With all the attention on Batman #50 last week, many of you may have missed something else that was quite critical… DC Nation. Yes, it’s just one big promotional magazine, but there were two key pieces to the book that are worth taking note of. The first of these is a letter by Dan Didio. I’ll let you read the letter yourself, but there’s enough in her to make me cautious about the future of DC because it screams, “We’re going back to the way of thinking that gave us the New 52!”
The other noteworthy piece is the first look at Tom King’s Heroes in Crisis. There’s so much to take in and debate based on this teaser, and it already has me biting my nails. Two will be killed? Noooooo! Who? I don’t want to say goodbye to any of these characters! Murder accusations! An actual murderer? I’m intrigued. Anxiously intrigued.
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.
July 11th
TAKE MY MONEY
Detective Comics #984
Batman called Black Lightning to Gotham City for help with a specific case—but what is Batman hiding from Jefferson Pierce? It looks like he’s in touch with somebody from their mutual past, and he doesn’t want Black Lightning to know about it —and that operative might be in over their head!
Written by Bryan Edward Hill
Pencils by Miguel Mendonca
Inks by Diana E. Conesa
Colored by Adriano Lucas
Cover by Eddy Barrows, Eber Ferreira, and Adriano Lucas
Josh’s Stance: I thoroughly enjoyed Hill’s debut, and I can’t wait to see what he does with the rest of this story. I know some people were upset with Duke’s treatment, but I felt that it served a purpose and proved a point. I will admit that there is a sense of deja-vu considering the core of this story is very similar to Death of the Family in the sense that Batman is being told his allies make him weak.
Batman-News Critic: Elena
Red Hood & the Outlaws #24
Bizarro is getting…worse. Worser? Worsest. The backward Superman’s diminishing cognitive state is causing problems for the rest of the Outlaws. Complicating things is the Red Hood’s vendetta against the Penguin-can the Outlaws stop Jason Todd from crossing a line he can’t return from?
Written by Scott Lobdell
Pencils and Inks by Alisson Borges and Dexter Soy
Colored by Veronica Gandini
Cover by Antonio Fabela and Trevor Hairsine
Josh’s Stance: It’s clear that Lobdell is preparing for a transition in the narrative. The Bizarro story will come to a close soon, and it appears as though the focus will shift back to Jason… And perhaps Jason’s former ways? If I’m being honest, I prefer Jason as a villain/ anti-hero, so I’m curious to see how far Lobdell/ DC choose to take this.
Batman-News Critic: Brian
INTRIGUED
Titans #23
“THE SPARK” Part one! Can anything stop the Metagene pandemic unleashed through the events of JUSTICE LEAGUE: NO JUSTICE? The all-new Titans are on the case. Roll call: Nightwing, Donna Troy, Raven, Steel, Beast Boy and Miss Martian! But can even their combined might stand against new super-powered weapons of mass destruction birthed by the Metagenes? And (SPOILERS) how will the events of TEEN TITANS #20 come back to haunt the Titans?
Written by Dan Abnett
Pencils and Inks by Brandon Peterson
Colored by Ivan Plascencia
Cover by Brandon Peterson
Josh’s Stance: I’m excited for Titans, but I’m also cautious. This is definitely one of those examples where the “New 52” is coming back… And it makes me wonder if DC has a grasp on what their fans actually want? What this new line-up did well, right out of the gates, is establish a reason for the team to exist. I know this sounds like an obvious requirement, but let’s be honest… This hasn’t been the case. In fact, this was the problem with Titans under the Rebirth brand. Where we got the characters and characterizations we loved and wanted, we never got a reason for the team to actually form or exist. But, now, potentially, we’re moving into the problem with the New 52, where characters are possibly pushed to act out of character. We’ll just have to wait and see how things turn out. I’m optimistic though.
Batman-News Critic: Dan
MIXED
Suicide Squad #44
Guest-starring Batman! The noose tightens on the Squad in part four of “Constriction,” and someone may be dancing at the end of a rope before it’s all said and done. The murderous Kobra is looking to put the squeeze on Deadshot’s daughter, Zoe. Even with the Dark Knight’s backup, will the Squad be ready for Kobra’s bait-and-switch?
Written by Rob Williams
Pencils by Joe Bennett and Eduardo Pansica
Inks by Vicente Cifuentes, Julio Ferreira, and Mick Gray
Colored by Adriano Lucas
Cover by Guillem March and Wil Quintana
Josh’s Stance: So far, this has been a solid story, but I feel there’s a huge quality shift between the scenes with Batman and Deadshot compared to the scenes with Kobra. Where the Batman/ Deadshot scenes are exploring some great themes concerning morality and perception, the Kobra scenes are just kind of cheesy.
Batman-News Critic: Casper
NOTES:
- Brian Michael Bendis Superman #1 debuts this week!
- Additional releases from DC Comics: Eternity Girl #5, The Flash #50, Hal Jordan & the Green Lantern Corps #48, Hawkman #2, The Immortal Men #4, Plastic Man #2, Scooby Apocalypse #27, Sideways #6, The Wildstorm: Michael Cray #9, and Wonder Woman #50.
GRAPHIC NOVEL WATCH:
Justice League of America: The Silver Age Vol. 4 – THE WORLD’S GREATEST HEROES!
Superman!
Batman!
Wonder Woman!
The Flash!
Green Lantern!
Aquaman!
The Martian Manhunter!
Green Arrow!
The Atom!
Hawkman!
As individuals, their names are legend. Together, they are even greater than the sum of their parts. They are the Justice League of America, and they stand for truth, justice and the American way!
Since they were first commissioned by renowned DC Comics editor Julius Schwartz in 1960, the Justice League has thrilled audiences across the globe in tales that span time and space. Now, for the first time, all of their original Silver Age adventures are available in an all-new series of trade paperback editions!
This fourth volume of Justice League Of America: The Silver Age collects the famed super-team’s exploits from Justice League Of America #31-41, and includes the classic tales “Riddle of the Runaway Room,” “Earth Without a Justice League” and “Crisis on Earth-A.”
