DETECTIVE COMICS #30 Review

Detective Comics #30 courtesy DC Comics
Detective Comics #30 courtesy DC Comics

A strong start for the new creative team on the book that launched Batman.
Detective Comics #30 is the first issue by Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato.
It opens with a mother and daughter – outsiders in Gotham City. I was invested in Elena and Annie’s story and characters. Elena’s manipulation of Bruce Wayne into helping her rebuild a crime-ridden waterfront area of Gotham shows she’s smart and resourceful.  In many ways she is a mirror version of Bruce. Continue reading DETECTIVE COMICS #30 Review

GOTHAM Casts Riddler

The Joker's Asylum: The Riddler cover courtesy DC Comics
The Joker’s Asylum: The Riddler cover courtesy DC Comics

The riddle answered!

 

The upcoming Batman-themed series Gotham will include the genius Edward Nygma who will become the Riddler.

 

Warner Brothers and DC Comics announced Cory Michael Smith has been cast as Nygma – described as a “brilliant young forensic scientist working for the Gotham PD with a penchant for speaking in… rather cryptic language. Inquisitive, eccentric and outgoing — yet socially awkward — he wants to be liked, but he doesn’t quite know how.” Continue reading GOTHAM Casts Riddler

Top Comic Book Picks for April 2, 2014

Action Comics #30 courtesy DC Comics
Action Comics #30 courtesy DC Comics

Action Comics #30 Superman Doomed begins here! In the aftermath of Forever Evil – Superman is the villain, Lex Luthor is the hero? As if Clark didn’t have it bad enough – Doomsday is coming! Who’s bringing the Kryptonian monster to Earth?

 

Detective Comics #30 Batman and Harvey Bullock in a race to find a killer, the 52 debut of two obscure Bat-villains and more as a brand new team takes on the book the launched the Dark Knight. Continue reading Top Comic Book Picks for April 2, 2014

BRIAN BUCCELLATO On BATMAN 75th and DETECTIVE COMICS at ECCC

Detective Comics #30 courtesy DC Comics
Detective Comics #30 courtesy DC Comics

A new era, new arc and new creative team for the comic book that launched the career of the Dark Knight.

 

Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato of The Flash have moved to Gotham City to take over Detective Comics. The team’s first arc kicks off this Wednesday in Detective Comics #30.

 

Buccellato was among the top talent DC brought to Emerald City Comicon in Seattle this weekend to reveal plans for Batman’s 75 Anniversary year.

 

In a one-on-one with Buccellato I ask the creator what fans can expect when Detective Comics #30 (his first issue with Manapul) hits this week.

 

Watch here and see more details below:

 

 

“Expect for somebody to die and for Bruce and Batman – they’re the same person – to be not very happy about that and want to solve that crime.”

 

Who is the Squid?

 

“He’s actually a very obscure villain. Francis was looking…I think he googled worst Batman villains ever or most obscure – I don’t remember it but it’s one that he stumbled upon that we’re reinventing for The New 52. ”

 

With a title like Detective Comics – they will obviously focus on Bruce Wayne – the ultimate detective in the DC Universe but how will their book stand out?

 

“Yeah it’s definitely gonna have a procedural aspect to it. I think it’s gonna also be a little more pulpy and grounded in the sort of story…it’s not gonna be as Michael Bay as the other Bat titles. And I don’t mean that to say – (Batman/Michael Bay explainer.)

 

How does it feel to takeover the iconic title that launched the Dark Knight in a milestone year?

 

“The stuff the all the other Bat writers and Scott (Snyder) I mean there’s so much good material out there. It’s a bit of a challenge to try and find out niche and out way into the world but I think we have a unique perspective and the way we’re telling out story separates us a little bit. You know we’re not gonna outdo the giants all from Frank Miller all the way down to  the current team. We’re just gonna try to make it our own and not put the pressure to be something that we’re not. We’re Francis and Brian. We’re bringing what we do to Detective.

 

For Batman’s 75th Annniversary – I asked Buccellato his favorite Batman story that still influences him.

 

“I’m gonna give you the boring answer but Year One – you know Mazzachelli and Miller that’s it’s right there. It’s hard for me Hush is great and The Long Halloween but Batman Year One.

 

 

Detective Comics #32 courtesy DC Comics
Detective Comics #32 courtesy DC Comics

In the DC The New 52 panel at Emerald City Comicon Buccellato said about the first arc:

Batman and Harvey Bullock are racing to solve a crime that’s personal to both of them. Along with the obscure Squid, the writer said he and Manapul are using another old villain named Sumo and a new biker gang their bringing to Gotham City.

 

Detective Comics #30 – Icarus part 1 arrives Wednesday.

 

By Editor

BATMAN 75th Ask the Writers at ECCC

Batman Eternal courtesy DC Comics
Batman Eternal courtesy DC Comics

One major highlight from the DC Comics Eternal Batman panel was the publisher’s top talent revealing their favorite moments in the Dark Knight’s history.

 

Scott Snyder, James Tynion, Tim Seeley, Ray Fawkes and artist Dustin Nguyen will launch Batman Eternal in April.

 

Here’s what the team behind the new weekly series say are their favorite moments:

 

Tim Seeley: Batman giving Superman a pep talk in JLA #41 threatening to “hound him through the afterlife” if Clark didn’t win. Continue reading BATMAN 75th Ask the Writers at ECCC

BEN MCKENZIE As Jim Gordon in GOTHAM First Look

Ben McKenzie as Jim Gordon in GOTHAM courtesy Warner Brothers Entertainment
Ben McKenzie as Jim Gordon in GOTHAM courtesy Warner Brothers Entertainment

How a rookie detective became Gotham City’s top cop and ally of Batman – that’s the premise of a new Fox series Gotham.

 

Warner Brothers and DC Comics shared a first look at Ben McKenzie as James Gordon. The actor shared it via Twitter.

 

McKenzie co-stars with Donal Logue as his partner/mentor Harvey Bullock on the Gotham City Police Force. Continue reading BEN MCKENZIE As Jim Gordon in GOTHAM First Look