Welcome back to Upcoming Comics! There are a lot of penultimate issues this week (plus one that was supposed to be penultimate but ended up just being the end). Once more a reminder for the big shakeup at DC coming in a month. If nothing else, it'll offer a fresh new start for both new readers as well as those who have grown weary of the current lineup. Until then, let's look at what's out this week.
Upcoming Comics
Batman and Robin #13
Batman, Robin, and Bane must escape Dinosaur Island. But they are not alone! A dangerous presence has taken over and won’t let anyone leave the island alive! Can the father and son dynamic duo return to Gotham or will this be their last adventure together?!
- Written By: Joshua Williamson
- Penciled By: Juan E. Ferreyra
- Inks By: Juan E. Ferreyra
- Colors By: Juan E. Ferreyra
- Cover By: Simone Di Meo
Thoughts: I guess if you're going to end your run, giant dinosaurs aren't a bad way to do it.
Batman News Critic: Chris
Batman: Gotham by Gaslight - The Kryptonian Age #4
In its search for ancient relics, the League of Assassins encounters the new bearer of the jade ring of Jong Li: Alan Scott! Meanwhile, in Metropolis, passionate reporter Lois Lane sets out for Kansas to investigate the robber baron looking to buy the Daily Planet…Lex Luthor!
- Written By: Andy Diggle
- Penciled By: Leandro Fernandez
- Inks By: Leandro Fernandez
- Colors By: Dave Stewart, Matt Hollingsworth
- Cover By: Leandro Fernandez, Dave Stewart, Matt Hollingsworth
Thoughts: Using the setting as an excuse to bring back golden age heroes is a fun idea.
Batman News Critic: Chip
From the DC Vault: Death in the Family: Robin Lives! #3
Over 30 years ago, history was made when fans voted to kill the second Robin, Jason Todd. Now, DC continues the alternate story of what would have happened if he had lived…Jason Todd has escaped from the Dev Institute and is on the hunt for revenge—but when Robin finally finds the Joker, revenge transforms to tragedy…and madness! Meanwhile, Batman’s encounter with Mother Grimm and her army of lost children has the Dark Knight questioning both his past and his purpose: Is he Gotham’s savior or the city’s worst nightmare? Rescuing Jason is the only way to find the answer…and Nightwing is there to help him!
- Written By: J.M. DeMatteis
- Penciled By: Rick Leonardi
- Inks By: Rick Leonardi
- Colors By: Rico Renzi
- Cover By: Rick Leonardi, Rico Renzi
Thoughts: I trust DeMatteis, but seeing "is Batman actually worse for Gotham?" relitigated for the hundredth time has me a bit apprehensive
Batman News Critic: Chip
Batman '89 #4: Echoes
Things are heating up around Gotham as Drake struggles to cover the whole city while Dr. Crane and Dr. Quinzel’s methods begin to endanger it even more! Can Batman find his way back, or will he be lost to his fear for good?!
- Written By: Sam Hamm
- Penciled By: Joe Quinones
- Inks By: Joe Quinones
- Colors By: Leonardo Ito
- Cover By: Joe Quinones
Thoughts: I wonder if it's not breaking the premise of the series a bit to use the Batman Beyond design that came out almost a decade after the movie world this is supposed to be set in.
Batman News Critic: Akash
DC vs Vampires: World War V #2
The peace between vampires and heroes is wearing thin. Lois Lane will try and negotiate a way to maintain a truce, but with Damian’s relentless attacks on the vampire queen and her armies, the only thing that might be able to bring them together is a…Miracle.
- Written By: Matthew Rosenberg, Tyler Boss
- Penciled By: Tyler Boss, Otto Schmidt
- Inks By: Tyler Boss, Otto Schmidt
- Colors By: Pierluigi Casolino, Miquel Muerto
- Cover By: Otto Schmidt
Thoughts: Based on Akash's review from last month, this seems to be a good pick if you want something really over the top this Halloween season
Batman News Critic: Akash
Absolute Power: Task Force VII #6
Amanda Waller comes for the Amazons after they assist the heroes in their battle for survival! Will her weapon with the powers of the beloved champion of the island of Themyscira be able to unlock its secrets? Or will Queen Nubia and her sisters-in-arms send this robot straight to the Underworld?
- Written By: Stephanie Williams
- Penciled By: Khary Randolph
- Inks By: Khary Randolph
- Colors By: Alex Guimarães
- Cover By: Pete Woods
Thoughts: "And for the Amazons, we've constructed a curvy robot with hips and a snatched waist"
Batman News Critic: Aaron
Outsiders #11
REALITY ITSELF HANGS IN THE BALANCE!
It's the finale you've all been waiting for, and our heroes enter the eye of the storm! The pages of reality have become torn and frayed, but will they burn away? Luke, Kate, and Drummer must face the past, present, and future as an unexpected force threatens to erase them all!
- Written By: Collin Kelly, Jackson Lanzing
- Penciled By: Robert Carey
- Inks By: Robert Carey
- Colors By: Valentina Taddeo
- Cover By: Roger Cruz
Thoughts: Well it's finally ending. This title seems to be so forgotten that not only was it cut from 12 issues to 11, but I didn't even see it listed on Amazon (which is where I usually grab the solicit data from)
Batman News Critic: Aaron
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: From the DC Vault: Death in the Family: Robin Lives! #3- This title has been an interesting look at what could have been (even if it handles the hypothetical far differently than 1988 would)
Least Excited: Outsiders #11- Clearly I'm not alone if it wasn't even able to make it to the 12 issues it was originally solicited for.
Wild Card: Batman: Gotham by Gaslight - The Kryptonian Age #4- It's a unique enough setting that there's always fertile ground for neat ideas
Well that’s it for this week! Let us know in the comments what comics you’re looking forward to.
