I hope everyone had a wonderful Labor Day weekend! Thanks for being patient with us over the weekend while we switched servers. I’ve been joking with Chris that he really just wanted a weekend off, so he used this whole “switching servers” thing as an excuse to sleep… For the first time in roughly seven years. In reality, he’s been working his butt off to prepare for this, while we were the ones that got to sit back and chill for a little bit. Anyway, the fact is, we’re back and we’re ready to bring you as much kickass Batman news as we can!
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: Nightwing Heads Back to the Circus. 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…
September 6th
Injustice 2 #9
Batman, Batgirl and their team—including a couple of important new recruits—mount a daring rescue mission into the jungle to save a group of children from the clutches of Ra’s al Ghul and his Suicide Squad! But Ra’s is prepared for any contingency, and this may be a one-way mission for some of the team.
Art by Juan Albarran and Daniel Sampere
Cover by Dale Keown
Written by Tom Taylor
Josh’s Stance: Yes, please!
Batman-News Critic: Elena
Batman #30
“THE BALLAD OF KITE MAN” part two! In our second “War of Jokes and Riddles” interlude, it’s the making of a super-villain! He’s been pushed by Batman to snitch on The Joker, and cajoled by The Joker to betray Batman—now, the flunky who would be Kite Man finally snaps. He’s lost everything, and a life of crime is the only way to go.
Art by Clay Mann and David Gianfelice
Cover by Mikel Janin
Variant cover by Olivier Coipel
Written by Tom King
Josh’s Stance: I’m intrigued to see what happens in part two of “The Ballad of Kite Man.” I’ve loved the moments Tom has created with “War of Jokes and Riddles,” but I can’t say that I’m overly enthusiastic concerning the execution of the story itself. The arc is beginning to feel like a teaser of the story we could’ve had more than anything else. It’s good, I’m just constantly looking for the other 75% of the narrative.
Batman-News Critic: Brandon
Nightwing #28
“SPYRAL” finale! Mr. Minos has returned to hijack Nightwing’s brain and steal all his superhero secrets! Will Huntress and Nightwing be able to save every superhero in the world—or will Mr. Minos’ scheme shatter Nightwing’s mind beyond repair? who seems both foreign and familiar…
Art by Javier Fernandez
Cover by Javier Fernandez
Variant cover by Casey Jones
Written by Tim Seeley
Josh’s Stance: “Spyral” is clearly a story that Seeley and King left on the Grayson cutting room floor. I’m enjoying the story, but I would have preferred to see this unfold in Grayson. That’s not a knock on Seeley for bringing the story to life in Nightwing, I simply believe this arc would have carried more weight in Dick’s previous title. But Rebirth, overall, is well worth watching this unfold in the pages of Nightwing. Plus, I’m never going to complain about Dick and Helena spending some time together… Or, you know, a good interpretation of Helena at all considering her current treatment in another book.
Batman-News Critic: Jay
Harley Quinn #27
Harley and the Penguin struck an uneasy truce the first time he started extending his criminal empire into New York City… but now he’s plotting a massive real estate deal right in Harley’s Coney Island — including coming after her own building!
Written by Frank Tieri
Pencils and Inks by Eleonora Carlini
Colored by Hi-Fi
Cover by Jill Thompson
Josh’s Stance: We’ve got a filler issue, so I think it’s safe to assume there will be a dip in quality. Tieri is more than capable, and has a history with Harley (Harley Quinn and Her Gang of Harleys), so this could turn out to be an entertaining one-and-done!
Batman-News Critic: Elena
Bane: Conquest #5
It’s Bane vs. Catwoman—the rematch! Sure, they’ve got a common enemy, and they might be better off working together…but nothing gets under Bane’s skin quite like Catwoman’s claws.
Art by Graham Nolan
Cover by Graham Nolan
Written by Chuck Dixon
Josh’s Stance: I’m going to be honest, I dropped this book. I’ll circle back to it once it’s collected as a trade, but I just don’t have the energy or the intrigue to read Bane: Conquest monthly. If it improves, I’ll catch up.
Batman-News Critic: Brandon
Justice League #28
“LEGACY” part three! An outside threat has followed the League’s children back from the future in order to destroy them. His name is Arthur Curry, and he will not stop until they are all dead!
Art by Matt Banning and Fernando Pasarin
Cover by Bryan Hitch
Variant cover by Nicholas Bradshaw
Written by Bryan Hitch
Josh’s Stance: Speaking of books that I dropped…
Batman-News Critic: Brian
Notes:
- Additional DC Releases slated for this week: Bombshells United #1, Cyborg #16, Deathstroke #23, Doom Patrol #8, Green Arrow #30, Green Lanterns #30, Shade the Changeling Girl #12, and Superman #30.
- Harley Quinn 25 Year Anniversary Special #1 has been pushed back to September 13, 2017.
- Justice League vs Power Rangers #6 has been pushed back to
September 6, 2017September 27, 2017.
Graphic Novel Watch:
All Star Batman Vol. 2: Ends of the Earth– New York Times best-selling writer Scott Snyder, author of such instant-classic BATMAN graphic novels as THE COURT OF OWLS, DEATH OF THE FAMILY and ENDGAME, joins forces with an all-star lineup of comics’ top artists to bring the madness and menace of some of the Dark Knight’s greatest villains into the modern era with ALL-STAR BATMAN VOL. 2: ENDS OF THE EARTH.
Join Snyder and his frequent collaborator Jock (BATMAN: THE BLACK MIRROR) as they plunge into the icy heart of darkness with Mr. Freeze. Eat the forbidden fruit offered by the sinister and seductive Poison Ivy in a tale illustrated by Tula Lotay (BODIES). Take a journey to the far side of sanity with the Mad Hatter through art by comics superstar Giuseppe Camuncoli (BATMAN: EUROPA). Then, finally, the demonic mind behind these master criminals’ apocalyptic ambitions is revealed…
He is Gotham City’s guardian. He is the Justice League’s Dark Knight. He is Batman, one of the most iconic characters in history. But without his equally classic foes, his legend would be incomplete.
ALL-STAR BATMAN VOL. 2: ENDS OF THE EARTH (Rebirth) is Batman at his best—and his villains at their worst! Collects issues #6-9 of the ongoing series, including the conclusion to “The Cursed Wheel” drawn by Francesco Francavilla (BATMAN: THE BLACK MIRROR).
Batman: Year One Deluxe Edition– In 1986, writer Frank Miller joined with artist David Mazzucchelli and colorist Richmond Lewis to create one of the most groundbreaking superhero tales ever to see print—BATMAN: YEAR ONE, now available in a deluxe edition!
Originally published over four issues in the monthly BATMAN series, this mesmerizing story followed the unprecedented success of Miller’s apocalyptic saga BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS to become one of the most popular and influential graphic novels in the history of American comics. By turns brutal, tender, grim and hopeful, Miller and Mazzucchelli’s masterful reimagination of Bruce Wayne’s first year as Gotham City’s champion has electrified generations of readers with its unprecedented fusion of gritty realism and elegance of form.
Now, DC Comics is proud to present a special new hardcover collection of this modern comics classic. Featuring digitally remastered art, introductions by Miller and series editor Dennis O’Neil and an illustrated afterword by Mazzucchelli, BATMAN: YEAR ONE THE DELUXE EDITION also contains more than 40 pages of behind-the-scenes material, including the complete script and pencil breakdowns for BATMAN #407.
Harley Quinn by Amanda Conner & Jimmy Palmiotti Omnibus Vol. 1– The amazingly popular run on HARLEY QUINN by the multi-talented team of Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti is collected in a massive hardcover that includes HARLEY QUINN #0-16, HARLEY QUINN: FUTURE’S END #1, HARLEY QUINN INVADES COMIC-CON INTERNATIONAL: SAN DIEGO, HARLEY QUINN ANNUAL #1, HARLEY QUINN HOLIDAY SPECIAL #1, HARLEY QUINN VALENTINE’S DAY SPECIAL #1, and the miniseries HARLEY QUINN AND POWER GIRL #1-6, wrapped up in a new cover by Amanda Conner!
Harley Quinn by Karl Kesel and Terry Dodson Deluxe Edition– Terry Dodson and Karl Kesel’s original run on HARLEY QUINN is now in hardcover! In these tales, Harley must do without her beloved Mister J’s “calming” influence and take on the world on her own. From jailbreaks to shopping sprees to her origin story, this book is jam-packed with over-the-top action! Includes appearances by Two-Face, Poison Ivy, Catwoman and more. Collects HARLEY QUINN #1-8.
Suicide Squad Vol. 3 Burning Down the House– Bursting from DC’s blockbuster Rebirth event, the saga of the world’s most dangerous super-team continues in SUICIDE SQUAD VOL. 3: BURNING DOWN THE HOUSE! Uniting acclaimed writer Rob Williams with superstar artists John Romita Jr. and Eddy Barrows, this volume also includes a bonus tale of international intrigue from legendary SUICIDE SQUAD writer John Ostrander and artist Gus Vazquez!
Deep within the world is a hidden flame—an inferno of hatred and vengeance that consumes everything it touches. In the aftermath of the war between the Suicide Squad and the Justice League, one of Amanda Waller’s greatest foes has seized that flame, and now he’s going to use it to burn down everything she holds dear—starting with her home base, the Belle Reve Penitentiary.
The result is one of the Squad’s greatest challenges yet: holding together as a unit while fighting to keep their fellow super-villains behind bars. When faced with the chance to escape Waller’s control, however, one member of the team will seize the opportunity—and launch a bloody betrayal in the process.
Can an enraged Harley Quinn track down the traitor—and take down the mastermind behind the mutiny—before Task Force X is terminally disbanded?
Collects SUICIDE SQUAD #11-15 and the SUICIDE SQUAD SPECIAL: WAR CRIMES #1.
