Well, I’m traveling again this week for work and it was a last minute decision, so I’m posting this later than intended. BUT! I now have roughly 24 hours to myself, so that’ll result in quite a bit of time for comics!
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 29TH
TAKE MY MONEY!
Batgirl Annual #2
Sibling rivalry takes on a whole new meaning in this one-shot story that tracks Batgirl’s hunt for a serial killer whose M.O. strikes a familiar chord. Namely, a disturbing similarity to her brother, current convict James Gordon Jr. Family bonds are restored during a visit to his maximum- security surroundings, but Babs’ doubts linger. Is James Jr. helping to solve this case…or pulling her strings in a diabolical power play?
Written by Mairghread Scott
Pencils and Inks by Elena Casagrande
Colored by Jordie Bellaire
Cover by Emanuela Lupacchino and Dave McCaig
Josh’s Stance: There are some people out there that hate the idea that James Gordon Jr. is a psychotic serial killer. I’m not one of those people. Black Mirror is, by far, one of my favorite Batman stories of all time, and this looks to tie directly back to that! Needless to say, between Scott’s vision for Babs and this story, I’m quite excited.
Batman-News Critic: Elena
The Silencer Annual #1
Silencer visits Gotham City, but she’s not there to see the sights-she’s there to shut down Talia al Ghul’s latest secret weapons plant. Obviously, this brings her into conflict with Batman-but there’s a secret history to Bruce Wayne and the Silencer that complicates everything! Will Batman slap the cuffs on this metahuman hit woman-or will one of Batman’s rogues get the drop on them both for the mysterious Leviathan organization?
Written by Dan Abnett
Pencils and Inks by Jack Herbert
Colored by Hi-Fi
Cover by Tyler Kirkham and Arif Prianto
Josh’s Stance: After this month’s issue of Silencer, you better believe that I’m excited for this chapter! And it has Batman? Hell yeah!
Batman-News Critic: Josh
INTRIGUED
Batgirl #26
“ART OF THE CRIME” part one. During a high-speed chase with murderous art thief Grotesque, the villain K.O.’s Batgirl with a souped-up stun gun that temporarily fries the device implanted in her spine. (That thing that helps her, you know, walk and be Batgirl?) Babs finds herself in for a whole new world of hurt now that old wounds have been opened up-and so does Grotesque.
Written by Mairghread Scott
Pencils by Paul Pelletier
Inks by Jose Marzan Jr. and Norm Rapmund
Colored by Jordie Bellaire and Mat Lopes
Cover by Matt Hollingsworth and Sean Murphy
Josh’s Stance: I’m quite excited for Mairghread Scott’s run because she seems to be taking Barbara, as a character, back to the sophisticated, young woman that is worthy to hold the mantle of role model. She seems to write Babs in a way that she’s intelligent, mature, respectable, but still young and relatable. So, yeah… After years of hipster-Babs or Babs impersonation of Stephanie Brown… We’re finally getting to see her return to true form.
Batman-News Critic: Elena
Red Hood & the Outlaws Annual #2
The boys are back-Red Hood and Arsenal, together again! Sort of. While Jason Todd is recovering after a brutal beatdown from the man who taught him everything he knows about brutal beatdowns, Roy Harper divides his time between being a nursemaid to his bestie and tracking down the source of tainted drugs that have killed thousands. It isn’t long before the two find themselves in Beijing battling the Sisters of Suzie Su! All this and…the inexplicable fate of Artemis and Bizarro!
Written by Scott Lobdell
Pencils by Neil Googe and Clayton Henry
Inks by Clayton Henry and Wade von Grawbadger
Colored by Marcelo Maiolo
Cover by Kenneth Rocafort
Josh’s Stance: This appears to be less about Jason, and more about the people in his life. I get that this is called Red Hood and the Outlaws, but it looks like the “Outlaws” aspect will be mostly non-existent in the future, and that this chapter will help close out a number of these stories. Is that a bad thing? Not at all! In fact, I’m looking forward to this issue!
Batman-News Critic: Brian
“YOU DON’T HAVE TO THANK US”
Nightwing Annual #1
The smart city overhaul of Blüdhaven was just the beginning-a single battle in a larger cyberwar that Nightwing is only starting to understand. But now the story of the Dark Web organization begins to expand as Grayson travels to Gotham City and partners up with Vicki Vale. We live in an era of fake news, alternative facts, disinformation. The gatekeepers of truth can’t be trusted anymore, and sometimes elections, businesses and even lives are at stake. Nightwing faces off against the first of three lieutenants in the army of the Dark Web: Vire, the psychic embodiment of malware who can unearth your darkest secrets.
Written by Benjamin Percy
Art by Otto Schmidt
Cover by Otto Schmidt
Josh’s Stance: Mmm… I’m not a fan of Percy’s Nightwing so far. It’s… bad. I’m also not fond of the idea that writers keep thinking it will be great to show Dick doubt himself. It’s not. In fact, it’s out of character and growing old at this point. Also, I’m not fond of Percy’s political rhetoric… Basically, I’m not looking forward to this issue, or future issues for that matter. If you are, then I’m happy for you. I’m going to hope you’ve read some classic Nightwing books as well though.
Batman-News Critic: Josh
DC/ LOONEY TUNES CROSSOVERS
Catwoman/ Tweety & Sylvester #1
In his relentless pursuit of Tweety, Sylvester suddenly finds himself with a new, human ally-Catwoman. Tweety then realizes that he’s going to need some help too, and recruits a super-hero of his own. It isn’t long before the scale of the conflict begins to get out of control and suddenly theres’s a full scale war between cats and birds that threatens to take over all of Gotham.
Written by Shea Fontana and Gail Simone
Pencils by Walter Carzon and Inaki Miranda
Inks by Inaki Miranda and Horacio Ottolini
Colored by Silvana Brys and Eva de la Cruz
Cover by Emanuela Lupacchino and Tomeu Morey
Harley Quinn/ Gossamer #1
A violent storm leaves a large crate washed up on the beach at Coney Island. When Harley breaks it open to see what’s inside, she suddenly has a new playmate to add to her cast of friends-a large, furry, orange beast called Gossamer. It’s all fun and games until a giant robot attacks them. But who sent it? Harley immediately suspects only one man, but is it really The Joker behind this destructive rampage?
Written by Amanda Conner, Sholly Fisch, and Jimmy Palmiotti
Pencils and Inks by David Alvarez and Pier Brito
Colored by David Alvarez and Paul Mounts
Cover by Amanda Conner and Paul Mounts
The Joker/ Daffy Duck #1
When Daffy Duck pays a call to the Acme corporate headquarters in Gotham City, he finds the company long gone and their abandoned building now occupied by The Joker. With a hit in progress, Daffy tries to sneak away, only to find himself in the clutches of the Clown Prince of Crime. But Joker decides that there’s some potential in this manic bird and forces Daffy to join his gang. Will he find a way to escape…or will he become The Joker’s new right-hand duck?
Written by Joey Cavalieri and Scott Lobdell
Pencils by Brett Booth and Luciano Vecchio
Inks by Norm Rapmund and Luciano Vecchio
Colored by Andrew Dalhouse and Luciano Vecchio
Cover by Brett Booth, Andrew Dalhouse, and Jonathan Glapion
Lex Luthor/ Porky Pig #1
Facing financial and personal ruin, a desperate Porky Pig applies for and gets and entry-level position with LexCorp. Grateful to his new benefactor, Porky becomes Luthor’s most loyal employee and defender. But when a major scandal breaks in the news and Lex is called before a Congressional Committee, guess who is about to be offered up as the sacrificial pig?
Written by Jim Fanning and Mark Russell
Pencils by John Loter and Brad Walker
Inks by Andrew Hennessy and Paul J. Lopez
Colored by Andrew Dalhouse and Paul J. Lopez
Cover by Ben Oliver
Josh’s Stance: Rather than covering each of these issues individually, we will review them as a collection with brief assessments of each book… And after Tom King and Lee Weeks’ Batman/ Elmer Fudd, I will admit that there are some high expectations!
Batman-News Critic: Josh & Casper
NOTES:
- Scarlet #1 by Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev debuts this week.
GRAPHIC NOVEL WATCH:
Batman: A Lot of Li’l Gotham – Deck the halls and light a sparkler as Gotham’s tiniest and mightiest celebrate Halloween, Thanksgiving, Comic-Con, Lunar New Year, Cinco de Mayo and everything in between in these holiday-themed all-ages stories from Dustin Nguyen and Derek Fridolfs, featuring li’l Batman, li’l Robin and all your favorite li’l bad guys.
Collects Batman: Li’l Gotham #1-12 and more!
Batman: The Brave & the Bold Omnibus Vol. 2 – In these team-up tales from THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD #110-156, the Dark Knight Detective teams up with the greatest heroes of the 1970s, including Mister Miracle, Swamp Thing, Kamandi, the Flash, Green Arrow, Deadman, the Demon, the Creeper and—The Joker?!
Batman: Arkham – Penguin – Oswald Chesterfield Cobblepot was bullied throughout his childhood and teased with the nickname “Penguin” for his unique features, his eccentric fashion and the umbrella that never left his side. An outcast among his peers, Oswald would retreat to his mother’s bird shop, making friends of the feathered variety. Before long, he turned to a life of crime. Ruthless, vindictive, calculating and inventive, the Penguin presents himself as the sophisticated gentleman, but his need for respect and power is what truly drives him. From his bombastic beginnings as the master of “bird” crimes to his emergence as one of Gotham City’s meanest gangsters, the Penguin remains one of Batman’s oldest and most brilliant foes.
Batman Arkham: Penguin collects some of the villain’s greatest stories by classic creators, including Bill Finger (Detective Comics), Alan Grant (Batman: Shadow of the Bat), John Ostrander (Suicide Squad), Doug Moench (Batman), Paul Dini (Batman: The Animated Series), Jason Aaron (Star Wars) and many more!
Collects Detective Comics #58, #610, #611, #824, Batman #155, #374, #548, #549, Batman: Penguin Triumphant #1 and Joker’s Asylum: Penguin #1.
Harley & Ivy Meet Betty & Veronica – The bad girls of Gotham meet the good girls of Riverdale!
Hiram Lodge (Veronica’s father) wants to invest in the future by building a university with free tuition for Riverdale’s residents. His site is a protected swamp on the outskirts of town, and once news of the plan reaches Gotham City, a certain eco-warrior (a.k.a. Poison Ivy) is determined to prevent the dream from becoming reality.
However, once Poison Ivy and her bestie Harley Quinn arrive, they get mixed up in the sort of hijinks that can only happen in Riverdale. At a superhero-themed costume party, the night’s entertainment—Zatanna— manages to place the personas of the Gotham City Sirens into the bodies of the town’s notorious frenemies: Betty Cooper and Veronica Lodge. While Ivy (in Ronnie’s body) seeks to derail Lodge’s agenda from within, more than a few nefarious forces—from Jason and Cheryl Blossom to the Clown Prince of Crime himself—have their own foul plans.`
This groundbreaking miniseries teams up two of fandom’s best-known duos, bringing the ladies of Gotham and Riverdale together for the first time! This madcap mayhem comes courtesy of Paul Dini (Harley Quinn) and Marc Andreyko (Wonder Woman ’77), with art by Laura Braga (DC Comics: Bombshells)! Collects Harley & Ivy Meet Betty & Veronica
