Upcoming Comics: July 12, 2022

Welcome back to Upcoming Comics!

Bit of a short week this week - not really sure why DC made last week so busy, and this week so barren. Works for me, as I've had a busy day today. Anyone see Thor: Love and Thunder?

Now, let's see what we have for this week!

Upcoming Comics

Batman: Urban Legends #17

A blockbuster issue! Batman teams up with the Flash, Aquaman, and Black Adam in three spectacular stories in this special issue of Batman: Urban Legends, celebrating the Dark Knight's monumental year on the silver screen! Also features a Bat-villain-centric bonus story. Brought to you by four stellar creative teams. Perfect for old fans and new readers alike!

Written by Ryan Cady, Joey Esposito, Alex Paknadel and Dan Watters
Pencils by Gleb Melnikov, Serg Acuña, Amancay Nahuelpan and Riley Rossmo
Inks by Gleb Melnikov, Serg Acuña, Amancay Nahuelpan, Riley Rossmo and Scott Hanna
Colours by Luis Guerrero, Trish Mulvihill, Alex Guimarães and Jordie Bellaire
Cover Art by Jim Cheung and Jay David Ramos

Thoughts: Boy, bet DC felt real good about this issue and cover back when they first pitched it, huh? Goes to show how far in advance comics are devised, I suppose. This would have been planned before Flash's delay was even announced.

Batman News Critic: Cam

Batgirls #8

The Batgirls break into the Iceberg Lounge in order to rescue Seer, who’s held hostage by the Saints! Nightwing and Oracle get dressed up and go undercover to help the Batgirls, while also making the mission a date night! But why would they help Seer, the very person who’s been hacking into their network and harassing them? Read here to find out!

Written by Becky Cloonan and Michael Conrad
Pencils and Inks by Jorge Corona and Robbi Rodriguez
Colours by Rico Renzi
Cover Art by Jorge Corona and Sarah Stern

Thoughts: While I love the dynamic these three have, a part of me wonders if they're not being used to their fullest potential by being contained in one book like this.

Batman News Critic: Matina

I Am Batman #11

Following the stunning conclusion of the previous issue, Jace Fox and his “task force” are upended! Taking Manray into custody could be a deadly prospect for Chubb and Whitaker…and what secrets does this mass murderer hold?

Written by John Ridley
Pencils and Inks by Christian Duce and Tom Derenick
Colours by Rex Lokus
Cover Art by Christian Duce and Rex Lokus

Thoughts: I'm out! I'm pleased/sorry to say this, but after a year and a half of following Jace's story, I will no longer be covering his content. I don't tend to give up easily, but when you're strung along across three separate titles hoping for a character's content to get better, it might be a sign to cut your losses. Jeremy's reviews are going to be fantastic - I've had a preview of what he's discussing for the latest issue, and I believe it builds on what I've said and adds new thoughts in the best possible ways. Be sure to support his work!

Batman News Critic: Jeremy

Future State: Gotham #15

“Batmen at War ” part three! There’s a new Batman in Gotham City and his name is…Dick Grayson? The only problem is, Jace Fox and Bruce Wayne still claim the name and neither is willing to give it up! Now it’s all-out war, with Jason Todd and Hunter Panic caught in the middle. Plus: Damian Wayne is back and that’s bad news for everyone!

Written by Dennis Culver
Pencils and Inks by Giannis Milonogiannis
Cover Art by Simone Di Meo

Thoughts: I was recently discussing with my coworkers if and who is reading this, and we found out that the title is quite popular! Would anyone who's reading this like to give their thoughts on the series? We don't hear much talk about it.

Batman News Critic: Jackson

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.

This week, my interest is in Superman: Son of Kal-El #15, which introduces Dreamer, a character I covered in my review of Pride 2021. I like her a lot, so hopefully this is a good intro for her in the DC comics universe! I also have some interest in Tom King's Dark Crisis Superman one-shot, though I'm a little more skeptical on that.

Gallery

Ratings

Not enough books I really am invested in this week for comprehensive ratings. Instead, I'd like to recommend you read Chainsaw Man, which I just finished and is continuing this month!!! If anyone has read it, I would LOVE to talk about it.

Best wishes, and see you in the reviews!

——————

Author’s Twitter: @ObnoxiousFinch

19 comments

Robin MB

July 11, 2022

I saw Love & Thunder. Not too bad I'd say a 6/10
Not too much for me this week but I am few weeks behind

Papa Grande ( formerly deevo)
July 11, 2022
Marvel's seriously showing some cracks in its once unquestionable armor. They aren't really focused in my opinion, and a lot of it seems like a distraction. A lot of the Disney Plus stuff ISN'T IT. Moon Knight was a HUGE dissapointment for this OG MK fan ( no Frenchie, no Marlene, too much comedie and departures from the source material). Strange 2 seemed like a rushed mess. Eternals was a bloated fart of nothing. Shang-Chi was ok but by the numbers. Some may say that the initial movies were like that, but really the quality has gone down, they seem more complacent or cocky in what they are doing. It s like they are treading water until they figure out what to do with the X-Men and FF ( They ought to lean heavily into Mark Millar's Ultimate stuff with the XM being a government program).
1. Scion Drake
  July 12, 2022
  In some fairness to Moon Knight, Layla is intended to be Marlene.
  Like uh yeah granted its a very changed character. Shame about Frenchie though, hopefully he appears in season 2. And I really hope we get a street level narrative instead of more God stuff.
  1. Kaingerc
    July 12, 2022
    I haven't read much Moon Knight before the 2000s but from my understanding Marlene wasn't that deep of a character and mostly used as a damsel in distress.
    they gave Layla pretty much the same backstory as Marlene (her dad was killed by Marc's partner in the mission where Marc became Moon Knight) only they gave her a little more depth and made her Egyptian.
    My only real problem with her story in the show is that the whole powers thing felt very tacked on at the end and felt kinda disconnected from the plot and themes. (like they wanted to say: "Here's another female ethnic super-hero, buy her toy!)
    if they REALLY want to tell an interesting story they might have wanted to adapt the story where 'Jake' had a daughter with her without the rest of the personalities finding out about it until later.
    1. Scion Drake
      July 12, 2022
      Yeah Layla's superhero identity is simply just to have an Egyptian superhero for the sake of it. As a result she clashes hard with Moon Knight because she lacks the many interesting traits that makes him compelling, leaving Layla as a generic superhero that clashes with MK's style
  2. Papa Grande ( formerly deevo)
    July 21, 2022
    I actually heard that they went out of their way to remove Marlene from the story. I understand the need for representation, but fans have seen Marlene at MK's side for DECADES and they could have easily named Layla Marlene to split the difference. Screw the cutesy poo talking hippos and floopy Grant performances. Marvel let down MK fans. The ones who actually kept the character relevant by supporting him in the books.
2. Kaingerc
  July 12, 2022
  They ought to lean heavily into Mark Millar's Ultimate stuff with the XM being a government program
  no, just no.
  We really don't need more of Millar's version of the Bleak Marvel universe.
  honestly, I'm fine with them not doing anything with the X-Men for a few years in the movies. (it's too much too soon)
  Though bringing in the FF is great idea (even if it's not Krasinski as Richards) with them possibly doing more cosmic stuff to shake up the formula a little.
  It really is feeling like the problem is too many of their movies\shows feel the same and not really offering anything new. (Just because DC screwed up with the Green Lantern movie, doesn't mean a Nova movie\show can't work)
  1. Papa Grande ( formerly deevo)
    July 12, 2022
    Lol. Hear me out! I agree Millar was too bleak. And they have to take their time to get this right. So far they are one for one in terms of taking franchises from Sony or Fox and making them better. But I think they could totally lighten things up if they adapt that particular team. I like the roster of Iceman Cyclops Beast Jean Grey storm and Colossus with Wolverine. It was pretty tight. Marvel would certainly find ways to keep it less dark.
Seb
July 12, 2022
Haven't seen it (and likely won't in theaters, unless my buddy drags me along) but I've glanced over an online webcam version of it (I already knew the entire story anyway, as I couldn't care less about this movie/spoilers.... For no other reason than I HATED the Mighty Thor run & I still have no clue why they were so stupid as to adapt it. God of Thunder/Gorr the God Butcher run was pretty cool though, but as far as I've seen/read, they kinda dropped the ball & rushed that storyline anyway) & I wasn't impressed.
I guess I'm in the minority, but I've always found Taika's films & ability to be vastly overrated... the moment he announced "female Thor" I just knew this guy had no real clue about what audiences want. Just more evidence of the growing disconnect between normal people and "woke" Hollywood. Female Thor has always been such a ridiculuusly stupid idea... "Thor" is not a title, it's a name. Jane has also done NOTHING to earn Mjolnir (the same was true in the comics) & the fact that they made her out to be more powerful & competent than Thor, whilst making Thor unworthy, ON TOP of pretending like Jane Thor was strong enough to basically match Odin (not to mention, all the cringe & forced feminist dialogue about the "patriarchy" or whatever)... just uughhh... no words can describe how idiotic that storyline was.
From what I've seen, the movie doesn't crap on Thor or really make him out to be "incompetent" compared to Jane, which is a great thing. Still, it doesn't change how stupid a "Jane" Thor really is & how she shouldn't have any business knowing how to fight. At least when Cap wielded Mjolnir, we understood that he had years of combat experience & was TRULY worthy. Jane had none of that.
Anyway... Regardless of the stupid comic storyline, and getting back to Taika... I always thought Ragnarok was very overrated too. Sure, it's "fun", or decent, but kinda shallow on repeat viewings. Thor 1 had so much more depth & meaning, which is ironic because it wasn't "beloved" at the time. Even his other movies like Hunt for the Wilder people, although starting out pretty good, just turned out to be "meh" in the end. I couldn't even finish Jojo Rabbit. Found it to be incredibly boring. He's also nowhere near as funny as he thinks he is.
When it comes to Love & Thunder, it seems like it's the GOTG2 of the Thor franchise... as in doubling down on the "humor" & silliness, but to the point that it's detrimental to the plot & characters. They're seriously making Thor out to be a complete buffoon.
Infinity War was peak Thor. Since then, it's been going downhill... Taika needs to freaking GO for part 5. I hope they bring back a competent writer who doesn't merely have the emotional & writing depth of a toddler... I hope it's someone who brings back some seriousness & gravity to Thor & stops treating him like a literal joke.

Papa Grande ( formerly deevo)

July 11, 2022

I respect your positive opinion on King on Superman. His last work with Supes was actually ok ( I think the fact it ignored Bendis' horrific run was a plus). That said, my problems with King give me a lot of pause. Tom King seems to work best when he is reigned in by his editors ( i.e. Mark Doyle in the early Rebirth issues). When he wants to show how fundamentally cool an established character is, it can work-but I think he often fumbles trying to be like Alan Moore and focussing on deconstructing these characters, wearing them down, taking the wonder out of them, making them from sympathetic to almost just pathetic, making poeple wonder if he actually likes some of these characters or if he only likes what he can do TO these characters ( i.e. his unspeakable take on Wally West or his ridiculous approach to Guy Gardner, turning him into an uncharacteristically unhinged strawman version of what some would deem toxic masculinity and then horrifically murdering him). He doesn't always stick the landing. Honestly, I am worried he'll turn the issue into some piece of self-indulgent protest writing, thumbing his nose at the many fans who IMO rightfully did not agree with the shlock unneccesary aging up of Jon Kent.

Fingers crossed I guess. I maintain that aging up Jon Kent was a terrible terrible decision.

Papa Grande ( formerly deevo)
July 11, 2022
Agreed. Imagine if they denied us of Damien Wayne in this manner. The many years we would have lost with this breakout character. You know I was actually full steam into King's Batman until after the War of Jokes and Riddles...some exciting times at DC.
Papa Grande ( formerly deevo)
July 13, 2022
Yeah, apparently my fears were confirmed. All of them. Poor characterization of Superman as some kind of compromising, unheroic character for Jon to criticise. It's like they were TRYING to shove something back to readers who hated the aging up with the intention of trying to make thier bonehead decision to age up Jon seem reasonable ( which it never will be comparing the years of solid storytelling we got with Damien). I look at DC comics over the last 2 years and it is unrecognizable. From main writers to editorial and above, I have never seen such glaring wilful mismanagement of these iconic characters. Someone PLEASE save DC Comics.

Papa Grande ( formerly deevo)

July 11, 2022

Not a fan of Future State AT ALL, but damn that cover is gorgeous. I'd love this artist on Flash.

Scion Drake

July 12, 2022

Huh FS Gotham is popular? Cool.

I'm curious how so exactly? I don't hear about it much, is it like sales or something?

Nicholas Finch
July 14, 2022
Yeah, the sales are surprisingly high!
1. Scion Drake
  July 14, 2022
  Huh did not know that. Thats impressive.

Avishek

July 12, 2022

Just got done with all 11 volumes of Chainsaw Man! While still very shounenish - a lot of heart, and some amazing action in it! And love how they develop the concept of Devils with the Old and New Gods.

Nicholas Finch
July 13, 2022
Yes absolutely! One of my favourite things to do is speculate on what other devils there are out there (and what ones would be the most powerful/scariest based on the rules the mangaka set)
Avishek
July 15, 2022
There are devils in the world which are based on concepts and are born in hell before making their way into our world (for ex, the gun devil is very strong cause the world wants to have guns and so on) - one kid becomes one with a dying devil and then the story starts from there as to the 'police' who want to kill the devils and the devils who are attacking people - and the main character is a bit of both. Somewhat like Tokyo Ghoul if you have seen that.

Robin MB
July 11, 2022
I saw Love & Thunder. Not too bad I'd say a 6/10
Not too much for me this week but I am few weeks behind
1. Papa Grande ( formerly deevo)
  July 11, 2022
  Marvel's seriously showing some cracks in its once unquestionable armor. They aren't really focused in my opinion, and a lot of it seems like a distraction. A lot of the Disney Plus stuff ISN'T IT. Moon Knight was a HUGE dissapointment for this OG MK fan ( no Frenchie, no Marlene, too much comedie and departures from the source material). Strange 2 seemed like a rushed mess. Eternals was a bloated fart of nothing. Shang-Chi was ok but by the numbers. Some may say that the initial movies were like that, but really the quality has gone down, they seem more complacent or cocky in what they are doing. It s like they are treading water until they figure out what to do with the X-Men and FF ( They ought to lean heavily into Mark Millar's Ultimate stuff with the XM being a government program).
  1. Scion Drake
    July 12, 2022
    In some fairness to Moon Knight, Layla is intended to be Marlene.
    Like uh yeah granted its a very changed character. Shame about Frenchie though, hopefully he appears in season 2. And I really hope we get a street level narrative instead of more God stuff.
    1. Kaingerc
      July 12, 2022
      I haven't read much Moon Knight before the 2000s but from my understanding Marlene wasn't that deep of a character and mostly used as a damsel in distress.
      they gave Layla pretty much the same backstory as Marlene (her dad was killed by Marc's partner in the mission where Marc became Moon Knight) only they gave her a little more depth and made her Egyptian.
      My only real problem with her story in the show is that the whole powers thing felt very tacked on at the end and felt kinda disconnected from the plot and themes. (like they wanted to say: "Here's another female ethnic super-hero, buy her toy!)
      if they REALLY want to tell an interesting story they might have wanted to adapt the story where 'Jake' had a daughter with her without the rest of the personalities finding out about it until later.
      1. Scion Drake
        July 12, 2022
        Yeah Layla's superhero identity is simply just to have an Egyptian superhero for the sake of it. As a result she clashes hard with Moon Knight because she lacks the many interesting traits that makes him compelling, leaving Layla as a generic superhero that clashes with MK's style
    2. Papa Grande ( formerly deevo)
      July 21, 2022
      I actually heard that they went out of their way to remove Marlene from the story. I understand the need for representation, but fans have seen Marlene at MK's side for DECADES and they could have easily named Layla Marlene to split the difference. Screw the cutesy poo talking hippos and floopy Grant performances. Marvel let down MK fans. The ones who actually kept the character relevant by supporting him in the books.
  2. Kaingerc
    July 12, 2022
    They ought to lean heavily into Mark Millar's Ultimate stuff with the XM being a government program
    no, just no.
    We really don't need more of Millar's version of the Bleak Marvel universe.
    honestly, I'm fine with them not doing anything with the X-Men for a few years in the movies. (it's too much too soon)
    Though bringing in the FF is great idea (even if it's not Krasinski as Richards) with them possibly doing more cosmic stuff to shake up the formula a little.
    It really is feeling like the problem is too many of their movies\shows feel the same and not really offering anything new. (Just because DC screwed up with the Green Lantern movie, doesn't mean a Nova movie\show can't work)
    1. Papa Grande ( formerly deevo)
      July 12, 2022
      Lol. Hear me out! I agree Millar was too bleak. And they have to take their time to get this right. So far they are one for one in terms of taking franchises from Sony or Fox and making them better. But I think they could totally lighten things up if they adapt that particular team. I like the roster of Iceman Cyclops Beast Jean Grey storm and Colossus with Wolverine. It was pretty tight. Marvel would certainly find ways to keep it less dark.
2. Seb
  July 12, 2022
  Haven't seen it (and likely won't in theaters, unless my buddy drags me along) but I've glanced over an online webcam version of it (I already knew the entire story anyway, as I couldn't care less about this movie/spoilers.... For no other reason than I HATED the Mighty Thor run & I still have no clue why they were so stupid as to adapt it. God of Thunder/Gorr the God Butcher run was pretty cool though, but as far as I've seen/read, they kinda dropped the ball & rushed that storyline anyway) & I wasn't impressed.
  I guess I'm in the minority, but I've always found Taika's films & ability to be vastly overrated... the moment he announced "female Thor" I just knew this guy had no real clue about what audiences want. Just more evidence of the growing disconnect between normal people and "woke" Hollywood. Female Thor has always been such a ridiculuusly stupid idea... "Thor" is not a title, it's a name. Jane has also done NOTHING to earn Mjolnir (the same was true in the comics) & the fact that they made her out to be more powerful & competent than Thor, whilst making Thor unworthy, ON TOP of pretending like Jane Thor was strong enough to basically match Odin (not to mention, all the cringe & forced feminist dialogue about the "patriarchy" or whatever)... just uughhh... no words can describe how idiotic that storyline was.
  From what I've seen, the movie doesn't crap on Thor or really make him out to be "incompetent" compared to Jane, which is a great thing. Still, it doesn't change how stupid a "Jane" Thor really is & how she shouldn't have any business knowing how to fight. At least when Cap wielded Mjolnir, we understood that he had years of combat experience & was TRULY worthy. Jane had none of that.
  Anyway... Regardless of the stupid comic storyline, and getting back to Taika... I always thought Ragnarok was very overrated too. Sure, it's "fun", or decent, but kinda shallow on repeat viewings. Thor 1 had so much more depth & meaning, which is ironic because it wasn't "beloved" at the time. Even his other movies like Hunt for the Wilder people, although starting out pretty good, just turned out to be "meh" in the end. I couldn't even finish Jojo Rabbit. Found it to be incredibly boring. He's also nowhere near as funny as he thinks he is.
  When it comes to Love & Thunder, it seems like it's the GOTG2 of the Thor franchise... as in doubling down on the "humor" & silliness, but to the point that it's detrimental to the plot & characters. They're seriously making Thor out to be a complete buffoon.
  Infinity War was peak Thor. Since then, it's been going downhill... Taika needs to freaking GO for part 5. I hope they bring back a competent writer who doesn't merely have the emotional & writing depth of a toddler... I hope it's someone who brings back some seriousness & gravity to Thor & stops treating him like a literal joke.
Papa Grande ( formerly deevo)
July 11, 2022
I respect your positive opinion on King on Superman. His last work with Supes was actually ok ( I think the fact it ignored Bendis' horrific run was a plus). That said, my problems with King give me a lot of pause. Tom King seems to work best when he is reigned in by his editors ( i.e. Mark Doyle in the early Rebirth issues). When he wants to show how fundamentally cool an established character is, it can work-but I think he often fumbles trying to be like Alan Moore and focussing on deconstructing these characters, wearing them down, taking the wonder out of them, making them from sympathetic to almost just pathetic, making poeple wonder if he actually likes some of these characters or if he only likes what he can do TO these characters ( i.e. his unspeakable take on Wally West or his ridiculous approach to Guy Gardner, turning him into an uncharacteristically unhinged strawman version of what some would deem toxic masculinity and then horrifically murdering him). He doesn't always stick the landing. Honestly, I am worried he'll turn the issue into some piece of self-indulgent protest writing, thumbing his nose at the many fans who IMO rightfully did not agree with the shlock unneccesary aging up of Jon Kent.
Fingers crossed I guess. I maintain that aging up Jon Kent was a terrible terrible decision.
1. Papa Grande ( formerly deevo)
  July 11, 2022
  Agreed. Imagine if they denied us of Damien Wayne in this manner. The many years we would have lost with this breakout character. You know I was actually full steam into King's Batman until after the War of Jokes and Riddles...some exciting times at DC.
2. Papa Grande ( formerly deevo)
  July 13, 2022
  Yeah, apparently my fears were confirmed. All of them. Poor characterization of Superman as some kind of compromising, unheroic character for Jon to criticise. It's like they were TRYING to shove something back to readers who hated the aging up with the intention of trying to make thier bonehead decision to age up Jon seem reasonable ( which it never will be comparing the years of solid storytelling we got with Damien). I look at DC comics over the last 2 years and it is unrecognizable. From main writers to editorial and above, I have never seen such glaring wilful mismanagement of these iconic characters. Someone PLEASE save DC Comics.
Papa Grande ( formerly deevo)
July 11, 2022
Not a fan of Future State AT ALL, but damn that cover is gorgeous. I'd love this artist on Flash.
Scion Drake
July 12, 2022
Huh FS Gotham is popular? Cool.
I'm curious how so exactly? I don't hear about it much, is it like sales or something?
1. Nicholas Finch
  July 14, 2022
  Yeah, the sales are surprisingly high!
  1. Scion Drake
    July 14, 2022
    Huh did not know that. Thats impressive.
Avishek
July 12, 2022
Just got done with all 11 volumes of Chainsaw Man! While still very shounenish - a lot of heart, and some amazing action in it! And love how they develop the concept of Devils with the Old and New Gods.
1. Nicholas Finch
  July 13, 2022
  Yes absolutely! One of my favourite things to do is speculate on what other devils there are out there (and what ones would be the most powerful/scariest based on the rules the mangaka set)
2. Avishek
  July 15, 2022
  There are devils in the world which are based on concepts and are born in hell before making their way into our world (for ex, the gun devil is very strong cause the world wants to have guns and so on) - one kid becomes one with a dying devil and then the story starts from there as to the 'police' who want to kill the devils and the devils who are attacking people - and the main character is a bit of both. Somewhat like Tokyo Ghoul if you have seen that.

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