July brings the biggest event in the Bat-Books for quite some time which is Batman #50, written by Tom King with art by a huge pool of artists all gathering together to give Batman and Catwoman an unforgettable wedding. After the wedding, Bruce Wayne gets called for jury duty in Batman #51 which also sees Dick Grayson suiting up as Batman. Maybe Grayson couldn’t find the perfect wedding gift for Bruce? Meanwhile, over in Detective Comics, we get the first hint of The Brainiac Files. What are they and what does Batman intend to use them for? We don’t know.
New this month is the ongoing Catwoman series written and drawn by Joelle Jones as announced at C2E2. Set after the wedding, the series will feature a new villain as well as have Selina go up against the GCPD. Also new are the two new Justice League series announced at WonderCon, Justice League Dark will feature Man-Bat while Justice League Odyssey has Azrael on the team. Fans of He-Man will be excited to know the first issue of Injustice vs He-Man and the Masters of the Universe arrives this month. We can also expect the special Summer anthology featuring the DC Universe villains in July. Also Teen Titans and Titans both return featuring news teams in each title.
Meanwhile, Batgirl is experiencing a creator shift with an oversized anniversary issue written by Marguerite Bennett with a backup story by Paul Dini, which will also include a look at the upcoming creative team of Mairghread Scott and Paul Pelletier. The issue will feature multiple smaller stories with Scott and Pelletier continuing on as the main creative team for at least the next arc. Over in Harley Quinn, Sam Humphries takes over the series with John Timms. The series will continue to release twice per month making it one of the few series to survive the cuts down to monthly status.
Wrapping up this month is the six-issue miniseries Batman: Sins of the Father which will have the final showdown between Batman and Deadshot, as well as the final issue of The Brave and the Bold: Batman and Wonder Woman. The only new series outside of Catwoman is the new miniseries, Archie Meets Batman ’66, which was previously announced last month, but will release its first issue in July.
Finally, some noteworthy appearances popping up in the titles for the month. Batwoman’s solicit states that Renee Montoya and Kate enter into a new partnership. Creeper will be appearing in Batman Beyond as Jack Ryder is sought out be Ten. The Damian storyline in Deathstroke continues, Jason Todd appears in Mother Panic, Talia al Ghul continues to play a role in The Silencer, and Batman appears in Suicide Squad.
Check out the gallery of some of the covers coming in June and the full details on the releases below.
BATMAN BOOKS
BATMAN #50-51 [7/4, 7/18] Written by TOM KING, #50 Art by MIKEL JANIN, DAVID FINCH, JOELLE JONES, MITCH GERADS, RAFAEL ALBUQUERQUE, NEAL ADAMS, ANDY KUBERT, BECKY CLOONAN, TY TEMPLETON, JOSE LUIS GARCIA-LOPEZ, FRANK MILLER, LEE BERMEJO and more, #51 Art by LEE WEEKS; #50: It’s the wedding you never thought you’d see! The Batrimony is real as Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle are set to tie the knot in a can’t-miss, extra-length milestone issue that will reshape Gotham City. All their friends (and a few enemies?) will be party to a comic book coupling for the ages. Superstar scribe Tom King officiates the sure-to-be-offbeat nuptials, joined by an all-star lineup of guest classic Bat-artists doffing their hats to the lucky couple in a series of pre-wedding flashback scenes sure to set the romantic mood. #51: The honeymoon’s over for Bruce Wayne as Gotham City’s most prominent citizen gets selected for jury duty in a chilling court case involving Mr. Freeze! Freeze claims the charges should be dismissed because Batman used excessive force; cue the outrage and media circus. While doing his civic duty, Wayne’s forced to take a hard look at the Dark Knight’s methods. And hey…what is Dick Grayson doing running around the city dressed as Batman? #50: $4.99 48 PAGES #51: $3.99, 32 PAGES
DETECTIVE COMICS #984-985 [7/11, 7/25] Written by BRYAN HILL, Art by PHILIPPE BRIONES: #984: Batman called Black Lightning to Gotham City for help with a specific case-but what is Batman hiding from Jefferson Pierce? It looks like he’s in touch with somebody from their mutual past, and he doesn’t want Black Lightning to know about it -and that operative might be in over their head. #985: Then, Black Lightning, the Signal and Cassandra Cain are showing how well they work together…but now they’re up against a foe who can tap into their worst emotions and play them like music! When you’ve seen the kinds of horrors these poor souls have, there’s plenty of trauma to work with…and with that, you can turn these heroes into deadly weapons! Meanwhile, Batman’s “side project” has been revealed-what are the Brainiac Files, and what exactly does Batman plan to do with them? $2.99, 32 PAGES
THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD: BATMAN AND WONDER WOMAN #6 [7/18] Written by LIAM SHARP, Art and cover by LIAM SHARP: It’s an epic battle for Tir Na Nóg in this finale, as King Elatha has opened its Causeways and both Fomorian and Dé Denann creatures are spilling into our own realm! Batman must go back to Gotham City to try to close the Causeways from the inside, while Wonder Woman will fight alongside King Elatha against his once-banished brother, Balor Evil Eye! Who will take the crown and rule Tir Na Nóg for eternity? $3.99, 32 PAGES, 6 of 6
ARCHIE MEETS BATMAN ‘66 #1 [7/18] Written by JEFF PARKER and MICHAEL MORECI, Art by DAN PARENT, J. BONE, KELLY FITZPATRICK and JACK MORELLI: Two iconic comic book characters meet up for the FIRST TIME in this historic crossover mini-series! A battle in Gotham City extends its reach into Riverdale—with Mr. Lodge becoming enemy #1 of the dynamic duo! Now it’s up to Veronica to recruit some help and place a call… to the Batcave! $3.99, 32 PAGES, 1 of 6
BATMAN: SINS OF THE FATHER #6 [7/18] Written by CHRISTOS GAGE, Art and cover by RAFFAELE IENCO: Final issue! The climactic, deadly confrontation between Batman and Deadshot, with Alfred’s life in the balance! But to save the man who is like a father to him, will Batman have to violate one of his most deeply held convictions? $2.99, 32 PAGES, 6 of 6
GREATER GOTHAM
BATGIRL #25 [7/25] Written by MARGUERITE BENNETT, MAIRGHREAD SCOTT and PAUL DINI, Art by DAN PANOSIAN, PAUL PELLETIER and EMANUELA LUPACCHINO: On her return to Gotham City, family matters force Barbara to confront her complicated relationship with Dick Grayson. But does Dick have time for a heart-to-heart while subbing as Batman when Bruce Wayne is out of action? This extra-sized anniversary issue also offers a look at the next arc of the series by Mairghread Scott and Paul Pelletier as the monstrous villain Grotesque murders wealthy art owners and defiles their bodies to create his own “art.” And since this is the issue that keeps on giving, also look for a special backup story by Harley Quinn co-creator Paul Dini and artist Emanuela Lupacchino. $4.99, 40 PAGES
BATMAN BEYOND #22 [7/25] Written by DAN JURGENS, Art by WILL CONRAD: Batman’s got a bullseye on his back in part four of “Target: Batman.” Thanks to the machinations of the Scarecrow, the entire city of Neo-Gotham is looking to take aim at Batman-including his own partner, Robin! Will hero turn against hero when fear is in the air? Elsewhere, former Royal Flush Gang member Melanie Walker looks to upgrade her image and take on a new heroic mantle, so she seeks advice from newsman Jack Ryder-unaware that he’s a total costumed Creeper! $3.99, 32 PAGES
BATWOMAN #17 [7/18] Written by MARGUERITE BENNETT, Art by FERNANDO BLANCO: Kate Kane’s latest assignment is leaving her cold-it’s a cold case that forces her to team up with GCPD Detective Renee Montoya, and which, as usual, has Gotham City running out of time. Is this the start of a beautiful crime-fighting partnership? No spoilers, but expect sparks and punches to fly! $3.99, 32 PAGES
CATWOMAN #1 [7/4] Written by JOELLE JONES, Art and cover by JOELLE JONES; The wedding night’s barely over, but Catwoman’s back on the streets, this time to expose a copycat who’s pulling heists around Gotham City. As Selina cracks the whip on her former criminal cohorts, she’s attracting unwanted attention from one of Gotham’s most dangerous groups. The mob? Nope. Try the GCPD. And as if the Bat-Bride didn’t have enough problems, don’t miss the debut of an all-new villain determined to make trouble for all nine of Selina’s lives. Don’t miss the start of an all-new monthly series written and illustrated by Eisner Award-nominee Joëlle Jones! $3.99, 32 PAGES
HARLEY QUINN #45-46 [7/4, 7/25] Written by SAM HUMPHRIES, Art by JOHN TIMMS: #45: While on a tropical vacation, Harley Quinn is kidnapped by two Female Furies from Apokolips—and they’re making her an offer she can’t refuse: join the Furies, get super powers and do anything she wants! It’s a sweet deal, and all Harley has to do in return is hunt down rogue Fury Petite Tina. The bad news: Petite Tina is anything but petite! Hope that hammer got an upgrade, Harley. #46: Then, it’s Fury vs. Fury in a furious showdown! Harley’s tasked with bringing in Petite Tina-except, turns out, the reason she failed as a Fury is that she’s not furious enough! She’s kind, good-hearted and oppressed-and now Harley’s the one oppressing her. Harley’s caught between a rock and a hard place: give up her amazing superpowers and free Tina and the other oppressed Lowlies, or keep bashing stuff with a super-hammer and having fun. What’s a girl to do? $2.99, 32 PAGES
MOTHER PANIC: GOTHAM A.D. #5 [7/25] Written by JODY HOUSER, Art by IBRAHIM MOUSTAFA: The Cult of the Bat has taken things too far. Mother Panic is enlisted by the Gotham City Sirens to help end the mad reign of Jason Todd, last of the Robins. But as the heroes past and present clash, are they all just playing into the hands of the evil Collective?
$3.99, 32 PAGES
NIGHTWING #46 [7/4] Written by BENJAMIN PERCY, Art by CHRISTOPHER MOONEYHAM: A new high-tech corporation setting up shop in Blüdhaven claims to be the cure for what ails the crumbling city. But Nightwing learns it’s a very hostile takeover when he runs afoul of their metahuman operative, a digital phantom impervious to physical attack. Luckily, Nightwing has his very own I.T. backup: Batgirl! But can the two work together after their meeting in BATGIRL #25, also in stores this month? $3.99, 32 PAGES
RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #24 [7/11] Written by SCOTT LOBDELL, Art by DEXTER SOY and ALISSON BORGES: Bizarro is getting…worse. Worser? Worsest. The backward Superman’s diminishing cognitive state is causing problems for the rest of the Outlaws. Complicating things is the Red Hood’s vendetta against the Penguin-can the Outlaws stop Jason Todd from crossing a line he can’t return from? $3.99, 32 PAGES
GREATER DC UNIVERSE
JUSTICE LEAGUE #3-4 [7/4, 7/18] Written by SCOTT SNYDER, Art and cover by JORGE JIMENEZ: #3: John Stewart: Ultraviolet Lantern? Believe it! Under the influence of the Ultraviolet Spectrum, John Stewart engages in some ultraviolence against his teammates Flash, Wonder Woman and Aquaman. Meanwhile, the rest of the League investigates the scene of the fallen Source Wall fragment, and encounters not only a horde of giant monsters, but a pair of longtime archenemies using stolen Atom technology to literally get under their skin. Best to stock up on Cortizone for that sort of itch! All this and…the Turtle? Yep. #4: What is hidden in the darkest depths of the ocean and farthest reaches of space doesn’t even compare to the insidious secrets buried in the pasts of Flash, Green Lantern, and Martian Manhunter! While the rest of the League battles to save their friends before all of reality unravels, the citizens of Earth make a startling decision…to join the Legion of Doom! $3.99, 32 PAGES
JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK #1 [7/25] Written by JAMES TYNION IV, Art and cover by ALVARO MARTINEZ BUENO and RAUL FERNANDEZ; From the pages of JUSTICE LEAGUE: NO JUSTICE! Earth’s magic once belonged to them. Now they want the magic back. But who exactly are they? It’s up to the new Justice League Dark to find out and stop this nightmarish new threat at all costs! After the events of NO JUSTICE, team leader Wonder Woman guides the misfit magic mix of Zatanna, Swamp Thing, Man-Bat and Detective Chimp against enemies too fantastic even for the Justice League. Plus, what awful things are coming through the Tree of Wonder? Dark days ahead… $3.99, 32 PAGES
JUSTICE LEAGUE ODYSSEY #1 [7/11] Written by JOSHUA WILLIAMSON, Art and cover by STJEPAN SEJIC; Spinning out of JUSTICE LEAGUE: NO JUSTICE! When a cosmic menace threatens worlds beyond our own in the Ghost Sector, it falls to a new Justice League team to answer the call to battle! Cyborg, Starfire, Green Lantern Jessica Cruz and an out-of-his-element Azrael head to deep space inside a commandeered Brainiac Skull Ship. But as these wildcard teammates try to stop Despero from slave-trading Coluan refugees, they discover something that nothing in the universe could have prepared them for: Darkseid…who says he’s there to help?! $3.99 US, 32 PAGES
TEEN TITANS #20 [7/4] Written by ADAM GLASS Art and cover by BERNARD CHANG: Batman has no idea what he’s doing. Superman? Not a clue. Wonder Woman? Whatever. Damian Wayne is Robin, and he’s done with the bleeding-heart approach favored by the heroes of the senior circuit. New plan of action: recruit a new Teen Titans. Kid Flash, Red Arrow and newbies Roundhouse, D’jinn and…wait, Lobo has a daughter? That’ll end well. And then build something in secret deep beneath the new Teen Titans HQ. Secret from his teammates, secret from even Batman. It’s a secret that will change the way you look at Robin forever! $3.99, 32 PAGES
TITANS #23 [7/18] Written by DAN ABNETT, Art by BRANDON PETERSON: Can anything stop the Metagene pandemic unleashed through the events of JUSTICE LEAGUE: NO JUSTICE? The all-new Titans are on the case. Roll call: Nightwing, Donna Troy, Raven, Steel, Beast Boy and Miss Martian! But can even their combined might stand against new super-powered weapons of mass destruction birthed by the Metagenes? And (SPOILERS) how will the events of TEEN TITANS #20 come back to haunt the Titans? New enemies are out for blood in part one of “The Spark.” $3.99, 32 PAGES
SUICIDE SQUAD #44 [7/11] Written by ROB WILLIAMS, Art by EDUARDO PANSICA and JULIO FERREIRA: Guest-starring Batman! The noose tightens on the Squad in part four of “Constriction,” and someone may be dancing at the end of a rope before it’s all said and done. The murderous Kobra is looking to put the squeeze on Deadshot’s daughter, Zoe. Even with the Dark Knight’s backup, will the Squad be ready for Kobra’s bait-and-switch? $3.99, 32 PAGES
DEATHSTROKE #33 [7/4] Written by CHRISTOPHER PRIEST, Art by CARLO PAGULAYAN and JASON PAZ: Forced to team with Deathstroke, a man he loathes, Damian Wayne must discover the truth of his lineage. Is he really Bruce Wayne’s son, or is Slade Wilson his true father? As Batman draws closer to finding them both, Deathstroke must complete a hit, while Robin shadows the killer for hire. $3.99, 32 PAGES
DC BEACH BLANKET BAD GUYS SPECIAL #1 [7/25] Written by Paul Dini, Lee Bermejo, Gabriel Hardman, Corinna Bechko, Tim Seeley, Shea Fontana and more! Art by Carlos D’Anda, Gabriel Hardman, David Williams, Otto Schmidt and more: It’s summertime in the DCU and the bad guys are taking over! Beat the heat with 10 all-new stories by top comics talent starring DC’s most spectacular super-villains! In this issue, find out what Mr. Freeze does on the hottest day of the Gotham City summer! Learn what made Grodd such a bad gorilla! Then, while in a small beach town, Deathstroke gets hired for murder by the last person he’d expect! And The Joker and Bizarro team up for a truly weird summer bromance! ONE-SHOT, PRESTIGE FORMAT, $9.99, 80 PAGES
SECONDARY DC BOOKS
INJUSTICE VS. HE-MAN AND THE MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE #1 [7/18] Written by TIM SEELEY, Art and cover by FREDDIE E. WILLIAMS II: Believing He-man and the Masters of the Universe defeated, a robotic impostor has seized control of Eternia-but not for long! After freeing his kingdom from this strongman’s rule, Prince Adam learns not everyone is pleased to see the pretender deposed-but Adam knows the value of freedom. So when heroes from another dimension ask his aid in deposing a super-hero turned dictator, he agrees. Teaming up with Batman against the Superman of the Injustice Universe, He-man and his new allies face dangerous and familiar enemies in a battle where no world is safe! $3.99, 32 PAGES, 1 of 6
INJUSTICE 2 #29-30 [7/4, 7/18] Written by TOM TAYLOR, #29 Art and cover by BRUNO REDONDO, #30 Art and cover by DANIEL SAMPERE: #29: Seems like everyone wants a piece of Blue Beetle. First he gets some surprise visitors to his home, then later he finds himself the target of a certain well-known intergalactic bounty hunter. But who ultimately wants Jaime Reyes in their clutches and why? #30: Then, the entire universe is in peril and it’s up to the fallen Hal Jordan, the Titans and Blue Beetle to save it. They’ll need all the help they can get, but do they really need help…from Booster Gold and Lobo? $2.99 32 PAGES
