Well, Fall TV is definitely back! I spent the weekend catching up on some shows that I’d recorded… and that’s about it. I’m usually pretty good at pulling myself away from the tv, but I just embraced it over the weekend. My Saturday was one of those, “It’s 4:00pm, I should probably take a shower…” days. And in addition to catching up on my shows, I also caught up on some reading! It was a leisure weekend in every sense of the word, and it was awesome!
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: It’s Batman’s New Team vs a Former Robin and His Band of Cohorts! 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.
October 18th
TAKE MY MONEY
Batman #33
“A DREAM OF ME” part one! Following his marriage proposal to Catwoman, Batman leaves Gotham City on a quest of renewal and redemption. As he travels and fights, he encounters members of his family-each disturbed by Batman’s journey, each ready to stand in his way, each ready to push back against Batman’s stubborn determination to evolve into something better than a superhero.
Written by Tom King
Pencils and Inks by Joelle Jones
Colored by Jordie Bellaire
Cover by Jordie Bellaire and Joelle Jones
Josh’s Stance: I’ve got to admit, I didn’t think DC would allow Selina to say “yes!” At SDCC, King fooled us all, and claimed Batman would only go on this type of mission if Selina said “no.” So… Why is he going on this mission? Also, this is Joelle Jones’ first issue, so I’m excited to see her take on Batman and Gotham (hopefully we’ll get a few glimpses of the city before Batman charges off into the desert).
Batman-News Critic: Brandon
Injustice 2 #12
The battle in Ra’s al Ghul’s complex reaches a tragic conclusion. Blue Beetle enters the fray and takes on the deadly El Diablo. Meanwhile, at the Presidential Inauguration in Washington, D.C., things go horribly wrong. Has Batman made a serious tactical error?
Art by Juan Albarran and Bruno Redondo
Cover by Bruno Redondo
Writen by Tom Taylor
Josh’s Stance: Yes, please!
Batman-News Critic: Elena
Super Sons #9
“PLANET OF THE CAPES” part four! Superboy and Robin were training to become the next Superman and Batman-but they never signed up to be the saviors of the multiverse! Ready or not, the boys have their work cut out for them as the endless alien armies of Yggardis descend upon our young heroes!
Written by Peter J. Tomasi
Pencils and Inks by Carmine Di Giandomenico and Jorge Jimenez
Colored by Ivan Plascencia and Alejandro Sanchez
Cover by Jorge Jimenez and Alejandro Sanchez
Josh’s Stance: Head and shoulders, Super Sons has been one of the most consistent and entertaining books to come out of Rebirth! If you’re not reading it, you’re missing out.
Batman-News Critic: Jay
INTRIGUED
Batman: The Drowned #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?
Written by Dan Abnett
Pencils and Inks by Tyler Kirkham and Philip Tan
Colored by Dean White
Cover by Brad Anderson and Jason Fabok
Josh’s Stance: You know what I want to know more than anything? How this Bruce Wayne is a woman… Maybe it’s Helena Wayne. Who knows?
Batman-News Critic: Brian
Nightwing #31
“RAPTOR’S REVENGE” part two! Raptor’s wrath is rolling through the streets of Blüdhaven, and every ally Nightwing has made there is under attack! He’ll have to make an awful pact with Blockbuster if he wants to save the city-a pact that will change the course of Nightwing’s destiny!
Written by Tim Seeley
Pencils by Miguel Mendonca
Inks by Diana E. Conesa
Colored by Chris Sotomayor
Cover by Javier Fernandez and Chris Sotomayor
Josh’s Stance: I was a little underwhelmed with the last issue. I will admit, I have high expectations because it is Seeley’s final arc, and it contains Raptor, so I’m hoping things improve this time around!
Batman-News Critic: Jay
MIXED
Batwoman #8
“FEAR AND LOATHING” part two! Stranded together in the Sahara, Batwoman could only count on her mutual-survival pact with her father to hold for so long…so it’s not exactly a surprise when he turns on her! But it IS a surprise just what villain from Batwoman’s past has been keeping an eye on them both: Prime!
Written by Marguerite Bennett
Pencils and Inks by Fernando Blanco
Colored by John Rauch
Cover by Fernando Blanco
Josh’s Stance: The debut of “Fear and Loathing” took it’s time getting to where we already knew we were going to go. For that reason alone, last month’s issue was a bit lackluster. I’m hoping that since the “reveal” is out of the way, the story can spread its wings.
Batman-News Critic: Elena
Teen Titans Go! #24
Things get “Twisted” when the Titans borrow a game Starfire brought from home. Who knew they’d merge into one giant pizza-eating, self-destructive bundle of nerves? Then, the team has to recruit new members to live up to a mistake on their license—will they be able to make it “Ten the Hard Way”?
Art by Marcelo Di Chiara and Erich Owen
Cover by Dario Brizuela
Written by Ivan Cohen, Paul Morrissey, and Heather Nuhfer
Josh’s Stance: I read the word “pizza,” and now I want pizza… As for the book, Teen Titans Go! is for a specific audience, and I usually need to be in the right mood for it.
Batman-News Critic: Jay
Trinity #14
“DARK DESTINY” part three! The Pandora Pits’ secrets start to be revealed as Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman team with Constantine, Deadman, Zatanna, Red Hood, Artemis and Bizarro to attempt to close off the pits forever, but the dark energies are starting to corrupt the heroes.
Written by Rob Williams
Pencils by V. Kenneth Marion
Inks by Sandu Florea
Colored by Dinei Ribeiro
Cover by Tony Salvador Daniel, Clay Mann, Danny Miki, and Tomeu Morey
Josh’s Stance: I’m torn with this story. There are aspects I like – particularly Constantine – but I’m not finding myself invested. There’s a chance it could turn around, and I felt that the previous issue was a little better than this story’s debut, but I’m still not doing backflips.
Batman-News Critic: Brian
“YOU DON’T HAVE TO THANK US”
Titans #16
“DEATH RACE!” After suffering a major cardiac episode due to his weakened heart, Wally West is dead…or is he? In a race against time and death itself, Wally reaches out to another speedster for help: Kid Flash! Can the two of them jump start Wally’s heart…or is there about to be one less Wally West?
Written by Dan Abnett
Pencils by Brett Booth
Inks by Norm Rapmund
Colored by Andrew Dalhouse
Cover by Brett Booth, Andrew Dalhouse, Jay Leisten, and Norm Rapmund
Josh’s Stance: Sometimes Titans feels as though it’s running in circles. It’s not bad, but the narrative really needs to find direction. This entire issue with Wally potentially disappearing just feels like deja-vu, and does nothing more than create the sense that we haven’t gain much ground – if any – since the book’s debut. Something desperately needs to come from this book.
Batman-News Critic: Josh
NO!
Justice League #31
“LEGACY” finale! The truth about Sovereign is revealed-and her identity will shake the Justice League to its core! The Darkness is out of control and if the Justice League and their future children don’t triumph over its evil, it will mean the end of everything, everywhere, forever.
Written by Bryan Hitch
Pencils by Fernando Pasarin
Inks by Oclair Albert and Andy Owens
Colored by Brad Anderson
Cover by Brad Anderson, Bryan Hitch, and Alex Sinclair
Josh’s Stance: After this issue, Justice League might be worth reading again.
Batman-News Critic: Brian
Notes:
- Additional DC Releases slated for this week: Aquaman #29, Bombshells United #4, Green Arrow #33, Green Lanterns #33, The Wild Storm #8, and Wonder Woman/ Conan #2.
Graphic Novel Watch:
Batgirl Vol. 2: Son of Penguin – After a globe-trotting adventure with the greatest fighters on Earth, Barbara Gordon—a.k.a. Batgirl—is glad to be back in Burnside, Gotham City’s coolest neighborhood. There’s just one problem: everything’s changed, from her school to her friends to Burnside itself.
But there’s an even bigger problem headed Babs’ way. Turns out the tech mogul who’s transforming the town is none other than Ethan Cobblepot—the estranged son of the crime lord better known as the Penguin!
Yet Ethan and his father don’t seem like birds of a feather. He’s handsome, he’s heroic and he just might win Barbara’s heart. Can she trust this new man in her life—or will his villainous parentage kill their fledgling relationship before it even gets off the ground?
Find out in BATGIRL VOL. 2: SON OF PENGUIN, from New York Times best-selling creators Hope Larson (A WRINKLE IN TIME: THE GRAPHIC NOVEL) and Chris Wildgoose (GOTHAM ACADEMY). Exploding from the pages of the blockbuster DC Universe Rebirth event, it’s a totally tumultuous new chapter in the saga of one of Gotham City’s greatest heroes! Collects issues #7-11 and BATGIRL ANNUAL #1.
Grayson: The Superspy Omnibus – Collects all of Dick Grayson’s adventures as Agent 37 for the spy organization known as Spyral! Faking his death, and entering a game of cat and mouse, Dick must take down Spyral from the inside in order to save his loved ones. This omnibus edition collects GRAYSON #1-20, SECRET ORIGINS #8, GRAYSON ANNUAL #1-3, GRAYSON: FUTURE’S END #1, ROBIN WAR #1-2 and NIGHTWING: REBIRTH #1, with appearances by Batman, Superman and more!
JLA: The Nail/ Another Nail Deluxe Edition – These Elseworlds tales from JLA: THE NAIL #1-3 and JLA: ANOTHER NAIL #1-3, collected in a single hardcover for the first time, examine the repercussions of a simple event as the Kents’ flat tire prevents them from discovering a small rocket ship with an alien baby inside it! As a result, the world’s greatest hero never comes to be. Without Superman as a symbol of integrity who inspires greatness, Batman, Wonder Woman, the Flash, Aquaman, the Atom and Green Lantern must battle public and interpersonal distrust as they attempt to work together to protect a world that fears them.
Suicide Squad: The Rebirth Deluxe Edition – Book 1 – The Rebirth Era SUICIDE SQUAD tales are collected in hardcover for the first time ever here in SUICIDE SQUAD: THE REBIRTH DELUXE EDITION BOOK 1!
Harley Quinn. Deadshot. Killer Croc. Captain Boomerang. Enchantress. Katana.
Separately, they’re an FBI “most wanted” list come to life. Together—under the command of the iron-willed Colonel Rick Flag and the indomitable Amanda Waller—they’re one of the world’s most effective fighting forces, ideally suited for the brutal but necessary jobs that are too dirty for regular superheroes. They are the top-secret operatives of Task Force X—the Suicide Squad. And they’re about to welcome a brand-new member.
When Waller orders her team to recover an object known as the Black Vault from enemy hands, the Squad has no idea that within its opaque depths lurks the genocidal Kryptonian madman whose power and rage nearly took down Superman himself—General Zod.
Beyond the challenge of subduing its newly acquired captive, however, Task Force X faces even greater dangers from the sinister sphere that once contained him. As its dark energies begin to wreak havoc on the team’s sanity, only its craziest member, Harley Quinn, is able to resist its insidious influence. But can one newly sane psychologist single-handedly stop the madness of the Black Vault, defeat Zod and keep the Suicide Squad from living up to its name?
Red-hot writer Rob Williams and legendary artist Jim Lee unleash the insanity in SUICIDE SQUAD: REBIRTH DELUXE EDITION BOOK #1, starring the characters you love and hate from the smash-hit movie! Exploding from DC’s blockbuster Rebirth event, this deluxe hardcover collects SUICIDE SQUAD #1-8 and the one-shots SUICIDE SQUAD: REBIRTH and HARLEY QUINN AND THE SUICIDE SQUAD APRIL FOOLS’ SPECIAL, and features stories illustrated by a murderers’ row of superstar artists including Philip Tan, Jason Fabok, Ivan Reis, Gary Frank, Stephen Byrne, Carlos D’Anda, Christian Ward, Giuseppe Camuncoli and Sean“Cheeks” Galloway.
