One of our favorite creators, Jimmy Palmiotti, has thrown down a challenge (more like a request, but “challenge” sounds more exciting)! He recently went to Twitter to ask people in the entertainment industry – especially those who have enjoyed success from comic book adaptations – the following:
Hey CELEBRITIES- Producers- behind the scenes FILM AND TV people that have celebrated and enjoyed success from media developed from comic books…I have a challenge for you all this week. The comic book properties that have given you work and success could use some help. We need to spread awareness of where these characters come from, and our industry needs some help getting new readers since having these successful films and series hasn’t really brought much attention or sales to the actual source of these properties- past a nod or credit. We need your help! Could you take a few minutes of your time and take a photo of you holding a single comic book you enjoy in your hands- and letting your fans know you support comic books? This would mean so much to all of us working every day in an industry that is really a labor of love…and the existing fans will know you really do appreciate the source material that feeds the imagination of so many people. It is win-win for everyone. Together we can make people aware there is a universe of wonderful reading waiting for them at a local comic shop! By attaching the hashtag #ILOVECOMICS to your tweet of you holding a comic, you would be a huge help spreading the word, and maybe introducing someone new to the exciting world of reading! Thank you all in advance. This would mean so much to so many people like myself, the fans, and the hard-working comic shop owners out there struggling to stay in business. Thank you in advance- #ILOVECOMICS.
Now, he asked those in the industry to do this, but I figured we could join in as well. Those of us that read comics really are a relatively small group, and I strongly believe – especially with the success of recent films – that a louder voice will only help this cause! In fact, I’d recommend that if you’re tweeting anything about comics at all, use the hashtag! Twitter, Instagram, Facebook… Whatever your poison is, be vocal! A shout from the mountaintops just might be the thing that introduces new readers to good books, and keeps the titles we love around! #ILOVECOMICS
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 11th
TAKE MY MONEY
Red Hood & the Outlaws #21
Looking to make his mark on Gotham City’s crowded underworld, Red Hood infiltrates the Iceberg Lounge in an attempt to further annoy the Penguin. But it might be the Penguin who gets the drop on Red Hood this time. Plus, the truth about Bizarro’s condition finally comes out—and the consequences could be catastrophic for Artemis!
Written by Scott Lobdell
Pencils and Inks by Dexter Soy
Colored by Veronica Gandini
Cover by Antonio Fabela and Trevor Hairsine
Josh’s Stance: At this point, I think it’s more than fair to say that the most consistent Bat-book for Rebirth is Red Hood & the Outlaws. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, if you haven’t given this title a shot… you’re missing out. Sincerely, the run has been a welcomed surprise!
Batman-News Critic: Brian
INTRIGUED
Justice League of America #28
“DAWN OF TIME” part two! Chronos starts traveling through time with the Justice League in hot pursuit. At the same time, he’s taunting Ryan Choi, getting in his head and trying to convince him he’s never going to be the real Atom. Will Ryan be able to overcome Chronos’s attack and help his team or will time itself forever belong to Chronos?
Written by Steve Orlando
Pencils and Inks by Hugo Petrus
Colored by Hi-Fi
Cover by Steve Buccellato and David Williams
Josh’s Stance: “Dawn of Time” part one was an incredibly fun read! I’m hoping for more of the same heroics here. And as always, I’m going to soak up these obscure characters while I can!
Batman-News Critic: Jay
MIXED
Batgirl & the Birds of Prey #21
“FULL CIRCLE” part three! The Calculator has broken Blackbird and Fenice out of Arkham Asylum, putting targets on Batgirl’s and Huntress’s backs. And while our heroes are out of the picture, Calculator holds Gotham City hostage in exchange for Oracle’s identity. The team will have to risk setting a trap for Calculator—a dangerous move that could expose Barbara Gordon’s deepest secrets!
Written by Julie Benson and Shawna Benson
Pencils and Inks by Roge Antonio
Colored by Marcelo Maiolo
Cover by Rachel Dodson and Terry Dodson
Josh’s Stance: Anyone who frequents the site knows that I’m not a fan of Batgirl & the Birds of Prey, but… The current story has had some nice moments, and I genuinely hope it continues to improve. Nothing would make me happier than to see the Bensons end their run on a high note.
Batman-News Critic: Brian
Detective Comics #978
“BATMAN ETERNAL” part three! Congratulations, Batwoman—you have an entire army at your command. So how are you going to use it?
Written by James Tynion IV
Pencils and Inks by Javier Fernandez
Colored by John Kalisz
Cover by Eddy Barrows, Eber Ferreira, and Adriano Lucas
Josh’s Stance: There are aspects of Tynion’s Detective Comics that I really enjoy… and then there are aspects that I could do without. Generally speaking, I’ve tried to approach books with a more positive attitude, focus on what I like as much as I don’t like, and that’s what I’m doing here. With Tynion’s run coming to a close, I’m just going to focus on what I enjoy, and hope DC has a solid trajectory planned for the “Gotham Knights” (individually, not as a group) following his run.
Batman-News Critic: Brandon
Titans #22
“TITANS APART” part three! As Arsenal follows the trail of a conspiracy that no one else can see, he finds himself at the mercy of Cheshire, who’s both a deadly assassin and his ex! Only Donna Troy takes Roy at his word, but she’s trapped in the Watchtower…and must escape to save the man she loves!
Written by Dan Abnett
Pencils by Paul Pelletier
Inks by Andrew Hennessy
Colored by Adriano Lucas
Cover by Andrew Hennessy, Adriano Lucas, and Paul Pelletier
Josh’s Stance: The interesting thing about Titans isn’t that it’s bad, but the fact that you can clearly tell it’s stalling. In fact, the title has felt this way for months now. Thankfully, Abnett is an accomplished enough writer that he’s making due with his current mandates, but I do wonder what we’re going to be missing out on, because I don’t feel as though we ever got to see his vision. Regardless, we know changes are around the corner, and I look forward to whatever those changes may be.
Batman-News Critic: Dan
“YOU DON’T HAVE TO THANK US”
Suicide Squad #33
“BREAK THROUGH THE WALL” part two! The government loses control of its new military weapon, the Wall, and he’s rampaging through Washington, D.C. with his sights set on the Capitol building! Rick Flag is forced to turn back to the Suicide Squad to stop the Wall before Washington is in ruins!
Written by Rob Williams
Pencils and Inks by Neil Edwards
Colored by Adriano Lucas
Cover by Brad Anderson and Andy Kubert
Josh’s Stance: “Break Through the Wall” is a small step up from the previous story, but that’s hardly saying much. Ultimately, Suicide Squad continues to pail in comparison to the quality book that it was when Rebirth launched, and that has me hoping that we have an announcement for a creative change waiting in the wings.
Batman-News Critic: Casper
NO!
Trinity #21
“MAN DOWN” part two! Deimos and his armies have besieged the Trinity—so why is Steve Trevor helping the enemy?! Wonder Woman, Batman and Superman fight their way through one monstrous magical menace after another as Dark Strike’s stolen Skartaran weaponry is unleashed!
Written by James Robinson
Pencils and Inks by Tyler Kirkham and Patch Zircher
Colored by Gabe Eltaeb
Cover by Guillem March and Tomeu Morey
Josh’s Stance: Yeah… I stopped reading this book months ago…
Batman-News Critic: Dan
Notes:
- Additional DC titles releasing this week: Eternity Girl #2, The Flash #44, New Super-Man and the Justice League of China #22, Sideways #3, Supergirl #20, and Wonder Woman #44.
- The Immortal Men #1 debuts this week under the New Age of Heroes banner.
Graphic Novel Watch:
Justice League: The Rebirth Deluxe Edition – Book 2 – The Rebirth of the Justice League continues as Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman, the Flash and the newest Green Lanterns go toe-to-toe with such challengers as Maxwell Lord, the Suicide Squad, hostile alien hives, zombie armies and—most dangerous of all—beings with the power to manipulate time itself!
Whether they are repeating the same moments again and again or are flung to far reaches of history, can even the mighty powers of the Justice League conquer time?
Writer/artist Bryan Hitch (The Authority) and artist Fernando Pasarin (Green Lantern Corps) take the World’s Greatest Heroes past the fourth dimension in this deluxe edition, featuring guest stories from Shea Fontana, Dan Abnett, Tom Derenick, Ian Churchill and more. Collects Justice League #12-25.
Suicide Squad Vol. 5: Kill Your Darlings – Harley Quinn, Deadshot, Captain Boomerang, Killer Croc—they’re all villains, but as members of the Suicide Squad they’re useful villains, taking on America’s dirtiest and most dangerous covert missions for the good of the country—usually against their will. (Remotely triggered brain bombs do wonders for motivation!)
But now something has changed. A mysterious organization called the People has enlisted Task Force X leader Amanda Waller into a conspiracy to create dozens of new Suicide Squads around the world. Its goal: to eliminate the threat posed by all metahumans—heroes and villains alike.
When the original Squad’s members discover the nature of the People’s plan, will they seize this once-in-a-lifetime chance to take down the world’s superheroes? Or will these incorrigible criminals prove to be the unlikeliest of saviors?
