July 5, 2017
Happy 4th of July, everyone! I hope those of you that are in the states have something fun planned today! Try to spend time with family or friends and make the most of the day! And blow stuff up if your city/state allows it! Cause what’s Independence Day without some fireworks?
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 Teams up with Elmer Fudd. 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…
July 5th
Batman #26
“THE WAR OF JOKES AND RIDDLES” part two! The Riddler and The Joker escalate their bloody feud, and the villains of Gotham City are forced to choose sides or be caught in the crossfire! It’s up to Batman to push himself to the limit and keep innocent citizens out of harm’s way.
Art by Mikel Janin
Cover by Mikel Janin
Variant cover by Tim Sale
Written by Tom King
Josh’s Stance: Two weeks ago, King and Janin gave us a great start to “The War of Jokes and Riddles.” This is easily the story I’m most excited about at the moment, but I’m also cautious. King’s Batman run has been questionable at times, so I’m still in the “look before you leap” mindset.
Batman-News Critic: Brandon
Injustice 2 #5
Batman pays a visit to Ted Kord, beseeching him to become part of the team that rebuilds the world—not as Blue Beetle, but as Ted Kord, inventor and industrialist. But Batman’s not the only one who has designs on Ted. A trusted old friend pops in, as does someone else—someone with less noble intentions.
Art by Juan Albarran and Bruno Redondo
Cover by Bruno Redondo
Written by Tom Taylor
Josh’s Stance: I can keep this short and sweet… I love this book! There’s not politics around what can and can’t happen, so the storytelling is consistent, strong, and keeps you on the edge of your seat!
Batman-News Critic: Elena
Nightwing #24
“BLOCKBUSTER” part three! Nightwing is trapped on a submarine, and in order to escape he must defeat the most lethal villains in the DCU, led by Tiger Shark! And if he can’t escape, Blockbuster will get what he wants: all of his criminal competition at the bottom of the sea, along with Nightwing!
Art by Minkyu Jung and Miguel Mendonça
Cover by Paul Renaud
Variant cover by Yasmine Putri
Written by Tim Seeley
Josh’s Stance: Out of all of the books that DC is releasing, Nightwing is the one title that fully feels like it’s a continuation from both the New 52 and pre-Flashpoint storylines. Seeley manages to weave previous plots, characters, and details masterfully into one cohesive story that any Nightwing fan will love.
Batman-News Critic: Jay
Harley Quinn #23
“RED ROSES” part three! The tension between Harley, Poison Ivy and Red Tool hits the boiling point! Who’s gonna stay—and who’s gonna go? And in the backup story, “Harley Loves Joker” part seven, Batman is back on the deranged duo’s trail!
Art by John Timms
Backup Art by J. Bone and Bret Blevins
Backup Written by Jimmy Palmiotti and Paul Dini
Cover by Amanda Conner
Variant cover by Frank Cho
Written by Jimmy Palmiotti and Amanda Conner
Josh’s Stance: Both the main story and the back-up are highly entertaining at the moment, and in my opinion, that makes Harley Quinn a must-read! It’s nearly impossible not to love the dynamic of Harley with Red Tool/ Poison Ivy, but the real hook of this book is in Harley’s growing feud with the Mayor! Then there’s Dini and Palmiotti’s backup, which is delightfully epic!
Batman-News Critic: Elena
Bane: Conquest #3
Sure, they may have had to team up to escape Damocles’ clutches—but Batman and Bane can’t keep their hands off each others’ throats for long! The question is, will Damocles be able to use that rivalry to his advantage?
Art by Graham Nolan
Cover by Graham Nolan
Written by Chuck Dixon
Josh’s Stance: The second chapter of Bane: Conquest was much better than it’s debut, so that makes me hopeful. Like Brandon, though, I’m still waiting to be wowed. Maybe this will be the month!
Batman-News Critic: Brandon
Justice League #24
“FURY” There currently is not an accurate solicitation for this issue… but it involves Mera.
Written by Dan Abnett
Pencils and Inks by Ian Churchill
Colored by Adriano Lucas
Cover by Hi-Fi, Andrew Hennessy, Sandra Hope, and Paul Pelletier
Josh’s Stance: It’s a bit sad when the one-shot stories being released as filler are more entertaining than the main writer’s stories… but that’s been the case lately. I’m not certain if that trend will continue, but it’s worth noting. The real question is who will take over Justice League after Hitch wraps his final arc.
Batman-News Critic: Brian
Notes:
- Additional DC Releases slated for this week: Cyborg #14, Bombshells #30, Deathstroke #21, Green Arrow #26, Green Lanterns #26, Shade the Changeling Girl #10, and Superman #26.
- Justice League vs Power Rangers #5 has been pushed back to May 31, 2017 August 9, 2017.
- Justice League vs Power Rangers #6 has been pushed back to September 6, 2017.
Graphic Novel Watch:
Batman: The Caped Crusader Vol. 1 – In these stories that immediately followed BATMAN: YEAR ONE, the Caped Crusader learns what kind of compromises he must make to be the hero that Gotham City truly needs. As he battles against the deadly Reaper, the city’s first vigilante hero, Batman must work with the man who murdered his parents and a cadre of mob bosses to protect Gotham City. Collects DETECTIVE COMICS #575-584 and BATMAN #413-420.
Injustice Ground Zero Vol. 1 – Writers Christopher Sebela (SUICIDE SQUAD MOST WANTED) and Brian Buccellato (DETECTIVE COMICS) and artists Pop Mhan (HE-MAN: THE ETERNITY WAR), Tom Derenick (INFINITE CRISIS: FIGHT FOR THE MULTIVERSE) and Daniel Sampere (GREEN ARROW) delve deep inside the twisted mind of Harley Quinn for her unique take on the events of Injustice: Gods Among Us, straight from ground zero!
Following the release of the most-anticipated fighting game sequel, Injustice 2, this is the story behind the original hit game Injustice: Gods Among Us…but this time, told like never before!
For her entire career as a criminal, Harley Quinn lived in the shadow of her beloved Joker. But when one joke went too far and drove Superman to kill, Harley found herself on her own for the first time…and teamed up with the very heroes she used to fight!
With Superman now a brutal despot, Batman must lead a team of heroes and villains to form the resistance to the Man of Steel…and Harley is on the frontlines, whether Batman wants her there or not! For the first time in her life, Harley has her own identity, her own gang and a new sense of purpose.
But will Harley throw it all away when her beloved Mr. J seemingly returns from the dead? Or will she take her place as a true hero in this strange new world?
Collects INJUSTICE: GROUND ZERO #1-6.
