This Week in Comics: Harley v Zod: Dawn of…oh, I give up

The clash with General Zod came to a head this week in Suicide Squad, and the team may be the same. We also got a prelude for the upcoming Justice League vs Suicide Squad event—which is imminent!—in the backup.

Detective’s latest arc is finally starting to resonate (for some of us, at least), Red Hood is still working, and DC released a Holiday Special with something for everyone. What did you read this week?

Batgirl and the Birds of Prey #5

Art by Kamome Shirahama
Art by Kamome Shirahama

Yet again, Batgirl and the Birds of Prey fall back on another bad problem. These characters are overly trusting and forgiving; something I’ve called attention to each and every month. I understand that the intent is for Batgirl and the Birds of Prey to be fun, but there should be some sense of believability found in it.

– Josh (read the full review)

Batman/TMNT Adventures #2

Art by Jon Sommariva
Art by Jon Sommariva

I wish it was more than just “exactly what you think”, but when it works it works well. While a few small but significant scripting issues keep it from being great, the overall visual aesthetic and tone make this an enjoyable read.

– Jay (read the full review)

Batman, Vol. 5: Zero Year — Dark City

Art by Greg Capullo, Danny Miki, and FCO Plascencia
Art by Greg Capullo, Danny Miki, and FCO Plascencia

Dark City remains an incredibly strong finish to what may be the team’s greatest arc. Snyder’s expert pacing, Capullo’s amazing perspective and detail, FCO’s brilliant colors, and Wands’s excellent letters and designs combine for a heck of a complete package.

– Brian (read the full review)

DC Rebirth Holiday Special #1

Art by Gustavo Duarte and Marcelo Maiolo
Art by Gustavo Duarte and Marcelo Maiolo

Get yourself a cup of spiced cider, eggnog, cocoa, an Irish whiskey, or any other favorite warm drink of choice, and curl up in a big chair with this one. A motley assortment of characters and art styles pack this book with spirit-filled stories that skirt the line between sentimental and fuzzy warm.

– Elena (read the full review)

Detective Comics #946

Art by Rafael Albuquerque
Art by Rafael Albuquerque

Tynion’s work on Clayface in the first arc pays off here, his apologies to his first victim feeling painfully sincere. It’s breaking him to break her (and it’s breaking me, too).

– Brian (read the full review)

Gotham Academy: Second Semester #4

Art by Mingjue Helen Chen
Art by Mingjue Helen Chen

I wish this story had more time to develop, especially with the narratively-rich “spooky carnival” plot device, but what’s here is perfectly serviceable. I just really want it to be more than that.

– Jay (read the full review)

Red Hood and the Outlaws #5

Art by Matteo Scalera and Moreno Dinisio
Art by Matteo Scalera and Moreno Dinisio

I have my complaints, but I still enjoyed this very much. The simplicity of Lobdell’s plot and his overall approach…makes Red Hood and the Outlaws easy to pick up and hard to put down.

– Brian (read the full review)

Suicide Squad #8

Art by Lee Bermejo
Art by Lee Bermejo

Considering the action, character work, humor, and multiple plot threads, there’s hardly anything left to be desired (except for maybe some romance, but that appears to be in the works). If you’re a comic fan and you’re not reading this run, then you’re doing yourself a disservice.

– Josh (read the full review)

Teen Titans Go! digital-issue #38

Art by Dan Hipp
Art by Dan Hipp

Perfectly serviceable while being completely unremarkable. If you’re a completist, have at it. Otherwise I’d say pass, as even a few decent chuckles don’t warrant any repeat reads.

– Jay (read the full review)