Welcome back! Were any of you able to visit your local comic shop and grab some new releases last week? Wednesday was the first day that I was able to actually go in and shop my LCS since the pandemic began, and more than anything, it was nice to just catch up with the family that runs the store. While I fully believe we all need to be careful and responsible with Covid-19, I also believe we should support our local comic shops. And if you’re nervous about getting out, then try to continue curbside with your shop. Anything helps.
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.
MAY 26th
TAKE MY MONEY
Justice League #45
The Spirit of Vengeance goes global! After spending untold time in isolation, the Spectre is back, and his thirst for retribution will ripple across the Earth! As old wounds are reopened under the Spectre’s unstoppable influence, it’s up to the Justice League to stop the conflict. But how can they act on a global stage when they must first contend with their own resentments?
Written by Robert Venditti
Pencils by Eddy Barrows
Inks by Eber Ferreira
Colored by Romulo Fajardo, Jr.
Cover by Francis Manapul
Josh’s Stance: Venditti. Barrows. And Spectre. Yeah, I’m completely sold!
Batman News Critic: Nick
Suicide Squad #5
They say loose lips sink ships-and Captain Boomerang has the biggest mouth on Earth! That’s why Lok commands Task Force X to bring him in and shut him up for good! The hunt is on, but nothing ever goes according to plan in the Suicide Squad-at least, not if Osita and her mutinous Revolutionaries can help it. Will Deathstroke and Harley finally turn against Lok when ordered to kill their old Squad-mate? One way or another, the bodies keep dropping…
Written by Tom Taylor
Pencils and Inks by Bruno Redondo
Colored by Adriano Lucas
Cover by Adriano Lucas and Bruno Redondo
Josh’s Stance: Tom Taylor is definitely one of the hot writers in comics at the moment, and he’s proving why with Suicide Squad. Along with Bruno Redondo, the two are delivering some highly-entertaining, bombastic, and even emotional stories… And we’re only four issues in! Can’t wait to see what else they do with Boomerang back in the picture now!
Batman News Critic: Josh
INTRIGUED
Batman Beyond #43
Terry McGinnis has his memories back, and he’s ready to resume his duties as Batman in Neo-Gotham. But as soon as he comes home, so does Goliath, the Man-Bat pet of Damian Wayne. What adventure with the heir of the Demon lies in store for Batman Beyond?
Written by Dan Jurgens
Pencils by Sean Chen
Inks by Sean Parsons and Norm Rapmund
Colored by Chris Sotomayor
Cover by Dustin Nguyen
Josh’s Stance: As I’ve stated previously, I haven’t read Batman Beyond in some time now. I jumped ship back during the memory loss bit (we’ve seriously had enough of that), but seeing Goliath on the cover really caught my attention. This will probably be the point where I jump back in, because I’m sure that with Goliath comes Damian – the new Ra’s al Ghul.
Batman News Critic: Michael
Teen Titans #41
At the gates of heaven itself, the Teen Titans must battle Djinn’s older brother Elias with the fate of the world hanging in the balance! But victory comes at a terrible cost-because one of the Teen Titans won’t be making it back!
Written by Adam Glass and Robbie Thompson
Pencils by Eduardo Pansica
Inks by Julio Ferreira
Colored by Marcelo Maiolo
Cover by Bernard Chang and Marcelo Maiolo
Josh’s Stance: For a while, it felt as thought Teen Titans was slipping into obscurity, but now it’s starting to hit it’s stride again. There’s definitely room for improvement still, but I’m intrigued by the plot with Djinn and Elias.
Batman News Critic: Matina
- Additional releases from DC Comics: Aquaman #59, Basketful of Heads #7, Books of Magic #19, The Flash #754, He-Man & the Masters of the Multiverse #6, The Low, Low Woods #5, Supergirl #41, and The Terrifics #27.
GRAPHIC NOVEL WATCH
Batman: The Caped Crusader Vol. 4
This new collection of 1990s Batman stories includes the earliest days of Tim Drake as Robin, with Tim risking it all when Batman and Vicki Vale are captured by the Scarecrow. As Batman decides whether he is ready to fight crime with a partner by his side once again, Commissioner Gordon rekindles an old flame. Then, Batman heads west, as the murder of an old friend leads him to San Francisco. Collects Batman #455-465 and Batman Annual #15.
New Teen Titans Vol. 11
As these stories from the late 1980s begin, the Titans battle the Omega Men in the depths of space! Then, while the evil Blackfire takes over as ruler of the planet Tamaran, the team returns to Earth to take on new missions. Together, Cyborg and Changeling try to track down Changeling’s father, Mento, while Wonder Girl leads a new team of heroes into Switzerland to stop Cheshire from disrupting a summit talk between the U.S. and Russia-and Nightwing sneaks into Brother Blood’s headquarters to free Raven. Collects New Teen Titans #16-23 and The Omega Men #34.
- Additional graphic novels from DC Comics: Superman Vol. 3: The Truth Revealed
QUARANTINE BOOK CLUB
As a reminder, we’ll be covering Batman Chronicles: The Gauntlet on Friday, May 29 for our Quarantine Book Club! Make sure you pick up a copy from your local comic book shop so you can join in on the conversation! Also, be sure to check out last week’s coverage of Batman: Gates of Gotham.
Batman Chronicles: The Gauntlet
It’s a tale from Batman and Robin’s past! Before Dick Grayson can don the Robin costume as Batman’s partner, he must pass a final challenge: elude Batman for an entire night within the confines of Gotham City. But his game of hide-and-seek becomes deadly when Robin stops what appears to be a simple mugging and inadvertently intercepts key information. Now he’s the target of a ruthless mob boss, his deadly gang of thugs, the GCPD and, of course, Batman himself, who races to find his young ward before it’s too late.
