Upcoming Comics: February 1, 2017

One month down! We’ve completed the Justice League vs Suicide Squad “event,” and as expected, the story served as nothing more than a bridge to set-up other stories. While I’m looking forward to some of the consequences (Justice League of America, Suicide Squad, Supergirl), I would have been even better had the event actually produced a good story in and of itself. Regardless, as I referenced, the future does look promising! In case you missed it, we posted DC’s April 2017 Solicitations on Tuesday, so make sure you check that out! For recaps of our previous coverage, be sure to check out This Week In Comics, which is posted to the main page every Friday!

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…

February 1^st

Nightwing #14
“BLUDHAVEN” finale! The psychopath who’s been carrying out the killings in Blüdhaven has placed the blame on Nightwing! Now Dick Grayson must apprehend this maniac to stop the murders and to convince Blüdhaven he’s not a villain.

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

Random Blurb of Excitement: The care and respect that Tim Seeley has shown towards Dick Grayson over the past few years, while also advancing the growing the character, is something worth praising! Nightwing is easily the most enjoyable title that I read each month, and I always look forward to getting my hands on the next chapter!

Batman News Critic: Jay

Batman #16
“I Am Bane” part one! Bane is coming for Batman. Bruce must keep those he loves safe for five days in order to save Gotham Girl once and for all. But Bane will stop at nothing, and no one is safe.

Art by David Finch
Cover by David Finch
Variant cover by Tim Sale
Written by Tom King

Random Blurb of Excitement: “Rooftops” successfully restored my excitement for Batman. Now I just hope that King and the editors pay more attention to continuity so that we don’t have a mess of a narrative for this arc.

Batman News Critic: Brandon

Harley Quinn #13
“Joker Loves Harley” finale! Just how did a gentle, “reformed” Joker come to arrive at Harley’s doorstep when everyone believed him dead and gone? The answer’s in this issue—and it’ll shock you!

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

Random Blurb of Excitement: Elena felt as though there were some miss-steps with the last issue, so I’m curious to see if Palmiotti and Conner manager to turn her opinion around. If there’s one thing that’s certain, you can never assume the outcome of Harley Quinn! This book is one bag of crazy that can deliver the unexpected at any moment!

Batman News Critic: Elena

Green Lanterns #16
“DARKEST KNIGHT” part one! It’s the Dark Knight/Emerald Knights team up you’ve been waiting for! Simon and Jessica travel to Gotham City to help Batman with a mystery even he can’t solve! People all across the city have been gripped with fear. Is it Scarecrow? Is it the Sinestro Corps? Can these Justice League teammates work together to solve the mystery?

Written by Sam Humphries
Pencils by Neil Edwards
Inks by Keith Champagne and Jay Leisten
Colored by Blond
Cover by James Harren

Random Blurb of Excitement: Hey, look! The Green Lanterns are going to Gotham! This could be interesting!

Batman News Critic: Brian

Injustice: Ground Zero #5
Tired of being confined to the sidelines in the battle against Superman, Harley decides to take matters into her own hands by breaking into the Batcave to steal the Batmobile. One problem: the Batcave and all of Wayne Manor are under a force field and being protected by Shazam. Meanwhile, Batman’s crew is also out to break into the cave, but for a much more serious purpose.

Art by Tom Derenick and Jheremy Raapack
Cover by Renato Guedes
Written by Chris Sebela

Random Blurb of Excitement: I’ve enjoyed Injustice, but there has been something about it that has prevented the title from grabbing my attention like its predecessor. I couldn’t quite put my hand on the reason, but Elena identified it quite well: “While I’m enjoying this book, the world feels very small at the moment, which is unusual for Injustice, and that’s a shift that I’m still acclimating to.”

Batman News Critic: Elena

Super Powers #4
An evil menace stirs the sea dwellers of the Pacific Ocean as an angry Black Manta pays a visit to the evil genius Lex Luthor. Whatever underwater evil is being planned, Aquaman and his Super Friends can save the day! Or can they? Lex welcomes the return of his Legion of Doom!

Art by Art Baltazar
Cover by Art Baltazar
Written by Franco, Art Baltazar

Random Blurb of Excitement: All I read from the solicitation was “Super Friends” and it immediately reminded me of the old cartoon I used to watch… Oh nostalgia…

Batman News Critic: Jay

Justice League #14
“REGROUP”! Broken, battered and pinned down by a new alien threat, the Justice League is forced to confront long-simmering tensions between teammates before they can save the world. Grievances are aired and secrets are revealed in this special issue written and drawn by Bryan Hitch.

Art by Daniel Henriques and Bryan Hitch
Cover by Daniel Henriques and Bryan Hitch
Variant cover by Yanick Paquette
Written by Bryan Hitch

Random Blurb of Excitement: “Regroup” is exactly what Justice League needs to do at the moment. After multiple arcs that were less than impressive, Hitch needs to delivery something good if he expects people to stick with him. And if he can’t, then DC should seriously look into bringing in another writer.

Batman News Critic: Brian

Notes:

Additional DC releases this week: Aquaman #16, Cyborg #9, Bombshells #22, Death of Hawkman #5, Green Arrow #16, Green Lanterns #16, Midnighter & Apollo #5, Shade the Changeling Girl #5, Superman #16, and The Fall & Rise of Captain Atom #2.
Mother Panic #3 has been rescheduled for February 8^th.
Harley’s Little Black Book #6 has been rescheduled for October 24^th November 30^th December 28^th January 25^th 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.

Spoiler

Best cover of January 25, 2017 is Detective Comics #949 by Ben Oliver with 37% of the votes.

Suicide Squad #7 by Giuseppe Cafaro (14%)
Justice League vs Suicide Squad #6 by Howard Porter (13%)
Teen Titans #4 by Jonboy Meyers (11%)
Batman Beyond #4 by Bernard Chang (10%)
Batman/ Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures #3 by Jon Sommariva (10%)
Batgirl #7 by Christian Wildgoose (6%)

Graphic Novel Watch:

Batman – Detective Comics Vol. 1: Rise of the Batmen – An elite fighting force modeled after the Dark Knight has invaded the streets of Gotham. Their armor, weaponry and surveillance equipment are based on Batman’s tech and tactics, but they’re far beyond anything he’s ever seen. And while these Batmen’s motives remain a mystery, their targets are all too clear…

They’re gunning for Gotham’s vigilantes.

Batman knows he can’t face this foe alone, and neither can the crime-fighters caught in the crossfire. So with Batwoman-secretly Bruce Wayne’s cousin, Kate Kane-as his general, he’s organizing the next generation of Gotham heroes into an army.

Tim Drake, a.k.a. Red Robin. Stephanie Brown, a.k.a. Spoiler. Cassandra Cain, a.k.a. the Orphan. And reformed criminal Basil Karlo, a.k.a. Clayface. These are the shock troops in Batman and Batwoman’s war. When they finally see the face of their true enemy, will they stand together…or fall apart?

Find out in BATMAN: DETECTIVE COMICS VOL. 1: RISE OF THE BATMEN, a great jumping-on point for new readers! This masterful high-octane thriller from writer James Tynion IV (BATMAN AND ROBIN ETERNAL) and artists Eddy Barrows (NIGHTWING) and Alvaro Martinez (Ultimate Comics X-Men) explodes from the blockbuster DC Rebirth event! Collects DETECTIVE COMICS #934-940.

Harley Quinn & Her Gang of Harleys – Spinning out of the New York Times best-selling HARLEY QUINN series comes HARLEY QUINN AND HER GANG OF HARLEYS. Harley Quinn has gone into the vigilante-for-profit business…but there are so many folks who deserve a walloping, there’s no way she can do it all herself! That’s why she hired the Gang of Harleys-Harley Queens, Harlem Quinn, Bolly Quinn, Harvey Quinn, Carli Quinn and Hanuquinn. But are the Harleys heroes in their own rights, or are they just coasting on their boss’ famous and fabulous tailwind?

They’re about to find out…because Harley Quinn has been kidnapped!

Who could be dastardly enough to kidnap Harley…and actually keep her in one place? Who has the method and the motive to target the Gang’s loved ones? Can these heroes step up and save their boss, or will the Gang of Harleys become a gang of corpses?

HARLEY QUINN AND HER GANG OF HARLEYS collects the complete six-issue miniseries from writers Frank Tieri (Wolverine) and Jimmy Palmiotti (HARLEY QUINN) and hot new artist Mauricet (ROBIN WAR), shining the spotlight on Coney Island’s favorite new band of hard-hitting, crime-fighting heroes!

Teen Titans Vol. 4: When Titans Fall – The Teen Titans should be keeping a low profile. After all, a misunderstanding has left them wanted criminals, on the run from the law. But when Red Robin, Beast Boy, Wonder Girl, Raven, Power Girl and Bunker see people that need saving-whether it’s from a rampaging French gorilla or a designer drug that turns them into mindless beasts-they spring into action. That’s what being a Teen Titan is all about.

Unfortunately, if you’re a metahuman who’s a wanted criminal, you’re going to find yourself in Amanda Waller’s crosshairs! The master manipulator wants the Teen Titans for her Suicide Squad, and she’s determined to prove that the Titans are just as dangerous as her hardened criminals.

But if the only thing keeping these heroes from becoming outlaws is when the Titans stand together, what happens when one of their own pays the ultimate price? Is this the end of the Teen Titans as we know them?

Writers Tony Bedard (SUPERGIRL) and Scott Lobdell (RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS) and artists Ian Churchill (THE RAVAGERS) and Miguel Mendonça (WONDER WOMAN) set the stage for the rebirth of the Teen Titans…by tearing the team apart! Collects TEEN TITANS #20-24, TEEN TITANS ANNUAL #2 and a special preview of TEEN TITANS: REBIRTH #1.

January Variant Cover Poll:

Batman #14 by Tim Sale