DC has released the solicitations for August 2014. A number of things related to The Batman Universe are shaken up.
As announced, August will see not only the continuation of Batman Eternal with issues #18-21 and the first story from Scott Snyder after the conclusion of Zero Year in the main Batman title, but also two issues of Harley Quinn for the month (#9-10) as well as Secret Origins #5 featuring a story about Red Hood. In addition to these ongoing titles, August's solicitations also include Batman Essentials: The Dark Knight Returns Special Edition #1 which is described to be a republished exceprt from The Dark Knight Returns as part of the 75th Anniversary Celebration.
Unfortunately, August will also see several Batman-related cancellations as the solicitations include the final issues of Birds of Prey and Batwing. This brings the number of New 52 Batman titles which have been cancelled thus far to six.
Lastly, ten of the books solicited for August will come with DC Universe Selfie variant covers, the latest in DC's monthly variant themes for 2014. The year has prgressed so far with "Scribblenauts Unmasked" in January, steampunk in February, "Robot Chicken" in March, "MAD" in April, "Batman '66" in May, "DC Collectibles Bombshells" in June and Batman's 75th anniversary in July. No real indication has been given yet about what these "selfie" covers will look like, but expect those variants in August as well.
The following are the solicitiations for all Batman-related titles released for the month of August 2014.
BATMAN #34
Written by SCOTT SNYDER
Art and cover by MATTEO SCALERA
DC UNIVERSE SELFIE variant cover
1:25 Variant cover by RAFAEL ALBUQUERQUE
On sale AUGUST 13 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T
Combo pack edition: $4.99 US
ZERO YEAR is over, and the events of BATMAN: ETERNAL have put Gotham City in a tailspin, but Batman is focused on finding a killer who has haunted his hometown in secret for years. This special issue features art by Matteo Scalera (DEADPOOL, Black Science) and sets the stage for the next major Batman story in the fall.
This issue is also offered as a combo pack edition with a redemption code for a digital download of this issue.
GRAYSON #2
Written by TIM SEELEY
Art and cover by MIKEL JANIN
DC UNIVERSE SELFIE variant cover
1:25 Variant cover by CHAD HARDIN
On sale AUGUST 6 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Grayson digs deeper into the mysterious organization known as SPYRAL and learns more about his new partner – Helena Bertinelli!
BATMAN ETERNAL #18
Written by SCOTT SNYDER, JAMES TYNION IV, RAY FAWKES, JOHN LAYMAN and TIM SEELEY
Art by ANDY CLARKE
Cover by ALEX GARNER
On sale AUGUST 6 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Batgirl, Batwoman and Jason Todd race to find evidence that may save Commissioner Gordon!
BATMAN ETERNAL #19
Written by SCOTT SNYDER, JAMES TYNION IV, RAY FAWKES, JOHN LAYMAN and TIM SEELEY
Art by EMANUEL SIMEONI
Cover by ALEX GARNER
On sale AUGUST 13 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Jason Bard and Batman are forced to help Killer Croc when his followers are attacked by demonic monsters from The Black Maze!
BATMAN ETERNAL #20
Written by SCOTT SNYDER, JAMES TYNION IV, RAY FAWKES, JOHN LAYMAN and TIM SEELEY
Art by EMANUEL SIMEONI
Cover by ALEX GARNER
On sale AUGUST 20 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
James Gordon takes on Falcone’s crime army from inside Blackgate!
BATMAN ETERNAL #21
Written by SCOTT SNYDER, JAMES TYNION IV, RAY FAWKES, JOHN LAYMAN and TIM SEELEY
Art by JASON FABOK
Cover by ALEX GARNER
On sale AUGUST 27 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
After being injected with Fear Toxin, Alfred is dragged away to Arkham Asylum!
BATMAN/SUPERMAN #14
Written by GREG PAK
Art and cover by JAE LEE
DC UNIVERSE SELFIE variant cover
1:25 Variant cover
On sale AUGUST 20 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T
Combo pack edition: $4.99 US
Part 2 of “Forgotten Heroes” finds the new team of Catwoman and Superman taking on Gotham City – and there’s nothing Batman or Lois Lane can do to stop them!
This issue is also offered as a combo pack edition with a redemption code for a digital download of this issue.
BATMAN AND ROBIN #34
Written by PETER J. TOMASI
Art and cover by PATRICK GLEASON and MICK GRAY
DC UNIVERSE SELFIE variant cover
On sale AUGUST 20 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Batman’s quest for Damian’s body is about to take him further down the road to damnation than he’s ever gone before! His first stop: the Justice League's Lex Luthor?!
DETECTIVE COMICS #34
Written by FRANCIS MANAPUL and BRIAN BUCCELLATO
Art and cover by FRANCIS MANAPUL
DC UNIVERSE SELFIE variant cover
1:25 Variant cover by ANDREW ROBINSON
On sale AUGUST 6 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T
Combo pack edition: $4.99 US
Batman is faced with an unsolvable mystery: a dead friend, an unknown assailant and a drug called “Icarus.” Has the World’s Greatest Detective finally been outmatched?
This issue is also offered as a combo pack edition with a redemption code for a digital download of this issue.
BATWOMAN #34
Written by MARC ANDREYKO
Art by JEREMY HAUN
Cover by RAFAEL ALBUQUERQUE
On sale AUGUST 20 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+
This issue changes everything! Batwoman must make a choice that Maggie’s not willing to make! And where does Nocturna fit into all of this?
BATGIRL #34
Written by GAIL SIMONE
Art by FERNANDO PASARIN and JONATHAN GLAPION
Cover by ALEX GARNER
DC UNIVERSE SELFIE variant cover
On sale AUGUST 13 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
“Deadline” concludes as Batgirl teams with Huntress and Black Canary to stop the evil of Obscura! After everything Barbara has been though to become Batgirl – will she be undone by her demons?
HARLEY QUINN #9
Written by AMANDA CONNER and JIMMY PALMIOTTI
Art by CHAD HARDIN
Cover by AMANDA CONNER
DC UNIVERSE SELFIE variant cover
On sale AUGUST 13 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Shipping twice in August! When Harley fills in as a burlesque dancer, she kills it on the main stage – literally! But what happens when she gets caught by the cops and finds herself face to face with her most devoted stalker?!
HARLEY QUINN #10
Written by AMANDA CONNER and JIMMY PALMIOTTI
Art by JOHN TIMMS
Cover by AMANDA CONNER
1:25 Variant cover by AMANDA CONNER
On sale AUGUST 27 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
The first rule of Skate Club is…you do not mess with the Mistress of Mayhem! Harley stumbles across an underground fight club where big money winds with a body count. She’s in…and she’s making Sy Borgman her agent for the fights. But what happens when love gets in the way?
CATWOMAN #34
Written by ANNE NOCENTI
Art by PATRICK OLLIFFE and TOM NGUYEN
Cover by TERRY DODSON and RACHEL DODSON
DC UNIVERSE SELFIE variant cover
On sale AUGUST 27 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+
It’s buyer beware when Selina purchases a new house – but Catwoman is much more interested in the treasure that lies beneath the property!
BIRDS OF PREY #34
Written by CHRISTY MARX
Art by ROBSON ROCHA and OCLAIR ALBERT
Cover by JORGE MOLINA
On sale AUGUST 13 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T • FINAL ISSUE
Batgirl betrayed! But why is she siding with the Suicide Squad? Find out in this tale from the Birds’ past!
RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #34
Written by WILL PFEIFER
Art by RAFA SANDOVAL
Cover by KEN LASHLEY
On sale AUGUST 20 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
The Outlaws deal with the fallout from Kori’s past and learn that a top-secret villain has returned to make things much, much worse for them!
BATWING #34
Written by JUSTIN GRAY and JIMMY PALMIOTTI
Art by EDUARDO PANSICA
Cover by DAN PANOSIAN
On sale AUGUST 6 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T • FINAL ISSUE
It’s the final issue of BATWING – but what is the final fate of Luke Fox?
JUSTICE LEAGUE #34
Written by GEOFF JOHNS
Art by DOUG MAHNKE and KEITH CHAMPAGNE
Cover by ETHAN VAN SCIVER
DC UNIVERSE SELFIE variant cover
1:25 Variant cover by RAGS MORALES
On sale AUGUST 20 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T
Combo pack edition: $4.99 US
Paranoid survivalist. Wanted fugitive. Damned soul. Meet the newest member of the Justice League: Jessica Cruz, a.k.a. Power Ring! With the most dangerous weapon in the universe in her possession, Jessica has been transformed into a dark prophet – one who will force the other members of the League to confront their greatest fears in preparation for a horrific new threat. Meanwhile, Batman and Lex Luthor continue their mission to cure the world of super-villains – but will the extremes they’re willing to go to threaten even their closest allies? Lex hopes so.
This issue is also offered as a combo pack edition with a redemption code for a digital download of this issue.
THE NEW 52 – FUTURES END #14
Written by BRIAN AZZARELLO, JEFF LEMIRE, DAN JURGENS and KEITH GIFFEN
Art by AARON LOPRESTI
Cover by RYAN SOOK
On sale AUGUST 6 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Cadmus Island turns against itself as the Earth 2 prisoners break out!
THE NEW 52 – FUTURES END #15
Written by BRIAN AZZARELLO, JEFF LEMIRE, DAN JURGENS and KEITH GIFFEN
Art by SCOT EATON
Cover by RYAN SOOK
On sale AUGUST 13 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Constantine realizes he’s on to something much bigger than he thought as the events of five years from now begin to collide!
THE NEW 52 – FUTURES END #16
Written by BRIAN AZZARELLO, JEFF LEMIRE, DAN JURGENS and KEITH GIFFEN
Art by JESUS MERINO
Cover by RYAN SOOK
On sale AUGUST 20 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
The threat behind StormWatch’s entire existence reveals itself!
THE NEW 52 – FUTURES END #17
Written by BRIAN AZZARELLO, JEFF LEMIRE, DAN JURGENS and KEITH GIFFEN
Art by PATRICK ZIRCHER
Cover by RYAN SOOK|
On sale AUGUST 27 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Who is the Masked Superman? What does his identity have to do with last week’s startling ending? The answers will shock you as the entire New 52 gets ready to jump five years into the future!
NEW SUICIDE SQUAD #2
Written by SEAN RYAN
Art and cover by JEREMY ROBERTS
1:25 Variant cover by MEGHAN HETRICK
On sale AUGUST 13 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+
Trapped inside Russia with no hope of rescue, the Squad does what they do best: go out with a bang!
TEEN TITANS #2
Written by WILL PFEIFER
Art and cover by KENNETH ROCAFORT
DC UNIVERSE SELFIE variant cover
1:25 Variant cover by CAMERON STEWART
On sale AUGUST 20 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Now the new hotness on social media, the Titans try to control their own images as a new threat continues to grow around the team. Meanwhile, S.T.A.R. Labs takes an interest in DC’s teen heroes.
SECRET ORIGINS #5
Written by MARV WOLFMAN, SCOTT LOBDELL and JEFF PARKER
Art by ANDRE COELHO, PAULO SIQUEIRA and ALVARO MARTINEZ and RAUL FERNANDEZ
Cover by LEE BERMEJO
On sale AUGUST 27 • 48 pg, FC, $4.99 US • RATED T
The latest explosive origins from DC Comics – The New 52 include Cyborg by Marv Wolfman and André Coelho; Red Hood by Scott Lobdell and Paulo Siqueira; and Mera by Jeff Parker and the art team of Alvaro Martinez and Raul Fernandez.
BATMAN ‘66 MEETS THE GREEN HORNET #3
Written by KEVIN SMITH and RALPH GARMAN
Art by TY TEMPLETON
Cover by ALEX ROSS
On sale AUGUST 6 • 32 pg, FC, 3 of 6, $2.99 US • RATED E
DIGITAL FIRST
Robin and Kato…hostages of The Joker and General Gumm?! Even worse, the kidnapped crime fighters are forced into a battle to the death by the Dastardly Duo. With their purloined partners in peril, Batman and the Green Hornet have no choice but to work together. Will they be able to track down the hidden location of the captives’ cage match before either of their partners goes down for the count?
BATMAN ‘66 #14
Written by JEFF PARKER
Art by PAUL RIVOCHE
Cover by MICHAEL ALLRED
On sale AUGUST 27 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED E • DIGITAL FIRST
Crime never sleeps, but even Batman can’t be on call 24-7. So the Caped Crusader introduces an ally who never needs rest: a futuristic Bat Robot! Astounding both Gotham City’s criminals and its police force, the chrome-plated crimefighter proves to be incredibly efficient. So much so that a dreaded question must be asked: Is it time for Batman and Robin to retire?
BATMAN BEYOND UNIVERSE #13
Written by KYLE HIGGINS
Art by PHIL HESTER, THONY SILAS and ERIC WIGHT
Cover by MATTEO SCALERA
On sale AUGUST 27 • 48 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T
DIGITAL FIRST
Superstar artist Phil Hester (GREEN ARROW) joins the Beyond team for the start of a brand-new storyline, and the answers to the big questions of what really happened between Bruce Wayne and Terry McGinnis start to be revealed here! Plus: The Phantasm Returns!
INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US YEAR TWO #9
Written by TOM TAYLOR
Art by BRUNO REDONDO and others
Cover by STEPHANE ROUX
On sale AUGUST 13 • 32 pg, FC,
$2.99 US • RATED T • DIGITAL FIRST
A powerful force of Green Lanterns, Sinestro Corps members and Guardians assaults Superman and his allies, while Gordon and the Birds of Prey attack the Hall of Justice. Meanwhile, in the Batcave, Black Canary prepares for what may be the riskiest confrontation of all.
INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US YEAR TWO #10
Written by TOM TAYLOR
Art by BRUNO REDONDO and others
Cover by JHEREMY RAAPACK
On sale AUGUST 27 • 32 pg, FC,
$2.99 US • RATED T • DIGITAL FIRST
As the attack of the Green Lanterns continues, things turn personal between Hal Jordan and Guy Gardner. At a turning point in the battle between former allies, Sinestro offers Hal a deadly choice. Meanwhile, the battle at the Hall of Justice may have come at a fatal price.
BATMAN ESSENTIALS: THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS SPECIAL EDITION #1
Written by FRANK MILLER
Art and cover by FRANK MILLER and KLAUS JANSON
On sale AUGUST 6 • 64 pg, FC, $1.00 US
Batman’s 75th anniversary is here, and to celebrate, DC Entertainment is offering a series of promotionally priced specials that capture the Dark Knight’s greatest moments! Frank Miller’s all-time classic adventure kicks things off, with this excerpt from the original DARK KNIGHT RETURNS #1!
Posted by Terry Hughston