Avenging Spider-Man #12 Spidey and Deadpool go back to high school? I’m sure there’s something much more sinister going on but the idea of Peter Parker and the Merc With a Mouth in detention is too good to pass up!
Avengers vs. X-Men #11 courtesy Marvel.com
Avengers vs. X-Men #11X-Men join the Avengers in a last stand against the cosmic might of the Phoenix Two. What happens when Cyclops and Emma Frost turn on each other? What is Professor X prepared to do to save humanity? Marvel is teasing a fatality – who will pay the ultimate price to defeat the Phoenix Force?
Batman #0A look into the past. Bruce Wayne returns from his global quest ready to launch his war on crime. See how the gadgets, Batcave, costume and more were born.
Manhattan Projects #6 Some of the most famous scientific geniuses in history as you’ve never seen them before. Creating the atomic bomb was nothing compared to what this American think tank was really up to. You can catch up with the first 5 issues in a new collection. Now see the other side of this twisted alterate history and weird science. Go back into the Cold War days and inside the Russia’s scientific counterpart to the Manhattan Projects.
The Massive #4How you continue to have the moral companss of a pacifist when the world has gone to hell? A crew of environmentalists sail the poison oceans in search of their friends and trying to survive modern day pirates. What happens when the Captain meets a ghost from his past when he was a corporate mercenary.
I could have written a top 15 this week there are so many good books out there! Here’s my previews of the Doctor Who Annual, more Batman Family Zero issue books and a legion of X-Men books!
Three critical stories of the past in the Batman family of books out this week.
Batman #0 by Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo takes us back to Bruce Wayne returning from this global quest and ready to declare war on crime. See how the uniform, car and gadgets were born.
Batgirl #0 How did Barbara Gordon first become Batgirl? Gail Simone and Ed Benes tell the origin of Batgirl and how she fought her way back into the cape and cowl after a terrifying attack.
Batman and Robin #0 The current Robin was raised to be a lethal assassin by his mother. Witness Damian’s early life under the grip of Talia Al Ghul in this tale by Peter J. Tomasi and Patrick Gleason.
These zero issues are part of DC Comics marking the one year anniversary of launching The New 52. All the September DC titles will #0 and be stand-alone stories.
“Some issues will tell the origins of a character or a team, or in some case where an origin has already been told, they will fill in the blanks in terms of questions readers may have about the New 52 DC Universe,” said Bob Harras, DC Entertainment Editor-in-Chief. “Each of these issues promises to reveal something surprising.”
More zero issues this week include Deathstroke, Demon Knights, Frankenstein Agent of SHADE, Green Lantern Corps, Grifter, Legion Lost, Superboy, Team 7 and The Ravagers.
Tony Daniel wraps up his year on Detective Comics with the rogues running the show! Detective Comics Annual #1 picks up after the Night of the Owls tie-in issue. Black Mask is back. Roman Sionis turns the table on Dr. Jeremiah Arkham and is reviving the False Face Society. Daniel uses Clayface, Tweetledum and Tweetledee but it’s how he uses a mystery villain against Sionis that’s the most wicked use of the rogues.
Romano Molenaar and Pere Perez split the art duties on this story. Both artists have styles that remind me of Tony Daniel and Gary Frank. Batman’s showdown with a new foe, the big reveal and final showdown are great moments in the carnival setting.
When villains are this fun it’s ok to have Batman in the background as he tracks down the Black Mask. This story is a perfect fit for the Annual style. Daniel will draw next month’s Detective Comics #0 then joins Geoff Johns on Justice League.
A big day for comic book fans as DC unleashes a wave of New 52 Annuals! I always loved those as a kid – a bigger size issue with a huge story. Three of DC’s biggest icons star in 3 big annuals out today.
The first New 52 Detective Comics Annual features a showdown between Batman and the Black Mask. Artist Roman Molenaar joins writer Tony Daniel on Detective Comics Annual #1. The artist talked with The Source about joining the Batman family.
“He knows exactly how to write for an artist which makes it a delight setting up the pages,” says Molenaar of Daniel, “Fans can expect fast-paced action and details all over the place as far as the art goes. Batman will need all of his physical and mental strength for this Annual and be ready for the return of one of his most diabolical villains!”
“The first DETECTIVE COMICS ANNUAL features the return of one of Batman’s most dangerous adversaries – the Black Mask!” adds editor Mike Marts. “Picking up from where readers last saw him in the ‘Night of the Owls’ storyline, gangster Roman Sionis has once again donned the maddening mask and formed his False Face Society. How will the Dark Knight combat this unique threat? And is there an even greater villain lurking in the shadows?”
Superman Annual #1 courtesy DC Comics
The Man of Steel takes on the most evil alien of the Wildstorm Universe in Superman Annual #1. Helspont is a Daemonite warlord and galactic menace born in the pages of Jim Lee’s WildC.A.T.S.
“We’ve heard a lot about Helspont and his intergalactic conquests – I thought it was time to see him in action! Unfortunately for Superman, the Last Son of the House of Daemon has a bite that is much worse than his bite!” new writer Scott Lobdell tells The Source.
“There is an old life rule that says you shouldn’t move in with your best friend. You would think a guy as smart as Clark would know that hosting Jimmy would strain even his super human levels of endurance.”
“I love that the Annual touches base with other aliens living on Earth. We get to see Starfire, Martian Manhunter, Hawkman — and the cameos don’t stop there! I think it was only fitting that we should touch base with these characters considering how much Superman’s actions in the coming months are going to effect the perception of all aliens currently visiting our planet. This is one of those Annuals that is a total game-changer!”
“In the Man of Steel’s first Annual we deal with an alien threat that has targeted the Last Son of Krypton, and we get the truth’s behind invaders that have been here for some time and are about to be eradicated by their own kind,” adds series editor Eddie Berganza. “There’s also close encounter cameos by Starfire, Hawkman and Martian Manhunter. Why should they be loyal to their adopted planet is the question raised.”
The Flash Annual #1 courtesy DC Comics
“THE FLASH ANNUAL #1 is the culmination of the past six issues, as we finally get to see the DC COMICS-THE NEW 52 Rogues team up against the Flash,” co-writer Brian Buccellato tells THE SOURCE. “[Co-writer and artist] Francis Manapul and I are bridging the gap between the old ‘gun-toting’ Rogues that everyone remembers from previous continuity, and the new meta-powered incarnations. In the Annual, we finally reveal HOW the Rogues got their super powers and at what cost.”
“While the Annual does answer a lot of questions and give context to Flash and his relationship with the DC COMICS-THE NEW 52 Rogues, it also propels the book into the next major story arc,” Buccellato continued. “We got the biggest thrill out of having Flash team up with someone unexpected in his fight versus the Rogues. I don’t want to spoil anything, but his uneasy partnership is with a former Rogue that was recently left out in the cold.”
Detective Comics, Superman and The Flash Annuals arrive today.
The idea of the Joker drawn by Greg Capullo is frightening and exciting. Bruce Wayne’s arch foe returns in Batman #13this October by the artist and writer Scott Snyder. Capullo teased the villain’s return at Fan Expo Canada comparing the classic rogue to a classic horror film.
“We’re going to scare and frighten the s**t out of you all,” said Capullo. “This is going to be Joker meets Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Joker had his face on ice, and he’s robbed and stolen the face back. I think it would be cool to have this stuff rotting away, so there’s flies buzzing around him. You guys think that’s cool? I hope all your pants will get tight, and your nipples will stiffen, and you’ll enjoy it.”
Death of the Family will affect the Batman family of books. Here’s a link to covers of October’s books teasing the Joker’s plans.
Matches Malone is back in the underbelly of Gotham City and a new crime fighting vigilante is born in Batman Incorporated #3. This issue was delayed out of respect for the victims of the Aurora, Colorado tragedy. It was an appropriate decision. On the very first page there is a shocking act. It’s a disturbing image. As you turn the pages you see the massive scope and frightening agenda Leviathan is creating in Gotham City.
This issue’s theme is infiltration. Bruce Wayne slips into a different identity so he can go deeper into the city’s criminal underworld to uncover the plans of Leviathan. Leviathan is immersing itself into the city, seizing control of ordinary people for a terrible purpose. In just the first three pages Grant Morrison and Chris Burnham show you just how insidious Leviathan is and how easy its agents insinuate themselves into every institution we honor and trust.
Bruce Wayne’s journey through the underworld takes a violent twist thanks to a damsel in distress. The issue ends with the introduction of an extreme new hero that may be Batman’s only hope.
GoatBoy and Bat Cow from the premiere issue are back. The bovine’s creepy connection to Leviathan is revealed. It’s scary how easy Leviathan is infiltrating Gotham City. It’s scarier how good Morrison and Burnham are at creating one of the most insidious Batman tales ever.
The first New 52 Detective Comics Annual features a showdown between Batman and the Black Mask. Artist Roman Molenaar joins writer Tony Daniel on Detective Comics Annual #1. The artist talked with The Source about joining the Batman family.
“He knows exactly how to write for an artist which makes it a delight setting up the pages,” says Molenaar of Daniel, “Fans can expect fast-paced action and details all over the place as far as the art goes. Batman will need all of his physical and mental strength for this Annual and be ready for the return of one of his most diabolical villains!”
“The first DETECTIVE COMICS ANNUAL features the return of one of Batman’s most dangerous adversaries – the Black Mask!” adds editor Mike Marts. “Picking up from where readers last saw him in the ‘Night of the Owls’ storyline, gangster Roman Sionis has once again donned the maddening mask and formed his False Face Society. How will the Dark Knight combat this unique threat? And is there an even greater villain lurking in the shadows?”
Joseph Gordon-Levitt on the set of The Dark Knight Rises courtesy Jose Perez Splash News
SPOILER WARNING
IF YOU HAVE NOT SEEN “THE DARK KNIGHT RISES” YOU MAY NOT WANT TO READ THIS POST
SERIOUSLY
OK
HERE IT COMES
ONE LAST CHANCE
Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s performance as John Blake an outstanding performance in The Dark Knight Rises. Christopher Nolan left us with an intriguing possibility for the future of Batman…perhaps a Dark Knight Legacy.
Police officer John Blake aka Robin was a hybrid of Dick Grayson, Jason Todd and Tim Drake. In the end John appears to be rising to become Gotham City’s new protector.
Would the actor take on a lead role in a giant franchise like Batman?
“I always choose scripts the same way,” he told The Hollywood Reporter. “If it’s a great script and a great filmmaker, then I’m interested.”
The star faced the question on Tuesdays Jimmy Kimmel Live.
“I don’t think [the ending of The Dark Knight Rises] is necessarily a set-up. I think it is the great ending for that trilogy,” he said. “Even if you go back to Batman Begins, he’s talking about how Batman is more than a man, it’s a symbol, and a hero can be anybody and we all have heroes inside of us.”
