SDCC begins this Thursday! I repeat, SDCC begins this Thursday!!! I’m SUPER excited! I’ve suspected there would be a number of announcements during the convention, and I now know this to be true. Whether or not they’re going to be Batman-related remains to be seen, but both Scott Snyder and Steve Orlando have confirmed they’ll announce new books. I also believe an Outsiders book will be announced – though I don’t think Snyder or Orlando will be behind though book, but it could be Orlando. I also expect a creative change for Detective Comics, and I wouldn’t be surprised if we get some news pertaining to Batwoman or Huntress. DC won’t waste an opportunity like Batwoman appearing on Arrow, and they’ve had Huntress bouncing from book to book since Batgirl & the Birds of Prey wrapped, so it seems they’re trying to maintain an interest with her. Either way, it’s going to be a great week, and Andrew, Jay, and I will be there to provide coverage throughout the convention! So for all the incredible details, make sure you follow us on Twitter!
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 18th
TAKE MY MONEY
Injustice 2 #30
Then, the entire universe is in peril and it’s up to the fallen Hal Jordan, the Titans and Blue Beetle to save it. They’ll need all the help they can get, but do they really need help…from Booster Gold and Lobo?
Art by Daniel Sampere
Cover by Daniel Sampere
Written by Tom Taylor
Josh’s Stance: I’ve said this before, but the freedom Tom Taylor has with this book allows him to write a fun, engaging story with twists and turns at every corner… Except unlike other titles, these twists and turns feel like a logical progression for the story and characters, not just a twist for shock value… Though, sometimes these twists are, in fact, shocking!
Batman-News Critic: Jay
Justice League #4
What is hidden in the darkest depths of the ocean and farthest reaches of space doesn’t even compare to the insidious secrets buried in the pasts of Flash, Green Lantern, and Martian Manhunter! While the rest of the League battles to save their friends before all of reality unravels, the citizens of Earth make a startling decision…to join the Legion of Doom!
Written by Scott Snyder
Pencils and Inks by Jorge Jimenez
Colored by Alejandro Sanchez
Cover by Jorge Jimenez and Alejandro Sanchez
Josh’s Stance: I have questions pertaining to some plot points, but I’m not going to entertain them considering the story isn’t finished. What I will say is that Snyder’s Justice League is a lot of fun so far, and it’s also dripping with potential! If he plays his hand right, this could end up being a classic run that rivals the likes of Morrison’s and Meltzer’s respective runs.
Batman-News Critic: Brian
INTRIGUED
Batman #51
The honeymoon’s over for Bruce Wayne as Gotham City’s most prominent citizen gets selected for jury duty in a chilling court case involving Mr. Freeze! Freeze claims the charges should be dismissed because Batman used excessive force; cue the outrage and media circus. While doing his civic duty, Wayne’s forced to take a hard look at the Dark Knight’s methods. And hey…what is Dick Grayson doing running around the city dressed as Batman?
Written by Tom King
Pencils and Inks by Lee Weeks
Colored by Elizabeth Breitweiser
Cover by Elizabeth Breitweiser and Lee Weeks
Josh’s Stance: I know some people have decided to stop reading Batman for various reasons related to Batman #50. I can respect that. However, we are Batman-News, so we will continue our coverage of the book… And if I’m being honest, I’m kind of looking forward to this issue. Some of King’s best work has come when he teams up with Lee Weeks, and his best Batman stories have all been one-and-done issues, or contained a shorter issue count in general. I’m hoping that trend continues, but we’ll see. I will say that we’ve yet to have a driving arc in Batman though, and it’s something King could definitely use in the near future…
Batman-News Critic: Brandon
Batman: Sins of the Father #6
Final issue! The climactic, deadly confrontation between Batman and Deadshot, with Alfred’s life in the balance! But to save the man who is like a father to him, will Batman have to violate one of his most deeply held convictions?
Art by Raffaele Ienco
Cover by Raffaele Ienco
Written by Christos Gage
Josh’s Stance: Final issue? I guess I forgot that this was only a six-issue run. Either way, it’s been a decent read and I’m curious to see how it ends.
Batman-News Critic: Dan
The Brave and the Bold: Batman & Wonder Woman #6
It’s an epic battle for Tir Na Nóg in this finale, as King Elatha has opened its Causeways and both Fomorian and Dé Denann creatures are spilling into our own realm! Batman must go back to Gotham City to try to close the Causeways from the inside, while Wonder Woman will fight alongside King Elatha against his once-banished brother, Balor Evil Eye! Who will take the crown and rule Tir Na Nóg for eternity?
Written by Liam Sharp
Pencils and Inks by Liam Sharp
Colored by Romulo Fajardo, Jr.
Cover by Romulo Fajardo, Jr. and Liam Sharp
Josh’s Stance: Liam Sharp wraps up his run, and I’ve found this entire book to be refreshing and unique. It feels like an else-world story that’s not part of continuity to me, but it’s a satisfying read none-the-less.
Batman-News Critic: Casper
“YOU DON’T HAVE TO THANK US”
Batwoman #17
Kate Kane’s latest assignment is leaving her cold-it’s a cold case that forces her to team up with GCPD Detective Renee Montoya, and which, as usual, has Gotham City running out of time. Is this the start of a beautiful crime-fighting partnership? No spoilers, but expect sparks and punches to fly!
Written by Marguerite Bennett
Pencils and Inks by Fernando Blanco
Colored by John Rauch
Cover by Dan Panosian
Josh’s Stance: Meh… Bennett’s run on Batwoman hasn’t been bad, but it’s been really boring… This is the final story for the title, but I feel certain we’ll get an announcement pertaining to Batwoman at SDCC.
Batman-News Critic: Dan
NOTES:
- Injustice vs Masters of the Universe #1 debuts this week!
- Additional releases from DC Comics this week: Aquaman #38, Cave Carson Has an Interstellar Eye #5, Cyborg #24, Damage #7, Future Quest Presents #12, Green Lanterns #51, New Challengers #3, The Wild Storm #15,
GRAPHIC NOVEL WATCH:
Batgirl & the Birds of Prey Vol. 3: Full Circle – The Birds of Prey are more than a team: Batgirl, Black Canary and Huntress are friends, allies and sisters. Even when the Birds’ membership swells to include partners like Catwoman, Poison Ivy and even Harley Quinn, those three heroes—Barbara, Dinah and Helena—are the beating heart of the team.
So what happens when the trust that unites them is betrayed?
Barbara Gordon isn’t just Batgirl—she’s also the elite hacker known as Oracle, and she’s been using a backdoor into the computer system of the dangerous information broker known as the Calculator to take down his criminal enterprise, bit by bit. But when the Calculator decides to make it his mission to find and destroy Oracle, Dinah and Helena discover that Barbara hasn’t been open with them about where her intel is coming from … and innocent lives are lost in the cross-fire.
Now, their most dangerous and personal enemies are united against them, and the Birds are barely on speaking terms. Can the Birds of Prey learn to stand united … or will they fall once and for all?
Batman & Robin Adventures Vol. 3 – The adventure continues in this follow-up to the four-time Emmy Award-winning Batman: The Animated Series! Join Batman and Robin as they fight the deadliest, craziest villains Gotham City has to offer. The Dynamic Duo takes on the likes of Two-Face, the Riddler, Ra’s al Ghul and more.
Batman & Robin Adventures Vol. 3 collects issues #19-25 and Annual #2, featuring stories inspired by the animated television series and written by Ty Templeton (Batman ’66 Meets The Green Hornet), Hilary J. Bader (The New Batman Adventures), Bo Hampton (Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight), Brandon Kruse (The Tick), Joe Staton (Green Lantern) and others.
Suicide Squad Vol. 6: The Secret History of Task Force X – Today, Task Force X is better known as the Suicide Squad—but what happened to the Suicide Squad of the 1950s? Led by Rick Flag Sr., the original Task Force X defended the world from aliens, robots and even dinosaurs before vanishing into myth. Now it will fall to Harley Quinn to complete her predecessors’ final mission and uncover where it all went wrong!
The Red Wave, the deadliest alien threat mankind has ever known, is no longer locked safely away on the moon. All that stands between it and Earth is the Suicide Squad. Before Deadshot can warn the clown princess of the danger she’s in, his team is set upon by an army. Someone is desperate to protect the secret of Task Force X, even if it means destroying it and Amanda Waller!
Secrets, love, sacrifice and lies reveal themselves in the classified history of Argent and the Suicide Squad, twin branches of the original Task Force X. By the time the mission is complete, the Squad may never be the same again!
Rob Williams (Unfollow) reveals untold chapters of the Rebirth DCU’s history in this stunning saga, joined by artists Barnaby Bagenda (The Omega Men), Eleonora Carlini (Doctor Who), Philippe Briones (Aquaman), Scot Eaton (Swamp Thing) and Wilfredo Torres (Black Panther). Collects Suicide Squad #27-32.
