The latest batch of solicitations has arrived and brings with it some hotly anticipated series. Last month brought more new series that TBU will be covering, but July brings even more. While Year of the Villain technically starts in May with the $0.25 special, things are about to heat up in July for the event as a total of ten different titles releasing during the month will have a special Year of the Villain variant cover. These covers will be thicker in nature and will also cost an additional dollar because of that. If you are curious which titles will be part of the first crossover, check out further details in the article from yesterday.
Debuting in July is the first issue of Batman: Curse of the White Knight from Sean Murphy which will kick off the eight-issue miniseries. The series will introduce Azrael into the mix while keeping the Joker and Batman at the forefront based on the first cover. Also arriving in July is the first issue of Batman: Universe, which collects Brian Michael Bendis and Nick Derington’s story that originally appeared in the Walmart Giants, as part of a new six-issue miniseries.
There is also another new DC Ink title making its way this September as Batman: Nightwalker is advanced solicited this month. The new title is an adaption of Marie Lu’s novel of the same name and will feature art by former Batgirl artist, Chris Wildgoose.
July also brings a few special issues of note. First, Batman #75 will be an oversized issue, costing an extra dollar and will kick off the new story arc “City of Bane”. The second issue of Batman Secret Files will also arrive in July featuring stories from a number of high profile writers featuring stories dealing with the villains of the Batman Universe. Both of these issues fall in line with the overall Year of the Villain event.
July also happens to be a five Wednesday month so naturally, there are a few titles that will receive annuals during the month. The one of note for those of us at TBU is Red Hood: Outlaw, which promises to tell the story of whatever happened to Artemis and Bizarro.
As far as creator changes go, there are some shake-ups to some of the series. While not new news, Tony Daniel will be back on Batman with #75 for the new arc. What we at TBU supposed was a one issue story in Detective Comics #1006 with artist Kyle Hotz, actually is a two-issue story arc that continues in #1007 before Doug Mahnke returns for #1008. The biggest creative change, which seemingly has flown under the radar, is that Mairghread Scott and Paul Pelletier have both been replaced on Batgirl. Cecil Castellucci, who is currently writing Female Furies, and Carmine di Giandomenico, who TBU last saw working on Detective Comics with James Robinson, are both coming on to the title. No word from DC on the creative change, and other than a tweet from Scott, nobody involved is saying anything.
Be sure to check out the full details for everything hitting stores in July below as well as a gallery of some of the covers coming. Let us know which books you are the most excited for this month.
BATMAN BOOKS
BATMAN #74 [07/03] Written by TOM KING, art by MIKEL JANIN; “The Fall and the Fallen” concludes with a father-and-son showdown. Flashpoint Batman reveals his fiendish reasoning for dragging Batman into the desert, and who is in the coffin they’ve been dragging along with them. But is this a step too far? It’s Bruce Wayne versus Thomas Wayne for the right to wear the cowl, and all of Gotham City hangs in the balance! $3.99, 32 Pages
BATMAN #75 [07/17] Written by TOM KING, art by TONY S. DANIEL; “City of Bane” begins! Bane’s minions have moved into Gotham City, taken control and are ruling with an iron fist—including rounding up any villain who refuses to sign onto Bane’s program—and Batman is nowhere to be found. At least not the Batman anyone knows. It’s like someone has replaced the real Gotham City with a twisted funhouse-mirror version of it. Meanwhile, the real Bruce Wayne is on a spiritual quest to regain his fighting spirit after his showdown with his father in the desert. Can the people of Gotham hold on until their protector is strong enough to come to their rescue?
Plus, what does Lex Luthor’s scheming mean for Gotham City when Bane and the villains are already in control? This extra-sized anniversary issue kicks off a new multi-part storyline that ties together all the threads of the first 74 issues of Tom King’s epic BATMAN run! $4.99, 48 Pages
DETECTIVE COMICS #1007 [07/10] Written by PETER J. TOMASI, art by KYLE HOTZ; “The Spectre: Dead on Arrival” finale! In all of Gotham City, there’s only one life
Batman would be willing to risk to save Jim Corrigan and the Spectre: his own! $3.99, 32 Pages
DETECTIVE COMICS #1008 [07/24] Written by PETER J. TOMASI, art by DOUG MAHNKE and JAIME MENDOZA; The Joker returns to Gotham City! The Joker is through working with the Legion of Doom, and he wants to get back to his roots: giving Batman absolute hell! The Clown Prince of Crime comes back with a bang—and he’s not about to take prisoners! As if that weren’t enough, Lex Luthor delivers the cure for Mr. Freeze’s beloved wife, Nora, freeing her from cryo-stasis at last! But something else is very, very wrong with Nora… $3.99, 32 Pages
BATMAN SECRET FILES #2 [07/10] Written by ANDY KUBERT, TIM SEELEY, STEVE ORLANDO, MAIRGHREAD SCOTT, COLLIN KELLY and JACKSON LANZING, art by EDUARDO RISSO, GIUSEPPE CAMUNCOLI, CARLOS D’ANDA, AMANCAY NAHUELPAN and others; “City of Bane” is upon us! Bane’s conquering Gotham City, but he’s not doing it alone. In this Secret Files issue, read about Bane and his cabal: The Joker, the Riddler, Hugo Strange and the Psycho-Pirate. Brutal stories of madness, murder and hatred done by some of comics’ greatest talents! $4.99, 48 Pages
BATMAN: LAST KNIGHT ON EARTH #2 [07/31] Written by SCOTT SNYDER, art by GREG CAPULLO and JONATHAN GLAPION; The world has been destroyed, and Batman is on a quest to find out who’s responsible. But when villains from his past begin to complicate things for the Dark Knight, he finds an unlikely ally in a place known as “the Plains of Solitude.” $5.99, 56 Pages, 2 of 3, DC Black Label Title
BATMAN: UNIVERSE #1 [07/10] Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS, art by NICK DERINGTON; Available to comics shops for the first time! Following the theft of a priceless Fabergé egg, the Riddler leads the Dark Knight on a wild hunt after its true owner: Jinny Hex, descendant of Jonah Hex! Guest-starring Deathstroke, Green Arrow and dozens of Riddler look-alikes in stories by Brian Michael Bendis with art by Nick Derington, originally published in BATMAN GIANT #3 and #4! $4.99, 32 Pages, 1 of 6
BATMAN: CURSE OF THE WHITE KNIGHT #1 [07/24] Written by SEAN MURPHY, art by SEAN MURPHY; In this explosive sequel to the critically acclaimed blockbuster BATMAN: WHITE KNIGHT from writer/artist Sean Murphy, The Joker recruits Azrael to help him expose a shocking secret from the Wayne family’s legacy—and to run Gotham City into the ground! As Batman rushes to protect the city and his loved ones from danger, the mystery of his ancestry unravels, dealing a devastating blow to the Dark Knight. Exciting new villains and unexpected allies will clash in this unforgettable chapter of the White Knight saga—and the truth about the blood they shed will shake Gotham to its core! $4.99, 32 Pages, 1 of 8, DC Black Label Title
BATMAN/TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES III #3 [07/17] Written by JAMES TYNION IV, art and cover by FREDDIE E. WILLIAMS II; The origin of Batman…together with the origin of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles? The stories are familiar, but through the prism of this altered reality, clearly not the same. An uneasy feeling sets in that everything is not what it seems. But the Laughing Man pays a visit to a familiar Turtles ally to make sure this world stays exactly as Krang has remade it. $3.99, 32 Pages, 3 of 6
BATMAN: NIGHTWALKER THE GRAPHIC NOVEL TPB [09/25] Based on the novel by MARIE LU, adapted by STUART MOORE, art by CHRIS WILDGOOSE; This action-packed graphic novel based on the New York Times bestselling novel by Marie Lu transports readers to the shadowy gates of Arkham Asylum, where Gotham City’s darkest mysteries reside…and which now threatens to imprison young Bruce Wayne. A ruthless new gang of criminals known only as Nightwalkers is terrorizing Gotham, and the city’s elite are being taken out one by one. On the way home from his 18th birthday party, newly minted billionaire Bruce Wayne makes an impulsive choice that puts him in their crosshairs and lands him in Arkham Asylum, the once-infamous mental hospital. There, he meets Madeleine Wallace, a brilliant killer…and Bruce’s only hope. Madeleine is the mystery Bruce must unravel, but is he convincing her to divulge her secrets, or is he feeding her the information she needs to bring Gotham City to its knees? Adapted by Stuart Moore and illustrated by Chris Wildgoose, this graphic novel presents a thrilling new take on Batman before he donned the cape and cowl. $16.99, 224 Pages, DC Ink Title
GREATER GOTHAM
BATGIRL #37 [07/24] Written by CECIL CASTELLUCCI, art by CARMINE DI GIANDOMENICO; Eager to prove himself as a guardian for the criminals of Gotham City, Killer Moth has set his sights on taking out one of Gotham’s finest heroes…Batgirl! Does this insect menace really stand a chance against Batman’s smartest ally? Meanwhile, after their daring escape, the Terrible Trio is on the hunt for new ways to cause trouble for Batgirl. Little do they know, Lex Luthor has already beat them to it and is about to bring Batgirl’s worst possible nightmare to life! Oracle is back online. And she’s angry. $3.99, 32 Pages
BATMAN BEYOND #34 [07/24] Written by DAN JURGENS, art by RICK LEONARDI and ANDE PARKS; The strange goings-on in Neo-Gotham continue, and not even Batman is immune. The Dark Knight of Tomorrow needs to stop the Splitt’s high-tech heists once and for all, but his opening move will have everyone confused and bewildered. Will Batman save the day…or be the catalyst to lead his city into ruin? $3.99, 32 Pages
BATMAN AND THE OUTSIDERS #3 [07/10] Written by BRYAN HILL, art by DEXTER SOY; In their first encounter with the powerful maniac who’s pursuing runaway meta-human Sofia Barrera, Black Lightning and the Outsiders were absolutely humbled. Does everyone on this team have what it takes? Or did Batman make a catastrophic mistake when he entrusted them with Sofia’s life? Plus, ousted from power and stripped of wealth, Ra’s al Ghul is a broken man. But Lex Luthor has a plan for how the Outsiders could be Ra’s’ new League of Assassins! $3.99, 32 Pages
CATWOMAN #13 [07/10] Written by JOELLE JONES, art by JOELLE JONES and FERNANDO BLANCO; Things have come to a head for Selina Kyle in Villa Hermosa. Between taking care of her sister and contending with all the crooks who cross her path looking to give her some bad luck, it’s enough to make a Catwoman go bad herself. So maybe she will? “Come now, Selina. Still playing the hero? Stop pretending you’re something you’re not.” It’s Lex Luthor’s words versus Catwoman’s will in this chapter of “The Offer”! $3.99, 32 Pages
HARLEY QUINN #63 [07/03] Written by SAM HUMPHRIES, art by OTTO SCHMIDT; The final trials of Harley Quinn have begun…and the stakes have never been higher! Will Harley succeed in becoming the Angel of Retribution? Or will she fall short, only to suffer the same fate as all those before her? Plus, a mysterious new comic by M. Clatterbuck appears…in which Lex Luthor makes Harley an exciting offer! $3.99, 32 Pages
NIGHTWING #62 [07/17] Written by DAN JURGENS, art by RONAN CLIQUET; After the epic conclusion to the Burnback saga, it’s clear that while he may have forgotten his past, Ric Grayson’s innate skills and instincts as a team leader elevate Team Nightwing to a new level. But what does that mean for the Blüdhaven PD, and what does that mean for a man who is looking to live a life without the baggage of his past to hold him down? Ric seeks comfort in Bea’s arms, but may find answers in another’s Talons as we dive headlong into the Year of the Villain! Plus, Lex Luthor delivers the Court of Owls the means to own what they covet most: Ric Grayson. $3.99, 32 Pages
RED HOOD: OUTLAW #36 [07/10] Written by SCOTT LOBDELL, art by PETE WOODS; There’s no way to plan for every contingency…even for a son of the Bat like Jason Todd. His goal was to take down the Penguin and assume his role as the prince of Gotham, but the best laid plans go awry when Oswald Cobblepot gets the last laugh—and the last bullet! And not even the Red Hood and his posse can stop him. (How could they with the Iceberg Lounge under siege and Bunker, Wingman and the Sisters Su too busy to help Jason deal with a Penguin ascendant?) Don’t miss the startling conclusion to “Prince of Gotham!” What can Lex Luthor offer former sidekick Jason Todd? Sidekicks…broken, battered and catastrophically dangerous sidekicks. The Teen Titans they’re not! $3.99, 32 Pages
RED HOOD: OUTLAW ANNUAL #3 [07/31] Written by SCOTT LOBDELL, art by ADAM POLLINA; Missing since the fateful events of issue #25, the story of what happened to Bizarro and Artemis after they were sucked through the quantum doorway can finally be told! Trapped in a strange reality where everyone with metahuman abilities has become normal and ordinary humans now possess powers, up is down, left is right and only a pair of Outlaws can save the day in a world gone mad. Meet strange new foes, and even stranger new allies. Can the Outlaws fix this broken world and still make it back to our world and their mission alongside the Red Hood? $4.99, 48 Pages
GREATER DC UNIVERSE
ADVENTURES OF THE SUPER SONS #12 [07/03] Written by PETER J. TOMASI, art by CARLO BARBERI; It’s been a long road, but Superboy and Robin have finally made their way back home! Unfortunately, an armada of about a gazillion juvenile super-delinquents is back too, and these pint-sized hell-raisers are out to conquer Earth! It’s the final battle between the son of Batman, the son of Superman, a big fan of Lex Luthor and whatever a “Doomsdame” is in this epic finale to the Super Sons saga! $3.99, 32 Pages, 12 of 12
DCEASED #3 [07/03] Written by TOM TAYLOR, art by TREVOR HAIRSINE and STEFANO GAUDIANO; Heroes, villains and gods have fallen. Cities have collapsed. The virus threatens to reach below the waves and even to the island of Themyscira. The race to save planet Earth is on! The surviving members of the Justice League have learned the secret to the spread of the virus, but is it already too late to stop it? $3.99, 32 Pages, 3 of 6
EVENT LEVIATHAN #2 [07/10] Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS, art by ALEX MALEEV; “The Detectives”! EVENT LEVIATHAN, the new miniseries by the award-winning team of writer Brian Michael Bendis and artist Alex Maleev, continues! As the mystery of Leviathan continues to rock the very foundations of the DC Universe, the world’s greatest detectives gather for the first time anywhere to solve the mystery before it’s too late! Lois Lane leads Batman, Green Arrow, Plastic Man, Manhunter, the Question and a couple of genuine guest sleuths in the search for who Leviathan is and how their plans have already unfolded. This issue also guest-stars Red Hood, Batgirl and more! $3.99, 32 Pages, 2 of 6
JUSTICE LEAGUE #27-28 [07/03, 07/17] Written by JAMES TYNION IV, art by JAVIER FERNANDEZ; #27: Eons ago, the Monitor, the Anti-Monitor and the World Forger stopped the rise of Perpetua—but can they overcome billions of years of mistrust to work together and do it again? Plus, Lex Luthor’s offers across the DC Universe haven’t gone unnoticed—Martian Manhunter is aware of “the Offer.” And J’onn J’onnz will pay the price. #28: The Apex Predator rises! Justice-Doom War is coming! This is the culmination of the Legion of Doom’s master plan, and they will take the Justice League to far-out places they may never return from…and do things the DC Universe may never recover from. $3.99, 32 Pages
TEEN TITANS #32 [07/17] Written by ADAM GLASS, art by BERNARD CHANG; Lobo’s back—and he’s got his daughter, Crush, dead to rights! At least she can ask him about the identity of her mother, right? And as the Teen Titans square off against the Main Man, an enemy more sadistic than any they’ve ever faced before, questions about the team’s future are still hanging in the balance—that is, if they have any future at all! Plus, Lobo wants a daughter he can be proud of. Crush wants nothing to do with her father. Lex Luthor is about to ruin Crush’s life. $3.99, 32 Pages
YOUNG JUSTICE #7 [07/03] Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS, art by JOHN TIMMS; Young Justice—lost in the Multiverse! After the explosive conclusion to their Gemworld adventure, the team is having a tough time finding their way back to their Earth. No, we can’t tell you where they end up, but rest assured, you will be surprised! But as exciting as all that is, we have bigger problems to deal with as Tim Drake is about to do something he has only done…lots of times before. He is about to announce his new alias…a new superhero name. A Young Justice name. And this time, it’s permanent. Like, forever. $3.99, 32 Pages
SECONDARY DC UNIVERSE
TEEN TITANS GO! #35 [07/17] Written by MATTHEW K. MANNING and J. TORRES, art by PHILIP MURPHY and SANDY JARRELL; Robin’s appalled when he finds Cyborg and Beast Boy “Dropping Stuff Down a Hole,” but it gets worse when they discover why that hole appeared! And Raven’s bummed that her teammates are trying to hire a magic user…is she about to be kicked off the team? Not if her “Disappearing Act” is successful! $2.99, 32 Pages
