Batman Week! A Look at Batman Inc. #3 and Batman & Robin #21
Lately, I’ve been spending most of my comic book reading time hanging out in Marvel’s bullpen. They seem to have a group of writer/architects for the whole line that have really been holding my interest. Guys like Jonathan Hickman, Matt Fraction and Ed Brubaker have been monopolizing my time. But when I do pick up a DC book, lately it has been either a Green Lantern family book, or one of the many Batman family books on the shelves. This week we got both Batman Incorporated #3, which now seems to be bi-monthly, and Batman & Robin #21, the second issue in Peter Tomasi and Patrick Gleason’s run. I was going to just talk about one of them, but as I liked both so much, and this is rare when it comes to DC books for me, I thought it best to check ‘em both out. First up is…
Title: Batman Incorporated #3
Author: Grant Morrison
Artist: Yanick Paquette
Publisher: DC Comics
Rating: 13+
Release date: March 9, 2011
Verdict: 8.5/10
The first thing I noticed about this book was the amazing cover by J.H. Williams III. This man is the heir to the throne of Art Nouveau. He reminds so much of the 19th century’s A.N. master Alphonse Mucha. His design, his painting, and his line work are some of the tops in the entire comic book industry. His upcoming run on Batwoman as writer/artist is sure to be epic. Also, his mixture of styles is something that no one else seems to be doing. A single page of his can contain what looks like a weeks worth of work, and I revel in each page of it. But I digress… the interior was also quite good.
Grant Morrison is really swinging for the fences with this book. This can be fun, but with Morrison, it can also be quite frustrating. The book opens on an alternate Earth in England with a team of super-people that I’ve never seen before. It’s possible that Grant introduced them at some earlier point, but they were new to me. Morrison is fond of using British vernacular whenever he can, and as someone from this side of the pond, I found myself missing a lot of the nuance. Even later on in the book, Mr. Morrison uses text boxes to convey the thoughts of El Gaucho, Argentina’s premier hero, but the text boxes contain only Spanish and translations were not provided. I know this is a little thing, but when I’m spending money on these books, I expect to be able to understand every word in them.
But of course, overall, this is a minor complaint. The story was fun and action packed and it started with our heroes already in the midst of working together. I was worried that this book, with its introduction of new potential foreign Batmen every issue, would get repetitive with all the introductions. Thankfully, it seems like this won’t be the case. El Gaucho is a very capable Batman-esque character, and even his secret identity of Don Santiago, a rich Argentinean aristocrat, is reminiscent of Bruce Wayne.
This story was the first of the series to not be a one-off. The story is set to continue in issue #4, and hopefully we won’t have to wait as long to get as we did for this issue. Maybe a rotating the artists every few issues, much in the same way they did on Batman & Robin for the first 16 issues, would be a prudent idea. Either way, I was impressed with this issue, and I’ll be checking out issue #4. Now…onto Batman & Robin #21…
Title: Batman & Robin #21
Author: Peter Tomasi
Artist: Patrick Gleason
Publisher: DC Comics
Rating: 13+
Release date: March 9, 2011
Verdict: 9/10
This book is one of the books that has seen a drop in sales, rather drastically in fact, since Grant Morrison stopped writing it. This is understandable, as any book with a big name like Morrison on it will inevitably decline in sales when said big name leaves. But I am of the mind that this book, currently, couldn’t be in better hands. Mr. Morrison gave us 16 solid issues, but Peter Tomasi has the skills to bring us fresh stories with the new dynamic duo for years to come. He’s proven himself over in the Green Lantern arena, where along with Geoff Johns, he has shepherded that particular corner of the DCU to great things; and now he’s brought his partner in crime, artist Patrick Gleason, along for this run.
Lets look at Patrick Gleason for a second. This is a guy who graduated from doing a one-shot or a few pages here and there, to one of DC’s go-to guys, and one of the only artists in their bullpen to keep a monthly schedule. I’ve been reading his stuff for years from his JLA one-shots to his run on Aquaman to his work on Green Lantern Corps, and finally to his work on Brightest Day. His renderings of Batman and Robin are gorgeous. Of course, with an inker like Mick Gray backing him up, he’ll never look too bad J . I can really see that he’s drawing Dick Grayson as Batman and his facial expressions on Alfred and Damian are to die for. Suffice it to say, this creative team has me excited for what’s to come.
This issue introduces us to another new villain, and this is a truly brutal bastard. He’s called the “White Knight” and he’s making it his mission to redeem the souls of the family members of the various inmates from Arkham Asylum. In this issue alone he killed Jervis Tetches’ (the Mad Hatter) family as well as the brother of Mr. Zsasz. He failed to kill the Langstom’s, the family of Man-Bat, last issue, and it seems like he’s really ramping it up for issue #22. His methods are also quite shocking. I can’t wait for issue #22.
So, what did you all think of Batman Week? Good or bad, we would love to hear from you in our handy comments section below J .
It’s Getting Brighter Every Day: Brightest Day #18
Title: Brightest Day #18
Author: Geoff Johns & Peter Tomasi
Artist: Ivan Reis, Ardian Syaf, Scott Clark, and Joe Prado
Publisher: DC Comics
Rating: 13+
Release date: January 19, 2011
Verdict: 9/10
Brightest Day, DC Comics current bi-weekly series, has been a fantastic read for the last nine months. The series has followed all 12 of the people brought back by the White Lantern in the finale of the massive Green Lantern crossover, Blackest Night. The series has mostly dealt with the heroes brought back by the White Light, but has also dabbled in the villains like Captain Boomerang and the Reverse Flash.
In this issue, continuing right from last issue’s final pages, we find Boston Brand with his grandfather, who has finally started to actually live his new life, with a White power ring that is inexplicably charging up. This is something it hasn’t done for the first 17 issues. What this seems to symbolize is that Boston’s mission is really heating up and the end is in sight. I haven’t heard for sure, but I believe this series is set to run until issue #26 or so, so these last 8 issues are really going to get into it. In this issue we saw the Hawks on Zamaron complete their end of this grand multi-person mission, and what seemed like a potential happy ending was just another curve in the road. I suspect that over the next few issues we will see each of the featured players like Aquaman and Martian Manhunter complete their ends of this grand mission as well, and this will all lead into the big finale where we should see the new White Lantern bearer/Champion, whomever the ring chooses.
I was one of the fans of 52 when it came out a few years ago. I was disappointed with the ending, and it was little too convoluted, but when you have 4 headstrong big name writers crafting a story together, some parts can get a little screwy. I wasn’t a fan of Countdown, DC’s next big weekly event, as I found it to be a shittier version of 52; but this time I believe DC has really got it right. Brightest Day is a bi-weekly book focusing on a few characters in different parts of the DCU, all with a overarching mission (which is still a mystery) with only two writers tackling the whole thing. The two writers are also known for working closely together as they are the two who have been steering the Green Lantern mythos for the last handful of years. This means that from issue to issue, you can’t really tell who wrote what. It’s seemless. Say what you will about the various Green Lantern books, but like the Batbooks, they tend to keep my interest. They seem to go from crisis to crisis, but when you are dealing with a whole universe and not just one planet, that’s the way it should be. Writers Geoff Johns and Peter Tomasi have kept the Green Lantern books exciting, and that’s exactly what they’ve done with Brightest Day as well.
So what did you all think of this latest issue? What about the Brightest Day series as a whole? After reading this series all year, are you more likely to pick up another bi-weekly DC series if they plan one for next year? Sound off in our handy comments section below J
BIG TIME! – Amazing Spider-Man #648
Title: Amazing Spider-Man #648 (Big Time part 1)
Author: Dan Slott
Artist: Humberto Ramos
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Rating: 13+
Release date: November 10, 2010
Verdict: 8.5/10
Almost exactly 3 years ago this month, Marvel Comics launched a new Spider-Man initiative called Brand New Day that would put all other inter-connected series to shame. Marvel, and Spider-Man editor Steve Wacker, decided to release Amazing Spider-Man not once…not twice…but three times a month. The idea would be that there would be enough fantastic creators working on Amazing Spider-Man that the three issues a month could all be by the same team, and the next month by another team. It meant you would only see certain creators on the book every few months, as they would need catch-up time, but the inter-connectivity and the fresh creators would make for a really cool run of stories. All of that comes to an end today after 102 issues of glory. Marvel’s new mandate for Amazing Spider-Man is now a release schedule of twice a month, with all issues written by Dan Slott with a few different pencilers scheduled to handle two to four issue arcs. The series will almost have the same frequency as before, but for the fans it will mean spending a little less each month on Amazing Spider-Man.
This new direction for Amazing Spider-Man also spelled a few big changes for Peter Parker. As everyone knows, no one has worst luck than Peter. If something can go wrong for Peter, it does. If Peter goes out of his way and saves all of New York, he invariably gets kicked out of his apartment or gets robbed or something. The dude just has terrible luck. Finally, it seems like things may start looking up for Spider-Man. Peter has just scored a gig as a member of en elite think tank where he can finally get back to being the science whiz that he truly is. This think tank gives Peter the freedom to come and go as he pleases, so being Spider-Man may not get his ass fired in the first week. It really sounds cool, and it will be nice that Peter isn’t always whining about missing whatever job he’s doing because of his responsibilities as Spider-Man. That gets very old, very fast.
This weeks Amazing #648, Big Time part one, was beautiful. Humberto Ramos provides us with some of his best pencil work to date, and Dan Slott proves that no one else at Marvel can hear Peter Parker’s voice quite as well as he can. This creative duo will use this first arc to establish the new status quo in Peter Parker’s life, but they will also use the arc to reintroduce villains like Kingpin and Hobgoblin. New people will join the supporting cast in the various arenas of Peter’s life, and new challenges will spring up around every corner. All in all, I really enjoyed this issue, and I’m actually considering buying this book on its new bi-weekly basis. Three times a month was a bit much, but as I love DC’s Brightest Day, which also ships bi-weekly, I think I’ll stick around for at least this first arc.
What did you all think of Big Time? Are you more likely to pick up every issue with the new bi-weekly schedule? Do you think that Dan Slott was the best guy for the regular writing gig? Did you think Humberto Ramos draws feet too big? We want to hear it all. Just sound off in our handy comments section below J .
Bank Street HeroClix for November 2010
Thursday, November 4th – That guy’s just here to increase sales. Build a 400 point team which must include a Deadpool or Wolverine figure.
Saturday, November 6th – 400 Point Team Tournament: Build 400 Point themed team based around a team name keyword (Avengers, X-Men, etc). Prizes include a LE #102 – Night Nurse figure for both the Champion and Fellowship winners, and a web special terrain marker for 2nd Place.
Thursday, November 11th – Remembrance Day. Build a 400 point team of characters with the soldier keyword.
Saturday, November 13th – 300 Point Obscure Tournament. Build a 300 point themed team based around an obscure non-generic keyword. Up for grabs is LE #103 – Toxin for both the Champion and Fellowship winners and a web special terrain marker for 2nd Place.
Thursday, November 18th – Up Close and Personal. Build a 500 Point team where all characters have a range value of O.
Saturday, November 20th – 400 Point Modern Age Tournament: Build a 400 Point team under the Modern Age construction rules. No Feats (including ATA’s) or Battlefield Conditions, and only characters from the following sets:
Marvel HeroClix: Avengers, Monsters and Mutations, Secret Invasion (which includes the Fantastic Four starter), Hammer of Thor, and Web of Spider-Man.
DC HeroClix: Justice League, Crisis (which includes the Anti-Monitor Action Pack), Batman Alpha, Arkham Asylum, The Brave and the Bold, the Blackest Night starter, and the Brightest Day Action Pack.
HeroClix Classics: All of the HeroClix Classic figures are a part of the Modern Age format. Any figure from a Golden Age set that has been reprinted in a HeroClix Classics set is considered Modern Age as well, and can be used in place of the Classics figure. A reprint is a figure that is identical to an older figure in every aspect except for set symbol and collector’s number.
Up for grabs is a LE #105 – The Burglar for both the Champion and Fellowship winners and a web special terrain marker for 2nd Place.
Thursday, November 25th - Comic Accurate. Build a 400 point themed team with a comic accurate line-up of characters, based on any story from the past year.
Saturday, November 27th – 400 Point Villains Tournament: Build a 400 point team comprised entirely of villains. Up for grabs is a LE #104 – Daken for both the Champion and Fellowship winners and a web special terrain marker for 2nd Place.
Green Lantern: Emerald Warriors #1
Title: Green Lantern: Emerald Warriors
Author: Peter Tomasi
Artist: Fernando Pasarin
Publisher: DC Comics
Rating: 13+
Release date: August 11, 2010
Verdict: 9/10
Spinning out of the goodness that has been the Brightest Day, DC Comics has finally released that Guy Gardner starring Green Lantern book, Emerald Warriors, written by Green Lantern Universe co-plotter Peter Tomasi, late of Green Lantern Corps, and featuring gorgeous artwork by up and comer Fernando Pasarin.
Issue #1 opens up with Guy Gardner hanging out in his apartment on Oa where he starts recording a message to an unknown recipient, when out of the blue his ring lets him know the location of a stolen item he has been actively looking for. From here Guy takes to the spaceways and does his “cop thing” in grand Guy Gardner fashion by smashing the bad guy’s hoopty into rubble. And when I say rubble, I mean rubble. Guy took this opportunity to conger up a huge baseball bat with his ring, and then treated the bad guy spaceship like a piñata!
Ever since this series has been announced, Geoff Johns and Peter Tomasi have hinted at a pact made between Guy Gardner, Ganthet (the Oan guardian who wears a Green ring now), and Atrocitus (leader of the Red Lanterns of which Guy was a member for a short time) in the pages of Blackest Night as well as in Green Lantern Corps. Maybe I just missed it, but the details of the pact were never revealed. The only thing Gardner said was that if he went through with this, then any relationship that he has with Hal Jordan would basically be at an end.
We then cut to Guy Gardner as he is in the midst of a meeting with the Guardians. He spells out a plan that would involve him heading out into the unknown sectors and doing some “Lewis & Clarking”. Guy’s argument was that what the guardians don’t know can in fact hurt them. The Guardians agree and Guy says thanks and heads out. After meeting with Ganthet in a secret area of Oa and discussing their “plan” with Atrocitus, but still giving no actual clue as to what their plan is, Gardner heads back to his place to finish the recording. While he’s doing this, I noticed that the symbol of the Red Lanterns was in his eyes, and he starts to leak some blood from his mouth just like the Red Lanterns do. Does this mean that deep down, Guy still has some of that Red Lantern mojo inside him? And who was that recording for? Hal Jordan? Kyle Rayner? His ex-girlfriend Ice? This series is shaping up to be a good one. Ever since Guy took center stage in the Green Lantern Corps series, I’ve been waiting for him to get his own solo book. So far so good! What did you guys think? Sound off in our handy-dandy comments section below J .
Brightest Day #7 – Finally, some answers!
Title: Brightest Day #7
Author: Geoff Johns & Peter Tomasi
Artist(s): Ivan Reis, Patrick Gleason, Adrian Syaf Scott Clark, and Joe Prado
Publisher: DC Comics
Rating: 13+
Release date: August 4, 2010
Verdict: 9/10
Continuing on its impressive bi-weekly schedule, Brightest Day #7 came our way this week. Since issue #1 this story has been developing at a great pace, and this week’s issue was no different. Geoff Johns and Peter Tomasi’s post-Blackest Night series has been the epitome of consistency and has kept me waiting for more after each issue. By only spending a few pages per character per issue it feels like we’re getting the best of each of these characters. Less is more in this case, and Mr.’s Johns and Tomasi have thankfully recognized this.
Issue seven opens with Deadman, as most of the issues have, this time in a diner finally having something to eat for the first time in a very, very long time. Deadman is still trying to figure out why he along with the other 11 people, have been brought back from the grave. Not only that, but what does the White Lantern in Silver City, New Mexico, has to do with all of this. Well, it turns out an awful lot. The White Lantern finally speaks up and reveals to Deadman that he has been chosen for a very special task. Picking up the White Lantern in a scene reminiscent of King Arthur’s Sword in the Stone fable, the White Lantern entity that we met at the end of the Blackest Night reveals to Deadman that he has been chosen to find a new protector of Earth.
From here the White Light begins to affect all the resurrected heroes/villains. Both Hawk and Dove, Martian Manhunter, Firestorm, both Hawkman and Hawkgirl, Aquaman, Captain Boomerang, Jade, Osiris, Maxwell Lord, and Professor Zoom are all changed by the Light and are also given tasks to complete. It seems all of these tasks will lead to a singular goal of giving Earth its newest protector.
I mentioned before about the wonderful consistency of this series, and this issue was no different. It’s like a grand tapestry where we only get tidbits from all the corners as the big picture is slowly revealed. I don’t know how long this series will run, but my guess is about 25-30 issues. That means were roughly a quarter of the way through. If you aren’t checking out this series, you should really consider it. Unlike 52 and Countdown, this series seems to be a really tight story that is already all the way worked out. It’s definitely worth you time and money. What did you guys think? Is Boston Brand up to the task of securing Earth’s future? Will Hawkman and Hawkgirl escape the eternal torment that is Hath-Set’s curse of eternal death? Will J’onn J’onnz be able to resurrect Mars? Will Ronny Raymond and Jason Rusch make peace? Can Aquaman escape the Atlantean assassins? Answers are to come J .
Green Lantern #53
Title: Green Lantern #53
Author: Geoff Johns
Artist: Doug Manke & Christian Alamy
Storyline: Brightest Day – The New Guardians
Publisher: DC Comics
Rating: 13+
Release date: April 21, 2010
Verdict: 9/10
With the end of Blackest Night and the massive crossover that it was, DC has brought us an era simply entitled, The Brightest Day. In this new Brightest Day era, the monthly Green Lantern series has started a new storyarc that picks up where Blackest Night left off, called The New Guardians. And with a cover like that one, you can tell that this arc may change the status quo of the Green Lantern Corps forever.
Our story kicks off at Belle Reve prison in Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana with one Hector Hammond thinking thoughts of Hal Jordan and his adventurous and action-packed existence. But Hammond isn’t alone. Another mind is touching his from across the vastness of space. It’s actually coming from the planet Ryut in the “lost sector” (666), former home to the Black Lantern Corps. But who, exactly, is it on Ryut who is reaching out? That’s the question…
Meanwhile on Earth… Hal Jordan and Carol Ferris are having a drink and trying to wind down from all the craziness of the last few days, but an uncomfortable silence lingers between them. To get past it, they take to the skies in two of Ferris’ aircrafts and do what they love to do best: fly fighter jets. While they’re having a ball in the planes, Sinestro comes from out of nowhere and drafts Hal into his investigation of the White Lantern. Back in Brightest Day #0 Sinestro found the only remaining Lantern (not a person, but an actual Lantern), and it asked for Hal, hence the “team-up”. What this really did was make me want to see Hal and Sinestro get past all they’re animosity towards each other (and maybe a little lightening of Sinestro’s ego), and team-up like the old days. Don’t you want to see them solve a mystery together without the constant threat of them killing each other? I sure do, but I digress.
Cut to Ysmault and the lamentations of Atrocitus as he plans his attack on the Green Lantern Corps that was stalled due to the truce amongst the various Lantern Corps’ during the Blackest Night crisis. The fact that he wants to attack and kill the Guardians of Oa is no surprise to me, but the fact that he was planning said attack with the help of one of those Guardian’s as well as an extremely popular Green Lantern…this is what blew my mind. This was what made this issue, and it was on the last page. No spoilers here! You must read it! Suffice it to say, the various Green Lantern monthly series (all three of them) are looking like they are still full of potential J .
Brightest Day #0 – New Beginnings
Title: Brightest Day #0
Author: Geoff Johns & Peter Tomasi
Artist: Fernando Pasarin
Storyline: Brightest Day bi-weekly series
Publisher: DC Comics
Rating: 13+
Release date: April 14, 2010
Verdict: 9/10
Fresh off the end of DC Comics massive Blackest Night Event comes the newest DCUniverse book, Brightest Day. This series will be coming out twice a month for at least the next year, so we won’t have to buy another weekly book like 52 and Countdown. The bi-weekly schedule also allows for more cohesion in the creative process as where 4-5 artists were needed per month before, now 2 will suffice. Also, only Geoff Johns and Peter Tomasi will be writing the book, and since they’ve been the creative force shepherding the Green Lantern portion of the DCU for last few years, I think this series is in quite good hands. We can even expect Green Lantern artists like Ivan Reis and Patrick Gleason to be two of the biggest contributors to this run. Their first instalments will be in May. Now onto issue #0 J
The first thing about this book that caught my eye was the amazing cover by new DC exclusive artist, Dave Finch. The cover features the whole crew of 12 that were resurrected at the end of Blackest Night (Hawkman, Hawkgirl, Deadman, Prof. Zoom, Martian Manhunter, Firestorm, Aquaman, Maxwell Lord, Osiris, Hawk, Jade, and Captain Boomerang), plus Hal Jordan (Green Lantern) and Barry Allen (The Flash). Seeing Hal, Barry, The Martian Manhunter, Aquaman, Firestorm and the Hawks all together makes me think that this could be one of the best JLA line-up’s in history, and they don’t even have any of the “Big 3″. From there this beautiful double-sized issue starts out with Deadman (Boston Brand) absolutely destroying his own tombstone.
Boston Brand is back in the land of the living for the first time in a very long time. Brand was never known for having powers of any kind while he was alive, but as Deadman he was able to possess a person’s body for short periods of time. Now he’s back and he has several adjustments to make. One of those adjustments is the fact that Brand was the only one after the Blackest Night to retain his White Power Ring. What does the White Ring do? It’s a massive symbol of irony I guess as we see in the first few pages, the White Ring gives life to what was dead. After seeing this, it seems to me like Boston Brand may now be the most powerful being in existence. He has the power to restore life.
From this point Boston is taken by his White Ring to various places where he gets to observe the other resurrected heroes and villains. First it’s Aquaman and Mera at Amnesty Bay and the Lighthouse where Arthur is contemplating going back into the ocean for the first time since he was raised. Then it’s onto Central City at Iron Heights prison where Professor Zoom is being held in confinement and The Flash is talking with Captain Boomerang a few cells down. Then it’s onto the Hawks in St. Roch Louisiana who are remembering past lives and making love. Maxwell Lord is hiding out in the abandoned JLI embassy in New York and making his plans again. Then it’s off to Mars to see J’onn J’onnz with Hal Jordan and Guy Gardner paying him a visit. Then one by one we get to see all the resurrectee’s from Boston’s POV. What is kind of weird about the visits is that it seems Mr. Brand is still able to hide from everyone’s sight. Before it was kind of a curse, but now it seems like an extension of his White Ring powers.
What this issue really accomplishes is showing us where the story is seemingly going. There are a lot of characters starring in this tale and we want to see them all get into it and get back into living. Thankfully Geoff Johns and Peter Tomasi have plenty of experience dealing with large casts of characters. In fact, with only 14-15 main characters, this book will seem slightly smaller in cast size than several previous books they’ve handled. Some of the little “easter eggs” I noticed in the issue included the Pink Zamaronian crystal that Hawkgirl has…the residual Black Ring essence in Jade’s Starburst…the fact that Boston Brand can still hang around invisible and that he, unlike anyone else, still remembers everything about Maxwell Lord…The Martian Manhunter wants to resurrect Mars via a previously unknown underground aquifer…Star City is back in a big way…and Sinestro may be closer to getting back the White Power than we think. All of these have great story potential and I hope we get to see them come to fruition over this year.
This first issue was great and it surprised me. I picked up 52 when it was the weekly series and ended up feeling burnt out on it after the first dozen issues. Countdown never really did it for me and I only lasted two or three weeks. But this new book looks like it will be the best one yet. The smaller creative circle makes me think that this book will be creatively satisfying and also quite grand in scale. With only a few fingers in the pie, the story should stay tighter and will feel more relevant. Bring on issue #1!!! I hope to be here for the long haul! How about you? Sound off in our comments section below. PS: I WANT THIS COVER AS A HARD BACKED POSTER ON MY WALL STAT!!! J
Comic News 18th January
Huge news regarding the secret identity of Twilight, the season 8 big bad from Buffy: The Vampire Slayer. No spoilers here, but click HERE for the scoop…
DC Comics has announced that they will follow up the massive Green Lantern Blackest Night crossover with a new 26-issue bi-weekly series entitled, Brightest Day. Writers Geoff Johns and Peter Tomasi will co-write the series with a rotating band of artists, much in the same way 52, Countdown to Final Crisis, and Trinity did.
Speaking of bi-weekly 26 issue series…DC Comics has announced that they will also be producing Justice League International as a bi-weekly series for 26 issues. The series is called JLI: Generation Lost and will be co-written by Keith Giffen and Judd Winick, and will also feature a rotating cast of artists.
With the debut of the April 2010 Marvel Comics solicitations, it has been revealed that Marvel will end all of their Avengers titles (New Avengers, Dark Avengers, Avengers: The Initiative) in the month. Tying into Marvel’s big event, Siege, the Avengers books will have one grand 64-page bookend called New Avengers: Finale. Fans may recognize the title, as when Marvel ended the original Avengers back before Civil War there was a book entitled, Avengers: Finale. The big news about this new finale is that it will be written by Brian Michael Bendis and will feature artwork by Bryan Hitch. This will mark the first time these two major Marvel creators have worked together. It should be epic!
DC Comics has announced that their former President and Publisher, Paul Levitz, will be re-launching the Legion of Super-Heroes along with artist Yildiray Cinar. No word on the date, but we will update you as soon as we know.
DC Comics has also announced that they will be re-launching Birds of Prey come spring time. The best news about this re-launch is that the creative team of Gail Simone and Ed Benes, possibly the best team to ever work on volume one of Birds of Prey, will be the ones taking the book on.
Long time Marvel exclusive creator and award winning artist Dave Finch (Ultimatum, Moon Knight), has moved across the street! DC Comics announced that Dave Finch has been poached from Marvel, and is now exclusive to DC Comics. No word on which book he will be tackling, but the scuttlebutt is that he will produce a round of covers for DC first, and then move onto a project.