Wonder Woman was celebrated in October. November is the month of Robins. There are still too many Batman titles and not enough Shazam books. Let’s get to it.
10. Chill out, Batman
I’m a sucker for these anthologies, of which DC has been doing at least 2-3 a year over the past half decade or so. I’m also a sucker for the JLQ as a concept, even if the first appearance left a little something to be desired. It’s nice to see the creative team for this book featuring a number of surprising names – is that Saturday Night Live‘s Bobby Moynihan? – and some few faces. These books seem like the perfect way to work in new talent, and also allow a lot more fun than the monthly grind can somethings allow.
‘TIS THE SEASON TO BE FREEZIN’
Written by ANDREW WHEELER, RICH BERNATOVECH, TEE FRANKLIN, TARA ROBERTS, PAUL DINI, ALAN BURNETT, BOBBY MOYNIHAN, and others
Art by MEGHAN HETRICK, TRAVIS MERCER, YANCEY LABAT, and others
Cover by JEN BARTEL
Variant by POP MHAN
$9.99 US | 80 PAGES | PRESTIGE
ON SALE 12/14/21Oh the weather outside is freezing, but these stories sure are pleasin’. So since you’ve no place to go, why not grab a sweater, pour a cup of hot cocoa, and stoke the fire…because these 10 tales are sure to lower the mercury! Join us as Harley Quinn and Blue Snowman ice out Hawkman, Batman fights the cold heart of Mr. Freeze, the JLQ don’t stand a snowball’s chance against Minister Blizzard, and the Flash and Superman team up to chill out Captain Cold. So warm your holiday heart with these freezin’ feats of frosty fiction!
9. It’s How the Hustle Goes, See What the Jukebox Knows
It is a little unclear how/if Grant Morrison/Mikel Janin’s “Superman and the Authority” is going to tie into the overall ‘Infinite Frontier’ story for the Man of Steel, but clearly the idea of pairing Superman with Wildstorm characters isn’t going anywhere. Here, because this is DC, they also need to mix in some Batman action, which is unsurprising. That’s not to say it will be bad, but I was enjoying the idea of Superman mixing with these unusual bedfellows, whereas Batman seems like a much more obvious choice to introduce.
BATMAN/SUPERMAN: AUTHORITY SPECIAL #1
Written by PHILLIP KENNEDY JOHNSON
Art by TREVOR HAIRSINE, JONATHAN GLAPION, and BEN TEMPLESMITH
Cover by RODOLFO MIGLIARI
$5.99 US | 48 PAGES
Variant cover by JEEHYUNG LEE
$6.99 US (Card stock)
ON SALE 11/2/21Following Mongul’s brazen attack on Earth, Superman’s world has been turned upside down: conflict between Atlantis and the surface world, the discovery of an immensely powerful new element, dead refugees with mysterious ties to Krypton, and expulsion from the Justice League! When Superman re-forms the experimental, antiestablishment Authority to join him in liberating Warworld, Batman comes to them with a request: join him for one unorthodox, off-the-books mission first, one he could never ask the Justice League to be a part of…and one he doesn’t expect everyone to come back from.
8. You know, maybe this is the wine talking, but that’s one dark knight!
Painfully stupid name notwithstanding, Jock has been a signature Bat-artist for a decade now, and so it is his turn to take his shot at writing a Batman story in addition to just drawing one. From Tony Daniel to David Finch, this is a classic DC move, and one that, more often than not, bears less than revelatory fruit. That said, the art in this book will be phenomenal, and Jock seems like a guy who knows what makes a good Bat-story. Let’s see if he can find a way to translate that into a good comic.
Continued belowBATMAN: ONE DARK KNIGHT #1
Written by JOCK
Art and cover by JOCK
$6.99 US | 48 PAGES | 1 of 3
PRESTIGE PLUS | 8 ½” x 10 7/8″
Variant by CLIFF CHIANG
1:25 “Blackout” variant by LEE GARBETT
ON SALE 12/7/21
17+
From high above the sweltering summer streets of Gotham, Batman planned to escort the GCPD as the dangerous metahuman super-villain known as E.M.P. was transferred from a holding cell to his permanent home at Blackgate Prison. E.M.P.’s electrical powers posed a threat, but the situation was in hand—until it wasn’t. Now every light in Gotham is out, the police are in disarray, and a broken, bleeding Batman must fight his way to Blackgate, block by block, dragging E.M.P. behind him. But the dark corners of Gotham hold many surprises…and E.M.P. has many more shocks to deliver before the night is through!
7. Finally, one of the stars of Taxi makes good. Sorry, Marilu Henner!
Look, I could go on and on about Wes Craig doing a story with a Bat villain. I could celebrate the return of Max Fiumara and Jill Thompson to DC work. There are a lot of really exciting names, especially on the art side, of this issue.
But fuck it man, all I want to do is talk about how Danny DeVito is writing a Penguin story. In fact, I don’t even want to talk about it, I just want to stew in its juices, reflecting on the fact that, sometimes, life can be good.
GOTHAM CITY VILLAINS ANNIVERSARY GIANT #1
Written by Danny DeVito, Wes Craig, G. Willow Wilson, Phillip Kennedy Johnson, Joshua Williamson, Stephanie Phillips, Dan Watters, and Mairghread Scott
Art by Dan Mora, Wes Craig, Emma Rios, Riccardo Federici, MAX RAYNOR, Max Fiumara, Skylar Patridge, Ariela Kristantina, Khary Randolph, Jill Thompson, Christian Ward, Gabriel Walta, and others
Cover by Lee Bermejo
Variants by Frank Quitely, Wes Craig, Riccardo Federici, DAN MORA,
and MAURGERITE SAUVAGE
1:25 variant by Francesco Mattina, 1:50 variant by Chris Burnham
$9.99 US | 96 PAGES | PRESTIGE | $10.99 US VARIANTS (Card stock)
ON SALE 11/30/21Gotham City may be protected by the Dark Knight, but this major metropolitan destination is also plagued by some of the deadliest, most nefarious villains in the DC Universe! In this oversize anniversary giant, DC Comics proudly presents tales of Batman’s deadliest foes written and drawn by some of the biggest, most exciting names in comics! 2021 marks an anniversary year for the Scarecrow, Poison Ivy, Ra’s al Ghul, Talia al Ghul, the Mad Hatter, Killer Moth, and the original Red Hood, and Gotham City Villains Anniversary Giant #1 brings these baddies to life in some big ways! Also featuring the anniversary celebration of the Penguin, written by none other than the man who brought Oswald Cobblepot to life in Batman Returns, star of the silver screen Danny DeVito!
6. Robin AND Batman? In this economy?
It seems like every month we are getting at least one new book with the name ‘Batman’ in the title, and it can be a little tiresome. But sometimes, a creative team is so exciting that it doesn’t matter if we’re getting the umpteenth Bat-book, and “Robin and Batman” has such a team: Jeff Lemire and Dustin Nguyen. Nguyen is one of the most fun and unique Bat-artists of the past fifteen years, and it is always cause for celebration when he is drawing the cowl. Lemire was rumored to be writing a Robins title many years ago (not the same one we will be talking about shortly), so it seems like kismet that he’s getting to do a Robin book finally.
ROBIN & BATMAN #1
Written by JEFF LEMIRE
Art and cover by DUSTIN NGUYEN
$5.99 US | 40 PAGES | 1 of 3 | PRESTIGE
Variant by JEFF LEMIRE
1:25 variant by RAFAEL ALBUQUERQUE
ON SALE 11/9/21The legendary story of Batman and Robin has reached nearly mythic proportions: the crime-fighting Dynamic Duo, always one step ahead of the criminals they pursue and never meeting a case too big. This isn’t that story. This is the story of a young Dick Grayson, newly orphaned, struggling to find his way in a strange, difficult, dark new world…This is the story of Robin and Batman.
The bestselling creative team behind the Eisner-winning Descender, Jeff Lemire and Dustin Nguyen, reunite in Gotham City to tell the story of a remarkable young man learning to navigate an incredible new world!
5. Survival of the Phillips
After a bevy of Wonder Woman titles for her 80th anniversary last month, it’s a little surprising to see yet another Diana-focused book for November. Despite that, it is nice to see that Wonder Woman is approaching Batman and Superman levels of ‘multiple not quite in continuity miniseries running at once’ territory. Stephanie Phillips has been killing it over on “Harley Quinn,” and so it’s an exciting notion to have her on this title. It is equally exciting to see Mike Hawthorne on a DC book. While the plot, at least for the solicitation, seems a little superhero boilerplate, there is a lot of reason for optimism.
Continued belowWONDER WOMAN: EVOLUTION #1
Written by STEPHANIE PHILLIPS
Art and cover by MIKE HAWTHORNE
Cover by MIKE HAWTHORNE
$3.99 US | 32 PAGES | 1 of 8
Variant by RILEY ROSSMO
$4.99 US (Card stock)
ON SALE 11/16/21Whisked away from Earth by a distant cosmic entity, Wonder Woman is forced to navigate a series of perilous challenges that push her to the brink both mentally and physically. At stake is the fate of all humanity, with the alien entities casting Diana as Earth’s proxy for a trial judging humankind’s worthiness to exist in the universe. Can Diana stand trial to save humanity without losing her own? Harley Quinn’s Stephanie Phillips teams with acclaimed artist Mike Hawthorne (Daredevil, Deadpool) for his first major DC project, an epic Wonder Woman tale unlike any other!
4. Five Alive
I like the idea that DC had a tournament of potential titles, and while I would’ve definitely voted for “Robins,” it also seems like one of the safest choices on the list. Regardless, I love me some Bat-family action (speaking of which, if that’s your jam, this week’s issue of “Robin” will be right up your alley), and this looks like a tone of fun. I’m not super familiar with Baldemar Rivas’s artwork, but I love that DC is entrusting a relatively high profile book to a relative newcomer.
ROBINS #1
Written by TIM SEELEY
Art and cover by BALDEMAR RIVAS
$3.99 US | 32 PAGES | 1 of 6
Variant by BABS TARR
$4.99 US (Card stock)
ON SALE 11/16/21The five heroes to have donned the Robin cape and mask find themselves at a crossroads in their lives. Dick Grayson, Jason Todd, Tim Drake, Stephanie Brown, and Damian Wayne come together to discuss the big thing that binds them together: Was being Robin, and Batman’s sidekick, the best choice they could’ve made? But before they can get to the heart of the matter, they’re ambushed by an unknown assailant with a bone to pick with them. She claims to have been the first Robin, and she’s out to prove Batman should’ve never trained any of them. Winner of DC’s Round Robin tournament, as chosen by you, the readers!
3. A new fantastic point of view
While I am loving what Tom Taylor is doing on “Nightwing,” he seems just as content to be working in these new, “Elseworlds”-esque settings, and I can’t say I blame him. If you’re able to make some cool stories out of a world that is your own, and still incorporating iconic characters, that seems like a total win.
I’m not the biggest sword and sorcery guy, but I think that Taylor and Yasmine Putri will do something special within that subgenre, and will likely sell me on the concept mere pages into this.
DARK KNIGHTS OF STEEL #1
Written by Tom Taylor
Art by Yasmine Putri
Cover by Yasmine Putri
$3.99 US | 32 PAGES | 1 of 12
Variant by JOSHUA MIDDLETON
1:25 variant by YASMINE PUTRI
Retailer team variant cover by WAYNE REYNOLDS
$4.99 US (Both covers card stock)
ON SALE 11/2/21An entire medieval world will be forever changed when a spaceship crash-lands from a doomed planet. Monarchs will die, kingdoms will rise, and what seemed the end of the world for many…was only the beginning! An epic high-fantasy story set in a DC Universe where nothing is what it seems…
From worldwide bestselling writer Tom Taylor (DCeased, Superman: Son of Kal-El) and acclaimed artist Yasmine Putri comes a generational tale of good and evil within a brand-new DCU!
2. There’s an unnecessary ‘League’ in this title
There’s a team of DC heroes called Justice Incarnate. If you’re reading “Infinite Frontier,” you’re aware of them. This title is called “Justice League Incarnate.” I know that’s so that people will have a better idea of what exactly this book is, but it still seems unnecessary to me. OK, rant over.
What’s really exciting about this title is that a) it is Joshua Williamson continuing a Grant Morrison idea and doing it really well, b) it is making the ‘Infinite Frontier’ era last longer and feel like a true DC timeframe, as opposed to a short burst around a miniseries. This book seems like the middle chapter in a larger story, and that’s when DC is working its best magic: not when they’re jumping from status quo to status quo, but rather taking it slowly and letting their characters and concepts breathe a little bit.
Continued belowJUSTICE LEAGUE INCARNATE #1
Written by JOSHUA WILLIAMSON
and DENNIS CULVER
Art by ANDREI BRESSAN and BRANDON PETERSON
Cover by GARY FRANK
$4.99 US | 40 PAGES | 1 of 5
Variant by JORGE FORNÉS
$5.99 US (Card stock)
ON SALE 11/2/21After the shocking ending of Infinite Frontier, Justice League Incarnate defends the Multiverse from Darkseid across infinite Earths!
Following a devastating defeat at the hands of the one true Darkseid, the Superman of Earth-23 leads a team of superheroes from myriad worlds that includes Flashpoint Batman, China’s Flash from Earth-0, Captain Carrot from Earth-26, and the brand new superhero DR. MULTIVERSE from Earth-8 in a last ditch effort to stop the end of every possible universe as we know it!
Written by Joshua Williamson and Dennis Culver with first-issue art by Brandon Peterson and Andrei Berssan and a rotating cast of artists exploring the many different worlds of the DC Multiverse, this can’t-miss series is the next thrilling chapter in the Infinite Frontier saga!
1. More like James TynGONE, amirite?
It is still a little shocking that James Tynion IV is stepping away from his DC work, starting with “Batman” this month. While he will still be co-writing “The Joker” and dropping in for projects here and there, this is the effective end of his Batman tale. It’s been a fun year, and it seemed like it was about to build to a really exciting new status quo.
But alas, the greener pastures of [checks notes] Substack await, and so this is where Tynion plants his flag in the ground. The idea of Batman leaving Gotham City is an unusual, but fun one, and while I don’t expect it to last the length of a MCU film, it’ll be a fun idea to explore for a little while. It will just be a little less fun without Tynion there
BATMAN: FEAR STATE: OMEGA #1
Written by JAMES TYNION IV
Art by RICCARDO FEDERICI
Cover by JAMAL CAMPBELL
$4.99 US | 40 PAGES
Variant by SIMONE BIANCHI
1:25 variant by JORGE JIMENEZ
$5.99 US (Both covers card stock)
ON SALE 11/30/21As Gotham’s Fear State comes to a close, a new day dawns on the city…one without Batman. But the Dark Knight’s absence does not mean the city is without heroes. Join James Tynion IV and Riccardo Federici as they bring “Fear State” to its conclusion and introduce a new status quo that will reverberate throughout the DCU for years to come.
Check out the full solicitations over at Newsarama.
