DC Comics has released the solicitations for February and as in almost every month, there is a ton happening in The Batman Universe. There are new story arcs and ones wrapping up, including one of the biggest events with Dark Nights: Metal, which is actually officially ending in March. There are few creator changes, but nothing major. There will also be a few new series added to the group of what TBU will be covering.
As far as stories changing, February will see the “Superfriends” story wrap up in the main Batman title, which will then be followed by a new Poison Ivy story. Also, Batwoman’s actions, and fate among the Bat-family are on trial in the pages of Detective Comics. Meanwhile her own book also features story lines from the beginning of the series coming to a head. Barbara Gordon sees her blizzard story wrap up in her own single title, while a new one kicks off in the Birds of Prey title. With the Super Sons of Tomorrow story wrapped, Talia appears in Super Sons to reveal Damian’s past that may break up the partnership.
Creator changes sees Marguerite Bennett returning to the Batwoman after taking a single issue off in January. Over in Nightwing, Phil Jimenez will do the second issue in the month.
There are a number of new series kicking off as well as a some special issues. The previously announced Young Animal crossover will be releasing in February and will feature a wholesome Batman in Mother Panic/Batman Special #1. We will also see the launch of The Brave and the Bold: Batman and Wonder Woman, Batman: Sins of the Father and Bane: Conquest return after a one month hiatus. Last but not least, Batman returns to the pages of Justice League of America after being absent for months.
And finally as one of the books that normally has TBU characters appear, New Super-Man is being retitled “New Super-Man and the Justice League of China” after featuring the Chinese versions of the characters for some time in the series. Harley Quinn and Deadshot will be appearing in Damage #2.
Check out the gallery of some of the covers coming in February and the full details on the releases below.
BATMAN BOOKS
Batman #40-41 [2/7-2/21] Story by TOM KING; art by JOELLE JONES (#40) and MIKEL JANIN (#41); #40: “SUPERFRIENDS” part four! Since the beginning, the friendship between Batman and Wonder Woman has stood at the heart of the DC Universe. Now that friendship is coming apart, and as it does, the universe itself begins to crumble. The conclusion of Batman’s team-up with Wonder Woman. #41: “EVERYONE LOVES IVY” part one! Mikel Janin returns to BATMAN for a brand-new epic! Pamela Isley’s influence can spread as far as vegetation will allow, putting the whole world at her fingertips. Can Batman and Catwoman stand their ground against an entire planet of Poison Ivys? 32 pg, $2.99 US.
Detective Comics #974-975 [2/14-2/28] Story by JAMES TYNION IV; art by JESUS MERINO (#974) & ALVARO MARTINEZ and RAUL FERNANDEZ (#975); #974: “KNIGHT’S FALL”! Can Tim Drake piece his dreams back together after Batwoman’s fateful decision, or will the Gotham Knights go their separate ways? #975:“THE TRIAL OF BATWOMAN”! In a 30-page anniversary story, Batwoman faces scrutiny from Batman and Red Robin but stands up for her actions. Will Batman allow her to continue bearing his symbol after everything she has done? #974: 32 pg, $2.99 US. #975: 40 pg, $3.99 US.
Batman: Creature of the Night #3 [2/28] Written by KURT BUSIEK; Art by JOHN PAUL LEON; Bruce Wainwright isn’t a child anymore—but the trauma that shaped him, and the monster he created, is still with him! Has Bruce grown enough to deal with the shock when he learns that one of his most closely held beliefs was a lie? PRESTIGE FORMAT 48 pg, $5.99 US 3 of 4.
Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II #4 [2/21] Written by JAMES TYNION IV; Art by FREDDIE E. WILLIAMS II; With Bane, Bebop, Rocksteady and the entire Foot Clan pumped up on Venom, the odds are severely stacked against Batman and the Turtles. All looks lost until Master Splinter steps in—only to fall victim to the treacherous Bane! The heroes on the half-shell live to fight another day, but at what cost? Donnie thinks he has a plan for victory, but Batman warns against it. 32 pg, $3.99 US, 4 of 6.
Batman: White Knight #5 [2/07] Story and art by SEAN MURPHY. Jack’s mind and body begin to betray him as he prepares for an inevitable showdown with Batman, and Bruce himself struggles to keep his team united. As the game gets tougher, Batman seeks counsel from a shocking source—and after Wayne Manor is infiltrated, a car chase for the ages aims to curb Napier’s supercriminal crew once and for all. 32 pg, $3.99 US, 5 of 8.
The Shadow/Batman #5 [2/7] Written by STEVE ORLANDO; Art by GIOVANNI TIMPANO The Silent Seven fight a war on multiple fronts. But if you follow the strings high enough, are Batman, the Shadow, and Robin still just puppets? Robin and the Shadow fight for their lives, while the actions of the Seven leave Batman unsure if he can trust anyone in his life, including himself. Three generations of crimefighting are deserted and alone, but if they can come together to finally confront the Seven where they live, is it their final victory? Or exactly what the Seven has wanted all along? 32 pg, $3.99 US, 5 of 6.
GREATER GOTHAM
Bane: Conquest #9 [2/7] Written by CHUCK DIXON; Art by GRAHAM NOLAN; Bane is going to war! And to take down Kobra in their lair, he’s going to need an army. Travel around the world with the Man Who Broke The Bat as he assembles his own dirty half-dozen of faces familiar and new. Who has the stuff and who can he trust? The breakneck pace continues as co-creators Chuck Dixon and Graham Nolan raise the stakes for Bane and his new crew! Come in for the kill! 32 pg, $3.99 US, 9 of 12.
Batgirl #20 [2/28] Written by HOPE LARSON; Art by CHRIS WILDGOOSE; As the temperature drops even lower, Batgirl feels the pressure to find the maniac behind the worst blizzard that Gotham has seen in years! All signs point to the city’s latest villain turned hero: the Penguin. Could his efforts to help be a front for a greater crime in the making? What does his brilliant yet corrupt son, Black Sun, have to do with it? Find out in the thrilling conclusion to our wintry tale! 32 pg, $3.99 US.
Batgirl and the Birds of Prey #19 [2/14] Written by JULIE BENSON and SHAWNA BENSON; Art by ROGE ANTONIO; “Full Circle” part one! In addition to her vigilante life as Batgirl, Barbara Gordon also fought crime behind the scenes as Oracle. Now she’s taking it one step further—working to stop crimes before they happen. Her first target? Bringing down the Calculator’s intricate network of super-villains. Huntress and Black Canary are concerned she might be going too far, and it could put them all in the crosshairs when a new evildoer arrives to settle the score on behalf of the Calculator. 32 pg, $3.99 US.
Batman Beyond #17 [2/28] Written by DAN JURGENS; Art by PHIL HESTER and ANDE PARKS; “The Long Payback” part four! Following his defeat at the hands of Stalker, Batman is delivered into the arms of the mysterious villain pulling all the strings—someone he never expected! Humiliated by past defeats, this deadliest of enemies wants to drag Batman through the streets of Neo-Gotham en route to a public execution. With Bruce Wayne hampered by injuries, the rescue mission falls to a complete unknown, with dire consequences! 32 pg, $3.99 US.
Batman and The Signal #2 [2/7] Written by SCOTT SNYDER and TONY PATRICK; Art by CULLY HAMNER; As Bruce Wayne fulfills his corporate duties at Wayne Industries, Duke Thomas (a.k.a. the Signal) embraces his role as Gotham City’s daytime protector while battling a deadly new rogues gallery. Could these teenage villains be connected to the recent metahuman population boom in the Narrows? To find out, the Signal must learn to work with a different kind of ally…the GCPD! RESOLICIT, 32 pg, $3.99 US, 2 of 3.
Batwoman #12 [2/21] Written by MARGUERITE BENNETT; Art by SCOTT GODLEWSKI; After her deadly trip around the world hunting the infamous Many Arms of Death, Batwoman returns to Brussels, the site of her most brutal losses and memories. As the clock begins to tick on a new cycle of violence, Kate must overcome her haunted past to ensure her terrorist foes don’t begin the New Year with a bang! Don’t miss the issue we’ve been building to all year, with a twist no one saw coming! 32 pg, $3.99 US.
Harley Quinn #37-38 [2/07-2/21] Written by FRANK TIERI; art by MIRKA ANDOLFO; #37: “ANGRY BIRD” part one! Ever since he started horning in on New York City, the Penguin and Harley Quinn have been stuck in a cold war…and it’s about to heat up! Making a long-term investment in a Gotham City that’s crawling with Bats isn’t the Penguin’s style, so now he’s hell-bent on making Coney Island his new nest! #38: “ANGRY BIRD” part two! The Penguin didn’t come to Brooklyn alone this time…he’s put out an open invitation for some of Gotham City’s worst to join him in his new criminal empire, as long as they’re willing to hold off Harley Quinn! And when we say “worst,” we mean worst! Film Freak? Egghead? Condiment King?! Nateman’s Hot Dogs is gonna have a lot to say about that. 32 pg, $2.99 US.
Harley & Ivy Meet Betty & Veronica #5 [2/07] Written by PAUL DINI and MARC ANDREYKO; Art by LAURA BRAGA; Archie and Jughead’s plan to save their girls from the dangers of the big city is foiled when Reggie tags along…and “Harley and Ivy” end up needing to rescue their saviors. But things can always get worse, and they do when Reggie leads some real Gotham gangsters back home to Riverdale! 32 pg, $3.99 US, 5 of 6.
Mother Panic/Batman Special #1 [2/7] Written by JODY HOUSER; Art by TY TEMPLETON; Backup story written by MAGDALENE VISAGGIO; Backup story art by SONNY LIEW; “MILK WARS” part two! Mother Panic has discovered a Gotham City transformed. What happened to her family and friends? And who moved into Gather House, the religious school that scarred Mother Panic as a young girl? It’s Father Bruce, the orphan millionaire who decided to give back to society by filling the deep demand for sidekicks. So many Robins in need of a nest! Plus, part two of the Eternity Girl backup story! ONE-SHOT 48 pg, $4.99 US.
Nightwing #38-39 [2/7-2/21] Written by Sam Humphries; Art by BERNARD CHANG (#38) and PHIL JIMENEZ (#39); #38: “THE UNTOUCHABLE—INFILTRATION”! Another day in Blüdhaven, another death tied to the Judge of all Creation. The clues lead Nightwing to Guppy, who was there when the first murder occurred. If Nightwing can’t stop the Judge, maybe Dick Grayson can. #39: “THE UNTOUCHABLE—FACE OFF”! In a flashback issue with art by Phil Jimenez, witness the second early encounter between Nightwing and the Judge, when Dick Grayson was a college student and a Teen Titan—a meeting that haunts him still. 32 pg, $2.99 US.
Ragman #5 [2/14] Story by RAY FAWKES; art by INAKI MIRANDA; As Ragman tries to get Mandy and Frank Jr. to safety, Frank Jr.’s possession allows for the leader of the demonic invasion in Gotham to finally arrive…Z’Dargill! Ragman is out of time, and with all of the players finally out in the open, Ragman can only trust one person to save the city…himself. The final battle for the souls of the innocent begins here! 32 pg, $2.99 US, 5 of 6.
Red Hood and the Outlaws #19 [2/14] Story by SCOTT LOBDELL; Art by MARCO TAKARA; “Date Night”! By day, Artemis and Red Hood are teammates, but tonight they’re going out on their first date. Tonight they’re leaving Crime Alley behind and sampling the finer things Gotham City has to offer, including a surprise visit to the Batcave! With his friends gone for the night, how will Bizarro spend his free time? And what’s the deal with Artemis’ warning from last issue? Answers will definitely be revealed. 32 pg, $2.99 US.
GREATER DC UNIVERSE
Doomsday Clock #4 [2/28] Written by GEOFF JOHNS; art by GARY FRANK; The series you thought you’d never see reaches its fourth issue with a shocking revelation about the aftermath of Ozymandias’ actions and how they reach into even the darkest corners of the DC Universe. Don’t miss the latest chapter by the acclaimed team of writer Geoff Johns and artist Gary Frank! 32 pg, $4.99 US, 4 of 12.
Dark Nights: Metal #6 [3/14] Written by SCOTT SNYDER; art by GREG CAPULLO and JONATHAN GLAPION; All roads lead…to darkness. In the devastating and epic conclusion to DC’s cataclysmic event series, heroes from across the universe make their final charge into the unknown to battle the forces of the Dark Multiverse! Space and time, dreams and nightmares, all will collide—and what is left at the end will leave the DC Universe irrevocably changed! 48 pg, $4.99 US, 6 of 6.
Justice League #38-39 [2/07-2/21] Written by CHRISTOPHER PRIEST; Art by MARCO SANTUCCI (#38) and IAN CHURCHILL (#39); #38: “JUSTICE LOST” part five! Alone on the Watchtower, The Flash must find a way to save an astronaut drifting out into space. Meanwhile, Batman’s obsession with redeeming himself for two critical failures feeds a growing crisis of confidence in his leadership. #39: “JUSTICE LOST” part six! An environmental disaster unites both Justice League teams as Cyborg faces the first test of his leadership while still being overshadowed by Batman. Meanwhile, the Green Lanterns struggle with internal conflicts while being recruited by a mysterious visitor for an unspecified deep-space mission. 32 pg, $2.99 US.
Justice League of America #24-25 [2/14-2/28] Written by STEVE ORLANDO; Art by MIGUEL MENDONCA and DEXTER VINES; #24: “NEW LIFE AND DEATH” part one! Batman has returned following the Queen of Fables saga, proud of how the team has grown. But there’s one more mission he needs to complete. Along with Black Canary, he travels to the world of Angor, home of the Extremists, to help rebuild the world without the influence of the mad dictator Lord Havok. But when he learns what’s happening, will Lord Havok punish Canary and Batman for their actions? #25: “NEW LIFE AND DEATH” finale! The battle for the soul of Angor rages on. Batman and Black Canary face down Lord Havok and his mad army of loyal servants while under the gaze of the cosmic being known as the Adjudicator. The Adjudicator will decide who is just, who will have say over Angor’s rebuilding and who will die! #24: 32 pg, $2.99 US. #25: 40 pg, $3.99 US.
Suicide Squad #35-36 [2/07-2/21] Written by ROB WILLIAMS; art by EDUARDO PANSICA; “HACKED” part one and two! A foe who knows the Squad’s weaknesses and secrets returns with a resurrected Hack! Now they’re going to break into Belle Reve to take revenge on her former teammates. Then, As Harley, Deadshot and Killer Croc race to save themselves from Hack’s plan to destroy her former team, a new patriotic hero threatens to usurp the Squad’s missions as the Wall emerges as America’s newest (and most deadly) hero. 32 pg, $2.99 US.
Super Sons #13 [2/21] Written by PETER J. TOMASI; Art by CARLO BARBERI; ““Mother’s Day” part one! Talia al Ghul returns for her son Damian, whom she trained from birth to be an assassin. With the evil in Robin’s past finally revealed to Superboy, it might be too much for the Sons’ partnership to survive…especially when the boys find out her next victim is one of the most important people in their lives! 32 pg, $3.99 US.
Teen Titans #17 [2/28] Written by BENJAMIN PERCY; Art by ALLISON BORGES; “The Following” part two! When Robin’s murder investigation casts suspicion on Beast Boy’s new employer, Nevrland, Beast Boy finds himself the odd man out on the Teen Titans. Caught between his best friends and his new purpose in life, Beast Boy sets out to prove that Nevrland is completely aboveboard…but what he finds will lead Beast Boy down a dangerous path! 32 pg, $3.99 US.
The Brave and the Bold: Batman and Wonder Woman #1 [2/21] Written by LIAM SHARP; Art by LIAM SHARP; Don’t miss the start of a new, six-issue miniseries written and illustrated by Liam Sharp (WONDER WOMAN)! When a Celtic god’s murder leads to a war between the fairy folk and a possible breach between worlds, Wonder Woman must find the murderer and keep the peace while Batman investigates strange occurrences in Gotham City. As Diana must turn to the World’s Greatest Detective for help, the two heroes quickly learn their cases may be connected. 32 pg, $3.99 US, 1 of 6.
Titans #20 [2/14] Written by DAN ABNETT; art by PAUL PELLETIER & ANDREW HENNESSY; “Titans Apart” part one! After the Titans are forced into a hiatus by the Justice League, Roy Harper, a.k.a. Arsenal, finds himself without a team—but not without a purpose—as he investigates the rise of a dangerous new drug running rampant in the streets of New York City. But Arsenal isn’t alone—his ex, Cheshire, has joined him on his mission! But are her motives as altruistic as she claims? Or are darker forces at work? 32 pg, $3.99 US.
Trinity #18 [2/21] Written by JAMES ROBINSON; Art by PATCH ZURCHER; “No Home for you Here” part two! Stranded on the lost world of Skartaris, the Trinity are alone and depowered as they face the bestial armies of Deimos! As the layers are peeled back and the mystery of Deimos’ plan deepens, Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman must overcome the crippling effects of Skartaris to survive! But help is on way in the form of Travis Morgan…the one and only Warlord! 32 pg, $3.99 US.
SECONDARY DC BOOKS
Batman: Sins of the Father #1 [2/21] Written by CHRISTOS GAGE; Art by RAFFAELE IENCO; Based on the acclaimed videogame series from Telltale Games, this new digital-first comic tells the story of events between the first and second seasons. Someone is killing people associated with Arkham Asylum during the time Thomas Wayne was forcibly committing people there. Suspicion falls on the families suing Bruce Wayne to pay for the harm caused by his father. Batman has other ideas, but his investigation leads to him becoming the target of a deadly assassin. DIGITAL FIRST, 32 pg, $2.99 US, 1 of 6.
Bombshells United #11-12 [2/07-2/21] Written by MARGUERITE BENNETT; art by STEPHEN BYRNE (#11) and SANDY JARRELL (#12); When our heroes leave the labyrinth, they must confront the horrors Black Adam has been committing against the people of Spain. There is a way to defeat him, but is it worth the price they must pay? Then, Black Adam’s powers have grown over centuries. But Miri Marvel isn’t afraid to join the fight against him! DIGITAL FIRST, 32 pg, $3.99 US.
Injustice 2 #19-20 [2/07-2/21] Story by TOM TAYLOR; art by DANIEL SAMPERE (#19) & BRUNO REDONDO & JUAN ALBARRAN (#20); #19: Plastic Man reaches into the Phantom Zone in search of the Teen Titans, trapped there by Superman. A happy reunion seems to be in the cards, but Plas brings back a stowaway and catastrophe follows. An enraged Batman prepares to unleash a secret weapon. #20: As Amazo battles Zod, Batman hurries to save a dying ally. But in order to save one friend, will he have to kill another? Both alternatives could lead to the resurrection of a forgotten hero from the past. DIGITAL FIRST, 32 pg, $2.99 US.
Gotham City Garage #9-10 [2/14-2/28] Story by JACKSON LANZING and COLLIN KELLY; art by LYNNE YOSHII and NEIL GOOGE (#9) & ANEKE (#10); #9: Luthor is bringing the war to the Garage, so they need allies. Barda rides out in search of rebel news radio station The Frequency, where she hopes to enlist Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen in bringing down the Garden. And when Kendra Blackhawk hears their call for help, she’ll have to make a hard decision about where home is. #10: Meet the founding member of the Gotham City Garage: Black Canary! But where has she been the last five years? And what secrets await in the dark caves of Ra’s al Ghul? DIGITAL FIRST, 32 pg, $2.99 US.
