We’re less than a month from Comic Con, and I’m SUPER EXCITED! This year, Andrew, Brandon, Jay, and I will all be attending (potentially Elena as well), so make sure you follow us on Twitter if you don’t already! We’ll be tweeting updates throughout the weekend… Plus, we’re all really cool and totally worth following… Just saying. You can find out Twitter handle by clicking our name at the top of any of our posts. This will take you to our profile page, and our Twitter handle will be listed under our name!
Alright, on to business! For a collection of our opinions pertaining to last week’s releases, make sure you check out This Week In Comics: Batman Tells a Bedtime Story. 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, a random comment (or rant), and the Batman News team member that will be reviewing each book. After I’ve overshared my opinions, you’ll find notes pertaining to other DC Comics titles/ delayed releases, as well as our Graphic Novel Watch. And finally, we want to hear from you! What titles are you picking up? What do you hope to see? Etc. So, without further ado…
June 28th
Batman/ The Shadow #3
The Joker has entered the fray, and he’s been offered unspeakable power in return for helping the Stag kill Batman! It’s up to the Shadow to protect Batman from the pair’s combined onslaught and the mystical powers of Shamba-La! Co-published with Dynamite!
Art by Riley Rossmo
Cover by Riley Rossmo
Variant cover by Eduardo Risso and Tim Sale
Written by Steve Orlando and Scott Snyder
Josh’s Stance: Head and shoulders, this is the BEST Batman book being released at the moment. If you want some great detective work, solid action, and a strong mythology… This is definitely the book for you!
Batman-News Critic: Brandon
Suicide Squad #20
“FALSE FLAG” part one! Task Force X needs a new team leader, and the pickings are slim: a cannibalistic crocodile-man, a schizophrenic witch-demon, a one-armed assassin, a lady who talks to her sword and a racist drunkard. But there’s also the homicidal clown-girl who, devastated by the loss of her crush, returns to a dark and violent path from which there can be no escape…
Art by Stjepan Sejic
Cover by Otto Schmidt
Variant cover by Whilce Portacio
Written by Rob Williams
Josh’s Stance: Williams is a masterclass writer. His use and balance of characters has driven Suicide Squad to become one of the most engaging titles published by DC, and Harley’s arc has me anxious to see the direction of her future.
Batman-News Critic: Josh
Detective Comics #959
“Intelligence” part two! While his team comes to grips with Azrael’s past, Batman is on the trail of the shocking secret he learned at the end of last month’s epic BATMAN/FLASH crossover, “The Button”—and it’s brought him directly to the Mistress of Magic, Zatanna!
Art by Raúl Fernández and Alvaro Martinez
Cover by Yasmine Putri
Variant cover by Rafael Albuquerque
Written by James T Tynion IV
Josh’s Stance: Like a number of titles, Detective Comics has been slipping in quality since its debut. I wasn’t too excited about this arc, but Zatana does bring a much needed energy boost to the book!
Batman-News Critic: Brandon
Batman/ Elmer Fudd Special #1
After a chance meeting with billionaire Bruce Wayne, Elmer Fudd’s obsession quickly escalates into stalking Batman through the dark alleys and high-class social settings of Gotham City. Welcome to Bat Season! And the bonus Looney Tunes backup story features DC characters written by Tom King and artwork by Byron Vaughns.
Art by Lee Weeks
Backup Art by Byron Vaughns
Cover by Lee Weeks
Variant cover by Bob Fingerman
Written by Tom King
Josh’s Stance: This should be A LOT of fun! The idea of Batman and Elmer Fudd is so absurd, but so amusing at the same time, that I can’t wait to see what King has concocted.
Batman-News Critic: Jay
Batman Beyond #9
“RISE OF THE DEMON” part four! Can an older, physically weakened Bruce Wayne come out of retirement to rescue Batman? As Terry battles a renewed and more deadly Ra’s al Ghul in Tibet, only Bruce knows that Terry is facing two life-threatening menaces—Ra’s and the experimental Batman suit that he’s now wearing. It’s a race against time and a battle against impossible odds.
Art by Bernard Chang
Cover by Bernard Chang
Variant cover by Martin Ansin
Written by Dan Jurgens
Josh’s Stance: There are a lot of great things that could come from this arc. I love the idea of Damian as the new Ra’s, and I hope that Jurgens carries this idea through for many arcs. If I have one complaint about Batman Beyond so far, it’s that Jurgens and Chang haven’t taken full advantage of the stories they’ve set up.
Batman-News Critic: Josh
Mother Panic #8
No one ever said detective work was Violet’s strong suit, but she’s never been one to let details get in her way. Mother Panic’s got a hunch about the new murderer in Gotham, but are impulsiveness and a thirst for vengeance really the right tools to stop a killer?
Art by John Paul Leon
Backup Art by Phil Hester
Backup Written by Jim Krueger
Cover by Tommy Lee Edwards
Variant cover by Emanuela Lupacchino
Written by Jody Houser
Josh’s Stance: Last month’s Mother Panic made a much needed improvement in the quality department. Leon’s art was an obvious contributor to this, but Houser’s script remains a mystery. As much as I want to say I’m excited for this issue, I also know the writing could once again fall at any moment.
Batman-News Critic: Josh
Teen Titans #9
“Blood of the Manta” part one! Still dealing with the consequences of “The Lazarus Contract,” Kid Flash’s status with the team is challenged by Damian…and the Teen Titans will never be the same. Meanwhile, Aqualad learns more about his powers and the truth about his lineage is revealed!
Art by Wade Von Grawbadger and Khoi Pham
Cover by Khoi Pham
Variant cover by Paolo Pantalena
Written by Benjamin Percy
Josh’s Stance: Kicking Kid Flash off of the team seems like some unneeded melodrama, but I am curious to learn Aqualad’s history.
Batman-News Critic: Brian
Batgirl #12
“Troubled Waters”! A terrifying creature is threatening members of the Burnside YMCA—but no one can catch it! It’s up to Batgirl to plunge into the unknown depths and risk being zapped out of existence to put an end to the danger!
Art by Eleanor Carlini
Cover by Dan Mora
Variant cover by Francis Manapul
Written by Hope Larson
Josh’s Stance: This… Does not interest me at all. I enjoyed the first arc of Batgirl, but the book has been on a slow downward slide since then.
Batman-News Critic: Elena
Batman ’66 Meets Wonder Woman ’77 #6
Batman retired to let his protégés defend the streets of Gotham City, but his peace is threatened when an old enemy comes to town. Will our heroes thwart Ra’s al Ghul and save the ’70s? Tune in for the epic finale!
Art by Karl Kesel and David Hahn
Cover by Mike Allred
Written by Jeff Parker and Marc Andreyko
Josh’s Stance: I wish I could say that I’d be more devastated to see this mini come to a close, but I’m honestly ok with it. This book never met the potential I hoped it would… but I guess you can’t knock’em all out of the park, right?
Batman-News Critic: Jay
Justice League of America #9
“THE MAN FROM MONSTER VALLEY” part two! The hidden truth of Makson and his family is brought to the surface—as are his superhuman powers, which the Man from Monster Valley turns on the Justice League in this tale of treachery and revenge!
Art by Scott Hanna and Felipe Watanabe
Cover by Felipe Watanabe
Variant cover by Doug Mahnke
Written by Steve Orlando
Josh’s Stance: The first half of “The Man From Monster Valley” was, admittedly, better than I expected… but still very bad. I want nothing more than to see JLA succeed, but Orlando has to step up his game for that to happen.
Batman-News Critic: Josh
Notes:
- Additional DC Releases slated for this week: Blue Beetle #10, Hal Jordan & the Green Lantern Corps #23, Johan Hex & Yosemite Sam Special #1, Supergirl: Being Super #4, The Flash #25, The Hellblazer #11, and Wonder Woman #25.
- Justice League vs Power Rangers #5 has been pushed back to
May 31, 2017August 9, 2017. - Justice League vs Power Rangers #6 has been pushed back to September 6, 2017.
Graphic Novel Watch:
Batman Beyond Vol. 1: Escaping the Grave – Writer DAN JURGENS (ACTION COMICS), artist BERNARD CHANG (GREEN LANTERN CORPS) and colorist MARCELO MAIOLO (GREEN LANTERN CORPS) bring Terry McGinnis’ Batman back to the future in BATMAN BEYOND VOLUME 1: ESCAPING THE GRAVE as a part of DC Rebirth!
As the future Gotham City recovers from global catastrophe, a familiar face is ready to wear the cowl of the Batman once again. Terry McGinnis has returned to defend his city as Batman, and his family and friends couldn’t be happier.
But another resurrection threatens to destroy all Terry holds dear. Rumors are spreading like wildfire that the original Joker lives-and the brutal crime lord called Terminal and his sadistic gang of Jokerz are waging war in the streets to prepare for the Clown Prince’s second coming.
Just days after becoming Batman again, Terry must take up the fight against the greatest foe he’s ever faced. When the dust clears, will the joke be on him? Collects BATMAN BEYOND: REBIRTH #1 and BATMAN BEYOND #1-5 in this great new jumping-on-point graphic novel!
Batman by Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso Deluxe Edition – This deluxe edition hardcover from the award-winning team of writer Brian Azzarello and artist Eduardo Risso collects the six-issue Batman epic “Broken City,” an examination of the Dark Knight and the city he protects. While hunting the murderer of a small boy’s parents, Batman is caught up in his own investigation and ruminations, only to fall prey to a deadly new pair of killers who have been stalking him. Collects BATMAN #620-625, FLASHPOINT: BATMAN—KNIGHT OF VENGEANCE #1-3 and stories from WEDNESDAY COMICS #1-12 and BATMAN: GOTHAM KNIGHTS #8.
