After a light week last week, we’ve got a pretty good roster of books to cover for this week… And some of them I can’t wait to get my hands on! 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.
JANUARY 30th
TAKE MY MONEY
Detective Comics #997
There’s no man on Earth more convinced that he knows what makes Batman tick than Dr. Hugo Strange! Which makes him a natural target for the thing that’s hunting Batman, unless Batman gets there first!
Written by Peter J. Tomasi
Pencils by Doug Mahnke
Inks by Jaime Mendoza
Colored by David Baron
Cover by David Baron, Doug Mahnke, and Jaime Mendoza
Josh’s Stance: Yes, please!
Batman News Critic: Elena
INTRIGUED
Heroes in Crisis #5
The secrets of the DC Universe are hacked! Sanctuary wasn’t supposed to keep records, but now that the A.I. is compromised, superhero secrets are leaking all over the ’Net. Booster and Harley set aside their differences to focus on who they believe is the real killer (assuming one of them isn’t lying, that is). Meanwhile, Batman and the Flash continue to investigate the mysterious murderer. The answer can be found in Sanctuary…but is it safe to go digging in the crime scene?
Written by Tom King
Pencils and Inks by Clay Mann
Colored by Tomeu Morey
Cover by Clay Mann and Tomeu Morey
Josh’s Stance: Hopefully we’ll get some plot progression… I’ll just leave it at that…
Batman News Critic: Josh
Justice League Annual #1
The Source Wall has degraded too much, and the League must patch the hole right now or the whole Multiverse will collapse! Our heroes scramble for a solution and turn to the only thing that might work: the Omega Titans! The only problem? They killed the Entropy Titan back in JUSTICE LEAGUE: NO JUSTICE. Whoops…but never fear! Kyle Rayner, Miss Martian and Steel—from the non-planet-eating Titans team—guest-star with a plan to create a new Entropy Titan…one that’s so crazy it just might work.
Written by Scott Snyder and James Tynion IV
Pencils by Daniel Sampere
Inks by Juan Albarran
Cover by Nathan Fairbairn and Yanick Paquette
Josh’s Stance: If this is more Snyder than Tynion, I’ll be all about it! If it’s Tynion, then expect walls of exposition explaining why and how they’re going to create this new Entropy Titan. And as excited as I am to see Kyle Raynor, I have to admit that the recent cancellation of Titans kind of kills the excitement for this.
Batman News Critic: Brian
MIXED
Batgirl #31
In this issue, it’s Batgirl for Congress! Plus, masked assassins and awkward exes! Barbara Gordon volunteers to campaign for an up-and-coming reformer candidate who wants to take on the GCPD. That puts Barbara in a tough spot against her father—police commissioner James Gordon. And just when things couldn’t get any more awkward, a former flame reenters Barbara’s life. Personal angst and a masked super-villain hunting a mystery target. It’s gonna be a long day, Babs.
Written by Mairghread Scott
Pencils by Paul Pelletier
Inks by Norm Rapmund
Colored by Jordie Bellaire
Cover by Emanuela Lupacchino and Dave McCaig
Josh’s Stance: I’ve been in Batgirl’s corner ever since Mairgread Scott took over, but the last issue wasn’t exactly my favorite. I’m curious to see what they do with Jason Bard, but I hate what they’re doing with Barbara and her dad. I feel like since the New 52, writers seem to think the only way to make Babs interesting is to put her in conflict with the people closest to her… Let’s try something new for once.
Batman News Critic: Dan
NOTES:
- Titles we’ll cover in This Week in Comics: Batman Beyond #28, Justice League Odyssey #5, Old Lady Harley #4, The Silencer #13, and Titans Annual #1, as well as the titles listed above.
- Additional releases from DC Comics: Action Comics #1007, Books of Magic #4, The Flash #63, The Flash Annual #2, Hex Wives #4, Looney Tunes #247, Mysteries of Love in Space #1, Raven Daughter of Darkness #12, The Terrifics #12, and Wonder Woman #63.
GRAPHIC NOVEL WATCH:
Batman: Troika – For the first time since the events of the Knightfall storyline, Bruce Wayne returns to his role as Gotham City’s protector, Batman!
The Knightfall Saga reaches its conclusion as Bruce Wayne returns to Gotham City in the never-before-collected Batman: Troika!
A new era begins, as Batman reinvents himself to take on a new breed of foe. When the Bat-Family declares war against former KGB operatives with plans to take control of Gotham City’s underworld, who will come out the victor? In the midst of all of this, Bruce Wayne must also cope with his decision to pass on the mantle of Batman to Jean-Paul Valley.
Part of a massive 25th anniversary recut of the entire Batman: Knightfall saga, this graphic novel collects Batman #515, Batman: Shadow of The Bat #35, Detective Comics #682, Robin #14, Nightwing: Alfred Returns and Batman: Vengeance of The Bat #2.
