Comic News

July 2025 TBU DC Solicitations

by Stephanie Mounce
written by Stephanie Mounce

DC Comics solicitations for July 2025 have been released by the publisher. A 5 issue weekly book, Gotham City Sirens: Unfit For Orbit will be launching and concluding in July. Other notables include Justice League: Dark Tomorrow Special #1, Nightwing 2025 Annual #1, Titans 2025 Annual #1, and a continuation of the Gotham By Gaslight series starts with Batgman: Gotham By Gaslight – A League For Justice #1.

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

(Click images to enlarge)

 

 

BATMAN #162
Written by JEPH LOEB
Art and cover by JIM LEE
Variant covers by DAVID FINCH, GABRIELE DELL’OTTO, and ESAD RIBIĆ
Foil variant cover by JIM LEE
Gotham City Sirens variant by GERALD PAREL
1:25 cover by JAE LEE
1:50 variant cover by CHRIS BACHALO
1:100 variant cover by JIM LEE
$4.99 US | 40 pages | Variant $5.99 US (card stock) | Variant $7.99 US (foil)
ON SALE 7/23/25

“H2SH” with Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee Part 5! Batman versus the Bat-Family! Whose side are you on?

 

 

 

GOTHAM CITY SIRENS: UNFIT FOR ORBIT #1
Written by LEAH WILLIAMS
Art by HAINING
Cover by TERRY DODSON and RACHEL DODSON
Variant covers by NOOBOVICH and KYUYONG EOM
Connecting variant cover by GUILLEM MARCH
Kalanorian foil connecting variant cover by GUILLEM MARCH
1:25 variant cover by HELEN MASK
$3.99 US | 32 pages | Variant $4.99 US (card stock) Variant $6.99 US (foil)
ON SALE 7/2/25

 

 

 

GOTHAM CITY SIRENS: UNFIT FOR ORBIT #2
Written by LEAH WILLIAMS
Art by HAINING
Cover by TERRY DODSON and RACHEL DODSON
Variant covers by NOOBOVICH and KYUYONG EOM
Connecting variant cover by GUILLEM MARCH
Kalanorian foil connecting variant cover by GUILLEM MARCH
1:25 variant cover by HELEN MASK
$3.99 US | 32 pages | Variant $4.99 US (card stock) Variant $6.99 US (foil)
ON SALE 7/9/25

 

 

 

GOTHAM CITY SIRENS: UNFIT FOR ORBIT #3
Written by LEAH WILLIAMS
Art by HAINING
Cover by TERRY DODSON and RACHEL DODSON
Variant covers by NOOBOVICH and KYUYONG EOM
Connecting variant cover by GUILLEM MARCH
Kalanorian foil connecting variant cover by GUILLEM MARCH
1:25 variant cover by HELEN MASK
$3.99 US | 32 pages | Variant $4.99 US (card stock) Variant $6.99 US (foil)
ON SALE 7/13/25

 

 

Gotham City Sirens July 2025 TBU DC Solicitations

 

GOTHAM CITY SIRENS: UNFIT FOR ORBIT #4
Written by LEAH WILLIAMS
Art by HAINING
Cover by TERRY DODSON and RACHEL DODSON
Variant covers by NOOBOVICH and KYUYONG EOM
Connecting variant cover by GUILLEM MARCH
Kalanorian foil connecting variant cover by GUILLEM MARCH
1:25 variant cover by HELEN MASK
$3.99 US | 32 pages | Variant $4.99 US (card stock) Variant $6.99 US (foil)
ON SALE 7/23/25

 

 

Gotham City Sirens July 2025 TBU DC Solicitations

 

GOTHAM CITY SIRENS: UNFIT FOR ORBIT #5
Written by LEAH WILLIAMS
Art by HAINING
Cover by TERRY DODSON and RACHEL DODSON
Variant covers by NOOBOVICH and KYUYONG EOM
Connecting variant cover by GUILLEM MARCH
Kalanorian foil connecting variant cover by GUILLEM MARCH
1:25 variant cover by HELEN MASK
$3.99 US | 32 pages | Variant $4.99 US (card stock) Variant $6.99 US (foil)
ON SALE 7/30/25

There’s a hot new outer space-themed nightclub in Gotham City, and who better to rob it than Catwoman, Ivy, and Harley? But there’s more to this intergalactic discotheque than meets the eye(s), as the Sirens discover when they stumble headfirst into a plot to destroy the entire planet led by the club’s owner—the alien despot Despero! I hope you have good insurance, Gotham City, because you’re about to get wrecked. Special appearances by deadly DJs, hunky alien hotties, dancers dressed as aliens, mutant failures, one wild UFO, and lots and lots of fire!

 

 

 

ABSOLUTE BATMAN #10
Written by SCOTT SNYDER
Art by NICK DRAGOTTA
Cover by NICK DRAGOTTA
Variant covers by GABRIELE DELL’OTTO and GUILLEM MARCH
1:25 variant cover by DARICK ROBERTSON
1:50 variant cover by SHAWN CRYSTAL
$4.99 US | 32 pages | Variant $5.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 7/9/25

Bruce Wayne is trapped within the horrors of Ark M as his best friend Waylon Jones endures unimaginable tortures…but what awaits Batman is far more terrifying than anything either has faced…the true form of Bane is revealed. But it’s how Bane plans to break Batman that will have you, our dear readers, bending over backward.

 

 

 

TRINITY: DAUGHTER OF WONDER WOMAN #2
Written by TOM KING
Art and cover by BELÉN ORTEGA
Variant covers by BEN OLIVER, JONBOY MEYERS, and TULA LOTAY
1:25 variant cover by W. SCOTT FORBES
1:50 variant cover by PAULINA GANUCHEAU
$3.99 US | 32 pages | 2 of 6 | Variant $4.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 7/9/25

With the timestream broken and doggos on the loose, the teenage Trinity, a.k.a. Wonder Girl, travels to the Gotham of the past to capture the elusive bat-corgi. There, she’ll encounter the greatest Robin of them all (according to him)…Jason Todd! Will the boy and girl wonders be able to put their differences aside and find the pup before it’s too late?

 

 

 

JUSTICE LEAGUE VS. GODZILLA VS. KONG 2 #2
Written by BRIAN BUCCELLATO
Art and cover by CHRISTIAN DUCE
Variant covers by YASMINE PUTRI, ALAN QUAH, STEPHEN SEGOVIA, and LUCAS MEYER
1:25 variant cover by KEVIN MAGUIRE
$3.99 US | 32 pages | Variant $4.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 7/2/25

In the aftermath of the shocking ending of the last issue, Task Force X must re-evaluate their mission in Hollow Earth as they explore an unknown world. Meanwhile the Justice League comes face-to-face again with Kong—but it’s not the reunion they are expecting!

 

 

 

JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED #9
Written by MARK WAID
Art and cover by DAN MORA
Variant covers by FELIPE MASSAFERA, TIAGO DA SILVA, and TRAVIS MOORE
1:25 variant cover by NIMIT MALAVIA
Gotham City Sirens variant by DERRICK CHEW
$3.99 US | 32 pages | Variant $4.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 7/23/25

In the aftermath of the devastating events of We Are Yesterday, the Justice League is reeling from the Legion of Doom’s wrathful rampage! But no time to rest for the protectors of our planet, as the secrets unlocked during their time-crossed duel have brought our heroes face-to-face with a mysterious Quantum Quorum, who has reason to fear that all of creation might soon come to an end. It’s the next big step on the path of the All In saga in the epic epilogue to We Are Yesterday!

 

 

 

JUSTICE LEAGUE: DARK TOMORROW SPECIAL #1
Written by MARK WAID and MARC GUGGENHEIM
Art and cover by CIAN TORMEY
Variant covers by JORGE FORNÉS, NATHAN SZERDY, and FERNANDO BLANCO
1:25 variant cover by MARK BUCKINGHAM
$5.99 US | 48 pages | Variant $5.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 7/30/25

In the wake of the We Are Yesterday crossover epic, a mysterious Quantum Quorum has emerged…stalked by a lethal enemy that takes no prisoners. The League deputizes a rag tag group of time displaced heroes like Batman Beyond, Gold Beetle, and Helena Wayne to fill the void left behind by the Time Masters and save the quorum from the mysterious threat that’s picking off time-travelers one by one. These Legends of Tomorrow are the only ones standing in the way of this cascading chronal Armageddon with the past, present, and future teetering on the brink in this oversized special leading to the next big DC All In event!

 

 

 

DETECTIVE COMICS #1099
Written by TOM TAYLOR
Art by LEE GARBETT
Cover by MIKEL JANÍN
Variant covers by GUILLEM MARCH and CHRIS STEVENS
Gotham City Sirens variant cover by JAE LEE
1:25 variant cover by ASHLEY WOOD
$4.99 US | 32 pages | Variant $5.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 7/16/25

Stranded far from home, Batman, Harvey Bullock, and the Penguin must form a shaky alliance to bring down the age-old immortality cult known only as Elixir. But as tensions rise among this unlikely trio, it becomes increasingly doubtful that this alliance is possible…or that the Dark Knight will ever make it back to Gotham City.

 

 

 

BATMAN/SUPERMAN: WORLD’S FINEST #41
Written by MARK WAID
Art by ADRIÁN GUTIÉRREZ
Cover by DAN MORA
Variant covers by MICHAEL CHO and ADRIÁN GUTIÉRREZ
1:25 variant cover by DOALY
$3.99 US | 32 pages | Variant $4.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 7/16/25

Up is down, left is right, and red is green—but danger is still danger as Batman and Superman awaken on Bizarro World with no idea how they got there—or why they’re being hunted by one of the most dangerous beings in the universe! Even if they survive, can they find their way home from a backward planet in time to save their friends from danger?

 

 

 

NIGHTWING #128
Written by DAN WATTERS
Art and cover by DEXTER SOY
Variant covers by JORGE FORNÉS and JUAN FERREYRA
Gotham City Sirens variant cover by MARCIO TAKARA
1:25 variant cover by SERG ACUÑA
$4.99 US | 32 pages | Variant $5.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 7/16/25

Nightwing searches for Oracle in a Titans Tower that’s been warped by something from beyond the realm of imagination. But will the unexpected—yet somewhat familiar—face prove to be friend or foe?

 

 

Nightwing Annual 2025 July 2025 TBU DC Solicitations

 

NIGHTWING 2025 ANNUAL #1
Written by DAN WATTERS
Art and cover by FRANCESCO FRANCAVILLA
$5.99 US | 48 pages
ON SALE 7/30/25

Commissioner Maggie Sawyer digs into the past crimes of the mysterious Olivia Pearce—and discovers far more than she bargained for when she uncovers the existence of a strange and terrible entity. What is the Zanni, where does it come from…and what are its true plans for Nightwing?

 

 

 

BATGIRL #9
Written by TATE BROMBAL
Art by TAKESHI MIYAZAWA
Cover by DAVID TALASKI
Variant cover by TIRSO
Gotham City Sirens variant cover by OTTO SCHMIDT
$3.99 US | 32 pages | Variant $4.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 7/2/25

Batgirl is on the run—but not for long. As three deadly warriors from the League of Shadows, the Blood of Wu, and the Unburied each trail her, Cassandra Cain arrives at a ranch seeking answers from her mother’s past…but time is running out. As shocking family ties unravel, the first of the three swords arrives, hell-bent on ending Batgirl’s story for good.

 

 

 

BIRDS OF PREY #23
Written by KELLY THOMPSON
Art by SAMI BASRI
Cover by ANNIE WU
Variant covers by NIMIT MALAVIA and SERG ACUÑA
1:25 variant cover by RIAN GONZALES
$3.99 US | 32 pages | Variant $4.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 7/2/25

Bruised and battered, with one teammate lost to the enemy and another now miss-ing, the Birds split up and disappear into the darkness of Gotham at Black Canary’s command. The Shadow Army has struck at the very heart of the Birds of Prey and now has all the pieces to create its game-changing weapon.

 

 

 

TITANS #25
Written by JOHN LAYMAN
Art and cover by PETE WOODS
Variant covers by CARLOS D’ANDA and AFU CHAN
$3.99 US | 32 pages | Variant $4.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 7/16/25

Crime doesn’t pay? Try telling that to Deathstroke the Terminator, who spent the last few months gathering members for a brand-new Crime Syndicate with the intention of making the Titans pay—with their lives! Terra, Clock King, Killer Frost, and Mammoth are deadly enough, but ol’ Slade Wilson has a few more dirty tricks up his sleeve, all of them lethal. Who wins, who loses, and who will be terminated?

 

 

 

TITANS 2025 ANNUAL #1
Written by PHIL JIMENEZ
Art and cover by PHIL JIMENEZ
Variant covers by DANIEL SAMPERE and JOËLLE JONES
$5.99 US | 48 pages | Variant $6.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 7/30/25

Multiple Eisner Award-winning superstar artist and storyteller Phil Jimenez (Wonder Woman: Historia) makes his grand return to another fan-favorite Wonder Woman in this oversized annual story! Donna Troy reflects on the many loves and lives that shaped her as she cuts a trail through New York City to meet her estranged father for the very first time. But what awaits her at the end of her journey will shock Donna and readers alike!

 

 

 

BATMAN AND ROBIN #23
Written by PHILLIP KENNEDY JOHNSON
Art and cover by JAVI FERNÁNDEZ
Variant covers by JUAN FERREYRA and RAFAEL DE LATORRE
Gotham City Sirens variant cover by JAY ANACLETO
1:25 variant cover by JOHN McCREA
$4.99 US | 32 pages | Variant $5.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 7/9/25

Deep under Gotham City lies a subterranean echo of a lost time. This abandoned world has lain uninhabited for decades…until tonight. Now, Damian Wayne is the sole human resident of these abandoned catacombs…imprisoned by the entity known only as Memento. A father is desperate to track down his son, but will Batman be able to descend into the bowels of the city in time to save Robin? Or will the Dark Knight’s mind spiral into madness first?

 

 

 

BATMAN & ROBIN: YEAR ONE #9
Written by MARK WAID and CHRIS SAMNEE
Art and cover by CHRIS SAMNEE
Variant covers by JUNI BA and FRANK QUITELY
1:25 variant cover by REBEKAH ISAACS
$3.99 US | 32 pages | Variant $4.99 US
ON SALE 7/16/25

The gangs of Gotham enact their plan to take back their city from the General! Meanwhile, something’s distracting Robin in the field—but is there anything Batman can do about it?

 

 

 

ROBIN & BATMAN: JASON TODD #2
Written by JEFF LEMIRE
Art and cover by DUSTIN NGUYEN
Variant covers by RAFAEL ALBUQUERQUE and GUILLEM MARCH
1:25 variant cover by CHRISTOPHER MITTEN
$4.99 US | 40 pages | Variant $4.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 7/16/25

A mysterious and well-armed assassin known only as Wraith has arrived in Gotham and set his sights on Jason Todd. With tensions rising between Batman and his new young ward, will the corruptive force of this masked assassin be enough to push Jason over the edge?

 

 

 

BATMAN THE LONG HALLOWEEN: THE LAST HALLOWEEN #8
Written by JEPH LOEB
Art by BECKY CLOONAN
Cover by TIM SALE
Variant covers by BECKY CLOONAN and BRIAN STELFREEZE
$4.99 US | 32 pages
ON SALE 7/30/25

Batman follows Holiday’s trail into the ruins of the Falcone family estate, where he comes face-to-face with an old foe!

 

 

 

BATMAN: DARK PATTERNS #8
Written by DAN WATTERS
Art by HAYDEN SHERMAN
Cover by HAYDEN SHERMAN
Variant cover by MARTIN SIMMONDS
$4.99 US | 32 pages | Variant $5.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 7/9/25

Case 03: Pareidola

Batman’s vigilant investigation of the Red Hood Gang killing in the Rookery puts him on a collision course with the unlikely culprits at the heart of the latest mystery threatening to upend order in Gotham City.

 

 

 

NEW HISTORY OF THE DC UNIVERSE #2
Written by MARK WAID
Art by BRAD WALKER and MIKE ALLRED
Cover by CHRIS SAMNEE
Variant covers by DAN MORA and FRANK CHO
1:25 variant cover by KARL KERSCHL
Foil variant cover by RYAN SOOK
Legacy variant cover by SCOTT KOBLISH
Blank sketch cover
$5.99 US | 48 pages | 2 of 4 | Variant $6.99 US (card stock)
Wraparound variant $9.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 7/23/25

The DC Universe as we know it begins to take shape as a mysterious ship crash-lands in Smallville, and years later, Superman makes his debut. Meanwhile, in Gotham City, Batman emerges from the shadows to clean its crime-ridden streets, and after years of isolation from Man’s World, Wonder Woman leaves the paradise of Themyscira for modern society. A new age of heroes dawns as Barry Allen recounts the formation of the Justice League through the events up to and leading to his death during the Crisis on Infinite Earths!

 

 

 

BATMAN: GOTHAM BY GASLIGHT – A LEAGUE FOR JUSTICE #1
Written by ANDY DIGGLE
Art and cover by LEANDRO FERNÁNDEZ
Variant covers by SEBA FIUMARA and BILL SIENKIEWICZ
1:25 variant cover by CHRISTOPHER MITTEN
$4.99 US | 40 pages | Variant $5.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 7/9/25

Last year, DC’s iconic Elseworlds was ushered into a new era with the release of Gotham by Gaslight: The Kryptonian Age, continuing the iconic saga of the Batman of the Victorian era and pulling some of DC’s most iconic heroes into the Gilded Age. Now, the team behind the hit series returns to tell the second part of this epic tale in Gotham by Gaslight: A League for Justice!

Bear witness to the formation of a new kind of Justice League in a

steam-powered adventure that will bring these once-familiar heroes from the open plains of the Midwest to the freezing Arctic as they unravel the mystery of alien artifacts from the Kryptonian Age! This jaw-dropping sequel series is not to be missed!

 

 

 

DC VS. VAMPIRES: WORLD WAR V #11
Written by MATTHEW ROSENBERG and CECIL CASTELLUCCI
Art by OTTO SCHMIDT and MARLEY ZARCONE
Cover by OTTO SCHMIDT
Variant covers by RYAN BROWN and HOMARE
$4.99 US | 32 pages | 11 of 12 | Variant $5.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 7/9/25

Who will the New Gods side with? Will they ally with the vampires and heroes against Darkseid? Or will they decide that all vampires are a scourge to existence? Their decision will set the stage for an explosive conclusion that will determine the fate of the planet!

 

 

 

DC X SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #5
Written by IAN FLYNN
Art by ADAM BRYCE THOMAS
Cover by PABLO M. COLLAR
Variant cover by LUCAS MEYER
$3.99 US | 32 pages | Variant $4.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 7/16/25

The Justice League unites with Sonic and his friends as they face down Darkseid for the fate of two worlds! Can the combined might of the united heroes be a match for a god wielding the power of a Chaos Emerald? Don’t miss the thrilling finale!

 

 

 

TEEN TITANS GO! #5
Written by AMANDA DEIBERT
Art and cover by DARIO BRIZUELA
$2.99 US | 32 pages
ON SALE 7/2/25

When Starfire flubs the lyrics to “The Star-Spangled Banner,” she responds to everyone’s mockery by learning how to be the most American she can be. Her mission: eat hot dogs at a baseball game, go to a monster truck rally, and visit a state fair. The Titans are all in, which is great until things turn out like they usually do with this team. Will the fairgrounds ever recover?

 

 

 

BATMAN #655 FACSIMILE EDITION
Written by GRANT MORRISON
Art and cover by ANDY KUBERT
Foil variant cover by ANDY KUBERT ($6.99 US)
Blank sketch cover ($4.99)
Super Powers variant cover by JASON GEYER and ALEX SAVIUK ($4.99)
$3.99 US | 32 pages
ON SALE 7/16/25

A welcome lull in Gotham crime convinces Bruce Wayne he’s overdue for one of his patented carefree billionaire playboy appearances, and London’s calling. When a desperate Kirk Langstrom also shows up acting suspiciously, it’s more than enough to trip Batman’s radar. Meanwhile, Talia al Ghul monitors Bruce from afar—so that a young boy may see the face of his father. Damian Wayne makes his DC debut, and the Wayne family will never be the same!

 

 

 

BATGIRL VOL. 1: MOTHER
Written by TATE BROMBAL
Art by TAKESHI MIYAZAWA
$17.99 US | 136 pages | 6 5/8″ x 10 3/16″ | Softcover | ISBN: 978-1-79950-534-1
ON SALE 8/19/2025

Hold on to your seats, clutch your pearls, and rejoice in celebration because Cassandra Cain is taking center stage as Batgirl—part of DC’s bestselling All In initiative! When the Unburied, a deadly group of assassins, shows up to kill Cassandra, her mother Lady Shiva—the deadliest assassin in the DC Universe—comes to her aid, and they must put their complicated past aside

and work together as mother and daughter to ensure they make it out alive. Unfortunately, things are never as easy as they seem, and Cass must embark on a jaw-dropping, martial-arts-filled adventure in her quest for truth, justice…and revenge?!

It’s a Batgirl story like never before as writer Tate Brombal (House of Slaughter) and artist Takeshi Miyazawa (Mech Cadet Yu) dive into the psyche of one of Gotham’s fiercest fighters while exploring her deep and complex relationship with her mother.

This volume collects Batgirl #1-6.

 

 

 

DC HORROR PRESENTS
Written by PATTON OSWALT, DAVID DASTMALCHIAN, PATRICK HORVATH, and more Art by CAT STAGGS, RENATO “BUTCH” MAPA, RYAN KELLY, and more
$9.99 US | 96 pages | 6 5/8″ x 10 3/16″ | Softcover | ISBN: 978-1-79950-535-8
ON SALE 8/19/2025

From the most disturbed and rotten minds in horror comes DC Horror Presents…a new collection of gruesome stories set in the DCU, penned in blood by some of your favorite creepers! These shorts take DC’s heroes and villains and put them into the most intense, spine-tingling tales imaginable. Definitely not for the faint of heart—which is why this book is rated 17+.

Featuring stories by the Boulet Brothers (Dragula), David Dastmalchian (Late Night with the Devil) and Leah Kilpatrick, Aaron Sagers (Paranormal Caught on Camera), LaToya Morgan (The Walking Dead), Patton Oswalt and Jordan Blum (Minor Threats), Brendan Hay (Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai) and Steven Kostanski (Psycho Goreman), horror comics legends Francesco Francavilla (Batman: The Black Mirror) and Patrick Horvath (Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees), and more, so get ready…it’s gonna be wild tonight—flesh to flesh and bite to bite!

 

DC FINEST: BATMAN: RED SKIES
Written by DOUG MOENCH and ROY THOMAS
Art by TOM MANDRAKE, GENE COLAN, PAUL GULACY, and more
$39.99 US | 656 pages | 6 5/8″ x 10 3/16″ | Softcover | ISBN: 978-1-79950-273-9
ON SALE 9/2/25

Dive into one of the most celebrated periods in Batman history from award-winning writer Doug Moench (Moon Knight, Deathlok) in this DC Finest volume collecting stories taking place during the game-changing Crisis on Infinite Earths event. As red skies loom above, Batman and Robin must clear Catwoman from being accused of murder. Plus: Two-Face returns! Collects Batman #388-400, Batman Annual #10, Detective Comics #554-567, and Secret Origins #6.

 

 

 

HARLEY QUINN: WILD AT HEART: DC COMPACT COMICS EDITION
Written by AMANDA CONNER and JIMMY PALMIOTTI
Art by CHAD HARDIN, JIM LEE, ADAM HUGHES, BRUCE TIMM, and more
$9.99 US | 392 pages | 5.5″ x 8.5″ | Softcover | ISBN: 978-1-79950-303-3
ON SALE 9/16/2025

When Gotham’s favorite antihero inherits a building off of the famous boardwalk, she feels right at home in the (literal) freak show. Unfortunately, the legion of bounty hunters after the price on her head seems to know it too. Who else but Har-ley Quinn could handle all that Brooklyn’s criminal underbelly has to offer—Russian spies, senior citizens, and rival roller derby teams included—and still have time for a double chili dog or six?

Harley Quinn: Wild at Heart features writers Jimmy Palmiotti and Amanda Conner, artists Chad Hardin and John Timms, and an all-star team of comics’ biggest talents—including Bruce Timm, Jim Lee, Adam Hughes, Darwyn Cooke, and many more!

 

 

 

BATMAN:  ARKHAM ASYLUM: DC COMPACT COMICS EDITION
Written by GRANT MORRISON
Art by DAVE McKEAN
$9.99 US | 248 pages | 5.5″ x 8.5″ | Softcover | ISBN: 978-1-79950-699-7
ON SALE 9/2/2025

In this legendary, fully painted graphic novel, the deranged occupants of Gotham’s Arkham Asylum have taken over on April Fools’ Day and demanded Batman in exchange for their prisoners. The Dark Knight descends into the heart of madness and is forced to live and endure the personal hells of The Joker, Scarecrow, Poison Ivy, Two-Face, and many more of his sworn enemies in order to save the innocents and retake the asylum.

Written by comics powerhouse Grant Morrison (All-Star Superman) and stunningly illustrated by Dave McKean (Swamp Thing, Hellblazer), this dark and cerebral tale remains as captivating as ever. Collects the original graphic novel along with sketches, pinups, and more.

 

 

 

THE QUESTION: ALL ALONG THE WATCHTOWER
Written by ALEX SEGURA
Art by CIAN TORMEY
$17.99 US | 136 pages | 6 5/8″ x 10 3/16″ | Softcover | ISBN: 978-1-79950-542-6
ON SALE 8/26/2025

In the wake of Absolute Power, the Justice League has created a haven for all heroes—but can they keep it secure? Enter Renee Montoya, reeling from an abrupt end to her time in Gotham City and starting over with a dangerous new case. There’s a deadly threat hidden within the Watchtower, and only the Question—along with Batwoman and the rest of a ragtag support team—stands a chance of finding the answers and keeping the body count from climbing even further! Collects The Question: All Along the Watchtower #1-6.

 

 

 

DC MANGA BOX SET

Superman travels to Japan daily to indulge his appetite in the country’s most savory cuisines! Batman creates the ultimate super-computer to vanquish crime in Gotham City once and for all! And when Batman is accidentally turned into a baby, only one person can protect and raise the infant crimefighter: The Joker!

DC Comics and Kodansha present DC’s most iconic heroes and villains as you’ve never seen them before in these three series written and illustrated by some of Japan’s most talented mangaka.

This 10-book box set collects Superman vs. Meshi Vol. 1-3, Batman: Justice Buster Vol. 1-4, and Joker: One Operation Joker Vol. 1-3 and is the perfect gift set for fans of manga and the DC Universe.

 

 

 

DC X SONIC THE HEDGEHOG
Written by IAN FLYNN
Art by ADAM BRYCE THOMAS
(Main) $17.99 US | 120 pages | 6 5/8″ x 10 3/16″
Softcover | ISBN: 978-1-79950-568-6
(Target Exclusive) $24.99 US | 120 pages | 6 5/8″ x 10 3/16″
Hardcover | ISBN: 978-1-79950-567-9
ON SALE 9/2/2025

The monstrous Darkseid crosses dimensions to invade the world of Sonic the Hedgehog, seeking the ultimate power. Sonic and his friends have faced everything from mad scientists to ancient spirits, but the forces of Apokolips may be too much for them. Thankfully, the full heroic might of the Justice League arrives to back them up! Don’t miss this unique crossover event!

 

 

 

ABSOLUTE BATMAN: THE LONG HALLOWEEN (2026 EDITION)
Written by JEPH LOEB
Art by TIM SALE
$100.00 US | 400 pages | 8 1/8″ x 12 1/4″ | Hardcover | ISBN: 978-1-79950-658-4
ON SALE 1/6/2026

As the calendar’s days stack up, so do the bodies littering the streets of Gotham. Working with District Attorney Harvey Dent and Lieutenant James Gordon, Batman races against the calendar to discover who Holiday is before he can claim his next victim.

Finally, back in print! The celebrated masterpiece returns to the Absolute format for the first time in nearly a decade! From the Eisner Award-winning team behind Superman for All Seasons comes one of the greatest Batman stories ever told! Featuring interviews, behind-the-scenes extras, and more!

 

 

 

BATMAN ’66 COMPENDIUM
Written by JEFF PARKER, MARC ANDREYKO, MICHAEL ALLRED, and more
Art by JONATHAN CASE, TY TEMPLETON, MICHAEL ALLRED, and more
$59.99 US | 1024 pages | 6 5/8″ x 10 3/16″ | Softcover | ISBN: 978-1-79950-237-1
ON SALE 8/26/25

Batman ’66, the hit comic book adaptation of the classic TV show (based on the comic charac-ter), gets collected in all its campy, tongue-in-cheek, sound-effects-laden glory in this huge paperback compendium. This expanded edition includes Batman ’66 #1-30, Batman ’66: The Lost Episode #1, and a story from Solo #7, plus the crossovers Batman ’66 Meets Wonder Woman ’77 #1-6 and Batman ’66 Meets the Legion of Super-Heroes #1.

 

 

 

BATMAN BY GRANT MORRISON BOOK TWO
Written by GRANT MORRISON
Art by TONY S. DANIEL, FRANK QUITELY, and more
$39.99 | 480 Pages | 6 5/8″ x 10 3/16″ | Softcover | ISBN: 978-1-79950-268-5
ON SALE 9/16/25

Eisner Award-winning writer and comics legend Grant Morrison takes Batman to the edge of madness, the grave, and beyond! Featuring the comics that redefined the character forever, including Batman: R.I.P. and Dick Grayson’s taking up the mantle of the Dark Knight with Damian Wayne as his new Robin. Collects Batman #676-683 and #700, Batman & Robin #1-9, and a story from DC Universe #0.

 

 

 

BATMAN: THE DEMON TRILOGY (2025 EDITION)
Written by MIKE W. BARR and DENNIS O’NEIL
Art by TOM GRINDBERG, NORM BREYFOGLE, and JERRY BINGHAM
$24.99 US | 304 pages | 8 1/8″ x 10 3/4″ | Hardcover | ISBN: 978-1-79950-269-2
ON SALE 9/9/2025

From writers Mike W. Barr and Dennis O’Neil, with artists Jerry Bingham, Tom Grindberg, and Norm Breyfogle, these stories set the foundation for decades of future comics storytelling and inspired the creation of Bruce and Talia’s son, Damian Wayne.

Batman: The Demon Trilogy collects three original graphic novels into a single-volume hardcover at the original trim size with essays by Barr and actor Mark Hamill.

 

BATMAN: WHITE KNIGHT PRESENTS: HARLEY QUINN AND GENERATION JOKER: THE DELUXE EDITION
Written by SEAN MURPHY, KATANA COLLINS, and CLAY McCORMACK
Art by MATTEO SCALERA and MIRKA ANDOLFO
$49.99 US | 368 pages | 7 1/16″ x 10 7/8″ | Hardcover | ISBN: 978-1-79950-270-8
ON SALE 9/2/25

From writer/artist Sean Murphy comes two exciting tales focusing on Harley Quinn and her children with Jack Napier, Jackie and Bryce. Showcasing the astonishing art of Matteo Scalera and Mirka Andolfo, with an exclusive new cover by Murphy, this deluxe hardcover collects Batman: White Knight Presents: Harley Quinn #1-6 and Batman: White Knight Presents: Generation Joker #1-6. And includes an introduction by series co-writer Katana Collins.

 

 

 

BATMAN YEAR 100 (2025 EDITION)
Written by PAUL POPE
Art by PAUL POPE
$19.99 US | 232 pages | 6 5/8″ x 10 3/16″ | Softcover | ISBN: 978-1-79950-242-5
ON SALE 8/5/2025

Visionary writer/artist Paul Pope (Heavy Liquid, 100%) presents a dark, dystopian world devoid of privacy—one filled with government conspiracies, psychic police, holographic caller ID, and absolutely no room for secret identities. A sci-fi future where everything is known by everyone—yet there is one bizarre anomaly…the Batman!

A mystery of epic proportions…100 years in the making! Collects issues #1-#4.

 

 

 

JLA EARTH 2 DELUXE EDITION (2025 EDITION)
Written by GRANT MORRISON
Art and cover by FRANK QUITELY
$29.99 US | 144 pages | 7 1/16″ x 10 7/8″ | Hardcover | ISBN: 978-1-79950-275-3
ON SALE 9/23/2025

From Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely—the New York Times bestselling creative team behind All-Star Superman, WE3, Batman and Robin, Flex Mentallo, and New X-Men—comes a graphic novel that pits Earth’s greatest heroes against themselves! This special deluxe edition of JLA: Earth 2 contains more than twenty pages of unseen designs, sketches, and behind-the-scenes features.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Detective Comics #1096 main cover
Comic Reviews and Editorials

Comic Review: Detective Comics #1096

by Adam Koppel
written by Adam Koppel

Detective Comics #1096 wraps up the “Mercy of the Father” story arc with a few surprises, as the fates of both the Bruce Wayne’s family and Joe Chill’s family intertwine in unexpected ways.

 

Detective Comics #1096 main cover

Detective Comics #1096 main cover by Mikel Janín (DC Comics)

DETECTIVE COMICS #1096
Written by TOM TAYLOR
Art and Main Cover by MIKEL JANÍN
Variant Covers: BRUNO REDONDO, DERRICK CHEW, ASHLEY WOOD
Page Count: 32 pages
Release Date: April 16, 2025

 

This review contains spoilers 

Detective Comics #1096 begins in the aftermath of a massive explosion at Theromise Labs, as Batman confronts Bruce Wayne’s old friend Scarlett Scott who he has discovered is the daughter of Joe Chill, the man who murdered Bruce Wayne’s parents decades ago. It turns out that Scarlett’s business partner, Bridgett Forster, is in fact Evelyn Scott, Scarlett’s mother, and the former wife of Joe Chill.

Evelyn has been using Theromise’s rejuvenation serum to restore her youth, (the same formula Scarlett gave to Bruce before he discovered its insidious origins). It turns out that Evelyn has been roaming the streets of Gotham exacting brutal justice in the guise of mystery killer Asema, (oh yeah, she also knows Bruce is Batman). Evelyn brings Batman to the lower levels of Theromise so he can watch her murder Joe Chill.

Batman and Asema clash as Joe Chill slowly bleeds out. Batman remotely instructs his team to prevent Theromise from using their process on juvenile offenders as he overpowers Asema and rescues Chill. Three days later Bruce Wayne visits Scarlett Scott in comatose Joe Chill’s hospital room, and offers her a chance for a different approach in helping rehabilitate criminals.

Detective Comics #1096 ends with the imprisoned Evelyn being visited by Ambrose, the point man for the mysterious group called Elixir, warning her that her actions as Asema have threatened their secrecy, and that while Scarlett is safe, others in Gotham are now in their crosshairs.

Analysis 

Detective Comics #1096: wow. So. Many. Reveals. It’s almost impossible to summarize effectively. Bridgett is really Evelyn, who is Joe Chill’s ex-wife, while Scarlett Scott is Bruce Wayne’s old friend and Joe Chill’s daughter. Evelyn caused the car wreck that almost claimed Joe Chill’s life, and allowed her to escape from Chill with Martha Wayne’s help. Doctor Thomas Wayne saved Joe Chill after the car wreck, and Joe Chill later (coincidentally) murdered Bruce Wayne’s parents. Evelyn’s Asema costume is doused in Martha Wayne’s old perfume as a tribute.

Writer Tom Taylor manages to add a new layer of complexity into one of the most well-known origin stories in comics without making it feel forced (Taylor is also riffing on the whole real world Elizabeth Holmes/Theranos scandal).

The shocking connection between the Wayne Family and Chill family is an interesting addition, at least for now. Marvel and DC Comics have been known to reboot or simply ignore such plot twists after a while, (as of this writing, it seems like half of Batman’s rogues gallery know Bruce Wayne is Batman, so at some point a reset will happen).

Taylor reveals the parallels between Bruce and Evelyn as both seek vengeance against wrong doers, but only Evelyn is willing to cross the line. Despite his grief, Bruce forces himself to honor his late father in not taking a life. Meanwhile, Evelyn is driven by revenge against criminals (like her ex-husband), and regaining her youth through a gruesome process of stealing blood from young delinquents in juvenile detention is a justifiable effort.

To Evelyn, the ends have always justified the means, as long as she and her daughter come out unscathed. The fact that Evelyn allowed herself to be taken into custody and not reveal Bruce’s secret can probably be taken as a continued dedication to Martha Wayne.

Scarlett Scott and Joe Chill are given little focus in Detective Comics #1096, revealing Evelyn and Bruce as the emotional core of this story, and allowing Evelyn to finally reveal her true identity and true nature.

Bruce’s continued search for a fountain of youth is also explored here, but the human cost of this treatment was unacceptable, although this is hardly the first time he has embarked on this particular quest (see the 1990 “Venom” story arc in Legends of the Dark Knight for a compelling example). Batman is flesh and blood human, and no amount of armor will fully protect him as he continually ages while putting his body on the line.

Artist Mikel Janin wraps up this arc with some epic daylight action with the Bat family, and some moody subterranean drama in the hidden depths of Theromise. His backgrounds are well detailed, his facial expressions run the gamut of recognizable emotions, and his use of heavy shadows in the underground scenes adds to the sense of foreboding. Also that early sequence of Batman “interrogating” Evelyn as the slide down the outside of the Theromise tower is visually stunning in its use of camera angles and visual effects to indicate how fast they are plummeting towards the street.

Final Thoughts

Detective Comics #1096 wraps up the first arc from this new creative team with some slight character development, some clever inner conflicts and the threat of dangers to come.

Detective Comics #1096 main cover
Detective Comcis #1096
Final Thoughts
Detective Comics #1096 wraps up the first arc from this new creative team with some slight character development, some clever inner conflicts and the threat of dangers to come.
4
Final Score
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season 17 episode 7 podcast cover
The Batman Universe Comic Podcast

TBU Comic Podcast: Season 17 Episode 7

by Theodis Wright
written by Theodis Wright

season 17 episode 7 podcast cover

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS

 

The Batman Universe Comic Podcast Season 17 Episode 7 is live on on your favorite platforms. In this episode, Steph and Theo review Batman and Robin #20. After that, they have fun with Greater Gotham. Are they still high on Absolute Batman? And what on Earth is happening in Two-Face? Is it another lesson of comic book science? Listen in and find out.

Book Covered In Season 17 Episode 7

Batman and Robin #20

Greater Gotham Titles

Batgirl #6
Birds of Prey #20
Two-Face #5
Absolute Batman #7
Batman: Dark Patterns #5
Batman: Wayne Family Adventures #158-159

Follow The Batman Universe

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Absolute Batman #7 main cover
Comic Reviews and Editorials

TBU Review: Absolute Batman #7

by BJ Shea
written by BJ Shea

In this review of Absolute Batman #7, Bruce’s next mission takes him to a place drawing tons of power from Gotham’s power grid — the place known as Ark-M.

 

Absolute Batman #7 main cover

Absolute Batman #7 main cover by Nick Dragotta (DC Comics)

Absolute Batman # 7
Writer: Scott Synder
Artist: Marcos Martin
Main Cover: Nick Dragotta
Variant Covers: MICO SUAYAN, BILL SIENKIEWICZ, AMY REEDER, CHARLIE ADLARD
Page Count: 32 pages
Release Date: April 9, 2025

 

This review contains spoilers

Absolute Batman #7, the beginning of the next arc of Absolute Batman’s journey, starts off with flashback as young Victor Fries is driving through the Tanzia Rainforest with his father as they are leaving the rainforest to see an iceberg that has more life in it than the rainforest. Victor’s eyes widen as his father shouts “What’s wrong?!”

Cut to the present day as we see Waylon, Ozzie, Harvey, and Eddie remembering a friend of theirs nicknamed Matches Malone. He was a street tough kid who was “crazy” as Ozzie puts it who just got out of Blackgate. Waylon asks who saw him last and Bruce suddenly shows up and says he saw him last.

Bruce meets with Matches as Matches is getting him work papers so Bruce can work on the Ark M project and get an inside look at what is happening on that island. Matches looks like Archie if Riverdale turned into Gotham. Matches says how he owed Bruce one and Bruce asks for what when suddenly Matches drops dead as blood spills from every pore on his body. Bruce takes his phone and runs.

Bruce tells the rest of the gang what happened to Matches but his friends make him stay because they have to talk about how he is Batman.

Bruce hacks into the phone and finds names of researchers working on Ark M. Familiar names like Langstrom, Isley, and Fries. Fries has connections to Gotham as he is the founder of a company called V Core in the city. Alfred calls in with information on Matches’s death and says it’s not a bioweapon or virus but a bacterium. 

Bruce goes undercover at V Core to investigate and runs into an employee. Bruce asks if Victor and Nora still oversee things here and the employee says yes and shows Victor and Nora cryogenically frozen and says he is their son Victor Jr.

Jr mentions that the power running V Core and keeping his parents in ice is to keep their bodies alive until a cure can be made for what ails them Victor Jr is only alive today because he was frozen and cured of a rare condition.

As Bruce is looking for any clue to what happened to Matches, Victor Jr starts to transform into a blue monster and grabs Bruce’s face with his cold hand. To be continued….

Analysis

Snyder’s second arc is off to a strong start. Again he sets up character moments that will paid off down the line such as Bruce and his friends and their anger towards him being Batman. They comment on how Bruce used them all to train in his journey to be this new Dark Knight. It seems like they either don’t approve of him being Batman or just mad that he did not tell them.

The twist on Matches is unique and there seems to be more to his and the gang’s childhood that leads to what happened to Matches. Also Matches’s death doesn’t seem to align with Victor’s brief glimpse of his powerset that we see. Perhaps a Black Mask drug is still not off the street? Something to do with Pamela Isley? We shall see.

Marcos Martin has art duty now and his art is as strong as ever. Fans will know Martin from Batgirl: Year One. Martin really shined there in the old school version of the DC Universe but I felt he was able to shine in this new Absolute Universe.

Absolute Batman #7 main cover
Absolute Batman #7
Final Thoughts
Snyder’s second arc is off to a strong start. Again he sets up character moments that will paid off down the line such as Bruce and his friends and their anger towards him being Batman.
3.4
Final Score
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Batman and Robin #20 main cover
Comic Reviews and Editorials

Review: Batman and Robin # 20

by Stephanie Mounce
written by Stephanie Mounce

 

 

Batman and Robin #20 main cover

Batman and Robin #20 main cover by Javier Fernandez (DC Comics)

Batman and Robin # 20
Writer: Phillip Kennedy Johnson
Journal Art: Hugo Petrus
Present Day Art: Miguel Mendonca
Damian’s Art: Juni Ba
Release Date: April 9, 2025

 

Spoiler – Free Review: Batman and Robin # 20:

To get the general conclusion out of the way – I really liked this book. It does have some major detractors, but those are more from the story arc and how many times DC has had Damian have an identity crisis in the last 4 years. This single issue, aside from that, has a lot going for it, and has me excited for the next issue. 

Summary

Batman and Robin # 20 opens with one of Thomas Wayne’s illustrated journal entries, describing how little Bruce came home from school wanting to make paper boats with him, and then float them in the pond. Thomas, being busy, forgets and later finds the paper boats crumpled in the bin. Alfred tells Thomas that the fact that he cares and feels horrible about forgetting makes him a great father already. The next day, Thomas and Bruce make boats together and they go out to the pond to play. 

Little Bruce learns Origami Review: Batman and Robin # 20

In the present, Batman, disorientated from the Gravedigger’s Poppy, calls on the whole Bat-family to do whatever it takes to find Robin. Oracle attempts to track Batman, but he is very confused, thinking he is in England while on the way to Pennyworth Manor. He finally makes it to Damian’s bedroom, where he frantically looks for any information Robin had gathered on Memento. Instead, he finds Damian’s illustrated journal/comic book – “The Adventures of Robin and Batman”.

Robin and Batman Comic Book Review: Batman and Robin # 20

Robin confesses that he feels that his past with the League of Assassins is always dogging his steps whenever he slows down and he fails – like letting the girl get hurt at the Sacred Heart fundraiser. Thomas’s journal has shown him there are other ways to help people, a path Bruce could have taken, but didn’t. A path Damian is now considering because he believes a world without Batman and Robin was better. 

He talks about Katherine Lautrec, and how much he admires her – that she reminds him of what it could be like to work with a younger Bruce. He theorizes that Lautrec saw the face of their assailant at Scarecrow’s labs, and that she recognizes him, and that there is a chance it is Atticus Blye, but he hopes it’s not. However, Blye’s notes are impressively thorough and suggest to Damian that there is a possibility Batman does not want to accept – Memento is a spirit that is seeking out the Waynes. 

He ends by stating that after catching Memento and getting Gotham back to “normal”, he wants to do the Sacred Heart Program and become a doctor like Thomas. 

Batman can’t dwell on non-Memento clues, and is frustrated that he isn’t able to think clearly, and isn’t able to understand any clues Damian has given about Memento. Suddenly, a fiery illusion of Alfred appears, giving Batman the final push he needs to find Damian’s red Memento notebook.

Damian's Memento Book Review: Batman and Robin # 20

Spoiler – Heavy Review:

Batman and Robin # 20 starts with a lovely little story about Thomas Wayne and the type of father he was. Considering how intense the last issue ended, with Damian taken by Memento and Batman seeing burning buildings and people all around, this was a lovely little opener. We see Thomas as a man who loved and cared for his son, loved and respected Alfred Pennyworth, and sought to be a better father, helping Bruce to become the man he’s meant to be. I really loved Thomas’s journal. It was the first time we get a glimpse of what Damian has been reading throughout this arc, giving us a glimpse of what his thought processes have been leading to his decision to give up being Robin.

It was also fun seeing the whole Bat-family, including Gordon, being called on to help out looking for Damian. However, there was only one double page spread of them being called on in the whole issue, so I really hope we see more of them next time. If not, I’ll be really disappointed. 

I thought it was a little weird that Bruce went to Damian’s room to look for clues, rather than stay where Robin literally just vanished from, but in the opener we see Gordon and Lautrec over a body in a room that looks like where Dr Bashar died in the last issue, so it’s possible it has already been analyzed as much as he was able. So anyway, Batman rifles through Damian’s room, the monkey jumping out of his way (WHERE is that thing pooping and getting food from?!) I legitimately giggled when Batman found Damian’s notebook/journal: “The Adventures of Robin and Batman”. How cute is it that Damian has been using his art to journal his thoughts and feelings, just like Thomas. 

The Comic Book Journal art was done by Juni Ba, which Damian lovers probably remember from his recent book, The Boy Wonder. That book was done with such love and care for the character, his history, and his family, and the art was so delightful – I couldn’t help but get excited when I saw the first page. And it lives up to its predecessor. And in this journal, we get a very detailed breakdown of why Damian wants to give up the mantle of Robin. That being a doctor could save lives and make you a hero without the burden of the League of Assassins looming over him. 

Damian has always had a sensitive side, a need to protect children and animals, so this awakening isn’t out of character for me. He has always struggled with the darkness of the League of Assassins, so I can see that part of the argument too. I do think that the discussion is worth having, but it would be a tragedy if Damian gave up being Robin for good. Even as Damian is fantasizing about being more like Thomas, he keeps slipping into detective mode. I think it would be cool for Damian to focus more on his studies and become a doctors, but I think giving up Robin would be the wrong thing for him to do. I think he would be giving up part of himself that existed before he knew Batman. And that would be a crying shame. 

And finally, Alfred’s appearance, though a little creepy, was still well received by this reviewer. It was refreshing to see Bruce’s 2nd dad ground and center him, and clear up his focus during his tumultuous drug drip. 

So, highlights for me were Juni Ba’s art, Alfred’s appearance, all the Bat-families appearances and tease for future involvement, and the closer look at Damian’s thought process. As always, this rehashing of the “Damian wants to give up being Robin” plot has been done too bits recently, and this story line picking right after he decided to stay is ridiculous, but I will say of all the stories with that plot, this one is the most thought out. I have had issues with Batman’s actions and characterization in past issues, but since this was almost all from Damian’s past POV, it wasn’t as pervasive. Hopefully the Dynamic Duo will work things out, and this isn’t some weird send off for the book. 

Batman and Robin #20 main cover
Batman and Robin #20
Final Thoughts
Batman and Robin #20 is a beautiful and great look at Damian's thoughts on his position in life
Art and story telling in this was amazing
It's a dead horse plot, though done better than others.
4
Final Score
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tbu podcast episode 275 podcast cover
The Batman Universe Podcast

Episode 275: Interview w/Collin Colsher, Founder of The Batman Chronology Project

by Scott Waldyn
written by Scott Waldyn

tbu podcast episode 275 podcast cover

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS

 

In the TBU Podcast Episode 275, your host, Scott, is joined by Collin Colsher, a former TBU contributor and the founder of The Batman Chronology Project. By its own definition, “The Batman Chronology Project is a study of serialized storytelling in superhero comics. More specifically, it tracks the continuity of DC Comics via the lens of Batman by plotting his appearances into detailed timelines.”

For new readers or old, casual Batman fans or hardcore Bat-veterans, The Batman Chronology Project is an incredible site that goes well beyond cataloguing Batman’s various timelines. It’s an exploration of the truly unique experience of comic book storytelling, as well as a resource for fans looking to ask questions or pitch ideas. Bat-fans can contact Collin Colsher by email: ccolsher@gmail.com. 

In this episode, Scott and Collin discuss:

  • The nature of comic book storytelling
  • Favorite Batman storylines
  • How many Bat-timelines The Batman Chronology Project has identified
  • Relaunches and reboots
  • And more!

For our Bat-Family: Which Batman Timeline is Your Favorite?

Drop us a line at TBU@TheBatmanUniverse.net.  As always, if you like this episode, please rate, share, and subscribe on the streaming platform of your preference. It’s a great way to show your support, and it’s quick and easy! Thank you, loyal Bat-fans!

Find past episodes of The Batman Universe Podcast right here. Explore The Batman Chronology Project at https://therealbatmanchronologyproject.com/.

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birds of prey #20 main cover
Comic Reviews and Editorials

Review: Birds of Prey #20

by Ian Miller
written by Ian Miller

A new arc kicks off with a bang as Oracle sends Batgirl (Cass) and Sin, Barda, and Black Canary across the globe, and all three run into big trouble! Check out our review of Birds of Prey #20.

 

birds of prey #20 main cover

Birds of Prey #20 main cover by Annie Wu (DC Comics)

Birds of Prey #20
“On the Run, Part 1 of 5”
Writer: Kelly Thompson
Artist: Sami Basri
Colors: Adriano Lucas
Main Cover: Annie Wu
Variant Covers: Serg Acuna, Rian Gonzales, Robbi Rodriguez, Zoe Thorogood
Release Date: April 2, 2025

 

This review contains spoilers

Birds of Prey #20 begins on one Gotham night, Batgirl (Cass) investigates a faked suicide, meeting Batman in the crime scene. They both note all of the obviously staged clues, and the connection to mysterious experimental military drug research. Babs tries to filter them, but knows it’s a trap, and sends her agents with that warning. Barda to the UAE, Black Canary to Tokyo, and Cass and Sin to Gotham.

On stakeout, Sin and Cass have a heartfelt chat about their similar upbringings.

Barda drops off Dinah in Tokyo, and she Canary Cries through the skyscraper door.

Barda arrives in the UAE desert, cranky that Babs forbade her bikini armor, and breaks into the seemingly empty skyscraper there. In the top penthouse, she hears a strange voice in the air vent.

In Tokyo, Dinah sees a tech demonstration of a camo suit that appears to make someone completely disappear.

In Gotham, Cass and Sin see a partygoer duck into an alley and drop down a manhole, and follow him.

Barda finds the voice in the air vent is a strange black mist person, who steals then drops her Big Rod, then flies away as the top of the skyscraper turns into a spaceship and blasts off.

Oracle gets reports from Cass and Dinah that they are under attack, but she is torn between three catastrophes as Barda’s spaceship explodes in orbit. A sinister voice crosses Barda’s picture off and says “four to go”.

Analysis

Birds of Prey #20, the start of a brand new arc seems, like a great place to start reviewing this title! After a very odd opening arc, Thompson seems to have settled into a solid storytelling groove in the same mold as Chuck Dixon and Gail Simone’s definitive runs – a blend of globe-trotting action adventure, character drama, and fun banter. Sami Basri on art is a worthy heir to early 2000s Greg Land, Butch Guice, Ed Benes, and Joe Bennet – drawing very sexy and strong Birds in action, with a lot of humor and emotionally effective moments. Vicente Cifuentes’s inks and Adriano Lucas’s colors perfectly complement Basri’s pencils, making this a great looking action book just like Birds of Prey at its best always has been. It’s very nice to drop into Birds of Prey again and it very much feels like the Birds of Prey of old.

The plot itself reminds me a bit of Simone’s last arc of the second run of BOP back in 2010-2011, when the Birds went up against Ragdoll’s sister in a terrifying skyscraper – the urban setting, skyscraper, and multiple teams running into trouble all at once has distinct flavors. Thompson thankfully doesn’t have to wrap up her story in just two issues as Simone did, so the pace is a bit less frenetic, but still quite busy. The triple team plotline allows for more variation and makes the action feel a lot less simplistic than a lot of DC comics I’m reading these days.

The character interactions and banter is quite nicely deployed throughout the book. Cass and Batman’s interactions at the beginning are a nice building of where their relationship was left in Batgirls – mutual trust. Babs struggling to lead her smart-alecky team is quite funny and classic (especially with Dinah), and it’s great to see Barda’s personality fit so well into the dynamic. Cass and Sin’s connection through upbringing was quite sweet, and hopefully has some payoff in this arc as well as their continuing dynamic. I admit I wasn’t completely sold on Sin being so grown up, but this is a pretty nicely written version of the character, even if I’m a bit lost on the Megaera naming/personality element.

All in all, Birds of Prey #20 was a great issue to start reading the title again, and I eagerly await the next issue!

Our main cover by Annie Wu is a bit more polished than I expected from Wu, but still has her great line work energy, plus a fun action shot of the team pinned as a photo on a conspiracy board with Barda crossed out – a nice reference to the internal story! Serg Acuna’s variant shows the new Birds of Prey bird logo silhouette framing the five team members looking boldly at the reader. Rian Gonzales’s variant shows Sin with two costumes (perhaps highlighting her dual nature?), with the rest of the birds in chibi form around her. Robbi Rodriguez’s 1 in 25 incentive variant shows a big Oracle head overlooking the four field members arrayed across a cityscape in classic Birds of Prey composition, though a lot rougher and more collage-like than I’m used to seeing from Rodriguez. Zoe Thorogood’s April Fools’ variant shows Joker hiding behind a curtain after writing “Ha ha ha” on Canary’s mirror – not quite as light hearted as I’d expect from an April Fool cover, though dark as I’d expect a Joker cover to be.

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

Final Thoughts

Thompson and Basri spin a classic action adventure story for the Birds to tackle, and give their first encounter a nicely executed bang.

birds of prey #20 main cover
Birds of Prey #20
Final Thoughts
Thompson and Basri spin a classic action adventure story for the Birds to tackle, and give their first encounter a nicely executed bang.
3.5
Final Score
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batgirl #6 main cover
Comic Reviews and Editorials

Comic Book Review: Batgirl #6

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

In this review of Batgirl #6, Cassandra and Shiva are in for the fight of their lives as the battle against the Unburied reaches a climax!

 

batgirl #6 main cover

Batgirl #6 main cover by David Talaski (DC Comics)

BATGIRL #6
Written by TATE BROMBAL
Art by TAKESHI MIYAZAWA
Main Cover by DAVID TALASKI
Variant cover by INHYUK LEE
Page Count: 32 pages
Release Date: April 2, 2025

 

This review contains spoilers

Captured and held up high over the cavern floor, Batgirl and Lady Shiva argue in devising their best course of action before they are greeted by Kalden the Unseen. He explains that for centuries the Unburied were a peaceful people until Ra’s Al Gul and the Blood of Wu crossed their paths, bringing violence to them. Burrowing into the shadows, they over the years slowly rebuilt, until they were found and taken advantage of by Lady Shiva. Refusing to be victimized any longer, the Unburied waged war on Shiva and any ally she aligned herself with.

Jayesh arrives and frees Cass and Shiva before he’s quickly killed by Nergui. They run to a nearby waterfall, outflanking the Unburied members chasing them. Shiva turns to Cass for options, who in turn opts for subterfuge with the help of unleashing the underground swarm of bats against the Unburied in aiding their escape. Both Mother and Daughter make it to Jayesh’s motorcycle outside, when suddenly Shiva tells Cass to save herself as she turns to fight the Unburied alone. Commanding her to find the Bronze Tiger, Shiva fights to seemingly the bitter end as Batgirl drives away from her mother, back towards Gotham.

Analysis

Last issue was far and away the best of the series, for a few reasons. Left on her own, Cassandra was far more in her element as the classic Silent Knight, showing off her peerless fighting prowess and Batman-taught skills in theatricality and deception. We got a healthy scene of imaginary introspection in the form of a dream sequence with Stephanie Brown, where Cassandra’s hang-ups with Shiva were given voice in a narratively satisfying way, ending up in a final confrontation with her mother and the Unburied.

So it’s unfortunate that the end of this initial arc just circles towards what we’ve been given for most of the storyline, over and over again. Cass doesn’t trust Shiva, Shiva is duplicitous, and they fight an ill-defined group of ninjas with varying success. Ultimately we learn nothing that the last several issues haven’t already made clear, from Shiva’s genuine love for Cassandra to Cass’ stubborn love for Shiva, in a blend of overwritten dialogue that only hurts the book unless you speed through it.

As a Batgirl fan, I appreciate Tate Brombal’s attention to character history and what truly drives these two women, but by this sixth issue it reads as though he’s simply indulging in writing the same melodrama again and again. The scenes of dialogue between the two women have no explicit journey or destination in communication besides Cass saying “You suck, and I hate that!” with Shiva responding “I y’am what I y’am.” What is that supposed to mean exactly, who is Shiva? A force of nature? A two-timing shyster? A woman who lives under no one’s rules? I’ve spoken before about the character’s different iterations between the original Question series from the late 1980s through the Batman and the Outsiders’ book, and while I thought we may be gesturing towards a more complicated Shiva, Brombal unfortunately just circles back to the incredibly surface-level and uncomplicated villain with a heart of gold that other writers have depicted her as for years now. Again, I’m seriously urging anyone remotely interested in the character to read Batgirl #25 from the 2000s series, the issue Brombal has specifically referenced more than once. Shiva tells Batgirl in that issue “I’m not a murderer, I’m a warrior.” We could’ve circled back to that, as with that quote you understand who she is even with saying so little. It speaks volumes.

Having Shiva be the culprit for the Unburied’s war on various characters, due to her own selfishness and callousness simply serves to make her the devil to Cassandra’s angel, and that’s far too simple. While the Cassandra Cain story is realizing one’s worth no matter their past failures or upbringing, boiling it down to petty morality tales such as stealing and dishonor and familial love makes the characters seem stupid before long. If Batgirl is done with her mother once and for all, we need to really be sold on that ultimatum and feel that she means it. If Shiva’s overriding emotion is love for Cassandra, we need to find that irresistible, no matter what The Unburied say about her. I wish that were the case as written, but too much of this issue feels repetitive to every other conflict from this story. There’s no resolution.

I also think Brombal has forgotten that these two are the baddest B!tches in all DC Comics, when talking about martial artists. They’re supposed to be the best in the world. While The Unburied were described up front as being too powerful for wither of them, having our heroes constantly on the backfoot and running away in the opening arc of a series about the best fighters in the DCU makes the series seem like a big retcon, as though that’s not who they are. So when we circle back to those familiar beats again, I sigh because I’m tired of seeing Cassandra Cain not overcome the odds, but opt out to disengage altogether. Especially when it’s not remarked as something out of the ordinary for her. She has fled fighting The Unburied three separate times now, and though most of those were at the urging of Shiva (the woman she mostly hates), she still acted upon those orders. It’s a big deal for someone of her reckless and supremely skilled caliber to run from a fight, and now we’ve seen it thrice.

At the end of the day, I was left unsatisfied with this opening arc, but not with the title. Brombal has shown off enough Batgirl bonafides to keep me invested in where she goes next, but I’ve had my fill over overwroughtly-written Shiva screaming matches for one story. He’s a solid writer for my favorite Bat-Family member, but when it comes to the deadliest woman in the world, Brombal’s not the worst (I’d unfortunately bestow that dishonor to Che Grayson) but he’s quickly becoming one of the most frustrating, because his vision for the character seems incredibly limited, despite remarking on some of her best stories.

Nevertheless, he is a solid Cass writer, and with Miyazawa still in tow, I’m looking forward to the next arc, as a breath of fresh air more than anything.

batgirl #6 main cover
Batgirl #6
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, I was left unsatisfied with this opening arc, but not with the title. Brombal has shown off enough Batgirl bonafides to keep me invested in where she goes next, but I've had my fill over overwroughtly-written Shiva screaming matches for one story.
3
Final Score
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poison ivy #32 main cover
Comic Reviews and Editorials

Comic Book Review: Poison Ivy #32

by Gareth Turner
written by Gareth Turner

In this review of Poison Ivy #32, Poison Ivy and Peter Undine take down the monstrous Ed Cooper before Ivy has a meeting with the tree-being Bog Venus.  

 

poison ivy #32 main cover

Poison Ivy #32 main cover by Jessica Fong (DC Comics)

Poison Ivy #32
Writer: G. Willow Wilson
Artist: Brian Level
Main Cover: Jessica Fong
Variant Cover: Joshua “Sway” Swaby, Kyuyong Eom, Bernard Chang, and Robin Higginbottom
Page Count: 22 pages
Release Date: April 3, 2025

 

This comic book review contains spoilers 

Picking up from last month’s Poison Ivy #31, Poison Ivy #32 sees Ivy and Undine attempt to take down the mutated Ed Cooper: AKA the monster of Marshview Swamp. Cooper attacks Janet from HR before Ivy finally restrains him then goes into the woods to seek help. Ivy comes across Bog Venus who agrees to help but asks Ivy if she’s sure she can trust Janet. She says she does although a seed of doubt has been planted. Venus revives Janet and sucks the remaining life out of Ed Cooper. Ivy then walks directly into Bog Venus’ body to have a conversation directed through the green on a metaphysical plane. She tells Venus that Xylon wants to negotiate peace between the green and the grey. Venus has no interest in peace until the grey takes responsibility for the destruction it has already inflicted on the green. After making her point, Venus disappears into mist.

 

Analysis

Poison Ivy is back with Poison Ivy #32, an issue that continues to kick its plotlines further down the road. We get more teasing of a telegraphed blowup between Poison Ivy and Janet from HR who have secretly aligned themselves with opposing sides of nature (the green and the grey). That conflict is still lingering in the background, and the odd Ed Cooper-Peter Undine interlude was wrapped up with little impact on the ongoing narrative. I’ve officially reached the point where I find G. Willow Wilson’s formula of featuring a couple set pieces supplemented with endless pontification from Ivy about her personality and the nature of life to pad out the story, to be a bit tiring. It was fun at first but it’s increasingly starting to read like she’s trying to increase the word-count on her high school paper.

The narration vacillates between entry-level philosophical concepts and semi-ironic reflections on Ivy’s experiences which come off as a blend between Wilson’s own ideas and jabs at the elevated absurdity of the DC universe. It started out alright, back in the series’ early issues where Ivy was depicted as much more of an anti-villain (remember this whole series started with her ready to wipe out humanity). But now that she’s essentially a hero, her endless monologuing has lost its hip 90s-crime-heroine edge and become more like a self-help guru who thinks they’re cleverer than they are. 

Nothing that I’m saying makes this outright terrible or even bad, it’s just more of the same. And after 32 issues, I wouldn’t mind a real shakeup. 

After last month’s adjustment period, I have really grown on Brian Level’s art here. Any artist being put up against Marcio Takara is deeply unfair, but Level’s work—specifically in the issue’s back half—is nothing to scoff at. Bog Venus is given some statuesque poses with her vine-y dreads flowing in the breeze, and the angles Level uses during their conversation emphasize Ivy’s growing desperation. I loved some of his wackier page-layouts like on page 2 with the tree branch-like dividers and page 16 where Ed Cooper’s corpse is seemingly being pushed down onto the page itself. Ivy also looks pretty angular and stylized in a way that I found interesting. It takes some getting used to, but once you do it totally works! 

I gotta give my obligatory (but necessary) shoutout to Arif Prianto and Hassan Otsamne-Elhaou who do great work on the colors and lettering. The latter is one of this book’s standouts as different entities such as Peter Undine and Bog Venus are given specific speech bubble looks. Bog Venus’ speech even changes depending on if Ivy is speaking with her on the physical or metaphysical plane. 

And is it just me or does this version of Peter Undine look especially… O’Keeffe-ian? ‘Nuff said. 

 

Final Thoughts

G. Willow Wilson is stretching some of these plotlines out so thin, they can barely support the weight. But the action is slick and the art is fun, in other words: it’s another issue of Poison Ivy.

poison ivy #32 main cover
Poison Ivy #32
Final Thoughts
G. Willow Wilson is stretching some of these plotlines out so thin, they can barely support the weight. But the action is slick and the art is fun, in other words: it’s another issue of Poison Ivy.
3
Final Score
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season 17 episode 6 podcast cover
The Batman Universe Comic Podcast

TBU Comic Podcast: Season 17 Episode 6

by Theodis Wright
written by Theodis Wright

season 17 episode 6 podcast cover

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS

 

The Batman Universe Comic Podcast Season 17 Episode 6 is live on on your favorite platforms. In Season 17 Episode 6, Steph and Theo review Detective Comics #1095 and Batman #158, the much-anticipated beginning of Hush 2 from Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee. Does it live up to the hype that it was given? After that, they have fun with Greater Gotham. Are they still high on Absolute Batman? Listen in and find out.

Book Covered In Season 17 Episode 6

Detective Comics #1095
Batman #158

Greater Gotham Titles

Absolute Batman #6
Nightwing #124
Batman / Superman: World’s Finest #37
Batman and Robin: Year One #6
Catwoman #74
The Question: All Along the Watchtower #5
DC x Sonic the Hedgehog #1
Batman Justice Buster #21
Batman: The Long Halloween – The Last Halloween #6
Batman: Wayne Family Adventures #156-157

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