Upcoming Comics: February 8, 2016

I literally have two thoughts running through my mind at the moment.

1. Holy crap! Detective Comics #950 releases Wednesday! AND it’s an oversized issue! Ahhhhh!!!!!

And…

2. Holy crap! I’ve got a lot that I need to do this week!

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 8^th

Detective Comics #950
“League of Shadows” prologue! Celebrate 950 issues of the original Batman series with this extra-sized extravaganza! Cassandra Cain has stayed out of the spotlight on Batman’s team as she slowly comes to terms with the civilized world she was kept away from all her life…but the time for her to step up is fast approaching! Will she ever learn how to fit in among the masses, or will she always be more weapon than woman? Plus: a primer on the history of the League of Assassins, and an adventure with the team’s newest recruit: Azrael, the Avenging Angel!

Art by Marcio Takara
Cover by Eber Ferreira and Eddy Barrows
Variant cover by Rafael Albuquerque
Written by James T Tynion IV

Random Blurb of Excitement: I. Want. This. Now.

Batman News Critic: Brandon

 

 

Justice League of America: Rebirth #1
Batman, Black Canary, Killer Frost, the Ray, Vixen, the Atom, and…Lobo?! Spinning directly out of the events of JUSTICE LEAGUE VS. SUICIDE SQUAD, join the sensational team of writer Steve Orlando and artists Ivan Reis and Joe Prado and discover how Batman assembled the roughest, toughest Justice League of all time!

Art by Joe Prado and Ivan Reis
Cover by Joe Prado and Ivan Reis
Variant cover by Ryan Ottley
Written by Steve Orlando

Random Blurb of Excitement: I’ve been waiting for Justice League of America since it was first announced back in May. The more recent announcements only made me more excited for the title, and the one-shot Rebirth issues have been quite enjoyable, so I have faith the core series will be as well. If there’s one thing I can say about Steve Orlando, it’s that he has a strong grasp of the characters he’s working with, and I can only imagine the stories he’s prepared!

Batman News Critic: Josh

 

 

All-Star Batman #7
“Poison Promises”! Step aside, gentlemen—Poison Ivy is about to steal the spotlight in Batman’s continuing rogues gallery road trip. Scott Snyder teams up with mega-talent Tula Lotay to reimagine the Dark Knight’s most seductive villain.

Art by Tula Lotay
Cover by Tula Lotay
Variant cover by Francesco Francavilla and Tula Lotay
Written by Scott Snyder

Random Blurb of Excitement: I didn’t like the first arc. It wasn’t terrible, but there were too many things that bothered me to the point that I just couldn’t write them off. Last month’s chapter featuring Mr. Freeze, however, was quite good (even if we are still waiting for a conclusion). I’m hoping this issue follows that trend, and focuses on character motivations more than anything else.

Batman News Critic: Jay

 

 

Titans #8
“Made in Manhattan” part one! As Wally West and the Titans adjust to their new lives in New York City and investigate a mysterious new threat, Karen and Mal Duncan visit Meta Solutions to discuss their future. But the meeting takes an unexpected turn when Mal delivers a shocking revelation, and Karen is faced with a difficult choice.

Art by Norm Rapmund and Brett Booth
Cover by Norm Rapmund and Brett Booth
Variant cover by Nicholas Bradshaw
Written by Dan Abnett

Random Blurb of Excitement: The past few issues of Titans have been outstanding! Now that we’re moving into a new arc, I hope to see that same level of quality and execution from Abnett! If so, then I’ll confidently move Titans into the “must read” column of my recommendation list.

Batman News Critic: Josh

 

Red Hood & the Outlaws #7
“How do you solve a problem like Bizarro?”! Now that Black Mask is defeated, Artemis continues her quest for the Bow of Ra—a weapon of immense power. Meanwhile, Jason is dealing with an immense power of his own—Bizarro. What’s to be done about such a volatile creature…and is he too dangerous to be kept alive?

Art by Mirko Colak
Cover by Cam Smith and Giuseppe Camuncoli
Variant cover by Matteo Scalera
Written by Scott Lobdell

Random Blurb of Excitement: Be honest… How many of you sang the title of this arc? Come on! Don’t be shy! I know there’s a lot of Sound of Music fans out there!… That’s what I thought. Alright, on three! One… two… three!

I’m just kidding. But, on a serious note, I’m still a fan of everything Lobdell is doing with Red Hood & the Outlaws, and I love the somewhat tragic approach he’s embracing with Bizarro. If he can keep this same approach, then he’ll have another winning story on his hands.

Batman News Critic: Brian

 

 

Justice League vs Power Rangers #2
Lost in another dimension, the Power Rangers must face a team unlike any they’ve ever encountered! In a world teeming with god-like heroes and villains as monstrous as Lord Zedd, it will take more than superpowers to survive. Can the Power Rangers work with the Justice League to find a way back home? Co-published with BOOM! Studios.

Art by Stephen Byrne
Cover by Karl Kerschl
Written by Tom Taylor

Random Blurb of Excitement: I’m still excited by this crossover, but the debut issue was just… ok. If we can get a little more meat in this issue, and more character interaction, then that should be a formula for improvement! (Plus, I’m still secretly wanting to see members of the Justice League in the Zords.)

Batman News Critic: Elena

 

 

Suicide Squad #11
“BURNING DOWN THE HOUSE” part one! Spinning directly out of the events of JUSTICE LEAGUE VS. SUICIDE SQUAD! Hidden somewhere deep within, the world is a burning flame. Its light is blinding. Its heat is deadly. It’s a fire fueled by hatred, by rage and by vengeance. Used, abused and left for dead, the greatest foe the Suicide Squad has ever faced returns, more powerful than ever, to burn down the world Amanda Waller has given everything to protect.

Art by John Romita Jr.
Cover by John Romita Jr.
Variant cover by Lee Bermejo
Written by Rob Williams

Random Blurb of Excitement: I… *sigh* I love what Rob Williams is doing with Suicide Squad. I, however, am not a fan of Romita. I mean, look at that cover… When did Harley turn into a dominatrix? I’d be ok if this were Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti’s book (because it would be hilarious), but this? No.

Batman News Critic: Josh

 

Gotham Academy: Second Semester #6
You know you’re in trouble when Batman calls you to the principal’s office! To stop the new threat to the Academy, Detective Club must team up with the Dark Knight. Not even Batarangs, however, can stop the sting of betrayal.

Written by Becky Cloonan, Brenden Fletcher, and Karl Kerschl
Pencils by MSASSYK and Adam Archer
Inks by MSASSYK and Sandra Hope
Colored by MSASSYK
Cover by Karl Kerschl

Random Blurb of Excitement: There was a point in time when I feared the cancelation of Gotham Academy. If I received news today that this title had been canceled, I’d just say, “Meh” and carry on with my day.

Batman News Critic: Brandon

 

 

Batgirl & the Birds of Prey #7
“VALENTINE’S DAY” part one! The new Oracle is now embedded in the Birds of Prey’s lives…and they’re going to have to make it work whether they like it or not! Plus, Huntress has decided to make Gotham her permanent home—but that means venturing into the most dangerous world of all…the Gotham City real-estate market! Perhaps an abandoned amusement park with a murder slide is up her alley?

Art by Claire Roe
Cover by Yanick Paquette
Variant cover by Kamome Shirahama
Written by Shawna Benson and Julie Benson

Random Blurb of Excitement: If I give Batgirl and the Birds of Prey a score higher than 4, I’ll be shocked… (See, I’m in the business of shocking myself now.)

Batman News Critic: Josh

 

 

Notes:

Additional DC releases this week: Deadman: Mansion of Forbidden Love #3, Deathstroke #12, Earth 2: Society #21, Hal Jordan & the Green Lantern Corps #13, New Superman #8, Supergirl #6, Superwoman #7, The Flash #16, and Wonder Woman #16. 

• Mother Panic #3 has been rescheduled for February 8^th February 15^th
• Harley’s Little Black Book #6 has been rescheduled for October 24^th November 30^th December 28^th January 25^th March 8^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:

New Teen Titans Vol. 6 – The recut graphic novel series from one of the most successful comic runs of all time continues here. The original Teen Titans-young heroes like Robin, Wonder Girl and Kid Flash-saw plenty of action but always stood in the shadows of their larger-than-life mentors. It was Batman, Wonder Woman and the Flash who ultimately called the shots.

All that changed, however, with the arrival of THE NEW TEEN TITANS in 1980-and the lives of DC’s adolescent adventurers would never be the same!

Crafted by comics legends Marv Wolfman and George Pérez, this all-new super-title featured greater dangers, fiercer emotions and more tangled relationships than any that had come before. The Titans’ celebrated stories have ensured that the names of Starfire, Cyborg, Raven and Changeling will be passed down through history alongside those famous aliases employed by Dick Grayson, Donna Troy and Wally West.

Now, for the first time, all of Wolfman and Pérez’s NEW TEEN TITANS tales are available in a comprehensive series of trade paperback editions. THE NEW TEEN TITANS VOLUME SIX collects issues #35-41 of the classic title as well as the crossover issue BATMAN AND THE OUTSIDERS #5, and features the team’s epic showdown with Brother Blood!

 

 

January Variant Cover Poll Results:

Results from the January Variant Cover Poll can be found in the spoiler tag below. The winning covers will move on to the Q-1 2017 Cover Poll.