Covid has me running circles at my day job since a number of employees are quarantined and we’re in our peak season, so I’m keeping this short and sweet this week. There won’t be any commentary on the titles this week, but I will drop them into the anticipation scale.
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.
DECEMBER 8th
TAKE MY MONEY
Detective Comics #1032
Father vs. son round two! Batman and Damian Wayne are once again butting heads after Bruce uncovers the missing Black Casebook pages in the clutches of his estranged son. But when the notorious Hush captures the entire Bat-Family, the Dark Knight and the former Boy Wonder must put aside their differences to help Nightwing, Batgirl, Signal, Orphan, Red Hood, and Batwoman survive!
Written by Peter J. Tomasi
Pencils by Brad Walker
Inks by Andrew Hennessy
Colored by Dave McCaig
Cover by Brad Anderson, Andrew Hennessy, Kenneth Rocafort, and Brad Walker
Batman News Critic: Casper
INTRIGUED
Batman: Black & White #1
The iconic anthology series returns with a brand-new slate of comics’ most exciting and innovative storytellers to explore the Batman mythos in stark black-and-white!
In this debut issue:
- James Tynion IV and Tradd Moore explore the world of Ra’s al Ghul and the League of Assassins
- J.H. Williams III returns to DC Comics for a trip through the Dark Knight’s history
- Emma Rios explores the eternal struggle of the Dark Knight
- Paul Dini and Andy Kubert pit Batman against an infestation of ninja Man-Bats in the Batcave
- G. Willow Wilson and Greg Smallwood portray Batman in his strangest standoff ever with Killer Croc
With a lineup this strong and a cover by legendary Batman artist Greg Capullo, you won’t want to miss the start of this tremendous collection of Batman tales by some of comics’ top creators!
Written by Paul Dini, Emma Rios, James Tynion IV, J.H. Williams III, G. Willow Wilson
Pencils and Inks by Max Fiumara, Andy Kubert, Tradd Moore, Emma Rios, Greg Smallwood, and More…
Colored by Hi-Fi
Cover by Greg Capullo and Jonathan Glapion
Batman News Critic: Josh
Dark Nights: Death Metal: The Last Stories of the DC Universe #1
The last battle against the Batman Who Laughs is at hand…the final fight for everything in the universe. And while the night is usually darkest just before the dawn, what would be the last thing you’d do if you weren’t sure the dawn would ever arrive? Join our heroes in their waning hours as we show their journeys through what could be their final moments…heroes that have fought a million times before, but are keenly aware this could be their endgame. These are the stolen moments detailing the last stories of the DC Universe.
Written by Cecil Castellucci, Jeff Lemire, Christopher Sebela, Gail Simone, Scott Snyder, and More…
Pencils and Inks by Rafael Albuquerque, Mirka Andolfo, Meghan Hetrick, Francis Manapul, Christopher Mooneyham and More…
Colored by Enrica Eren Angiolini, Tamra Bonvillain, Andrew Dalhouse, Marissa Louise, Adriano Lucas, and More…
Cover by Dee Cunniffe and Tula Lotay
Batman News Critic: Casper
MIXED
The Flash # 767
“Endless Winter” chapter two! As the world’s heroes rush to stop the freezing conditions running rampant across the globe, the Fastest Man Alive speeds directly into Black Adam. With the planet losing hope, the Flash and Kahndaq’s ruler must find a way to work together, while a story from Black Adam’s past reveals his connection to the threat that now returns to end the world with freezing ice and fearsome frost.
Written by Andy Lanning and Ron Marz
Pencils and Inks by Clayton Henry and Marco Santucci
Colored by Marcelo Maiolo and Arif Prianto
Cover by Clayton Henry and Marcelo Maiolo
Batman News Critic: Matina & Nick
Superman: Endless Winter Special #1
“Endless Winter” chapter three! Superman finds himself at the center of an epic battle as the Frost King’s hordes of ice monsters come to life. Is this frozen onslaught too much for the Man of Steel, or can he stop it before it rampages across the chilling wasteland the world is becoming and reaches civilization? The answer to this question comes from an unlikely source close to Clark Kent’s earthly roots!
Written by Andy Lanning and Ron Marz
Pencils by Phil Hester and Marco Santucci
Inks Ande Parks and Marco Santucci
Colored by Hi-Fi and Arif Prianto
Cover by Francis Manapul
Batman News Critic: Matina & Nick
Tales from the Dark Multiverse: Flashpoint #1
Spinning out of the events of a world where a single choice by the Flash affected the entire DC Universe, find out what would have happened if Barry Allen had not put things right. In a world where the Flashpoint reality was never undone, where Thomas Wayne still haunts Gotham City as the Batman, and the Amazonian and Atlantean armies still prepare for war, will the Reverse-Flash embrace this darker, deadlier world and finally eclipse Barry Allen’s legacy?
Written by Bryan Hitch
Pencils byy Bryan Hitch
Inks by Andrew Currie and Scott Hanna
Colored by Alex Sinclair and Jeremiah Skipper
Cover by David Marquez and Alex Sinclair
Batman News Critic: Nick
GRAPHIC NOVEL WATCH
ArkhaManiacs – Art Baltazar and Franco-the Eisner Award-winning creative team behind Superman of Smallville and Tiny Titans-provide their signature take on a certain apartment building (Arkham) in Gotham City and the people (mostly) who live there!
Young Bruce Wayne is drawn to the fun and excitement he sees going on at Arkham, but to Wayne Enterprises, it’s just another property they own. Bruce is determined to find out why Arkham is full of so much fun and laughter. What exactly is going on over there? Time to sneak over when no one is looking…even though it’s like the house is laughing at him! Ha ha ha!
Batman: City of Bane: The Complete Collection – The bestselling “City of Bane” epic is collected in one volume, bringing writer Tom King’s Batman saga to a bloody and brutal end!
Bane’s minions have taken control of Gotham City and are ruling with an iron fist, and Batman is nowhere to be found. Instead, the Flashpoint Batman-Thomas Wayne, Bruce Wayne’s father from an alternate timeline-is patrolling the city, dispensing a violent brand of justice. It all builds to a rebellion among the bad guys who don’t want to play along with Bane! But as the Dark Knight Detective returns, is he ready to take on the foe who broke him worse than any other that came before? Batman and his allies have a choice: let Bane stay in power and guarantee the city’s survival, or risk everything to break free! Collects Batman #75-85.
DC Through the 80’s: The End of Eras Vol. 1 – The ’80‘s were a truly rad time for comic books. DC was killing it with groundbreaking titles like Man of Steel, Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, and Watchmen. This collection, curated by writer and former DC publisher Paul Levitz, celebrates the pre-Crisis on Infinite Earths era of the early 1980s with memorable adventures including Alan Moore and Curt Swan’s poignant “Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?,” both Batman and Superman teaming with their Golden Age equivalents in separate stories, Wonder Woman and Steve Trevor versus gremlins, and more. Collects Action Comics #583, Detective Comics #500, The Flash #296-298, Jonah Hex #54-55, Superman #423, House of Mystery #286, #290, #294-295, #300, #308, #321, Warlord #42, Wonder Woman #311-312, The Brave and the Bold #200, Weird War Tales #93, Time Warp #2 and #3, G.I. Combat #288, Blackhawk #258, DC Comics Presents Annual #1, Super Friends #36, and Sgt. Rock #345, #347, #368, and #387. Also includes new essays on this amazing era from such comics luminaries as Jack C. Harris, Elliot S! Maggin, J.M. DeMatteis, Andy Kubert, and more, and features the complete text of Alan Moore’s legendary, never-before-published Twilight proposal!
Justice League: Vengeance is Thine – The next chapter for comics’ premier super-team begins! An unexpected arrival from the stars brings a dire warning to the Justice League: a new breed of conquerors is on the march. Led by Superman’s nemesis the Eradicator, a genetically engineered, super-powered strike team has come to subjugate Earth. To aid the Justice League, Batman makes the unprecedented decision to enlist an ancient, unrivaled power, which calls into question who, exactly, is in charge. With the League on unsure footing, will they be ready to save the world? Collects Justice League #40-47 and Justice League Annual #2
