We’ve got a number of incredible books hitting the shelves this week! While I’m excited for the likes of Justice League and Injustice 2, I’m more excited about the return of Peter J. Tomasi writing Jon and Damian in The Adventures of the Super Sons! It will only be a twelve-issue run, but it’s going to be a run that I love each and every month!
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.
August 1st
TAKE MY MONEY
Adventures of the Super Sons #1
The Super Sons are back in an all-new 12-issue miniseries written by Peter J. Tomasi! Check out the lost and secret adventures of Damian Wayne (Robin) and Jon Kent (Superboy) in this flashback miniseries that takes a deep dive into the bombastic bromance between the sons of the DC Universe’s greatest heroes. It’s an epic dual storyline that transcends current events, as Superboy and Robin find themselves targets of an interstellar team of young badasses called the Gang.
Written by Peter J. Tomasi
Pencils by Carlo Barberi
Inks by Art Thibert
Colored by Protobunker
Cover by Dan Mora
Josh’s Stance: Take my money! TAKE MY MONEY! TAKE MY MONEY!!!!
Batman-News Critic: Jay
Injustice 2 #31
The Red Lanterns, backed by the power of Starro, wage an all-out assault on Oa and the source of the Green Lanterns’ power. But help is on the way in the form of the Titans, Blue Beetle, Booster Gold and…Lobo? Get ready for a rumble like you’ve never seen before!
Art by Daniel Sampere
Cover by Daniel Sampere
Written by Tom Taylor
Josh’s Stance: Lobo and a Green Lantern ring… That’s all I need to know. All. I. Need. To. Know. (Add a clap with each word.)
Batman-News Critic: Jay
Justice League #5
Lex Luthor’s back in the present just trying to live his best life after seeing what the future could have held for him. Luthor’s new mantra? “Embrace Your Doom!” So now he’s rounding up a new Legion of Doom to go on a cosmic wilding and establish himself as the biggest baddie in the DCU. In full recruiting mode, Luthor approaches both Sinestro and Gorilla Grodd to join his new team, and he doesn’t exactly have to twist any arms. (They’ve got a matching 401K plan and great bennies, after all!)
Written by James Tynion IV
Pencils by Doug Mahnke
Inks by Jaime Mendoza
Colored by Wil Quintana
Cover by Doug Mahnke, Jaime Mendoza, Wil Quintana
Josh’s Stance: Justice League #5 Legion of Doom #1 should be a brilliantly fun read, and I’m extremely excited! Snyder is exactly where he needs to be on Justice League. I’ve wanted him on this book for a few years now, and while I do wish it would have happened with the launch of Rebirth, better late than never!
Batman-News Critic: Brian
INTRIGUED
Batman #52
“COLD DAYS” continues! The jury in the Mr. Freeze trial is hopelessly deadlocked because one man won’t vote guilty—and that man is Bruce Wayne. Freeze’s defense is that Batman used excessive force, making his arrest illegal, and Bruce is the one man who actually knows for sure what went down between Batman and his ice-cold nemesis. And if Bruce is right, that means everything he’s devoted himself to as the Caped Crusader is a lie; he is hurting more than helping. With Dick Grayson putting the Batsuit back on to keep Gotham City safe while Bruce is sequestered, could this be the out Bruce needs to discard the cape and cowl forever?
Written by Tom King
Pencils and Inks by Lee Weeks
Colored by Elizabeth Breitweiser
Cover by Elizabeth Breitweiser and Lee Weeks
Josh’s Stance: The previous issue was really good, but I’m proceeding with caution as far as King’s Batman run is concerned… And no, it’s not just because of Batman #50. I say this because every time I think King takes a step in the right direction, he follows that with a bewildering step in the wrong direction. Will this issue be good? I hope so.
Batman-News Critic: Brandon
Deathstroke #34
It’s part five of “BATMAN VS. DEATHSTROKE” and “The Stormy Present” finds our two marquee combatants locked in the Batcave, forced to resolve their differences—or die trying! The showdown only turns saltier when the feds seize Bruce Wayne’s assets, including Wayne Manor, after Slade drops a dime. And Deathstroke shows Batman he’s not the only detective in town, as Slade closes in on the mystery of his relationship with Robin.
Written by Christopher Priest
Pencils by Carlo Pagulayan
Inks Jason Paz
Colored by Jeromy Cox
Cover by Brad Anderson, Daniel Henriques, Robson Rocha, and Lee Weeks
Josh’s Stance: I really enjoyed Damian annoying Slade last month, and look forward to seeing that here. Overall though, I have a love/hate relationship with this arc. There are moments that are executed with great precision, and other moments that just don’t sit well with me. Unfortunately, one of these moments is the arcing narrative itself, where Damian’s lineage is in question. I’d much rather have Batman and Deathstroke opposing each other for a morally ambiguous reason.
Batman-News Critic: Jay
Harley Quinn #47
It’s the grand finale of “HARLEY VS. APOKALIPS”! Harley’s trapped on Darkseid’s homeworld, having failed to become a Female Fury under Granny Goodness’ tutelage. Trapped in a “reeducation chamber” that threatens to destroy her free will, Harley must dig deep to throw off the alien shackles and get back to Earth. She just needs to escape a super-max alien prison, fight off a planet full of super-powered psychos, defeat a New God, then steal a spaceship and fly it home. No problem-o!
Written by Sam Humphries
Pencils and Inks by John Timms
Colored by Gabe Eltaeb and John Timms
Cover by Guillem March and Tomeu Morey
Josh’s Stance: Look… As tired as I grow of Harley’s oversaturation, I have to admit that the idea to make Harley a fury is bloody brilliant! Sam Humphries deserves mad props for coming up with such a crazy, fun idea!
Batman-News Critic: Casper
MIXED
Nightwing #47
Dick Grayson may want to consider a new career in cyber-security, because the major tech upgrades coming to Blüdhaven mean deadly danger for everyone in the city. Nightwing battles the mysterious tech mogul Willem Cloke, who it turns out is just a front man for the real threat-the organization known only as the Dark Web! Time to change those passwords, Blüdhaven!
Written by Benjamin Percy
Pencils by Christopher Mooneyham
Inks by Klaus Janson and Christopher Mooneyham
Colored by Nick Filardi
Cover by Jordie Bellaire, Dave McCaig, Mike Perkins, and Declan Shalvey
Josh’s Stance: I’m… Ready for this arc to end. It’s not terrible, but it’s mediocre across the board, and sometimes that’s worse than a book being bad.
Batman-News Critic: Josh
NOTES:
- Additional releases from DC this week: The Curse of the Brimstone #5, Green Arrow #43, Green Lanterns #53, Mister Miracle #10, Shade, The Changeling Woman #6, and The Unexpected #3,
GRAPHIC NOVEL WATCH:
Batman by Doug Moench and Kelley Jones Vol. 2 – Doug Moench and Kelley Jones continue their horror-tinged run on Batman as the Dark Knight prowls the dark side of Gotham City. An extended skirmish with Man-Bat kicks off the collection and is followed by a prickly conflict with the Spectre. Later, The Joker, the Demon Etrigan, the Penguin, and Clayface all return to unleash their own brand of hell on Gotham. Batman has always been a creature of the night, but now he’s looking for a glimmer of light in the darkness.
Featuring artwork and dramatic storytelling, Batman By Doug Moench & Kelley Jones Volume 2 is the second collection of the Batman team’s best and most shocking tales! Collects Batman #536-552.
DC Super Hero Girls: Out of the Bottle – Wonder Woman, Harley Quinn, Katana, Bumblebee, Supergirl and Batgirl rush to finish their comic about themselves for June Moone’s art class, but when Harley Quinn spills Ms. Moone’s magic paint on their pages, their art comes to life—and these super doppelgängers are super-villains! As the dastardly doodles cause chaos in Metropolis, Ms. Moone discovers this havoc is a result of her pilfered potions and her out-of-control anger transforms her into the wicked sorceress known as the Enchantress. When their destructive doubles team up with the evil Enchantress to take over Super Hero High, the DC Super Hero Girls must prove that they have saving the day down to a fine art!
DC Super Hero Girls features DC Comics’ most powerful and diverse lineup of female characters as relatable teens, playing out across multiple entertainment content platforms and product categories to create an immersive world. Icons including Wonder Woman, Supergirl, Batgirl, Harley Quinn, Bumblebee, Poison Ivy, Katana and many more make their unprecedented teenage debut, as each character has her own storyline that explores what teen life is like as a super hero.
Injustice 2 Vol. 3 – The New York Times best-selling series
Wonder Woman takes center stage as the war between Batman and Ra’s al Ghul intensifies in Injustice 2 Volume 3, exploring the world of the best-selling fighting game!
Nightwing a.k.a. Damian Wayne asks Black Adam’s help in freeing Wonder Woman from her Themysciran prison, but ends up discovering the existence of a new ally: Superman’s cousin, Kara Zor-El, whose power could change the fate of the planet! But Kara has yet to master her Kryptonian powers, and what starts as a rescue mission takes some unexpected turns in the heart of the Amazons’ home!
Plus, Amazo is unleashed, a Red Lantern is born, and the Injustice Wonder Woman’s origin is finally revealed in this stunning collection from writer Tom Taylor (Batman/Superman, All-New Wolverine) with Brian Buccellato (The Flash) and K. Perkins (Superwoman), and artists Mike S. Miller (JLA), Bruno Redondo (Batman: Arkham Unhinged), Marco Santucci (Injustice: Ground Zero), and more! Injustice 2 Vol. 3 collects Injustice 2 #13, #15-17, and Annual #1.
New Teen Titans Vol. 9 – The original Teen Titans always stood in the shadows of their larger-than-life mentors—young heroes like Robin, Wonder Girl and Kid Flash saw plenty of action, but it was Batman, Wonder Woman and the Flash who ultimately called the shots.
All that changed, however, with the arrival of The New Teen Titans in 1980—and the lives of DC’s adolescent adventurers would never be the same!
Crafted by Marv Wolfman and George Pérez, this all-new super-title featured greater dangers, fiercer emotions and more tangled relationships than any that had come before. The Titans’ celebrated stories have ensured that the names of Starfire, Cyborg, Raven and Changeling will be passed down through history alongside those famous aliases employed by Dick Grayson, Donna Troy and Wally West.
Now, for the first time, the saga of Wolfman and Pérez’s New Teen Titans is available in a comprehensive series of trade paperback editions. The New Teen Titans Vol. 9 collects issues #1-9 of the second series of The New Teen Titans and features the shattering story arc “The Terror of Trigon!” as well as the never-before-reprinted tales “The Origin of Lilith,” “There Might Be…G
