Ever since I moved back to Texas, I feel like I’ve been in a constant game of catch-up – a mission that I’ve been rather unsuccessful in conquering – BUT, it appears as though I’m actually (finally) catching up! My goal is to get back into a routine where this posts on Saturday, so we’ll see if I can make that happen. And while I’m “looking towards the future,” DC should release their April 2017 solicitations on Monday, so keep an eye out for that!
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. Following that, we’ve got notes pertaining to select releases, and our weekly cover poll. 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 25th
Detective Comics #949
“BATWOMAN BEGINS” parts one and two! This special two-part interlude spotlights team leader Batwoman! In the wake of the “Night of the Monster Men,” A.R.G.U.S. has built a secret research city around the corpse of the megamonster that collapsed in Gotham Harbor…creating Gotham City’s newest and most dangerous neighborhood, Monstertown!
In #949, the mission faces a deadly complication—the Colony wants Jacob Kane back, and they’ll kill to set him free!
Art by Ben Oliver
Cover by Ben Oliver
Variant cover by Rafael Albuquerque
Written by Marguerite Bennett and James Tynion IV
Random Blurb of Excitement: I’m not certain this story deserves the title of “Batwoman Begins,” but it definitely serves as a nice spotlight for Kate. There were some great moments depicting early times with Kate operating as Batwoman, and narrative ties well to stories like Batwoman Elegy (a MUST READ for any Batwoman fan), or the first four arcs of Batwoman’s New 52 run. The one thing that can’t be denied is the fact that Tynion is still delivering some of the best work for DC at the moment.
Batman News Critic: Brandon
Batgirl #7
“Son of Penguin” part one! Babs is back in Burnside! But everything’s…different—friends, school, even Burnside itself. Batgirl must determine her next steps when she realizes that the shady new tech mogul moving into her neighborhood is none other than the estranged son of the Penguin!
Art by Christian Wildgoose
Cover by Christian Wildgoose
Variant cover by Francis Manapul
Written by Hope Larson
Random Blurb of Excitement: I’ve rather enjoyed Larson’s work on Batgirl, and I’m… intrigued by this idea. I’m roughly 50/50 concerning my outlook with the idea of Penguin having a son. It could either turn out to be incredibly good, or it will completely fall on its face. I don’t foresee there being a middle ground…
Batman News Critic: Elena
Suicide Squad #10
A “JUSTICE LEAGUE VS. SUICIDE SQUAD” epilogue! She’s lost a prisoner, her darkest secrets have been revealed and she’s unwittingly unleashed a major threat upon herself and Task Force X. It’s one very bad day for Amanda Waller as she tries to tie up loose ends and clean up her mess. But some sins can’t be undone in this special epilogue to JUSTICE LEAGUE VS. SUICIDE SQUAD.
Art by Giuseppe Cafaro
Cover by Giuseppe Cafaro
Variant cover by Lee Bermejo
Written by Rob Williams
Random Blurb of Excitement: This could make Justice League vs Suicide Squad worthwhile for me, but I still feel as though I’ll walk away from this even feeling like it was more of a bridging story than a complete story.
Batman News Critic: Josh
Teen Titans #4
“Damian Knows Best” part four! Robin makes a deal with Ra’s al Ghul—a deal that will be settled in a trial by combat! If Damian wins, the Teen Titans will be spared, but he must rejoin the League of Assassins for good. And if he loses…everyone dies!
Art by Mark Morales and Khoi Pham
Cover by Jonboy Meyers
Variant cover by Chris Burnham
Written by Benjamin Percy
Random Blurb of Excitement: Damian has given himself up to Ra’s in order to save his new friends and teammates… I like the direction this is going. I like it quite a bit. There are some aspects of execution that need to be finessed, but it’s still quite enjoyable.
Batman News Critic: Brian
Batman Beyond #4
The deadly secret behind the newly risen Joker is revealed, and it’s about to shake up Terry McGinnis’ world! Terminal has been using the existence of the Clown Prince of Crime to set himself up as the leader of the anarchic gang of Jokerz, but this new revelation may even put his own criminal empire in jeopardy. This is a turning-point chapter in the life of the Batman of the future.
Art by Bernard Chang
Cover by Bernard Chang
Variant cover by Martin Ansin
Written by Dan Jurgens
Random Blurb of Excitement: If I were to rate Batman Beyond up to this point, I’d place it between “ok” and “good.” There are moments and aspects that I really enjoy, but there are equally as many moments that just feel average. I feel as though Jurgens and Chang are building to something nice (much like they did with their previous run), but I’m feeling a little impatient.
Batman News Critic: Josh
Batman/ Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Adventures #3
A fiendish alliance unfolds behind the scenes, unbeknownst to Batman and the TMNT as they are forced to fight a Poison Ivy-powered Snakeweed!
Written by Matthew Manning
Art by Jon Sommariva
Cover by Jon Sommariva
Random Blurb of Excitement: This is another fun, family-friendly book. While this incarnation is driven more towards a younger audience than the previous crossover with Batman and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, it’s still a delightful read for all ages.
Batman News Critic: Jay
Justice League vs Suicide Squad #6
Legendary JLA artist Howard Porter returns for the ultimate showdown between the Suicide Squad, the Justice League and the forces of [REDACTED]. Unlikely heroes emerge from the rubble of DC’s first major event since DC UNIVERSE: REBIRTH, leaving both teams in a place they’ve never been before…and setting the stage for the all-new JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA.
Art by Howard Porter
Cover by Howard Porter
Written by Joshua Williamson
Random Blurb of Excitement: Brian gave last week’s issue a solid score, but I’m honestly not feeling this story… at all. In my opinion, this entire event has felt unfocused, rushed, and unmotivated (as in, I get the feeling someone at DC said, “We should take advantage of the film hype around Justice League and Suicide Squad… Let’s do a Justice League vs Suicide Squad event. Everyone pitch your ideas. We’re deciding now.” If you’re just looking for action and fun though, then this will definitely be a win for you.
Batman News Critic: Brian
Notes:
- Additional DC releases this week: Action Comics #972, Blue Beetle #5, Deathstroke #11, Doom Patrol #4, Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps #13, The Flash #15, The Hellblazer #6, The Odyssey of the Amazons #1, and Wonder Woman #15.
- Justice League of America: Killer Frost Rebirth #1 will release this week, and will be covered in our monthly Break (From) the Bat post!
- Mother Panic #3 has been rescheduled for February 8th.
- Harley’s Little Black Book #6 has been rescheduled for October 24th November 30th December 28th January 25th 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 January 18, 2017 is Trinity #5 by Francis Manapul with 27% of the votes.
- Nightwing #13 by Marcus To (26%)
- Batman #15 by Mitch Gerads (17%)
- Injustice Ground Zero #4 by Ben Oliver (7%)
- Justice League vs Suicide Squad #5 by Robson Rocha (7%)
- Batman ’66 Meets Wonder Woman ’77 #1 by Mike Allred (6%)
- Harley Quinn #12 by Amanda Conner (5%)
- Justice League #13 by Sandu Florea and Tony S. Daniel (4%)
- Super Powers #3 by Art Baltazar (2%)
Graphic Novel Watch:
Batman: Death & the Maidens: Deluxe Edition – RA’S AL GHUL IS DYING
From award-winning author Greg Rucka (BATWOMAN, WONDER WOMAN) and comics legend Klaus Janson (BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS, Daredevil), BATMAN: DEATH AND THE MAIDENS: THE DELUXE EDITION tells the gripping story of the final days of Ra’s al Ghul.
Ra’s al Ghul has lived for hundreds of years, but he is not immortal. Without access to his life-giving Lazarus Pit, death will come to the Demon’s Head just as it would anyone else. Ra’s knows his days are numbered, but his life’s work is far from complete. Time and again the Dark Knight has thwarted him, but now, in his final days, Ra’s must turn to the Batman for help.
In exchange for his aid, Ra’s offers Batman the opportunity of a lifetime-the chance to speak with his dead parents. But the reunion is not what Batman imagined, and what Martha and Thomas Wayne have to say to their son will profoundly change both the man and the hero.
This volume includes the complete nine-issue miniseries and prologue story as well as behind-the-scenes sketches and commentary.
Batman: The Brave & the Bold – The Bronze Age Omnibus – Through the 1970s, Batman fought evil every month side by side with DC’s greatest heroes. Guest-starring Wonder Woman, the Phantom Stranger, Adam Strange, Black Canary, the Teen Titans, The Flash, Green Arrow, Aquaman and more, these stories are collected in a single, massive hardcover for the first time. Collects THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD #87-122.
Nightwing Vol. 1: Better Than Batman – A part of DC Universe: Rebirth! Nightwing is back…in blue!
He’s been Robin, he’s been a super spy, a ghost. Now, Dick Grayson finds himself back in Gotham City fighting to reclaim the life that was taken from him. But when a new evil threatens those closest to Dick, as Nightwing he must once again choose whether or not to tear himself away from his home in order to combat this dark force.
Everything Dick thought he knew about being Nightwing will be brought to bear, and his relationship to his former mentor Batman will be put to the test in NIGHTWING: VOL. ! written by Tim Seeley (GRAYSON) with art by Yanick Paquette (SWAMP THING, BATMAN/SUPERMAN) and rising star Javier Fernandez (RED HOOD/ARSENAL). Collects NIGHTWING: REBIRTH #1 and NIGHTWING #1-6.
Rebirth honors the richest history in comics, while continuing to look towards the future. These are the most innovative and modern stories featuring the world’s greatest superheroes, told by some of the finest storytellers in the business.
Honoring the past, protecting our present, and looking towards the future. This is the next chapter in the ongoing saga of the DC Universe. The legacy continues.
Superman/ Batman: Saga of the Super Sons (New Edition) – CAPES AND GLOVES AND ROCK ’N’ ROLL
Have you ever considered what it would be like if Superman and Batman each had a son?
Would they be super-powered successors—or dynamic disappointments?
Wonder no more, because the Super Sons are here!
A hoax? A dream? An imaginary tale? No!
Now, revealed in all of its action and drama, the classic chronicle of the two greatest heroes the world has never known:
SUPERMAN JR. AND BATMAN JR.—THE SUPER SONS
Finally recollected after so years out of print!
This classic graphic novel by writer Bob Haney (THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD) and artist Dick Dillin (JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA) collects WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #215, #216, #221, #222, #224, #228, #230, #231, #233, #238, #242, #263 and ELSEWORLDS 80-PAGE GIANT #1!
