Welcome back to Upcoming Comics! There’s an extra issue of Batman in June coming out this week. It’s not going bi-weekly or anything, but I’m pretty certain they felt the need to wrap everything up before Absolute Power hits next month. I hope you’re all ready for that to take over a bunch of DC titles for a while. I know that’s everyone’s favorite. Until then, let’s see what’s all coming out this week:
Upcoming Comics
Batman #149
“DARK PRISONS – EPILOGUE” When confronted with the totality of your life, and all the choices that led you to where you are, do you build on the ashes, or rise from them? The Batman who is left standing will have to answer this question quickly, as someone is already sifting through those ashes, with an eye toward saving the world!
- Written By: Chip Zdarsky
- Penciled By: Michele Bandini
- Inks By: Michele Bandini
- Colors By: Tomeu Morey, Nick Filardi
- Cover By: Jorge Jiménez
Thoughts: Just in case you forgot that this storyline retroactively affected Batman’s entire career, here’s a bonus issue to remind you.
Batman News Critic: Jackson
Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #28
Something is destroying the fifth dimension—and if an army of evil imps can obliterate all the joy and life from an entire reality, what chance do Superman and Batman stand against it? A multitude of DC guest stars—and their fifth-dimensional counterparts—join the World’s Finest duo in a last-ditch attempt to save Earth from the ultimate darkness!
- Written By: Mark Waid
- Penciled By: Dan Mora, Travis Mercer
- Inks By: Dan Mora, Travis Mercer
- Colors By: Tamra Bonvillain
- Cover By: Dan Mora
Thoughts: Is it just me, or is the bad guy on the cover just a multi-colored Judge Doom from Who Framed Roger Rabbit?
Batman News Critic: Jackson
Nightwing #115
Part 2 of the Heartless saga continues! When things go up in flames, Dick must put his feelings aside and help Shelton, a.k.a. Heartless, find his butler. After all, a superhero’s job is to save everyone, even the very bad. But every noble sacrifice comes with a price, and Nightwing finds himself in a situation only someone as cunning as Heartless could’ve concocted.
- Written By: Tom Taylor
- Penciled By: Bruno Redondo
- Inks By: Bruno Redondo, Caio Filipe
- Colors By: Adriano Lucas
- Cover By: Bruno Redondo
Thoughts: “Hero whose butler died has to help villain find his evil butler” feels a little on the nose, but let’s see how it plays out
Batman News Critic: Aaron
Titans #12
Hell comes for Blüdhaven! With the team on the ropes and Waller to blame, Nightwing and his allies must look within for the answers to their never-ending problems. Will Raven, the demon’s daughter, lead them to salvation or to slaughter at the hands of her father, Trigon?
- Written By: Tom Taylor
- Penciled By: Lucas Meyer
- Inks By: Lucas Meyer
- Colors By: Adriano Lucas
- Cover By: Chris Samnee, Matheus Lopes
Thoughts: I know I’ve already pointed out that every other Raven story is about her dad taking over, but certainly making Waller behind everything makes it more original, right?
Batman News Critic: Andru
Catwoman #66
“Nine Lives” nears its lethal conclusion! Catwoman has escaped everything from the Suicide Squad to the clutches of death itself, but along the way, she’s made more than a few enemies—and their vengeance is rapidly approaching! Not even a tenth life could save Selina from what’s coming, but could an old friend help this cat land on her feet?
- Written By: Tini Howard
- Penciled By: Carmine Di Giandomenico, Ivan Shavrin
- Inks By: Carmine Di Giandomenico, Ivan Shavrin
- Colors By: Ivan Shavrin, Veronica Gandini
- Cover By: David Nakayama
Thoughts: Last month I joked about the ridiculous lengths that cover went to make the cheesecake art happen. I’m not sure if this is better or worse.
Batman News Critic: Will
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.
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: Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #28– This imp arc is a ton of fun
Least Excited: Catwoman #66– These “nine lives” just seem to be lasting forever
Wild Card: Nightwing #115– I’m curious to see how this final arc plays out
Well that’s it for this week! Let us know in the comments what comics you’re looking forward to.
