Welcome back to Upcoming Comics!
Holy cow. This may be the first week in my Upcoming Comics career where the site isn’t reviewing over half of DC’s releases!!! Have we finally broken the curse? Is DC capable of releasing things other than Batman once again?
Eh. Probably not – this is just an “annual” week. But still, it’s nice to have a little hope!
Now, here’s what we’ve got for this week:
Upcoming Comics
Justice Society of America #1
The JSA returns in this monthly series by writer Geoff Johns and artist Mikel Janín with “Justice Society of America: The New Golden Age Part One”! The world’s first and greatest superheroes return! Or do they? A long-lost hero from the JSA crashes into our era with a grave warning… but it’s too late. A mysterious and malevolent enemy has invaded the entire history of the JSA, and an all-new team must come together to defeat it. But what deadly secret does this messenger from beyond keep? Where are they from? And why is all of this happening now? Only the Time Masters know…
Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Mikel Janin
Thoughts: Not related to the book – which I don’t plan giving the time of day – but I’ve spoken to Mikel Janin once on Facebook. Cool guy!
Batman News Critic: Casper
Detective Comics 2022 Annual #1
As a werewolf, Gael has lived through many generations, and so he has visited Gotham land before…hundreds of years ago. Take a trip back to the 1700s Renaissance Gotham with Gael on Arkham land to help remember with him exactly where he buried something important he now has to dig back up. And in a twist of fate, a dark knight in town also seems to be looking for something from out of time…his way back home to the present.
Written by Ram V
Pencils and Inks by Christopher Mitten
Cover Art by Evan Cagle
Thoughts: Oh what the hell, this looks AWESOME. Love the obvious harkening back to Morrison’s story.
Batman News Critic: Matina
Nightwing 2022 Annual #1
Who is Heartless? Find out who the villain is behind the platinum mask, and why he only collects the hearts of some victims and not others…and why he has no heart himself. Then: Bitewing: Year One! Follow Haley in her first year with her humans Nightwing and Batgirl and see how she takes a bite out of crime in her first year becoming Bitewing!
Written by Tom Taylor, Jay Kristoff and C.S. Pacat
Pencils by Eduardo Pansica and Inaki Miranda
Inks by Julio Ferreira and Inaki Miranda
Colours by Adriano Lucas
Cover Art by Eduardo Pansica, Julio Ferreira and Adriano Lucas
Thoughts: Making a short story about the dog is a cheap way of getting my interest. I’m in.
Batman News Critic: Michael
Batgirls 2022 Annual #1
It’s a freaky Friday when the Batgirls wake up inside each other’s bodies! That can’t be possible, right? It’s only stuff you see in the movies? Except Oracle has seen this happen before and the only person who may have the antidote to swap their bodies back…is Batman! And to make matters worse, Lady Shiva is here confronting her daughter about something…and it’s up to Steph to put on her best Cass to get through it!
Written by Becky Cloonan and Michael Conrad
Pencils and Inks by Robbi Rodriguez
Colours by Rico Renzi
Thoughts: Oh, just like Freaky– damn it, the solicitation already did it.
Batman News Critic: Matina
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. Grifter Got Run Over By A Reindeer sounds pretty funny, to be honest.
Ratings
Most Excited: Detective Comics 2022 Annual #1 – Do I even need to explain this one?
Least Excited: Justice Society of America #1 – I had much harsher words for this before I edited myself. I’m not interested, Johns.
Wild Card: I guess Batgirls? We’re not working with much here. Nice for me, because I’m still on vacation.
Best wishes, and see you in the reviews!
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Author’s Twitter: @ObnoxiousFinch
