I’ve had no internet all day today because some drunk dude decided to take out power lines near my house early this morning… So, here you are!
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.
November 14th
TAKE MY MONEY
Red Hood: Outlaw #28
Welcome to the Underlife, Jason Todd—you probably won’t survive! Banished from Gotham City and estranged from the Outlaws, Red Hood takes up residence in Appleton, a would-be American town that’s a secret haven for the criminal operators. When RH gets his hands on a crowbar and starts handing out some bloody justice, it really stirs up the hornet’s nest. And when a new Underlife member is introduced, Jason’s gonna get stung by the trouble he caused.
Written by Scott Lobdell
Pencils and Inks by Pete Woods
Colored by Rex Lokus and Pete Woods
Cover by Pete Woods
Josh’s Stance: Two years ago, if I said, “Red Hood is probably my favorite Bat book,” you guys probably would’ve called the cops on me… Or the mental institution. But, alas, here we are, and I think Red Hood might be my favorite Bat book…
Batman-News Critic: Brian
INTRIGUED
Catwoman #5
A secret hideout is supposed to be just that—secret. So how did her new villain’s criminal crew know where to plant an explosive in Selina’s new pad? As if that blow-up weren’t bad enough, the cops come calling and arrest Selina for murder. Locked up without bail, Catwoman finds that she isn’t very popular in jail, and must fight the other inmates just to stay alive and avoid a shiv. Will she make a deal with her new nemesis, that cagey Creel, or is orange the new black for Selina’s foreseeable future?
Written by Joelle Jones
Pencils and Inks by Joelle Jones
Colored by Laura Allred
Cover by Laura Allred and Joelle Jones
Josh’s Stance: Catwoman is good, but it isn’t great. I think Jones needs to determine the direction she wants to take the book, and then go from there. A little more structure and planning will go a long way with this book.
Batman-News Critic: Josh
Detective Comics #992
There’s a new Dynamic Duo in Gotham City—introducing Batman and Two-Face! What the what?! The Dark Knight is forced to team with old friend and current enemy Harvey Dent to stop a Kobra-sponsored terrorist attack. Can Batman really trust his life to a coin flip? Even worse, Bats and Two-Face are of two minds over recruiting the two Fireflies for help—if Batman’s gonna work with so many villains, he may as well join the Legion of Doom.
Written by James Robinson
Pencils and Inks by Carmine Di Giandomenico
Colored by Ivan Plascencia
Cover by Carmine Di Giandomenico and Stephen Segovia
Josh’s Stance: I’ve been enjoying this arc, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t counting down until Tomasi takes over.
Batman-News Critic: Elena
MIXED
Suicide Squad #48
“SQUAD ON TRIAL” starts here! When Amanda Waller awakens in prison, brain bomb implanted in her head in an ironic twist, there’s only one man who can save her—but does Rick Flag WANT to? Even if Rick could climb out of the whiskey bottle he’s hiding in, swimming in guilt for allowing his former teammates to die, why would he save Waller, when the Task Force X mastermind might be responsible for those very teammates’ deaths? All this while Killer Croc contemplates if life is even worth living…
Written by Rob Williams
Pencils by Diogenes Neves
Inks by Scott Hanna
Colored by Gabe Eltaeb
Cover by Wil Quintana and David Williams
Josh’s Stance: I mean this in the nicest way, but I think a creative change might do Suicide Squad some good right about now.
Batman-News Critic: Casper
“YOU DON’T HAVE TO THANK US”
Titans #29
“MAROONED” part one! After their battle with Storrm above the Drowned Earth, the Titans find themselves lost…in space! Stranded on an alien planet—far away from their Earthbound responsibilities, with no means of getting home—they’re forced to fight against an enemy that has been lurking in the shadows since the inception of this version of the Titans: their own inner demons. And maybe some outer demons as well!
Written by Dan Abnett
Pencils by Minkyu Jung and Brandon Peterson
Inks by John Dell and Brandon Peterson
Colored by Adriano Lucas and Ivan Plascencia
Cover by Brandon Peterson
Josh’s Stance: Mmm… Meh.
Batman-News Critic: Dan
NOTES:
- Electric Warriors by Steve Orlando and Travel Foreman debuts this week.
- Additional releases from DC Comics: The Flash #58, Hawkman #6, House of Whispers #3, Mister Miracle #12, Plastic Man #6, Scooby Apocalypse #31, Supergirl #24, Superman #5, Wonder Woman #58,
GRAPHIC NOVEL WATCH:
The Brave & the Bold: Batman & Wonder Woman – The Dark Knight teams with the Amazon Warrior in this epic graphic novel written and illustrated by best-selling artist Liam Sharp.
When a Celtic god’s murder leads to a war between the fairy folk and a possible breach between worlds, Wonder Woman must find the murderer and keep the peace while Batman investigates strange occurrences in Gotham City. As Diana must turn to the World’s Greatest Detective for help, the two heroes quickly learn their cases may be connected.
In a world where the normal rules of investigation don’t apply and any clue can be obscured by charms and magic, the two Justice Leaguers must rely on each other to uncover a murder someone is trying to hide.
Beautifully rendered by master storyteller Liam Sharp, The Brave And The Bold: Batman And Wonder Woman is a fantastic new standalone story featuring two of the worlds’ greatest heroes! Collects issues #1-6.
Nightwing Vol. 8: Lethal Force – Award-winning author Chuck Dixon concludes his groundbreaking run on Nightwing with a bang!
In the final volume of Dixon’s Nightwing run, Dick Grayson is emotionally and physically pushed to his breaking point. Dick Grayson searches within for what it is to be a hero in the aftermath of the Joker’s latest reign of terror. Just before he can catch his breath, another shocking development threatens everything he has ever known, as Bruce Wayne is charged with murder! This volume also features appearances from the Flash, Blue Beetle and the rest of the Bat-Family.
Collects Nightwing #61-70.
Teen Titans Go! Vol. 5: Falling Stars – Gear up for the highly anticipated animated movie, Teen Titans Go! To The Movies, with TEEN TITANS GO! VOL. 5!
Robin, Starfire, Beast Boy, Cyborg and Raven are back in the all-ages comic books based on the hit Cartoon Network animated series Teen Titans Go!
Being a superhero is tough enough, but the team must face some everyday chores and obstacles that may prove to be too much, even for them. The Titans tackle the single most terrifying word in the English language: “dentist”! Will Robin’s dental routine save him from making a dreaded trip? Then, the heroes get crafty when Raven and Cyborg create a pair of spooky-looking leggings from a pattern in one of Raven’s arcane books. Robin’s in for quite the fright when he tries on these “Scaredy-Pants”!
Before you catch them in theaters, join the Teen Titans as they try to make it through the mundane chores and everyday hurdles that are just a little extra super for these superheroes.
Collects TEEN TITANS GO! #25-30.
