We’ve got quite the slate ahead of us, and unlike last week, I’m excited to get my hands on a number of these releases!
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 28th
TAKE MY MONEY
Batman: Curse of the White Knight #2
The Joker’s plan is in full swing—with a single devastating secret and his puppet strings controlling the elites, the Clown Prince and his new recruit, Azrael, are ready to eliminate Batman and obliterate the Wayne family’s legacy. With Gotham City’s identity and institutions hanging in the balance, Gordon makes a surprising public announcement—but The Joker’s response will send the Bat-family and the GTO spiraling.
Written by Sean Murphy
Pencils and Inks by Sean Murphy
Colored by Matt Hollingsworth
Cover by Matt Hollingsworth and Sean Murphy
Josh’s Stance: I thought we received a slow, yet strong, start to Curse of the White Knight. I’ve grown to trust Sean Murphy and look forward to exploring his depiction of Azrael further. Plus, you know the art will be incredible!
Batman-News Critic: Brian
Detective Comics #1010
In part two of “Take Your Shot,” Batman confronts Deadshot only to learn he’s come to Gotham City to enlist the skills of the World’s Greatest Detective! Can the two of them work together—or will their opposing ideologies get the best of them?
Written by Peter J. Tomasi
Pencils and Inks by Christian Duce
Colored by Luis Guerrero
Cover by June Chung and Jae Lee
Josh’s Stance: Tomasi and Duce? Yes please!
Batman-News Critic: Jay
Justice League #30
The “Justice Doom War” starts here! The Lex Luthor the League has known and fought is no more, replaced by an apex predator version of Lex, powered by Perpetua with a goal of bringing tragedy to the DC Universe. Now that Lex has powered up villains across the cosmos, he marshals his own troops, sparking a war between the Legion of Doom and the Justice League that will span space, time and the Multiverse itself. This is the start of the next big Justice League event, with consequences affecting “DC’s Year of the Villain” and beyond!
Written by Scott Snyder and James Tynion IV
Pencils and Inks by Jorge Jimenez and Francis Manapul
Colored by Francis Manapul and Alejandro Sanchez
Cover by Francis Manapul
Josh’s Stance: Jay and Brian had a little chat with Scott Snyder and James Tynion over at Comics Now about “Justice Doom War.” You should go check it out. Meanwhile, I’m going to read it again and anxiously wait for this issue to be released.
Batman-News Critic: Brian
INTRIGUED
Batman/ Superman #1
Up in the sky, in the dark of the night, trust no one—for the Secret Six walk among us. Spinning out of the devastating events of the Batman Who Laughs, Superman and Batman are together once more in an all-new monthly series—and they’re facing a terrifying new threat that could strike from anywhere. The Dark Knight and the Man of Steel must journey into the depths of Gotham City to learn which of their fellow heroes has been transformed into the horrifying horseman of their most dangerous and deranged foe ever. Our heroes will need to fight to survive, but an even more dangerous question lurks in the shadows: Can Superman and Batman even trust each other?
Written by Joshua Williamson
Pencils and Inks by David Marquez
Colored by Alejandro Sanchez and Dave Stewart
Cover by Hi-Fi, Nick Bradshaw, David Marquez, John Rauch, and Alejandro Sanchez
Josh’s Stance: Alright, so everyone knows that Joshua Williamson is not my favorite writer. I’m simply not a fan of his style. However, the little bits I’ve read of this weren’t bad. Could this end up being the one thing of his that I end up loving? Perhaps.
Batman-News Critic: Casper
MIXED
Batgirl #38
New series writer Cecil Castellucci continues to take Batgirl in an exciting new direction! First up—the Terrible Trio is now a quartet?! After the reawakening of Oracle, the Trio has decided to team up with her and show Gotham City what they’re really made of. Meanwhile, Batgirl has her hands full with a real pest problem…Killer Moth! Can our hero exterminate his evil plans before it’s too late?
Written by Cecil Castellucci
Pencils and Inks by Carmine Di Giandomenico
Colored by Jordie Bellaire
Cover by Giuseppe Camuncoli, Carmine Di Giandomenico, and Ivan Plascencia
Josh’s Stance: I wasn’t crazy about Castellucci’s debut on Batgirl, but we’ll see if she can change my mind here. I am curious to see how things play out with this new Oracle though…
Batman-News Critic: Nancy
“YOU DON’T HAVE TO THANK US”
Batman Beyond #35
“Lost Days” continues! Move over, Robin! Batman has a new partner, and it’s…the Splitt?! Bruce Wayne and Barbara Gordon join forces to try and stop this madness, but the original Batman may have to call in an old friend to save the day—and his young protégé—this time around.
Written by Dan Jurgens
Pencils by Rick Leonardi
Inks by Ande Parks
Colored by Chris Sotomayor
Cover by Chris Samnee and Matthew Wilson
Josh’s Stance: Mmmm… Neither the art nor the story have really been doing anything for me lately.
Batman-News Critic: Michael
Red Hood & the Outlaws #37
Leave it to Red Hood to get Lex Luthor’s strangest offer of all: to train the next generation of super-villains! Hand-picked for their incredible talents, not to mention their potential to spread villainy and doom across the globe. As the only super-villain in the world to have trained under Batman himself, Red Hood is the ideal instructor. But has Jason Todd fallen so far that he’d take on the task of forging tomorrow’s Legion of Doom or Crime Syndicate—or is he trying to work from within to undermine Lex’s villainous machinations? Even if Red Hood’s heart is in the right place, he still has to butt heads with his powerful and dangerous new pupils. Grab some ammo and settle in for the beginning of the next generation of Outlaws!
Written by Scott Lobdell
Pencils and Inks by Kenneth Rocafort
Colored by Steve Firchow
Cover by Cully Hamner, Rex Lokus, and Kenneth Rocafort
Josh’s Stance: Hmmm… New Outlaws… Jason training villains… This book needed a new direction, but will Lobdell take advantage of it? We’ll see.
Batman-News Critic: Matina
NOTES:
- Titles we’ll cover in This Week in Comics: Justice League Dark, as well as the titles listed above.
- Additional releases from DC Comics: Action Comics #1014, Books of Magic #11, Dial H for Hero #6, The Flash #77, Freedom Fighters #8, Martian Manhunter #8, Superman #14, The Terrifics #19, and Wonder Woman #77.
GRAPHIC NOVEL WATCH:
The Batman Who Laughs – The Batman Who Laughs is enacting a sinister plan across the Multiverse-something both terrifying and oddly familiar. When Bruce Wayne realizes the only way to stop this madman is to kill him, he must consider violating the very rule Batman can’t ever break…the rule that created the Batman Who Laughs!
As Bruce begins to realize that all the mistakes he’s made are somehow connected, the Batman Who Laughs unleashes a brand-new evil. Enter one of the most punishing Batmen of the Dark Multiverse: the Grim Knight! Collects THE BATMAN WHO LAUGHS #1-7 and THE BATMAN WHO LAUGHS: THE GRIM KNIGHT #1.
Batman: The Brave & the Bold – The Bronze Age Omnibus Vol. 3 – In these 1980s tales, Batman teams up with Wonder Woman, Supergirl, Green Arrow, Green Lantern, Swamp Thing and many other heroes to battle the forces of evil! This new Omnibus collects THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD #157-200, including numerous stories that have never been reprinted before!
Tales of the Batman: Gerry Conway Vol. 3 – There is currently no information listed for this release other than its release date.
