Upcoming Comics: January 4, 2017

Happy New Year, everyone!

We’ve got some great things in the pipeline for this year, so I hope you’re excited and ready! It looks like DC will deliver the goods this year as well! In case you missed it, Geoff Johns announced he’ll return to comics this year (which should excite everyone following Darkseid War), and based on his tweet, it’s clear that we’re going to deal with the results of DC Universe Rebirth!

And 1) Writing comics again… stay tuned! Happy New Year!!! pic.twitter.com/zUvs4NIXhM

— Geoff Johns (@geoffjohns) January 1, 2017

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…

 

January 4^th

Nightwing #12
“BLUDHAVEN” part three! The body count in Blüdhaven continues to rise! Nightwing will have to team up with the Run-Offs to discover who the murderer is and clear the name of the Defacer. But before they can even begin they cross paths with the killer, Orca, and her Whaler Gang.

Written by Tim Seeley
Art by Marcus To
Cover by Marcus To
Variant cover by Oclair Albert and Ivan Reis

Random Blurb of Excitement: I’m loving this run, but for very different reasons than I enjoyed the first arc. “Bludhaven” feels like classic Nightwing, and not just because he’s returned to Bludhaven. The villains, the storytelling… It’s all good!

Batman News Critic: Jay
Harley Quinn #11
“JOKER LOVES HARLEY” part one! For months now, strange reminders of Harley’s time with the Joker have been popping up in the most unexpected places…is this coincidence? Or a message? As our tale begins, Harley is introduced to a newer, kinder Joker…and Red Tool is not happy about it!

Written by Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti
Pencils by John Timms
Cover by Amanda Conner
Variant cover by Frank Cho

Random Blurb of Excitement: Jealousy between Joker and Red Tool over Harley? I’m down for that!

Batman News Critic: Elena
 

Batman #14
“I AM SUICIDE” epilogue! Back in Gotham City, Batman and Catwoman confront their past and make a decision about their future that may change their city forever.

Written by Tom King
Pencils by Mitch Gerads and Stephanie Hans
Cover by Stephanie Hans
Variant cover by Tim Sale

Random Blurb of Excitement: There’s no way to redeem the “I Am Suicide” story… No matter what happens in this issue, that arc is a complete and utter mess. The only redeeming thing that could come from this, is an explanation as to why Catwoman killed hundreds of people… Preferably that she didn’t really kill them.

Batman News Critic: Brandon
 

Justice League #12
A “JUSTICE LEAGUE VS. SUICIDE SQUAD” tie-in! Behold the rebirth of one of the DC Universe’s most cunning villains as [REDACTED].

Written by Tim Seeley
Art by Christian Duce Fernandez
Cover by Sandu Florea and Tony S. Daniel
Variant cover by Yanick Paquette

Random Blurb of Excitement: Typically I dread tie-ins. Lately I’ve even grown to dread Justice League. This is different though, because Tim Seeley is writing. That means that this issue might actually be good!

Batman News Critic: Brian

Injustice: Ground Zero #3
Batman has been taken prisoner! That’s good news for Superman, until he figures out it’s not the same Batman he’s been pursuing all these years.

Art by Pop Mhan
Cover by Ben Oliver
Written by Chris Sebela

Random Blurb of Excitement: Injustice: Ground Zero has been surprisingly better than I expected. So far the creative team has kept this title fresh despite the concept. Hopefully, they’ll continue to surprise me!

Batman News Critic: Elena

 

Justice League vs Suicide Squad #3
Belle Reve Penitentiary. Headquarters of Task Force X, home to the worst super-criminal scum in the DC Universe and new residence of…the Justice League?! The Suicide Squad delight in showing Earth’s greatest heroes how the other side lives, and you’d better believe the Justice League needs to be restrained to hear the terrible secret Amanda Waller has to tell them.

Written by Joshua Williamson
Art by Jesús Merino
Cover by Andy Owens and Jesús Merino

Random Blurb of Excitement: Brian’s review last week was spot on. Overall, this story isn’t bad, but the dialogue is far from stellar. This is exactly what I was concerned about heading into this event, and it looks like I was right. This issue marks the halfway point, and so far, not much has actually happened to qualify this as an “event” in my opinion. We’ll see if that changes…

Batman News Critic: Brian

 

Notes:

• Additional DC releases this week: Cyborg #8, Death of Hawkman #4, Green Arrow #14, Green Lanterns #14, Justice League of America: The Atom Rebirth #1, Midnighter & Apollo #4, Shade the Changeling Girl #4, Superman #14, and The Fall of Captain Atom #1.
• Justice League of America: The Atom Rebirth #1 will release this week, and will be covered in our monthly Break (From) the Bat post!
• Harley’s Little Black Book #6 has been scheduled for October 24^th November 30^th December 28^th January 25^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:

Catwoman Vol. 6: Final Jeopardy – GOOD-BYE TO EVERYTHING

Catwoman has learned a lot from Batman: how to use fear to cripple foes, how to embrace the heights of Gotham rooftops and the underbellies of its alleyways, how to thrive in shadows. Now, after carefully rebuilding her secret identity to protect herself and her new daughter, everything is crumbling around her, and her daughter and friends are in danger, too.

Selina Kyle faces uncomfortable truths about her nature while dealing with the threat of the killers-for-hire Hammer and Sickle, only to then be thrown off-planet by the government…along with all of Earth’s super-villains! She must now claw her way back to Earth and reality for the sake of everything she holds dear…

Will Pfeifer (TEEN TITANS), David López (INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US), Álvaro López (Spider-Woman) and others continue the classic adventures of the Feline Fatale in this final volume of the acclaimed series. CATWOMAN VOLUME 6: FINAL JEOPARDY collects CATWOMAN #66-82 and issue #83 from the BLACKEST NIGHT saga!

 

Grayson Vol. 5: Spiral’s End – REMEMBER HIS NAME

The entire world is caught in a secret spiral of war and one man stands at the center…Dick Grayson.

Corrupted from within, the all-powerful clandestine organization called Spyral is at war with itself, as rival agencies Checkmate and the Syndicate send their deadliest, most dangerous agents to wipe it from the face of the earth.

Spyral’s own Agent 37, Dick Grayson, is the only person skilled enough to stop the slaughter from spiraling out of control, but he’s being hunted by the very organization that trained him—and both Spyral and Helena Bertinelli, the woman he loves, will live or die depending on his next move…

Dick Grayson’s tenure at Spyral comes to a close in GRAYSON VOL. 5: SPIRAL’S END, by writers Tom King (BATMAN), Tim Seeley (NIGHTWING), Jackson Lanzing (BATMAN ETERNAL), Collin Kelly (BATMAN & ROBIN ETERNAL) and artist Roge Antonio (THE JOKER: ENDGAME). Collects GRAYSON #17-20, GRAYSON ANNUAL #3 and a special sneak peek of NIGHTWING #1!