Welcome back to Upcoming Comics!
This week, it looks like everyone is talking about Leslie Grace’s Batgirl outfit for her HBO Max film (don’t see why it doesn’t get a theatrical release, but whatever.) For those who don’t recall, here’s the picture again!
Personally, I think it looks awesome. Obviously it may look better or worse in the actual film, where we’ll see it under various lighting conditions – but this really does feel like a homemade Batgirl outfit, both a little more realistic AND incredibly stylish. I know Babs Tarr is overjoyed to see her design on the screen, and I’m excited to see how Grace performs!
(But at some point, we really need to have a conversation about Batman in the DCEU. Or the DCEU in general, really. God, what a mess.)
Anyway, here’s what we’ve got for this week:
Upcoming Comics
Batman: The Knight #1
The origin of Batman and his never-ending fight against crime in Gotham City is modern mythology, but what of the story in between? How did an angry, damaged young man grow into the most accomplished detective and crime-fighter the world has ever known? How did the Dark Knight…begin? Superstar writer Chip Zdarsky (Daredevil) and acclaimed artist Carmine Di Giandomenico (The Flash) will take Bruce Wayne on a fraught journey, making allies and enemies, on his training to become Batman in this definitive new series!
Written by Chip Zdarsky
Pencils and Inks by Carmine Di Giandomenico
Colored by Ivan Plascencia
Cover by Manix Abrera and Carmine Di Giandomenico
Thoughts: Damn it. I always wanted to write this story if I ever got to write for Batman. Fortunately, if I trust anyone to do this story, it’d be Zdarsky – his Daredevil work has given me infinite good will for his content.
Batman News Critic: Cam
Detective Comics #1049
When Huntress elected to go undercover in Arkham Tower, it was to investigate a place of healing that seemed too good to be true. But what happens when Helena Bertinelli really does need some healing? With Nightwing and Batwoman also on the inside, what began as an undercover mission has turned into a rescue operation as the mysteries of Dr. Wear’s Arkham Tower begin to unravel! Then, in “House of Gotham” part three, the young boy rescued by Batman has begun his course of treatment at Arkham, so why are the only people showing him kindness those whom the law asserts are criminals? It’s a cycle of violence the Dark Knight has no answer for as Gotham’s most vulnerable struggle to keep their heads above water!
Written by Matthew Rosenberg and Mariko Tamaki
Pencils by Fernando Blanco and Ivan Reis
Inks by Fernando Blanco and Danny Miki
Colored by Brad Anderson and Jordie Bellaire
Cover by Irvin Rodriguez
Thoughts: I haven’t heard great things about this book, but this cover I absolutely love.
Batman News Critic: Casper
Robins #3
The Robins run face-first into a group of copycat villains decked out in high-end tech giving them the powers and battle prowess of Batman’s greatest enemies! As the former wonders face down these threats, they deduce that whoever’s behind the assault on them has hacked into the Batcomputer. As hard choices are made, the five ex-partners of Batman realize that going their separate ways and leaving the Robin mantle behind might be their only option!
Written by Tim Seeley
Pencils and Inks by Baldemar Rivas
Colored by Romulo Fajardo Jr.
Cover by Baldemar Rivas
Thoughts: The way the Robins are distinguished in this book are interesting, to say the least (looking at you, Tim’s cape). That said, another fantastic cover!
Batman News Critic: Matina
Nightwing #88
The blue stripes are back! Nightwing gets an updated suit starting this issue! Meanwhile, after the distressing events of rescuing Haley from getting dognapped by bad guys, Nightwing discovers there are way more hits on Dick Grayson than he realized, thanks to going public about his fortune, and he needs to find a clever way to be Dick Grayson and Nightwing at the same time. Meanwhile, Heartless tries to buy power away from Blockbuster in order to take control of Blüdhaven, and both of these big bads have Nightwing in their crosshairs.
Written by Tom Taylor
Pencils and Inks by Bruno Redondo
Colored by Adriano Lucas
Cover by Bruno Redondo
Thoughts: I’ll be honest: I really don’t give a crap about the blue stripes on Nightwing’s arms. I’m sure someone does, but it isn’t me – and I don’t really see why there needs to be ceremony about it. Maybe that’s just me, though… after all, I’m crazy enough to actually like Nightwing’s red stripes.
Batman News Critic: Michael
Catwoman #39
Meow, Catwoman is bored of Alleytown and has returned to Gotham City proper for bigger fish to fry and to go back to doing what she does best…stealing crime boss secrets for blackmail and looking damn sexy while doing it, of course. New ongoing series writer Tini Howard makes her DCU series debut writing the cat of the night, placing Catwoman in her first blackmail heist disguised as a stripper at Gotham’s most secure underground club! Oh, Catwoman, hiding in plain sight in five-inch platform heels at a gathering of Gotham’s crime elite while surrounded by all the beautiful women and other shiny things to look at…what could possibly go wrong?
Written by Tini Howard
Pencils and Inks by Nico Leon
Colored by Jordie Bellaire
Cover by Jeff Dekal
Thoughts: I really liked what I read of Excalibur – while Ram V’s writing was really special, Tini Howard could certainly bring something new and unique to the comic! That is, so long as the comic doesn’t completely revolve around Catwman disguised as a stripper, as the thirsty blurb for this issue suggests. Like, whoever wrote this, please calm down.
Batman News Critic: Michael
Batman vs Bigby! A Wolf In Gotham #5
The world-bending collision between Gotham City and Fabletown races toward its climax as two great detectives unite to unravel the Bookworm’s master plan and stop the bombings-but while their brains might be up to the task, the final act will require all their brawn as well!
Written by Bill Willingham
Pencils by Brian Level
Inks by Anthony Fowler Jr. and Jay Leisten
Colored by Lee Loughridge
Cover by Nathan Fairbairn and Yanick Paquette
Review will be covered in a trade release.
Beyond the Bat
Welcome to Beyond the Bat! Here you can see everything else that DC is releasing this week, beyond the scope of the books we cover on the website.
Wow, this is the biggest Beyond the Bat lineup we’ve had in ages!!! It’s kind of exciting, honestly – I think now would be a great time to jump on Aquaman: The Becoming and Black Manta, two comics that have had incredibly good reviews that will lead into Aquamen. Aquaman is perhaps the most consistently good DC character when it comes to the quality of his comics, and I hope that trend continues.
Ratings
Most Excited: Batman: The Knight #1. Seeing how Bruce Wayne progresses physically and emotionally as he begins his journey for justice is exactly the kind of untapped well that I am excited to see drawn from!
Least Excited: Detective Comics #1049. Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem like Shadow of the Bat is off to a good start, though it’s early days so far.
Wild Card: Catwoman #39. New creative team, new opportunities – could be a good jumping on point for Catwoman fans, especially with the upcoming release of The Batman.
Best wishes, and see you in the reviews!
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Author’s Twitter: @ObnoxiousFinch
