Happy Easter! I hope you are all having a wonderful Sunday! I’m sure many of you are eating lunch with family, watching your kiddos hunt for Easter eggs, or perhaps the kid in you is having an adult Easter egg hunt (where you hide money or scratch-off lottery tickets inside eggs instead of candy). Whatever you have planned today, I hope you enjoy it. Also… This exists…
Alright, on to business! 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.
April 4th
TAKE MY MONEY
Batman: White Knight #7
This issue, it’s Jack versus the Joker! Napier’s identity crisis spins out of control and compromises his grand plans for Gotham City—but not before he strikes a fateful bargain with Neo Joker. A browbeaten Batman accepts a peace offering from Batgirl, and some unexpected advice from Alfred sets the tone for the GTO’s new mission to redeem the city.
Written by Sean Murphy
Pencils and Inks by Sean Murphy
Colored by Matt Hollingsworth
Cover by Matt Hollingsworth and Sean Murphy
Josh’s Stance: It appears that the fallout in Batman: White Knight #6 has divided some readers. I’m still a huge fan of the book and can’t wait to see what Sean Gordon Murphy has planned for us before wrapping up the title next month.
Batman News Critic: Brian
Injustice 2 #23
Even with the help of Superboy and the Teen Titans, Batman and his team still face desperate odds against the seemingly invincible Amazo. The Atom also uncovers a terrifying secret about Amazo. Meanwhile, in Gorilla City, Damian, Vixen and Animal Man have to make a risky decision.
Art by Mike S. Miller and Bruno Redondo
Cover by Juan Albarran and Bruno Redondo
Written by Tom Taylor
Josh’s Stance: Injustice 2 is big and bombastic with shocking twists, but doesn’t stoop to the level of being careless because Tom Taylor is so careful in crafting his characters and emotional stakes. It’s easily one of the most entertaining and consistently good books being published by DC!
Batman News Critic: Elena
INTRIGUED
Batman #44
“SOMETHING BLUE”! Follow Batman and Catwoman on two separate but parallel paths as their wedding planning kicks into high gear. Selina picks out her dress, and Bruce starts to make arrangements for their new life together—but this being Gotham City, and they being Batman and Catwoman, you can bet that nothing will go as expected!
Written by Tom King
Pencils and Inks by Mikel Janin and Joelle Jones
Cover by Jordie Bellaire, Mikel Janin, and Joelle Jones
Josh’s Stance: King delivers his best work when he writes one-and-done stories or two-issue arcs, so I’m looking forward to this release!
Batman News Critic: Brandon
Deathstroke #30
“DEATHSTROKE VS. BATMAN” part one! Beginning this month, a six-issue series-within-a-series featuring the ultimate showdown between DC’s fiercest rivals! When Batman discovers a mysterious package containing DNA test results proving that he is not Damian Wayne’s biological father, the Dark Knight sets his sights on his son’s true father—Deathstroke! But Damian Wayne can’t really be Slade Wilson’s son—can he? And who sent the package—and why? The ultimate custody battle ensues as the World’s Greatest Detective and the World’s Deadliest Assassin clash in this instant classic!
Written by Christopher Priest
Pencils by Carlo Pagulayan
Inks by Jason Paz
Colored by Jeromy Cox
Cover by Brad Anderson and Lee Weeks
Josh’s Stance: I have high hopes and a little anxiety as well! I want this to be really good, with some intense, visceral action. When Christopher Priest is on in his game, he delivers great work… I just don’t know about this whole “Who’s the daddy?” bit concerning Damian. I almost feel like Bruce, Slade, and Talia are going to the Maury show… Or maybe Jerry Springer would be more appropriate because I expect this to go more of the chair throwing route.
Batman News Critic: Jay
MIXED
Harley Quinn #41
“ANGRY BIRD” finale! Betrayed by one of the last allies she thought she had left from Gotham City’s criminal underworld, Harley’s in a corner in her battle against the Penguin…and that’s the most dangerous place you could possibly put her! Someone’s gonna get killed here, and it ain’t Harley…
Written by Frank Tieri
Pencils and Inks by Inaki Miranda
Cover by Amanda Conner and Alex Sinclair
Josh’s Stance: “Angry Bird” has turned into a story that feels like a missed opportunity, so I’m not overly excited for the finale. Honestly, I wish I could skip this issue, and get “Old Woman Harley,” because the sheer audacity of it has me grinning like an idiot.
Batman News Critic: Elena
“YOU DON’T HAVE TO THANK US”
Justice League #42
“JUSTICE LOST” part two! Trapped in the chaos of tribal conflict, the Justice League becomes divided over whether to intervene in a civil war in order to protect thousands of fleeing refugees—and a crucial decision could have dire consequences for one of their members! Meanwhile, Batman and Aquaman clash over how to take down the nemesis known only as the Fan, who holds all of their secrets hostage.
Written by Christopher Priest
Pencils and Inks by Pete Woods
Colored by Pete Woods
Cover by David Yardin
Josh’s Stance: “Justice Lost” didn’t start well at all, so please don’t get offended when I say I’m just ready to get to the “big change” so we no longer feel as though we’re in this waiting/ filler game.
Batman News Critic: Brian
NO!
Nightwing #42
“THE CRIMSON KABUKI”! When Damian Wayne disappears during a solo mission to Tokyo, Nightwing must enter the seedy underworld to save the boy who was once his Robin. But Dick will have to ascend the Crimson Kabuki’s tower of crime and survive a game of death against three of Japan’s most powerful fighters. Can Nightwing defeat an entire building of elite fighters, or will he lose Damian forever?
Written by Collin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing
Pencils and Inks by Jorge Corona
Colored by Mat Lopes
Cover by Jorge Jimenez and Alejandro Sanchez
Josh’s Stance: I’ll be frank… This looks and sounds terrible.
Batman News Critic: Josh
Notes:
- Additional DC titles releasing this week: Black Lightning: Cold Dead Hands #6, Bombshells United #16, Cyborg #21, Green Arrow #39, Green Lanterns #44, Shade, the Changeling Woman #2, and Superman #44.
- The Curse of the Brimstone debuts this week under the New Age of Heroes brand.
Graphic Novel Watch:
Batman: The Dark Knight Detective Vol. 1 – The Joker comes back to Gotham City with a plot to kidnap Selina Kyle—Bruce Wayne’s girlfriend—and restore her to her true self…Catwoman! The revitalized femme fatale is just the beginning of the rogues returning to plague Batman and Robin; on her heels follow the Scarecrow, the Mad Hatter and Two-Face.
Writer Mike W. Barr (Batman and the Outsiders) and the dynamic art duo of Alan Davis (Justice League of America: The Nail) and Paul Neary (The Authority) present Batman: The Dark Knight Detective Vol. 1. Collects Detective Comics #568-574 and #579-582!
Don’t miss out on the companion series, Batman: The Caped Crusader.
Detective Comics Vol. 5: A Lonely Place of Living – For months, Batman has been haunted by the death of Tim Drake, the young hero who fought beside him as Red Robin. Tim helped Batman assemble a team of heroes and misfits to help him keep Gotham safe, then fell in battle defending the city. Or so it seemed.
In reality, Tim has been held captive, snatched from the moment of death by the mysterious Mr. Oz. Now he must escape this prison that exists outside of time, but he isn’t coming back alone. Tim has every reason to trust his fellow prisoner, but when his new ally proves he’s not afraid to kill, Tim begins to doubt everything he thought he knew!
When the duo make their way back to Gotham City, Tim’s escape partner sets a plan in motion to murder one of Batman’s allies. Even reunited with Red Robin, can Batman and his team of heroes protect one of their own from a killer who knows them better than they know themselves?
Writer James Tynion IV (Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) and artists Eddy Barrows, Alvaro Martinez and Carmen Carnero continue the acclaimed run on Batman: Detective Comics.
Collects Detective Comics #963-968.
