Batman: The Joker War Zone #1 Review and *SPOILERS*

This new issue features five different stories starring the Bat Family supporting cast as well as a fresh new face. Usually I rate each story individually but I figure I’ll just give you a rundown of what happens and then give a brief explanation as to how the story hit me, whether that be good or bad. Then at the end, we will give a final grade to the entire collection so you know whether an investment in this new story is worth the buy. So, without further ado, let’s jump into this new collection and see what stories it has for us.

Red Hood: Outlaw #49 Review

Dimensional Bends And Losing Friends

Written By: Scott Lobdell

Art By: Paolo Pantalena, Arif Prianto, Troy Peteri

Cover Price: $3.99

Release Date: September 29, 2020

We're at a strange place in this issue for me personally because on one hand I usually hate when we have to interrupt a story to go over to a tie-in that usually doesn't matter overall with the character at hand and it usually just throws the whole groove of the previous story out of whack. That being said, I haven't been enjoying this Chamber of All/Trigon story and found the last issue to be such a relief because not only did we remove ourselves from something that I wasn't a fan of, but we were given something so kickass that I didn't want it to end.......... Well apparently Red Hood only gets one tie-in issue to the Joker War and now we're right back to where we were previously, with Bizarro taking on Trigon, while the rest of the Outlaws, including Jason Todd, Starfire and Arsenal from the past try to close the doorway to Trigon's dimension. Let's jump into this issue and see what happens to our Outlaws and if this story picks up any. Let's check it out.

Justice League Annual #2 Review

Saw Of Justice

Written By: Robert Venditti

Art By: Aaron Lopresti, Matt Ryan, David Baron, Tom Napolitano

Cover Price: $4.99

Release Date: September 29, 2020

Even though we've finally gotten the Justice League title in line with what's going on with Death Metal and in my mind made this title mean something again instead of just giving us random Tales of the Justice League stories thrown in, it looks like we're not out of the random stories woods yet and are back with Robert Venditti giving us an Annual story that shows our heroes facing off against the Hall of Justice itself. Will this story feel like something that matters, especially now that we've gotten a taste of a Justice League book in the Metalverse? Well, only time will tell, but let's jump into this Annual and check it out.

Dark Nights: Death Metal: Multiverse's End #1 Review

 

Crisis Hotline

Writer: James Tynion IV

Artist: Juan Gedeon, Mike Spicer, and Rus Wooton

Cover Price: $5.99

Release Date: September 29, 2020

These Death Metal tie-in one-shots have run hot and cold for me.  Some, like Trinity Crisis,  felt important to the overall story.  So important that Eric Shea (America's Sweetheart) said it should have been a numbered issue.  Others, sadly, have felt more like cash grabs than anything else.  So, where does this issue lie on that scale?  Let's find out...

Wonder Woman #763 Review

 

Pants on Fire!

Writer: Mariko Tamaki

Artist: Carlo Barberi

Cover Price: $3.99

Release Date: September 30, 2020

I was excited to see what Mariko Tamaki would bring to Wonder Woman, but this Liar Liar arc feels smaller and smaller with each issue.  The four issues leading into this finale have been full of recap and repeat and have not had much character work or overall setup.  However, it looks like we will finally get Emma confronting her father, Maxwell Lord, and that should be cool, right?  Let's find out...

Batman: Three Jokers #2 Review

Done To Death

Written By: Geoff Johns

Art By: Jason Fabok, Brad Anderson, Rob Leigh

Cover Price: $6.99

Release Date: September 29, 2020

The story that has captivated comic readers across the world continues here as we dive deep into the mystery that is the "Three Jokers". In the previous issue, we had the groundwork built to show us what the world looked like in this Black Label event and the characters who were involved....... You know, beyond the three Jokers and we saw that to get to the bottom of this mystery we would not only have Batman involved but Batgirl and Red Hood. Pretty much the people who the Joker have hurt the worst in his criminal career, but one of these Jokers, the Clown wouldn't hurt anyone ever again after this comic because the first issue shocked me in its ending where we saw Jason Todd finally take his vengeance out on the Joker by shooting him in the head and ending his life. As the issue closed though, he just hoped that the one he killed was the one that originally killed him. It was a great issue and I hope that his second issue lives up to the hype that that issue setup. Let's jump into this issue and see how Batman will deal with Jason Todd who has finally ended a Joker's life and also see what Jason Todd will do to get to the rest of the Jokers that are out there. Let's check it out.

Batman/Superman Annual #1 Review

 

The Age of Imps

Writer: Joshua Williamson

Artist: Dale Eaglesham, Clayton Henry, Gleb Melnikov, Alejandro Sanchez, and John J. Hill

Cover Price: $4.99

Release Date: September 29, 2020

It's Annuals time again at DC Comics, and I was hoping for something fun from Joshua Williamson.  I mean, the World's Finest should be able to give fans something to smile at in a one-off Annual, and thankfully, Williamson agreed.  He even got a couple of tiny guest stars to help out.  What am I talking about?  Let's find out...

PREVIEW: Red Hood: Outlaw #49

Written By: Scott Lobdell

Art By: Paolo Pantalena, Arif Prianto, Troy Peteri

Cover Price: $3.99

Release Date: September 29, 2020

Jason’s ongoing war against the Untitled comes to a sudden, startling and tragic end with the help of…Red Hood and the Outlaws?! But to protect the world, one of his teammates must make the ultimate sacrifice for the greater good!

PREVIEW: Justice League Annual #2

Written By: Robert Venditti

Art By: Aaron Lopresti, Matt Ryan, David Baron, Tom Napolitano

Cover Price: $4.99

Release Date: September 29, 2020

It’s a locked-room murder mystery in the Hall of Justice! Superman, an investigative journalist; Batman, the World’s Greatest Detective; the Flash; a CSI technician; Wonder Woman; a mystical detective for the Justice League Dark; and Green Lantern, an intergalactic police officer, must put their heroic minds together to solve the case. The Hall houses some of the greatest artifacts in the DC Universe—but also its deadliest. Who is the victim? Who is the culprit? And what is the motive? Can the Justice League put together the clues to solve the mystery before the murderer strikes again—and at them? Their lives depend on it!

PREVIEW: Batman: Three Jokers #2

Written By: Geoff Johns

Art By: Jason Fabok, Brad Anderson, Rob Leigh

Cover Price: $6.99

Release Date: September 29, 2020

As Batman and Batgirl follow an unexpected thread linking the three Jokers with someone from the Dark Knight’s past, Red Hood dives headfirst into trouble and finds himself struggling to stay afloat without the aid of his allies. Batman: Three Jokers continues its trajectory as the ultimate examination of The Joker and his never-ending conflict with Batman. Prepare yourselves for the second chapter of one of the most terrifying and personal mysteries Batman has ever faced!