The day has finally come! My stuff arrives today! I’ll be able to sit on my couch, watch my tv, sleep in my bed! I’ll have my desk so I can sit and write these posts and reviews in peace, rather than try to write while balancing my laptop on the arm of a couch, or while lying in an apartment with no furniture. It may not seem like much, but it makes a world of difference! And if receiving all of my stuff weren’t exciting enough, Halloween is right around the corner! If you plan on dressing up as a Bat character, make sure you share it with us!
As for this week’s releases, there’s some decent books coming out way! I’m most excited for Detective Comics to return to it’s regular narrative, but I’m also excited to see the direction of Batman Beyond and Teen Titans. If I’m being completely honest though, I could probably do without Titans. It still hasn’t connected with me yet, but maybe this issue will win my favor!
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. 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…
October 26th
Detective Comics #943
“THE VICTIM SYNDICATE” part one! Batman can’t save everyone—innocent people sometimes fall in the war against evil that he’s declared in Gotham. But what happens when those victims start to fight back…and they don’t only blame the criminals who shattered their lives? Batman’s never faced an enemy like this, and his team may find themselves questioning everything they know about what heroes do!
Written by James Tynion IV
Pencils by Alvaro Martinez
Inks by Raul Fernandez
Colored by Brad Anderson
Cover by Brad Anderson and Jason Fabok
Random Blurb of Excitement: I’ve been waiting for over a month to get my hands on this! Of course it’s at the top of my list!
Batman News Critic: Brandon
Deathstroke #5
“The Professional” part five! After Slade kidnaps Damian and leaves Rose in the care of Batman, the World’s Greatest Assassin and the World’s Greatest Detective trade partners in a battle of wills!
Written by Christopher Priest
Pencils by Joe Bennett
Inks by Mark Morales
Colored by Jeromy Cox
Cover by ACO and Romulo Fajardo, Jr.
Random Blurb of Excitement: I’m super impressed with Christopher Priest. I wasn’t too familiar with his work as a writer prior to this, but the guy is spectacular! For me, he nails Deathstroke perfectly as a character, but also as a book. There is no trace of “well he’s kind of a good guy because…” The guy is just a cold, hard killer, and we’re following his life. I hope to see Priest on Deathstroke for a while, but I’d also love to see him get his hands on other characters (Helena Bertinelli).
Batman News Critic: Jay
Suicide Squad #5
“THE BLACK VAULT” part five! Amanda Waller needs Kryptonite, and only Lex Luthor has it! But for the Metropolis mastermind, a deal like this won’t be cheap—or easy. It’s a war on two fronts as Waller leads a smoldering charm offensive in the Lexcorp penthouse while the Suicide Squad attacks the most heavily guarded subbasement on the entire planet.
Written by Rob Williams
Pencils by Stephen Byrne and Jim Lee
Inks by Stephen Byrne and Scott Williams
Colored by Stephen Byrne and Alex Sinclair
Cover by Alex Sinclair
Scott WilliamsRandom Blurb of Excitement: The previous issue ended rather… Umm… Suddenly. Because of that, I’m curious to see where Williams takes the story now. I mean, I know that there’s going to be an issue with the phantom zone and Zod, but I’m curious to see how that issue comes about.
Batman News Critic: Josh
Batgirl #4
“Beyond Burnside” part four! Batgirl realizes too late that she’s fallen right into Teacher’s trap! If she’s going to get to Shanghai in time to save Kai, she’ll have to track down this mysterious new villain and end things once and for all.
Written by Hope Larson
Pencils and Inks by Rafael Albuquerque
Colored by Dave McCaig
Cover by Rafael Albuquerque
Random Blurb of Excitement: Remember roughly six months ago when Batgirl would always end up at the bottom of my list? I’m so glad we’re past those days! So far, I’m really enjoying what Larson and Albuquerque are doing. Yes, the love interest thing is a little worthy of an eye-roll, but I’d be lying if I didn’t say that this book was fun. Most importantly though, I believe Barbara. I believe she would travel the world to experience various cultures, and take up some MMA fighting along the way. I can believe that she would have a hesitant flame with an old high school crush. If you haven’t been picking Babs up, then you should.
Batman News Critic: Elena
Batman Beyond #1
“THE RETURN” part one! Terry McGinnis is back as Batman, much to the delight of his family and friends. But is the original Joker really back as well? Inspired by the possible return of their role model, the Jokerz have taken over an entire section of Gotham City and are determined to wreak havoc in the still-rebuilding city. While Batman battles chaos on the streets, his friend Dana is at the mercy of the new leader of the now-unified gang.
Written by Dan Jurgens
Pencils and Inks by Bernard Chang
Cover by Ryan Sook
Random Blurb of Excitement: This is another book that I’m genuinely excited to get my hands on! It is a little lower on the list than some of you might have expected, but that’s simply because the other titles that are ranked higher on my list have a little more momentum behind them at this point. Jurgens and Chang were doing some magical things with Batman Beyond prior to Rebirth, and I can only imagine the great stories they’ll deliver now that they’re complete separated from Futures End.
Batman News Critic: Josh
Teen Titans #1
“Damian Knows Best” part one! Now that Damian has “summoned” the Teen Titans, the tyrannical teen reveals his master plan! But a great evil from Damian’s past is lurking around the corner, ready to strike at the team’s newest leader and destroy the new Teen Titans before they even begin!
Written by Benjamin Percy
Pencils and Inks by Jonboy Meyers
Colored by Jim Charalampidis
Cover by Jonboy Meyers
Random Blurb of Excitement: I love Damian, so I’m super excited to see him leading the Teen Titans. I want to see a youthful tone to this book, but I also want to see some weight as well considering the characters that are involved. There’s also a great opportunity to launch this book right out of the gates considering the first arc features Ra’s al Ghul. I do feel that most writers don’t use Ra’s that well, but I believe in Percy!
Batman News Critic: Brian
Titans #4
“The return of Wally West” part four! Wally receives an impossible choice from Linda’s kidnapper: save the Titans…or lose the love of his life forever!
Written by Dan Abnett
Pencils by Brett Booth
Inks by Norm Rapmund
Colored by Andrew Dalhouse
Cover by Brett Booth, Andrew Dalhouse, and Norm Rapmund
Random Blurb of Excitement: Oh Titans… Let’s just hurry up and get through this Kadabra arc, and try to move on to something that feels a little more prominent. It’s never good when the first arc ends up feeling like filler… I actually found myself thinking, “I don’t know what story those original covers were trying to hint at, but I’d much rather have that story than this one!”
Batman News Critic: Josh
Notes:
- Additional DC releases this week: Action Comics #966, Blue Beetle #2, Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Coprs #7, The Flash #9, The Hell Blazer #3, and Wonder Woman #9.
- Justice League of America #10 has been scheduled for
August 31stSeptember 14thNovember 2nd - Harley’s Little Black Book #5 has been pushed back to
September 14thOctober 5thOctober 26thNovember 23rd - Harley’s Little Black Book #6 has been scheduled for
October 24thNovember 30th - Dark Knight III: The Master Race #7 has been scheduled for
October 24thDecember 28th
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.
Best cover of October 19th, 2016 is Trinity #2 by Francis Manapul with 32% of the votes.
- Batman #9 by Mikel Janin (26%)
- Nightwing #7 by Javier Fernandez and Chris Sotomayor (15%)
- Justice League #7 by Tony Salvador Daniel, Sandu Florea, and Tomeu Morey (9%)
- Dark Knight III: The Master Race #6 by Brad Anderson, Klaus Janson, Andy Kubert, Frank Miller, and Alex Sinclair (7%)
- Injustice: Gods Among Us Year Five #20 by David Yardin (6%)
- Harley Quinn #6 by Amanda Conner and Alex Sinclair (4%)
Graphic Novel Watch:
DC Super Hero Girls: Hits & Myths – Welcome back to DC Super Hero High in the newest original graphic novel from the DC Super Hero Girls line!
“Intro to Epics” is one of Wonder Woman’s favorite classes at DC Super Hero High, but balancing high school literature assignments with learning to be a superhero can be tough, even for an overachiever. But you know what they say about learning—experience is the best teacher! So when Wonder Woman, Batgirl, Supergirl, Bumblebee, Poison Ivy, Katana and Harley Quinn fight a cyclops, a witch and a bevy of sirens, they’re sure to learn a thing or two about The Odyssey—if they survive their epic battle in the underworld! DC SUPER HERO GIRLS: HITS AND MYTHS continues to develop the relationships forged in DC SUPER HERO GIRLS: FINALS CRISIS. Written by Shea Fontana, this story is perfect for girls ages 6-12.
The DC Super Hero Girls line is an exciting new universe of super-heroic storytelling that helps build character and confidence, and empowers girls to discover their true potential. Developed for girls aged 6-12, DC Super Hero Girls features DC Comics’ most powerful and diverse lineup of female characters as relatable teens, playing out across multiple entertainment content platforms and product categories to create an immersive world. Icons including Wonder Woman, Supergirl, Batgirl, Harley Quinn, Bumble Bee, Poison Ivy, Katana and many more make their unprecedented teenaged introductions, as each character has her own storyline that explores what teen life is like as a super hero.
Nightwing Vol. 5: The Hunt for Oracle – Batman sends Nightwing to Blackgate Prison, one of the most dangerous locations in the Gotham No Man’s Land, to try to restore order from the psychotic warden, Lockout. But what started as a simple mission for the Dark Knight Detective ends up with Dick Grayson planning a prison breakout and finding himself beaten and broken at the doorstep of Oracle, who happens to be former Batgirl Barbara Gordon. Now as the two old friends question their rekindled feelings for each other, the Huntress returns to create a deadly love triangle.
Plus, Dick Grayson reluctantly takes Tad, also known as Nite-Wing, as a partner-in-training. Will this be the start of a new dynamic duo…or a deadly new adversary? Then, a dying Blockbuster finally makes his move against his greatest enemy…Oracle! Will Nightwing and Black Canary be able to stop Blockbuster and his army of mercenary super-villains? Or is this the end of the Birds of Prey?
The veteran NIGHTWING creative team of Chuck Dixon, Scott McDaniel, and Karl Story are joined by the art duo of Greg Land and Drew Geraci, plus BIRDS OF PREY artist Butch Guice for NIGHTWING VOLUME 5: THE HUNT FOR ORACLE, collecting NIGHTWING #35-46 and BIRDS OF PREY #20-21!
