’s a new face fighting crime in Gotham City, but will he do more harm than good? Plus, a serial killer targets random citizens for a fiery death, and when the Dark Knight foils The Riddler’s latest plot, Dr. Chase Meridian proves that Edward Nigma is not clinically insane!
Batman: The Dark Knight Saga Deluxe Edition (Hardcover) – THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS #1-4 and THE DARK KNIGHT STRIKES AGAIN #1-3 are collected in a deluxe edition! In a dystopian future, Gotham City cries out for help, and Batman returns, joined by Carrie Kelley to face off against The Joker, Two-Face and Superman!
Birds of Prey Vol. 1 (Softcover) – In BLACK CANARY/ORACLE: BIRDS OF PREY #1, BIRDS OF PREY: REVOLUTION #1, BIRDS OF PREY: MANHUNT #1-4, BIRDS OF PREY: WOLVES #1, BIRDS OF PREY: BATGIRL #1 and SHOWCASE ‘96 #3, Oracle must help Catwoman take down a Catwoman impersonator, Black Canary invades Santa Prisca to stop a slavery ring, and Black Canary pursues a felon with secrets that could be deadly, and more.
Luthor (Softcover) – Collected from the 5-issue miniseries LEX LUTHOR: MAN OF STEEL, LUTHOR reveals why the genius villain chooses to be the proverbial thorn in the Man of Steel’s side: to save humanity from the untrustworthy alien being. Includes new additional story pages, sketch material, and more!
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 results are in the spoiler tag.
Best Cover of October 28, 2015: Grayson #13 by Mikel Janin with 26% of the votes.
- Justice League: Gods & Men: Batman #1 by Francis Manapul (18%)
3. Gotham by Midnight #10 by Bill Sienkiewicz (11%)
4. Deathstroke #11 by Tony Salvador Daniel, Sandu Florea, and Tomeu Morey (9%)
5. Batman & Robin Eternal #4 by Tony Salvador Daniel, Sandu Florea, Tomeu Morey (7%)
6. Robin, Son of Batman #5 by Patrick Gleason, Mick Gray, and John Kalisz (7%)
7. Batgirl #45 by Babs Tarr (6%)
8. We Are Robin #5 by Lee Bermejo (5%)
9. New Suicide Squad #13 by Juan Ferreyra (5%)
10. Batman ’66 #28 by Mike Allred (3%)
11. Justice League 3001 #5 by Hi-Fi and Howard Porter (3%)
