The flu has ravaged my employees at my day job, so I haven’t had much time to devote to the site in the past week. Because of my limited time window (my lunch), I’m going to exclude any commentary for this week’s releases, but I will rank them according to the anticipation scale. I’ll return to regular form with the next Upcoming Comics post.
Alright, on to business! For an overview of our coverage for last week’s releases, check out This Week In Comics: I’m Not Cold – I’m Batman. 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.
February 14th
INTRIGUED
Dark Knights Rising: The Wild Hunt #1
The Dark Knights ride through the farthest reaches of the Multiverse to track down the unlikeliest of teams: The Flash, Cyborg, Raven and Detective Chimp. The mission: keep these heroes from completing their desperate quest to save all of existence! Plus, Challengers’ Mountain crackles with dark energy that will release an army of the world’s worst nightmares into the streets of Gotham City!
This one-shot also answers the question: Where are the Metal Men? And who is the latest addition to the team?
Written by Grant Morrison
Pencils by Jorge Jimenez, Doug Mahnke, and Howard Porter
Inks by Jorge Jimenez and Howard Porter
Cover by Doug Mahnke and Wil Quintana
Batman-News Critic: Casper
Detective Comics #974
“KNIGHT’S FALL”! Can Tim Drake piece his dreams back together after Batwoman’s fateful decision, or will the Gotham Knights go their separate ways?
Written by James Tynion IV
Pencils and Inks by Phil Briones
Colored by Allen Passalaqua
Cover by Guillem March, Tomeu Morey, and Jason Wright
Batman-News Critic: Brandon
Justice League of America #24
“NEW LIFE AND DEATH” part one! Batman has returned following the Queen of Fables saga, proud of how the team has grown. But there’s one more mission he needs to complete. Along with Black Canary, he travels to the world of Angor, home of the Extremists, to help rebuild the world without the influence of the mad dictator Lord Havok. But when he learns what’s happening, will Lord Havok punish Canary and Batman for their actions?
Written by Steve Orlando
Pencils by Neil Edwards
Inks by Daniel Henriques
Colored by Hi-Fi
Cover by Rachel Dodson and Terry Dodson
Batman-News Critic: Jay
Red Hood & the Outlaws #19
“DATE NIGHT!” By day, Artemis and Red Hood are teammates, but tonight they’re going out on their first date. Tonight they’re leaving Crime Alley behind and sampling the finer things Gotham City has to offer, including a surprise visit to the Batcave! With his friends gone for the night, how will Bizarro spend his free time? And what’s the deal with Artemis’ warning from last issue? Answers will definitely be revealed.
Written by Scott Lobdell
Pencils and Inks by Marcio Takara
Colored by Rob Schwager and Felix Serrano
Cover by Romulo Fajardo, Jr. and Mike McKone
Batman-News Critic: Brian
MIXED
Suicide Squad #35
“HACKED” part one! A foe who knows the Squad’s weaknesses and secrets returns with a resurrected Hack! Now they’re going to break into Belle Reve to take revenge on her former teammates.
Written by Rob Williams
Pencils by Eduardo Pansica
Inks by Julio Ferreira
Colored by Adriano Lucas
Cover by Ethan Van Sciver and Jason Wright
Batman-News Critic: Casper
Titans #20
“TITANS APART” part one! After the Titans are forced into a hiatus by the Justice League, Roy Harper, a.k.a. Arsenal, finds himself without a team—but not without a purpose—as he investigates the rise of a dangerous new drug running rampant in the streets of New York City. But Arsenal isn’t alone—his ex, Cheshire, has joined him on his mission! But are her motives as altruistic as she claims? Or are darker forces at work?
Written by Dan Abnett
Pencils by Paul Pelletier
Inks by Andrew Hennessy
Colored by Andrew Dalhouse and Adriano Lucas
Cover by Brett Booth, Andrew Dalhouse, Andrew Hennessy, Adriano Lucas, Paul Pelletier, and More…
Batman-News Critic: Dan
“YOU DON’T HAVE TO THANK US”
Batgirl & the Birds of Prey #19
“FULL CIRCLE” part one! In addition to her vigilante life as Batgirl, Barbara Gordon also fought crime behind the scenes as Oracle. Now she’s taking it one step further—working to stop crimes before they happen. Her first target? Bringing down the Calculator’s intricate network of super-villains. Huntress and Black Canary are concerned she might be going too far, and it could put them all in the crosshairs when a new evildoer arrives to settle the score on behalf of the Calculator.
Written by Julie Benson and Shawna Benson
Pencils and Inks by Roge Antonio
Colored by Marcelo Maiolo
Cover by Rachel Dodson and Terry Dodson
Batman-News Critic: Brian
Notes:
- Additional DC titles releasing this week: Action Comics #997, Deadman #4, The Flash #40, Gotham City Garage #9, Hal Jordan & the Green Lantern Corps #38, New Superman & the Justice League of China #20, Ragman #5, Supergirl #18, Wildstorm: Michael Cray #5, and Wonder Woman #40
- Shade, the Changeling Girl/ Wonder Woman Special #1 will be reviewed in Break From the Bat post next week with Cave Carson Has A Cybernetic Eye/ Swamp Thing Special #1.
- Mister Miracle #1 Director’s Cut will release this week.
- Sideways #1 debuts this week for the “New Age of Heroes” line.
- Batman & the Signal #2 has been delayed until February 21, 2018.
Graphic Novel Watch:
Batman: The Golden Age Vol. 4 – American popular culture has produced few heroic figures as famous and enduring as that of the Batman. The dark, mysterious hero who debuted in 1939’s DETECTIVE COMICS #27 as the lone “Bat-man” quickly grew into the legend of the Caped Crusader. After his landmark debut and origin story, the Dark Knight was given many seminal elements, including his partner in crime-fighting Robin, the Boy Wonder, and such adversaries as the Joker, Two-Face and the Scarecrow.
This fourth volume of BATMAN: THE GOLDEN AGE collects the Dark Knight Detective’s adventures from BATMAN #12-15, DETECTIVE COMICS #66-74 and WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #7-9.
Batman: Secrets – Sam Keith Gallery Edition – BATMAN: SECRETS series, this large-format, Smythe-sewn hardcover edition is sourced from and captures the look and feel of the original boards. Rounding out this 248- page presentation is the complete art from BATMAN: CONFIDENTIAL #40, BATMAN/LOBO #1, Kieth’s eight-page story from BATMAN #38 and an extensive gallery section containing covers and pages from SCRATCH, ARKHAM ASYLUM: MADNESS and BATMAN: THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS.
Batman: Legacy Vol. 2 – Now, for the first time ever, get the complete BATMAN: LEGACY, the sequel to the BATMAN: CONTAGION storyline, along with never-before-collected chapters that conclude the international thriller in BATMAN: LEGACY VOL. 2!
Ra’s al Ghul and Bane have formed an unholy alliance to wipe out 90 percent of the world’s population with an ancient plague. Now Batman and his allies—Nightwing, Robin, Huntress, Oracle and Catwoman—must travel the globe to stop al Ghul’s plan of releasing the deadly disease in key strategic locations. But will they find a cure before the Earth’s population succumbs to the Demon’s nefarious plans? Also, the rematch of the century takes place as Bruce Wayne faces down the man who broke the Bat…Bane!
Collects BATMAN #534, BATMAN: BANE #1, BATMAN: BANE OF THE DEMON #1-4, BATMAN: SHADOW OF THE BAT #54, CATWOMAN #36, DETECTIVE COMICS #701-702 and ROBIN #32-33.
Batman and the Outsiders Vol. 2 – The continuation of the classic saga that takes the Dark Knight outside all expectations is collected in BATMAN AND THE OUTSIDERS VOL. 2!
Batman and the Outsiders—Katana, Black Lightning, Metamorpho, Geo-Force and Halo—travel the world…
A team divided! When Batman discovers Halo’s identity, she must leave the Outsiders to reclaim a life she can’t remember. Little does Halo know that unknown horrors await her homecoming as her shocking origin is revealed!
Still reeling from Halo’s departure, the Outsiders travel to Egypt to resurrect the fallen Metamorpho. Accidentally transported back to ancient times, the Outsiders confront an evil priest bent on using Metamorpho to change the course of history! It is up to Batman and the others to protect the past, but at what cost?
From author Mike W. Barr (BATMAN: SON OF THE DEMON), Jim Aparo (BATMAN: A DEATH IN THE FAMILY) and Alan Davis (JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA: THE NAIL) comes BATMAN AND THE OUTSIDERS VOL. 2. Collects BATMAN AND THE OUTSIDERS ANNUAL #1 and BATMAN AND THE OUTSIDERS #14-23.
DC Meets Looney Tunes – DC’s iconic superheroes meet the wacky characters of Looney Tunes in some of the most surprising stories in comics in DC MEETS LOONEY TUNES!
When Elmer Fudd sets his sights on Bruce Wayne, it’s a “wabbit hunt” you’d never imagine! Prospector Yosemite Sam strikes it rich, but can circus performer Foghorn Leghorn and bounty hunter Jonah Hex keep him alive long enough to enjoy it?
Plus, Wonder Woman enlists the help of the Tasmanian Devil to save the Amazons; Lobo gets caught in the war between a mutated Road Runner and a wily super-genius of a coyote; and the last survivors of Mars fight over the fate of planet Earth! Finally, when the Legion of Super-Heroes needs help, a wrong turn at Albuquerque means the future’s survival depends on…“Super” Bugs Bunny!
Worlds collide, courtesy of some of comics’ greatest talents, among them Tom King, Lee Weeks, Jimmy Palmiotti, Mark Texeira, Tony Bedard, Bill Morrison, Kelley Jones, Steve Orlando, Sam Humphries and more!
Collects BATMAN/ELMER FUDD SPECIAL #1, JONAH HEX/YOSEMITE SAM SPECIAL #1, WONDER WOMAN/TASMANIAN DEVIL SPECIAL #1, LOBO/ROAD RUNNER SPECIAL #1, MARTIAN MANHUNTER/MARVIN THE MARTIAN SPECIAL #1 and LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES/BUGS BUNNY SPECIAL #1!
Titans Vol. 3: A Judas Among Us – Writer Dan Abnett (AQUAMAN) and artist Brett Booth (TEEN TITANS) put the Titans to the ultimate test of loyalties in TITANS VOL. 3: A JUDAS AMONG US!
The Titans are more than just a team. They’re friends, bonded by years of shared history and experiences. But when the trust between members starts to fray, will the team itself fall apart?
Together, the Titans’ mission is to infiltrate H.I.V.E. and restore Bumblebee’s stolen memories, but the team is still reeling from Nightwing’s collusion with their enemy Deathstroke. Meanwhile, Arsenal processes his feelings for his teammate Donna Troy, but Donna instead turns to comfort from Wally West, who is himself struggling with an injury that may never fully heal.
Worst of all, Omen foresees doom in a psychic vision: one of the Titans will betray the team…and possibly destroy the world! With tensions between Titans at an all-time high, how can they possibly trust each other? Collects TITANS #12-18.
