Halloween is roughly a week away, and I have no idea what I’m going to dress as. Yes, the obvious answer would be Batman, but I’d want a cool Batman costume. I’m a bit of a snob like that. I don’t want to just go buy some onesie at Target. I mean, that’s fine and dandy for kids, but I want something a little more cool. Considering how late in the season it is, I might have to just throw something together… Perhaps Dick Grayson, Agent of Spyral! Seems fitting since the Grayson: The Superspy Omnibus just came out…
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 Tracks Down His Baby Mama! 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
Detective Comics #967
“A LONELY PLACE OF LIVING” part three! It’s a race to save the future of Tim and his team as Red Robin tries to escape his prison outside of time and find his way back to Earth.
Written by James Tynion IV
Pencils by Alvaro Martinez
Inks by Raul Fernandez
Colored by Tomeu Morey
Cover by Eddy Barrows Eber Ferreira, and Adriano Lucas
Josh’s Stance: I’m loving this arc. I love that it is an homage to Geoff Johns’ “Titans of Tomorrow” story from his Teen Titans run, and I love that this story is spilling out into Batwoman (issue #6), and I can’t wait to see how this plays out in other titles such as Superman, Teen Titans, and Super Sons!
Batman-News Critic: Brandon
INTRIGUED
Justice League of America #17
“PANIC IN THE MICROVERSE” finale! The Justice League-betrayed! Ray Palmer, the original Atom, said not everyone could be trusted in the microverse, and he meant it! By rescuing Palmer and finding the Ignition Point, has the Justice League doomed all reality? It’s the quantum conclusion the sci-fi epic that began in DC UNIVERSE: REBIRTH #1!
Written by Steve Orlando
Pencils by Ivan Reis
Inks by Oclair Albert, Julio Ferreira, and Ivan Reis
Colored by Marcelo Maiolo
Cover by Marcelo Maiolo, Joe Prado, and Ivan Reis
Josh’s Stance: After two issues that felt like a complete waste of time, we’re finally going to get the conclusion of “Panic in the Microverse.” Overall, this story has been much better than anything else that preceded it in JLA, but it’s still far from great. I’m excited to see how Orlando wraps everything up, and hope he closes the story on a high note!
Batman-News Critic: Josh
Nightwing: The New Order #3
After an unthinkable tragedy strikes the Grayson family, Dick finds himself a prisoner of the very system he helped create-with his son’s life hanging in the balance. With nowhere else to turn, Grayson seeks out an old friend for help…but some mistakes are impossible to forgive.
Written by Kyle Higgins
Pencils and Inks by Trevor McCarthy
Colored by Dean White
Cover by Trevor McCarthy
Josh’s Stance: If you haven’t been reading Nightwing: The New Order, it basically reads as an X-Men story featuring Nightwing. In fact, it’s basically FOX’s The Gifted, but with Dick Grayson as the lead, straddling two sides of a conflict… So far, I’m enjoying it. If you like the X-Men and enjoy reading a conflicted Nightwing, then this is the book for you.
Batman-News Critic: Jay
Suicide Squad #28
“THE SECRET HISTORY OF TASK FORCE X” part two! Strapped to a rocket, sent into orbit and dumped unceremoniously into a decrepit old satellite floating hundreds of miles above the earth, things have never seemed worse for the Suicide Squad-at least until they’re set upon by an incredibly deadly alien monster. Yeah, that’s worse. But at the heart of the mysterious space station hides a pair of long-lost DC characters ready to shake Task Force X to its very foundation.
Written by Rob Williams
Pencils and Inks by Eleonora Carlini and Wilfredo Torres
Colored by Adriano Lucas
Cover by Tony Salvador Daniel, Danny Miki, and Tomeu Morey
Josh’s Stance: “The Secret History of Task Force X” surprised me. I was expecting the worst due to a sense of déjà vu, and the fact that this story takes place in space… but, the energy and dynamics of the previous issue matched the same energy and dynamics that made Williams early run so good! That alone has me looking forward to what Williams has in store for us this week.
Batman-News Critic: Josh
MIXED
Batgirl #16
“Summer of Lies” part three! Batgirl and Nightwing thought Mad Hatter was the worst of their problems, but when the true identity of the mysterious villain hunting them is revealed, they realize the trap set for them was years in the making…and it may be inescapable!
Written by Hope Larson
Pencils by Chris Wildgoose
Inks by Jose Marzan Jr.
Colored by Mat Lopes
Cover by Dan Mora
Josh’s Stance: “Summer of Lies” is a decently entertaining story, but if I’m being honest, now that Red Queen has been introduced as a villain, all I really want to see is a Lewis Carrol evil team featuring Mad Hatter, Chesire, White Rabbit, Red Queen, Tweedle Dum & Dee, all led by Alice (Elizabeth Kane). Why hasn’t this happened yet? I can see them being the antagonists in a book like Secret Six or something… Just pure, whacky, twisted goodness.
Batman-News Critic: Elena
DC House of Horror #1
An all-new, all-creepy one-shot set in the DC Universe-just in time for Halloween! Martha Kent fights for her life against a creature from a spacecraft that lands in front of her farmhouse. A young woman is possessed by the spirit of a murderous Amazon warrior. The last surviving member of the Justice League faces down a horror beyond imagining. All these and more are what happens when the most exciting new voices in contemporary horror fiction are paired with the talents of some of the greatest artists in the DC firmament! And if that isn’t enough to scare you, there’s Keith Giffen, too.
Written by various
Art by various
Cover by Michael William Kaluta and Lovern Kindzierski
Josh’s Stance: I mean… New writers… Horror… DC Universe… It’s almost Halloween…. Sure. Why not?
Batman-News Critic: Elena
“YOU DON’T HAVE TO THANK US”
Batman: The Merciless
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 Peter J. Tomasi
Pencils and Inks by Francis Manapul
Colored by Francis Manapul
Cover by Brad Anderson and Jason Fabok
Josh’s Stance: It’s finally starting to happen… Metal is beginning to wear on me. Don’t get me wrong, there have been some great moments, but the story (I’m including the one-shots and tie-ins) feels all over the place at this point. Typically you can ignore one-shots and the main story remains intact, but that’s not the case with Metal. You need everything to complete the story, and the quality isn’t up to what I’d expect for a summer event…. That has now been extended into early next year.
Batman-News Critic: Brian
Batman Beyond #13
“GOTHAM GAMES” part one! Set in the time just after Terry McGinnis returned to his Batman role, this non-stop, all-out action issue pits him against a gauntlet of villains. While Gotham struggles to put society back in order, someone has taken over the city’s defense system, turning it against its citizens. Unable to fly, Batman’s forced to battle an array of old and new villains at ground level. Don’t miss this story written and illustrated by Bernard Chang!
Written by Bernard Chang
Pencils and Inks by Bernard Chang
Colored by Marcelo Maiolo
Cover by Bernard Chang and Marcelo Maiolo
Josh’s Stance: I don’t want to come off as pessimistic, but I don’t have high hopes for this issue. In general, I don’t find artists to be the best writers. That’s not to say they can’t have good ideas, or even at times write some good dialogue, just overall the execution tends to show their lack of experience. That being said, sometimes people surprise the hell out of you. I’d like nothing more than for Chang to surprise me, but I’m not going to hold my breath.
Batman-News Critic: Josh
The Flash #33
“BATS OUT OF HELL” part one! After the harrowing events of DARK NIGHTS: METAL #3, the JUSTICE LEAGUE has scattered around the world to find the only artifacts that can fight back against the invasion of the Dark Multiverse. The League thinks they know how to take back their world, but they are not prepared for who is standing in their way. The Seven Dark Knights of the Dark Multiverse. All the brilliance of Batman, but none of the morals. Barry Allen, The Fastest Man Alive, is the first to get a taste of their plan, as BATMAN: THE RED DEATH takes him on at the Fortress of Solitude.
Written by Joshua Williamson
Pencils and Inks by Howard Porter
Colored by Hi-Fi
Cover by Neil Googe, Ivan Plascencia, Ethan Van Sciver, and Jason Wright
Josh’s Stance: “Bats Out of Hell” is essentially the second tie-in story for Metal that will weave its way through a number of titles. As I mentioned earlier, Metal is beginning to weigh on me a little, mainly because all of these supporting stories aren’t even close to living up to the main title. I also don’t like when multiple writers contribute chapters to one single story because there’s no consistency in tone, characterization, and skillset. Every time we’ve covered Joshua Williamson, I’ve always mentioned that I feel he struggles with execution. Because of that, I’m not expecting much out of this issue.
Batman-News Critic: Jay
Teen Titans #13
“HARD TARGET”! Still recovering from the events of DARK DAYS: METAL, the Teen Titans decide they need a day off…but their plans are soon interrupted when the one and only Green Arrow demands that his younger sister Emiko join the team! Are the Teen Titans about to get a new member? Or will Emiko Queen be Damian’s undoing?
Written by Benjamin Percy
Pencils by Khoi Pham
Inks by John Trevor Scott
Colored by Jim Charalampidis
Cover by Jim Charalampidis, Dan Mora, and Khoi Pham
Josh’s Stance: This is another reason I’m not too fond of events like Metal… The last time we saw the Teen Titans, most of the team were powering some type of machine for the Batman Who Laughs. Now, I’m assuming this story is picking up after Metal wraps, but it’s going to do so without actually addressing any outcomes since there’s still months left before Metal wraps… I like Emiko, but I doubt that even she can save this issue.
Batman-News Critic: Josh
NO!
Hey, look! No horrendously bad titles this week!
Notes:
- Additional DC Releases slated for this week: Action Comics #990, Blue Beetle #14, Gotham City Garage #2, Hal Jordan & the Green Lantern Corps #31, Mother Panic #12, The Hellblazer #15, and Wonder Woman #33.
Graphic Novel Watch:
Injustice 2 Vol. 1 – The start of an all-new saga in the alternate DC Universe of the smash-hit Warner Bros. Interactive fighting game is here in INJUSTICE 2 VOL. 1!
The war is over. But a new battle is about to begin.
After years of conflict and carnage, Batman and his rebel allies have finally triumphed over their tyrannical foe, Superman. Now the Man of Steel is behind bars, and the Dark Knight holds the future of the world in his hands.
But that future is about to slip from his grasp.
Superman still has many friends who will work tirelessly to free their leader from captivity. And a new force is about to emerge from the shadows. A winged warrior is assembling a Suicide Squad of the world’s most dangerous villains to pursue plans of his own, by any means necessary.
And this man in black is out to claim the mantle of the Batman himself.
As old foes and new enemies collide, can Bruce Wayne preserve the fragile peace for which so many heroes have sacrificed? Or is a new era of injustice about to dawn?
From the acclaimed creative team of Tom Taylor and Bruno Redondo, INJUSTICE 2 VOL. 1 collects INJUSTICE 2 #1-6 (digital #1-12).
Nightwing: The Rebirth Deluxe Edition Book 1 – Back in blue, the latest hit NIGHTWING series is now collected in NIGHTWING: THE REBIRTH DELUXE EDITION BOOK 1!
Dick Grayson is his name. Heroism is his one true calling. To heed that call, he’s worn many faces. He was the first Robin and a replacement Batman, a superspy and a dead man walking. But the greatest of the masks he’s worn into battle against evil is the one he created himself—the one he’s just won a hard-fought battle to take back.
He’s Nightwing. And he’s returned to reclaim the streets of the cities he loves.
From Gotham City to his adopted home of Blüdhaven, Nightwing is taking the war on crime personally—and he’s taking it right to the enemy. The all-powerful Court of Owls and their rogue agent Raptor. The old foes out for his blood and the new serial killer framing him for crimes he didn’t commit. Even his mentor, the Dark Knight, and his longtime love interest Barbara Gordon, a.k.a. Batgirl, won’t stand in his way.
Now more than ever, the night belongs to Nightwing!
Discover the start of an all-new saga in the life of one of comics’ greatest heroes in NIGHTWING: THE REBIRTH DELUXE EDITION BOOK ONE, from the creative team of Tim Seeley, Javier Fernandez, Marcus To and Chris Sotomayor—exploding from the pages of the blockbuster DC: UNIVERSE REBIRTH event! Collects NIGHTWING: REBIRTH #1 and NIGHTWING #1-15.
