Today is Memorial Day here in the states, so there’s a good chance that many of you are enjoying what’s left of your three-day weekend. However you’re spending your day – whether it be with family, resting, or working – take a moment to remember the purpose of today! Try to do something to honor and remember our fallen heroes. And for anyone who has lost a loved one in service, know that our hearts are with you.
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 30th
TAKE MY MONEY
Doomsday Clock #5
The Comedian lives! The Mime and Marionette loose in Gotham City! Rorschach is locked in the bowels of Arkham Asylum! Secrets will be revealed as the Doomsday Clock ticks on…
Written by Geoff Johns
Pencils and Inks by Gary Frank
Colored by Brad Anderson
Cover by Brad Anderson and Gary Frank
Josh’s Stance: I’m still invested in Doomsday Clock, but the release schedule and the fact that DC’s focus is starting to shift definitely makes an impact on my excitement. I mean, this book was exciting because of it’s nature, but also because of its direct links to Rebirth and the promise of altering the future of DC… but I’m starting to wonder if this will just end up being a self-contained event now…
Batman-News Critic: Jay
Justice League: No Justice #4
The epic finale that everyone will be talking about! After the unimaginable happens, the DCU must band together to defend Earth from annihilation. Before the end, new alliances will be forged…and some heroes will be lost forever. Don’t miss the event that will set the stage for the Justice League in 2018 and beyond!
Written by Scott Snyder, James Tynion IV, and Joshua Williamson
Pencils and Inks by Francis Manapul
Colored by Hi-Fi and Francis Manapul
Cover by Francis Manapul
Josh’s Stance: I’m really enjoying No Justice! I thought the previous issue moved quickly, but that’s honestly my only complaint. We’re now in the final issue before the debut of the three new Justice League runs next month. All I know, is that if this is any sign of what’s to come, I think we’re in store for some really entertaining stories.
Batman-News Critic: Brian
INTRIGUED
Batman: Prelude to the Wedding: Robin vs Ra’s al Ghul #1
Ra’s al Ghul returns to have a heart-to-heart with his grandson, Damian. Once upon a time, Ra’s thought Bruce Wayne would be the heir apparent to his criminal empire, but now that Batman has turned his back on Talia for good, Ra’s wants to know if Damian Wayne will honor his mother by stepping into the family business at last.
Written by Tim Seeley
Pencils by Otto Schmidt and Brad Walker
Inks by Mick Gray, Andrew Hennessy, and Otto Schmidt
Colored by Jordie Bellaire and Otto Schmidt
Cover by Rafael Albuquerque and Dave McCaig
Josh’s Stance: I’m… curious. These preludes could fall on either end of the quality spectrum, but if we can manage to get some nice character moments from them, I’ll be satisfied.
Batman-News Critic: Jay
Super Sons/ Dynomutt Special #1
It’s no fun for Jon Kent to be visiting Big City with his parents for the funeral of an old friend. So his best pal Damian Wayne decides to follow along and give him the inside scoop on the city. But when they go to meet Robin’s local friend, Dynomutt, they find him injured and in need of help. And Dynomutt’s human superhero companion, Blue Falcon, has seemingly turned evil. What’s the reason for this betrayal between once-loyal companions, and what role might the evil Red Vulture play in this scenario?
Written by Peter J. Tomasi
Pencils by Fernando Pasarin
Inks by Oclair Albert
Colored by Gabe Eltaeb
Cover by Oclair Albert, Romulo Fajardo, Jr., and Fernando Pasarin
Josh’s Stance: The last time we had a crossover like this, Tom King and Lee Weeks struck gold! Can it happen again?
Batman-News Critic: Jay
NO!
Bane: Conquest #11
The penultimate issue of this year-long event starts and ends with action, as Bane and his company of villains invade Kobra’s mountain stronghold with the aim of kidnapping the infant Naja-Naja. But one of Bane’s newfound allies is actually his oldest enemy: Batman! The globe-spanning, universe-rocking gangster epic begins its climax here! Who will live? Who will die? And what will happen when the wrath of Kobra falls on the man who broke the Bat?
Written by Chuck Dixon
Pencils and Inks by Graham Nolan
Colored by Gregory Wright
Cover by Graham Nolan and Gregory Wright
Josh’s Stance: I stopped reading this FOREVER ago… I feel like we owe Dan a stiff drink or something for covering this…
Batman-News Critic: Dan
Notes:
- The Man of Steel #1 by Brian Michael Bendis, Ivan Reis, and Joe Prado debuts this week!
- Additional release from DC Comics this week: Aquaman/ Jabberjaw Special #1, Black Lightning/ Hong Kong Phooey Special #1, The Flash/ Speed Buggy Special #1, Green Arrow Annual #2, Green Lanterns Annual #1, and Raven: Daughter of Darkness #5.
Graphic Novel Watch:
Batman: Knightfall Omnibus Vol. 3: Knightsend – In this final KNIGHTFALL Omnibus collection, Bruce Wayne turns to Lady Shiva for help in retraining. Meanwhile, moving in on an arms dealer, Batman discovers that the perpetrator might actually be an old and deadly enemy of the Order of St. Dumas. Bruce Wayne and Robin recruit Nightwing, the first Robin, to keep tabs on the new Batman’s activities even as he continues his pursuit of the deadly arms dealer, while Wayne sets up a training facility in an abandoned logging mill in the hills outside Gotham City. Collects BATMAN #509-510 & #512-515, BATMAN: SHADOW OF THE BAT #29-30 & #32-35, DETECTIVE COMICS #676-677 & #679-682, ROBIN #8-9 & #11-14, CATWOMAN #12-13, BATMAN: LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT #62-63, SHOWCASE ‘94 #10, NIGHTWING: ALFRED’S RETURN #1, BATMAN: VENGEANCE OF BANE #2.
Batwoman Vol. 2: Wonderland – Batwoman is on the hunt for the deadly terrorist group called the Many Arms of Death, but little does she know that their leader, the Mother of War, is on the hunt for her. Soon Kate Kane finds herself abandoned and alone in the Sahara Desert, at the mercy of the man the Many Arms of Death calls the Needle…but his victims call the Scarecrow!
Kate’s only hope for escape is to work together with her fellow prisoner: Colony Prime, her father’s second-in-command and one of Kate’s most bitter enemies.
Now, with both Batwoman and Colony Prime under the influence of the Scarecrow’s deadly fear toxin, they’ll have to fight their way through their own worst nightmares to make it out alive. Unfortunately, when someone has lived a life like Kate Kane’s-one of murder, loss and betrayal-fear itself might be enough to destroy her!
Writer Marguerite Bennett (Bombshells: United) and artist Fernando Blanco (Midnighter & Apollo) explore the horrors of Batwoman’s past…and how they’ll affect her future.
Collects Batwoman #7-11.
