Thanksgiving is this week, and I honestly feel like I’ve got quite a bit to be thankful for! For starters, this will be the first holiday season (Thanksgiving and Christmas) I’ve spent with my family in nearly ten years! I can’t tell you how happy that makes me. On top of that, I’m also thankful to be part of this little site! I get to read and write about comics, attend SDCC, interact with various writers and artists, and I’ve made some cool friends in the process (talking about my fellow site members). Life feels good right now. Turning the focus to comics, DC released their February 2017 solicitations, so I’ll have that up for you Thursday. Also, our Best Cover of Q3 Poll will post this weekend, so get your voting fingers ready!
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 23rd
Detective Comics #945
“The Victim Syndicate” part three! Batman is trying his best to hold his team together, but Spoiler might have every reason to walk out the door…and others might follow!
Written by James Tynion IV
Pencils by Al Barrionuevo and Carmen Carnero
Inks by Al Barrionuevo
Colored by Adriano Lucas
Cover by Eddy Barrows, Raul Fernandez, Alvaro Martinez, and Tomeu Morey
Random Blurb of Excitement: The timing of the Victim Syndicate is not working in Batman’s favor considering one of his sidekicks is gone. I’m curious to see where Tynion goes with this, and how damaging these events will be for the team. Also, I’m totally in favor of more Batwing, so hopefully he sticks around for a while.
Batman News Critic: Brandon
Teen Titans #2
“Damian Knows Best” part two! Ra’s al Ghul’s forces make their move! But are Damian and the newly assembled Teen Titans ready to take on such a deadly threat?
Written by Benjamin Percy
Pencils by Jonboy Meyers and Diogenes Neves
Inks by Ruy Jose and Jonboy Meyers
Colored by Jim Charalampidis
Cover by Jonboy Meyers
Random Blurb of Excitement: I’ve thoroughly enjoyed Percy’s work in Rebirth – both in Green Arrow and (so far) Teen Titans, and feel like he’s finally living up to the potential I kept seeing in his work. I’m eager to dig into this arc to see how Percy portrays Ra’s, as well as what the extent of the conflict will be.
Batman News Critic: Brian
Batman Beyond #2
“THE RETURN” part two! Terry is tested in a way he hasn’t been since he returned as Batman. In Jokerztown to rescue Dana, he’s not up against one foe but an entire community of clown-worshipping crazies, all led by the deadly Terminal. Is it possible his crime-fighting career—and his life—will both end just as he’s starting over?
Written by Dan Jurgens
Pencils and Inks by Bernard Chang
Colored by Marcelo Maiolo
Cover by Bernard Chang and Marcelo Maiolo
Random Blurb of Excitement: Last month’s issue left me wanting a little more, but it was still a solid turn. I’m hoping this issue builds up a little more momentum and excitement/ anticipation with Terry infiltrating the Jokerz as a Joker. This could (and should) be really good!
Batman News Critic: Josh
Batgirl #5
“BEYOND BURNSIDE” conclusion! Batgirl faces down Teacher in the streets of Shanghai, but will fists be enough against the intelligence—enhanced foe? Babs will have to conquer the pathways of her own mind in order to defeat this vicious predator 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: “Beyond Burnside” has been a fun arc for Barbara, and how Larson wraps this story will determine my level of anticipation for future arcs. But for now, I’m quite satisfied.
Batman News Critic: Elena
Harley Quinn #8
“LIFE’S A BEACH”! Harley owes Ivy a trip to the Bahamas…and delivers way more than either of them expected!
Written by Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti
Pencils and Inks by Chad Hardin
Colored by Alex Sinclair
Cover by Amanda Conner and Alex Sinclair
Random Blurb of Excitement: I can only imagine what these two are going to get into in the Bahamas…
Batman News Critic: Elena
Superpowers #1
Aw yeah, the World’s Greatest Heroes are back in a new, all-ages miniseries—except for Batman! Superman helps out by cleaning up in Gotham City, where he discovers a clue that sends Wonder Woman into space to find the Caped Crusader. Her journey brings her a step closer to Batman, but can she uncover the truth behind his disappearance? From the award-winning creative team that brought you TINY TITANS and SUPERMAN FAMILY ADVENTURES!
Written by Franco and Art Baltazar
Pencils and Inks by Art Baltazar
Colored by Art Baltazar
Cover by Art Baltazar
Random Blurb of Excitement: We’ve got a new family oriented book debuting this week! I’ll openly admit that these titles don’t always catch my attention, but when done right (Lil Gotham), they’re amazing! I’m looking forward to seeing where this falls on the scale!
Batman News Critic: Jay
Titans #5
“The Return of Wally West” part five! Wally West will do anything to save his friends—even at the cost of his own life! The full extent of Abra Kadabra’s greatest trick is finally revealed!
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: Titans has been less than stellar out of the gates. Both the plot and the dialogue are sub-par, and I keep hoping for the best. That being said, I’m not expecting any changes in quality until after this arc… so for the moment, I’m just along for the ride.
Batman News Critic: Josh
Notes:
- Additional DC releases this week: Action Comics #968, Blue Beetle #3, Deathstroke #7, The Flash #11, Hal Jordan & the Green Lanterns #9, The Hellblazer #4, and Wonder Woman #11.
- Harley Quinn #8 has been pushed back to November 23rd.
- Harley’s Little Black Book #5 has been pushed back to
September 14thOctober 5thOctober 26thNovember 23rdDecember 14th - Harley’s Little Black Book #6 has been scheduled for
October 24thNovember 30thDecember 28th - Dark Knight III: The Master Race #7 has been scheduled for
October 24thDecember 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 16, 2016 is Trinity #3 by Brad Anderson, Francis Manapul, Clay Mann, and Ulises Arreola Palomera with 37% of the votes.
- Batman #11 by Mikel Janin (29%)
- Superman #11 by Patrick Gleason, Mick Gray, and John Kalisz (16%)
- Nightwing #9 by Marcelo Maiolo and Marcio Takara (11%)
- Suicide Squad #6 by Alex Sinclair and Scott Williams (5%)
- Justice League #9 by Brad Anderson, Bryan Hitch, Fernando Pasarin, Matt Ryan, and Alex Sinclair
Graphic Novel Watch:
Black Canary Vol. 2: New Killer Star – CULT OF PERSONALITY
Rock star. Public menace. Martial artist. Superhero. Dinah Drake is all these things and more—and she’s got the legions of fans, friends and foes to prove it. But there’s a part of her life she’s never been able to get a handle on, a role she’s never been able to play: daughter. Her mother went missing, and took the secrets of Dinah’s own past with her.
Now a mysterious cult—fronted by a white ninja whose skills may outmatch even Black Canary’s—is determined to dig them up. And if that means digging them directly out of Dinah’s soul? So be it.
To escape this implacable enemy and track down the roots of the cult that rose up in her mother’s absence, Dinah must go on a whirlwind tour from the streets of Gotham City to the nightclubs of Europe. And she’ll need the help of everyone from Batgirl to her band to survive. Because this foe won’t stop until the Canary Cry is silenced for good…
Writer Brenden Fletcher and artists Sandy Jarrell, Moritat and Annie Wu crank the volume of the Dinah Drake saga up to eleven in BLACK CANARY VOL. 2: NEW KILLER STAR! Collects stories from BLACK CANARY #8-12, GOTHAM ACADEMY #17 and a special preview of BATGIRL AND THE BIRDS OF PREY: REBIRTH #1.
The Art of DC Comics Bombshells – BOLD, BRIGHT, BEAUTIFUL BOMBSHELLS!
The timeless beauty of the DC Universe’s greatest heroines is on full display in THE ART OF DC COMICS BOMBSHELLS! Reimagined in the incredibly popular collectibles line as World War II-era pinups, Wonder Woman, Harley Quinn, Supergirl, Poison Ivy and so many more of the most extraordinary characters in comics are showcased as never before. These gorgeous statues have become modern-day classics, capturing imaginations and inspiring covers in their honor, a monthly comic book series and more.
The retro reinventions of these iconic heroes and villains are presented here along with never-before-seen artwork, preliminary designs and commentary from the creative forces behind the ever-expanding world of the Bombshells!
