DC Solicits of Interest - December 2012

[espanolbot]

WONDER WOMAN #15


Written by BRIAN AZZARELLO
Art and cover by CLIFF CHIANG
1:25 Variant cover by CLIFF CHIANG
On sale DECEMBER 19 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Retailers: This issue will ship with two covers. The variant cover will feature the standard edition cover in a wraparound format.
• Who is Orion — and what are the New Gods?!
• Massive changes are coming for Wonder Woman and the entire DC Universe!
• Get ready for round 1 of Wonder Woman vs. Orion!

The New Gods are comin' back baby! :D And not just Darkseid, who is in a lot of ways the least interesting of them, if only due to his over exposure.

BATMAN, INCORPORATED #6


Written by GRANT MORRISON
Art and cover by CHRIS BURNHAM
Variant cover by JUAN JOSE RYP
1:100 B&W Variant cover by CHRIS BURNHAM
On sale JANUARY 2 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T

Combo pack edition: $3.99 US
Retailers: This issue will ship with four covers. The variant cover will feature the standard edition cover in a wraparound format.
• Bat-Robots versus Man-Bat armies as Leviathan takes control of Gotham City!
• Don’t miss the return of The Heretic!
This issue is also offered as a combo pack edition with a redemption code for a digital download of this issue.

The return of the Heretic? Didn't even know he'd gone. Heh, Damian-as-justice is peeking.

BATMAN #15


Written by SCOTT SNYDER
Backup story written by SCOTT SNYDER and JAMES TYNION IV
Art by GREG CAPULLO and JONATHAN GLAPION
Backup story art by JOCK
Cover by GREG CAPULLO
Variant cover by GREG CAPULLO
1:100 B&W Variant cover by GREG CAPULLO
On sale DECEMBER 12 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T
Combo pack edition: $4.99 US
Retailers: This issue will ship with four covers. Please see the order form for more information.
• “DEATH OF THE FAMILY” continues here!
• The Joker’s attacks have taken their toll on Batman and his allies, and now they have to face the impossible.
• The final madness of The Joker’s plan revealed here! Why is he more dangerous now than ever before?
• Plus: In the backup feature, witness The Joker’s confrontation with the Riddler as the horror of The Joker’s plan is revealed.
This issue is also offered as a combo pack edition with a redemption code for a digital download of this issue.

Cool cover, and intrigued to the story too. If the Riddler thing contains a reference to that stupid acknowledgement of his "failed comedian" past, I won't be pleased though.

DETECTIVE COMICS #15


Written by JOHN LAYMAN
Art by JASON FABOK
Backup story art by ANDY CLARKE
Cover by GREG CAPULLO
1:25 B&W Variant cover by GREG CAPULLO
On sale DECEMBER 5 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T
Combo pack edition: $4.99 US
Retailers: This issue will ship with three covers. Please see the order form for more information.
• A “DEATH OF THE FAMILY” tie-in!
• What has The Joker done with The Penguin?
• Guest-starring Poison Ivy and Clayface!
• Plus: In the backup story, learn the secret way to make it as a super criminal in Gotham City.
This issue is also offered as a combo pack edition with a redemption code for a digital download of this issue.

Interesting cover, Ivy with flesh-tone skin weirds me out a little, as does her black costume.

BATMAN AND ROBIN #15


Written by PETER J. TOMASI
Art by PATRICK GLEASON and MICK GRAY
Cover by GREG CAPULLO
On sale DECEMBER 12 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T.
• A “DEATH OF THE FAMILY” tie-in!
• Damian vs. The Joker!
• Has The Joker finally met a Robin as dangerous as he is? Or will The Clown Prince of Crime claim another of Batman’s allies as his victim?

*sigh* I've done this already in the story where Bruce returns from the future, and it was awesome.

BATGIRL #15


Written by GAIL SIMONE
Art and cover by ED BENES
On sale DECEMBER 12 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
• A “DEATH OF THE FAMILY” tie-in!
• With so many funerals planned, The Joker decides it’s time for a wedding!
• Barbara’s first confrontation with The Joker since he shot her is coming to a horrifying conclusion!

Whut?

TEEN TITANS #15


Written by SCOTT LOBDELL
Art by BRETT BOOTH and NORM RAPMUND
Cover by GREG CAPULLO
1:25 B&W Variant cover by BRETT BOOTH and MARK IRWIN
On sale JANUARY 2 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Retailers: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the order form for more information.
• A “DEATH OF THE FAMILY” tie-in!
• Red Hood and Red Robin team up against The Joker!
• Will Arsenal take over the Titans?
• Guest-starring Batgirl!

Great, now I feel bad for wanting the Joker to injure Jason and Roy again. And who wants to bet it'll have NO connection with what's happening with Tim and Barbara in the other parts of the crossover?

JSA: THE LIBERTY FILES – THE WHISTLING SKULL #1


Written by B. CLAY MOORE
Art and cover by TONY HARRIS
1:10 Variant cover by TONY HARRIS
On sale DECEMBER 19 • 32 pg, FC, 1 of 6, $2.99 US • RATED T
Retailers: This issue will ship with two covers. See the order form for details.
• A new series from acclaimed creators B. Clay Moore (Hawaiian Dick) and Tony Harris (EX MACHINA, STARMAN)!
• In 1940s Europe, the Nazi war machine is on the move…but crimes are still committed in even the smallest hamlets. Can one heroic duo solve the most bizarre mystery of all?
• From the world of the JSA: THE LIBERTY FILES, witness the birth of a new hero for the ages!

Oh, this should be fun! :D

BATMAN BEYOND UNLIMITED #11


Written by ADAM BEECHEN, J.T. KRUL, DUSTIN NGUYEN and DEREK FRIDOLFS
Art by FIONA STAPLES, HOWARD PORTER, LIVESAY and NORM BREYFOGLE
Cover by DUSTIN NGUYEN
On sale JANUARY 2 • 48 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T
• The first time in print for these digital-first adventures!
• The Joker King’s assault on Gotham City takes a dark, sinister twist…can Bruce Wayne and Batman thwart his evil plan?
• The origin of Justice League Beyond member Micron is revealed, illustrated by the Eisner-nominated Fiona Staples, artist on the best-selling series Saga.
• The shocking motivations of Superman’s new enemies are revealed — followed by the Beyond Universe debut of one of DC’s most beloved characters!

Okay, colour me intrigued. I'm guessing the debut'll be Wonder Woman, as she's still around but hasn't made an appearance yet, to my knowledge.

Comments

[pyynk]

The Whistling Skull? In the DCU (sort of)? Fascinating!

[darkknightjrk]

It's based on an Elseworld mini they did sometime back called JSA: The Liberty Files. From what I understand (I haven't read it myself), it was sort of a semi-realistic take on the JSA if they were Allied agents fighting in the trenches during WWII.

[mrstatham]

Not really all that realistic. There were still all kinds of superpowers, and it was more of a kind of spy-based operation; The first story had them taking on a Joker-themed spy, the next story had them fighting a really, really freaking creepy undead Scarecrow, and the final story.. Well, that'd be a complete spoiler. But it's good stuff. Not exactly important or essential reading, but it's a great distraction. Plus an excuse to see Tony Harris drawing all kinds of 1940/50's themed DC characters.

[pyynk]

Oh yeah, read and loved the Liberty Files. I just assumed that he was going to keep the Whistling Skull out of the DCU.

[kurenai_tenka]

Greg Capullo draws all the covers!

...except the Batgirl one, anyway. Am I the only one very concerned about where that is going? Generally I think that because it's Gail Simone it can't be anything too unpleasant, but still.

[thefiretonight]

Several of those solicits have the wrong artist on the cover. The only one Capullo did was Batman.

[kurenai_tenka]

Oh really? That's a shame. Is the correct info listed anywhere?

[thefiretonight]

I don't think it is cos DC's site even has it that way but the artist generally signs the cover somewhere. Like Booth and Rapmund signed TT in one of the playing cards.

[kurenai_tenka]

Hmm true, though with the playing cards I was assuming that to be Booth's previous art being included in Capullo's cover.

Gdi, annoying.

[mrstatham]

"Generally I think that because it's Gail Simone it can't be anything too unpleasant, but still."

Given some of the Batgirl book's moments so far, and the nastier moments of Secret Six? Sure it can be unpleasant, even under Simone's pen.

[kurenai_tenka]

I should clarify that I don't mean unpleasant as in 'bad things happen', more like 'distasteful and exploitative'.

[mrstatham]

Well, to be honest, I still feel (and clearly others did, given the reaction to particular events in her second BOP run amongst other bits and pieces) that she's capable of distasteful moments. She's no Mark Millar, but she's not completely void of those unpleasant moments.

(tw: rape)

[kurenai_tenka]

That's worrying. Frankly I've been nervous since Snyder's list of potential 'bad things' included rape, so this 'marriage' angle is skeeving me out somewhat... but I'd like to think it's the kind of thing that Simone wouldn't do.

Benes isn't helping. :P

Re: (tw: rape)

[mrstatham]

I don't know Snyder's list of stuff included that, although I'm not entirely surprised; The guy does writer something of a total monster in American Vampire on a consistent basis. I do hope he's smart enough to realise that.. Well, I don't entirely know how to phrase this without it sounding inflammatory, somehow, but I'd hope he understands a character like the Joker should be beyond something like rape... But then one of my big problems with Joker since TKJ is just the general lack of imagination behind a character that should arguably have a really huge one.

But.. I don't know. I really doubt anything huge will come of that marriage angle - I don't think Simone's going to want to waste the entire second year of her Batgirl run with more Joker-induced trauma, unless she really wants to bore the Hell out of an audience who've already had enough of TKJ references.

Re: (tw: rape)

[kurenai_tenka]

Yeah it was in one of his early interviews about the crossover. And yeah, it would be nice to have something more original and defining, but unfortunately I don't think the multiple authors method is going to achieve that.

I would hope she isn't going that route, though anything marriagey can't end well/less than skeevy, IMO. Agreed that more Barbara-Joker-trauma would be incredibly dull and redundant.

[silverhammerman]

I really don't feel like that's the appropriate Orion reaction to being punched. I mean, wasn't his whole thing back in the day that he was literally always raring to fight and his Mother Box was the only thing holding him back? Seems like he'd be more into it is all. Still, the New Gods, color me sold, I haven't been reading Wondy up to now but if the zero issue is any good I'll start reading from it, if not, next month I'll come aboard.
Y'know, I really do like Batman Inc and especially the art in the book, and I understand that since Morrison is stepping back from monthly comics for a while soon this is the culmination of his years of work on the Batman franchise, but somehow I'm just starting to lose interest in Batman and Talia's whole domestic dispute on a grand scale.
I really like that Batman cover with the Joker crouching inside Batman's head. It just looks so silly and delightful. And I must compliment the artist on Batman and Robin for managing to make the Joker's lips resemble the bat signal without looking overly goofy.
I have absolutely zero faith in the Teen Titans series and kind of wish this crossover would stay well away from it.
The Whistling Skull looks neat, I don't know much about it, but it looks and sounds neat, so there's that. I understand that it was originally to be set in it's own universe though, so I hope it doesn't suffer any from being put into the Liberty Files universe.
And seriously, is that the Joker King? Boy's got no damn style. Page own in the Joker handbook, style style style. Also, totally off topic, but what's up with that Chill character we saw a while back? He seemed cool (pun very much intended)

[icon_uk]

Orion's reaction could be his "Oh my me! SHE... IS... FABULOUS!!" look.

[shadwing]

So...

Punch to the helmet = I love you in Orion Speak

Good to know!

[mrstatham]

I have to be honest, I don't even get what they're going for with that Batman Inc cover. If they're trying to imply that Talia has given some kind of balance to Batman and what he was doing, then.. Um.. Fuck no. She's a supervillain who is kidnapping and murdering children, indoctrinating people, using her influence to take control of Gotham, etc, etc. I know it's meant to be a contrast to Bruce's 'Batman is EVERYWHERE' attitude, but seriously. She's a fucking nutjob supervillain.

[thefiretonight]

Great, now I feel bad for wanting the Joker to injure Jason and Roy again. And who wants to bet it'll have NO connection with what's happening with Tim and Barbara in the other parts of the crossover?

Well, since Tim's in RH as well, I'm guessing at least that'll sync up fine. ;)

[theflames]

Too. Much. Joker.

Love what they're doing with Wonder Woman - LOVE IT, it feels brilliant.

Too. Much. Joker.

[espanolbot]

Well, yeah, it's an event based around the Joker have not using him that much for a year or two. Kind of hard to not use the Joker in an event when he's the main villain in the arc.

[theflames]

Too much Joker as in - too much of him in general, 2 year? Pah! Let him rest for two more and flesh out the rest of the villains even MORE.

This event - too much Joker.

Even worse is that since he's one man, it's a little grating to have him affect all these people in one event by himself... but this is just a by product of having so many Bat books.

[espanolbot]

...He's the Joker, if he wasn't a threat to the Bat Folk he'd just be a joke, meaning we'd have to have, god forbid, Dr Hurt or whatever as the main villain of the series.

[silverhammerman]

Doctor Hurt may have sucked hard, but I too believe that we need to give another villain a chance to be the big threat. I feel like it's mostly been Joker and the al Ghuls for the past few years and I'm tired of it. I think one of the lesser Batman titles is using Scarecrow as their big villain right now and I applaud it. Everyone loves the Joker, but still, the Riddler would be perfect for a big scheme like this and Two-Face is never a bad move. Even Black Mask or the Penguin are good for stories more focused on organized crime. Nothing wrong with breaking the Joker out every year or so, but with decompression every time he appears it's for several issues at a time, which makes him feel a bit overexposed.

[theflames]

See that's the problem. If we don't have the Joker - we have nothing else. Lets at least *try* to pretend that it'd be nice to see other, established rouges level up to Joker status.

I'm not saying he shouldn't be a threat to the Batfolk, OI'm saying that he's a threat they obviously refuse to handle properly, and then we get this game of Tom and Jerry without the hilarity.

The Joker is done to death, they can't give him a definitive end, but they make his plots run around in circles, he just isn't that interesting in comic form.

[benuben]

"The Joker King’s assault on Gotham City takes a dark, sinister twist…can Bruce Wayne and Batman thwart his evil plan?"

Not even Batman Beyond is spared.

[wonderwomanhero]

Darn. I wanted Ivy to stay with the BOP...

[mrstatham]

The writer's (I apologise so much to him because I can't spell his name without looking it up) already stated in a response on Twitter that he still has plans for Ivy in the main BOP book. They've basically taken her out of play so she can appear in Detective Comics and the upcoming Rotworld crossover, from what I can see.

[mullon]

What if Joker just kills everyone?

[espanolbot]

The alternative is living in the DCnU, so being Jokered is preferable in a lot of ways.

That or kicking Barry Allen really hard in the nads for ruining everything.

[an_idol_mind]

Joker kills everybody, Flash has to run backwards through time to fix things, accidentally undoes Flashpoint, and we get back to the old DC Universe. I like it.

[darkknightjrk]

But if the Joker kills everyone, doesn't that mean he also killed The Flash?

[omnipotent]

Maybe Flash was juuuuust fast enough to avoid being killed? Idk.

[jlbarnett]

I just don't want to see the Joker anymore.

And who are all these deaths they're talking about?

[jaybee3]

I am deathly afraid that DC is going to bring back Cass Cain or Stephanie Brown just for the sake of killing them off in this Joker cross-over. There's always one character that's cannon fodder. That's their usual M.O. We know they're not going to do anything to any of the male Robins.

I'm starting to think the constant Killing Joke references are part of a inside joke by Gail since maybe Editorial demanded the story remain canon (while other - better - Batman stories were jettisoned). That's the only way I can explain it in my head. I can't believe DC really believes readers are buying Batgirl so that story can be referenced at least one every other issue.

I'm curious where exactly Talia will end up when Morrison's epic is finished (is Batman Inc. still part of new 52 continuity anyway?). She's not going to win and yet Morrison has made her so over-the-top evil I can't see Bruce just letting her get off scott-free (though he's done the same to Ra's over the years).

[darkknightjrk]

"There's always one character that's cannon fodder."

As I recall, Snyder did plan on a death, but Editorial apparently went "FUCK NO" so the character's just going to be maimed instead. It gives me a theory.

During his scheme, Joker horribly tortures/injures Alfred, however the rest of the Bat-Family make it in time to stop Joker before he can actually kill Alfred. With Alfred out of commission for a while, Bruce needs someone as a confident to help him and be his guide and confidant when he's doing his solo thing. Enter Harper Row...

[mrstatham]

Whilst I'm not entirely for Snyder doing something to Alfred in that sense, I have to be honest that to me, keeping Alfred - who seems really rather old, at times - around brings up the same problem for me that they temporarily solved with Commissioner Gordon; When is he going to get too old?

[kenn_el]

That's why we're condensing time. Everything old is new again!

[mrstatham]

Yup. I can't wait for whoever else tries to write a 'Gordon retirement' story that doesn't handle it nearly as maturely and thoughtfully as Rucka and the others did.

[kurenai_tenka]

During his scheme, Joker horribly tortures/injures Alfred

NOOOO! D=

[kenn_el]

"As I recall, Snyder did plan on a death, but Editorial apparently went "FUCK NO" so the character's just going to be maimed instead."
Alan Moore already did that.

[mrstatham]

I doubt it. Simone seems determined to do a better 'return to crimefighting' story than what came before with Barbara becoming Oracle, but I just don't think she's entirely up to the task of writing a character in this context. Plus, even if it IS an inside joke by her, it's a really, really bad one, because it's making the book suck hard. Although what's worse to me is that some fans think Simone's doing an excellent job handling all those KJ flashbacks.

Also, Batman Inc V2 is now in the DCnU continuity. Snyder referenced it early on, and some of the more minor changes - like Gordon being made younger - are being referenced.

[eyz]

The FOURTH WORLD is back!! Finally!
Yeah, I don't really count that Darkseid bit in the Justice League...

Also Tony Harris back on a DC book? And the 40s JSA?? Count me in!

[kenn_el]

I just saw the TV episode that introduced Batgirl again (on the live action 60s one), and Penguin attempts to marry Barbara. The Batgirl cover reminds me of that.

[rordulum]

Well at least one thing hasn't changed about the DCnU.

Did you know that the Joker shot Barbara Gordon? Did you? Because DC barely ever mention it or show it in flashback panels. And now we've got a Babs who isn't crippled, yet still they're retreading those same, tired footsteps.

Why would I get even remotely excited about her "first encounter with the Joker since he shot her" when I've seen her encounter the Joker plenty of times since he shot her?

BTW, if the Joker just kills everyone, can we go back to the old DC Universe? Pretty please?

[grazzt]

Has The Joker finally met a Robin as dangerous as he is?

He has. That's Tim, who has beaten him one-on-one several times thus far, the latest being "Slay Ride".

[espanolbot]

Pfft, that's CONTINUITY! Continuity is only important if Geoff Johns writes the character, so you need an intimate knowledge of Green Lantern to understand what the hell's going on in the books affiliated with Hal and Co.

But if you've been reading Batman, Superman, JSA, JLA etc. for the past twenty years of so, heh, you're totally in the wrong place.

[donnblake]

Well, no, Tim's not as dangerous as the Joker, in the sense that Tim is unlikely to murder you just for the hell of it. That said, I seem to recall that Damian already tried going one-on-one with the Joker, and it went about as well as you'd respect, (to paraphrase the Joker, "A Robin that brings his own crowbar to the fight? How lucky can I get?)