tbu comic podcast season 17 episode 21 podcast cover
The Batman Universe Comic Podcast

TBU Comic Podcast: Season 17 Episode 21

by Theodis Wright
written by Theodis Wright

tbu comic podcast season 17 episode 21 podcast cover

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Season 17 Episode 21 of The Batman Universe Comic Podcast live on all of your favorite platform. This week, Theo holds down the fort as his partner-in-crime Steph recovers from a procedure. Theo tackles three title this episode — Batman #162 (the latest in the H2SH saga), Batman and Robin #27, and Detective Comics #1103.

With the news of Phillip Kennedy Johnson leaving DC for an exclusive deal with Marvel, what does this mean for his work on Batman and Robin. Listen in to get Theo’s thoughts.

Books Covered In Season 17 Episode 21

Batman #162
Batman and Robin #27
Detective Comics #1103

Greater Gotham Titles

Poison Ivy 2025 Annual #1
Batman: Dark Patterns #12
Batman/Static: Beyond #1
Nightwing #132
DC/Marvel: Batman/Deadpool #1
Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #45
Catwoman #81
Absolute Batman #14
Immortal Legend Batman #4
Batman/Green Arrow/The Question: Arcadia #1
Harley Quinn #56
Trinity: Daughter of Wonder Woman #5


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Harley Quinn #56 main cover
Comic Reviews and Editorials

Comic Book Review: Harley Quinn #56

by Adam Koppel
written by Adam Koppel

In this review of Harley Quinn #56, get ready for an epic pair of showdowns as Harley and Mayfly square off with the so-called Super-Hunter, while back in Throatcutter Hill, Harley’s landlady Mrs. Grimaldi goes toe-to-toe with the despicable Deconspirator. Place your bets now.

 

Harley Quinn #56 main cover

Harley Quinn #56 main cover by Yanick Paquette (DC Comics)

HARLEY QUINN #56
Written by ELLIOTT KALAN
Art by CARLOS OLIVARES
Main Cover: YANICK PAQUETTE
Variant Covers: DAVID NAKAYAMA, RAHZZAH, and JESSICA LUNA
Page Count: 32 pages
Release Date: 11/26/25

 

This review contains spoilers 

Harley Quinn #56 begins with Brock Blomquist AKA the “Super-Hunter” trains the sights of his modified hunting rifle on Harley Quinn and her would-be kidnapper Mayfly. Fortune smiles upon the pair because Gunbunny, (Blomquist’s daughter, and Mayfly’s Gunbuddies partner) convinces daddy dearest to make the chase more sporting. Blomquist agrees, leaping from the moving vehicle with only a hunting knife.

Nearby, Harley and Mayfly argue over Gunbunny’s loyalties as well as the benefits of partnership. Harley claims she doesn’t need anybody (which is a reversal on both recent events, and her on-again, off-again relationship with Poison Ivy). As if in answer, Harley stumbles into a gigantic bear trap, but Mayfly uses superspeed to rescue her before the trap snaps shut. Harley returns the favor by saving Mayfly after the pair nearly tumble into a pit filled with sharpened sticks.

As the pair take a moment to recover, they are confronted by the mysterious Convoy (who apparently had tangled with Harley in a recent issue) Meanwhile, back in Throatcutter Hill, the Deconspirator attempts to devastate the lives of Harley’s landlady Mrs. Grimaldi, and her grandson Richie. Deconspirator’s double talk works on Richie, but Mrs. G shakes off the villain’s influence and orders the bad guy to leave. Deconspirator refuses, and Richie is torn about what to do next.

 

page from harley quinn #56

Harley and Mayfly… hunted (DC Comics)

 

Back in the Super-Hunter’s hunting grounds, Convoy’s mysterious origin is reveal…never mind, not important, as the Super-Hunter attacks and drugs Harley. Fortunately, her “Quinntellect” takes the brunt of the effects, allowing Harley to escape (with help from Mayfly, Convoy and a herd of Gnus (don’t ask). Armed to the teeth, Blomquist tracks the group to his trophy room, but Gunbunny breaks up the fight by literally sending her dad’s jeep crashing through the wall.

Harley Quinn #56 ends with Harley finding solace in a team up with some of her adversaries against a common foe (all three women clobber Blomquist). Meanwhile back east, Throatcutter Hill is in total chaos.

Analysis 

Harley Quinn #56 wraps up its bizarre road trip arc with a engaging mix of action, humor and solid character exploration as Harley is reminded of the benefits from someone having your back. Harley finds a brief moment of happiness out west, but our beloved anti-heroine has no idea what is happening in the city she swore to protect. The promise of the dreaded Deconspirator matching wits with Harley (who will likely feel a mix of dismay and rage at the havoc he has caused) should make for a thrilling showdown next issue.

Writer Elliot Kalan crafts another wild story mixing humor, pathos, controlled calamity and a heightened sense of reality (along with another escape with the help of an exotic animal). Harley and Mayfly’s rapport shifted to frenemy status as both women make salient points about the other’s motivations while attempting to survive Brock Blomquist’s gauntlet.

The so-called Super-Hunter casts a shadow over the issue, but the bulk of their story involves the duo working through their issues while tolerating Convoy’s continual use of vehicle-based puns (and the occasional bear trap).

Back in Throatcutter Hill, Deconspirator setting his sights on Mrs. Grimaldi and Richie adds tension and dark humor. While all three of these characters are primarily one-note, their particular character traits work well in this conflict. It is rewarding to watch Mrs. Grimaldi shake off Deconspirator’s influence and stand up to him. We don’t know what happened after that final scene, but the last page of Harley Quinn #56 doesn’t look good for anyone in that neighborhood.

Artist Carlos Olivares continues to put his stamp on this series, adding his own flourishes to the stylized designs of Harley’s world established by series artist Mindy Lee. The action is over the top, the facial expressions are both comical and wildly exaggerated while the panel composition and page layouts maintain the frenetic pace of the storytelling.

Final Thoughts

Harley Quinn #56 hits it out of the park with another satisfying issue with gorgeous art and plenty of laughs, providing important character development mixed in with absurd foils, costars and obstacles.

Harley Quinn #56 main cover
Harley Quinn #56
Final Thoughts
Harley Quinn #56 hits it out of the park with another satisfying issue with gorgeous art and plenty of laughs, providing important character development mixed in with absurd foils, costars and obstacles.
4.5
Final Score
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Batman/Green Arrow/The Question: Arcadia #1 main cover
Comic Reviews and Editorials

Review: Batman/Green Arrow/The Question: Arcadia #1

by Ian Miller
written by Ian Miller

In this review of Batman/Green Arrow/The Question: Arcadia #1, the Question and Green Arrow stumble onto a sinister and mysterious project called “Arcadia”, and do their best to penetrate to its dark heart.

 

Batman/Green Arrow/The Question: Arcadia #1 main cover

Batman/Green Arrow/The Question: Arcadia #1 main cover by Gabriel Hardman (DC Comics)

BATMAN/GREEN ARROW/THE QUESTION: ARCADIA #1
Written by GABRIEL HARDMAN
Art and Main Cover: GABRIEL HARDMAN
Variant Covers: KEVIN NOWLAN, BILL SIENKIEWICZ
Page Count: 32 pages
Release Date: 11/26/25

 

The Question (Charles Vic Sage) tracks mysterious helicopter pickups in Hub City, but stumbles onto a terrorist attack when the latest chopper is destroyed by masked figures hurling a bomb.

In Gotham, Batman runs into youth protestors trying to vandalize a huge yacht in the harbor, and lets them go after their worst attack appears to be water based paint. The protestors trigger him to investigate a climate conference in Belize.

An aging Olive Queen, ousted from his company, complains in bars about the old days after showing off some archery tricks. Waking up the next morning after his complaining led to a few punches in the bar, Olive gets a call from The Question telling him about the terrorist and her connections to Queen Industries.

The Question himself, after consulting with his old friend and ally Tot, heads to Azerbaijan.

In Belize, Bruce Wayne learns of the Arcadia Project – hyper technological cities designed to help the environment. Bruce speaks to Emil Rotha, current owner of Queen Industries, and discovers that an Arcadia prototype already exists.

 

The Question is on the case… (DC Comics)

 

Oliver is kicked out of Queen Industries when he makes his first investigation.

At night in Belize, Batman foils a “protestor” attack using a drone-flown bomb into the Arcadia planning compound.

In Azerbaijan, The Question gets a call from Oliver, telling him that Queen Industries is sourcing a lot of work in small American towns. Question himself is conscripted into migrant labor for another aspect of the project, and shipped to Greenland.

Batman is hired by Arcadia to fight the Ceres group which has been attacking Queen Industries.

Oliver, investigating in a snowy land, finds a huge structure being built, and is confronted by Batman, who tells him to stand down.

Analysis

When I first heard of Gabriel Hardman’s Arcadia project starring Batman, The Question, and Green Arrow, I of course thought of writer/editor Denny O’Neil’s classic crossover in the late 1980s, “Fables.” Published in the first Annuals for Detective Comics, Green Arrow, and The Question, this tale explored the relationships, motivations, and societal context of these three very different heroes. It was recently republished in the excellent DC Finest volume “Green Arrow: The Longbow Hunters”, and is well worth a read! While Hardman goes much more into a big scifi and political plotline rather than a spiritual martial arts-related quest that unites “Fables”, the way he writes the characters and the overall mood he casts – a dark, heroic, cynical but hopeful mood, full of contradictions just as his cities and characters are full of dark and light – are very reminiscent of O’Neil’s story.

Artistically, Hardman’s characters have a rough hewn look – powerful, but not overly idealized or smooth. This contrasts with his very cool, slick scifi pieces – like the drone Batman fights, or the Arcadia design itself. The sense of a world both orderly and chaotic also pervaded the look of Hardman’s gorgeous Green Lantern Earth One volumes, and is a welcome sight to fans of his work. Hopefully the every other month release plan of November, January, and March doesn’t slip, as Hardman is writing and drawing each issue. Romulo Fajardo Jr, longtime DC colorist for works such as Omega Men, does a fantastic job here, giving the world of Arcadia a look that evokes black and white comics while still having splashes of muted but gorgeous colors.

Politically, Hardman portrays Queen as an aging lefty, Wayne with inscrutable and mysterious motives so far, and the Question as primarily truth seeking, though positioned against “power”. While some connections to current debates, chiefly climate change, are prominent, there’s thankfully not much of an attempt to draw an allegory of current debates and political figures, which leads to the main conflict feeling more classic rather than ripped from the headlines. I will be very curious to see what Hardman does with his heroes and villains and their motivations. Hardman seems to like to push his heroes to their breaking point, and seeing how he does that should also be very thematically enlightening!

Creator and artist Hardman’s main cover is a gorgeous rendering of Batman, Question, and Arrow in diagonal array, with lovely mountain, beach, and cityscape panels arrayed around them, covered in a weathered, speckled finish that hearkens back to the comics of the 80s and 90s that inspired it. Denys Cowan and Bill Sienkiewicz’s variant features the same trio in the same diagonal, but done in a much more painterly rather than sketched style, with a lot more classic Sienkiewicz effects. Kevin Nowlan’s cover features our trio on a rooftop, investigating and ready for action, in a style that hearkens back to Brian Bolland’s clear lines and Yanick Paquette’s appealing designs.

Let me know what you think on twitter @ibmmiller, or join the conversation in our Discord!

Final Thoughts

Hardman captures a lot of the character and vibes from the late 80s and early 90s comics, layered his own brand of slick scifi sensibility, and crafted an enjoyable and twisty detective story featuring three fascinating characters.

Batman/Green Arrow/The Question: Arcadia #1 main cover
Batman/Green Arrow/The Question: Arcadia #1
Final Thoughts
Hardman captures a lot of the character and vibes from the late 80s and early 90s comics, layered his own brand of slick scifi sensibility, and crafted an enjoyable and twisty detective story featuring three fascinating characters.
3.5
Final Score
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Detective Comics #1103 main cover
Comic Reviews and Editorials

Comic Book Review: Detective Comics #1103

by Adam Koppel
written by Adam Koppel

In this review of Detective Comics #1103, with less than 24 hours before the no-fear virus makes him contagious, Batman recruits Lois Lane to help him find the connection between The Lion and dangerous experiments at the S.T.A.R. Labs in Metropolis.

 

Detective Comics #1103 main cover

Detective Comics #1103 main cover by Mikel Janín (DC Comics)

DETECTIVE COMICS #1103
Written by TOM TAYLOR
Art and Main Cover: MIKEL JANÍN
Variant Covers: GREG SMALLWOOD, LEE GARBETT, STEPHANIE HANS
Page Count: 32 pages
Release Date: 11/26/25

 

This review contains spoilers 

Detective Comics #1103 begins in Metropolis as Superman foils a group of armed and armored Intergang soldiers when he receives a call from Oracle that sends him on an intercept course with the Batplane. The pair catch up on the way to Metropolis as Superman assesses the various injuries the semi-conscious Batman received during his encounter with The Lion. Batman has less than 24 hours to complete his mission before he becomes contagious with the no-fear virus.

Superman flies off to The Lion’s collapsed base in Kasnia in hopes of finding clues, while Batman enlists Lois’ help to uncover the connection between The Lion and the local S.T.A.R. Labs, since Lois had previously written articles investigating their “rogue projects”. The pair zoom off in a spare Batmobile that he stashed in the city (for emergencies).  At S.T.A.R. Labs, Lois does a soft sell and gets access to the project head, Doctor Lee, only to be undercut when Batman appears out of the shadows, scaring the doctor and pissing off Lois.

Lois interviews Doctor Lee and discovers that the scientists who worked on the so-called “Project Courage” died while performing extreme stunts, indicating they were exposed to the no-fear virus. Batman and Lois track down the remaining scientist to his home, and encounter Intergang. Batman dispatches them quickly, but the scientist flees by leaping out a window. Batman grabs him in mid-air and realizes that the scientist was working with Intergang.

 

page from detective comics #1103

Superman arrives to check on an unconscious Batman (DC Comics)

 

Detective Comics #1103 ends as Batman discovers a crucial link between Project Courage and work by Jonathan Crane (the Scarecrow), while in an undisclosed cornfield, The Lion confronts a helpless Crane, who is propped up on a post like his namesake. In Metropolis, Lois warns Batman that both the obvious trail of clues and Batman’s increasing loss of inhibitions may be sending the Dark Knight into a trap.

Analysis 

Detective Comics #1103 ratchets up the tension as the clock ticks down on Batman’s infection, but there’s still time for an unexpected team-up that ends up yielding significant results while showcasing how indispensable Lois Lane’s journalistic and people skills are in an investigation. Writer Tom Taylor excels at both dialogue and exposition, whether it is the knowingly and friendly banter between Batman and Superman (even while in mid-flight), as well as the more adversarial but respectful partnership of Lois Lane and Batman.

Throwing Jonathan Crane into the mix seemed inevitable given the character’s fear-based motivations, but watching Leo (The Lion) confront the now helpless villain, and even forcibly masking Crane to prove he no longer fears the Scarecrow persona was an intense scene, well-written, and beautifully rendered and colored by artist Mikel Janin.

Janin’s color palette throughout Detective Comics #1103 shifts to match the tone of a scene, whether it’s Batgirl and the candy-coated exterior of Arkham Tower, or the bright reds and harsh blues of featuring Superman, that Batmobile page, the red hot panel of Batman’s electrical attack, or the wild contrasting hues when Batman chases Daniel out the window, Janin utilizes color to enhance the impact or mood of a scene.

Taylor depicts Batman’s resourcefulness as his superpower, with myriad gadgets and vehicles at his disposal, but more important than anything else are his human resources, his friends and allies who back him up.  Oracle/Batgirl is his guide, Superman is his inspiration (and conscience), while Lois Lane presents the blunt and unvarnished truth, but with interpersonal skills that he lacks.

Final Thoughts

Detective Comics #1103 features a remarkably clever and intriguing team-up that explores the contrasts between Batman and Lois Lane, while moving the story forward. The writing, art and color are all top notch.

Detective Comics #1103 main cover
Detective Comcis #1103
Final Thoughts
Detective Comics #1103 features a remarkably clever and intriguing team-up that explores the contrasts between Batman and Lois Lane, while moving the story forward. The writing, art and color are all top notch.
4.6
Final Score
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batgirl to oracle episode 266 podcast cover
Batgirl to Oracle

Episode 266

by Kimberley Rockmore
written by Kimberley Rockmore

batgirl to oracle episode 266 podcast cover

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS

 

Guest-starring Sam Heath! Come for the review of the 2003 story Arkham Asylum: Living Hell and stay for the discussions on the death penalty and the issues that plague US correctional facilities.

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Absolute Batman #14 main cover
Comic Reviews and Editorials

TBU Review: Absolute Batman #14

by BJ Shea
written by BJ Shea

In this review of Absolute Batman #14, Bruce and Waylon take on Bane for the last time. Who will come out on top?

 

Absolute Batman #14 main cover

Absolute Batman #14 main cover by Nick Dragotta (DC Comics)

ABSOLUTE BATMAN #14
Written by SCOTT SNYDER
Art and Main Cover: NICK DRAGOTTA
Variant Covers: DAVE JOHNSON, GUILLEM MARCH, CLAY MANN, DERRICK CHEW
Page Count: 32 pages
Release Date: 11/12/25

 

This review contains spoilers

Absolute Batman #14 opens with Alfred telling Bruce that they only have two Venom injections left. Alfred suggests that he take one now to see if he can handle it and then one for the fight for Bane. Bruce is having quick memories and his father and visions of what Bane did to his friends. Batman says let’s go to war.

It is time for the fight. Batman vs Bane at the 50 yard line. Batman has Harley activated camera drones so the fight is broadcasted to all of Gotham. Batman’s first move is to blow up a tower near the stadium and it collapses right onto Bane. This is happening while Croc’s big fight with Bibbo is interspliced. 

Bane shakes off the tower because Absolute as Batman autodrives the Batmobile into Bane. Bane is bigger than ever and Batman looks like Ant-Man compared to him. Batman is able to rip out one of Bane’s eyes but Bane regrows his eyeball because Absolute. Super Giant Bane is swinging Batman around by the cape as Harley unleashes Killer Croc as back up. 

Super Giant Croc rips into Super Giant Bane as Batman chops down with his Bat Ax. Super Giant Bane is about to rip off Croc’s jaw as Batman jumps down and slashes Bane’s spine with his ax. Bane can handle the venom at levels that no one could have guessed and all his injuries are healed and he becomes bigger than King Kong. Bane is bigger than the damn stadium and he is punching down and smashing Batman into the field. Bane is urging Batman to use the venom.

Batman gives one final look at Bane and calls for Catwoman to shoot Bane with darts into all of Bane’s venom spots. Batman chucks the ax at him and Bane explodes.

How did this happen? Well Eddie took out the venom from Bruce and he and Selina used to create the darts that she shot at Bane. 

Batman dumps the mush pile that is Bane at the Gotham dump as Selina leaves Gotham with one vial of venom. Bane’s eyeballs and brain as he talks to….. Joker.

Analysis

When I first saw Bane I thought to myself “well he can’t get any bigger.” Boy was I wrong. Bane was bigger than a football stadium. Batman dropped a tower on him. Batman ripped out an eyeball and it grew back in two seconds. Bane kept growing and growing and growing. For me it became too much. This fight meant to be portrayed as some epic comeback. Some shining example of Batman’s will and his never say die attitude. But I did not get that sense at all. Bane was laughably big, Croc was laughably big, Batman was tossed around like a fly and then Bane was shot with venom and exploded into a pile of mush.

The entirety of Absolute Batman #14 made me laugh. Snyder and Dragotta are getting too extreme for extremes sake and it is taking me out of the whole thing. And now there are leaks of what Joker is going to look like and it looks even dumber than Bane. I am slowly getting annoyed by this whole run. Our main characters are too big and too gross and I do not take them seriously at all.

Absolute Batman #14 main cover
Absolute Batman #14
Final Thoughts
The entirety of Absolute Batman #14 made me laugh. Snyder and Dragotta are getting too extreme for extremes sake and it is taking me out of the whole thing. And now there are leaks of what Joker is going to look like and it looks even dumber than Bane. I am slowly getting annoyed by this whole run. Our main characters are too big and too gross and I do not take them seriously at all.
2
Final Score
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Comic News

February 2026 TBU DC Solicitations

by Stephanie Mounce
written by Stephanie Mounce

DC Comics solicitations for February 2026 have been released by the publisher.  The DC KO event looks like it might be coming to a close with a final battle for the final four contenders. Gotham City Sirens will have a special four part series called “Love Hurts” featuring Black Canary. And Batman And Robin #30 will see Phillip Kennedy Johnson’s final issue!

Check out the DC Comics solicits within the Batman Universe for February 2026 below, courtesy of DC comics. If you want to see the full solicits for the month of February 2025, you can find them at our sister site, The Comic Book Spot.

(Click images to enlarge

 

 

DC K.O. #4
THE FINAL FOUR ARE PUT TO THE ABSOLUTE TEST!
Written by SCOTT SNYDER
Art and cover by JAVI FERNÁNDEZ
Interlude written by JOSHUA WILLIAMSON
Interlude art by XERMANICO
Variant covers by DANIEL WARREN JOHNSON, MIKE DEL MUNDO, RAFAEL ALBUQUERQUE, and JEFF SPOKES
1:25 variant cover by GUILLEM MARCH
Darkseid variant by AARON BARTLING
Bracket variant by DAN MORA
AEW variant by DAN MORA
$5.99 US | 40 pages | Variant $5.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 2/11/26
Three mysterious new Omega-charged fighters have entered the tournament… and this trinity of the Absolute will change the face of the DCU forever! It’s all down to how far the final four are willing to go to win in the penultimate chapter of DC K.O.! Plus: Booster’s true allegiance revealed, Darkseid’s return foretold, and a bonkers last page that will bring the battle to the next level!

 

 

DC K.O.: KNIGHTFIGHT #4
Written by JOSHUA WILLIAMSON
Art and cover by DAN MORA
Variant covers by CHRIS BURNHAM and YASMINE PUTRI
$3.99 US | 32 pages | Variant $4.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 2/4/26
Bruce Wayne became Batman to strike terror into the hearts of criminals, but he never imagined a world where Gotham City would be so safe it no longer needs its Caped Crusader. But when he arrives in a Gotham where Damian achieved that very peace, will Bruce destroy everything his son has built to overcome the Heart of Apokolips’s test and re-enter the K.O. tournament?

 

 

JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED #16
Written by MARK WAID
Art and cover by DAN MORA
Variant covers by BRUNO REDONDO, CATHY KWAN, DAN HIPP, and JOHN GIANG
Black History Month variant by TAURIN CLARKE
$3.99 US | 32 pages | Variant $4.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 2/25/26
As the Earth’s mass evacuation continues, in order to save millions, Mr. Terrific and (what’s left of) his Terrific Ten must march through Hell to confront its ultimate ruler, Neron—and expose the traitor in their midst!

 

 

TITANS #32
Written by JOHN LAYMAN
Art and cover by PETE WOODS
Variant covers by BRAD WALKER and CAANAN WHITE
$3.99 US | 32 pages | Variant $4.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 2/18/26
Jinx is terrorizing Gemworld, Cyborg is gone, and the Titans are spread across the galaxy. With their backs against the wall, Arsenal and Donna Troy prepare for battle as the last line of defense against Darkseid’s forces! Is this the Titans last stand… or is it the beginning of something new?

 

 

SIRENS: LOVE HURTS #1
Written by TINI HOWARD
Art and cover by BABS TARR
Variant cover by DERRICK CHEW and SOZOMAIKA
Connecting variant cover by TULA LOTAY
Foil variant cover by SOZOMAIKA
$5.99 US | 32 pages | 1 of 4 | All covers cardstock
ON SALE 2/11/26
Introducing Gotham’s most eligible bachelorettes…for at least a little while longer! First, there’s Catwoman, who’s been playing cat and mouse with her two favorite boy toys—Bruce Wayne and the Dark Knight himself, Batman. Next up? Harley Quinn, who’s recently single and now committed only to her hot girl era. Of course, there’s also Poison Ivy, who just wants to enjoy her solitude…as long as her best friend Harley’s there to enjoy it with her. And then there’s the new girl, Black Canary, who’s engaged to the love of her life, Green Arrow—but the closer they get to the wedding day, the more it feels like they might not be so written in the stars after all.
But these four fabulous women aren’t meeting to discuss any of that. At least, not willingly. There’s a killer on the loose in Gotham City—a killer of women. And when Black Canary realizes stopping the murders requires more criminal company than she’s used to keeping, she finds herself reluctantly teaming up with the infamous Gotham City Sirens for the hunt. Easier said than done when the four of them can barely make it through one lousy brunch… Fan-favorite writer Tini Howard (Catwoman, Harley Quinn) teams with superstar artist Babs Tarr (Batgirl) to bring you the sexiest and most scintillating DC Black Label series yet!

 

 

ABSOLUTE BATMAN #17
Written by SCOTT SNYDER
Art by ERIC CANETE
Cover by NICK DRAGOTTA
Variant covers by CLAYTON CRAIN, DAN PANOSIAN, and ERIC CANETE
1:25 variant cover by KARL KERSCHL
$4.99 US | 32 pages | Variant $5.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 2/11/26

Dr. Pamela Isley has been unleashed from the Ark-M facility with an unending hate and burning fire for revenge on Gotham City, and those who put her in the belly of the beast. When Batman hunts her down, he must survive a labyrinth of leveled horrors, one more gruesome after the next, as he tries to save the city from a monster it created.

 

 

BATMAN #6
Written by MATT FRACTION
Art and cover by JORGE JIMÉNEZ
Variant covers by JIM LEE, JULIAN TOTINO TEDESCO, and GERALD PAREL
Foil variant cover by JORGE JIMÉNEZ
Bat-gadget variant cover by JORGE JIMÉNEZ
1:25 variant cover by DAVID AJA
Valentine’s Day variant by CHRISSIE ZULLO
$4.99 US | 40 pages | Variant $5.99 US (card stock) | Variant $7.99 US (foil)
ON SALE 2/4/26
After he survives the date night from hell, the long night isn’t over for Bruce Wayne. While he juggles multiple needs as Bruce, Hugo Strange’s Monster Men attack a petrochemical facility and force Batman into action. Gotham City becomes a powder keg as superstars Matt Fraction and Jorge Jiménez continue their acclaimed run on the Caped Crusader.

 

 

NIGHTWING #135
Written by DAN WATTERS
Art and cover by DEXTER SOY
Variant covers by DAVE JOHNSON and FABRIZIO DE TOMMASO
$4.99 US | 32 pages | Variant $5.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 2/18/26
Nightwing must lead Blüdhaven’s stolen children to safety, but the Zanni won’t let them go without a fight. With Nightwing-Prime at his side, the battle reaches its breaking point and sacrifices must be made! But while the city takes its first steps toward recovery, a darker plan begins to take shape in Blüdhaven’s halls of power… Don’t miss the issue that changes Blüdhaven forever!

 

 

BATMAN AND ROBIN #30
Written by PHILLIP KENNEDY JOHNSON
Art by FICO OSSIO
Cover by NIMIT MALAVIA
Variant covers by GUILLEM MARCH and BRIAN BOLLAND
$4.99 US | 32 pages | Variant $5.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 2/11/26
Scarface has returned, the Quiet Man is still on the loose, and Two-Face and Penguin encircle it all. Batman and Robin have found themselves caught in the middle, desperate for answers and on the brink of defeat! The Dark Knight Detective and the Boy Wonder have one more trick up their sleeve, but will it be enough? Find out in the thrilling final issue of Phillip Kennedy Johnson’s epic run!

 

 

BATGIRL #16
Written by TATE BROMBAL
Art by TAKESHI MIYAZAWA
Cover by DAVID TALASKI
Variant cover by JORGE FORNÉS
$3.99 US | 32 pages | Variant $4.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 2/4/26
Hell has arrived at the heavenly gates of Samsara. Will the League of Shadows save their paradise, or will the Unburied reclaim their stolen land? And within it all, who will Batgirl become in the face of so much death? The finale to the War of Shadows is here, and you don’t want to miss it!

 

 

BATMAN/SUPERMAN: WORLD’S FINEST #48
Written by MARK WAID
Art by MARCUS TO
Cover by DAN MORA
Variant covers by MARK SPEARS, ADRIÁN GUTIÉRREZ, and MEGAN HUANG
$3.99 US | 32 pages | Variant $4.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 2/18/26
They are the finest duo in the world—but which world? Forget Batman and Superman—welcome to a chilling tale starring their evil Crime Syndicate doppelgangers, Ultraman and Owlman!

 

 

CATWOMAN #84
Written by TORUNN GRØNBEKK
Art by PATRICIO DELPECHE
Cover by SEBA FIUMARA
Variant covers by FRANK CHO, MAHMUD ASRAR, and W. SCOTT FORBES
$3.99 US | 32 pages | Variant $4.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 2/18/26
With Venice behind her and Gotham City in her sights, Selina has to make one quick and very important stop along the way—it’s time for her to bring her oldest friend Holly Robinson back home. Unfortunately, nothing goes as planned, and nothing will ever be the same.

 

 

POISON IVY #41
Written by G. WILLOW WILSON
Art by DAVIDE GIANFELICE
Cover by JESSICA FONG
Variant covers by NOOBOVICH, KYUYONG EOM, and CHAY RUBY
$3.99 US | 32 pages | Variant $4.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 2/4/26
After being caught red-handed for a crime she most certainly did commit, Ivy finds herself in the cold and unloving embrace of the Gotham City correctional system. Is this the end of Ivy, or has her war only just begun?

 

 

HARLEY QUINN #59
Written by ELLIOTT KALAN
Art by CARLOS OLIVARES
Cover by YANICK PAQUETTE
Variant covers by DAVID NAKAYAMA, INHYUK LEE, and ELIZABETH TORQUE
Valentine’s Day variant by CHRISSIE ZULLO
$3.99 US | 32 pages | Variant $4.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 2/25/26
It’s finally time—Harley Quinn and Althea Klang go on a date…to the death! Honestly, I didn’t think I was gonna say yes to Althea, but then I got a ton of fan letters in the mail with your signatures on them demanding that I do it! You’re not gonna want to miss this outrageously spicy issue of Harley Quinn. And by spicy, I mean the food we’re going to eat!

 

DETECTIVE COMICS #1106February 2026 TBU DC Solicitations

Source: DC Comics

 

DETECTIVE COMICS #1106
Written by TOM TAYLOR
Art and cover by MIKEL JANÍN
Variant covers by GREG SMALLWOOD and STEVE SKROCE
$4.99 US | 32 pages | Variant $5.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 2/25/26
What started as a mysterious infection on a boat in Gotham Harbor has grown into one of the most formidable threats Gotham City has ever faced! Now, with mere hours to go before Batman’s system is entirely overtaken by his infection, the Dark Knight must attempt to save his city—and himself—before it’s too late! Tom Taylor and Mikel Janín’s exhilarating exploration of the terror of a world without fear ends here!

 

 

NEW HISTORY OF THE DC UNIVERSE: THE DAKOTA INCIDENT #1
Written by JOSEPH P. ILLIDGE, STEPHANIE WILLIAMS, MORGAN HAMPTON, and NIKOLAS DRAPER-IVEY
Art by CARLO PAGULAYAN, VALENTINE DE LANDRO, and EDWIN GALMON Cover by DIEGO OLORTEGUI
Variant covers by DENYS COWAN & DAN JURGENS, YASMINE PUTRI, and CARLO PAGULAYAN
Foil variant cover by JOSHUA“SWAY” SWABY
$5.99 US | 40 pages | Variant $6.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 2/25/26
Spinning out of the pages of New History of the DC Unviverse, uncover an untold moment in DC history, where a murder leads to an all-out war between the heroes of Dakota City and U.S. government! As their home becomes a battlefield, what must Static, Rocket, and the others sacrifice to keep their loved ones safe? But as heroes fall in the past, the stage is set for their return in the present…

 

BATMAN/GREEN ARROW/THE QUESTION: ARCADIA #3February 2026 TBU DC Solicitations

Source: DC Comics

 

BATMAN/GREEN ARROW/THE QUESTION: ARCADIA #3
Written by GABRIEL HARDMAN
Art and cover by GABRIEL HARDMAN
Variant cover by PHIL HESTER
$5.99 US | 32 pages | 3 of 4 | (all covers are card stock)
ON SALE 2/18/26
A bold rescue operation reunites Batman, Green Arrow, and the Question… only to crash and burn in the storm-ravaged mountains of Greenland. But the heroes’ tenuous coalition is ripped apart at the seams as they brace for the retaliatory assault of a billionaire’s private army!

 

 

BATMAN: GARGOYLE OF GOTHAM #4
Written by RAFAEL GRAMPÁ
Art and cover by RAFAEL GRAMPÁ
Variant covers by LEE BERMEJO, JOCK, and JAMIE HEWLETT
1:25 variant cover by VALENTINA NAPOLITANO
1:50 variant cover by THOBIAS DANELUZ
$6.99 US | 56 pages | Variants $6.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 2/18/26
As bells ring out across Gotham City, blood runs in its streets. Doctorgeist’s plan has come to fruition, and his legion of loyal followers unleash the evil inside their rotting hearts upon friends, neighbors, and strangers alike. But there’s an evil lurking deep in Batman’s heart as well, one that Doctorgeist himself discovered long ago—and the only way to save Gotham might be to set it free once and for all…

 

BATMAN: GARGOYLE OF GOTHAM #4 NOIR EDITIONFebruary 2026 TBU DC Solicitations

Source: DC Comics

 

BATMAN: GARGOYLE OF GOTHAM #4 NOIR EDITION
Written by RAFAEL GRAMPÁ
Art and cover by RAFAEL GRAMPÁ
$6.99 US | 56 pages
ON SALE 2/18/26

 

 

BATMAN/STATIC: BEYOND #3
Written by EVAN NARCISSE
Art by MIGUEL MENDONÇA
Cover by NIKOLAS DRAPER-IVEY
Variant covers by BERNARD CHANG and SANFORD GREENE
$4.99 US | 32 pages | Variant $5.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 2/4/26
Having been caught in the destruction of Neo-Gotham’s Q-Grid Station, Hamilton Hill High student Melvin Kim is reborn with mastery over all things technological! With a disdain for humanity’s overdependence on technology, Melvin becomes the villain Shutdown and sets his sights on Dakota City, where Static prepares to launch the Q-Grid worldwide—but will Batman Beyond arrive in time to stop Shutdown’s scheme?

 

THE BAT-MAN: SECOND KNIGHT #3February 2026 TBU DC Solicitations

Source: DC Comics

 

THE BAT-MAN: SECOND KNIGHT #3
Written by DAN JURGENS
Art and cover by MIKE PERKINS
Variant covers by MARC ASPINALL and STEPHANIE HANS
$6.99 US | 48 pages | 3 of 3 | Prestige Plus | 8 1/2″ x 10 7/8″
(all covers are card stock)
ON SALE 2/25/26
A cloud of fear has settled over the city, and the Scarecrow has the people of Gotham right where he wants them. Jim Gordon will take the fight right to Scarecrow’s seat of power…City Hall! But will Gordon have to challenge him on his own? Where’s the Bat-Man? The Dark Knight has found himself staring down a power unlike any he’s ever seen: a man of unlimited strength. A superman. And he has a lot of questions for the Caped Crusader. Will these two find common ground in time to thwart the Scarecrow and Hangman’s endgame?

 

SECRET ORIGINS SUPER-VILLAINS: LIMITED COLLECTORS’ EDITION VOL. 1 C-39 FACSIMILE EDITIONFebruary 2026 TBU DC Solicitations

Source: DC Comics

 

SECRET ORIGINS SUPER-VILLAINS: LIMITED COLLECTORS’ EDITION VOL. 1 C-39 FACSIMILE EDITION
Written by E. NELSON BRIDWELL, BILL FINGER, JERRY SIEGEL, JOHN BROOME, BILL PARKER, and CARY BATES
Art by MURPHY ANDERSON, LEW SAYRE SCHWARTZ, CURT SWAN, AL PLASTINO, CARMINE INFANTINO, DICK GIORDANO, C.C. BECK, and DICK DILLIN
Cover by DICK GIORDANO
Foil variant cover by DICK GIORDANO ($19.99 US)
$14.99 US | 64 pages
ON SALE 2/25/26
Lex Luthor! The Joker! Captain Cold! Dr. Sivana! Terra-Man! Learn the secret origins of all these diabolical villains—and more! Witness the tragic circumstances, twists of fate, and karmic comeuppances that lead to the creation of some of the DCU’s very best of the worst!

 

DETECTIVE COMICS #575 FACSIMILE EDITIONFebruary 2026 TBU DC Solicitations

Source: DC Comics

 

DETECTIVE COMICS #575 FACSIMILE EDITION
Written by MIKE W. BARR
Art and cover by ALAN DAVIS
Foil variant cover by ALAN DAVIS ($6.99 US)
Blank sketch cover ($4.99)
$3.99 US | 32 pages
ON SALE 2/18/26
“Batman: Year Two” begins! In the still-early days of the Dark Knight’s career, a vicious vigilante long thought gone—the Reaper—returns to Gotham City, bringing back his own brutal brand of justice. Will Batman be forced to adopt the methods— and tools—of his enemies to defeat this deadly foe?

 

THE BATMAN ADVENTURES: MAD LOVE SPECIAL FACSIMILE EDITIONFebruary 2026 TBU DC Solicitations

Source: DC Comics

 

THE BATMAN ADVENTURES: MAD LOVE SPECIAL FACSIMILE EDITION
Written by PAUL DINI
Art and cover by BRUCE TIMM
Foil variant cover by BRUCE TIMM ($9.99 US)
Blank sketch cover ($7.99)
$6.99 US | 64 pages
ON SALE 2/18/26
Written and drawn by the masterminds behind the critically acclaimed Batman: The Animated Series, Paul Dini and Bruce Timm, this wild one-shot reveals the origins of Harley Quinn as she attempts to prove her love to the Joker by eliminating Batman on her own!

 

THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS #1 FACSIMILE EDITIONFebruary 2026 TBU DC Solicitations

Source: DC Comics

 

THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS #1 FACSIMILE EDITION
Written by FRANK MILLER
Art and cover by FRANK MILLER
Variant covers by FRANK MILLER and JIM LEE
Foil variant cover by FRANK MILLER ($7.99 US)
Blank sketch cover ($5.99 US)
$4.99 US | 48 pages
ON SALE 2/25/26
Ten years after the last reported sighting of the Batman, a retired Bruce Wayne spends his nights fighting only to honor his vow to stay retired. Amidst the rising threat of a new breed of gang violence, old enemies from the past—and an inner demon that will not stay caged—ensure the Dark Knight’s return in this masterpiece of comics storytelling.

 

DC W.I.P.: DARK NIGHTS METAL #1February 2026 TBU DC Solicitations

Source: DC Comics

 

DC W.I.P.: DARK NIGHTS METAL #1
Written by SCOTT SNYDER
Art and cover by GREG CAPULLO and JONATHAN GLAPION
$14.99 US | 64 pages
ON SALE 2/11/26
Step into the world of comics like never before with DC W.I.P. Get up close and personal with the stunning original artwork from one of comics’ greatest artists. Featuring both the original pencilled art of Dark Nights Metal #1 from Greg Capullo, and also the original inks from Jonathan Glapion! The brilliance of their work can be seen like never before in this massive oversize presentation. Includes a brand-new introduction by Glapion. Don’t miss your chance to own this incredible, one-of-a kind piece of comics history.

 

 

GOTHAM ACADEMY FIRST YEAR #5
Written by BRENDEN FLETCHER, KARL KERSCHL, and BECKY CLOONAN
Art by MARCO FERRARI
Cover by KARL KERSCHL
Variant cover by ANNIE WU
$4.99 US | 40 pages
ON SALE 2/4/26
Gotham Academy’s first day of school comes with new schedules, new secrets… and a creeping sense that nothing is quite what it seems. For Olive Silverlock, the search for her missing mother takes a turn into forgotten memories, closed doors, and conversations she swears she’s already had. But how do you retrace your steps when you don’t remember walking?

 

TEEN TITANS GO! #12February 2026 TBU DC Solicitations

Source: DC Comics

 

TEEN TITANS GO! #12
Written by SHOLLY FISCH
Art and cover by DARIO BRIZUELA
$2.99 US | 32 pages
ON SALE 2/4/26
Everybody knows that Robin has a crush on Starfire (except for maybe Starfire), so of course, the Titans are braced for any wacky hijinks in February. But when Starfire opens a mystery package full of plushies and hearts and bouquets, she’s shocked to find a note that says, “From your secret admirer…to Raven.”

 

BATMAN: DARK PATTERNSFebruary 2026 TBU DC Solicitations

Source: DC Comics

 

BATMAN: DARK PATTERNS
Written by DAN WATTERS
Art and cover by HAYDEN SHERMAN
$34.99 US | 352 pages | 6 5/8″ x 10 3/16″ | Softcover | ISBN: 978-1-79951-051-2
ON SALE 3/31/26
Batman: Dark Patterns is a series of four self-contained, street-level mysteries that delve into the early days of Batman’s role in Gotham City and his healing presence within its streets.
This grounded, mystery-driven narrative evokes the rich tone and style of beloved classics such as Batman: Year One, Batman: The Long Halloween, and Batman: Hush. Penned by the talented Dan Watters and brought to life through the striking artistry of Hayden Sherman, each three-part story stands alone as a gripping detective case, shedding light on the trauma and resilience of Gotham’s citizens and its urban landscape.
The series masterfully underscores Batman’s dual identity as a methodical sleuth and a shadowy beacon of hope, skillfully steering clear of cosmic or supernatural distractions. This intentional focus reassures readers of a steadfast commitment to a more authentic, detective-driven experience, highlighting relatable mysteries that brilliantly showcase the Dark Knight as a healer cloaked in darkness.

 

BIRDS OF PREY VOL. 4: ON THE RUNFebruary 2026 TBU DC Solicitations

Source: DC Comics

 

BIRDS OF PREY VOL. 4: ON THE RUN
Written by KELLY THOMPSON
Art by SAMI BASRI and VICENTE CIFUENTES
Cover by ANNIE WU
$19.99 US | 208 pages | 6 5/8″ x 10 3/16″ | Softcover | ISBN: 978-1-79950-569-3
ON SALE 4/14/26
Deliberately scattered across the globe to follow leads both real and false, the Birds of Prey are more vulnerable than ever before. And there’s a new team of villains waiting in the shadows, fashioned specifically to take out the Birds: Oracle, Batgirl, Black Canary, Barda, and Sin/Megaera.
As the strongest among them falls, a mission for answers becomes a fight for survival. The Birds investigate the disappearance of one of their own, hoping to find both their missing comrade and the truth about these mysterious villains. Can the Birds of Prey survive what’s coming, or will the Shadow Army clip their wings for good?
From Eisner Award-winning writer Kelly Thompson (Absolute Wonder Woman) and sensational artists Sami Basri (Harley Quinn) and Vicente Cifuentes (Batgirl), Birds of Prey Vol. 4: On the Run collects Birds of Prey #20-28.

 

BATMAN: GOTHAM BY GASLIGHT: THE KRYPTONIAN AGEFebruary 2026 TBU DC Solicitations

Source: DC Comics

 

BATMAN: GOTHAM BY GASLIGHT: THE KRYPTONIAN AGE
Written by ANDY DIGGLE
Art and cover by LEANDRO FERNÁNDEZ
$19.99 US | 216 pages | 6 5/8″ x 10 3/16″ | Softcover | ISBN: 978-1-79950-945-5
ON SALE 4/14/2026
The year is 1893, and Gotham City has flourished under the eye of the Batman. But despite the gaudy new light bulbs and the gaudier nouveau riche, the shadows are also growing deadlier new threats. The Batman will find himself challenged by the mysterious Catwoman and the even more enigmatic Talia al Ghul. And what cosmic treasure from beyond the stars waits for all of them outside the confines of Gotham City? The new era of Elseworlds kicks off with the return of the crown jewel, the gothic world originated by Brian Augustyn and Mike Mignola. Superstar duo Andy Diggle (Action Comics, Poison Ivy) and Leandro Fernández (Batman, Birds of Prey) breathe new life into the legend of Gotham City and its dark guardian. This isn’t the Gilded Age; this is the Kryptonian Age! Collects issues #1-6.

 

BATMAN: GOTHAM BY GASLIGHT: A LEAGUE FOR JUSTICEFebruary 2026 TBU DC Solicitations

Source: DC Comics

 

BATMAN: GOTHAM BY GASLIGHT: A LEAGUE FOR JUSTICE
Written by ANDY DIGGLE and ROB WILLIAMS
Art and cover by LEANDRO FERNÁNDEZ
$29.99 US | 216 pages | 6 5/8″ x 10 3/16″ | Hardcover | ISBN: 978-1-79950-262-3
ON SALE 4/21/26
The follow-up to the incredible Elseworlds saga Gotham by Gaslight: The Kryptonian Age introduces a steam-powered Justice League for the Gilded Age! While Batman, Superman, and a posse of strange new heroes might be able to handle Lex Luthor and his Kryptonite-fueled Metallo robot, they’re going to need even more firepower to take on his new ally: General Zod! But something far more sinister—something hiding behind the very veil of our reality—is pulling Zod’s strings. Can this. newly- formed League join forces to save humanity? Collects Batman: Gotham by Gaslight: A League for Justice #1-6.

 

JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED VOL. 2: THE OMEGA ACTFebruary 2026 TBU DC Solicitations

Source: DC Comics

 

JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED VOL. 2: THE OMEGA ACT
Written by MARK WAID, JOSHUA WILLIAMSON, and MARC GUGGENHEIM
Art by DAN MORA, YASMINE PUTRI, and CIAN TORMEY
Cover by DAN MORA
$17.99 US | 136 pages | 6 5/8″ x 10 3/16″ | Softcover | ISBN: 978-1-79950-610-2
$24.99 US | 136 pages | 6 5/8″ x 10 3/16″ | Hardcover | ISBN: 978-1-79950-572-3
ON SALE 4/28/26
All-stars Mark Waid and Dan Mora bring the next chapter of their Justice League saga to life in this epic prelude to DC K.O.!
Time travelers from all corners of the DC Universe have been mysteriously disappearing—and the truth of the mystery surrounding them may be more dangerous and earth-shattering than anything the Justice League could imagine. Superstars Mark Waid and Dan Mora are on the front lines of a story that will reshape the DCU forever, and it all starts here! Can Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, and their team of heroes solve it in time, or is it already too late?

 

JUSTICE LEAGUE VS. GODZILLA VS. KONG 2February 2026 TBU DC Solicitations

Source: DC Comics

 

JUSTICE LEAGUE VS. GODZILLA VS. KONG 2
Written by BRIAN BUCCELLATO
Art and cover by CHRISTIAN DUCE
$29.99 US | 240 pages | 6 5/8” x 10 3/16” | Hardcover | 978-1-79951-109-0
ON SALE 4/7/26
In the aftermath of last year’s Justice League vs. Godzilla vs. Kong, Task Force X launches a plan to develop hybrid Titans that Amanda Waller can control to guard against future titan attacks on our Earth. To stop Task Force X, the Justice League travels to Legendary Earth and must face the dangers of the Hollow Earth, Kong, and Godzilla, King of the Monsters!

 

BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS: DC COMPACT COMICS EDITIONFebruary 2026 TBU DC Solicitations

Source: DC Comics

 

BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS: DC COMPACT COMICS EDITION
Written by FRANK MILLER
Art by FRANK MILLER
Cover by FRANK MILLER and KLAUS JANSON
$9.99 US | 200 pages | 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″ | Softcover | ISBN: 978-1-79950-786-4
ON SALE 4/7/26
Together with inker Klaus Janson and colorist Lynn Varley, writer/artist Frank Miller completely reinvents the legend of Batman in his saga of a near-future Gotham City gone to rot, 10 years after the Dark Knight’s retirement. This masterpiece of modern comics storytelling brings to vivid life a dark world and an even darker man.

 

BATMAN BY NEAL ADAMS: ABSOLUTE EDITION VOL. 1February 2026 TBU DC Solicitations

Source: DC Comics

 

BATMAN BY NEAL ADAMS: ABSOLUTE EDITION VOL. 1
Written by DENNIS O’NEIL, BOB HANEY, and LEO DORFMAN
Art and cover by NEAL ADAMS
$100.00 US | 368 pages | 8 1/8″ x 12 1/4″ | Hardcover | ISBN: 978-1-79950-870-0
ON SALE 8/4/26
Experience the complete works of Neal Adams on Batman from 1968 to 1970 in the oversize, beautiful, Absolute format, featuring his stories from World’s Finest Comics #175-176; The Brave and the Bold #79-86; Detective Comics #395, #397, #400, and #402; and Batman #219, along with an extensive cover gallery and more! Return to the original art and colors in this celebratory volume (one of two).

 

BATMAN BEYOND: UNLIMITED COMPENDIUMFebruary 2026 TBU DC Solicitations

Source: DC Comics

 

BATMAN BEYOND: UNLIMITED COMPENDIUM
Written by ADAM BEECHEN, DUSTIN NGUYEN, DEREK FRIDOLFS, and others!
Art by RYAN BENJAMIN, NORM BREYFOGLE, DUSTIN NGUYEN, and others!
Cover by DUSTIN NGUYEN
$59.99 US | 1240 pages | 6 5/8″ x 10 3/16″ | Softcover | ISBN: 978-1-79950-774-1
ON SALE 3/31/26
Terry McGinnis has earned the mantle as Batman, and now he must find his place among the Justice League and the greater DC Universe. Escape into the future of Gotham and beyond as new villains emerge, old threats return, and the heroes of old and new converge. The story of Batman Beyond continues here!
Collects Batman Beyond (vol. 3) #1-6, Batman Beyond (vol. 4) #1-8, Batman Beyond Unlimited #1-18, Superman/Batman Annual #4, Superman Beyond #0, stories from the Justice League Beyond digital series #21 and #25, and Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker #1.

 

BATMAN: SWORD OF AZRAEL: DELUXE EDITIONFebruary 2026 TBU DC Solicitations

Source: DC Comics

 

BATMAN: SWORD OF AZRAEL: DELUXE EDITION
Written by DENNIS O’NEIL
Art by JOE QUESADA, KEVIN NOWLAN, and JIMMY PALMIOTTI
Cover by JOE QUESADA and KEVIN NOWLAN
$34.99 US | 240 pages | 7 1/16″ x 10 7/8″ | Hardcover | ISBN: 978-1-79950-779-6
ON SALE 4/14/26
Witness the rise of a new hero who will go on to play a pivotal role in “Knightfall” in Batman: Sword of Azrael: The Deluxe Edition, presenting the acclaimed miniseries by Dennis O’Neil, Joe Quesada, Kevin Nowlan, and Lovern Kindzierski in deluxe format for the very first time! Featuring a new wraparound cover and introduction by artist Quesada, this volume also includes the Azrael/Ash one-shot co-starring Joe Quesada and Jimmy Palmiotti’s creator-owned character Ash and a trove of preliminary designs, original art pages, and other extras. Collects Batman: Sword of Azrael #1-4 and Azrael/Ash #1.

 

LEGENDS OMNIBUSFebruary 2026 TBU DC Solicitations

Source: DC Comics

 

LEGENDS OMNIBUS
Written by JOHN OSTRANDER, LEN WEIN, PAUL LEVITZ, J.M. DeMATTEIS, and others
Art by JOHN BYRNE, KEITH GIFFEN, LUKE McDONNELL, and others
Cover by JOHN BYRNE
$125.00 US | 856 pages | 8 1/8″ x 12 1/4″ | Hardcover | ISBN: 978-1-79950-782-6
ON SALE 4/21/26
The legends of the DC Universe are being targeted, discredited, and ostracized as traitors! The president has issued an order banning heroes. Riots are breaking out in the streets, and the goodness of the world is being dismantled. As Darkseid works to turn the public their protectors, his quest to harvest the Anti-Life Equation furthers. As the ticking clock of doom strikes forward, it will take the will of heroes across the globe to overcome the hate spreading and to reclaim the good incarnate in all of us. Collecting Legends #1-6, Batman #401, Detective Comics #568, Green Lantern Corps #207, Cosmic Boy #1-4, Justice League of America #258-261, Secret Origins #10 and #14, The Fury of Firestorm #55-56 and #58-59, Blue Beetle #9-10, The Warlord #114-115, Superman #3, Adventures of Superman #426, and Action Comics #586, with a brand-new foreword by Mike Gold, introduction by John Ostrander, and a never-before-seen extensive behind-the- scenes look at DC’s journey to making a sequel to Crisis on Infinite Earths.

 

ROBIN: THE BRONZE AGE OMNIBUS (2026 EDITION)February 2026 TBU DC Solicitations

Source: DC Comics

 

ROBIN: THE BRONZE AGE OMNIBUS (2026 EDITION)
Written by GARDNER FOX, DENNIS O’NEIL, PAUL KUPPERBERG, and others
Art by IRV NOVICK, GIL KANE, and KURT SCHAFFENBERGER
Cover by ERNIE CHAN
$125.00 US | 912 pages | 7 1/16″ x 10 7/8″ | Hardcover | ISBN: 978-1-79950-785-7
ON SALE 4/21/26
Even though he’s left Gotham, Dick’s new world of higher education still has its fair share of lowlife criminals. Robin spends his time between classes chasing thieves, motorcycle gangs, fraudsters, and more in these exciting stories from such talents as Bob Rozakis, Mike Friedrich, Elliot S. Maggin, Irv Novick, Gil Kane, and Kurt Schaffenberger!

 

BATMAN BY CHIP ZDARSKY OMNIBUS VOL. 1February 2026 TBU DC Solicitations

Source: DC Comics

 

BATMAN BY CHIP ZDARSKY OMNIBUS VOL. 1
Written by CHIP ZDARSKY
Art by JORGE JIMÉNEZ, CARMINE DI GIANDOMENICO, MIKE HAWTHORNE, and others
Cover by CHIP ZDARSKY
$125.00 US | 960 pages | 7 1/16″ x 10 7/8″ | Hardcover | ISBN: 978-1-79950-781-9
ON SALE 4/28/26
Chip Zdarsky (Daredevil) is joined by artists Jorge Jiménez (Justice League), Carmine Di Giandomenico (The Flash), Mike Hawthorne (Deadpool), and more in Batman by Chip Zdarsky Omnibus Vol. 1, collecting Batman #125-136, Batman: The Knight #1-10, and stories from Batman: Urban Legends #1-6!

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dc comics solicitations for november 2025 featured image
Comic Reviews and Editorials

Comic Book Review: Batman/Deadpool #1

by D.M. Grant
written by D.M. Grant

In this review of DC/Marvel: Batman/Deadpool #1, the Caped Crusader and the Merc with the Mouth join forces to combat other-worldly dangers and travel through a cacophony of crazy comic crime! Will anyone survive?!

 

dc comics solicitations for november 2025 featured image

Batman/Deadpool #1 main cover by Dan Mora (Marvel/DC Comics)

DC/MARVEL: BATMAN/DEADPOOL #1
Written by GRANT MORRISON, SCOTT SNYDER, JAMES TYNION IV, JOSHUA WILLIAMSON, TOM TAYLOR, MARIKO TAMAKI, and G. WILLOW WILSON
Art by DAN MORA, HAYDEN SHERMAN, BRUNO REDONDO, AMANDA CONNER, and DENYS COWAN
Main Cover: DAN MORA
Variant Covers: DAN MORA, LEE BERMEJO, MARK BROOKS, JIM CHEUNG, AMANDA CONNER, NICK DRAGOTTA, JENNY FRISON, ANDY KUBERT, JAE LEE, JIM LEE, ALEXANDER LOZANO, SEAN MURPHY, FRANK QUITELY, BRUNO REDONDO, HAYDEN SHERMAN, BILL SIENKIEWICZ, RYAN SOOK, and SOZOMAIKA
Page Count: 64 pages
Release Date: 11/19/25

 

This review contains spoilers

Once upon a time, the two cosmic entities governing the balances of reality between the DC Universe and the Marvel universe – Eternity and Kismet respectively – got together for a one night stand.

As a result, in the middle of an investigation into the kidnapping of the wife of one Victor Gover a.k.a. Sportsmaster, Batman encounters Deadpool – an anti-heroic assassin who bears a strong resemblance to Slade Wilson a.k.a. Deathstroke. Realizing they’ve been trapped in a cross-universe conundrum, the two costumed heroes circumnavigate the corners of the next dimension, until they put Batman’s famous plot armor to the test and he’s seemingly killed by arrows. At that moment, the villain of the story Cassandra Nova arrives, revealing that he knew Deadpool was on a mission to kill her and implemented Batman to find the deadly device that could do her in before Deadpool could.

Deadpool drags Batman to a conveniently located Lazarus Pit, whereupon the Amalgam hero Dark Claw emerges. Battling Deadpool in a berserker frenzy, Dark Claw reveals that while the two are trapped inside of Nova’s mind, they’ve got help on the outside. At that moment, Robin arrives and attacks Nova, giving Batman a chance to return and for him and Deadpool to locate the true mastermind of the plot.

They encounter The Writer – a mysterious cosmic being last thought to have been killed during an adventure with the Suicide Squad. With their Cosmic Keyboard, Batman and Deadpool combine to form “Deadbat”, who quickly beheads Cassandra Nova, incapacitating her for a long enough time for Deadpool to return her to his universe. As The Writer exits the story, and Eternity and Kismet awkwardly agree to meet again, Batman returns Victor Gover’s wife to him as a final gift for the holidays.

Analysis

With an almost entirely unserious plot and terrifically wild artwork from Grant Morrison and Dan Mora, Batman/Deadpool is genuinely one of the very best DC/Marvel crossovers in many years. Not just for the fact that we haven’t had these much since the early 2000s, but Morrison knows exactly how to render this adventure, with Deadpool’s penchant for wacky, fourth-wall breaking mania justifying the fun we can have with a refusal to both take things too seriously and acknowledge that this is one in a long line of comic book crossovers that really shouldn’t ever try to make sense. Batman/Deadpool #1 is a ball.

However I worry that it might go over the heads of newer younger readers. Much of the joy in this issue comes from the fact that Morrison and Mora are constantly poking fun at the fact that DC and Marvel used to cross over a lot, with specific references calling back to those adventures. Specifically DC vs. Marvel is recalled here – with the biggest signpost being the return of the Batman/Wolverine hybrid Dark Claw. But there’s also the web-guns Deadpool employs which belonged to Spider-Boy (A Spider-Man Kon-El Superboy hybrid), and the heads of the godlike beings from DC vs, Marvel appearing at the foot of the bed next to Eternity and Kismet near the end of the story. You really have to be a hardcore comic book fan to recognize those, and if you’re not I wonder if it’ll just come across as random nonsense.

There’s other easters eggs as well. Deadpool does the fourth-wall breaking move where he “sees” the reading audience – a reference to Grant Morrison having Buddy Baker do the same thing in Animal Man. That issue also included Morrison themself as The Writer, a fictionalized version who did seemingly die in the pages of Suicide Squad not long after. That gets referenced, along with the fact that this isn’t even the first Batman/Deadpool team-up. We had the Deadpool/Batman matchup just a few months prior, but Morrison has Deadpool both reference and discount it for brevity’s sake, as well as preserving that that did happen, but Batman’s characterization can be different, and multiverse theory dictates that this be a slightly different Batman.

On that note, I love Morrison writing Batman in Batman/Deadpool #1. Morrison’s forever one of the best Batman writers period, and pitches his nonplussed nature perfectly throughout the story. As opposed to the previously mentioned crossover, this interpretation of Batman isn’t bothered at all by Deadpool’s antics, or the fact that he’s flying through a crazed multidimensional adventure. I love this, as Batman has had such a varied career over the course of his history, we’re not bogged down by him grim-facing Deadpool and trying to out-serious the plot. He simply rolls with it and keeps on. In my view, this is the perfect Batman portrayal, and it keeps things fun because he’s only into solving the mystery and rescuing a kidnapping victim, utilizing Deadpool best without getting distracted. It’s terrific stuff.

Morrison does Deadpool justice as well. Much of what I’ve read of Deadpool can fall down on hoary, juvenile humor that varies from clever to gross at times. Morrison keeps the character crass, but in witty, silly ways. He also uses Wade to poke fun at the conventions of both DC and Marvel, by referencing how many Lazarus Pits still exist despite them always being short in supply, and making fun of Batman’s plot armor. It’s great stuff.

There are other adventures in the rest of Batman/Deadpool #1, that were generally enjoyable, from Wolverine and Nightwing’s team-up to Ms. Marvel and Static. I have to say that the Batman/Deadpool main story really met the hype of the concept’s potential. I don’t know if it will work for newer readers who may never have read a DC/Marvel crossover before, especially those who aren’t familiar at all with DC vs Marvel, but I was 100% the target audience for this specific story, and it worked on all points for me.

dc comics solicitations for november 2025 featured image
DC/Marvel: Batman/Deadpool #1
Final Thoughts
I have to say that the Batman/Deadpool main story really met the hype of the concept's potential. I don't know if it will work for newer readers who may never have read a DC/Marvel crossover before, especially those who aren't familiar at all with DC vs Marvel, but I was 100% the target audience for this specific story, and it worked on all points for me.
5
Final Score
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Nightwing #132 main cover
Comic Reviews and Editorials

Review: Nightwing #132

by Ian Miller
written by Ian Miller

In this review of Nightwing #132, Nightwing faces a truly shocking trap as the Zanni kicks his campaign in Bludhaven up several notches.

 

Nightwing #132 main cover

Nightwing #132 main cover by Dexter Soy (DC Comics)

NIGHTWING #132
Written by DAN WATTERS
Art and Main Cover: DEXTER SOY
Variant Covers: DUSTIN NGUYEN, PAOLO PANTALENA, and ELIZABETH TORQUE
$4.99 US | 32 pages | Variant $5.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 11/19/25

 

This review contains spoilers

As Nightwing #132 kicks off, Nightwing grieves over Nightwing-Prime’s kryptonite-induced-comatose body and Babs lets him know that more children in Bludhaven have gone missing.

The Zanni prepares Oliva Pearce, aka Columbina from one of Dick’s early adventures as Robin, for their dark plan. Nightwing bursts through Pearce’s window and demands to know where the missing children are. Wearing a red copycat Nightwing suit programmed with Nightwing’s moves (from his use of a Spheric Suit during the Fifth Dimension arc), Pearce leads Nightwing on a chase throughout the city. When Nightwing finally overwhelms her defenses, Pearce reveals that she killed herself in a self-created death trap as a child, waiting for Batman and Robin to save her, but the Zanni “saved” her. Zanni’s trap is revealed as he makes Pearce’s head fall off on live camera, appearing as if Nightwing had decapitated her (since Zanni is invisible), and children see it on TV. Zanni leaves Nightwing furious and defeated, saying that the missing children are laughing in his Cirque du Sin.

Analysis

Dan Watters manages to tie together all his threads around the figure of Oliva Pearce – her horrifying, yet unseen face, her backstory with Dick Grayson and comic books and the sinister Zanni. While I’m not sure I completely buy that a skull face would drive Nightwing’s sister to insanity/a coma (though there may be a spell/drugs involved too), it’s certainly a really gross and scary sight. It’s also effective but tragic to see Watters use Nightwing’s beloved skillset of mobility and acrobatics around the city – seen to greatest effect in the great issue of Nightwing, “The Boys” by Chuck Dixon and Scott McDaniel – in dark mockery through Pearce’s use of her programmed suit. I’m curious to see if Pearce ever comes back – it seems like she’s dead in this issue, but this is a comic, after all, and her “death” happened a long time before the comic, so the same magic could conceivably bring her back. It seems a bit of a waste of a character with a decently constructed connection and gimmick to be removed from Nightwing’s rogues gallery after such a short time.

Pearce’s death and Zanni’s role in it, in having her imitate her beloved comic books and die a horrific, sinister death – also throws weird light onto all the (apparently) straightforward “Comics are anarchy and fighting the power, and the Comics Code was bad because it stripped what is good about comics out of them” messaging from the Annual. Hopefully Watters will shed more light on what he’s trying to do in a meta fashion, as currently it’s quite unclear.

The definite horror sensibility of the comic is perfectly matched by artist Dexter Soy and colorist Veronica Gandini. In addition to the nicely constructed sequence where Oliva reveals her backstory and takes off her mask, where her face disintegrates as the frame to the smaller narrative panels, the action is appropriately dark and somber despite the high energy demanded from Nightwing and Pearce herself, and the whole package feels remarkably consistent and effective in communicating the artist and writer’s goals. Watters and Soy’s partnership really is quite nice to see in today’s frequently changing artist world.

Dexter Soy’s main cover highlights the confrontation between Pearce and Nightwing well, using basically just black, blue, and burnt orange to create the effect of the clash. Veteran DC artist Dustin Nguyen’s cover features an upside down Nightwing falling towards the reader out of the moon, framed by a terrifying cityscape in a toothed circle – very vivid imagery, rendered in Nguyen’s impeccable design style. Paolo Pantalena’s variant is very reminiscent of Scott McDaniel’s bold, broad pencilling, with Nightwing highlighted against his own profile in the rain. Lastly, Elizabeth Torque’s variant features Nightwing, chest out, against a sketchy red city – a dynamic but seemingly unfinished look. 

Let me know what you think on twitter @ibmmiller, or join the conversation in our Discord!

Final Thoughts

While the thematic and narrative issues still hover in the background of this run, Watters and Soy pull off a really horrifying reveal and development in this issue. 3 out of 5 Batarangs.

Nightwing #132 main cover
Nightwing #132
Final Thoughts
While the thematic and narrative issues still hover in the background of this run, Watters and Soy pull off a really horrifying reveal and development in this issue.
3
Final Score
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world's finest #45 featured image
Comic Reviews and Editorials

Comic Book Review: Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #45

by Adam Koppel
written by Adam Koppel

In this review of Batman Superman: World’s Finest #45, what twisted scheme could make Joker and Lex Luthor collaborate again? (Hint: it’s not Lex’s idea). This issue also redefines the team-up concept in a way you cannot unsee.

 

Batman/Superman: World's Finest #45 main cover

Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #45 main cover by Dan Mora (DC Comics)

BATMAN/SUPERMAN: WORLD’S FINEST #45
Written by MARK WAID
Art by ADRIÁN GUTIÉRREZ
Main Cover: DAN MORA
Variant Covers: JORGE FORNÉS, ADRIÁN GUTIÉRREZ, DANI
Page Count: 32 pages
Release Date: 11/19/25

 

This review contains spoilers 

Batman Superman: World’s Finest #45 starts with Batman and Superman enjoying some downtime in the Bat-Cave watching their respective football teams go head-to-head. Their friendly rivalry is interrupted when Superman hears a break in at Gotham City’s S.T.A.R. Labs where the group is currently testing a new brain enhancement device. The World’s Finest duo are on the case (and about twenty minutes late to the party).

At S.T.A.R. Labs, Lex Luthor (rocking his classic green/purple outfit complete with gas mask) stands amid unconscious employees as he admires his latest acquisition, but moments later he is tumbling through the complex (intangibly). Lex finally lands in an underground tunnel…and directly into the path of an oncoming train. A perplexed Lex jumps out of the way, and comes face-to-face with Joker, who used a stolen portable dematerializer to abduct Lex. Joker is keeping Lex intangible until he hears Joker’s pitch for his own sinister heist (copycat).

At Joker’s (hideously designed) hideout the clown prince of crime lays out his scheme to steal a Thanagarian Absorbascon (also a knowledge enhancer), and a short while later they arrive at the Midway City Museum, where curator Carter Hall investigates the break-in as Hawkman.

Joker and Lex surprisingly hold their own against Hawkman’s brutal tactics with a few of their own. Joker ditches Lex and sneaks off to steal the Absorbascon. The World’s Finest team arrive to even the odds a bit, and Joker uses his dematerializer to collapse part of the museum ceiling and escape with his prize (and Lex).

Batman Superman: World’s Finest #45 ends with Lex and Joker in flight (boot-jets) with the World’s Finest team in hot pursuit them. The bickering villains struggle over the Absorbascon and crash onto a roof and the resulting energy discharge merges the villains into a giant Joker-Lex hybrid being who turns Superman and Batman intangible.

Analysis 

Batman Superman: World’s Finest #45 kicks off another enjoyable multi-part saga that is equal parts road trip, mismatched buddy comedy and old school supervillain team-up. Writer Mark Waid continues to reinvent the absurdity of Silver Age DC Comics for a modern audience with remarkable results. The friendly Clark/Bruce football rivalry opening chapter is a nice contrast to the carefree mayhem of Joker’s scheme (which includes conscripting a dour Lex Luthor from a similar scheme at S.T.A.R. Labs).

Are the parallels between the heists of two different knowledge enhancing artifacts (McGuffins) intentional? Regardless, Waid illustrates the easy rapport between the World’s Finest duo, while the Joker/Lex forced partnership makes for dramatic tension and nice one-liners as each villain jockeys for the upper hand in the ultimate battle of egos.
The Joker-Lex hybrid is a nice, with Joker’s dematerializer also probably also part of their new “merger”.

Introducing Hawkman into the mix (fueled by barely contained rage) is a fun addition, especially for fans of action, and it’s likely Carter will have to help out against the Joker/Lex hybrid while the World’s Finest reintegrate themselves somehow.

Artist Adrian Gutierrez gets in on the fun with nods to classic Silver Age strangeness, along with sequences that seem straight out of classic Bugs Bunny cartoons (you can practically hear the accompanying sound effects). From the giant Joker head hideout to the giant rubber duck in the Batcave (Penguin), Gutierrez peppers the pages with east eggs and sight gags without going overboard. Still, the artist also brings plenty of intensity to Hawkman’s fight scenes.

The body language/posture for each character is distinct, and the Joker-Lex hybrid is an interesting design, while Gutierrez also excels at subtle facial expressions that speak volumes.

Props to colorist Tamra Bonvillain for her own contributions to Batman Superman: World’s Finest #45  including the single panel featuring Superman stopping the ceiling collapse which is in shadow with a blood red background, also that six-panel sequence in Joker’s HQ featuring Joker and Lex in silhouette, contrasted by the yellow projection screen and the red Absorbascon.

Final Thoughts 

Batman Superman: World’s Finest #45 continues to be one of the most imaginative and enjoyable comics currently in publication with story, art and plot remixes for fans new and old.

world's finest #45 featured image
Batman/Superman: World's Finest #45
Final Thoughts
Batman Superman: World's Finest #45 continues to be one of the most imaginative and enjoyable comics currently in publication with story, art and plot remixes for fans new and old.
4.8
Final Score
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