It’s my first day off from my day job in two weeks, so I’m excited to be home and just rest/read some comics! In comics news, DC released their August Solicitations yesterday, and I was pleased to not only see that Kelley Jones will return to Batman, but that Peter J. Tomasi will return to write Robin and Superboy in The Adventures of the Super Sons! With the good news comes bad news though, as DC also announced the cancellation of Batwoman in August. I can’t say I’m too upset by this announcement, but it would have been nice to at least see another creative team take a crack at Kate before pulling the plug (again).
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.
May 23rd
TAKE MY MONEY
Justice League: No Justice #3
Starfire makes a crushing discovery, Beast Boy uncovers a shocking betrayal, and Cyborg and Wonder Woman are forced to make decisions that will have devastating repercussions for all four teams…and potentially for those they left behind on Earth.
Written by Scott Snyder, James Tynion IV, and Joshua Williamson
Pencils and Inks by Riley Rossmo and Marcus To
Colored by Hi-Fi
Cover by Francis Manapul
Josh’s Stance: Snyder, Tynion, and Williamson have deliver two incredible issues back-to-back, and I’m genuinely excited for these final two chapters of No Justice! If this is any sign of what’s to come, then sign me up because this is the best Justice League story since “Darkseid War.”
Batman News Critic: Brian
The Silencer #5
“PAYBACK TIME” part two! The legend of the Silencer—and what she did to escape the underlife—has only been whispered about in back alleys and dingy bars…until now. The secret history of the greatest assassin you’ve never heard of is revealed, and Talia al Ghul is not looking like the innocent angel she claims to be after all…
Written by Dan Abnett
Pencils and Inks by Viktor Bogdanovic
Colored by Mike Spicer
Cover by Sandra Hope, John Romita Jr., and Dean V. White
Josh’s Stance: Silencer, Deathstroke, Talia, and an assassin war? Yes please!
Batman News Critic: Josh
INTRIGUED
Batgirl #23
“STRANGE LOOP” finale! Trapped in a prison of her own mind’s making, Batgirl must act out of character in order to reenter reality. Can she put her need to survive above the needs of those she’s sworn to protect? Or is she doomed to wander the mazes of her mind for all of eternity?!
Written by Hope Larson
Pencils by Minkyu Jung
Inks by Jose Marzan Jr.
Colored by Mat Lopes
Cover by Dan Mora
Josh’s Stance: I’m quite curious to see how Hope Larson wraps her run. I never felt fully invested in her stories, but there were some interesting stories. Hopefully she’ll end on a high note!
Batman News Critic: Elena
Suicide Squad #42
“CONSTRICTION” part two! Cornered by the Suicide Squad, Deadshot won’t allow anything to stand in the way of him saving his daughter-not even his Task Force X teammates!
Written by Rob Williams
Pencils by Jose Luis
Inks by Jordi Tarragona
Cover by Guillem March and Wil Quintana
Josh’s Stance: I questioned this arc, and had to eat crow after reading the first issue! Now, I’m eager to continue this romp with Batman and Deadshot.
Batman News Critic: Casper
MIXED
Batman Beyond #20
“TARGET: BATMAN” part one! After his first outing as a vigilante, Matt is hungry for another chance to prove himself, but Bruce and Terry butt heads over what’s next for Matt. Will Terry shut his brother down for good, or will the original Batman succeed in training him to become the latest Robin? Meanwhile, a hostage crisis turns deadly, and Commissioner Barbara Gordon has to sort out why the Jokerz are resorting to far more violent and extreme measures than ever before.
Written by Dan Jurgens
Pencils by Marco Castiello and Shane Davis
Inks by Shane Davis and Mark Morales
Colored by Wil Quintana
Cover by Viktor Kalvachev
Josh’s Stance: The return of the Jokerz can only mean that the Joker himself is waiting in the wings! I’ve been waiting for some sign of this since the end of the first arc, and I hope Jurgens doesn’t let me down! That said, Batman Beyond has been pretty lackluster lately…
Batman News Critic: Dan
Detective Comics #981
“BATMEN ETERNAL” finale! This is it—the unbelievable conclusion of James Tynion IV’s Batman epic! It’s the last stand of the Gotham Knights, fighting a monster they helped inspire…and a destiny they won’t accept! What will become of the greatest crime-fighting team Gotham City ever saw?
Written by James Tynion IV
Pencils by Eddy Barrows
Inks by Eber Ferreira
Colored by Adriano Lucas
Cover by Eddy Barrows, Eber Ferreira, and Adriano Lucas
Josh’s Stance: Meh. Tynion could’ve gone out with a bang, and I feel like he wasted that opportunity on O.M.A.C. and Brother Eye rather than focusing on his team… Oh well. At least his first arc was incredible, right?
Batman News Critic: Brandon
Notes:
- Additional releases from DC Comics this week: The Flash #47, Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps #45, The Hellblazer #22, Looney Tunes #243, Mera: Queen of Atlantis #4, Mother Panic: Gotham A.D #3, Scooby-Doo Team-up #38, The Terrifics #4, Wonder Woman #47
Graphic Novel Watch:
Batman & the Signal – THE SIGNAL, Batman’s trainee and Gotham’s daytime protector, is back with his own three issue miniseries! From the legendary New York Times best-selling author of BATMAN and ALL-STAR BATMAN, Scott Snyder, and exciting new talent Tony Patrick.
Batman may own the night, but with new villains emerging during the day he needs an ally to defend the city when he can’t. Only one teen is up to the challenge, Duke Thomas. After months of training, he’s ready to step out of the shadow of the bat to become his own kind of hero. Meet Gotham City’s newest protector: The Signal!
Spinning out of adventures in ALL-STAR BATMAN and WE ARE ROBIN, comics superstar Scott Snyder and newcomer Tony Patrick take our young hero to new heights in this exciting miniseries with artwork by Cully Hamner.
Collects BATMAN & THE SIGNAL #1-3 plus stories from ALL-STAR BATMAN.
