For those of you just tuning in, DC has rocked the comic industry with some bombshell announcements, including ending their current line of comics, relaunching the following month with 52 new #1’s and releasing every title digitally, day-and-date with the print edition. Ian and Nuv, joined by “Money” Mark Campbell, play 52 pickup and guide you through the new DC Universe. Need to play catch-up? Follow the links below…
Batman by Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo
Mark: I will follow Scott Snyder to any Bat-book he wants to write. His run on Detective Comics has been outstanding. I’m sad that neither Jock nor Francesco Francavilla* will be joining him, but on the other hand, I love that Greg Capullo cover. If he can maintain that quality on his interiors I might even forgive him for the years he wasted aping Todd McFarlane on Spawn.
*Editor’s Note: At least FF is joining SS on Swamp Thing, as detailed in yesterday’s post. That’s going to be the best book about dirt EVER!
Ian: Scott Snyder won my heart with American Vampire, and since Batman is a vampire, I’m going to buy this book. Also the cover? Baaaaaaaaad assssssssss.
Nuv: Did we mention we dig Snyder? Him + Batman + Capullo = YEP.
Detective Comics by Tony Daniel
Nuv: Tony Daniel = NOPE. DC should hire a detective to locate his talent. Want proof that this’ll be a downgrade? This super-mega-fuck-yeah cover proves that (current artist) Jock and Joker were made for each other, much like Ian’s eyes and Pepper-spray.
Ian: I love Tony Daniel and if I don’t pick this up, it’ll be because I don’t have any money. If I don’t have any money, it’ll be because Nuv pays his writing staff with sexually inappropriate I.O.U’s.
Batman and Robin by Peter Tomasi and Patrick Gleason
Nuv: Yes, yes y’all. This creative team is batshit crazy, and so is Damian “The Bastard Wonder” Wayne. Guano!
Ian: The story of Batman and Robin was told perfectly in the movie, so why would I buy this? Clooney and O’Donnell FTMFW!
Batman: The Dark Knight by David Finch and Jay Fabok
Nuv: Nah. I mean, I could say yeah, I guess. It’ll never come out, so it’s not like I’ll have to follow through.
Ian: Put the bong down DC executives. Didn’t you just start a Finch-helmed comic called The Dark Knight with Batman and that rhyming demon or whatever? GOD!
Batwoman by J.H. Williams III, Haden Blackman and Amy Reeder
Mark: Trades, for sure. The zero issue that DC did release wasn’t anything phenomenal in terms of story, but if nothing else this will be a beautiful art book.
Ian: I’d literally give my left testicle for this comic book to be in my hands right now.
Nuv: Sho’nuff! J.H. takes his belt to blank pages and punishes them. One of the best artists in the biz. Not sure if he can write, but when you’re pretty enough, no one cares about what comes out of your mouth. (Just what goes in, according to Ian’s mom.)
Batgirl by Gail Simone and Ardian Syaf
Ian: IS THAT FUCKING BARBARA GORDON?! Pulled, ‘nuff said.
Mark: Yes! Yes, yes, yes! I’ve never read a Batgirl I didn’t like, and I am so excited to see Barbara Gordon taking back the role. Taking Barbara out of the wheelchair has caused quite a divide amongst fans, but in Simone I trust. If anyone can handle the change with the necessary respect, it is she.
Nuv: Pretty “diverse,” DC. What about the people with no legs?! Don’t they get a hero of their own? You had like 90 Batgirls and a BatWOMAN, but only one Oracle. Bah. Simone gets mad street cred though, so I’m hoping there’s a twist we don’t know about that allows both camps of BG fans (Batgirl and Oracle) to be happy. I wouldn’t bet my legs on it, though.
Catwoman by Judd Winnick and Guillem March
Mark: Winnick says this series is going to be sexy. And violent. And violently sexy. Or filled with sexy violence. Or something. Whatever. I’d rather Catwoman be written by a writer who understands that you don’t need to yell “sexy” from the mountaintops when you are writing Catwoman. It won’t be sexy just because you tell us it is.
Ian: Not to get overly superficial, but if the solicited cover looks like a badly-drawn acid trip, how does that bode for the inside art? Helllllll naaaaaaaw. Pass!
Birds of Prey by Duane Swierczynski and Jesus Saiz
Ian: Swierczynski ruled on Iron Fist a couple of years ago and Jesus Saiz is super solid, but the new character line-up looks pretty awful. Conflicted!
Mark: Even if this is a great read, it will not be Gail Simone’s Birds of Prey, and for that, I will hold a bit of a grudge against it.
Nightwing by Kyle Higgins and Eddy Barrows
Mark: My problem with any of the former Robins headlining their own title is that they are really just Batman-lite. And I’m just not a big enough fan of Batman to need more than one Batbook.
Ian: Like Nuv, Dick Grayson is terminally uncool. Therefore Nuv’s mom will probably buy him this book to give him a “hero” to identify with.
Nuv: Ian, we both know my mom doesn’t buy me comics. I just turn you upside down and shake until your lunch money falls out and, presto! Pull list paid for! So thanks in advance for Nightwing #1. If it sucks, I’ll probably wedgie you tomorrow. And THAT’S when you’ll finally find a pro to having no genitals!
Mark: Are you guys EVER nice to each other?
Ian: Nah.
Nuv: Nope
Mark: Perfect. Because this hasn’t been annoying at all…
Red Hood and The Outlaws by Scott Lobdell and Kenneth Rocafort
Ian: Man, I’ve loved Kenneth Rocafort ever since Madame Mirage, so I’ll be giving this one a flip through at least.
Nuv: Jason Todd adds more to the Bat-Mythos when he’s pushin’ daisies. In related news: Rocafort can Fuckaoff.
Mark: Let me just point out that the solicitation for this book confirmed that Jason Todd is Batman’s former sidekick. The solicit for Nightwing doesn’t say as much, but I can’t imagine them stripping Dick Grayson of that aspect of his origin. I will tell you why all this is important tomorrow. Promise.
Batwing by Judd Winick and Ben Oliver
Mark: Book two in the “all new, all diverse DC Universe.” Winnick seems to be DC’s go-to guy for “socially progressive” stories. He did the homophobia/hate crime bit in Green Lantern, the HIV positive Speedy in Green Arrow, and now he’s taking the helm of Batwing with DC’s diversity initiative. I support this. A culturally diverse universe is a more realistic one. But Winnick tends to be a little heavy-handed with these sorts of things.
Ian: Batwing?! We named THE DOG THE PLANE Indiana Batwing!
Nuv: If I say I have no interest, am I as racist as fanboys have been claiming DC is all these years? Or is it just because the costume sucks, and there are many characters, black, white, GREEN even, that deserve a title more than Batman’s own Steel? You decide, kiddies!
• BONUS BOOK: Batman Inc. by Grant Morrison and Chris Burnham (Not part of the 52; Re-launching 2012) •
Ian: Oh forget this! The current Batman, Inc. is perpetually late and complete gibberish. I’ll bet you a cool Sir Robert Borden that I never buy another Grant Morrison comic ever again!
Nuv: Oh that Ian! So quirky, so conflicted! First he LOVED this title. Now he HATES it. The one constant? NOBODY GIVES A SHIT! I’ll be copping this, but if I DID decide to skip this, it’d be because of Burnham, not Morrison.
Ian: Skip off a bridge. No opinion, Marky Mark?
Mark: Nope.
Nuv: Pussy.
Mark: What?!
Nuv: I wasn’t talking to you! Don’t assume just because I was LOOKING at you that I was TALKING to you! Fuckin’ ego on this guy, eh?
Ian: TELL me about it!!
Mark: … Much like Tom & Jerry, I think I liked you guys better when you were at each others throats instead of mine.
Ian: There he goes talkin’ about himself again!
Nuv: We’re not YOUR Funky Bunch, Mark! You’re MY Funky Bunch!
Mark: ….
Ian: You gotta BELIEVE, Marky!
Mark: Ok. MORE than enough. That’s a wrap. Bye.
Nuv: But…
Mark: Just… Bye.
NEXT ISSUE: SUPER-PUBERTY! MEET THE YOUNGBLOODS OF THE NEW DCU!
MARK (HEH) YOUR CALENDARS AND TUNE IN: TOMORROW! SAME IAN-TIME, SAME NUV-CHANNEL…
