Welcome back to Upcoming Comics! I've been in a really good comics mood lately because I'm just about finished up with my reading list for a big project that I'll hopefully get written up soon. I won't give too much away except that it involves some of my favorite Batman comics of all time and I have so many notes ready to go that I'll probably end up needing to break it up into multiple parts. My goal is to get it all ready by next month, but no promises. That being said, let's take a look at what current comics are coming out:
Upcoming Comics
Batman/Superman: World's Finest #25
Join Batman and Superman as the World’s Finest team celebrates 25 issues of World’s Finest! This oversized special issue takes our heroes around the DCU and beyond—with a special lead story that will at last showcase the first meeting between The Joker and Lex Luthor. The World’s Finest villains form an unholy alliance and will send chills down the spines of the DCU Heroes forevermore! PLUS: Spinning out of the events of the World’s Finest Annual, Doom-Mite strikes and points the way to the next World’s Finest epic!
- Written By: Mark Waid
- Penciled By: Dan Mora, Steve Pugh
- Inks By: Dan Mora, Steve Pugh
- Colors By: Adriano Lucas, Tamra Bonvillain
- Cover By: Dan Mora
Thoughts: With Casper gone, it's fallen upon me to review World's Finest. I always say how it's my favorite ongoing right now, so it should be a good time!
Batman News Critic: Jackson
Batman '89 #2: Echoes
With Batman missing, Alfred turns to Drake Winston and Barbara Gordon in hopes of finding him. Meanwhile, something is brewing in Arkham Asylum with Dr. Jonathan Crane and Dr. Harleen Quinzel duking it out over the new celebrity patient who was just admitted!
- Written By: Sam Hamm
- Penciled By: Joe Quinones
- Inks By: Joe Quinones, Stacey Lee
- Colors By: Leonardo Ito
- Cover By: Joe Quinones
Thoughts: Looking forward to Akash's first review for the site! And can I just say that I love the Burton-esque Harley suit on the cover?
Batman News Critic: Akash
Justice League vs. Godzilla vs. Kong #6
The bestselling clash between the DCU and the Monsterverse continues as a mysterious beacon is activated and is drawing Godzilla and his titan brethren toward it…but who—or what—controls the beacon? What secret has Lex Luthor kept under wraps that could change the dynamic of the entire battle?!
- Written By: Brian Buccellato
- Penciled By: Christian Duce, Tom Derenick
- Inks By: Christian Duce, Tom Derenick
- Colors By: Luis Guerrero
- Cover By: Romulo Fajardo, Drew Edward Johnson
Thoughts: Usually I get tired of comics that are just one, never-ending battle, but if there's any where that's appropriate it's probably this one.
Batman News Critic: Chip
Nightwing #112
Nightwing continues to struggle with his recent woe—why can’t he leap, and what’s causing it? And Batman continues his investigation into it; is he any closer to figuring out the root of this new dilemma before there are some serious consequences?
- Written By: Tom Taylor, Michael Conrad
- Penciled By: Sami Basri, Francesco Francavilla
- Inks By: Sami Basri, Francesco Francavilla, Vicente Cifuentes
- Colors By: Francesco Francavilla, Adriano Lucas
- Cover By: Bruno Redondo
Thoughts: "What if Dick Grayson got vertigo" is maybe an interesting enough premise for a single issue. I cannot fathom why they thought it would be a good idea to drag it out this long.
Batman News Critic: Aaron
Titans #9
Amanda Waller has condemned the Titans and publicly blamed them for a world-wide crisis. While many still see the Titans as heroes, others now see them as a danger to all. Can the Titans battle misinformation and fight for a world that hates them? All while the greatest threat to the team may be within their own ranks?
- 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 they say don't judge a book by its cover, but losing Mora leaves an unfortunately very noticeable drop. Other than that, I suppose it's just one more entry in the Waller mega-saga.
Batman News Critic: Andru
Catwoman #63
“NINE LIVES” PART FIVE!
Selina’s international tour of death and rebirth continues. Her latest crime? Going deep beneath the sea to rescue a film director turned brainwashed political prisoner from a bunch of undersea ne’er-do-wells. The only problem is the director doesn’t want to leave his new home, and he’s harboring a secret that’ll make him lethal to Selina if anyone finds out he’s been taken...including the director himself. To make it through the mission with any of her nine lives intact, Catwoman will have to trick her quarry into thinking nothing out of the ordinary is happening. But will her acting skills stand up to the director’s standards?!
- Written By: Tini Howard
- Penciled By: Carmine Di Giandomenico
- Inks By: Carmine Di Giandomenico
- Colors By: Veronica Gandini
- Cover By: David Nakayama
Thoughts: Selina undercover usually makes for a fun adventure, so hopefully this returns to the quality Will was raving about at the beginning of the arc.
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. Most importantly, the monkey one.
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 #25- This title is almost always a highlight of the month, so here's hoping the special villain issue lives up to expectations!
Least Excited: Catwoman #63- I can hope that Catwoman can be good under Tini Howard, but that doesn't mean I expect it.
Wild Card: Batman '89 #2: Echoes- These sorts of movie-universe adaptations can either capture the magic of their inspirations or fall flat in the attempt. I love the Burton aesthetic, so hopefully it works here.
Well that’s it for this week! Let us know in the comments what comics you’re looking forward to.
