Last week, we lit our Bat-signal in search of great, new talent to add to our comic review team. The signal is still lit, and if you thought about joining but didn’t submit, then the time is now! The details for submitting can be found here! What are you waiting for?
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.
JUNE 14TH
TAKE MY MONEY
Event Leviathan #1
The groundbreaking and always-inventive team of writer Brian Michael Bendis and artist Alex Maleev (Jinxworld’s SCARLET, Marvel’s Daredevil) reunite on a mystery thriller that stretches across the DC Universe and touches every character from Batman to Superman to the Question to Talia al Ghul. With startling ease, a newly dangerous and aggressive Leviathan wipes out all its competition and now turns its sights to molding the world into its vision of order. Can the new threat’s growth be stopped…and who’s guiding its new agents of chaos?
Written by Brian Michael Bendis
Art by Alex Maleev
Cover by Alex Maleev
Josh’s Stance: I’m SUPER EXCITED for this book! I’ve loved everything Bendis has done to set this up in Action Comics, and this is probably the first time in years that I’ve felt an event could both be equally entertaining and impactful.
Batman News Critic: Brian
INTRIGUED
Batman & the Outsiders #2
Sofia Barrera is on the run from an enforcer for the Ark, the program that gave her powers—but in the process, she’s fallen into the hands of the mystery man called Kaliber! He claims he wants to protect her…but who’s paying his bill? And is Katana already questioning Black Lightning’s leadership on their very first mission? Or is she just pushing him in a direction he’s not willing to go?
Written by Bryan Edward Hill
Pencils and Inks by Dexter Soy
Colored by Veronica Gandini
Cover by Tyler Kirkham and Arif Prianto
Josh’s Stance: I thought Hill gave us a decent start last month with signs of potential. This issue will give us a better idea of what to expect going forward, and potentially what the delays were all about. For now, I’m going to stay optimistic.
Batman News Critic: Josh
The Batman Who Laughs #6
True happiness begins in the heart. Our memories and emotions can play tricks on us, though, and divert one’s reality into something completely different. The Batman Who Laughs has based his entire worldview on this very concept, and it is in this moment that he must finally confront the one man who stands in his way, the one man who could complete or halt his plan…the last Bruce Wayne. It is here, on the home turf of Wayne Manor, that Bruce relives the happiest moment of his life—the moment he became the Batman Who Laughs. Will Batman be able to outthink the Dark Multiverse version of himself and stop his most sinister end? Or will the original Dark Knight succumb fully and let go of his morality? While good almost always wins, this issue is the start of something more…setting up a larger plan based in the ultimate betrayal of infection, loyalty and true happiness. This is not the end…it’s only the beginning.
Written by Scott Snyder
Pencils and Inks by Jock
Colored by David Baron
Cover by Jock
Josh’s Stance: This is it, the final issue of The Batman Who Laughs. There are many things about this book that I’ve loved, and others that I haven’t been as crazy about. That being said, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the horror elements Snyder and Jock have created, and the book has definitely been entertaining. I’m curious to see how the team wraps up this story before leading into Batman/ Superman.
Batman News Critic: Casper
Detective Comics #1005
The finale of the Arkham Knight saga arrives as the Knight’s surprising cult within Arkham Asylum unleashes its full power! Will Batman be swept under by the madness? Who is the Knight, to have inspired so much loyalty? And is there any way of stopping them that won’t just cause their legend to grow?
Written by Peter J. Tomasi
Pencils by Max Raynor and Brad Walker
Inks by Andrew Hennessy and Max Raynor
Colored by Nathan Fairbairn
Cover by Nathan Fairbairn, Andrew Hennessy, and Brad Walker
Josh’s Stance: I’m not going to lie, this feels as thought its wrapping up rather quickly, but whether or not that’s a good thing remains to be seen. I trust Tomasi, so I’m looking forward to the issue. The real question is what, if any, lasting effects will come from the Arkham Knight’s introduction into continuity.
Batman News Critic: Jay
“YOU DON’T HAVE TO THANK US”
Red Hood: Outlaw #35
Last time he was in Gotham City, Jason Todd pretended to be a master criminal in the underworld. This time it’s for real! With Suzie Su scared of what her new boss at the Iceberg Lounge might be capable of and Bunker questioning his own loyalty to Jason, the Red Hood’s house of cards could be headed for a collapse. And if that isn’t bad enough, Jason comes face to face with the teacher who taught him everything he knows about death and life, and Ducra isn’t at all happy about this latest twist in Jason’s story…
Written by Scott Lobdell
Pencils and Inks by Pete Woods
Colored by Rex Lokus
Cover by Cully Hamner
Josh’s Stance: Strangely enough, this book has started to feel quite generic despite the plethora of characters and an intriguing plot. What really blows my mind though, is how Lobdell is just going all-in with characters and stories that were complete failures for him previously. I’m not quite sure what he’s thinking here.
Batman News Critic: Brian
NOTES:
- Titles we’ll cover in This Week in Comics: Catwoman #12 and Justice League Odyssey #12, as well as the titles listed above.
- Additional releases from DC Comics: The Flash #72, Hawkman #13, House of Whispers #10, Supergirl #31, Superman #12, Wonder Twins #5, and Wonder Woman #72.
GRAPHIC NOVEL WATCH:
Batman: The Golden Age Omnibus Vol. 7 – In these tales from the start of the 1950s, the Penguin commits a series of crimes inspired by state birds and Catwoman becomes empress of the underworld! Plus, the debut appearances of Deadshot and Killer Moth, and the origin of the Red Hood. Collects Detective Comics #154-173, Batman #56-66 and stories from World’s Finest Comics #43-52.
Detective Comics #1000: Deluxe Edition – The amazing 1000th issue of DETECTIVE COMICS is collected in this new Deluxe Edition, including a new story written by Robert Venditti with art by Steven Segovia!
This amazing collection is stacked with an unbelievable lineup of talent that will take you on a journey through Batman’s past, present and future…plus a sensational epilogue that features the first-ever DC Universe appearance of the deadly Arkham Knight! But who is under the mask? And why do they want Batman dead? The incredible future of Batman adventures begins here!
