A+X #1 Let the healing begin! A brand new team-up series in the post-Avengers vs. X-Men world! Wolverine teams up with the Hulk. Captain America and Cable? Did Nathan recently tried to take out the Avengers?
Batgirl Annual #1 The first meeting of Barbara Gordon and Catwoman in the New 52! Will they clash when they cross paths? Plus, the Talon from Night of the Owls is stalking Barbara and wants a rematch!
Doctor Who #2An evil force is stealing time from anyone it touches. Can the Doctor save the next victim? It looks like this new Time Lord tale could be a sequel of sorts to one of my favorite Tom Baker serials The Pyramids of Mars. All the visual clues are there! We’ll see.
Fatale #9Get ready for one HELL of a showdown as Jo confronts the demonic force that’s been stalking her through the decades. Sex, death, and cults in seedy 1970’s Hollywood. Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips wrap their latest arc of horror noir that’s not like anything else in the comic shop!
Wolverine and the X-Men #19 After last issue’s shocking murder how will Logan pull the students and staff of the Jean Grey School together? What does the Hellfire Club have planned next?
A new series spinning out of the Night of Owls crossover in the Batman family of books. In last month’s Talon #0 we learn how Calvin Rose was the only Talon (brainwashed assassin) to escape the grip of the Court of Owls. In this month’s Talon #1 Rose returns to Gotham City.
On The Source co-writers James Tynion IV and Scott Snyder and artist Guillem March will reveal their creative process and share what to expect from this brand new hero.
“We felt that with #0, we could give you a real sense of Calvin’s history and who he was before the inciting event of “Night of the Owls.” That battle with Batman really hurt the Court, and that’s what #1 is about – Calvin, for the first time in years, thinking it might be safe to stop running because of what he sees on the news about this battle in Gotham between the Batman and the Owls. So #0 gave us an opportunity to show you how harrowing it’s been for Calvin these past years, on the run, hunted because he did the right thing. Issue #1 is where it all comes to a head. So excited for what James Tynion IV has planned for you!” Snyder said.
“Launching with a zero was a really interesting proposition from the start, because we knew that the first two issues had to be places you could jump onboard the series, without doubling down on any of the same material. So the way I started thinking about it is that issue #0 introduces our leading man, Calvin Rose, and issue #1 introduces the story in the present day that will drive our series issue-to-issue. So when the next issue comes out, people who have read the zero issue will have a special understanding of Calvin and his history that helps frame the premise of the actual monthly series. It helps to read both, but if you missed the zero issue, you should be able to jump on board with issue #1 and be fine,” Tynion added.
“I love drawing dark and solitary characters, more than groups of colorful superheroes, so I love working in the Bat family. I’m also really excited by the fact this is a new character, so I’m somehow establishing his world, instead of sticking to what a previous artist has done with him. That’s a responsibility I enjoy a lot, March revealed.
Talon #1 courtesy Marvel
Talon is the first book in The New 52 to star a brand new character. The Batman writer and co-writer talk about the challenge of adding a new hero to the DC Universe.
“There’s always pressure. Writing Batman is like a ton of pressure on you all the time. The only way to do it is block it out and just dive into the story – pretend you’re writing it for yourself and no one else is going to read it. Just assume if you love it, and have really invested in it, emotionally, intellectually, they’ll love it too,” said Snyder.
“Absolutely! Rather than reinterpreting and recreating a figure known and loved for decades, we have to hook the readers from the start and show them why Calvin Rose deserves a place in the pantheon of DC heroes. I remember a conversation that Scott and I would have over and over when we were in the early stages of the book, about looking forward with the character. It wasn’t about building him up so we can reach issue #12, because we have a big story that will take us right up through the first year. It was about building a character that could last well beyond what we have planned, and about building a series that still has big stories to tell when it gets to issue #26 and even issue #58. If we were going to create this new character, it had to be someone with the potential and the personality to stick around the DC Universe for years, otherwise it wouldn’t be worth creating him in the first place. If the readers dig the series and support it, I honestly believe that there are years and years of great stories for Calvin, and a real chance that he will be sticking around for quite some time, Tynion adds.
Talon #1 arrives October 24
I love the Court of Owls epic and the concept of the Talons. I highly recommend Talon #0 and can’t wait to learn more of the Calvin Rose story.
Batman #10 The Court of Owls have manipulated Gotham City and Bruce Wayne. The sinister society’s assassins have invaded the Batcave and threatened innocent lives. Batman takes the fight to them! DC promises that we’ll discover the mastermind behind the Court.
Avengers #27 Earth’s Mightiest Heroes betrayed by one of their own. Why this hero may have to kill his teammates to execute his own secret agenda. How the return of the Phoenix Force is tied to one of the most powerful alien empires in the Marvel Universe.
Deathstroke #10 Three words: Deathstroke, Liefeld, Lobo! Need more? Earth’s most ruthless mercenary/assassin written/drawn by Rob Liefeld out to hunt the most bad ass bounty hunter in the universe.
Uncanny X-Force #26 A clan of killers grown from one of Wolverine’s deadliest enemies. A brand new Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. Logan’s covert team has their hands full and Psylocke reunites with the ex-lover she killed.
Spider-Men by Jim Cheung courtesy Marvel.com
Spider-Men #1 Ultimate Spider-Man Miles Morales meets Friendly Neighborhood Peter Parker. Two Spideys. One historic story.
Ok DC Comics you’re winning. I was hooked on Batman, Detective Comics and Batgirl from the beginning of The New 52. Now Night of the Owls is making me addicted to the rest of the Batman family of books.
The Court of Owls has unleashed a nearly undead army of killers to take out key targets in a bid to seize control of Gotham City. Batman has called on his allies to help protect the hit list of citizens across the city. It’s a massive crossover and it made me pick up some titles I usually don’t. I loved the Batman and Robin, Batwing and Nightwing issues.
This week it’s Catwoman’s turn. Judd Winick and Guillem March won me over with a tightly paced and clever tie-in. This is the first chapter in which I felt a little sympathy for a devil…or in this case a Talon.
Catwoman and Spark are targeting the Penguin for a robbery. The Court of Owls have targeted Cobblepot for assassination. Winick gives us the back story of Talon haunted by an unresolved mission. The Council of Owls have demonstrated their ruthlessness but with this story we see just cruel the society can be to their most loyal servants.
Given her own past Selina is able to see something in the Talon perhaps no one else in the Batman family can see. There’s a weird sense of reflection and even understanding between the infamous femme fatale and the undead killer. A very different take in this crossover and it gave me enough of Selena and Spark to make me come back next month.
Anne Hathaway will play Catwoman in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Rises. I’m still not sure which side the cinematic Selina Kyle will choose – the most recent trailer seemed to show her against Bane.
Catwoman #9 courtesy DC Comics
In the comics – Catwoman and Spark will be caught up in the Night of the Owls crossover this week. The Court of Owls have unleashed assassins to take out targets across Gotham City. Nightwing protected the Mayor. Batwing saved Lucius Fox. The Council went after Batgirl’s dad. In Catwoman #9 Selina Kyle and Spark are forced to defend…The Penguin.
I’ve enjoyed every crossover title so far so I’m looking forward to Catwoman against a Talon but of all the targets…she has to save Penguin?
Avengers vs. X-Men #4 Wolverine chose the Avengers. Now Logan is abandoned on his own rogue agenda. Hope is flaring up with violent bursts of power – she already deep-fried Wolverine! The Phoenix Force is bearing down on Earth and Thor could make the ultimate sacrifice to stop it.
AvX Vs #2 Spider-Man against the Colossal Juggernaut, Captain American against Gambit. Those are the fights on the awesome cover but are we going to see the aftermath of the Iron Man/Emma Frost battle?
Winter Soldier #5 Bucky and Black Widow versus machine gun armed super gorillas and a squad of sleeper agents trained by the one time Captain America as they face to prevent all out war in the homeland Doctor Doom.
Manhattan Projects #3 A twisted tale of science fiction and alternate history. Creating the atomic bomb was nothing compared to the infamous government think tank’s creations in Jonathan Hickman’s series that pushes storytelling to a new level.
Nightwing #9 Showdown at Gotham City Hall as Nightwing must prevent an assassin from reaching its target. Bruce and Dick’s friendship has been tested by the exposure of a long kept secret but will any of the heroes survive the Night of the Owls.
The Batcave is infested with Talons. Alfred is trapped. Batman is surrounded. Scott Snyder weaves the first part of Batman #9 with a violent game of war and wits as Bruce faces a relentless squadron of assassins in his inner sanctum. This a Batman pushed to his limits and ready to roar back at the Court of Owls with a vengeance. Greg Capullo pulls off another stunning chapter with eerie style and a cover that captures the hell inside Wayne Manor. The back story begins unveiling a secret Alfred’s family has been keeping from the Waynes. It feels like a hybrid of Charles Dickens and noir. I’m intrigued to see how this untold story plays out.
Batgirl #9 courtesy DC Comics
The Night of the Owls crossover hits home for Barbara Gordon in Batgirl #9. Jim Gordon is a target and a pawn of the Court of Owls at the same time. The issue begins with the female Talon’s tragic origin story. Gail Simone and Ardian Syaf deliver a fast paced chapter with great fights scenes and daring attack on Gotham Central. Batgirl and her dad learn too late their roles in the Council of Owls’ plot to seize the city.
The Night of the Owls crossover claws into two more Bat-titles this week. The Council of Owls have unleashed a wave of assassins on Gotham City’s most prominent leaders in a bid to seize control. Nightwing #8 featured a battle to save the Mayor. Batwing #8saw David the only between a Talon and Lucius Fox.
This week Batman #9 takes us back into Batcave for showdown between Batman and the invading Talons. The back up story delves into the past. What secret did Alfred’s family keep from the Waynes? The tie between Bruce and one of his closest allies has been twisted. Will Bruce loose Alfred too?
Batgirl #9 courtesy DC Comics
Batman’s allies are answering his call to protect the Council’s targets but for Batgirl it’s personal in Batgirl #9 as a Talon goes after her father, Commissioner Gordon.
Batman and Robin #9 Robin alone against a Talon. Can Damian survive a fight with this ultimate, unstoppable killer?
Greg Capullo deserves huge credit. After creating the Talon in the first Batman arc he created various versions of the Council of Owls’ assassin from Gotham’s past.
