Guess what?!?! We’ve assembled our new team! Ladies and gentlemen, it’s my pleasure to introduce the newest members of the Batman-News comics review team!
Nancy Northcott
Hi, everybody! I’m delighted to join the review team here at Batman-News. I discovered Batman (and Robin) and the rest of the DC superheroes in grade school. My grandfather bought me my first comic, much to my mother’s dismay. My dad, luckily, was okay with it. In addition to comics, I read history and pretty much every kind of genre fiction except horror. I also enjoy attending SFF and comic cons. A highlight of my year is Dragon Con, which is on the horizon and rolling toward us fast. The comics track always has great offerings.
The way Bruce Wayne has created a family of wounded children endears him to me, and I love the entire Bat clan. My favorite Bats are Dick and Babs, with Tim close behind. I’m eager to start reviewing these books and hearing from all of you.
Matina Newsome
Hello everyone! I’m Matina and I’m from Texas. I’ve loved Batman since I was young. As a kid, I spent most my time devouring BTAS and Batman Beyond. It took me a little longer to discover comics, but once I did, I fell in love. My favorite Dynamic Duo is Dick Grayson and Damian Wayne. They make me laugh. They make me cry. They helped make comics amazing for me. They really were the best. When I’m not reading comics I work at a library, constantly combing the shelves for things I haven’t read yet and recommending titles. I’m also an avid podcast listener, an amateur seamstress, and a writer. I’m delighted to be joining such a great community, and I can’t wait to get to know you all and share this grand adventure.
Michael Escalante
Hello everyone at Batman News! My name is Michael Escalante and I live in Los Angeles, California. Ever since my pea-sized, five-year-old brain watched Batman Returns on a worn-out VHS, I’ve been obsessed with all things Batman. Bouncing from movies, to tv shows, and eventually comics, I’ve devoured as much Batman media as possible. I have a particular fondness for street-level crime stories, in particular, many of Ed Brubaker’s books such as Gotham Central and his Catwoman run. Outside of Batman, I have a second love of horror, whether it be in film or books, and find myself helping out a lot of friends with their short horror film ideas. I look forward to getting to know all of you better!
Nicholas Finch
Hey guys! My name is Nick, and I’ve been visiting Batman-News since about 2015. It’s an honour to graduate from posting aggravating opinions about comics in the comment section to posting aggravating opinions about comics on the main website! <3
I do a lot of different kinds of work, from film production to representing charity, but comics have always been a big influence on my life. I grew up with Ultimate Spider-Man and the Hush comics in particular, and while I’d love to work in comic book writing myself, anything that helps to bring attention to the medium is a role that I’d find to be worth doing.
A benefit of living in Australia with an inconsistent sleeping schedule is that it really does make me feel like Batman – I could appear at any time in the comments and you’d never know until I’m there! I’m eager to talk with you all about the comics I’m tackling, and I’m welcome to be corrected or critiqued on something.
I’m commonly found with a figure of some sort in my hand, lying in bed at 1am and suddenly suffering from an overwhelming craving for a chicken kebab.
Make sure you say hello to the new team down in the comments section! Now that the full team is assembled, we will be re-working our coverage, and will announce those details at a later date.
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.
AUGUST 7th
TAKE MY MONEY
DCeased #4
The Daily Planet has become a beacon of hope for the living as the Anti-Life Equation sweeps the planet. What’s left of the Justice League have begun to gather there, bringing survivors and family alike. But the city is being overrun with infected humans…and superhumans! The war for Metropolis begins!
Written by Tom Taylor
Pencils by Trevor Hairsine
Inks by Stefano Guadiano
Colored by by Rainier Beredo
Cover by Brad Anderson and Andy Kubert
Josh’s Stance: Yes, please! Right now!
Batman News Critic: Casper
Justice League #29
Does a Starro dream of an electric Justice League? Sensing the danger to come, Jarro fears for his newfound friends. He ponders each one and their potential fate to decide whether he should mentally block them from going forward into what could be certain destruction…the coming war with the Legion of Doom!
Written by Scott Snyder and James Tynion IV
Pencils and Inks by Bruno Redondo
Colored by Hi-Fi
Cover by Francis Manapul
Josh’s Stance: You had me at Starro!
Batman News Critic: Brian
INTRIGUED
Batman/ Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III #4
Batman and the Turtles grapple with the laws of Krang’s combined universe, desperate to return their two worlds to their original states. But there are some who do not want things set right. In this reality, the Laughing Man runs the Smile Clan, the most dangerous criminal organization ever to strike New Gotham City—and that’s how he wants things to stay! He’ll kill anyone who gets in his way…even the Shredder!
Written by James Tynion IV
Pencils and Inks by Freddie E. Williams II
Colored by Jeremy Colwell
Cover by Jeremy Colwell and Freddie E. Williams II
Josh’s Stance: This has been a fun story so far. I like the meshing of the worlds, and I’m curious to see how the creative teams start wrapping everything up. I am a little sad to see Eastman is no longer providing assistance with the art. I really liked the inclusion of his original characters and designs with the world that Freddie Williams has created with Tynion. Eastman’s inclusion will be missed.
Batman News Critic: Jay
MIXED
Batman #76
“City of Bane” continues! Bane has taken over Gotham City, and Batman is nowhere to be found. At least, not a Batman anyone recognizes. Flashpoint Batman is now patrolling the city, dispensing a violent brand of justice and taking out rogue villains who haven’t yet signed on with Bane. It’s all building to a rebellion among the bad guys who don’t want to play along— and distrust in those who do! Meanwhile, a surprising ally has come to Bruce Wayne’s aid, nursing him back to health so that he can get back to his city.
Written by Tom King
Pencils and Inks by Tony Salvador Daniel
Inks by Tony Salvador Daniel, Sandu Florea, and Norm Rapmund
Colored by Tomeu Morey
Cover by Tony Salvador Daniel and Tomeu Morey
Josh’s Stance: Look, I’m trying to stay positive, but I really just want the next creative team to hurry up and take over.
Batman News Critic: Josh
“YOU DON’T HAVE TO THANK US”
Harley Quinn #64
Harley’s tried everything to avoid Lex Luthor and his stupid “Offer”—she’s destroyed half a dozen of Lex’s drones, she’s changed her name, her cell phone number—she even faked her own death! Why won’t this bald, pasty-faced weirdo take no for an answer? Harley Quinn takes on the crossover event of the summer in this comic-within-a-comic take on “DC’s Year of the Villain”!
Written by Sam Humphries
Pencils and Inks by Sami Basri
Colored by Hi-Fi and Jessica Kholinne
Cover by Guillem March and Arif Prianto
Josh’s Stance: I honestly don’t know what’s going on in this book. I haven’t read it in months. The cover screams 90’s comic book nonsense that ultimately led me to walk away from comics for a little while though… Just saying.
Batman News Critic: Casper
NOTES:
- Titles we’ll cover in This Week in Comics: Just the titles listed above this week.
- Additional releases from DC Comics: Deathstroke #46, Doom Patrol: Weight of the World #2, The Dreaming #12, The Green Lantern #10, Lois Lane #2, Scooby Doo Team-Up: Doomed, Sinestro: Year of the Villain #1, and Superman: Up in the Sky #2.
GRAPHIC NOVEL WATCH:
Justice: The Deluxe Edition – The best-selling 12-issue series illustrated by Alex Ross is now available as a new deluxe edition hardcover! The villains of the Legion of Doom-led by Lex Luthor and Brainiac-band together to save the world after a shared dream that seems to be a vision of the Earth’s demise. They are confronted by the Justice League of America, who doubt their motives-and as their true plans unfold, the two teams do battle. Contains over 100 pages of bonus material!
