Thanksgiving is this Thursday for those of us here in the states! That means many of us are out of school or will have a long weekend, which allows for plenty of time to read some comics! It might even allow time for some of you who have considered joining our review team to actually apply! That’s right, we’re looking for some new team members! If you’re interested in joining us, you can find out how by clicking here.
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.
NOVEMBER 24th
TAKE MY MONEY
Detective Comics #1031
Damian Wayne has made his move against a familiar threat from Bruce Wayne’s past-so why has the former Boy Wonder targeted none other than Tommy Elliot-a.k.a. Hush? It may have something to do with the Black Casebook that Bruce liberated from The Joker’s territory in the monumental Detective Comics #1027…but how far will Damian go to avenge this grudge from his father’s past?
Written by Peter J. Tomasi
Pencils and Inks by Bilquis Evely and Jorge Jimenez
Colored by Mat Lopes
Cover by Jorge Jimenez and Alejandro Sanchez
Josh’s Stance: I love the way Tomasi write Bruce and Damian, so I’m super excited to get my hands on this issue! I can’t say I love the direction that DC seems to be taking Damian, but I’d rather see Tomasi handle this above anyone else.
Batman News Critic: Casper
INTRIGUED
Batman: White Knight Presents: Harley Quinn #2
Gotham City’s elusive serial killer, the Starlet, and her mysterious benefactor reach the pinnacle of their power, terrorizing the city and teasing the GCPD with strange clues and a famous new victim. Harley goes rogue and hunts down a shocking major lead in the case, but her ruthless style backfires and she puts herself at the mercy of Commissioner Montoya for a shot at redemption. When FBI Agent Hector Quimby becomes an ally in a crucial moment, he and Harley forge a partnership that will soon take them down a familiar and ominous road.
Written by Katana Collins
Pencils and Inks by Matteo Scalera
Colored by Dave Stewart
Cover by Matt Hollingsworth and Sean Murphy
Josh’s Stance: So… We dropped the ball on this last month. All of our schedules have been pretty crazy, and we didn’t realize that we hadn’t slated anyone to cover this mini. Anyway, one of my favorite aspects of the White Knight universe is Harley, so I’m excited to continue reading this story. (And yes, in case you’re wondering, we’ll be posting a review for both issues Tuesday.)
Batman News Critic: Josh
Batman Beyond #49
To safely return to his own timeline, Batman Beyond will have to defeat the villain Blanque without being seen by his mentor, the World’s Greatest Detective-Batman! Will Booster Gold help keep Batman Beyond hidden, or will time as we know it become completely undone? You do not want to miss this issue!
Written by Dan Jurgens
Pencils by Paul Pelletier
Inks by Norm Rapmund
Colored by Chris Sotomayor
Cover by Dan Mora
Josh’s Stance: Last month’s issue was pretty solid across the board. There’s definitely some potential here, so if Jurgens actually goes the direction I think he’s going, then this should be one hell of a story.
Batman News Critic: Michael
Red Hood & the Outlaws #51
A new era begins for the Red Hood! With his Outlaw days behind him, Jason Todd returns home to Gotham City. While he plots what’s next for Red Hood, he tracks down a childhood friend now living in the Hill. As Gotham City reels from the effects of “The Joker War,” Jason finds himself caught in the crossfire between vigilante protectors of the historic neighborhood and a rising criminal element intent on seizing power!
Written by Shawn Martinbrough
Pencils and Inks by Tony Akins
Colored by Paul Mounts
Cover by Dan Mora
Josh’s Stance: It appears as though DC is finally going to lay into the antihero aspect of Jason and really embrace his roots in Gotham to the point that he will actually operate out of Gotham. I’m stoked for this, so Red Hood will definitely be on my pull list this week!
Batman News Critic: Matina
Suicide Squad #11
FINAL ISSUE
The explosive final issue is here! Task Force X has been through hell and back. Now they’re the last thing standing between a human bomb and an island full of innocents. Which means that even if they win the day, there’s nowhere to run when the Justice League arrives to clean house!
Written by Tom Taylor
Pencils and Inks by Bruno Redondo
Colored by Adriano Lucas
Cover by Adriano Lucas and Bruno Redondo
Josh’s Stance: Final issue… I’m sad to see this come to an end, but I’m happy that we got it. Tom Taylor has already said that this isn’t the last that we’ll see of The Revolutionaries, so I can’t wait to see where they pop up again.
Batman News Critic: Josh
“YOU DON’T HAVE TO THANK US”
Batman/ Superman #14
NEW VILLAIN ALERT: THE COMPOSITE BATMAN/SUPERMAN!
Enter the Composite Batman/Superman! The Dark Knight and the Man of Steel are trapped inside the Brainiac protocol’s deadly moon base, and this psychotic A.I. will not stop until it has merged with the beings it believes are its creators! And merging is exactly what our heroes are doing, as the deadly new fusion of the World’s Finest duo emerges to wreak havoc in the name of Brainiac! Can Steel and Batwoman turn the tide and save their friends?
Written by Joshua Williamson
Pencils and Inks by Max Raynor
Colored by Alejandro Sanchez
Cover by David Marquez and Alejandro Sanchez
Josh’s Stance: The biggest turn off for this book is the fact that to try and stir the speculation market, the solicitation has, in all caps, “NEW VILLAIN ALERT.” Yeah… That’s guaranteed to make me think, “This books has no substance and the publisher is desperate to try and sell some issues.”
Batman News Critic: Casper
Dark Nights: Death Metal: The Multiverse Who Laughs #1
The DC Multiverse is a collection of alternate-reality worlds where anything is possible. Each world tells the tale of a possible split in reality, or shows how lives vary depending on a single, solitary decision. But now that the Multiverse has been destroyed, the Batman Who Laughs has used his god like power to create a new Dark Multiverse…a collection of 52 evil worlds, each more terrifying than the last. This one-shot offers the curious-and the brave-a glimpse into the nightmare realities that the Batman Who Laughs has created in tales by creators who know what it means to have a truly twisted sense of misfit humor. An Arkham Asylum even more terrifying than what we know? A world of evil Super Pets? All that and more in these new tales of the Multiverse Who Laughs!
Written by Saladin Ahmed, Amanda Conner, Patton Oswalt, Jimmy Palmiotti, Scott Snyder, and More…
Pencils and Inks by Scot Eaton, Juan Gedeon, Sanford Greene, Chad Hardin, Tom Mandrake, and more. Colored by Hi-Fi, Enrica Eren Angiolini, David Baron, Sian Mandrake, and Mike Spicer
Cover by Chris Burnham and Nathan Fairbairn
Josh’s Stance: I could seriously do without this book… Like… Isn’t the point of the Dark Multiverse books to cover exactly what this is doing?
Batman News Critic: Matina
GRAPHIC NOVEL WATCH
Detective Comics #1027 Deluxe Edition – Celebrate one thousand issues since the World’s Greatest Detective’s debut in this hardcover deluxe edition of oversized anniversary issue Detective Comics #1027! An all-star lineup of creators pay tribute to the many facets of Batman’s crime-fighting legacy, including Brian Michael Bendis and David Marquez reuniting for a Bat-Family mystery, Greg Rucka and Eduardo Risso visiting Gotham Central, the Eisner Award-winning duo of Matt Fraction and Chip Zdarsky providing their take on Batman versus The Joker, the Batman, Incorporated team of Grant Morrison and Chris Burnham back together for an all-new story examining the urban legend of the Dark Knight, and much more!
