Happy July, everyone! We’ve got a solid slate of books ahead of us, but for those of you looking forward to Tom King’s Batman #74, I’m sorry to tell you that it’s been pushed back until next week. Now, for those of you in the states, we also have Independence Day to look forward to this week! New comics on Wednesday followed by fireworks on Thursday? Hell yeah! Just make sure that if you are going to be out, have fun and stay safe!
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.
JULY 3rd
TAKE MY MONEY
DCeased #3
Heroes, villains and gods have fallen. Cities have collapsed. The virus threatens to reach below the waves and even to the island of Themyscira. The race to save planet Earth is on! The surviving members of the Justice League have learned the secret to the spread of the virus, but is it already too late to stop it?
Written by Tom Taylor
Pencils by Trevor Hairsine
Inks by Stefano Guadiano
Colored by Rainier Beredo
Cover by Rainier Beredo and Trevor Hairsine
Josh’s Stance: Give it to me now! NOW! Seriously though, Taylor is just going full-on crazy with DCeased, and it’s been mind-numbingly fun and epic for the first two issues! And after Black Canary’s turn to become a Green Lantern… I’m ssssssuuuuuupppppeeeeerrrrrr stoked to get my hands on this issue!
Batman-News Critic: Casper
INTRIGUED
Batman/ Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III #3
The origin of Batman…together with the origin of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles? The stories are familiar, but through the prism of this altered reality, clearly not the same. An uneasy feeling sets in that everything is not what it seems. But the Laughing Man pays a visit to a familiar Turtles ally to make sure this world stays exactly as Krang has remade it.
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 love when I have to eat crow. Last month, I was concerned that Eastman and Williams’ art would clash terribly… As it turns out, they way they combined their styles ended up being one of my favorite parts of this title! There’s a fun story taking place, and it gives a nice nod to the history of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. For those reasons, I’m looking forward to this chapter.
Batman-News Critic: Jay
Justice League #27
Eons ago, the Monitor, the Anti-Monitor and the World Forger stopped the rise of Perpetua—but can they overcome billions of years of mistrust to work together and do it again?
Plus, Lex Luthor’s offers across the DC Universe haven’t gone unnoticed—Martian Manhunter is aware of “the Offer.” And J’onn J’onnz will pay the price.
Written by James Tynion IV
Pencils and Inks by Javier Fernandez and Bruno Redondo
Colored by Hi-Fi
Cover by Tomeu Morey, Bruno Redondo, and Jordi Tarragona
Josh’s Stance: Justice League #26 left off with a really interesting cliffhanger, and that has me excited for this chapter. We also slowed the pace down last week to allow for a bit of a breather – which I appreciated – but I hope this week’s issue starts to ramp back up!
Batman-News Critic: Brian
MIXED
Batgirl #36
Batgirl escapes the madness of Fox’s Den only to discover Vulture is hot on her tail and itching for revenge. Does she stand a chance against this bird of prey? Meanwhile, the fight for Gordon Clean Energy rages on as the workers discover the greatest threat to their employment future is Batgirl herself!
Written by Mairghread Scott
Pencils by Paul Pelletier
Inks by Norm Rapmund
Colored by Hi-Fi and Jordie Bellaire
Cover by Francis Manapul
Josh’s Stance: Mairghread Scott wraps up her Batgirl run with this issue. As I’ve stated a few times now, I’m sad to see her go. I feel as though she showed quite a bit of promise, then got completely derailed while trying to set up her vision. Regardless, she’s captured Barbara Gordon better than anyone has since Gail Simone’s run during the New 52, and that deserves some recognition.
Batman-News Critic: Josh
“YOU DON’T HAVE TO THANK US”
Harley Quinn #63
The final trials of Harley Quinn have begun…and the stakes have never been higher! Will Harley succeed in becoming the Angel of Retribution? Or will she fall short, only to suffer the same fate as all those before her?
Plus, a mysterious new comic by M. Clatterbuck appears…in which Lex Luthor makes Harley an exciting offer!
Written by Sam Humphries
Art by Otto Schmidt
Cover by Guillem March and Arif Prianto
Josh’s Stance: Mmmm… I haven’t been reading this, but I might check it out to see what DC tries to do in regards to the Year of the Villain event. We’ll see… Maybe I’ll just skip through.
Batman-News Critic: Casper
NOTES:
- Titles we’ll cover in This Week in Comics: Adventures of the Super Sons #12, as well as the titles listed above.
- Lois Lane #1 by Greg Rucka and Mike Perkins debuts this week.
- Doom Patrol: Weight of the Worlds #1 by Jeremy Lambert, Gerard Way, and James Harvey will also debut this week.
- Additional releases from DC Comics: Deathstroke #45, The Dreaming #11, Female Furies #6, The Green Lantern #9, and The Wild Storm #24.
GRAPHIC NOVEL WATCH:
Batman: The Rebirth Deluxe Edition – Book 4 – The day has finally arrived: the nuptials of Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle. But the Bat and the Cat must undergo even more trials and tribulations before they walk down the aisle! Then, Bruce Wayne gets selected for jury duty in a chilling court case involving Mr. Freeze, forcing Bruce and the rest of the jury to take a hard look at the Dark Knight’s methods. And why is Dick Grayson running around the city dressed as Batman? Collects BATMAN #45-57 and a story from DC NATION #0.
Joker: The 10th Anniversary Edition (DC Black Label Edition) – Brian Azzarello brings to THE JOKER all the visceral intensity and criminal insight that has made his Vertigo graphic novel series 100 BULLETS one of the most critically acclaimed and award-winning series of all time. This original graphic novel tells the story of one very dark night in Gotham City. The Joker has been mysteriously released from Arkham Asylum, and he’s none too happy about what’s happened to his Gotham City rackets while he’s been “away.” What follows is a harrowing night of revenge, murder and manic crime as only The Joker can deliver it, as he brutally takes back his stolen assets from The Penguin, The Riddler, Two-Face, Killer Croc and, of course, The Batman, and heaven help them all. Told through the eyes of his loyal (but naive) henchman Jonny Frost, JOKER is a true noir crime novel: a harrowing journey into a city of rain-soaked streets, dirty sheets and nothing but bad choices.
