We’re in for what appears to be another decent week in comics! Batman #10 didn’t exactly sit well with a number of readers, so I’m curious to see how it recovers or if it does recover. Even if it doesn’t manage to find it’s footing again though, we’ve got some great nostalgia coming from Nightwing, as well as another chapter of Suicide Squad, Trinity, and Superman, so there’s plenty to look forward to! Also, in case you missed it, Brandon hosted an amazing interview with Scott Snyder last week! I highly recommend you go check it out! We have more interviews in the pipeline, so keep your eyes peeled!
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…
November 16th
Superman #11
“IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER” part two! Superman and Batman are up against the ropes, and it’s up to Superboy and Robin to save the day- but can they work together long enough to get the job done?
Written by Patrick Gleason and Peter J. Tomasi
Pencils by Patrick Gleason
Inks by Mick Gray
Colored by John Kalisz
Cover by Patrick Gleason, Mick Gray, and John Kalisz
Random Blurb of Excitement: Yes, please! The debut of “In the Name of the Father” was outstanding, and as a result, Superman easily tops my list this week!
Batman News Critic: Jay
Suicide Squad #6
“THE BLACK VAULT” part six! With the secret of the Black Vault revealed, Rick Flag and Amanda Waller come to blows over what to actually do with it—assuming they can even control it! Can “The Wall” give up the deadliest weapon in the world—maybe in the galaxy? And what effect is the Vault having on everyone in Belle Reve?
Written by Rob Williams
Pencils by Carlos D’Anda and Jim Lee
Inks by Carlos D’Anda, Sandra Hope, and Scott Williams
Colored by Alex Sinclair
Cover by Alex Sinclair and Scott Williams
Random Blurb of Excitement: Williams and Lee’s Suicide Squad has been a wild, fun, high-energy ride! We’re super close to the Justice League vs Suicide Squad crossover event, so I can only imagine that this book is going to build momentum for the next few issues!
Batman News Critic: Josh
Nightwing #9
“FACING DESTINY”! In this single-issue tale, Nightwing is being attacked in his dreams by Dr. Destiny, and the only person who can help him is Superman! But following Nightwing’s confrontation with Raptor and the aftermath of “Night of the Monster Men,” can Nightwing trust a Superman he doesn’t know—or will his lack of trust get them both killed?!
Written by Tim Seeley
Pencils and Inks by Marcio Takara
Colored by Marcelo Maiolo
Cover by Marcelo Maiolo and Marcio Takara
Random Blurb of Excitement: Oh Tim Seeley… You devil, you. Making us feel all nostalgic by bring in Supes and giving us the (hopeful) feels…. Don’t ever stop.
Batman News Critic: Jay
Trinity #3
“BETTER TOGETHER” part three! The deadly White Mercy has Superman, Wonder Woman and Batman in its terrifying grasp! But who would dare to orchestrate this attack—and why? All will be revealed as the three most powerful heroes in the DC Universe fight for their very souls!
Written by Francis Manapul
Pencils and Inks by Clay Mann
Cover by Brad Anderson, Francis Manapul, Clay Mann, and Ulises Arreola Palomera
Random Blurb of Excitement: Trinity, so far, has been an incredibly enjoyable book. I know we’re only two issues in, but Manapul has delivered some nice character work. I will admit that I was a little confused for the first few pages of issue #2, but the story unraveled rather nicely and has me looking forward to this chapter. Also, if you’re a Poison Ivy fan, you should probably be reading this arc!
Batman News Critic: Brian
Batman #11
“I am Suicide” part three! Plunging into the belly of the beast, Batman and his team of misfits infiltrate Santa Prisca. Betrayal and savagery unfold as Batman races to steal Bane’s prized possession…and not everyone will make it out alive.
Written by Tom King
Pencils and Inks by Mikel Janin
Colored by June Chung
Cover by Mikel Janin
Random Blurb of Excitement: Umm… yeah… Look, I’m pretty much in complete agreement with Brandon’s review of Batman #10. That single issue completely derailed my anticipation for the rest of this arc. I really don’t like what they’ve done with Catwoman, and I keep waiting for the “just kidding” moment. I did like the letter that Selina wrote to Bruce in the previous issue, but it was way out of place. Then there was the robotic Batman (who I’m still hoping isn’t actually Batman), who had his back broken then repaired in a matter of minutes… I’m honestly hoping for the best…
Batman News Critic: Brandon
Justice League #9
“OUTBREAK” part two! The Justice League is under attack from an unseen foe with a vendetta against Earth’s greatest heroes—someone with the power to reprogram Jessica Cruz and Simon Baz’s Green Lantern rings to kill any member of the Justice League.
Written by Bryan Hitch
Pencils by Neil Edwards
Inks by Daniel Henriques
Colored by Tony Avina and Alex Sinclair
Cover by Brad Anderson, Bryan Hitch, Fernando Pasarin, Matt Ryan, and Alex Sinclair
Random Blurb of Excitement: I know this sounds bad, but I’m basically picking up this title just to stay informed with what’s going on. There is no excitement, just the mentality of, “Well I need to keep up…” When the stories improve, my opinion will improve as well.
Batman News Critic: Brian
Notes:
- Batman #1 Director’s Cut will be released this week.
- Additional DC releases this week: Aquaman #11, Cave Carson Has a Cybernetic Eye #2, Cyborg #5, Green Arrow #11, Green Lanterns #11, Raven #3, and Suicide Squad Most Wanted: El Diablo & Killer Croc #4.
- Harley Quinn #8 has been pushed back to November 23rd.
- Harley’s Little Black Book #5 has been pushed back to September 14th October 5th October 26th November 23rd
- Harley’s Little Black Book #6 has been scheduled for October 24th November 30th
- Dark Knight III: The Master Race #7 has been scheduled for October 24th December 28th
- Justice League of America #10 has been pushed back to TBD.
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 November 9, 2016 is Detective Comics #944 by Eddy Barrows with 41% of the votes.
- Mother Panic #1 by Tommy Lee Edwards (16%)
- All Star Batman #4 by Danny Miki, John Romita Jr., and Dean White (15%)
- Red Hood & the Outlaws #4 by Giuseppe Camuncoli, Cam Smith, and Dean White (14%)
- Batgirl and the Birds of Prey #5 by Nathan Fairbairn and Yanick Paquette (7%)
- Gotham Academy: Second Semester #3 by Karl Kerschl (6%)
September Variant Cover Poll:
The results from our September Variant Cover Poll can be found in the spoiler tag. The advancing covers will be included in next week’s Best Cover of Q-3 poll.
The best September variant cover is Trinity #1 by Jason Fabok & Brad Anderson with 14% of the votes.
- Detective Comics #940 by Rafael Albuquerque (10%)
- Nightwing #4 by Ivan Reis, Oclair Albert & Sula Moon (9%)
- Suicide Squad #3 by Lee Bermejo (6%)
- Titans #3 by Mike Choi (6%)
- Detective Comics #941 by Rafael Albuquerque (5%)
- Batgirl & the Birds of Prey #2 by Kamome Shirahama (5%)
- All Star Batman #2 by Jock (5%)
- All Star Batman #2 by Declan Shalvey & Jordie Bellaire (5%)
- Red Hood & the Outlaws #2 by Matteo Scalera & Moreno DiNisio (5%)
- Harley Quinn #4 by Bill Sienkiewicz (5%)
- Batgirl #3 by Francis Manapul (4%)
- Batman #6 by Tim Sale (4%)
- All Star Batman #2 by John Romita Jr., Danny Miki & Dean White (3%)
- Batman #7 by Tim Sale (3%)
- Harley Quinn #3 by Bill Sienkiewicz (3%)
- Nightwing #5 by Ivan Reis, Oclair Albert & Sula Moon (2%)
- Teen Titans: Rebirth #1 by Evan Shaner (2%)
- Batman Beyond: Rebirth #1 by Carlos D’Anda
- Harley Quinn & Her Gang of Harleys #6 by Frank Cho & Nei Ruffino (1%)
- Gotham Academy: Second Semester #1 by Fiona Staples (1%)
- Justice League #4 by Yanick Paquette & Nathan Fairbairn (0%)
- Justice League #5 by Yanick Paquette & Nathan Fairbairn (0%)
Graphic Novel Watch:
New Suicide Squad Vol. 4: Kill Anything – THE SUICIDE SQUAD IS DEAD— LONG LIVE THE SUICIDE SQUAD!
Killed in action. That’s the official story on the Suicide Squad, the crack team of the world’s most dangerous super-villains assembled to do the jobs too dirty for the good guys to handle. Also known as Task Force X, they’ve been X’ed out, leaving their minder and master, Amanda Waller, behind to pick up the pieces.
At least that’s what they want you to believe.
Thanks to Harley Quinn’s secret contact on the outside, the Squad has faked their deaths, leaving Harley, Deadshot, Cheetah and Diablo free to live life on their own terms…or so it seems. But by escaping both Waller and the walls of Belle Reve Prison, they may have dug their own graves. They’ve fallen into the clutches of the Fist of Cain, the insane death cult that helped them play dead—and who are now trying to make their ruse a reality!
To survive, the Suicide Squad must turn to their one-time captors—and Deadshot’s hated rival, Captain Boomerang—for help, or they’ll finally live up to their name…
It’s the end of an era for the team behind the blockbuster movie, as creators Tim Seeley (GRAYSON, BATMAN ETERNAL) and Juan Ferreyra (GOTHAM BY MIDNIGHT) seal their fate in NEW SUICIDE SQUAD VOL. 4: KILL ANYTHING! Collects issues #17-22 and a special preview of SUICIDE SQUAD: REBIRTH #1.
