With last year’s announcement that longtime Marvel creator Brian Michael Bendis has signed an exclusive contract with DC Comics, it was just a matter of time until he took a crack at the Dark Knight. He’s already dipped his toe in the water by giving the Caped Crusader a cameo in The Man of Steel, and that’s just the beginning: Bendis will pen a 12-part Batman story for a brand new line of 100-Page Giant comics that will be available exclusively at Walmart stores.
In addition to Batman, there will also be Superman, Teen Titans, and Justice League of America volumes that will be released monthly beginning in July. Each installment will have previously released material included, such as the first installment of the “Hush” story arc, as well as brand new material from the likes of Tom King, Dan Jurgens, Andy Kubert, and Tim Seeley. Oh, and each issue will be $4.99. For a hundred pages? You can’t beat that.
Here are the details for the first Batman volume:
BATMAN GIANT #1
Batman is on the case of a missing girl in “One More Chance,” an all-new story by writer Jimmy Palmiotti and artist Patrick “Patch” Zircher. Batman is the world’s greatest detective, but what happens when the trail in his newest case leads him back to a place from his past that he never expected to revisit?
BATMAN GIANT #1 also includes:
BATMAN #608 (2002) – Written by Jeph Loeb with art by comics icon Jim Lee, issue #608 kicks off “Batman: Hush,” one of the most popular storylines in the Dark Knight’s fabled history. When Batman sets out to unmask the mystery character wreaking havoc in his life, he teams up with an unexpected ally (Catwoman) and finds himself facing off against not only his deadliest foes, but some of the toughest characters in the DC Universe, including Poison Ivy, Killer Croc and even Superman!
NIGHTWING #1 (2011) – From DC’s New 52, this story by writer Kyle Higgins and artist Eddy Barrows debuted a new look for Dick Grayson as he dives into a tale of murder, mystery and superhuman evil against the backdrop of Haley’s Circus, the place that started him on his path from acrobat to orphan to sidekick and ultimately superhero!
HARLEY QUINN #1 (2011) – Also from the New 52, writer Jimmy Palmiotti and artist Amanda Conner break Harley Quinn out of The Joker’s shadow with all the force of a giant mallet!
Beginning with BATMAN GIANT #3 in September, superstar writer Brian Michael Bendis makes his DC debut on the Dark Knight with a 12-part story, “Universe.” Batman’s run-in with the Riddler leads the Caped Crusader into a mystery that spans the globe!
The first Batman 100-Page Giant will hit participating Walmart stores on July 1st. Head over to Comics Now for more titles and information.
