Did you see it? Did you see Avengers: Endgame? I went Saturday morning (by myself), then again Saturday night with my other half. I was a little surprised to see people just rolling up to the theater trying to get tickets for the next showing… And then looking super confused/ shocked when they’re told the movie is sold out until mid-week next week! Crazy! Anyway, if you saw the movie, I hope you enjoyed it! I know I did! Since I know a decent number of people haven’t seen it, I’d say refrain from talking spoilers below. Let’s give everyone a fair shake to see the film since we know some poor souls are stressing until their first showing.
Moving on to comics… We’ve got a good week this week! We have the launch of Tom Taylor’s DCeased, as well as the official start of Year of the Villain (hopefully it’s better than DC’s previous villain celebration). We also have Justice League, and Tom King’s Batman will finally move past the “Knightmares” arc… It remains to be seen whether this is good or bad. Regardless, a good week for comic book fans all around!
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.
MAY 1st
TAKE MY MONEY
DCeased #1
“I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was Death, and Hades was following close behind him.”-Revelation 6:8
A mysterious techno-virus has been released on Earth, infecting 600 million people and turning them instantly into violent, monstrous engines of destruction.
The heroes of the DCU are caught completely unprepared for a pandemic of this magnitude and struggle to save their loved ones first…but what happens to the World’s Greatest Heroes if the world ends?
New York Times best-selling writer Tom Taylor (INJUSTICE) returns with a terrifying new tale and is joined by artists Trevor Hairsine (LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT) and Stefano Gaudiano (The Walking Dead).
Written by Tom Taylor
Pencils by Trevor Hairsine and James Harren
Inks by Stefano Guadiano and James Harren
Colored by Rainier Beredo
Cover by Greg Capullo and FCO Plascencia
Josh’s Stance: I’m SUPER excited for this! I don’t think I’ve ever read anything from Tom Taylor that I didn’t enjoy… In fact, I tend to love most of his work! This should be a great miniseries, and I hope he doesn’t hold back!
Batman-News Critic: Josh
Justice League #23
“The Sixth Dimension” chapter four! Our heroes have been banished to the prison planet of villains by the World Forger. Stuck with no way of escape, the team hatches a plan to defeat the World Forger and get back to their dimension with the help of a new ally, but where is Superman?!
Written by Jorge Jimenez and Scott Snyder
Pencils and Inks by Jorge Jimenez
Colored by Alejandro Sanchez
Cover by Jorge Jimenez, Tomeu Morey, and Alejandro Sanchez
Josh’s Stance: This is going to get crazy… And I’m all about it!
Batman-News Critic: Brian
INTRIGUED
Batman/ Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III #1
The 80th anniversary of Batman collides with the 35th anniversary of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in this stunning concluding miniseries to the BATMAN/TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES trilogy. Our heroes have battled the evil of the Foot Clan in Gotham City and Bane in New York, but now Krang has gotten his hands on the most dangerous technologies in the DC Universe-and no universe is safe from his wrath! Co-published with IDW.
Written by James Tynion IV
Pencils and Inks by Kevin Eastman and Freddie E. Williams II
Colored by Jeremy Colwell
Cover by Jeremy Colwell and Freddie E. Williams II
Josh’s Stance: I thought Batman/ Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II was a bit of a slog, but despite that, I’m excited for this book. There’s magic in bringing these characters together, and I’m hoping the creative team has cooked up a solid story that we can revel in!
Batman-News Critic: Jay
DC’s Year of the Villain Special #1
Evil is winning! Lex Luthor and The Legion of Doom conspire with Cosmic Gods, bending mankind toward a dark destiny. Elsewhere, the scourge of Leviathan spreads unchecked, seizing power in every corner of the world. And all the while the Batman Who Laughs busies himself in the shadows, aligned with no one-yet with sinister plans for all.
The carnage starts here as the bad guys take center stage in “The Year of the Villain,” the most treacherous event in DC Comics history. Some act with united goals, others with plans selfish and secret, every one of them on a monstrous collision course against Batman, Superman and the heroes of the DC Universe. And our heroes will fail us.
Don’t miss the start of “The Year of the Villain,” featuring the talents of writers Brian Michael Bendis, Scott Snyder and James Tynion IV, artists Jim Cheung, Alex Maleev and Francis Manapul and cover artist Greg Capullo-all for free!
Written by Brian Michael Bendis, Tom King, Scott Snyder, and James Tynion IV
Pencils and Inks by Jim Cheung, Alex Maleev, and Francis Manapul
Colored by Alex Maleev, Francis Manapul, and Tomeu Morey
Cover by Brad Anderson, Greg Capullo, Andy Kubert, and FCO Plascencia
Josh’s Stance: The Year of the Villain is upon us, and while I would say that I’m excited, part of me also feels fatigued. I’m also a little weary due to how they’re marketing this “event.” DC is pushing it as something that’s starting fresh with this issue, but the reality is that each of these stories have already been underway for a while. Batman and Bane have been going at it for well over a year now, and Leviathan and Perpetua have already been set up in their respective titles. It honestly begs the question of why DC is choosing to push these stories in this way. Perhaps DC realized how good each of these stories are turning out to be, and decided to run with it… Then added King’s Batman since Batman is their cash cow. Who knows? Either way, I have mixed emotions.
Batman-News Critic: Josh
MIXED
Batman #70
“The Fall and the Fallen” begins! This is the one you’ve been waiting for! Now that Batman has escaped the “Knightmares,” he’s starting to see the forces rallying against him-and that his father from another universe has joined the other side. The Caped Crusader finally digs into the mystery of how Thomas Wayne, a.k.a. the Flashpoint Batman, escaped the collapse of his dimension and ended up in this part of the Multiverse. Get all the answers in this new five-part story paving the way for the next big BATMAN event!
Written by Tom King
Pencils and Inks by Jorge Fornes and Mikel Janin
Cover by Brad Anderson, Andy Kubert, and Alex Sinclair
Josh’s Stance: I can’t bring myself to say that I’m excited for Batman, but I’m happy we’re finally moving past “Knightmares.” Now I just need to get through the next 30+ issues of King’s run, and hope that we’ll get someone genuinely good stories in the process.
Batman-News Critic: Josh
“YOU DON’T HAVE TO THANK US”
Harley Quinn #61
Harley Quinn welcomes new series artist Otto Schmidt!
Harley travels to Gotham City to blow off some steam with her friend Catwoman in the best way she knows how—no, not a bank robbery—game night! But the good, clean fun soon turns into a nightmare when they discover that the game is cursed, and that they’ve inadvertently turned Gotham City into something straight out of a fantasy RPG! Now, with the entire city gone insane, Harley Quinn is the only one who remembers reality…but will anyone believe her?
Written by Sam Humphries
Pencils by Otto Schmidt and John Timms
Inks by Otto Schmidt and John Timms
Colored by Otto Schmidt and Alex Sinclair
Cover by Guillem March, Tomeu Morey, and Arif Prianto
Josh’s Stance: I haven’t read this title since the first issue of the creative change. I wasn’t impressed, nor have I heard extremely impressive feedback, so I’m not sure if/when I will read the book. Otto Schmidt’s inclusion will most likely bring in some new readers, but I’m not sure how much weight he actually carries. Let me know if I’m missing out.
Batman-News Critic: Casper
NOTES:
- Titles we’ll cover in This Week in Comics: Adventures of the Super Sons #10, Deathstroke #43 and Young Justice #5, as well as the titles listed above.
- Additional releases from DC Comics: The Dreaming #9, Female Furies #4, and The Green Lantern #7.
GRAPHIC NOVEL WATCH:
The New Teen Titans Omnibus Vol. 4 – In this fourth massive collection of the hit 1980s series, team member Lilith ascends to godhood and takes up residence on Olympus, home of the Greek gods of myth. And as the Crisis on Infinite Earths begins, Starfire is called home to the planet Tamaran to be wed to a member of the military. Collects NEW TEEN TITANS Series Two #10-31, NEW TEEN TITANS Series Two ANNUAL #1-2 and a story from OMEGA MEN #34.
The Silencer Vol. 2: Hell-iday Road – Reeling from her previous encounter with Talia al Ghul, the Silencer wants a permanent end to hostilities—which she intends to accomplish with several bullets in al Ghul’s face. But when Talia’s loyal followers want to revive her in the Lazarus Pit, the Silencer must race to stop them while still trying to keep her personal life a secret! Collects issues #7-12 and ANNUAL #1.
Under the Moon: A Catwoman Tale – When fifteen-year-old Selina Kyle, aka the future Catwoman, becomes homeless, she must confront questions of who she is and who she will become.
She rejects human cruelty, but sometimes it seems as though brute force is the only way to “win.” And if Selina is to survive on the streets, she must be tough. Can she find her humanity and reconcile toughness with her desire for community … and love?
From Lauren Myracle, the New York Times best-selling author of books like ttfn and ttyl, comes a new graphic novel that tells the story of a teenage Catwoman, as she struggles to find her own identity while living on the streets of Gotham.
Wonder Woman & the Justice League: The Witching Hour – An ancient force of dark magic is stirring, and the Justice League Dark stands in its way—and the source of its power lies deep inside the soul of their leader, Wonder Woman! Hecate, the witch-goddess of magic, always knew that this day would come, when the monsters from which she originally stole the power of magic would return. All these millennia, she’s been hatching a plan, and now is the time to take back and use the power she’s hidden across Earth inside the Witchmarked, human beings with vast reservoirs of power secreted inside them. Collects Justice League Dark/Wonder Woman: The Witching Hour #1, Wonder Woman/Justice League Dark: The Witching Hour #1, Wonder Woman #56-57 and Justice League Dark #4.
