Happy Day After Batman Day! I don’t know about you all, but my wallet needs to recover after the amount of money I spent yesterday… I seriously loaded up on some comics (digital and physical copies) to round out my collection. If you have any pictures of your score or how you celebrated (even if you just wore a Batman shirt), share with us in the comments section.
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: Harley Quinn Runs for Mayor of New York! This week’s releases are listed according to our anticipation scale, with titles listed in alphabetical order within each sub-header. 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. Following that, you’ll find notes pertaining to other DC Comics titles, as well as our Graphic Novel Watch. And finally, we want to hear from you! What titles are you picking up? Why are you excited? What do you hope will happen in the book? Etc. So, without further ado, review our Anticipation Scale, and comment away!
The Anticipation Scale
NO! – A comic I downright dread reading and if I wasn’t a reviewer, I would never buy it.
“You Don’t Have to Thank Us” – The idea of reviewing it doesn’t make me ill or angry, but it definitely sounds like it’s going to be a chore. Still, I’m reading it for you. I’m putting it at the bottom of the pile, but I’m reading it for you.
Mixed – A middle of the pile comic. It’s probably got the same chance of being dreadful as it does of being stupendous. I’m neither looking forward to it or avoiding it, whatever happens… happens.
Intrigued – I think this comic has potential to be a fantastic read. There’s some slight hesitation there, but it’s definitely going to be at the top of the pile.
TAKE MY MONEY – Everything about this issue has me excited. If I don’t get to read this book on Wednesday, I will be furious. I would pay extra just to have it in my hands right now! That’s how much I’m looking forward to it!
And as a reminder, our review scale is based on a 10-point system. A rating of “5” means the book is mediocre/average, and the more toward “10″ we go, the more awesome/worth buying it is. The more toward “1″ we go the more awful/not worth buying it is. That’s how we rate things. It’s not like most video game review scores where everything under 8 is crap, and it’s not like a school report card where everything under a 7 is failing or close-to-failing. Please keep this in mind when reading our reviews.
SEPTEMBER 20TH
TAKE MY MONEY
Batman/ The Shadow #6
In this final team-up issue, all-out war has broken out in the streets of Shamba-La! The Stag and The Joker are hell-bent on stealing all of the city’s secrets and ensuring absolute darkness falls across the globe. It’s the last stand for Batman and the Shadow, and the Dark Knight will have to decide once and for all if he’s going to embrace the destiny the Shadow has set out for him.
Art by Riley Rossmo
Cover by Riley Rossmo
Variant cover by Jock and Tim Sale
Written by Steve Orlando and Scott Snyder
Josh’s Stance: Head and shoulders, Batman/ The Shadow #6 has been one of my favorite books released by DC this year! For me, it successfully captures some of the best elements of Batman that many Bat books tend to neglect these days. I’ll read this final issue with absolute hope that a continuation will be announced sometime in the near future!
Batman-News Critic: Brandon
Detective Comics #965
“A Lonely Place Of Living” part one! It’s the story you’ve demanded: Where in the world (or otherwise) is Tim Drake? Red Robin faces a crossroads…escape the most devious prison ever devised, or find himself abandoned beyond time and space for all eternity! Not much of a choice, right? But when he finds out just who is locked in there with him, Tim’s world will change in ways he never imagined! This is one of the biggest stories of the REBIRTH era, setting the stage for an explosive DETECTIVE COMICS epic!
Written by James Tynion IV
Pencils by Eddy Barrows
Inks by Eber Ferreira
Colored by Adriano Lucas
Cover by Brad Anderson, Eddy Barrows, Eber Ferreira, and Adriano Lucas
Josh’s Stance: I’ve been waiting for this arc for some time now! At the start of Rebirth, Detective Comics was easily one of the best books on the market. Since then, it’s stumbled from time to time, but this arc will hopefully return it to top form. Plus, I think we’re all ready to have Tim Drake back (again) after such a short stint.
Batman-News Critic: Brandon
INTRIGUED
Batgirl #15
“Summer of Lies” part two! Just as Batgirl and Nightwing discover which villain from their past has returned, they realize something worse…it was all a trap! When everything they thought they knew comes crashing down, will they be able to confront their true feelings for each other?
Art by Christian Wildgoose
Cover by Dan Mora
Variant cover by Joshua Middleton
Written by Hope Larson
Josh’s Stance: While I found the “Son of Penguin” arc to be average at best, “Summer of Lies” started off rather strong. Babs and Dick have an undeniable chemistry (I’m still a Dick & Helena shipper… Don’t get it twisted…), and Larson played strongly into that. We’re also getting flashbacks to the earlier days of Robin and Batgirl – a time when the two were more innocent. Who wouldn’t want that?
Batman-News Critic: Elena
Batman Beyond #12
In a special issue by the guest team of writers Steve Orlando and Vita Ayala and artist Siya Oum, Batman and Bruce Wayne are away—so who’s left to protect Neo-Gotham? Enter Nissa, the seldom seen 15-year-old Batgirl of the future! Crime and corruption lead Commissioner Barbara Gordon to the lawless neighborhood of Crown Point where she soon finds herself under siege. Can this young, self-made caped crusader save Gordon without the resources of Batman?
Art by Siya Pol Oum
Cover by Bernard Chang
Variant cover by Dave Johnson
Written by Vita Ayala and Steve Orlando
Josh’s Stance: I found the Batgirl stories from Batman Beyond to be quite a bit of fun in the past, so I’m hoping for the same here. The great thing about this character, is that I think there’s plenty of room to develop her and do interesting things with her, so I’m excited to see what Ayala and Orlando have prepared!
Batman-News Critic: Josh
Justice League of America #15
“CRISIS IN THE MICROVERSE” part four! Special guest artist Felipe Watanabe joins the fray to tell the two-part story of how Ray Palmer, the original Atom, first discovered the microverse! Witness this untold chapter in the DC UNIVERSE REBIRTH mythology, and learn how Palmer came to find himself betrayed and marooned within the dying microverse.
Art by Felipe Watanabe
Cover by Andy Kubert and Marcelo Maiolo
Written by Steve Orlando
Josh’s Stance: “Crisis in the Microverse” has been a fun ride so far, and I’m invested in the plot, characters, and mystery that is the Microverse. I keep saying this, but I recommend checking out this arc, even if it’s just to experience Lobo and his amazing one-liners!
Batman-News Critic: Josh
Justice League/ Power Rangers #6
The Power Rangers have reclaimed their Power Coins and control of the Zords, but the battle is far from won. Brainiac’s treaty with Zedd has left their Earth in jeopardy—and without Zordon’s guidance, even their alliance with the Justice League may not be enough to save the day. Don’t miss the epic finale! Co-published with BOOM! Studios.
Written by Tom Taylor
Art by Stephen Byrne
Cover by Karl Kerschl
Josh’s Stance: Has Justice League/ Power Rangers been amazing? No. It has been entertaining though, and I can’t deny it that. In fact, the worst part of this book to date has been its delays. If I could make one adjustment to this crossover, I would have made it a twelve-issue run. Taylor has handled the incredibly difficult task of introducing two teams, two worlds, two villains, and a viable threat within a very short span. Credit is deserved where credit is due! It’s been a fun ride, and I’ll enjoy seeing how Taylor and Byrne conclude their story.
Batman-News Critic: Elena
Nightwing: New Order #2
Dick Grayson’s commitment to the Crusaders is put to the test after he learns a shocking secret about a member of his own family. Eager to keep the scandal as quiet as possible, Grayson turns to an old friend for some answers—and what he learns will alter his destiny forever.
Art by Trevor McCarthy
Cover by Trevor McCarthy
Written by Kyle Higgins
Josh’s Stance: Nightwing: New Order is a fun, else-world, “what if” story. Going into it, I was concerned that the book would be too bleak, or that Dick would be presented as a hardened, harsh character. Thankfully, I found neither of those to be the case, and that calmed a number of my reservations. For now, I’m enjoying this Nightwing meets Minority Report meets X-Men mash-up of a story! If you didn’t give the debut a shot, I recommend picking up both issues this week!
Batman-News Critic: Jay
MIXED
Batman: The Murder Machine #1
As the events of DARK NIGHTS: METAL rock the DC Universe, the creatures of the Dark Multiverse stand ready to invade our world! How can even the World’s Greatest Heroes stop a horde of deadly beings that appear to be powerful, nightmare versions of familiar figures? Find out in these special tie-in issues!
Art by Ricardo Federici
Cover by Jason Fabok
Written by Frank Tieri
Josh’s Stance: I wasn’t overly enthusiastic about Red Death, and that’s leaving me weary of the remaining one-shots. Apparently, Snyder stated in an interview that these one-shots would tell the story of Batman from different worlds reaching a point of no return, and then choosing to steal the powers of his fellow League members to execute his mission more successfully. Then, in-turn, he would become these dark Batmen. For me, personally, I hate this idea. I’m fine with a Batman from another world reaching his breaking point, and abandoning his moral code/ compass. What I don’t buy, is his belief – even if he’s not in his right mind – that he needs to steal the powers of his fellow League members to accomplish his mission. No matter how this scenario is presented, it’s just going to be hard for me to get behind it because to me, that’s not Batman. I know that’s projecting on my part – and I apologize if that bothers you – but it’s how I feel. I’d much rather have seen Batman/ Bruce Waynes from various dark worlds that are inherently evil, who happened to receive these abilities naturally (for instance, a world where all life exists under water, a world where all humans are half android, a world where Bruce is the person who is struck by lightning to receive the speed force, etc). Again, this is my take and my preference, but I feel it would have made the characters themselves more scary, and the issues more diverse and interesting. Now I’m just expecting each one-shot to spend half the issue showing Batman defeating a League member to steal whatever it is that defines them, then show how he could use those powers to his advantage, then challenge Earth 0’s League member he stole his powers from on his Earth… That’s just my opinion, and you know what they say about opinions… Everybody has them, and they stink.
I do, however, feel that there are still plenty of redeemable aspects that can be found in these one-shots, and I’m hoping for the best…
Batman-News Critic: Jay
“YOU DON’T HAVE TO THANK US”
Suicide Squad #26
A DARK NIGHTS: METAL tie-in! “GOTHAM RESISTANCE” part three! With realms dominated by twisted visions of Firefly, Poison Ivy, Two-Face, Scarecrow and Bane stretched out as far as the eye can see, the chances of saving Gotham City from the incursion of the Dark Multiverse are next to impossible. Which sounds like a job for the SUICIDE SQUAD! Harley Quinn, the most unlikely of team leaders, must use her special ops experience to command a charge of heavy metal heroes into their deadliest adventure yet!
Art by Stjepan Sejic
Cover by Stjepan Sejic
Variant cover by Whilce Portacio
Written by Rob Williams
Josh’s Stance: I enjoyed the Teen Titans issue of “Gotham Resistance,” but the Nightwing issue wasn’t quite as entertaining. Now we’re on to the Suicide Squad chapter of this crossover, and I’m feeling even less excited because the story will apparently play into Harley’s “special ops experience to command”… Which has easily been the worst aspect of Suicide Squad in Rebirth. I’m remaining hopeful, but I’m preparing myself for the worst.
Batman-News Critic: Josh
NO!
Hey! Look at that! We’re not expecting any books to be absolutely terrible this week!
Notes:
- Additional DC Releases slated for this week: Action Comics #988, Blue Beetle #13, Bombshells United #2, Hal Jordan & the Green Lantern Corps #29, The Flash #31, The Hellblazer #14, The Kamandi Challenge #9, and Wonder Woman #31.
Graphic Novel Watch:
Batman ’66 Meets Wonder Woman ’77 – The creative team of Jeff Parker (BATMAN ’66, AQUAMAN), Marc Andreyko (BATWOMAN, MANHUNTER), Karl Kesel (HARLEY QUINN) and David Hahn (Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane) bring the greatest superheroes in the history of the small screen together at last in BATMAN ’66 MEETS WONDER WOMAN ’77, an all-new adventure that effortlessly captures the thrills, chills and nonstop fun of two legendary TV series!
The world knows them as Bruce Wayne, his youthful ward Dick Grayson, and American agent Diana Prince. To grateful citizens and fearful villains, they’re none other than Batman, Robin and Wonder Woman. But the paths of the Dynamic Duo and the Amazon Princess have never crossed…until now!
The all-powerful enemy known as Ra’s al Ghul and his League of Shadows are on the move, hunting for everlasting life and bent on world domination. Batman and Wonder Woman’s quest to stop him will span the globe and the decades alike—from the time a 10-year-old Bruce Wayne faced the Nazi hordes, to the first full-fledged team-up between the heroes in 1966, to their reunion in the seventies, when Batman’s former protégés Robin and Batgirl have taken over their mentor’s war on crime.
Can these incredible guardians of goodness stop an immortal madman? Tune in—er, we mean turn the page—and find out!
Collects BATMAN ’66 MEETS WONDER WOMAN ’77 #1-6.
DC Super Hero Girls Vol. 4: Past Times at Super Hero High – The students of Super Hero High go on a one-of-a-kind field trip that will allow them to learn about the past, up close and personal! In fact, they will be in the past! After a time-machine mishap, Harley Quinn, Wonder Woman, Supergirl, Batgirl and company find themselves in the Jurassic period! But more importantly, how will their time in the past affect their future? Find out in the latest title in the hit all-ages graphic novel series!
Injustice: Ground Zero Vol. 2 – The New York Times best-selling series, written by Christopher Sebela (SUICIDE SQUAD MOST WANTED) with talented artists including Tom Derenick (INFINITE CRISIS: FIGHT FOR THE MULTIVERSE), Pop Mhan (HE-MAN: THE ETERNITY WAR) and Daniel Sampere (GREEN ARROW), takes readers deep inside the mind of Harley Quinn in this can’t-miss collection of INJUSTICE: GROUND ZERO VOL. 2 stories.
Harley Quinn’s twisted take on the world of the hit video game Injustice: Gods Among Us comes to a thrilling conclusion, setting the stage for the fighting game’s sequel, INJUSTICE 2!
Harley and the Joker are back together at last, but all is not as it appears. Is she Joker’s unwitting pawn, or is she actually setting an elaborate trap for her no-longer-beloved Mr. J and becoming the hero a world on the brink of mass destruction needs most?
And while the Joker and Harley Quinn work out their differences in typically explosive fashion, the war between the brutal despot Superman and the superhero resistance led by Batman and the heroes of the Justice League takes a savage toll!
How will this strange new world survive the battle between former friends and allies? Collects #7-12!
Justice League by Giffen and DeMatteis Omnibus Vol. 1 – The classic 1980s super-team series is collected in a giant Omnibus starring Batman, Blue Beetle, Booster Gold, Green Lantern Guy Gardner, Ice, Fire and dozens of other colorful heroes! This first volume includes JUSTICE LEAGUE #1-6, JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL #7-25, JUSTICE LEAGUE AMERICA #26-46, JUSTICE LEAGUE EUROPE #1-21, SUICIDE SQUAD #13, JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL ANNUAL #1-3, JUSTICE LEAGUE AMERICA ANNUAL #4, JUSTICE LEAGUE EUROPE ANNUAL #1 and more!
