Stack Rundown, 06/26/2016

Spoilers: I read more Rebirth issues, and that's about it.

Looking Forward: July 6th, 2016

Annuals are next week, none of which I'm covering, so I'm on break until next month!

• Batman #2: Batman meets Gotham's new Superman and Supergirl. Tom King has given recent interviews about him wanting this to be more straight forward action movie super hero than his previous work. That is kind of concerning given the depth of his previous series are really what sold me on him writing Batman. Hopefully there's much more to it.

And that's about it.

SPOILERS: Detective Comics #935

WOOOO! Bi-Weekly comics! WOOOOOOOO! Please don't burn me out! woooooooo...

SPOILERS: Harley Quinn #29

Harley basically has a Gundam now. And it's super ridiculous looking, so it might as well be G Gundam, which I don't care what anyone says, was pretty cool, and that lady was totally naked at the end which kid me thought was pretty cool too, so... you know... where was I?

Batman Group September 2016 Solicitations

And here comes the part of Rebirth where we see the results of accelerated schedules. It seems though, that we're at least getting art replacements that aren't the standard "man, this doesn't look so hot" fill in. I mean... Batman #6's artist ain't no slouch. Changes and new stuff below!

• Batman #6 will be illustrated by Ivan Reis.
• Night of the Monster Men crossover will see Steve Orlando cowriting Batman, Nightwing and Detective Comics with Riley Rossmo, Roge Antonio and Andy MacDonald on art.
• Joseph Michael Lisner will illustrated Harley #4
• Gotham Academy returns with Second Semester. Karl Kerschl moves to co-writing the title, with Adam Archer talking over on art... kind of bums me out, but we'll see. 

Full solicits after the jump.

Harley Quinn #29 Preview

Harley meets G Gundam. Fucking sure, why not? I mean, this book sort of just operates in its own little fever dream corner of the DCU. Give Harley a damn mech.

(Source: ComicBook.com)

Stack Rundown, 06/19/2016

I'm too lazy to check, but I'm pretty sure that I read more DC titles this week than I have in a very long time. I guess Rebirth continues to work?

Batgirl #1 Preview

Not coming out next week, just an early preview prior to July's launch. On a semi-related note, who wants to start taking bets as to when American Vampire is going to finish up? I feel like that book has multiple arcs left in it... I say 2018.

Maybe.

(Source: CBR)

Night of the Monster Men Coming in September

A while back when Rebirth was announced, the DC editorial team mentioned that there would be breaks built into the schedule to allow the now twice-monthly titles to stay on schedule, and it looks like the Batman crossover Night of the Monster Men is the first example of that.

Spreading across September and October (from what I'm assuming is the 2nd issues in September and the 1st in October), Night of the Monster Men will see Batman, Detective Comics and Nightwing deal with Kaiju-like threats invading Gotham City. Writer Steve Orlando and artist Riley Rossmo will be spearheading the event acting as show runner and designer (you can check out many of Rossmo's great designs here), but will work with each book's regular writers to deliver the story.

I'm a little bit surprised that there is a crossover so soon, but like I said, people like Didio and Lee basically said this stuff would be coming, so it makes sense. What I do like about this story is that it reminds me of how the Batman books were in the late 90s to all the way before Infinite Crisis, where there were just spur of the moment stories that took place across multiple titles. It goes back to what I was saying about Rebirth as a whole, where already, character interactions feel more natural, so going "Batman and company fight Kaijus" kind of makes sense in a way. Also, unlike all the New 52 crossovers, this isn't being billed as a big continuity shaking event, it just seems like a fun way to dovetail everything together while giving each book some time to get ahead. We'll see how it goes, Steve Orlando has done some great work for DC in the past year and I love Riley Rossmo's work, so I hope it turns out well.

(Source: Comic Vine)

Detective Comics #935 Preview

Rebirth said there's 3 Jokers, now there's like 80, deal with it! Also, I'm not wild about Tim's haircut. He looks like every boy in 6th/7th grade with that little hair flip on the front. All he's missing is some blonde sun-in. EARLY 2000s!

What is it with me and critiquing people's hair in this book?

(Source: Newsarama)

Looking Forward: June 22nd, 2016

Hey look, it's our first instance of "boy, these books really are coming out quicker now."

• Detective Comics #935: Batman squares off against an army of Arkham Knights?
• Harley Quinn #29: Not a Rebirth issue, but it still has a Rebirth style cover, so I don't know, meta humor?

Should also get a look at September's solicitations next week. Don't think there are many new books launching outside of Supergirl and Super Sons, which they're going to have to announce a creative team for, at some point. I guess that Justice League of America book was also announced to hit in September, but who wants to bet it is getting pushed back (or never happens!)?

SPOILERS: Batman #1

It's not often when you get to see what truly is the beginning of a new era of the main Batman book. Last one was nearly five years ago.

SPOILERS: Poison Ivy: Cycle of Life and Death #6

In my own opinion, I don't think this book stuck the landing, which shouldn't come as a surprise.

Stack Rundown, 06/12/2016

For a good number of months, my weekly timeline was read the Batman books on Wednesday, then don't read anything until Saturday or Sunday, because comics were draining. I'm now starting to read all the Rebirth titles on Wednesday, so by the time Sunday comes around to write them up, it feels like I read them FOREVER ago. Pretty happy to be reading regularly again.

Poison Ivy: Cycle of Life and Death #6 Preview

Final issue of mini series featuring undefined bad guy? Get ready for bad guy speech exposition! ...and a completely different artist than solicited.

(Source: Comics Alliance)

First Look at Nightwing Rebirth Art

Got some art from the Rebirth special, which looks like a proper final issue to Grayson, and then some art from the first issue of the series... not really a big fan of how the symbol on his costume looks so thin.

(Source: Newsarama)

Batman #1 Preview

Jordie Bellaire doing colors on Batman is pretty cool.

(Source: Newsarama)

Looking Forward: June 15th, 2016

That big book that pretty much everyone is interested in is happening!

• Batman #1: Tom King's era begins and Gotham gets its own Superman!
• Poison Ivy: Cycle of Life and Death #6: The end of the series... pretty sure Swamp Thing this time.

Really looking forward to Tom King's take on Batman... not so much Finch drawing people without Cowls.

SPOILERS: Black Canary #12

Black Canary comes to an end as Black Canary hits the road solo... HAR HAR, it's confusing because Black Canary refers to multiple identities! Words!

SPOILERS: Detective Comics #934

For the first time, in a very long time, Detective Comics really differentiates itself as something other than "the other Batman book."

Stack Rundown, 06/05/2016

Pretty decent week of books. Read all the Rebirth titles, bunch of good Image books and Moon Knight has been pretty cool. There was something I wanted to put in this section that I was thinking of last night, but eh, I forgot I guess.

Batgirl and the Birds of Prey #1 First Look

Claire Roe's art looks reeeeeeal nice, curious to see who the colorist will be. Birds of Prey is honestly one of my favorite DC franchises, I hope this book lives returns to everyone I once loved about the Birds.

(Source: CBR)

Detective Comics #934 Preview

If JPV doesn't get a new (not terrible) haircut, you can count on me to put him on blast every. single. time.

(Source: AV Club)

Black Canary #12 Preview

I really wish Annie Wu was able to draw more of these final issues, but oh well. Wonder what she's working on next.

(Source: Graphic Policy)

Looking Forward: June 8th, 2016

Rebirth, and not Rebirth. The leftover books are kind of hard to get excited about. Always found it kind of weird how DC chose to end the books that weren't locked down in the #52 final issues. Isn't Doctor Fate still going on into August?

• Detective Comics #934: God I had to look up what number this was going to be. Gone are the days where I judged the passing of time on what number the original New 52 titles were at. Anyways, Batman team book is pretty much what Tec should have been months ago. 
• Black Canary #12: Final issue of the book, then Black Canary heads to Birds of Prey and Green Arrow, which was surprising good this week, despite me pretty much hating the same writer's previous work on the character. 

Rebirth, son! I read all four books this week. Seems pretty great so far. Had a lot of fun reading those books. It's nice to feel invested in DC again. 

SPOILERS: Batman: Rebirth #1

What do Tom King and Scott Snyder have to say about their runs on the new Batman titles? Well... I don't know... Lark? I think? Calendar Man is pretty weird now too...