I hope everyone had a fun and safe Halloween! I took my nieces and nephews trick-or-treating and had a blast with them. Unfortunately, with Halloween behind us, I’m still facing horrors of a different kind… Christmas music. Every store I walk into, I’m hearing Christmas music. It makes me want to scream, “Save it for Thanksgiving!” So, my question for you is this: When is it ok to start playing Christmas music? The day after Halloween or on/after Thanksgiving? Sound off below, because I genuinely want to know your thoughts on this.
And now we’ll get to why you really came here: comic books.
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.
NOVEMBER 6th
TAKE MY MONEY
Batman Universe #5
After being gunned down in Crime Alley by Vandal Savage, Batman is mysteriously saved by the power source in the Fabergé egg Savage has stolen! That power turns out to be a White Lantern ring-and when Batman uses it to defeat Savage, its energy signature calls the entire Green Lantern Corps to Earth…and they are not happy! Originally published in Batman Giant #11 and #12.
Written by Brian Michael Bendis
Pencils and Inks by Nick Derington
Colored by Dave Stewart
Cover by Nick Derington
Josh’s Stance: Consistently fun and entertaining, Batman Universe is easily the book I’m most looking forward to this week!
Batman-News Critic: Jay
INTRIGUED
The Infected: King Shazam #1
Billy Batson is a good kid. He helps his friends, loves his family, and tries to do the right thing. But Billy is about to have a run-in with the most dangerous serial killer in existence, and the Batman Who Laughs wants Billy to be bad. Spinning out of the events of Batman/Superman and “Year of the Villain,” it’s the tale of a hero whose soul has been turned black, and who has something to prove to the old guard. Buckle in for Shazam’s journey to punch a bunch of so-called “gods” in the face and show the establishment exactly what the future looks like…
Written by Sina Grace
Pencils by Joe Bennett
Inks by Belardino Brabo and Matt Santorelli
Colored by Hi-Fi and Brad Anderson
Cover by David Marquez and Dean V. White
Josh’s Stance: I feel like DC is trying to do too many “big events” at once, and they don’t fully know where they want to focus their attention. That being said, I think the most interesting plot going on at DC at the moment (on a grand scale anyway) is the Batman Who Laughs turning his attention against Lex Luthor… So… What do I know? Anyway, the whole Secret Six plot has been interesting so far, and I’m really curious to dive into that storyline more, hence my excitement for this issue. Now I just have to hope this one-shot actually delivers. I’ve never read Sina Grace’s work (I know, I know! Iceman. He’s gay. How have I not read it?… Well, I haven’t heard great things, so that’s why.)
Batman-News Critic: Casper
Young Justice #10
Welcome, Naomi! Wonder Comics’ brightest shining star comes to Young Justice! She’s ready to join this team of young heroes who have seen it all-and you’ll want to be here to watch the sparks fly for the very first time. All this, plus the true story of Jinny Hex.
Written by Brian Michael Bendis
Pencils and Inks by Nick Derington and John Timms
Colored by Gabe Eltaeb and Dave Stewart
Cover by Gabe Eltaeb and John Timms
Josh’s Stance: I’m excited for Naomi to join the team! If you haven’t read Naomi: Season 1, please do so! It’s an excellent book.
Batman-News Critic: Matina
MIXED
Justice League #35
This issue: Lex Luthor wins! Everything Lex has been working for over the past year and a half comes to fruition as he finally possesses the fully powered Totality and plans to bend Hypertime to his will. The Legion of Doom’s leader will defeat the Justice League once and for all and make his final pitch to serve at Perpetua’s side-and the Multiverse will never be the same!
Written by Scott Snyder and James Tynion IV
Pencils and Inks by Francis Manapul
Colored by Hi-Fi and Francis Manapul
Cover by Rafael Albuquerque and Dave Stewart
Josh’s Stance: Justice League has been good, but it’s also become too top-heavy. Snyder and Tynion have spent their entire run building and building to something, and then the last issue was kind of like, “Ok. Perpetua won. Doom won.” It’s almost as if the story crumbled under its own weight. I don’t know. I feel like we were building to a pay-off, only to be told, “No, that was essentially it.”
Batman-News Critic: Brian
“YOU DON’T HAVE TO THANK US”
Batman #82
“City of Bane” part eight! Batman and his allies wage war on the City of Bane, but an unexpected turn of events will send everyone reeling. Will there be another death in the family, or can the Dark Knight break Bane’s iron grip over Gotham City?
Written by Tom King
Pencils by Tony Salvador Daniel and Mikel Janin
Inks by Mikel Janin
Colored by Jordie Bellaire
Cover by David Finch and Alex Sinclair
Josh’s Stance: After a glorious Annual, we must sadly return to reality. Also, after recently stumbling onto an interview with Tom King where he admits he doesn’t outline his stories, and that if he forgets something “then it probably wasn’t worth remembering to begin with,” I now understand why I’m not a fan of his long-form stories. He’s a great writer, he’s just too lazy to do the work.
Batman-News Critic: Josh
NO!
Harley Quinn #67
She’s bigger. She’s badder. She’s meaner. She’s Harley-er Quinn! And after accepting Lex Luthor’s offer, she’s waging a one-woman war on the Year of the Villain itself! This is the event issue to end all event issues-no, really!
Written by Sam Humphries
Pencils by Sami Basri, Tom Derenick, Dan Jurgens, and Aaron Lopresti
Inks by Sami Basri, Norm Rapmund, Matt Ryan, and Trevor Scott
Colored by Hi-Fi
Cover by Kenneth Rocafort
Josh’s Stance: No. Hard no! This is some 90’s, super bad, bottom of the barrel, bull*beep*.
Batman-News Critic: Matina
NOTES:
- Legion of Superheroes #1 by Brian Michael Bendis and Ryan Sook debuts this week.
- Green Lantern: Black Stars by debuts this week.
- Additional releases from DC Comics: Deathstroke #49, Doom Patrol: Weight of the Worlds #5, The Dreaming #15, Inferior Five #3, Lois Lane #5, Superman: Up in the Sky #5, Teen Titans GO! Giant Direct Market Edition #1, and Wonder Twins #9.
GRAPHIC NOVEL WATCH:
Nightwing: Burnback – It’s time. Following his traumatic gunshot wound, Ric Grayson must come to terms with who he is and what kind of hero he wants to be…if he wants to be one at all. And while Ric is content to walk away from the mantle, one woman has been hiding in the shadows, waiting to solidify an identity of her own…an identity tied for all eternity to the Clown Price of Crime…enter The Joker’s Daughter! Plus, meet the new team looking to replace Ric-the Nightwings! Collects NIGHTWING #57-62.
