DC’s FanDome is this Saturday! Are you ready for it? Have you planned your schedule? There’s definitely more promise here for announcements, reveals, and trailers than what we got at Comic-Con at Home, so I’m pretty excited! Let us know what you’re excited for in the comments section! I’ll be tuning in this Saturday as well, so feel free to shoot me messages on Twitter as well!
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!
AUGUST 18th
INTRIGUED
Dark Nights: Death Metal Guidebook #1
Earth is turned upside down, shrouded in a realm of darkness after the Justice League’s defeat by the cosmic goddess Perpetua. Now the Batman Who Laughs and his army of Dark Knights rule the planet, wreaking havoc on humanity and raining destruction on the world. As Wonder Woman, Superman, Batman, and other heroes fight to survive in this strange new landscape, one cloaked figure has been observing from the sidelines, creating a guidebook to this new world and its evil leaders in the hope of forming a plan of justice… and penance.
This issue showcases the new factions of Earth and explores the mystery of what happened to our heroes after their battle with Perpetua. How did Wonder Woman become the queen of Hell? How did Batman find the Black Lantern ring? And what happens when Harley Quinn takes charge of the Wasteland, and finds love in the process? All this and more in this jam-issue exploring the new world order.
Written by Priest, Vita Ayala, Becky Cloonan, Scott Snyder, James Tynion IV, and More…
Pencils and Inks by Becky Cloonan, Doug Mahnke, Dan Panosian, Khary Randolph, and Eduardo Risso
Colored by Tamra Bonvillain, Luis Guerrero, Emilio Lopez, and Eduardo Risso
Cover by Yasmine Putri
Josh’s Stance: I’m not going to lie, the Dark Knights Spcial left a lot to be desired. There didn’t really seem to be a point to it, but this issue should actually be informative. I’m hoping that a sense of purpose and need will make this more enjoyable.
Batman-News Critic: Casper
Justice League #51
Special extra-size anniversary issue! It’s the final chapter of “The Rule of War”-and all the rules are broken! On the alien planet Trotha, Empress Siddinx’s plan is revealed, and it’s nothing short of world domination-with the Justice League entangled in her puppet strings. But how can the team save a population that now hates and fears them?
Written by Jeff Loveness
Pencils by Robson Rocha
Inks by Daniel Henriques
Colored by Romulo Fajardo, Jr.
Cover by Jay David Ramos and Philip Tan
Josh’s Stance: We’ve got a new creative team stepping in, and I’m actually interested. I don’t suspect this will be a long run – much like Spurrier’s, I expect it will be a fill-in run, but a fresh voice always creates some intrigue.
Batman-News Critic: Nick
MIXED
Catwoman #24
The cat’s out of the bag! Everyone at Snowflame’s auction is there for the same thing: the list. But what is the market value of a list containing all the intel the world’s greatest crime-fighters have on super-villains? And who exactly is on the list? You’ll have to ask Catwoman to find out.
Written by Sean Murphy and Blake Northcott
Pencils and Inks by Cian Tormey
Colored by FCO Plascencia
Cover by Laura Allred, Matt Hollingsworth, Joelle Jones, and Sean Murphy
Josh’s Stance: We’ve got the second part of Black Northcott’s Catwoman. I mistakenly thought this was part of the Murphyverse last month – it wasn’t… apologies – but thought the story itself was fun enough. I’m looking to see what’s in store for this chapter.
Batman-News Critic: Michael
Harley Quinn #75
At last, it’s the star-studded roast of Harley Quinn! Nothing is off-limits, no topic is out of bounds, and no one-and we mean no one!-will escape unscathed. Harley may be the funniest person in the DC Universe, but how well can she take a joke?
Plus, in a backup story illustrated by superstar artist Riley Rossmo tying into “The Joker War,” Harley Quinn faces off against Punchline!
Written by Sam Humphries
Pencils and Inks by Ngozi, Sami Basri, Emanuela Lupacchino, Joe Quinones, Riley Rossmo, and More…
Colored by Hi-Fi, Ngozi, Tamra Bonvillain, Annette Kwok, Ivan Plascencia, and More…
Cover by Guillem March and Arif Prianto
Josh’s Stance: Final issue. Well… At least for this iteration of the book. We know Harley will be back, I think the real question is which direction DC will take the title?
Batman-News Critic: Matina
“YOU DON’T HAVE TO THANK US”
Batman #97
The Joker’s army is growing hour by hour, with weapons beyond anything the Clown Prince of Crime has ever used before. Batman must hold his mind together so he can strike the final blow and take back his city-but how can he heal the rifts he’s created in his life to get the help he needs? And while all this is happening, the villains of Gotham City are waiting out the carnage Joker has unleashed-and Catwoman assembles an army of her own!
Written by James Tynion IV
Pencils and Inks by Jorge Jimenez
Colored by Tomeu Morey
Cover by Guillem March and Tomeu Morey
Josh’s Stance: I know I’m in the minority in my dislike for “Joker War,” but for me, it’s nothing but gimmicks, shock value, and poor execution. I understand that the first two attributes I listed satisfy people – and that’s cool – but I’m not one of those people and it doesn’t do it for me.
Batman-News Critic: Josh
Nightwing #73
The Joker knows Dick Grayson is Nightwing-and the plans the Clown Prince of Crime has set in motion in “The Joker War” will haunt Batman forever. Under the control of The Joker’s new henchperson, Punchline, Nightwing must battle the people he once loved most: Batgirl, the Robins, and…himself.
Written by Dan Jurgens
Pencils by Ryan Benjamin
Inks by Richard Friend
Colored by Rain Beredo
Cover by Travis Moore and Alejandro Sanchez
Josh’s Stance: Most of these tie-ins are… well… They’re a mess. I’m not looking forward to this. That being said, I hope Dan Jurgens gets to take a crack at Nightwing without all of this interference. Between the Ric Grayson bit, to “Year of the Villain” and now “Joker War,” I’m ready to just get some solid Nightwing stories… No events included.
Batman-News Critic: Michael
Teen Titans #44
In this issue, Crush, Roundhouse, Kid Flash, and Red Arrow chase down Robin, who’s on the hunt for villains he thinks must pay the ultimate price for their crimes. With Batman also on the case, can the Teen Titans get to Damian Wayne before his father does?
Written by Robbie Thompson
Pencils and Inks by Javier Fernandez
Colored by Marcelo Maiolo
Cover by Bernard Chang and Marcelo Maiolo
Josh’s Stance: I felt like Teen Titans was losing a little momentum before Adam Glass left, and then lost more when he left, and is losing even more now that the book is coming to an end. I’m also not crazy about the teased direction for Damian… So, yeah… There’s that as well.
Batman-News Critic: Matina
GRAPHIC NOVEL WATCH:
There are no Batman-related graphic novels slated for release this week.
