On the heels of the return of Young Justice the television show, we now get the return of Young Justice the book! I’m super excited for this, and can’t wait to discuss it at the end of the week in This Week In Comics! Other than that, we have the finale of Batman: King of Fears, and the next chapter of Batman and Justice League! Also, in case you missed it, Cover Talk returned last week! So, if you didn’t vote, go do so!
Alright, on to business! This week’s releases are listed according to our anticipation scale, with titles listed in alphabetical order within each sub-header. For each title, I’ll include the official solicitation, the talent credits, a random comment (or rant), and the Batman News team member that will be reviewing each book. Following that, you’ll find notes pertaining to other DC Comics titles, as well as our Graphic Novel Watch. And finally, we want to hear from you! What titles are you picking up? Why are you excited? What do you hope will happen in the book? Etc. So, without further ado, review our Anticipation Scale, and comment away!
The Anticipation Scale
NO! – A comic I downright dread reading and if I wasn’t a reviewer, I would never buy it.
“You Don’t Have to Thank Us” – The idea of reviewing it doesn’t make me ill or angry, but it definitely sounds like it’s going to be a chore. Still, I’m reading it for you. I’m putting it at the bottom of the pile, but I’m reading it for you.
Mixed – A middle of the pile comic. It’s probably got the same chance of being dreadful as it does of being stupendous. I’m neither looking forward to it or avoiding it, whatever happens… happens.
Intrigued – I think this comic has potential to be a fantastic read. There’s some slight hesitation there, but it’s definitely going to be at the top of the pile.
TAKE MY MONEY – Everything about this issue has me excited. If I don’t get to read this book on Wednesday, I will be furious. I would pay extra just to have it in my hands right now! That’s how much I’m looking forward to it!
And as a reminder, our review scale is based on a 10-point system. A rating of “5” means the book is mediocre/average, and the more toward “10″ we go, the more awesome/worth buying it is. The more toward “1″ we go the more awful/not worth buying it is. That’s how we rate things. It’s not like most video game review scores where everything under 8 is crap, and it’s not like a school report card where everything under a 7 is failing or close-to-failing. Please keep this in mind when reading our reviews.
JANUARY 9th
TAKE MY MONEY
Batman: Kings of Fear #6
The epic finale! Batman must battle Scarecrow and his own mind to save Gotham City. If he doesn’t, Scarecrow will turn Gotham and everything else Batman believes in into a nightmarish hellscape!
Written by Scott Peterson
Pencils and Inks by Kelley Jones
Colored by Michelle Madsen
Cover by Kelley Jones and Michelle Madsen
Josh’s Stance: I’ve loved this book every step of the way, and I’m kind of sad to see it go. Peterson and Jones have crafted a classic Batman story, and it’s a shame that more people haven't talked about it throughout the course of it’s run. If you never checked it out, then you really sold yourself short.
Batman-News Critic: Casper
INTRIGUED
Justice League #15
Hawk fight! Martian Manhunter, Green Lantern and Hawkgirl clash with Shayera Hol (also a Hawkgirl) when the League trio tries to break into a secret vault deep within Thanagar Prime—and the feathers are gonna fly! Speaking of secrets, M.M. learns one about himself and Lex Luthor, as related to him by the Martian Keep, guardian of all Martian wisdom and history. Meanwhile, back at the Hall of Justice, Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman must stop Starman from going nova.
Written by Scott Snyder and James Tynion IV
Pencils by Jim Cheung and Stephen Segovia
Inks by Mark Morales and Stephen Segovia
Colored by Tomeu Morey and Wil Quintana
Cover by Jim Cheung and Tomeu Morey
Josh’s Stance: This arc started a little slow, but by the end of the previous issue all cylinders were firing! More than anything, I’m curious to see where Snyder and Tynion take the story from here. Overall though, Justice League is slowing down a bit, but it’s clear that a number of plots are being set-up, so that makes me excited. And let’s face it, even in it’s weaker moments, this run of Justice League has still been quite entertaining!
Batman-News Critic: Brian
MIXED
Batman #62
The Eisner-winning creative team behind MISTER MIRACLE is back together as artist Mitch Gerads rejoins the Bat team for a special issue! Professor Pyg is loose in Gotham, and you know that means things are going to get weird…and bloody!
Written by Tom King
Pencils, Inks, and Colors by Mitch Gerads
Cover by Mitch Gerads
Josh’s Stance: I’m excited for this, but I’m also nervous. I’ve given up hope that Tom King’s Batman run will jive with me, but I tend to favor his one-shots. Maybe teaming up with Mitch Gerads again will strike the same success as their last team-up… Or maybe King is just so far off-base with Batman that I’ll end the issue desperately wishing the next two years will pass as quickly as possible…
Batman-News Critic: Elena
“YOU DON’T HAVE TO THANK US”
Harley Quinn #57
There’s been a murder in Gotham City, and all evidence points to just one suspect: Harley Quinn! Batman hunts Harley down on Coney Island, where they come to blows…but did she actually do the crime? Meanwhile, the Trials of Harley Quinn begin! The Lords of Order and Chaos send their harbinger Mirand’r—the ghost of a young, Earth-obsessed Tamaranean—to find a champion to complete their seven trials and become the Lords’ archangel of retribution…and Harley Quinn is their new contender!
Written by Sam Humphries
Pencils and Inks by John Timms
Colored by Alex Sinclair
Cover by Guillem March and Arif Prianto
Josh’s Stance: I’m still in my, “I’m over Harley” phase… I’m not sure when it will pass, but it definitely won’t be before Wednesday…
Batman-News Critic: Casper
NO!
Nightwing #56
The Nightwings have been picking up the slack Dick Grayson left behind, making a dent in petty crime and cleaning up the streets of Blüdhaven. But as Scarecrow’s plan comes to fruition, it looks like they may have bitten off more than they can chew…putting Grayson in a position he was not prepared for. One where he may be forced to become a hero once more…
Written by Scott Lobdell and Fabian Nicieza
Pencils and Inks by Davide Gianfelice
Cover by Nick Filardi and Christopher Mooneyham
Josh’s Stance: Ugh… I guess…
Batman-News Critic: Josh
NOTES:
- Titles we’ll cover in This Week in Comics: Adventures of the Super Sons #6, Deathstroke #39, Suicide Squad: Black Files #3, and Young Justice #1.
- Additional releases from DC Comics: The Curse of the Brimstone #10, The Dreaming #5, Green Arrow #48, The Green Lantern #3, Martian Manhunter #2, The Unexpected #8, The United States vs Murder Inc #5.
GRAPHIC NOVEL WATCH:
Batman: Shaman – New Edition - In this tale from LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT #1-5, Batman returns from a case to find Alfred missing, while rumors of human sacrifice and strange, primitive rituals circulate in Gotham City. Now Batman must find the madman who’s been terrorizing the city—but the trail leads back to Wayne Manor!
Harley Quinn Rebirth – The Deluxe Edition Book 3 - The conclusion of Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti's epic run on HARLEY QUINN REBIRTH is collected here in hardcover for the first time in HARLEY QUINN: THE REBIRTH DELUXE EDITION BOOK 3!
Harley's entire cast of crazy characters comes together to celebrate the birthday of cyborg senior citizen Sy Borgman...but is there actually a bigger secret behind this gathering? And in "Harley Loves Joker" part nine, Harley's spent a fortune building out the Joker Gang's new hideout, and now they're gonna have to take drastic measures to pay the bill!
The genius creative team of Jimmy Palmiotti and Amanda Conner spearhead Harley's return in the wake of DC Universe Rebirth, featuring art from Chad Hardin and John Timms. This new hardcover edition features a backup story set, co-written by Harley Quinn's creator, Paul Dini!
Collects Harley Quinn #28-42.
Injustice: Gods Among Us Year Four – The Complete Collection - The endlessly surprising saga of superhero dystopia inspired by the hit video game continues! This action-packed graphic novel collects the entirety of the fourth year of the now-legendary Injustice: Gods Among Us saga.
When Superman and the Justice League declared themselves the ultimate authority on planet Earth, only Batman stood against them--but now Batman is defeated. His resistance army has suffered major losses and dwindled to nearly nothing. The man who always has a backup plan for his backup plans has nothing--except for one final, desperate gambit.
Written by Tom Taylor and Brian Buccellato (Detective Comics, The Flash), this graphic novel collects the fourth year of the best-selling series in its entirety for the first time. Writer Brian Buccellato and artist Bruno Redondo continue to expand the world of the hit video game in Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year Four: The Complete Collection.
Collects Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year Four #1-12 and Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year Four Annual #1!
