It’s Super Bowl Sunday and…. I’m going to be reading some comics! Ok, I’ll watch parts of the game, but it won’t be my focus. I was pulling for the Saints and the Chiefs going into this, but since neither team made it, my interest is pretty slim. I do want to congratulate my fellow East Texas native, Patrick Mahomes for winning MVP last night though! His skill and character make us proud!
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.
FEBRUARY 6th
TAKE MY MONEY
Justice League #17
After the disastrous events of the Justice League Annual, Martian Manhunter decides to take matters into his own hands and negotiate a peace with Legion of Doom leader Lex Luthor. Traveling to a distant moon, the two enemies face their intertwined pasts in a showdown for the fate of the Multiverse. However, before either of them can lay claim to the power of the Source Wall once and for all, an unexpected threat forces them to unite…or risk death at the ends of the cosmos.
Written by Scott Snyder and James Tynion IV
Pencils and Inks by Jim Cheung
Colored by Tomeu Morey and Alejandro Sanchez
Cover by Jim Cheung and Tomeu Morey
Josh’s Stance: I’m super excited for what Snyder has in store for us following the Justice League Annual. He’s established some great stakes, and I hope he slows down enough to really let the characters and stories breathe!
Batman-News Critic: Brian
“YOU DON’T HAVE TO THANK US”
Batman #64
“THE LAST COLD CASE” part one! The two greatest detectives in the DC Universe take on the one cold case that will tear them apart!
As chief architect of the Sanctuary program that cost so much for so many, especially Wally West, Batman will be held accountable…by the Flash!
A cold case from the Justice League’s past has mysteriously re-opened, and Batman and the Flash-the only two heroes who stand a chance of cracking the case-are at each other’s throats! Our heroes must combat a demon from the past while burying their own inner demons in the process…and neither the World’s Greatest Detective nor the Fastest Man Alive will ever be the same again! But who is really pulling the strings here? And how does Gotham Girl fit into all this? Friendships will be tested and blood will be spilled in this titanic crossover event…
Written by Joshua Williamson
Pencils and Inks by Guillem March
Colored by Tomeu Morey
Cover by Chris Burnham and Nathan Fairbairn
Josh’s Stance: Look, I’ve already admitted that I wouldn’t be reading Batman if I didn’t have to, but the fact that King is already interrupting the main arc for standalone “nightmare” issues that loosely tie-in to the main arc, only for this two-issue story to interrupt the arc of standalone issues that are interrupting the main arc… Come on, man. Anyway, on top of it all, Joshua Williamson is writing, and I’ve made it quite clear that I don’t think he’s a good writer… The only positive I can find here is Guillem March.
Batman-News Critic: Elena
Harley Quinn #58
Implicated in a crime she didn’t commit, Harley Quinn must prove her innocence by teaming up with the Caped Crusader himself—Batman! But can the Clown Princess of Crime and the Dark Knight coexist long enough to solve a murder? Or will the two frenemies end up being the death of each other?
Written by Sam Humphries
Pencils and Inks by John Timms
Colored by Alex Sinclair
Cover by Guillem March and Arif Prianto
Josh’s Stance: I’m getting my fill of Harley in Heroes in Crisis. Thanks, though.
Batman-News Critic: Casper
NOTES:
- Books we’ll cover in This Week in Comics: Adventures of the Super Sons #7, Deathstroke #40, Suicide Squad Black Files #4, and Young Justice #2, as well as the titles listed above.
- Additional releases from DC Comics: The Curse of the Brimstone #11, The Dreaming #6, Female Furies #1, Green Arrow #49, The Green Lantern #4, Man and Superman 100 Page Spectacular #1, and United States vs Murder Inc #6.
GRAPHIC NOVEL WATCH:
Aquaman/ Suicide Squad: Sink Atlantis – After Aquaman’s undersea kingdom rises to become a world power of the surface, the Suicide Squad must infiltrate the city and send it back to the depths or die trying. The epic crossover event is collected here in these stories from Aquaman #39-40 and Suicide Squad #45-46.
