Upcoming Comics: April 20, 2016

I’m going to keep this short and sweet because DC just released their solicitations for July! You know what that means… more Rebirth news! If you couldn’t tell, I’m SO READY for Rebirth to hurry up and get here… all of this filler story telling just isn’t doing it for me. I am concerned about issues being released twice monthly because I feel like monthly releases isn’t really enough time (for the artists mainly), but I’m still hopeful. Also, in case you forgot, the results for the Best Cover of Q-1 will be included in the July 2016 Solicitations post, so make sure you check back tomorrow morning!

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…

 

April 20^th

Action Comics #51
Superman is shocked to learn that Kara has been missing for some time as part three of “Super League” begins! Now, with Batman’s help, Kal-El is on his cousin’s trail—but he can’t believe where it’s leading him and who she has joined!

Written by Peter J. Tomasi
Pencils by Paul Pelletier
Inks by Sandra Hope Archer
Colored by Tomeu Morey
Cover by Karl Kerschl

Random Blurb of Excitement: It’s the third chapter of “Super League.” I’ve enjoyed this arc so far, and I can’t wait to see what else Tomasi has in-store for us as we creep closer to Rebirth. Aside from Justice League, this is probably the one story running right now that doesn’t feel like an afterthought at this point… I know that sounds a little harsh, but DC has pretty much abandoned everything for the sake of Rebirth.

Batman News Critic: Brian

 

 

Injustice: Gods Among Us Year 5 #8
Harley confronts a gathering of rebellion-minded Joker devotees in one of the late criminal’s old hideouts and doesn’t know quite what to make of them. Batwoman tries to break things up. And just when it looks like things are under control, tragedy strikes.

Art by Juan Albarran, Mike S. Miller, and Bruno Redondo
Cover by David Yardin
Written by Brian Buccellato

Random Blurb of Excitement: Yeah… I’m going to say the exact same thing that I’ve been saying about this title lately… It’s REALLY GOOD AGAIN! If you enjoyed the first two years, then lost interest through Year 3 and Year 4, then I recommend you catch up so you can catch the conclusion.

Batman News Critic: Elena

 

 

Poison Ivy: Cycle of Life & Death #4
Catwoman and Poison Ivy—reunited! As the body count rises at the Gotham Botanical Gardens labs, Ivy needs Selina’s help to solve the puzzle…a mystery that seems to involve Ivy’s blossoming children!

Written by Amy Chu
Pencils by Julio Ferreira, Robson Rocha, and Ethan Van Sciver
Inks by Jay Leisten and Ethan Van Sciver
Colored by Ulises Arreola Palomera
Cover by Clay Mann and Ulises Arreola Palomera

Random Blurb of Excitement: So far, Chu has delivered a really enjoyable, self-contained story for Poison Ivy. I’m sad to see that Clay Mann won’t cover the art for the rest of this mini because he’s so damn good… Plus, it would’ve been nice for a book that’s been so consistent with its writing to have art that was equally as consistent… I hate when multiple artists cover a single run, much less a single issue…

Batman News Critic: Cat

 

 

Harley’s Little Black Book #3
The most ghost-filled mansion on Coney Island has been demolished—and unfortunately, every one of its spirits has decided that Harley’s hacienda is the hot new hangout to haunt! It sure is convenient, then, that Zatanna is currently booked at Big Tony’s cabaret show! It’s up to Harley and Zatanna to convince all of those ghosts to move on to the next world…but if you think Harley’s got problems now, just wait until you see the ectoplasmic baggage these specters are packing!

Written by Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti
Pencils and Inks by Joseph Michael Linsner
Cover by Amanda Conner and Alex Sinclair

Random Blurb of Excitement: Look, I enjoy Harley… I really do. She’s a riot and she’s always good for a laugh… but I’m a little Harley’d out at the moment. Between this title, Harley Quinn, Harley Quinn & Her Gang of Harleys, the Harley Quinn Specials, and her appearances in books such as New Suicide Squad, Suicide Squad’s Most Wanted, Injustice, Poison Ivy, Bombshell’s, Deathstroke… I could stand to take a breather…

Batman News Critic: Elena

 

 

Titans Hunt #7
The Titans have found Mr. Twister…and that’s exactly what he wanted! As they deal with the danger he represents, it seems like someone else is hunting for the Titans…and that person is a deadly threat, too! Plus, a new Titan enters the fray!

Written by Dan Abnett
Pencils by Paulo Siqueira
Inks by Hi-Fi
Cover by Hi-Fi, Ed Benes, and Paulo Siqueira

Random Blurb of Excitement: I really enjoyed this title at first, but my interest has faltered after the past few issues. Why? Honestly, I blame the villain. The mystery that was featured in the beginning kept me coming back for more each month. Now I just get to this title when I have nothing else to do. It’s not bad, just not as good as it was.

Batman News Critic: Cat

 

 

Robin, Son of Batman #11
Robin, Maya and Goliath must team up with an old foe to recover a relic from Damian’s past and keep the forces of evil at bay!

Written by Ray Fawkes
Pencils and Inks by Ramón F. Bachs
Colored by Mat Lopes
Cover by Ramón F. Bachs and John Kalisz

Random Blurb of Excitement: I’m basically at the point where I’m over this title. It was decent at first, and then the moment it really grabbed my attention, DC announced Rebirth and priorities shifted… Oh well…

Batman News Critic: Brandon

 

 

Teen Titans Go! #15
Raven and Cyborg create a pair of spooky-looking leggings from a pattern in one of Raven’s arcane books. But Robin’s in for quite the fright when he tries on these “Scaredy Pants”! Then, when Titans East instigates a friendly softball outing, Robin sees a vast conspiracy by Speedy to undermine his team. And when his mania spreads to the other Titans, they’re going to turn a friendly game into a high-stakes death match.

Art by Jeremy Lawson, Marcelo Di Chiara
Cover by Daniel Hipp
Written by Merrill Hagan, Paul Morrissey, Heather Nuhfer

Random Blurb of Excitement: I believe Jay already reviewed the digital release of this issue, and didn’t have a favorable score for it… But, if you’re a loyalist, the print version will be released this Wednesday!

Batman News Critic: Jay

 

 

 

Notes:

• Justice League #49 has been pushed back to March 30^th April 13^th April 20^th April 27^th.
• Black Canary #11 has been pushed back to April 27^th.
• The Dark Knight III: The Master Race #4 has been pushed back to April 27^th.
• Justice League #50 has been pushed back to May 25^th.
• The Dark Knight Returns: The Last Crusade #1 has been pushed back to April 20^th May 25^th.
• The Dark Knight III: The Master Race #5 has been pushed back to June 29^th.
• The Dark Knight III: The Master Race #6 has been pushed back to August 24^th.

 

 

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 can be found in the spoiler tag.

 

Graphic Novel Watch:

Elseworlds: Batman Vol. 1 – For the first time ever, Batman’s Elseworlds tales are featured in a new graphic novel collection.

In Elseworlds, heroes are taken from their usual settings and put into strange times and places-some that have existed, or might have existed; and others that can’t, couldn’t or shouldn’t exist. The result: stories that make characters who are as familiar as yesterday seem as fresh as tomorrow.

Featuring Batman as a holy priest, Harry Houdini alongside the Dark Knight, Dr. Wayne reanimating a Frankenstein-like Bat-Man, Batman as a Green Lantern, a supernatural Bat-Man fighting the evil wizard known as the Dark Joker, a future Robin fighting off an alien invasion, and other tales!

Collects BATMAN: HOLY TERROR, BATMAN: THE BLUE, THE GREY, AND THE BAT, ROBIN 3000 #1-2, BATMAN/DARK JOKER: THE WILD, BATMAN/HOUDINI: THE DEVIL’S WORKSHOP, BATMAN: CASTLE OF THE BAT, BATMAN: IN DARKEST KNIGHT and BATMAN: DARK ALLEGIANCES!

 

Justice League: The Darkseid War – Power of the Gods – From the pages of Geoff Johns’s best-selling storyline in JUSTICE LEAGUE, it’s the Justice League like you’ve never seen them before—with the power of gods!

The greatest evil in the universe has been wiped out. Darkseid, lord of Apokolips, is dead. But the death of a god carries great consequences. Now the Justice League, Earth’s greatest heroes, find themselves with more power than they’ve ever imagined.

But all power has a price—and for the heroes of the Justice League, the price may just be their humanity. Now, Batman is driven non-stop by his power as the God of Knowledge. Superman, the God of Strength, begins to view humans as inferior. The Flash tries to outrun his fate as the God of Death. Green Lantern struggles with his newfound power as the God of Light. Shazam embraces a new pantheon as the God of Gods. And Lex Luthor…

…where Darkseid fell, Lex Luthor may rise to take his place!

If Earth’s greatest heroes can’t find their way back to their humanity, they may bring about their own destruction.

Written by an all-star team including Geoff Johns, Tom King, Peter J. Tomasi, Rob Williams, Francis Manapul and Steve Orlando, this graphic novel is an integral companion piece to JUSTICE LEAGUE VOL. 7: DARKSEID WAR. Collects JUSTICE LEAGUE: GODS AND MEN SUPERMAN #1, JUSTICE LEAGUE: GODS AND MEN BATMAN #1, JUSTICE LEAGUE: GODS AND MEN THE FLASH #1, JUSTICE LEAGUE: GODS AND MEN GREEN LANTERN #1, JUSTICE LEAGUE: GODS AND MEN SHAZAM! #1 and JUSTICE LEAGUE: GODS AND MEN LEX LUTHOR #1.

 

Nighting Vol. 4: Love & Bullets – The definitive NIGHTWING creative team of Chuck Dixon, Scott McDaniel, and Karl Story are joined by an all-star cast of guest comics creators for NIGHTWING VOL. 4: LOVE AND BULLETS.

For months, Nightwing has been waging war against the criminal cartel that runs everything from street corners to the mayor’s office in the city of Bludhaven. After discovering that super-villain turned mob boss Blockbuster is the brains and brawn of the city’s corruption, Dick Grayson decides to take the fight directly to him. But what happens when his former lover and current vigilante, the Huntress, joins him to take down Blockbuster? Now these two veteran crime-fighters must not only battle for the heart of Bludhaven but also their own feelings toward each other.

After all this, Nightwing faces the return of the imposter superhero Nite-Wing and the all-new threat of the deadly duo known as Double Dare. Maybe a visit by the Man of Steel and the Batman from the 853rd century will boost his confidence! Plus, an untold tale of Dick as Robin with his teammates in the Teen Titans and profiles of all his friends and foes make this a collection not to miss.

Collects NIGHTWING #26-34, NIGHTWING #1,000,000, and NIGHTWING: SECRET FILES AND ORIGINS #1!

 

Secret Six Vol. 4: Caution to the Wind – Fan-favorite writer Gail Simone (BATGIRL) pairs with artist J. Calafiore (RED LANTERNS) in the final hurrah for the misfit mercenary team.

The Secret Six have never been more divided. Bane and Jeannette have split off from the rest of the group and formed a team of their own, recruiting King Shark, Lady Vic, Dwarfstar and Giganta.

But a deal too good to pass up in the lost world of Skartaris will bring Bane’s new team directly into the crosshairs of his former comrades in Scandal Savage’s original Secret Six.

With neither team prepared to back off, it’s a six-on-six super-villain battle royal!

Plus, the Secret Six trade blows with Lex Luthor, the Doom Patrol and the minions of hell! And it all comes to a final stand of heroes versus villains in Gotham City.

Collects SECRET SIX #25-36.