PREVIEW: Batman #61

Writer: Tom King
Artist: Travis Moore
Publisher: DC Comics
Release Date: December 19, 2018
Cover Price: $3.99

What happened to the boy who wanted to be Bruce Wayne? The young criminal mastermind orchestrates his own parents' deaths to emulate his hero and was carted off to Arkham when Batman exposed his crimes, but that is not the end of the story. Tom King reteams with Nightwing artist Travis Moore to create a sequel to their masterpiece of dark horror from Batman #38.

Batman Damned #2 Review

Damn It!

Written by: Brian Azzarello

Pencils: Lee Bermejo

Inks: Lee Bermejo

Colored by: Lee Bermejo

Cover Price: $6.99

Release Date: December 12, 2018

Review by: Carlos Segui 

So here we have a continuation of the Black Label line in the form of Batman Damned #2.  While I am all about a more mature and graphic line of Batman books, is this worth continuing?  We’ll see.

Robin II: The Joker's Wild! #4 (1991) - "Chill Factor" Review

Writer: Chuck Dixon
Artists: Bob Smith, Tom Lyle, Adrienne Roy
Release Date: December 10, 1991
Cover Price: $1.00

Review by: Joey Casco

Please go check out Joey's awesome site TheWineStalker.net

It's Tim Drake's first time alone as Robin. Batman has been away for weeks and Gotham is on fire (literally and figuratively), as the Joker has used computer genius Dr. Osgood Pellinger to hack into the city's computers and provoke havoc. After Tim and Alfred's attempts failed to make it seem as if Batman was still in Gotham, the Joker is now aware that Robin is alone. And he's calling him out. To prevent the Joker's next prank, which will kill hundreds of people, one billion dollars are to be exchanged in a red tractor trailer... with Batman as the driver. The city of Gotham is broke. They don't have the money and they don't have the Batman.

Chris and Reggie's Cosmic Treadmill ep. 120 - Saved By the Bell Summer Break #1 (1992)

The Bus Fly By

hey Hey HEY WHAT is going on here?? In this episode, matriculated students Chris (@AceComics) and Reggie (@reggiereggie) check out one of their other shared interests...bordering on obsessions, when they read Harvey Comics' Saved By the Bell Summer Break #1 from 1992! After a deep dive into the secret origins and trappings of the television show, our Bayside Tigers provide biographies for creators Angelo de Cesare and Hy Rosen. Then, they read every goofy page of the comic, lending about the same level of talent to their voices as most of the actors brought to the show. After a break, they provide a brief history of Harvey Comics, before breezily talking about the show and devolving into fits of wheezing laughter. It's a show these knuckleheads couldn't wait to make, don't miss it!

My Hero Academia Volume 16 Review

Red Riot!

Mangaka: Kohei Horikoshi

Cover Price: $9.99

Release Date: December 4, 2018

Review by Luke Hollywood

Over the previous two volumes of My Hero Academia, Kohei Horikoshi has been slowly building up the threat of the new Villain Overhaul, head of the Yakuza organization known as the Shie Hassaikai. He has also spent a significant amount of time focusing on the detective work and Intel gathering performed by the Pro Heroes in order to launch a raid of Overhaul's compound and rescue the young girl at the center of Overhaul's plot to mass produce Quirk-Destroying drugs, Eri. With all that setup complete, does Volume 16 provide the action we've all been waiting for? Read on to find out!

World's Finest Comics #175 (1968) - "The Superman-Batman Revenge Squads - To the Victor Comes Death!" Review

Suicide Squad

Written by: Leo Dorfman
Art by: Neal Adams
Publication: May 1968 

What’s worse than a revenge squad? Who two revenge squads of course! Yes, this is the tale of two rival revenge squads who hound Batman and Superman. What event must have transpired to bring these two nefarious forces together I hear you ask?! Why that’s correct, it’s the annual Batman vs Superman crime-solving competition (...and Zack Snyder is nowhere to be seen). 

Chris and Reggie's Cosmic Treadmill ep. 119 - Star Wars #1 (1977)

No Biggs? No Biggie

Beep beep tweet, folks! In this episode, Nerf herders Chris (@AceComics) and Reggie (@reggiereggie) look at some events that occurred some time in the past, in a remote corner of the universe, as depicted in Marvel Comics' Star Wars #1 by Roy Thomas and Howard Chaykin, published in 1977! After some biographical information about these legendary creators, and a little background information on how the deal was struck, they go through every page of the inaugural issue, butchering the voices as politely as possible. After a break, these rebel traitors return to wrap up their histories of Mr. Thomas and Mr. Chaykin, and wrap it all up by talking about how the comic book fared at Marvel going into the 1980s–including an aside about a giant green bunny? The episode is more fun than a barrel full of light sabers, you don't want to miss it!

Sideways #11 Review

Time To Bolt!

Storytellers: Kenneth Rocafort and Dan DiDio

Artists: Kenneth Rocafort, Daniel Brown, and Dave Sharpe
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: December 12, 2018

With the recent news of this book ending, it's easy to see that the pieces falling into place in this issue are meant to wrap the book up. With two issues left, I certainly hope that the creative team sticks their landing.

DC Comics Best Covers of the Week: December 12, 2018

This Town Ain't Big Enough For Two "Best of" Covers Lists

Boy, imagine I had to come up with a list of ten Best Covers of the Week from DC Comics? I mean, if they'd published at least ten, I could do it. But boy, we'd be scraping the bottom of the barrel! As it is, I've got a few nice ones this week. Not many of them would make me want to snatch a comic off the racks, but they are pretty pictures. So let's hop to it!

House of Whispers #4 Review and **SPOILERS**

Go Forth, and Fix This Shit

Written By: Nalo Hopkinson 

Illustrated By: Dominike “DOMO” Stanton and Aneke 

Colors By: John Rauch 

Letters By: Deron Bennett  

Cover Price: $3.99 

On Sale Date: December 12, 2018

**NON SPOILERS AND SCORE AT THE BOTTOM**

Now that Madame Ezrulie is…someone else, how’s that gonna affect things going forward? Also: what the heck is going on? Hopefully we get some more answers in House of Whispers #4, which I’ve conveniently reviewed right here!

New Talent Showcase 2018 #1 Review and **SPOILERS**

 Something Bold, Something New

Assistant Editor: Liz Erickson 

Edited By: Bobbie Chase and Sara Miller 

Cover Price: $7.99 

On Sale Date: December 12, 2018

**NON SPOILERS AND SCORE AT THE BOTTOM**

It’s that time of year again, I suppose, for DC Comics’ New Talent Showcase to come out! Though I could swear last year’s was in November. Also, this is really the third time they’ve done it. But that makes it a hardcore tradition, as far as I’m concerned! See what you think of the New Class in my review of New Talent Showcase 2018 #1, right here!

Suicide Squad #49 Review and **SPOILERS**

Those Who Are About to Kill, We Salute You

Writer: Rob Williams 

Pencils: Diogenes Neves 

Inks: Scott Hanna 

Colors: Gabe Eltaeb 

Letters: Dave Sharpe 

Cover Price: $3.99 

On Sale Date: December 12, 2018

**NON SPOILERS AND SCORE AT THE BOTTOM**

Uhh, what was happening? Rick Flag is back with the remote control to Amanda Waller’s brain bomb? And they’re in the Russian prison for some reason? Rick ain’t gonna pull the trigger, that’s not his style. I can’t deny I wouldn’t mind seeing Waller’s head crack like a pumpkin though. What winds up happening? You can find out by reading my review of Suicide Squad #49, if you’re so inclined.

Titans #31 Review and *SPOILERS*

Aftermath

Written By: Dan Abnett
Art By: Clayton Henry, Brent Peeples, Dexter Vines, Marcelo Maiolo
Letters By: Dave Sharpe

Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: December 12, 2018

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

Titans has been on an uptick since the previous issue. We actually had an issue that wasn’t completely dependant on storylines occurring in other comics. We got real character development and our team finally got off that planet they were stuck on for two issues. I’m hoping we continue this path rather than being stuck in the previous crossover event for even longer. Let’s just jump right in and see where this issue takes us.

Electric Warriors #2 Review and Spoilers

Sparks Fly!

Written by: Steve Orlando
Art by: Travel Foreman
Colours by: Hi-Fi
Letters by: Travis Lanham
Cover Price: $3.99

Last issue's opening installment in this limited series set in the 27th century was as perfect a display of writer Steve Orlando's strengths and weaknesses as one could wish for: intriguing background conveyed through dialogue that is invariably being shouted out during some kind of combat; non-infodump dialogue marinated in a sauce equal parts silliness, melodrama, and social justice posturing; judicious plundering of the more obscure corners of the DC Universe; and, dammit, despite all that, some hints that there might be a story here worth reading. Having spent the last issue setting up the basic premise of this series, it's now time for some serious action. Let's see if Orlando and artist Travel Foreman deliver, eh?

The Flash #60 Review and *SPOILERS*

Forces Unite

Written By: Joshua Williamson

Art By: Rafa Sandoval, Jordi Tarragona, Tomeu Morey, Hi-Fi
Letters By: Steve Wands
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: December 12, 2018

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

To say this Force Quest storyline has been a bit slow is being kind. For a book about the fastest man alive, this thing is moving at a snail’s pace. The Flash has been running around the world on his force quest but hasn’t really been doing anything (other than the usual hero antics). Now the Flash finds himself in Corto Maltese fighting with yet another Strength Force user. At least we are directly working with the actual forces at this point, all the while Gemini continues to hunt the Flash. Let’s just jump right in and see where this issue takes us.

Supergirl #25 Review and *SPOILERS*

Where Is My Super Suit?

Written By: Marc Andreyko

Art By: Emanuela Lupacchino, Ray McCarthy, Lan Medina, Sean Parsons, FCO Plascencia
Letters By: Tom Napolitano

Cover Price: $3.99

Release Date: December 12, 2018

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

Supergirl has been a light in a dark world for me. There are plenty of books that I like right now but there are unfortunately quite a few that I do not. Most books quality have a tendency to go up and down depending on the month. Supergirl, on the other hand, has been rather consistent since the new creative team took over. Sure it has waxed and waned a little bit but for the most part, Supergirl has given me consistently good content. Sure, it could be a little better but I’m not one to split hairs when I’ve got a good thing going. I’m hoping that we get the same thing from this issue. Let’s just jump in and see where this issue takes us.