Welcome back to Upcoming Comics! With the “All In” relaunch in October, everything at DC is feeling weird. There’s a feeling that we’re just waiting for everything to be ready so the shiny new titles can start rolling in. The sales numbers reflect that. I really hope the new initiative is a success, both for the health of the company and for the stories. Anyway, let’s see what happens this week.
Upcoming Comics
Detective Comics No. 1088
Chaos versus order. Good versus evil. The Dark Knight versus… everything. The end is near and nothing can prepare you for what awaits you in the penultimate chapter of Ram V’s gothic opera.
- Written by: Ram V, Dan Watters
- Drawn in pencil by: Guillem March, Javier Fernandez, Christopher Mitten
- Inks from: Guillem March, Javier Fernandez, Christopher Mitten
- Colors from: Luis Guerrero
- Cover by: Evan Cagle
Thoughts: This series has done a lot of groundwork, and now we’re in the home stretch to see how (hopefully) it all comes together
Batman News Critic: Jackson
Batman: Dark Ages #5
Ra’s al Ghul is after Gotham! When Bruce’s former mentor becomes his greatest enemy, he is forced to recruit some of the most unlikely allies there is… the Rogues Gallery! Will their team be enough to save this city on the brink of destruction?
- Written by: Mark Russell
- Drawn in pencil by: Mike Allred
- Inks from: Mike Allred
- Colors from: Laura Allred
- Cover by: Mike Allred, Laura Allred, Frank Miller
Thoughts: As the series has progressed, it has slowly taken on the form you would expect from a Batman comic. I can’t decide if that’s a good thing or a bad thing.
Batman News Critic: Akash
Batman: The Bold and the Brave #16
In the final chapter of Tim Seeley and Kelley Jones’ terrifying collaboration, Nightwing and Deadman face off against the sinister Accidents! Lois Lane finds herself in the middle of a deadly conspiracy! And Question desperately searches for answers to the strange villain threatening her life!
- Written by: Tim Seeley, Jay Faerber, Alex Segura, Stephanie Williams
- Drawn in pencil by: Kelley Jones, PJ Holden, Andy MacDonald, Asiah Fulmore
- Inks from: Kelley Jones, PJ Holden, Andy MacDonald, Asiah Fulmore
- Colors from: Michelle Madsen, Patricio Angel, Marissa Louise, John Kalisz
- Cover by: Simone DiMeo
Thoughts: More crime novels are always good.
Batman News Critic: Akash
Absolute Power: Origins #2
Amanda Waller has suffered immeasurable losses…and with them her humanity. After forging her own path into Washington politics, she now begins a new phase of her career: TASK FORCE X. Witness the rise of one of the deadliest teams to ever roam the DC Universe and a shocking revelation that will make history in the second installment of Absolute Power: Origins. Presented by John Ridley and Alitha Martinez!
- Written by: John Ridley
- Drawn in pencil by: Alitha Martinez
- Inks from: Norm Rapmund
- Colors from: Andrew Dalhouse
- Cover by: Irvin Rodriguez, Pasquale Ferrara, Edwin Galmon
Thoughts: The motivation they came up with for Waller in the first issue really didn’t make any sense. I think that’s a pretty damning problem for this series because that seems to be its main purpose.
Batman News Critic: Chris
Absolute Power: Task Force VII #5
Barry Allen is the only speedster who still has his powers. He is barely a step ahead of the Flash-Amazo VELOCITY, who is now powered by the speed of the rest of the Flash family. While Barry must keep moving to avoid being captured, he also acts as a one-man communications network for the remaining free heroes. Can Barry continue to aid the resistance or has Flash’s time run out?
- Written by: Alex Paknadel
- Drawn in pencil by: Peter Woods
- Inks from: Peter Woods
- Colors from: Peter Woods
- Cover by: Peter Woods
Thoughts: Run as fast as you can, Barry, because you can’t outrun the mandatory event tie-in.
Batman News Critic: Aaron
Gotham City Sirens #4
YOU CAN’T KEEP A BAD GIRL! CATWOMAN, POISON IVY AND HARLEY QUINN REUNITE FOR A WEEKLY ADVENTURE! When a violent and highly illegal energy drink-sponsored hunt threatens the lives of Gotham City’s wildlife and residents, the only ones who can save the day are criminal trio Catwoman, Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn. Together for the first time in years. Sometimes the only way to fight evil is with worse! Featuring guest appearances from White Rabbit and Punchline, as well as the himbo-cowboy henchman sensation soon to take the nation by storm as The Nasty Boys! Get out your chaps, spurs and hats, because it’s hunting season! By the end of the story, you’ll be covered in guts, gunk and dirt! Featuring the talents of Leah Williams, Matteo Lolli, Daniel Hillyard and more! If you’re not chanting “Hot tubs and headshots and hotties, oh my!” by the end of this four-week series, you’re doing it wrong!
- Written by: Leah Williams
- Drawn in pencil by: Daniel Hillyard, Ro Stein, Matteo Lolli
- Inks from: Daniel Hillyard, Matteo Lolli, Ted Brandt
- Colors from: Triona Farrell, Marissa Louise
- Cover by: Terry Dodson, Rachel Dodson
Thoughts: Well, this Mini turned out to be a whole lot of nothing.
Batman News Critic: Jack
Batman: Alien #5
In a galaxy far, far away, the villainous Blakksun Mining Company rules with an iron fist, murdering or enslaving all who stand in their way. But they’ve never had to face the brutal, relentless fists of justice – and Batman is coming to break this monstrous monopoly!
- Written by: Jason Aaron
- Drawn in pencil by: Doug Mahnke
- Inks from: Jaime Mendoza
- Colors from: David Baron
- Cover by: Doug Mahnke, David Baron, Jaime Mendoza
Thoughts: Oh wow, this is still going? The last issue was, what, 4 months ago?
Batman News Critic: To be announced
Beyond the Bat
Welcome to Beyond the Bat, where we take a quick look at the rest of the DC comics coming out this week.
Graphic Novel Clock
Sometimes you need more than floppy disks. Sometimes you want something that will sit nicely on the shelf and proudly display your favorite stories. That’s when you turn to graphic novels. Let’s take a look at what bat collections are coming out this week:
Reviews
Most excited: Detective Comics No. 1088– It’s time to put the cards on the table and see how the story ends.
Least excited: Gotham City Sirens #4– Not only is it a bad show, I also fear that this will hurt the Sirens’ chances of a successful revival later on.
Wildcard: Batman: The Bold and the Brave #16– There are definitely some interesting team-ups here.
That’s it for this week! Let us know in the comments which comics you’re looking forward to.
COMMENTS
