Welcome back to Upcoming Comics!
So Black Adam was a bit shit, hey?
I mean, I’m sure there are a few people who adored it, but… I mean, from an editing perspective alone, right? It’s such a mess of a movie. The Rock has zero charisma as Teth-Adam, with the range of a toy bow and arrow throughout the entire film. The Justice Society has potential, but it’s nowhere near realized, seeing as the team isn’t the focus of the film – and no effort is made to tell us what makes these heroes distinct from their more popular Marvel counterparts. We as fans know Doctor Fate is cool as hell, but I find people comparing him to Doctor Strange, because that’s all the film gives us. It’s a shame! That’s not even beginning to mention how inaccurate Black Adam is to the comi–
Okay, this isn’t a review. I’m sure plenty of people liked it, just… not for me, I suppose. Ah, well. Fortunately, we do have something I’m very excited about coming out this week! Let’s see what we’ve got:
Upcoming Comics
The Riddler: Year One #1
Actor and writer Paul Dano understands the Riddler’s every motivation… As depicted in Matt Reeves’s hit movie The Batman, the Riddler wasn’t simply an amusing eccentric with an affinity for wordplay and baffling clues, but as terrifying a villain as any in the annals of the Dark Knight. Here you can see Edward Nashton evolve into the menace known as the Riddler. How did an unknown forensic accountant uncover the dark secrets of Gotham’s underworld and come so close to bringing down the entire city? This six-issue miniseries is an immediate prequel to The Batman-the detailed, disturbing, and at times shocking story of a man with nothing to lose. Artist Stevan Subic makes his American comics debut, collaborating with Dano to deliver a shadowy and gritty tale of a society’s forgotten man who refuses to go unnoticed any longer. Subic’s recent Conan the Cimmerian for French publisher Glénat has brought him great acclaim in Europe, and he’s about to break out globally with a Batman series unlike any you’ve seen before.
Written by Paul Dano
Art by Stevan Subic
Cover Art by Bill Sienkiewicz
Thoughts: This book I’m REALLY excited about. I had the pleasure of seeing Paul Dano at NYCC – more on that soon – and he was able to offer some insight into what goes on in Riddler’s head. It’s going to be exciting seeing an actor who lived in the character for so long putting their perspective onto the page!
Batman News Critic: Myself!
Detective Comics #1065
The Orgham family has dramatically arrived after traumatic events at the docks in Gotham, and they are ready to reclaim the land that belongs under their name…an English surname you may better know as Arkham. As Bruce Wayne and the young Orgham prince Arzen discuss how they both want to change Gotham for the better, it seems Batman and the Orghams might have different ways to go about doing so…
Written by Ram V and Simon Spurrier
Pencils and Inks by Rafael Albuquerque
Colours by Dave Stewart
Cover Art by Evan Cagle
Thoughts: Talking to Ram V – both in interviews and at NYCC – gave me a good idea in my head of how this book will be structured, and I’m excited to see it play out as we near the climax of the first arc.
Batman News Critic: Matina
Tim Drake: Robin #2
To catch a criminal mastermind, Tim will have to…steal a diamond? Oh no, what’s gotten into you, Tim? It’s Tim Drake like you’ve never seen him! Plus: a murder most foul at the library, the Gotham Marina is in danger, and Bernard isn’t answering Tim’s calls!
Written by Meghan Fitzmartin
Pencils and Inks by Riley Rossmo
Colours Lee Loughridge
Cover Art by Ricardo López Ortiz
Batman News Critic: Jeremy
Harley Quinn #23
Y’know, bein’ dead is just like ridin’ a bike. There’s a big white light, and then Prince shows up and offers you a chance to host a house party in the clouds with Marilyn Monroe and Abraham Lincoln. Then suddenly you’re brought back to life in a pit of goopy green snot, and you have to find the person who was rude enough to shoot and kill you. To make things even better…turns out that comin’ back to life could have some serious unintended consequences!
Written by Stephanie Phillips
Pencils and Inks by Matteo Lolli
Colours by Rain Beredo
Batman News Critic: Theresa
Punchline: The Gotham Game #1
THE NEW QUEEN OF CRIME! Punchline is out of jail and back on the streets of Gotham City. She’s not coming back for some of what Gotham has to offer, she’s coming back for all of it. She wants to be the queen of crime, and with the help of her Royal Flush Gang no one will stand in her way. But Punchline created a lot of angry enemies in Gotham before she was incarcerated, and they all want payback. Presenting a miniseries that will redefine the criminal landscape of Gotham City from the superstar creative team of Tini Howard (Catwoman, Knights of X), Blake Howard (Batman: Urban Legends), and Gleb Melnikov (Robin, Wonder Woman)!
Written by Tini Howard and Blake Howard
Pencils and Inks by Gleb Melnikov
Colours by Luis Guerrero
Thoughts: Okay, genuine question: how many people here, and I am legitimately asking – how many people here actually like Punchline? No judgment, I’m genuinely curious as to the appeal, aside from the inherent enjoyment of a weird manic pixie clown woman.
Batman News Critic: Aaron
Catwoman: Lonely City #4
All of the sacrifice-all of the broken bodies and shattered relationships-was leading up to this: Selina Kyle standing in front of the Batcave, desperate to know the secrets inside it, secrets once thought to have died with Batman. But you should never open doors you can’t close-especially if opening them requires opening the gates of Hell and setting all of Gotham ablaze!
By Cliff Chiang
Thoughts: This has been one of the most consistent artistic endeavours in the world of Gotham in recent history, so it’s really pleasing to see it still going strong.
Batman News Critic: Jackson
Batman: Fortress #6
Having finally located the Fortress of Solitude, Batman and his hastily assembled allies quickly discover that it is as deadly as it is awe-inspiring. With an alien force holding the world hostage while the heroes hunt for Superman, can the Dark Knight find a weapon to repel the invaders? Or will his ragtag team succumb to dysfunction and betrayal before they can save the world?
Written by Gary Whitta
Pencils and Inks by Darick Robertson
Colours by Diego Rodriguez
Batman News Critic: William
Batman: Gotham Knights – Gilded City #1
A mysterious virus has infected Gotham City-turning its victims into rabid, yellow-irised maniacs driven to looting, theft, and bursts of anger. Batman and his Gotham Knights struggle to keep this strange virus contained while investigating its origins. But this is not the first time this unusual illness has overtaken the city. Take a trip to Gotham in the mid-1800s and meet the city’s first masked vigilante-the mysterious hero known only as the Runaway-as they, too, find themselves mired in the mystery of this infection! This thrilling and horrific tale, split between modern-day Gotham and the Gotham of 1847, leads directly into the upcoming video game Gotham Knights!
Written by Evan Narcisse
Pencils and Inks by ABEL
Cover Art by Greg Capullo, Jonathan Glapion and Dave McCaig
Thoughts: Alright, so full disclosure: not a fan of what I’ve seen of Gotham Knights, and I don’t plan on playing it. Cam, however, is a fan, so he’ll be able to treat this book with the respect it probably deserves! After all, just because a game looks so-so doesn’t mean its comic adaptation has to be bad.
Batman News Critic: Cam
Batman: The Audio Adventures #2
Batman comes face-to-face with the ninjas who have been tearing through the Gotham underworld. As the Dark Knight stares down the menacing assailants, he learns more about their mission as well as the name of the one they serve: the Demon’s Head, Ra’s al Ghul. Meanwhile, something prowls the sewers of Gotham City, a being whose mind has been warped by The Joker’s dark purple dawn!
Written by Dennis McNicholas
Pencils by Anthony Marques
Inks by J. Bone
Colours by Dave Stewart
Cover Art by Dave Johnson
Thoughts: This is only tangentially related, but we currently have two Batman podcasts going on right now: The Audio Adventures and Batman Unburied. Out of the two, which do you guys prefer?
Batman News Critic: Aaron
Batman: Beyond the White Knight #6
After years of rivalry, it’s the showdown you’ve been waiting for…Jason Todd versus Dick Grayson! Who’s the best Robin? Find out this issue! Plus, with the help of an unexpected new ally, Bruce Wayne aims to take Derek Powers down for good. But will the malevolent millionaire’s newfound powers prove to be too much for the former Batman?
Written by Sean Gordon Murphy
Pencils and Inks by Sean Gordon Murphy
Colours by Dave Stewart
Batman News Critic: Theresa
DC vs. Vampires #10
The war for Earth takes a decisive turn as the heroes prepare to strike back! Can Supergirl and her team in Australia escape to space? Will the Birds of Prey’s infiltration of Gotham City go unnoticed by the Vampire King? Can Green Arrow save the human cattle from the Blood Farm? The shocking answers await!
Written by James Tynion and Matthew Rosenberg
Pencils, Inks and Colours by Otto Schmidt
Cover by Otto Schmidt and Guillem March
Thoughts: Woo, Australia!
Batman News Critic: Aaron
DC: Mech #4
PICKING UP THE PIECES! Darkseid’s forces defeated the Justice Squadron and killed someone near and dear to them. The heroes will have to fix their mechs and their team morale in order to get back in the fight. But Superman is hiding in a town called Smallville, living with a family called the Kents while trying to fix his mech. He’s in grave danger, as the people of Smallville don’t take kindly to mechs or aliens…
Written by Kenny Porter
Pencils and Inks by Baldemar Rivas
Colours by Mike Spicer
Batman News Critic: Cam
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.
Ratings
Most Excited: Riddler: Year One #1. Without going into it for now, I’m not going to be reviewing as many books going forward, so it’s nice to be winding down with an actual quality book, as opposed to Dark Crisis and Flashpoint Beyond.
Least Excited: Batman: Fortress #6. I dunno, currently just not grabbing me at the moment.
Wild Card: Tim Drake: Robin #2. I don’t want to talk much about this comic (for obvious reasons), but it’s still in its early days, so I’m personally of the opinion it can go either way as it continues.
Best wishes, and see you in the reviews!
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Author’s Twitter: @ObnoxiousFinch
