Welcome back to Upcoming Comics! This is actually the first time I’m writing one of these where I’m also reviewing some of the books (in fact I’m reviewing three of them). It’s good timing too, because I just finished Baldur’s Gate, which had been taking up all of my free time. It’s a fun game, but I’m sort of surprised that so many other people are talking about it. I mean it came out over 20 years ago, and I know those old 2D RPGs can be difficult for some people to get into.
What’s that? There’s a new one? Well. Sorry to let you all know that you might not be getting all your reviews for the next month or so.
Upcoming Comics
Detective Comics #1074
An Azmer demon is tethered to Batman! Now it’s up to Bruce’s inner demons to save him from this very real one…but what about the Barbatos entity that’s been lurking beside them? Is it the real Barbatos or simply a figment of Batman’s internal struggles, and more importantly…whose side is it on?
- Written By: Ram V, Dan Watters
- Penciled and Inked By: Dustin Nguyen, Hayden Sherman
- Colors By: Triona Farrell, John Kalisz
- Cover By: Evan Cagle
Thoughts: I’m excited to be taking over for Matina on this series, and I hope I can give you the same quality of reviews that she did
Batman News Critic: Jackson
The Penguin #2
Oswald Cobblepot is preparing to take back the Gotham underworld at the behest of the U.S. government, but to wage this war, he’s going to need some ruthless soldiers. For starters…the Help, the merciless assassin Penguin first encountered in the epic Batman: Killing Time. But can the Penguin free the Help from a prison of his own making? Whoever wins, everyone dies. The tough-as-nails series continues!
- Written By: Tom King
- Penciled and Inked By: Rafael de Latorre
- Colors By: Marcelo Maiolo
- Cover By: David Marquez, Brad Anderson
Thoughts: This series had a great opening, though I’m not sure if King is overplaying how threatening Penguin is to the rest of Gotham. I’m curious to see how the rest of it plays out
Batman News Critic: William
Batman: The Brave and the Bold #5
The shocking finale to the horrific, groundbreaking first encounter between Batman and The Joker will leave you gasping for breath. The origin of the greatest duel in the history of comics is finally told! Stormwatch is on the trail of an old god who’s been slumming his way across Europe, leaving a mess of jilted lovers and bloody bodies in his wake. The god is protecting a powerful weapon that the team needs to defeat one of their greatest adversaries-a weapon he’s sworn to protect with his life! Emilia Harcourt is back from the dead thanks to…Amanda Waller?! A shocking tale that will have huge ramifications for the Dawn of DC by Rob Williams and Stefano Landini! Ed Brisson and Jorge Fornés bring an epic story to the pages of Batman Black & White!
- Written By: Tom King, Ed Brisson, Rob Williams
- Penciled and Inked By: Mitch Gerads, Jeff Spokes, Jorge Fornés, Stefano Landini
- Colors By: Mitch Gerads, Jeff Spokes, Antonio Fabela
- Cover By: Simone Di Meo
Thoughts: I might as well say it here since I’m tired of bringing it up in the reviews, but once again the solicit is wrong. This isn’t the finale to King’s Joker story. That comes next month.
Batman News Critic: Jackson
Batman Beyond: Neo-Gothic #3
In the darkness beyond, a looming threat waits. Behold: the Court of Owls! But who do they seek and why? After escaping the wrath of Killer Croc, Batman comes face-to-beak with the most terrifying Court to ever exist. But in order to get the answers he seeks, he must be willing to make the ultimate sacrifice. Can Batman act against his mission to protect? All this, and the truth behind the magic is revealed.
- Written By: Collin Kelly, Jackson Lanzing
- Penciled and Inked By: Max Dunbar
- Colors By: Sebastian Cheng
- Cover By: Max Dunbar, Sebastian Cheng
Thoughts: I’m still really impressed with just how big of a villain the Court of Owls became since their debut in 2011. It’s rare that you see new characters cement themselves among established ones in comics. I don’t think we’ve seen something comparable in the bat books since.
Batman News Critic: Jackson
Batman/Catwoman: The Gotham War #1: Red Hood
The Gotham War has fractured the Bat-Family in dramatic ways-none more intensely than with Jason Todd. This stunning event will forever alter the destiny of the man who wears the Red Hood!
- Written By: Matthew Rosenberg
- Penciled and Inked By: Nikola Cizmesija
- Colors By: Rex Lokus
- Cover By: Carmine Di Giandomenico
Thoughts: It’s interesting that they’re featuring Jason so prominently in this event. On the one hand I guess it makes sense, but on the other it only highlights that the whole premise is incredibly similar to Under the Red Hood, except more nonsensical.
Batman News Critic: Jeremy
Harley Quinn #32
Ahoy! I’ve returned from Knight Terrors fresh-faced and well rested-Oh jeez! Looks like my new friend/interdimensional monarch who’s totally still threatening to murder my world at the drop of a hat Lady Quark is back, and she’s bearing gifts pulled straight from the deep recesses of Knight Terrors! But I got a class to teach and finals to prepare them for! Looks like we’re taking this show…on the road! Ahhh, thee children o’ da night, what terrible music they make. Sam Maggs and Kelley Jones tell the true story of the time I got proposed to by a nasty old perv in a castle. Don’t worry, me and Ives are gonna give ’im what for!
- Written By: Tini Howard, Sam Maggs
- Penciled and Inked By: Sweeney Boo, Kelley Jones
- Colors By: Sweeney Boo, Jose Villarrubia
- Cover By: Sweeney Boo
Thoughts: The solicit for this issue reads like incomprehensible rambling, which based on Theresa’s reviews sounds about right for the book
Batman News Critic: Theresa (Trade Wait)
Beyond the Bat
Welcome to Beyond the Bat, where we take a quick look at the rest of DC’s comics coming out this week. There sure are a lot this week (way to immediately contradict me just after I talked last week about how everything is Batman) including a number of new series starting up.
Graphic Novel Watch
Sometimes you need more than floppies. Sometimes you want something that can sit nicely on your shelf that proudly displays your favorite stories. That’s when you turn to graphic novels. Let’s see what bat collections are coming out this week:
Ratings
Most Excited: The Penguin #2– This title shows a lot of promise and can hopefully live up to King’s better series
Least Excited: Batman/Catwoman: The Gotham War #1: Red Hood– I’ve made my feelings about Gotham War very clear, and I’ve yet to see anything that would change my mind
Wild Card: Detective Comics #1074– V’s Detective Comics run has definitely been polarizing. There’s a lot of interesting ideas and characters, but the pacing has been all over the place and it can be difficult to stay invested at times.
Well that’s it for this week! Let us know in the comments what comics you’re looking forward to.
