Bat Titles (and Shade Mini Series!!!) Solicits for October 2011

[espanolbot]

BATGIRL #2

Written by GAIL SIMONE
Art by ARDIAN SYAF and VICENTE CIFUENTES
Cover by ADAM HUGHES
On sale OCTOBER 12 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
The nightmare-inducing brute known as Mirror is destroying the lives of Gotham City citizens seemingly at random, and an explosive confrontation between Batgirl and Mirror leads Babs to question wearing the cape and cowl at all!
The riveting adventures of Batgirl continue in stunning fashion, with script by fan-favorite Gail Simone and stellar art by superstar Ardian Syaf!

It's a good cover, though as someone previous said Barbara looks like twelve years old facially, and I have to say I am interested in this Mirror guy. Gail Simone does make and write very good villains.

NIGHTWING #2

Written by KYLE HIGGINS
Art and cover by EDDY BARROWS and JP MAYER
On sale OCTOBER 19 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
When a mysterious assassin targets Dick Grayson, Nightwing must work fast to uncover the killer’s plot before he strikes again. But as Haley’s Circus continues to perform in Gotham City, Dick finds himself torn between two lives: His old one as a circus performer and his new one as a Super Hero. And they may be more connected than he ever realized!

Huh, why is Dick being attacked by someone wearing the X-Men's First Class outfit?

BIRDS OF PREY #2

Written by DUANE SWIERCZYNSKI
Art and cover by JESUS SAIZ
On sale OCTOBER 19 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
An explosion in a secure Gotham City airport terminal hurls Black Canary and Starling headlong into a nightmare involving stolen pharmaceuticals, terrorists for hire and killers in stealth suits who can appear – and disappear – at will. When Canary calls in backup, Starling’s not so sure a vengeful samurai who talks to her dead husband in a sword is the best choice.

Rather have Katana helping me out than you, woman who I don't know who you are.

CATWOMAN #2

Written by JUDD WINICK
Art and cover by GUILLEM MARCH
On sale OCTOBER 19 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+
She’s a thief who lives to steal just for the thrill of breaking the law. He’s The Dark Knight, obsessively driven to battle evil with every ounce of his strength. They should keep each other at arm’s length, but...they just can’t seem to help themselves! Don’t miss this issue – things are gonna get messy!

Another interesting cover, BUT this doesn't really say anything about what's going on in the issue, beyond the standard "Selina and Bruce are sorta dating, but they shouldn't, 'cause they're on different sides of the law and stuff" cliche. She is robbing someone? Does Bruce suspect her of a crime? What's going on?

PENGUIN: PAIN AND PREJUDICE #1

Written by GREGG HURWITZ
Art and cover by SZYMON KUDRANSKI
On sale OCTOBER 5 • 1 of 5, 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
In this exciting new miniseries from novelist Gregg Hurwitz (You’re Next) and rising star artist Szymon Kudranksi (Spawn), the painful and dark past of one of Batman’s most devious foes is examined. How did young Oswald Cobblepot go from being the apple of his mother’s eye to the leader of underworld gangs and adversary of The Caped Crusader? Find out in PENGUIN: PAIN AND PREJUDICE!

Oh, Boy! The Penguin! Surely this will be a story for the ages! Admittedly his past isn't as examined as the Joker's, Two-Face's, Scarecrow's or even the Riddler's so it COULD be interesting, but... I just don't really see that interesting a villain in his own right.

RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #2

Written by SCOTT LOBDELL
Art and cover by KENNETH ROCAFORT and BLOND
On sale OCTOBER 19 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Red Hood is already globe-trotting in an effort to find the ancient assassins behind the slaughter of those who taught him some of his darkest skills... and if Roy and Kori are going to be of any help, well, they’ll just have to tag along – whether Jason wants them to or not!

I love how utterly disinterested Kori looks in this cover. Her seemingly disintegrating some guy's face... not so much. Especially as they seem to be trying to juxtapose the flesh being burned from a man's face with her cleavage. Smooth, DC. Though in regards to the actual storyline, I thought that Jason pretty much murdered all of his mentors during that miniseries he had a while ago? Ah well.

And finally, a series I've been waiting for for YEARS...

THE SHADE #1

Written by JAMES ROBINSON
Art by CULLY HAMNER
Cover by TONY HARRIS
1:10 Variant cover by CULLY HAMNER
On sale OCTOBER 12 * 1 of 12, 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US * RATED T+
Retailers: This issue will ship with two covers. See the Previews order form for more information.
James Robinson returns to the world of his acclaimed STARMAN series with a new 12-issue series starring the antihero known as The Shade! An attack at the Starman museum kicks off a globe-hopping, centuries spanning quest that will irrevocably change The Shade's life, and ultimately shed light on his true origin! Artist extraordinaire Cully Hamner (RED) kicks off the series, and upcoming issues will feature art by such luminaries as Darwyn Cooke, Javier Pulido, Jill Thompson, Frazer Irving and Gene Ha!

YAY! The character! The artists! YAAAAAAAY! *dances about happily* Dear God, I've been waiting for this comic for literally YEARS.

The Shade is a Golden Age Flash supervillain who has control over shadow, manipulating them like a be-tophatted negative Green Lantern. He was given an extensive revision by James Robinson during his excellent Starman series, in which the Shade went from being a kind flat, old fashioned supercriminal to being an ally and friend of the lead character, Jack Knight, and eventually becoming the main hero in their town, Opal City.

He's appeared a couple of times since, in Green Arrow and in the woeful Cry for Justice series, for example, but him being written by the guy who brought him to the fore without the distractions of other people's stories getting in the way is really something I've been looking forward to.

Can't wait.

...

Also, is it me, or is the Shade giving off Robert Downey Junior as Sherlock Holmes vibes there?

Comments

[leikomgwtfbbq]

...Shade mini, you say? I'm sorely tempted. XD

[thehefner]

Oh, Boy! The Penguin! Surely this will be a story for the ages! Admittedly his past isn't as examined as the Joker's, Two-Face's, Scarecrow's or even the Riddler's so it COULD be interesting, but... I just don't really see that interesting a villain in his own right.

Clearly I or somebody else needs to post Ostrander's Penguin Triumphant, which is probably the best take on the character this side of the "Birds of a Feather" episode of TAS. Ozzie's a wonderful character that few know how to handle well. The last time anyone wrote him well in the past fifteen years was, what, Jason Aaron's Joker's Asylum: Penguin one-shot?

It furthermore sounds like this writer's expanding upon Penguin's origin from Secret Origins Special, with his childhood bully. That was a fine, fine story too, if you haven't read it. Really, that, JA:P, and PT make a great trilogy in the evolution of young Oswald into the ruthless Penguin. Hopefully the mini-series will be half as good, because god knows the character needs love.

[sun_man]

you left out Batwing

[thanekos]

I imagine Dick's would-be killer went for the blades once he realized how generic he looked.

(It is an intimidating look, though, if not mint-flavored.)

[turtlefu]

So apparently editorially mandated pants don't extend to Kory.

I don't know if that's good or bad.

Also, I really hope the Shade miniseries isn't changed to fit in with the new DCU.

[sigmund_droid]

Dammmnnn that penguin cover looks fine.


And lol At Starfire's clothing. Women now get pants! Starfire somehow gets less clothing! (Not that I'm truly complaining, it's sort of part of her character I guess)

[whitesycamore]

I want to be the first to point out JASON'S AREA. LOOK AT IT.

[indy2012]

Can't stand Winick. He can't write intelligent adults. Seems like he's turning Selina back into the giant purple cat version of the character, except in the Darwyn Cooke costume.

And Birds of Prey looks... different. I felt much better about the series when I heard that Babs wouldn't be leaving the title and that Helena would still be thrown in somewhere too. As for Ivy, I'm really interested to see what the writer does with her.

[grazzt]

The Shade news makes me want to squee like a little girl.

[mommy]

I prefer Starfire's older uniform. She's had it (or variations of it) since the eighties. It's just part of her look.

Is Nightwing's uniform blue and red? The black bits there look awfully blue, especially when compared to the black bits on the costume of the guy he's fighting.

[biod]

A sword, Jason? Between your new costume, your new attitude, and this, you are becoming Deadpool, X-tra Jerkass.

[aaron_bourque]

Batgirl #2

Ready to quit on the SECOND issue? OH THERE IS SO MUCH TENSION, IS SHE REALLY GOING TO QUIT, GUYS?

Nightwing #2
. . . why is there red on Nightwing's costume? And what the fuck is with EVERY hero having those stupid lines on their costume?

Birds of Prey #2
Okay, wait, "Starling"? What? Oh, she has a luger and a dragon tattoo, we've never heard of her before, and she's apparently on level with Black Canary. Mary who? No, not Whitehouse.

Y'know what, I was gonna continue to comment, but it all boils down to "This is stupid and pointless, why are they doing this?" and it's too damn early in the morning for me to get this angry.

Aaron "The Mad Whitaker" Bourque; okay, so it's 1 o'clock here I am, it's still to damn early.

[an_idol_mind]

The Penguin mini sounds interesting, especially if he's presented as semi-legit but with a larcenous heart. He's currently got a nifty little role in Flashpoint as Thomas Wayne's right-hand man, and my only disappointment there is that he's not getting much page time.

Come to think of it, quite a lot of Batman's villains could make for interesting miniseries. The Riddler and Two-Face come to mind immediately.

[zechs80]

The Shade mini AT LONG LAST?! *falls over*

Also you so called it espanolbot on what happens in Red Robin #25. The preview's out on CBR.

[biod]

Am I the only one who thinks Dick REALLY looks like Matt Murdock in that cover? I thought it could be the cane or the red, but it's the face that draws all the comparison to me.
I can't say I like the red with that shade of blue, but I'd have to see more pictures.

[shadowpsykie]

I love how utterly disinterested Kori looks in this cover. Her seemingly disintegrating some guy's face... not so much. Especially as they seem to be trying to juxtapose the flesh being burned from a man's face with her cleavage.

Yeah... i posted my opinion on DC Women kicking ass, but i expanded on it on my blog http://fanboywatchtower.tumblr.com/post/7541693323/the-princess-new-clothes-my-take-on-starfires-new

Also, is it me, or is the Shade giving off Robert Downey Junior as Sherlock Holmes vibes there?

oh god i can't unsee that! "Get your cane out of my face,"

"Its not in your face its in my hand" :D

sexy times with Jude law :DD

[red_menace]

Roy, sweetheart, don't you think it's time to take that silly hat off?

[midnightvoyager]

EEEEEEEEEEEEEESHADESHADESHADESHADESHADE

i'mokayiswear

<3<3<3

Little question...

[kenwyn89]

Can someone point me to Kyle Higgin's work so I can catch up what his Nightwing will hopefully be like, please? :) I like the solicit though. I still hate the red.

[silicondream]

Finally, we'll get to learn the Shade's true true true origin!

I wish Babs was a bit less..pinup-girl-in-peril-ish on that cover. I mean, I know it's Adam Hughes, but still. She looks less formidable than I do.

[autumn_lily]

.....My deep love of The Shade dictates that I have no choice to buy this.

Also I've been waiting for this mini forever.

[halloweenjack]

Babs, there's a guy behind--Babs, are you lis--Barbara Gordon, will you please take that batarang out of your ear for one second...

[blackruzsa]

I am amused by Roy's hat.