DC Posted up their Bat-title solicits for October, so here they are with some commentary.
BATMAN #2
Written by SCOTT SNYDER
Art and cover by GREG CAPULLO and JONATHAN GLAPION
Cover by GREG CAPULLO
Variant cover by JIM LEE
1:200 B&W variant cover by GREG CAPULLO
On sale OCTOBER 19 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Bruce Wayne is back in the cowl, hunting a new and deadly killer in Gotham City – a killer with a vendetta against Bruce Wayne! But who is this mysterious killer in an owl skull mask? And is he the key to unlocking one of Gotham’s oldest and most terrifying secrets? Be there for their first brutal encounter!
Skitch Commentary: Three different variant covers? Yey for going digital and not having to worry about that kind of thing. It looks like they are adding a lot of new Batman villains. I think this is a great idea, I just hope they KEEP AROUND more new Batman villains. Too often Batman ends up seeing a real cool new villain idea once, and the villain vanishes in favor of the same ol’ Rogues.
BATWING #2
Written by JUDD WINICK
Art and cover by BEN OLIVER
On sale OCTOBER 5 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
He is called Massacre, and he brings death. What does the soldier in service of Batman Incorporated do when he’s met his match? When he’s been brought so low and been wounded so badly? What does he do when lost Super Heroes begin turning up as victims? Batwing fights back!
Skitch Commentary: Just like the first issue, this comic actually does sound really cool, but I really just can’t bring myself to give this series a try. It just doesn’t connect to me. But I do like Winick, and if the reviews on this series are good, I will probably check it out.
DETECTIVE COMICS #2
Written by TONY S. DANIEL
Art by TONY S. DANIEL and RYAN WINN
Cover by TONY S. DANIEL
On sale OCTOBER 5 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Batman sets his sights on the Gotham Ripper, who in turn has his sights on Batman. Meanwhile, Bruce Wayne explores a budding romance with television journalist Charlotte Rivers, who’s visiting Gotham City to cover the gruesome slayings – while also trying to uncover Bruce’s own mystery. But time is running out as both Commissioner Gordon and Batman work to uncover the true identity of this new serial killer.
Skitch Commentary: Another new villain. I’m noticing a trend here!
BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT #2
Written by DAVID FINCH and PAUL JENKINS
Art by DAVID FINCH and RICHARD FRIEND with JAY FABOK
Cover by DAVID FINCH and RICHARD FRIEND
On sale OCTOBER 26 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Something sinister surges through Arkham Asylum, and Batman finds himself bombarded by his greatest foes in this second sensational issue from superstar creator David Finch!
Bigger, meaner, and more powerful than ever before, the inmates of Arkham Asylum run rampant as the entire Bat Family struggles to keep the walls from falling down, unleashing Gotham City’s worst criminals on the unsuspecting population. And you won’t believe the jaw-dropping final page! Just keep repeating, “It’s only a comic book. It’s only a comic book…”
Skitch Commentary: This solicit seems to suggest that this is a Gotham Knights type of book, which I think is the smart way of going with it. Bruce Wayne does not need to have four books of his own. I actually really like this solicit, really does a good job of selling me on the book.
BATMAN AND ROBIN #2
Written by PETER J. TOMASI
Art by PATRICK GLEASON and MICK GRAY
Cover by PATRICK GLEASON
On sale OCTOBER 12 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Batman’s fears about Robin’s tendency to dish out more pain than necessary are growing! And who is the man named NoBody, visiting Gotham City to say hello to his old friend Bruce Wayne and find out where he went wrong in his battle against crime.
Skitch Commentary: Another villain who seems to be going after Bruce Wayne. Seems a little redundant. Maybe NoBody (seriously?) can work with the new villain from Batman. Would save on commuter costs at least.
BATGIRL #2
Written by GAIL SIMONE
Art by ARDIAN SYAF and VICENTE CIFUENTES
Cover by ADAM HUGHES
On sale OCTOBER 12 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
The nightmare-inducing brute known as Mirror is destroying the lives of Gotham City citizens seemingly at random, and an explosive confrontation between Batgirl and Mirror leads Babs to question wearing the cape and cowl at all!
The riveting adventures of Batgirl continue in stunning fashion, with script by fan-favorite Gail Simone and stellar art by superstar Ardian Syaf!
Skitch Commentary: More new villains! Gotham apparently is a hot spot for new crime in DC Relaunch. And it seems that they are running out of names. There already is a Superman villain named Massacre, and now Mirror (not Master). I’m not saying the Gotham Ripper is the best name ever, but at least it hasn’t already been used.
BATWOMAN #2
Written by J.H. WILLIAMS III and W. HADEN BLACKMAN
Art and cover by J.H. WILLIAMS III
On sale OCTOBER 12 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+
Horror! A terrifying new villain stalks the innocent children of Gotham City! Intrigue! A threatening government agency is hot on Batwoman’s trail. Romance! Kate Kane’s new relationship is heating up!
Can Batwoman stop the new evil rising from the damp back alleys of Gotham’s barrios? And overcome the many challenges she faces as both Batwoman and Kate Kane? 2011’s most anticipated new series intensifies in this exciting second issue!
Skitch Commentary: A lot seems to be happening in Batwoman. This is a series a lot of people have been looking forward to, and I have to admit, the excitment in contagious. I have not read a story with this new Batwoman, and it’s one of the series I am most interested it.
NIGHTWING #2
Written by KYLE HIGGINS
Art and cover by EDDY BARROWS and JP MAYER
On sale OCTOBER 19 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
When a mysterious assassin targets Dick Grayson, Nightwing must work fast to uncover the killer’s plot before he strikes again. But as Haley’s Circus continues to perform in Gotham City, Dick finds himself torn between two lives: His old one as a circus performer and his new one as a Super Hero. And they may be more connected than he ever realized!
Skitch Commentary: This is a side of Nightwing they haven’t touched on in a long time, and I am really curious to see how it plays out.
RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #2
Written by SCOTT LOBDELL
Art and cover by KENNETH ROCAFORT and BLOND
On sale OCTOBER 19 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Red Hood is already globe-trotting in an effort to find the ancient assassins behind the slaughter of those who taught him some of his darkest skills… and if Roy and Kori are going to be of any help, well, they’ll just have to tag along – whether Jason wants them to or not!
Skitch Commentary: “Taught him some of his darkest skills?” Maybe I am just immature, but it sounds to me like Jason Todd knows how to do the Alabama crab dangle. This is a book I really can’t imagine being any good, but Lobdell is a good writer, so maybe he will surprise me on this. So far the solicits for Red Hood and the Outlaws has not done much to sell me.
BIRDS OF PREY #2
Written by DUANE SWIERCZYNSKI
Art and cover by JESUS SAI
On sale OCTOBER 19 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
An explosion in a secure Gotham City airport terminal hurls Black Canary and Starling headlong into a nightmare involving stolen pharmaceuticals, terrorists for hire and killers in stealth suits who can appear – and disappear – at will. When Canary calls in backup, Starling’s not so sure a vengeful samurai who talks to her dead husband in a sword is the best choice.
Skitch Commentary: Another odd line from a solicit “a vengeful samurai who talks to her dead husband in a sword.” I actually have only read a handful of issues of Birds of Prey over the years, mostly as parts of crossovers with other Bat titles. I honestly don’t see that changing too much with this relaunched series.
CATWOMAN #2
Written by JUDD WINICK
Art and cover by GUILLEM MARCH
On sale OCTOBER 19 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+
She’s a thief who lives to steal just for the thrill of breaking the law. He’s The Dark Knight, obsessively driven to battle evil with every ounce of his strength. They should keep each other at arm’s length, but…they just can’t seem to help themselves! Don’t miss this issue – things are gonna get messy!
Skitch Commentary: They’ve been pretty stingy with information on Catwoman. This just sounds like a very generic solicit that coulde have fit any number of Catwoman stories over the years. I really hope Winick has something new to say, as Catwoman has always been a great character, and there is a ton of potential for good story telling here.
In addition to all the ongoing Batseries, DC also announced two surprising mini-series.
THE HUNTRESS #1
Written by PAUL LEVITZ
Art by MARCUS TO and JOHN DELL
Cover by GUILLEM MARCH
On sale OCTOBER 5 • 1 of 6, 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Look out! By the end of this hot new miniseries, the Huntress will have the largest price on her head in DC Universe history.
What will the Huntress do that warrants such a death mark? And who puts it there? The jaw-dropping events will be revealed as the Huntress heads home to Italy and embarks on a mission that defines her life. Don’t miss out, because this story will tie in to upcoming events in BIRDS OF PREY! (Cover Image Courtesy of Newsarama)
Skitch Commentary: I have always thought the Huntress was a real breath of fresh air in the Batman books. She seemed to handle problems in a much more pragmatic manner than the rest of the do-gooders. I am really curious about how Levitz will write her. And since this ties into Birds of Prey, hopefully she will still have a strong role in that book as well.
PENGUIN: PAIN AND PREJUDICE #1
Written by GREGG HURWITZ
Art and cover by SZYMON KUDRANSKI
On sale OCTOBER 5 • 1 of 5, 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
In this exciting new miniseries from novelist Gregg Hurwitz (You’re Next) and rising star artist Szymon Kudranksi (Spawn), the painful and dark past of one of Batman’s most devious foes is examined. How did young Oswald Cobblepot go from being the apple of his mother’s eye to the leader of underworld gangs and adversary of The Caped Crusader? Find out in PENGUIN: PAIN AND PREJUDICE! Cover image courtesy of Comic Book Resources.
Skitch Commentary Penguin’s story in Secret Origins Special is probably one of my all time favorite comic stories. So, this miniseries definitely is something I am curious about. I just hope that DC doesn’t over do it with too many minis and other series along with the New 52.
