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dc comics solicitations for july 2026
Comic News

July 2026 TBU DC Solicitations

by Stephanie Mounce April 16, 2026
written by Stephanie Mounce

DC Comics July 2026 solicitations see the return of another volume of Tom Taylor’s Dark Knights of Steels with Dark Knights of Steel II.

 

DC Comics July 2026 solicitations have been released by the publisher.  Batman and Lex Luther team up in the Justice League: Knight Vision Special,  Detective Comics and Batman/Superman World’s Finest will have Annuals, and Dark Knights of Steel is getting a sequel with Dark Knights of Steel II, still written by Tom Taylor.

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

(Click images to enlarge

 


 

 

JUSTICE LEAGUE: KNIGHT VISION SPECIAL #1
Written by MARK WAID and JOSHUA WILLIAMSON
Art by MIGUEL MENDONCA
Cover by CARMINE DI GIANDOMENICO
Variant covers by JUAN FERREYRA, MARK SPEARS, and JAVI FERNANDEZ
$5.99 US | 48 pages
ON SALE 7/29/26
The Justice League has offered a number of villains amnesty, allowing them to prove they’re on the side of the angels. But what they didn’t see coming was the void that would leave in the world of super-villains! Batman and Lex Luthor must work together to investigate a Justice League villain who wants to fill that void, capitalizing on shifting priorities and the visions of the future that the DC Universe’s champions saw at the end of DC K.O. to create a dangerous new weapon! Can Batman and Lex set aside their differences to stop them? This crucial issue in the All In Saga sets up new threats for the Justice League’s heroes and villains!

 

Absolute Batman July 2026 TBU DC Solicitations

 

ABSOLUTE BATMAN #22
Written by SCOTT SNYDER
Art by WERTHER DELL’EDERA
Cover by NICK DRAGOTTA
Variant covers by DAN QUINTANA, BRETT BEAN, and DERRICK CHEW
1:25 variant cover by WERTHER DELL’EDERA
$4.99 US | 32 pages | Variant $5.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 7/8/26
As the Robins nest in Gotham’s backyard, and Batman faces ultimate defeat, Harley Quinn’s origin is revealed. How does Harley connect with Ark M, and how did the Robins fledge from hatchlings to birds of prey? The call of more than one predator will be answered in this issue.

 

 

ABSOLUTE CATWOMAN #2
Written by CHE GRAYSON and SCOTT SNYDER
Art and cover by BENGAL
Variant covers by LEIRIX, MIRKA ANDOLFO, and JONBOY MEYERS
1:25 variant cover by ERIC CANETE
$4.99 US | 32 pages | Variant $5.99 US (card stock) 2 of 6
ON SALE 7/8/26
Selina licks her wounds after her run-in with her mystery assailants. But she can’t linger long if she’s going to get her revenge.

 

 

BATWOMAN #5
Written by GREG RUCKA
Art and cover by DaNi
Variant covers by STJEPAN ŠEJIĆ, NICOLA SCOTT, and W. SCOTT FORBES
$3.99 US | 32 pages | Variant $4.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 7/15/26
As Batwoman’s quest to avenger her sister’s death reaches its apex, she discovers the Dark Faith have a new, much more terrifying plan. A Kane must be the Alice who ushers in the era of Darkseid…and if Beth is dead, Kate must take her place. How do you fight the devil when the devil is real? Greg Rucka & DaNi bring an epic conclusion to their first arc of this blockbuster Next Level series.

 

 

BARBARA GORDON: BREAKOUT #3
Written by MARIKO TAMAKI
Art by AMANCAY NAHUELPAN
Cover by KARL KERSCHL
Variant covers by TERRY & RACHEL DODSON, CHRIS WILDGOOSE, and JEFF SPOKES
$3.99 US | 32 pages | Variant $4.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 7/8/26
Barbara Gordon is just trying to survive in Supermax. Every day brings new danger… and more questions. Can she trust her new friend Sparrow? Has she clocked the real threats closing in on her? And why does she get the sneaking suspicion that there’s more to this prison than meets the eye? To answer these questions, Barbara will need to rely on the skills she learned as Batgirl and her own past to ensure she has a future…

 

 

THE DEADMAN #2
Written by W. MAXWELL PRINCE
Art and cover by MARTIN MORAZZO
Variant covers by ALEX ECKMAN-LAWN, LUCIO PARRILLO and MARK SPEARS
Glow in the Dark variant cover by STEVAN SUBIĆ
$3.99 US | 32 pages | Variant $4.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 7/1/26
Our eschatological escapades continue in this definitive depiction of DC’s Deadest Do-Gooder! An unknown species of demon has eaten the heaven-bound soul of a highway cyclist…compromising the sanctity of Earth’s Spiritual Math…and threatening the fragile glue that holds everything together! At the behest of goddess Rama Kushna, Boston Brand—a.k.a. the Deadman—has finally donned his brand-new super-suit…which is perfect, it turns out, for his latest spectral assignment: a sleuthy sojourn to the city where sin never sleeps: Gotham!

 

 

BATMAN #11
Written by MATT FRACTION
Art and cover by JORGE JIMENEZ
Variant covers by DUSTIN NGUYEN, JORGE MOLINA, and RYAN SOOK
Foil variant cover by JORGE JIMENEZ 1:25 variant cover by DAVID AJA
$4.99 US | 40 pages | Variant $5.99 US (card stock) | Variant $7.99 US (foil)
ON SALE 7/1/26
The deadliest woman in the world wielding two blades is back, and her quest for blood puts her on a collision course with the Caped Crusader—and as chaos ensues, Vandal Savage’s corrupt GCPD won’t be far behind! If that weren’t enough, the sinister Minotaur, squeezing Gotham’s underworld, finds himself on a path to reckoning, courtesy of the Penguin! Matt Fraction and Jorge Jiménez deliver an action-packed chapter of their smash-hit series that critics are calling “a blockbuster reinvention” and “a perfect comic book.”

 

 

POISON IVY #46
Written by G. WILLOW WILSON
Art by LEANDRO FERNANDEZ
Cover by JESSICA FONG
Variant covers by NOOBOVICH, KYUYONG EOM, and MANNY VINCENT CARBONILLA
$3.99 US | 32 pages | Variant $4.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 7/1/26
Gotham City is a powder keg, and Poison Ivy is the match! The air is full of anger, pain, and despair as things go from bad to even worse. The chopping block is calling out for Mayor Pamela Isley. Can Ivy’s faithful underlings save her from herself, or will the city swallow them whole first?

 

 

NIGHTWING #140
Written by DAN WATTERS
Art by DENYS COWAN
Cover by JORGE FORNES
Variant covers by GUILLEM MARCH and WERTHER DELL’EDERA
$4.99 US | 32 pages | Variant $5.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 7/15/26
The hunt for a killer in downtown Blüdhaven leads to revelations about the super-villainous architect of the city’s superhighway. But is it too late for Nightwing to pull back from the precipice before he does something he’ll truly regret?

 

 

BATGIRL #21
Written by TATE BROMBAL
Art by STEPHEN SEGOVIA
Cover by DAVID TALASKI
Variant cover by KYUYONG EOM
$3.99 US | 32 pages | Variant $4.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 7/1/26
There’s been a murder, and the only clues are buried deep within Batgirl’s memories, along with the phrase “forget me not.” Now locked in a prison of her past, Cassandra Cain must uncover the killer before it’s too late, but as she relives her time with David Cain again and again, will she solve the murder in time…or lose her mind completely?

 

 

CATWOMAN #89
Written by TORUNN GRONBEKK
Art by DAVIDE GIANFELICE
Cover by SEBA FIUMARA
Variant covers by FRANK CHO, JEEHYUNG LEE, and W. SCOTT FORBES
$3.99 US | 32 pages | Variant $4.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 7/15/26
Catwoman is caught in Alley Town as Black Mask’s plan reaches its penultimate phase. With all the pieces finally in play, can Selina figure out Black Mask’s ultimate goal, or is it curtains for the feline fatale?

 

July 2026 TBU DC SolicitationsDetective Comics 1111

Source: DC Comics

 

DETECTIVE COMICS #1111
Written by TOM TAYLOR
Art and cover by MIKEL JANIN
Variant covers by DECLAN SHALVEY and TK
$4.99 US | 32 pages | Variant $5.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 7/22/26
Many years ago, during the early days of Batman’s tenure as Gotham’s Dark Knight, he trained alongside Green Arrow and Black Canary, learning the combat skills that have served them throughout their careers as crime-fighters. But there was another heroic hopeful in their ranks—a mysterious man known only as Prion—who suffered a tragic fate that still weighs upon the trio. Now, face-to-face with a young girl who goes by the same code name, they find the sins of their past coming back to haunt them. Tom Taylor and Mikel Janín bring you the penultimate chapter of this history-shaking arc!

 

 

 

DETECTIVE COMICS 2026 ANNUAL #1
Written by TOM TAYLOR and DAVE WIELGOSZ
Art by NICOLA SCOTT and FRAN MARISCAL
Cover by MIKEL JANIN
Variant covers by GUILLEM MARCH and JAVI FERNANDEZ
$5.99 US | 48 pages | Variant $6.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 7/29/26
Batman has been falsely accused of a political assassination on a distant planet, and someone has been sent to track down the Dark Knight and bring him to justice—someone with a special talent for hunting. That’s right, Lobo’s come to Earth with a bounty on Batman! Now, in the clutches of the Main Man and being carted across the cosmos to be judged for a crime he did not commit, Batman must find a way to clear his name! Tom Taylor and Nicola Scott bring you a thrilling tale of bounties, battles, and bastiches.

 

 

HARLEY QUINN #64
Written by ELLIOTT KALAN
Art by CARLOS OLIVARES
Cover by BRANDT&STEIN
Variant covers by DAVID NAKAYAMA, TERRY & RACHEL DODSON, and
DERRICK CHEW
$3.99 US | 32 pages | Variant $4.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 7/22/26
It’s me, Harley, versus my own greatest enemies of all time—the Harley Quinn Revenge Squad! They’re so bad you couldn’t find a hole deep enough to lock these folks away in! We’ve got the legally distinct hunter guy, the backward arms guy, the penny pincher, the corporate art security man, the tech bros, and the worst of the lot—the squad’s shadowy leader! This one’s so evil they’d make Lex Luthor’s secret flower garden wilt with just one glare! One glare! Don’t get me started on what’d happen with two!

 

 

JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED #21
Written by MARK WAID
Art and cover by DAN MORA
Variant covers by BRUNO REDONDO, NATHAN SZERDY, SEB McKINNON, and DON AGUILLO
$3.99 US | 32 pages | Variant $4.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 7/22/26
Guy Gardner has screwed up—and now his Justice Gang is caught in the middle of a war between intergalactic powers to claim the powers of the Justice League! Meanwhile, the League—divided over the villain amnesty rule—is in tumult, with hero against hero!

 

 

NEW TITANS #37
Written by TATE BROMBAL
Cover by TAURIN CLARKE
Art by MARCUS TO
Variant covers by ETHAN YOUNG and RICKIE YAGAWA
$3.99 US | 32 pages | Variant $4.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 7/15/26
Not-So-Happy Harbor! The Titans uncover a dark force manipulating the quaint New England town that seeks to awaken a beast from deep beneath their new Mountain Headquarters! Meanwhile, Terra unearths Cyborg’s workshop—but can he trust her with his secrets…or will he have to bury her for good?!

 

 

BATMAN/SUPERMAN: WORLD’S FINEST #53
Written by MARK WAID
Art by ADRIAN GUTIERREZ
Cover by DAN MORA
Variant covers by RACHTA LIN and ADRIAN GUTIERREZ
$3.99 US | 32 pages | Variant $4.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 7/15/26
The brutal battle between Batman and a magically amped Superman threatens the entire realm of Skartaris! How can Robin and Warlord hope to shut down a fight of such magnitude?

 

 

BATMAN/SUPERMAN: WORLD’S FINEST 2026 ANNUAL #1
Written by MARK WAID, MARK RUSSELL, and TYRONE FINCH.
Art by CLAYTON HENRY and PATRICK BOUTIN
Cover by DAN MORA
Variant covers by RAHZZAH and CLAYTON HENRY
$5.99 US | 48 pages | Variant $4.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 7/29/26
The World’s Finest attempt to have a relaxing night out with Jonathan Kent and Alfred. But after an emergency leads Batman and Superman into a trap, it’s up to the father figures to jump into the fray! Also, with Lois Lane’s current investigation putting her in Intergang’s crosshairs, Batman steps in to provide Lois backup—but as Bruce Wayne, and accompanying Lois on a date!

 

 

GOTHAM ACADEMY: FIRST YEAR #6
Written by BRENDEN FLETCHER, KARL KERSCHL, and BECKY CLOONAN
Art by MARCO FERRARI
Cover and variant cover by KARL KERSCHL
$4.99 US | 40 pages | 6 of 6 | Variant $5.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 7/29/26
Olive Silverlock has vanished, and Maps Mizoguchi is ready to roll for rescue. With Kyle in tow—and a not-so-helpful ghost on her heels—Maps must brave the halls, the catacombs, and the shadowy secrets of Gotham Academy. Just a normal Tuesday, really.

 

 

DARK KNIGHTS OF STEEL II #1
Written by TOM TAYLOR
Art by OTTO SCHMIDT
Cover by YASMINE PUTRI
Variant covers by TRAVIS MOORE, DAVIDE PARATORE, and JOSH MIDDLETON
Foil variant cover by JOSH MIDDLETON
$4.99 US | 40 pages | 1 of 12 | Variant $5.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 7/15/26
An entire medieval world was forever changed when a spaceship crashlanded from a doomed planet. Monarchs died, kingdoms rose, long-buried treachery came to light…and a League was born. Now an ancient, violent war brews beneath the waves, one that promises untold destruction should it break the surface. If the League hopes to weather it and protect the lands of its realms and beyond, it must first root out the treasonous agents hiding in plain sight amidst its own ranks! Worldwide bestselling writer Tom Taylor (Detective Comics, Nightwing) and acclaimed artist Otto Schmidt (DC vs. Vampires, Green Arrow) welcome you back to the epic high-fantasy world of Dark Knights of Steel, where the darkest days yet still lie ahead!

 

July 2026 TBU DC SolicitationsBatman 127 Facsimile

Source: DC Comics

 

BATMAN #127 FACSIMILE EDITION
Written by JERRY COLEMAN and BILL FINGER
Art by DICK SPRANG and SHELDON MOLDOFF
Cover by CURT SWAN
Foil variant cover by CURT SWAN ($6.99 US) Blank sketch cover ($4.99 US)
$3.99 US | 36 pages
ON SALE 7/1/26
Have Batman and Robin found themselves battling the mythical Thor? It sure looks that way, and when this God of Thunder tries to put the hammer down on the Dynamic Duo, he may prove more than a match for the mighty masked marvels! Not enough excitement for you? How about a look at how Bruce Wayne’s life might have been in a world where crime didn’t claim the lives of his parents—and the astounding adventure of Batman and Robin’s newest super-powered ally, Alfred Pennyworth, the Eagle!

 

Batman 156 FacsimileJuly 2026 TBU DC Solicitations

Source: DC Comics

 

BATMAN #156 FACSIMILE EDITION
Written by BILL FINGER
Art and cover by SHELDON MOLDOFF
Foil variant cover by SHELDON MOLDOFF ($6.99 US) Blank sketch cover ($4.99 US)
$3.99 US | 36 pages
ON SALE 7/8/26
With Batman away on a mysterious mission, Robin must defend Gotham alone— until he meets up with an all-new costumed figure, the doll-sized dynamo who calls himself the Ant-Man! Is this tiny titan friend…or foe? Then, learn the astounding true nature of Batman’s secret mission—how it has unlocked his greatest fear and how he may be powerless to stop that fear from becoming reality when “Robin Dies at Dawn!”

 

July 2026 TBU DC SolicitationsJUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #200 FACSIMILE EDITION

Source: DC Comics

 

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #200 FACSIMILE EDITION
Written by GERRY CONWAY
Art by GEORGE PEREZ, BRETT BREEDING, PAT BRODERICK, JIM APARO,
DICK GIORDANO, GIL KANE, CARMINE INFANTINO, BRIAN BOLLAND, and JOE KUBERT
Cover by GEORGE PEREZ
Foil variant cover by GEORGE PEREZ ($19.99 US)
Black Canary Super Powers cover by JASON GEYER and ALEX SAVIUK ($14.99 US)
$14.99 US | 76 pages
ON SALE 7/22/26
In this special anniversary adventure, the seven founding members of the League are pitted against the team’s later additions when a sinister plan put into motion by the Justice League’s very first case at last comes to fruition. An all-star cast of talent brings old and new Leaguers together in this astounding oversize epic!

 

July 2026 TBU DC SolicitationsTHE COSMIC KISS CAPER & OTHER STORIES

Source: DC Comics

 

THE COSMIC KISS CAPER & OTHER STORIES
Written by GRANT MORRISON, MARK WAID, SCOTT SNYDER, TOM KING,
JAMES TYNION IV, MATT FRACTION, JOSHUA WILLIAMSON, SEAN MURPHY, TOM TAYLOR, GAIL SIMONE, MARIKO TAMAKI, CHRISTOPHER PRIEST, G. WILLOW WILSON, GREG RUCKA, JEREMY ADAMS, JEFF LEMIRE, and CRC PAYNE
Art by DAN MORA, JORGE JIMENEZ, JIM LEE, HAYDEN SHERMAN,
STEVE LIEBER, BRUNO REDONDO, SEAN MURPHY, AMANDA CONNER, BELEN ORTEGA, DENYS COWAN, DANIEL SAMPERE, NICOLA SCOTT, RAFA SANDOVAL, ADRIAN GUTIERREZ, MIKEL JANIN, and HUGO PETRUS
$29.99 US | 224 pages | 6 5/8″ x 10 3/16″ | Hardcover | ISBN: 978-1-79951-353-7
$19.99 US | 224 pages | 6 5/8″ x 10 3/16″ | Softcover | ISBN: 978-1-79951-354-4
ON SALE 9/8/26
Brand-new covers by Jim Cheung (front) and Lee Weeks (back) wrap this all-star collection of some of the most amazing team-ups fans could ever imagine! Batman and Deadpool share a mind-bending adventure! Clark Kent and Peter Parker chase the same scoop, but it’s Superman and Spider-Man who need to save the day! Plus: John Constantine/Doctor Strange! Lois Lane and Mary Jane! Nightwing/Wolverine! Power Girl and the Punisher! Harley Quinn and the Hulk! Static and Ms. Marvel! Pa Kent/Uncle Ben! Jimmy Olsen and…Carnage? And many more pairings from some of the top writers and artists in comics today!
Collecting DC/Marvel: Batman/Deadpool, DC/Marvel: Superman/Spider-Man, and the first-ever print versions of the vertical-scroll digital comics DC/ Marvel: The Flash/Fantastic Four and DC/Marvel: Supergirl/Blade!

 

July 2026 TBU DC SolicitationsBATMAN: H2SH

Source: DC Comics

 

BATMAN: H2SH
Written by JEPH LOEB
Art and cover by JIM LEE and SCOTT WILLIAMS
$29.99 US | 176 pages | 6 5/8″ x 10 3/16″ | Hardcover | ISBN: 978-1-79950-546-4
ON SALE 9/15/26
A mysterious villain from Batman’s past has returned, leaving the Dark Knight’s world upended. Now he must use every resource and tool in his belt to save both his city and himself. From legendary creators Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee, the sequel to the original Hush saga has finally arrived, heralding a new age for Gotham and everyone who lives there. Collects Batman #158-163.

 

July 2026 TBU DC SolicitationsBatman Gargoyle of Gotham

Source: DC Comics

 

 

BATMAN: GARGOYLE OF GOTHAM: THE DELUXE EDITION
Written and drawn by RAFAEL GRAMPA
Cover by RAFAEL GRAMPA
$34.99 US | 196 pages | 7 1/6″ x 10 7/8″ | | Hardcover | ISBN: 978-1-79950-117-6
ON SALE 9/15/26
Batman knows intimately even the darkest and most irredeemable streets of Gotham City, but when an all-new rogues gallery of depraved villains emerges from its murky depths, he will come to find that he hardly knows himself. A serial killer is on the loose, and while the murder victims seem random at first, every clue draws Batman closer to the terrifying truth—that they are all connected, not just to each other…but to him. Batman will have to contend with the very nature of evil—including that which lurks inside in the darkest corners of his own heart—to face what’s coming for his city. Batman: Gargoyle of Gotham brings Eisner Award-winning creator Rafael Grampá’s twisted vision of both the Dark Knight and Gotham City to life in this thrilling deluxe edition that will reach its icy black tendrils into the rotting heart of human nature and leave you gasping for breath—and for more! Collects Batman: Gargoyle of Gotham #1-4.

 

July 2026 TBU DC SolicitationsAbsolute Batman Vol 3.

Source: DC Comics

 

ABSOLUTE BATMAN VOL. 3
Written by SCOTT SNYDER and others
Art by NICK DRAGOTTA, JOCK, and others
Cover by NICK DRAGOTTA
$29.00 US | 208 pages | 6 5/8″ x 10 3/16″ | Hardcover | ISBN: 978-1-79950-890-8
$19.00 US | 208 pages | 6 5/8″ x 10 3/16″ | Softcover | ISBN: 978-1-79950-891-5
ON SALE 9/8/26
Batman won his explosive battle with Bane, but his friends will never be the same—and he might not be able to help them, even if he crosses worlds and enlists the help of a god to do it. Meanwhile, another of Ark M’s residents will be unleashed on Gotham. And the biggest question of all still remains…what is the true identity of the man behind everything? Legendary artist Jock reunites with writer Scott Snyder to tell one version of the story Alfred’s been chasing for years, and a one-shot explores the origins of Ark M! Volume 3 collects the Absolute Batman 2025 Annual, Absolute Batman: Ark M, and Absolute Batman #15-18.

 

July 2026 TBU DC SolicitationsBATMAN: WHITE KNIGHT PRESENTS: GENERATION JOKER

Source: DC Comics

 

BATMAN: WHITE KNIGHT PRESENTS: GENERATION JOKER
Written by SEAN MURPHY, KATANA COLLINS, and CLAY McCORMACK
Art by MIRKA ANDOLFO
Cover by SEAN MURPHY
$17.99 US | 156 pages | 6 5/8″ x 10 3/16″ | Softcover | ISBN: 978-1-79950-952-3
ON SALE 9/1/26
Spinning out of the runaway hit Batman: Beyond the White Knight comes an unforgettable coming-of-age super-villain tale starring the children of Harley Quinn and The Joker! When the rebellious twins run away in a stolen Batmobile, only Joker Jack Napier’s quickly fading hologram has any hope of getting them home safely and keeping them out of the family business. But a life of crime isn’t the only temptation they are facing: The kids uncover a dark secret that could bring their dad back to life for good! With a wild array of Batman’s former enemies and allies on their tails, will the kids succeed in reviving the Dark Knight’s greatest foe? Find out as Jackie and Bryce take center stage in the White Knight Universe! Collects issues #1-6.

 

July 2026 TBU DC SolicitationsBATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS (2026 EDITION)

Source: DC Comics

 

BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS (2026 EDITION)
Art and story by FRANK MILLER
Inks by KLAUS JANSON
Cover by FRANK MILLER
$16.99 US | 224 pages | 6 5/8″ x 10 3/16″ | Softcover | ISBN: 978-1-79951-758-0
ON SALE 8/25/26
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. The Dark Knight returns in a blaze of fury, taking on a whole new generation of criminals and matching their level of violence. He is soon joined by a new Robin—a girl named Carrie Kelley, who proves to be just as invaluable as her predecessors. But can Batman and Robin deal with the threat posed by their deadliest enemies after years of incarceration have turned them into perfect psychopaths? And more importantly, can anyone survive the coming fallout from an undeclared war between the superpowers—or the clash of what were once the world’s greatest heroes? Celebrate 40 years of one of the most influential stories ever told in the comics medium with the undisputed classic Batman: The Dark Knight Returns.

 

 

BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS DELUXE EDITION
Written by FRANK MILLER
Art by FRANK MILLER and KLAUS JANSON
Cover by FRANK MILLER
$39.99 US | 280 pages | 7 1/16″ x 10 7/8″ | Hardcover | ISBN: 978-1-79951-310-0
ON SALE 9/15/26
In 1986, comics visionary Frank Miller, along with Klaus Janson and Lynn Varley, re-envisioned the Dark Knight in a bold way that has since revolutionized the way people view superhero comics. It’s been 10 years since the Batman was last seen, and Gotham City has since decayed into a cesspool of crime. But now something has stirred within Bruce Wayne, reminding him of the solemn vow he made to his parents. As Gotham falls prey to gangs and as the threat of nuclear war looms, Bruce can no longer stand by idly. The night belongs to Batman, and it’s time to remind the world that justice still exists. This 40th anniversary deluxe edition of the beloved classic collects the original four-issue Prestige series and includes a new afterword by Miller; a tribute cover gallery featuring artwork by Jim Lee, Jock, and others; and more!

 

July 2026 TBU DC SolicitationsHARLEY & IVY: LIFE & CRIMES

Source: DC Comics

 

HARLEY & IVY: LIFE & CRIMES
Story, art, and cover by ERICA HENDERSON
$17.99 US | 152 pages | 6 5/8″ x 10 3/16″ | Softcover | ISBN: 978-1-79950-950-9
ON SALE 8/18/26
Eisner Award-winning artist and writer Erica Henderson weaves the canonical story of how Ivy and Harley went from enemies to friends to lovers! See their first kiss, their first embrace, their first fight, the first time Harley went to the bathroom with the door open in front of Ivy (that one is a joke, jeez), and so much more! You’re gonna love the way this book makes you look (and feel)—we guarantee it! Collects Harley & Ivy: Life & Crimes #1-6.

 

 

POISON IVY: THE DELUXE EDITION VOL. 1
Written by G. WILLOW WILSON
Art by MARCIO TAKARA and ATAGUN ILHAN
Cover by JESSICA FONG
$49.99 US | 368 pages | 7 1/16″ x 10 7/8″ | Hardcover | ISBN: 978-1-79950-921-9
ON SALE 10/6/26
Humanity had its chance. Now it’s her time. On a journey to doom humankind, a heartbroken and betrayed Poison Ivy must escape man’s world of laws and discover the truth behind the greener life she hopes to empower. In this body-horror-infused, character-defining epic, the visionary creative team of writer G. Willow Wilson and artist Marcio Takara welcomes you to the beginning of your end. Collects Poison Ivy #1-12, stories from Batman #124 and Gotham City Villains Giant #1, and more never-before-seen treasures from the making of this instant classic.

 

July 2026 TBU DC SolicitationsDC FINEST: BATMAN: THE DEMON LIVES AGAIN

Source: DC Comics

 

DC FINEST: BATMAN: THE DEMON LIVES AGAIN
Written by DENNIS O’NEIL and FRANK ROBBINS
Art by NEAL ADAMS, DICK GIORDANO, IRV NOVICK, BOB BROWN, and FRANK ROBBINS
Cover by NEAL ADAMS
$39.99 US | 600 pages | 6 5/8″ x 10 3/16″ | Softcover | ISBN: 978-1-79951-030-7
ON SALE 9/8/26
As the 1960s gave way to the 1970s, a darker, more serious tone began to take hold in Gotham City—an atmosphere generated by the dynamic, expressive artwork of Neal Adams, Dick Giordano, and Irv Novick that accompanied the intricate, thoughtful writing of authors Dennis O’Neil and Frank Robbins. And these titanic talents burned brightest around Batman’s newest and deadliest foe—the immortal Ra’s al Ghul! Now, for the first time ever, all of these era-defining tales are available in a single historic collection. Featuring such celebrated tales as “Daughter of the Demon,” “The Lazarus Pit,” and “The Demon Lives Again,” this timeless tome presents the Dark Knight Detective with some of his greatest challenges from his most ruthless antagonist—as well as plenty of other formidable foes! Collects Batman #231-245 and Detective Comics #410-429.

 

July 2026 TBU DC SolicitationsDC FINEST: EVENTS: CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS PART TWO

Source: DC Comics

 

DC FINEST: EVENTS: CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS PART TWO
Written by MARV WOLFMAN, ROY THOMAS, ALAN MOORE, CARY BATES, and others
Art by GEORGE PEREZ, TODD McFARLANE, STEPHEN R. BISSETTE, CURT SWAN, and others
Cover by GEORGE PEREZ
$39.99 US | 568 pages | 6 5/8″ x 10 3/16″ | Softcover | ISBN: 978-1-79951-028-4
ON SALE 8/18/26
The all-consuming energies unleashed by the Anti-Monitor sweep through the Multiverse as worlds of heroes and villains alike make their last stands—and a new reality begins to coalesce out of the chaos of destruction! Collects DC Comics Presents #86 and #95, Infinity, Inc. #20-22, Infinity, Inc. Annual #1, The New Teen Titans #13-14, Swamp Thing #44-46, Wonder Woman #328-329, Legends of the DC Universe: Crisis on Infinite Earths #1, Crisis on Infinite Earths #5, All-Star Squadron #53-56, and Superman #413.

 

July 2026 TBU DC SolicitationsDC FINEST: HARLEY QUINN: THE BALLAD OF HARLEY QUINN

Source: DC Comics

 

DC FINEST: HARLEY QUINN: THE BALLAD OF HARLEY QUINN
Written by KARL KESEL, JUDD WINICK, and PAUL D. STORRIE
Art by TERRY DODSON, RACHEL DODSON, JOE CHIODO, JENNIFER GRAVES, and others
Cover by TERRY DODSON AND RACHEL DODSON
$39.99 US | 608 pages | 6 5/8″ x 10 3/16″ | Softcover | ISBN: 978-1-79950-912-7
ON SALE 9/1/26
The comprehensive collection of Harley Quinn’s merry misadventures kicks into high gear as legendary talents Karl Kesel and Terry and Rachel Dodson take over the Clown Princess of Crime’s first solo series. After a too-close call with the GCPD, Harley and gal pal Poison Ivy try to lay low in Metropolis, but their best-laid plans draw unwanted attention from a whole gaggle of do-gooders—and Bizarro as well! But the fun doesn’t stop there, as Kesel and the Dodsons are joined by a cadre of other high-caliber collaborators—including Judd Winick, Joe Chiodo, Paul D. Storrie, and Jennifer Graves—for even more long-form fun with the Maid of Mischief and her ever-expanding social circle! Collects Harley Quinn #9-25, Harley Quinn: Our Worlds at War, Harley and Ivy: Love on the Lam, and Gotham Girls #1-5.

 

July 2026 TBU DC SolicitationsBATMAN & SON: DC COMPACT COMICS EDITION

Source: DC Comics

 

BATMAN & SON: DC COMPACT COMICS EDITION
Written by GRANT MORRISON
Art and cover by ANDY KUBERT
$9.99 US | 200 pages | 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″ | Softcover | ISBN: 978-1-79950-879-3
ON SALE 8/18/26
From the endlessly creative minds of comics legends Grant Morrison (52, All-Star Superman, We3, New X-Men) and Andy Kubert (Adam Strange, 1602, X-Men) comes a startling new chapter in the life of Gotham’s Dark Knight. The mysterious Talia, daughter of the archvillain Ra’s al Ghul and Batman’s onetime love, returns with a boy named Damian and claims the child is Batman’s son. Stunned, the Dark Knight takes the child in, but the boy, raised among the brutal dictates of the League of Assassins, has his own agenda. Soon both Tim Drake, Bruce Wayne’s newly adopted heir, and Alfred, Wayne’s faithful butler, find themselves targets of this genetically perfect and very angry child. Is Damian really just a young, misguided boy trying to prove himself to his father— or have long years of Talia’s indoctrination left him an operative solely designed to destroy the Batman? Under the masterly skills of Morrison and Kubert, Batman & Son is one of the most intriguing Batman tales ever told. It also features the artwork of John VanFleet (Batman: The Chalice) in a unique story highlighting the Joker.

 

July 2026 TBU DC SolicitationsBATMAN: CITY OF MADNESS

Source: DC Comics

 

BATMAN: CITY OF MADNESS
Written by CHRISTIAN WARD
Art and cover by CHRISTIAN WARD
$29.99 US | 176 pages | 8 1/2″ x 10 7/8″ | Softcover | ISBN: 978-1-77952-702-8
ON SALE 9/3/26
Buried deep beneath Gotham City, there exists another Gotham. This Gotham Below is a living nightmare, populated by twisted mirrors of Gotham’s denizens, fueled by the fear and hatred flowing down from above. For decades, the doorway between the cities has been sealed and heavily guarded by the Court of Owls. But now the door swings wide, and the other Gotham’s version of the Dark Knight has escaped…to trap and train a Robin of his own. Batman must form an uneasy alliance with the Court and its deadly allies to stop him—and prevent Gotham from falling into madness! Collects Batman: City of Madness #1-3.

 

July 2026 TBU DC SolicitationsBATMAN: KILLING TIME

Source: DC Comics

 

BATMAN: KILLING TIME
Written by TOM KING
Art and cover by DAVID MARQUEZ
$19.99 US | 208 pages | 6 5/8″ x 10 3/16″ | Softcover | ISBN: 978-1-77952-081-4
ON SALE 9/15/26
Catwoman, the Riddler, and the Penguin join forces to pull off the greatest robbery in the history of Gotham City. And their prize? A mysterious and priceless artifact in the secret possession of Bruce Wayne! But, as the events unfold, what fun is a heist without a bloody double cross or two? The blockbuster team of Tom King and David Marquez brings an epic, white-knuckled, action-packed tale of a young Batman desperate to recover his most prized possession from a host of violent rogues before the clock strikes the Killing Time… Collects Batman: Killing Time #1-6.

 

July 2026 TBU DC SolicitationsABSOLUTE POWER OMNIBUS

Source: DC Comics

 

ABSOLUTE POWER OMNIBUS
Written by MARK WAID, TOM KING, JOSHUA WILLIAMSON, and others
Art by DAN MORA, TONY S. DANIEL, AMANCAY NAHUELPAN, and others
Cover by DAN MORA
$150.00 US | 1232 pages | 7 1/16″ x 10 7/8″ | Hardcover | ISBN: 978-1-79950-909-7
ON SALE 9/8/26
The final domino in an epic scheme comes tumbling down, and the DC Universe will never be the same. Amanda Waller, founder of the Suicide Squad, is picking off superhero dynasties one at a time, starting with Superman. But resistance is never futile…and Batman is out for vengeance. From the Fortress of Solitude to Gamorra, it’s a shocking blitzkrieg across the universe as the destinies of our heroes and the future of the DC Universe are forever altered. Absolute Power Omnibus collects the entire saga for the first time, including Absolute Power #1-4, Absolute Power 2024 FCBD Special Edition #1, Absolute Power: Ground Zero #1, Absolute Power: Origins #1-3, Absolute Power: Super Son #1, Absolute Power: Task Force VII #1-7, Batman #148 and #151-152, Green Arrow #12-17, Suicide Squad: Dream Team #1-4, Superman #16-18, The Flash #10, Titans #12, Wonder Woman #10-12, and stories from Batman #150, Green Lantern #13-15, and Wonder Woman #13!

 

July 2026 TBU DC SolicitationsBATMAN: DETECTIVE COMICS BY RAM V OMNIBUS

Source: DC Comics

 

BATMAN: DETECTIVE COMICS BY RAM V OMNIBUS
Written by RAM V, DAN WATTERS, SIMON SPURRIER, and others
Art by RAFAEL ALBUQUERQUE, HAYDEN SHERMAN, STEFANO RAFFAELE, and others
Cover by EVAN CAGLE
$150.00 US | 1096 pages | 7 1/16″ x 10 7/8″ | Hardcover | ISBN: 978-1-79950-906-6
ON SALE 9/29/26
For years, Batman has instilled fear into criminals by posing as a demonic creature of the night. But as the Dark Knight begins to question his own mortality—and as seemingly real demons start appearing in Gotham—he must also ask himself if there has in fact been an actual dark entity living in him all along. From Eisner Award-winning author Ram V, along with Simon Spurrier, Dan Watters, Rafael Albuquerque, Hayden Sherman, Stefano Raffaele, and many others, comes a dark opera told in three acts pitting Batman against some of his most terrifying foes, the mysterious Orgham family, and his own inner nature. This all-in-one volume collects the entire Gotham Nocturne storyline with the interconnecting backup tales from Detective Comics #1062-1089 and Detective Comics 2022 Annual #1, plus bonus stories from Batman Secret Files #1, DC’s Crimes of Passion #1, and Strange Love Adventures #1. This edition also includes a new introduction by Ram V, afterwords by Simon Spurrier and Dan Watters, and a gallery of behind-thescenes artwork.

 

July 2026 TBU DC SolicitationsRED ROBIN: TIM DRAKE COMPENDIUM

Source: DC Comics

 

RED ROBIN: TIM DRAKE COMPENDIUM
Written by FABIAN NICIEZA, CHRISTOPHER YOST, PETER J. TOMASI, and others
Art by FREDDIE WILLIAMS II, MARCUS TO, RAY MCCARTHY, and others
Cover by FRANCIS MANAPUL and J.G. JONES
$59.99 US | 1160 pages | 6 5/8″ x 10 3/16″ | Softcover | ISBN: 978-1-79950-884-7
ON SALE 8/25/26
Witness the incredible tale of Red Robin’s origin as Tim Drake discovers what it means to
be his own hero.
Red Robin: Tim Drake Compendium collects in reading order Robin #175-183, Red Robin #1-26,
Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne #6, Blackest Night: Batman #1-3, BBruce Wayne: The Road Home: Batman and Robin #1, Bruce Wayne: The Road Home: Red Robin #1, World’s Finest #1, Adventure Comics #3, Superman/Batman #62, Batgirl #8, Teen Titans #92, Batman #709, Gotham City Sirens #22, and a story from DCU Halloween Special ’09 #1.

 

April 16, 2026 0 comments
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Batwoman #2 main cover by Dani (DC Comics)
Comic Reviews and Editorials

Comic Review: Batwoman #2

by Ian Miller April 16, 2026
written by Ian Miller

In this review of Batwoman #2, as Batwoman takes her war against the Religion of Crime to a serious level, Jacob Kane tries to help her.

 

Batwoman #2 main cover by Dani (DC Comics)

Batwoman #2 main cover by Dani (DC Comics)

BATWOMAN #2
Written by GREG RUCKA
Art and Main Cover: DANI
Variant Covers: STJEPAN ŠEJIĆ, JENNY FRISON, and DUSTIN NGUYEN
Page Count: 32 pages | Variant $4.99 US (card stock)
Release Date: 4/15/26

 

This review contains spoilers

In Petalon, Green, Jake Kane (Kate and Beth’s father) takes a call from his wife Cat (Kate’s stepmother), discussing Kate’s breakdown and admission to the mental health clinic, and his lack of contact with her in the clinic. He sees Kate’s batsignal from the end of last issue, and goes down into a Batwoman cave, sees a suit missing and tracking active on his computers, and takes a motorcycle out into the city to find Batwoman.

Meanwhile, the villains react to the Batwoman signal with panic. Slay (the Greek theater masked warrior type) calls for teams to converge on the signal origin location,  but Batwoman throws a grenade onto the roof where the Batsignal projector has lured the villains. From the street, Jake sees the explosion.

On the roof, Batwoman appears, and begins literally caving in heads with her boot and hurling villains to their deaths on the street below. The villain leader Despina and Gores have a conversation, Gores trying to both hit on Despina and propose an alliance, but Despina tells him to bring her Kate Kane alive and “unspoiled” before she will consider such a thing.

Slay arrives on the rooftop, bashed Batwoman a few times, and she begins to flee across the roofs and Jacob tries to follow on his bike below. Batwoman falls/leaps to the street, and Jacob yells at her to get on the bike, but a thrown knife hits his shoulder, and the pair are quickly surrounded by Slay’s men. Kate says “Sorry, daddy” and shoots the villains with a pistol. Jacob, knife still sticking from his shoulder, asks Batwoman “Kate, what have you done”, as she fades into the traffic.

Analysis

Greg Rucka, continuing from the closing scene of last issue, writes this issue as one long action scene in reaction to that scene. The Religion of Crime sends a relatively large gang after Batwoman, and in a surprising move, she kills most of them. While subplots like the turmoil in the Religion’s leadership and Jacob Kane’s pursuit add depth, there’s once again a feeling of overly quick pacing compared to Rucka’s previous DC comics with Wonder Woman or his last run with Kate, either in Convergence or prior to the new 52. One whole scene to structure the issue just doesn’t feel like a whole lot can happen – though perhaps with later revelations, new depth will appear in the mysteries and character interactions seen in this issue on its own. The extremely uncharacteristic actions of Kate have kicked up a storm of theories that Batwoman is actually Alice/Beth (which tracks a bit with the “daddy” dialogue, not something we see a lot of from Kate, but fits with Alice/Beth’s arrested/traumatized development motif). There just aren’t quite enough hooks yet to fully react to the events of the book for me, which I think is a bit of a mistake, given how long it’s been since Batwoman’s had an ongoing (and even longer since it was a relatively good ongoing). I’m not sure that someone who came to Batwoman fresh, knowing nothing, would feel about this mysterious, extremely lethal vigilante so far – though to be fair, the recent release of Batwoman: Elegy in Compact Comics leaves very little excuse for fans NOT knowing the central part of Kate Kane’s backstory!

Artist DaNi is clearly having a lot of fun with the Greek character designs and scenery, though I’m not sure if Jacob Kane is so horrifically ugly on the page on purpose or stylistically. His reactions to Kate’s brutal violence are nicely handled by the art team, and there’s a distinctly hot night chase feeling from the vibes created by DaNi and colorist Hatt Hollingsworth.

Either way, hopefully Kate will start to have more hooks for the audience to grab onto and find their way into loving the character again in the next few issues, so that we can enjoy Batwoman’s adventures for months to come!

Main artist DaNi provides a main cover with Batwoman against the moon, a grapnel gun held in hand, and blood pouring from her Batsymbol, over Jake on his motorcycle – a nice symbolic depiction of that central relationship in the action within. Stjepan Sejic’s gorgeously painted variant features a gritted teeth Batwoman swinging on a batrope across a blood red and bat-filled sky. Frequent Rucka collaborator Jenny Frison’s variant depicts Batwoman getting ready to either grab something or some martial arts open handed pose. Lastly, DC legend Dustin Nguyen paints a beautifully red-and-black alternating stripe vision of Batwoman plummeting down to earth on her cape.

Final Thoughts

Rucka and DaNi provide a tense action issue, but leave a ton of hanging questions (as one might expect from an early issue of a mystery style comic).

Batwoman #2 main cover by Dani (DC Comics)
Batwoman #2
Final Thoughts
Rucka and DaNi provide a tense action issue, but leave a ton of hanging questions (as one might expect from an early issue of a mystery style comic).
3
Final Score
April 16, 2026 0 comments
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Nightwing #137 main cover by Jorge Fornes (DC Comics)
Comic Reviews and Editorials

Comic Book Review: Nightwing #137

by Ian Miller April 15, 2026
written by Ian Miller

In this review of Nightwing #137, the hauntings of Blüdhaven continue with a horrifying sniper attack.

 

Nightwing #137 main cover by Jorge Fornes (DC Comics)

Nightwing #137 main cover by Jorge Fornes (DC Comics)

NIGHTWING #137
Written by DAN WATTERS
Art by DENYS COWAN
Main Cover: JORGE FORNES
Variant Covers: DAVID NAKAYAMA, MARTIN SIMMONDS, DENYS COWAN
Page Count: 32 pages
Release Date: 4/15/26

 

This review contains spoilers

Nightwing #137 begins as Dick dreams of the witch who drove him to cause a fatal accident in his car. As construction workers dig up a skeleton near Bludhaven’s massive suspension bridge, a lawyer jumps out of her cab, trying to run to the courthouse faster than stopped traffic, but gets her head blown off by a sniper instead. Commissioner Maggie Sawyer calls Nightwing and tells him that there are two snipers, one on each side of the bridge. Batman arrives at the bridge at the same time as Nightwing, telling his former partner there’s no pattern to the four murdered people so far.

Two cars try to exit the bridge, and Batman’s sniper slaughters them. Nightwing intuits that his sniper is a woman and she is reluctant, and exposes himself to fire. His sniper grazes him, but misses on purpose. He chases her into a building, and they trade exposition about the Romanian who designed the Bludhaven bridge, revealing that the two snipers are brother and sister, descendants of the architect, and they feel they have to sacrifice again since the original sacrifice was just dug up. When arrested, Nightwing sees the sister’s fiance, the intended victim, trying to save her. Batman tries to tell Nightwing that the car crash last issue wasn’t his fault, but Dick deflects Bruce’s concern, and Batman has to leave to help with an explosion in Gotham. Dick is left dreaming once again of the witch and the dead.

Analysis

Once again, our main crime in Nightwing echoes a recent comic – the crash in Batman Eternal for last issue, the final arc of Batgirls (issues 17-19) for Nightwing #137, a deadly sniper trap on a huge suspension bridge. While the action and framing visuals are gorgeously rendered and designed by new main artist and DC comics legend Denys Cowan and equally legendary inker Norm Rapmund (with beautiful, primarily blue, red, and black hued colors by Francesco Segala), the writing descends into magic detective cliche. Like the ludicrous powers of Will Graham in the television show Hannibal, Nightwing magically intuits the sex and emotional state of his sniper based on no evidence. This really weakens the plausibility of the story (at least as a detective story – as a horror story where vibes and psychic connections between people are perhaps more expected, maybe this is the norm). 

Nightwing #137 also struggles from thematic incoherence. While in the past 24 years, sniper attacks have been pretty prominent and motivated by a horrifying combination of ideology and mental illness, ancient superstition motivates our killers in today’s issue. It’s almost quaint – the kind of thing you might expect in a 1980s or 1990s comic, where immigrant communities like Romanians might be seen as a threat to America’s slowly adapting demographics. But in a 2026 comic? It feels ludicrous and somewhat insulting. Batman and Nightwing both appear to believe that human sacrifice is silly and tragic, rather than a VERY common element of demon worship, which would be a LOT more interesting with the horror and witch angle that Watters seems interested in pursuing. The clunky exposition of the sniper attack revealing the bridge’s instability, saving lives by allowing the bridge to be rebuilt instead of collapsing, doesn’t seem to fit with any other element of the story so far. All in all, a frustrating mess of a thematic exploration.

Jorge Fornes’s design heavy main cover features a tiny Nightwing atop a suspension bridge, in the crosshairs of a sniper. David Nakayama’s simple figure variant features a slightly smiling Nightwing leaping across a vivid blue background. Martin Simmonds depicts our hero glowing as he crouches in the rain – a very striking image! Lastly, new main artist Denys Cowan adds to the Things to Come series of variants showing Dick, a pile of cars, the witch of the highway, a sniper rifle, a grinning theater mask, and arms reaching from the water across a ghostly face – hopefully fans will look back at this cover and see how it lays down clues for future storylines!

Final Thoughts

Some serious leaps in logic and thematic weakness hold Nightwing #137 back from success, despite powerful work once again by new main artist Denys Cowan.

Nightwing #137 main cover by Jorge Fornes (DC Comics)
Nightwing #137
Final Thoughts
Some serious leaps in logic and thematic weakness hold Nightwing #137 back from success, despite powerful work once again by new main artist Denys Cowan.
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April 15, 2026 0 comments
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tbu comic podcast season 18 episode 5 podcast cover
The Batman Universe Comic Podcast

TBU Comic Podcast: Season 18 Episode 5

by Theodis Wright April 5, 2026
written by Theodis Wright

tbu comic podcast season 18 episode 5 podcast cover

https://media.blubrry.com/tbucp/thebatmanuniverse.net/video/Podcast/02-The%20Batman%20Universe%20Comic%20Podcast/S18%20E05/TBUCP%20E437.mp3

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS

 

Steph and Theo are back with Season 18 Episode 5 of The Batman Universe Comic Podcast. This episode, they review Detective Comics #1107 and Batman #8. How do they feel about Ollie and Dinah being in Gotham and the whole “controversy” of Dinah beating Bruce in boxing? Also, how do they feel about there being no follow up to the Bruce/Joker interaction in Batman #7? Listen in and find out. After that, they give you one big segment of Greater Gotham to catch everyone up for the month of March.

Titles Covered In Season 18 Episode 5
Main Titles

Detective Comics #1107
Batman #8

Greater Gotham

Batman #7
DC K.O. #5
Batgirl #17
Poison Ivy #42
Batman / Green Arrow / The Question: Arcadia #3
Batman / Static: Beyond #4
Absolute Batman #18
Sirens: Love Hurts #2
Harley & Ivy: Life & Crimes #4
DC x AEW #2
Nightwing #136
Batman / Superman: World’s Finest #49
Batwoman #1
Catwoman #85
Justice League Unlimited #17
Harley Quinn #60
Batman / Superman: World’s Finest #50
Batgirl #18
Poison Ivy #43
Batman / Static: Beyond #5

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This will get you access to Beyond The Gates Of Gotham, our Patreon-exclusive podcast
https://patreon.com/TheBatmanUniverse

Follow The Batman Universe

Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/BatmanUniverse
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebatmanuniverse/
Discord: https://discord.gg/sKZncrm
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April 5, 2026 0 comments
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tbucp season 18 episode 4 podcast cover
The Batman Universe Comic Podcast

TBU Comic Podcast: Season 18 Episode 4 – Our Best of 2025

by Theodis Wright April 3, 2026
written by Theodis Wright

tbucp season 18 episode 4 podcast cover

https://media.blubrry.com/tbucp/thebatmanuniverse.net/video/Podcast/02-The%20Batman%20Universe%20Comic%20Podcast/S18%20E04/TBUCP%20E436.mp3

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS

 

Steph and Theo are back with Season 18 Episode 4 of The Batman Universe Comic Podcast. In this episode, the Dynamic Duo talk about their favorite comics of 2025. How do their favorites compare to yours?

 

Books Covered In Season 18 Episode 4

A whole bunch of titles from 2025

Get Even More DC Comics Goodness By Supporting Us On Patreon At The $5 Level

This will get you access to Beyond The Gates Of Gotham, our Patreon-exclusive podcast
https://patreon.com/TheBatmanUniverse

Follow The Batman Universe

Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/BatmanUniverse
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April 3, 2026 0 comments
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Batman/Static: Beyond #5 main cover by Nikolas Draper-Ivey (DC Comics)
Comic Reviews and Editorials

Comic Review: Batman/Static: Beyond #5

by D.M. Grant April 3, 2026
written by D.M. Grant

In this review of Batman/Static: Beyond #5, as Batman and Static race to find Shutdown, the Collective decides the fate of Earth!

 

Batman/Static: Beyond #5 main cover by Nikolas Draper-Ivey (DC Comics)

Batman/Static: Beyond #5 main cover by Nikolas Draper-Ivey (DC Comics)

BATMAN/STATIC: BEYOND #5
Written by EVAN NARCISSE
Art by MIGUEL MENDONCA
Main Cover: NIKOLAS DRAPER-IVEY
Variant Covers: TY TEMPLETON and DEXTER SOY
Page Count: 32 pages
Release Date: 4/1/26

 

This review contains spoilers

Batman/Static: Beyond #5 begins in Dakota, as Batman, Static, Ebon and Gear are surrounded by armed members of Cadmus. Static is accused for causing the global power outage, and is requested to surrender into custody. With Batman and Gear’s help, the three manage to hold their own against the guards while Ebon creates a portal long enough for Static and Batman to escape through. They end up in Neo-Gotham, specifically The Narrows. Upon meeting a gang of Splicers that are friendly to Batman, the heroes are present to witness an attempted abduction of one of the spliced citizens by Cadmus. Soundly defeating the guards, Static teaches Eli – an electric eel Splicer – how to use his powers in tracing the positive and negative charges in the Cadmus soldiers’ suits to tracing where they came from.

Shutdown reaches the Q-Grid power station and reminisces on his his parents were instructed to use a Zeta robot to help him with his studies, and how the robots were useless in protecting him from teasing bullies. Elsewhere in Deep Space, the Collective instruct the Justice League to wait longer still for their decision to induct Earth into the Collective of Planets. By now the JLU are fully aware of the situation back on Earth, and an impatient Micron reveals that he heard a Tamaranean King and another alien leader discuss pirating the technological resources from Earth while they’re in the Collective’s headquarters. This is taken seriously, and the League is allowed to return to Earth while deliberations continue.

Back in Neo-Gotham, Static and Batman go to Hamilton Hill High as Terry informs Virgil on Shutdown’s beliefs and behavior during a Human Geography class. They then head to Shutdown’s home where they find his parents working on a device to find out his whereabouts.  It’s then that the four (the heroes and Shutdown’s parents) all find him at the Q-Grid, and plead for him to stop his reign of terror. Unfortunately, the Kim parents also brought along Zeta robots to stop him. Easily dispatching the bots, Shutdown is ready for a throwdown with Batman and Static, once and for all Batman/Static: Beyond #5 as comes to an end.

 

page from batman/static: beyond #5

Ebon helps Static and Batman escape CADMUS’ attack (DC Comics)

 

Analysis

There’s a lot happening in this straightforward and well plotted issue. While the events of Batman/Static: Beyond #5 could simply be summed up as “Batman and Static use detective work to find Shutdown, and do.”, Plenty of threads are tugged on and attended to. I’m really impressed with Evan Narcisse’s writing with this story. Various references to all sorts of origin points regarding Milestone, the DCAU and DC are brought in but enhance the reading experience. While this is just a touch less pristine as the last issue, Batman/Static is still as solid as ever in crafting a momentous story that with each issue earns a spot on the animated adaptation list.

Narcisse does a good job in balancing the focus between heroes here. People might be more familiar with Terry and invested in his adventures, but Static gets more than enough of his own spotlight. It also does well in showcasing elements from both the Static Shock cartoon and the Milestone comics by constantly referring back to the butterfly effect of the Big Bang, and having that flashpoint moment inform the actions and even education of the succeeding generation.

What also works is Static’s characterization. He’s a grown man, so he’s far less quippy and light-hearted than his classic version, yet you still feel the yearning to do his best and not fail his city burn at the heart of his character. One terrific moment was Static helping Eli best utilize his electric abilities, teaching him new tricks in order to track down Shutdown while also help a member of an oppressed class feel included. That was a moment worthy of Dwayne McDuffie himself, as it showcased Static’s intelligence in using his powers (something McDuffie and Robert Washington III were always consistent with), and his helping nature. This especially was nice as it contrasted with how grumpy he’s been when working with Terry, which he apologized for in the last issue. Static’s also been characteristically thorny during hero team-ups, which is something the later seasons of his show tended to show off as well. And throughout it all, Terry’s general sobriety in focusing on how to save the city despite his hurt feelings has made for strong strong moments as well. The costume he’s wearing is an interesting touch, showing off a precursor to his usual suit but also featuring an old school cape. It’s a suggestion that the education example of this adventure serves in furthering him as the one true Batman.

The one thing that made me question its placement were the flashbacks to Shutdown’s past. I didn’t think we needed a whole page to show off his dislike of the Zeta bots. It was ultimately harmless, but it did feel less elegant than how most of the other scenes were constructed. I also thought the Collective plot was wrapped up a bit too easily, as it seemingly set up a big storyline for the future. None of these observations were dealbreakers, but just small bugs I noticed that the previous issues didn’t have.

Final Thoughts

We’re reaching the final issue here with Batman/Static: Beyond #5, and I’d be surprised if it’s a let down. This series has been a terrific entry into the history of Static and Batman Beyond since the beginning. Looking forward to seeing how everything wraps up.

Batman/Static: Beyond #5 main cover by Nikolas Draper-Ivey (DC Comics)
Batman/Static: Beyond #5
Final Thoughts
We're reaching the final issue here, and I'd be surprised if it's a let down. This series has been a terrific entry into the history of Static and Batman Beyond since the beginning. Looking forward to seeing how everything wraps up.
4
Final Score
April 3, 2026 0 comments
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batgirl #18 featured image
Comic Reviews and Editorials

Comic Book Review: Batgirl #18

by D.M. Grant April 3, 2026
written by D.M. Grant

In this review of Batgirl #18, Batgirl, Tenji and Jaya head down to the Spirit World to learn the secret of Batgirl’s new blood wielding powers!

 

Batgirl #18 main cover by David Talaski (DC Comics)

Batgirl #18 main cover by David Talaski (DC Comics)

BATGIRL #18
Written by TATE BROMBAL
Art by TAKESHI MIYAZAWA
Main Cover: DAVID TALASKI
Variant Covers: CHRISTIAN WARD, TAKESHI MIYAZAWA
Page Count: 32 pages
Release Date” 4/1/26

 

This review contains spoilers

Batgirl #18 begins as the seated members of the Bat-Family wait at Pennyworth Manor for word on Cassandra’s whereabouts. At Wucorp Tower, however, Batgirl, Tenji Turner and Jaya bear witness to a portal into Spirit World forming from the gunshot wound of Cassandra’s cousin – The Bloodmaster’s –  skull. As Wu Zhi races after them, the trio resolve to leap into Spirit World, determined to figure out what’s causing Cass’ new blood powers. Upon landing in the new realm, they’re immediately attacked by dead spirits, before being saved by Bloodmaster, alive and well and looking as though he’s been in the Spirit World for weeks.

Back in the real world, Wu Zhi burns a paper talisman which reappears further into the Midnight Tower, where Bloodmaster’s father sits upon a throne. He understands this message as a warning that the trio and Bloodmaster are on their way, and recruits the spirit of Wu Bing to intercept them, which she gladly agrees to.

Bloodmaster informs the trio that in order to return to the living world, they must appeal to he who is known as The Midnight Eye, traveling to Midnight Tower in order to meet him. During the journey, Bloodmaster teaches Cass how to better use her new powers, and remarks to everyone that their fortunes rely on honoring family both living and dead in order to best achieve balance in the Spirit World. At one point Tenji posits searching for Lady Shiva’s spirit, but Cass rejects interest. Eventually, the trio are just outside of the Midnight Tower when they are met with Blood Ninjas, led by Wu Bing.

Analysis

We’re eighteen months into this second Cassandra Cain series. The book has had its bright spots, most of which come to my mind in the first arc when it was Cass and Shiva teaming up. I also enjoyed the two-part detour to retell Shiva’s origins. But since the Turner farm arc, I’ve not been satisfied with the story Tate Brombal has been putting Cassandra through. While the previous issue was intriguing, we now find ourselves back in another journey story, with another whole series of warriors and customs we’re subjected to be educated on, and further keeping Cassandra Cain from Gotham and the Bat-Family. If this arc leads Stephanie, Bruce and the others to looking for Cass and contrasting her blood family with her found family, that would certainly be a compelling turn for the series to head towards. But beyond the writing of the dialogue, which I’ve long not enjoyed, the actual plotting of this issue was wholly unsatisfying to me.

With these kinds of stories, Brombal has been putting the vibe of the series on repeat. Mystic, superpowered cultists with centuries-long traditions, magical powers and metaphors which drive home how much Cass hates herself and her relation to Shiva. The worst offender of all is how that contempt for family is reiterated over and over again with other family members. Of course Bloodmaster is the son of an evil guy who hated his offspring and Bloodmaster killed his mother and etc. etc. Does Shiva’s family really not have anything other tropes to offer? More to the point, I feel like Brombal – a man who continually touts being a long time Cassandra Cain fan – came to this book with the intention of telling a fantasy story completely distinct from a Bat-Book, and merely plugged Cass into it. We’ve only been given a single issue of Cassandra being introduced to and dealing with her new powers before setting her on a mission that forces her to get used to them. I’m all for expedient storytelling, but with this chapter it puts the main character at a remove from what the book should be driving at, which in my opinion, should be the differences in how she was raised vs. how she interacts with others. When everyone is a super special high-powered martial artist, Cass gets lost in the shuffle, even if she’s still the main character. She shouldn’t need blood powers to take out a room full of people, but now she’s thrown into a new world full of monsters and undead ninjas. What are we doing?

For transparency’s sake, much of this stems from Cass’ appearance in the Spirit World miniseries which she appeared in. I’ve heard good things, but I hadn’t gotten around to reading that story. I didn’t feel lost when reading this, but I do think her nonplussed-ness could have warranted an editor’s note about her previous visit. In any case, I feel we just need a circling back to Cassandra’s point of view, and one that doesn’t get lost in dreary dialogue about how “blood is doom” and other such trite nonsense. Getting caught up in Bloodmaster’s plot is simply not what I was interested in with this new arc. Of course I want the Bat-Family to appear with our main girl, but beyond that I just associate a more grounded story with Batgirl more than anything.

Final Thoughts

I didn’t like Batgirl #18, but it wasn’t terrible. It made coming to review this comic a drag because I knew it would be negative, but the craft – while almost sloppy – is still decent enough for the story it’s telling. But eighteen issues in and I’m not happy with how this book has established itself. It’s the DC Comics fantasy series featuring Batgirl, not Batgirl’s own series.

batgirl #18 featured image
Batgirl #18
Final Thoughts
I didn't like this, but it wasn't terrible. It made coming to review this comic a drag because I knew it would be negative, but the craft - while almost sloppy - is still decent enough for the story it's telling. But eighteen issues in and I'm not happy with how this book has established itself.
3
Final Score
April 3, 2026 0 comments
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Poison Ivy #41 main cover by Jessica Fong (DC Comics)
Comic Reviews and Editorials

Comic Book Review: Poison Ivy #41

by Gareth Turner April 3, 2026
written by Gareth Turner

In this review of Poison Ivy #41, Poison Ivy deals with the fallout following her deadly attack on the “tech czar” Marie Henley. 

 

Poison Ivy #41 main cover by Jessica Fong (DC Comics)

Poison Ivy #41 main cover by Jessica Fong (DC Comics)

POISON IVY #41
Written by G. WILLOW WILSON
Art by DAVIDE GIANFELICE
Main Cover: JESSICA FONG
Variant Covers: NOOBOVICH, KYUYONG EOM, CHAY RUBY
Page Count: 32 pages
Release Date: 2/4/26

 

 

This comic book review contains spoilers 

Following the murder of tech guru “Marie Henley” from Poison Ivy #40, Ivy attempts to flee the scene. However, having turned Gotham City into a militarized police state, Commissioner Savage’s troops are able to neutralize and incarcerate Ivy before she can get away. 

She wakes up in a call with half a dozen Falcone family minions and Great White Shark. She finds out from one of the inmates that while the law-and-order fanatics want her to be thrown in SuperMax prison, everyone else sees her as a hero. 

Meanwhile, Janet-from-HR meets with Juhi from the Mayor’s office to see if the Mayor’s office will provide any leniency towards Ivy considering the broader circumstances in Gotham. Juhi makes it clear that they will not be supporting Ivy’s police brutality before she goes into a closet to conjure a metaphysical entity to spy on Janet going forward. 

Back in jail, Great White Shark convinces Ivy to leverage her cult following into mainstream support for a political bid for Mayor. Once Ivy gets her fanmail and Janet and Harley show up for moral support, she decides to run.

Analysis

Poison Ivy #41 brings back series writer G. Willow Wilson and last month’s artist Davide Gianfelice to tell a status-quo altering story for Ivy. The story of Ivy murdering an evil tech guru is a not so subtle reference to the 2024 shooting of the UnitedHealthcare CEO. The Gotham City citizen who helps Ivy escape the crime scene goes as far as to say “I can’t say I condone murder, but that tech boss lady was guilty of murder herself, and worse. She just used fancier words to describe it,” pretty much parroting the pro-Mangione sentiment that was widely seen online. 

The interpolation of real world events is nothing new for this book, but this outing does nothing to comment or dissect the actual moral grey area of political violence. The incident is used as more of a prop for Ivy to gain public support in a way that feels in character to both herself and the Gotham City-psyche at large. Ivy’s journey from committing this impulsive assasination to deciding to run for Mayor also feels stilted and not entirely in character. I suppose you could argue that her leadership in the Order of the Green Knight planted a seed (hehe) for political leadership, but there’s no reason why she would suddenly develop an interest in the institutions of Gotham City as a career supervillain. Really, this just feels like a DC mandate that was handed down to Wilson which she tried to make the most out of with her characteristic socially aware writing style. It feels like a big leap but that doesn’t mean I’m not interested to see where it goes. 

The scene between Janet and Juhi feels pretty superfluous except for the closet deity which did pique my interest even though there’s not much to go on. It also seems like they’re intentionally obscuring the identity of “Mayor Horgan” unless I’ve missed their appearance in Fraction’s run on Batman. 

Davide Gianfelice does a serviceable job with the issue’s art although I do miss Marcio Takara and am hoping he makes a return soon. Something about the way Gianfelice draws Ivy feels wildly inconsistent and you end up with panels like the top of page 4 which are quite unflattering. A lot of the faces look like he forgot to erase some proportional guide lines, and his depiction of Janet basically looks like an entirely new character. On the plus side, his splash panels generally look good and Arif Prianto provides great coloring as usual. 

Final Thoughts

A decent status-altering issue that piques my interest for the future. I just wish Ivy’s motivations were a bit more clear and consistent issue to issue. 

Poison Ivy #41 main cover by Jessica Fong (DC Comics)
Poison Ivy #41
Final Thoughts
A decent status-altering issue that piques my interest for the future. I just wish Ivy’s motivations were a bit more clear and consistent issue to issue. 
3
Final Score
April 3, 2026 0 comments
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Batman/Superman: World's Finest #50 main cover by Dan Mora (DC Comics)
Comic Reviews and Editorials

Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #50 Comic Review

by Adam Koppel April 2, 2026
written by Adam Koppel

In this review of Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #50, enjoy two new titanic tales featuring the literal Batman/Superman dream team, while in part two, it’s girls vs boys as Supergirl and Batgirl challenge Jimmy Olsen and Robin to a global scavenger hunt.

 

Batman/Superman: World's Finest #50 main cover by Dan Mora (DC Comics)

Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #50 main cover by Dan Mora (DC Comics)

BATMAN/SUPERMAN: WORLD’S FINEST #50
Written by MARK WAID
Art by DAN MORA and ADRIAN GUTIERREZ
Main Cover: DAN MORA
Variant Covers: FRANK QUITELY, MARK SPEARS, ROD REIS, RAFAEL GRASSETTI, ADRIAN GUTIERREZ, DAN MORA, VASCO GEORGIEV, SALVADOR LARROCA
Page Count: 40 pages
Release Date: 4/1/26

 

This review contains spoilers

Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #50 “Dream Team” begins as Superman and Batman enlist Zatanna’s help to enter the Dreamstone in order to stop Doctor Destiny’s global insomnia epidemic. Batman awakens in the dream dimension to find himself in the passenger seat of the “Supermobile”, with Superman driving the car. Batman tells him to go left, but Superman’s gut tells him to go right, only to crash into the giant-sized Elasti-Girl and the rest of the Doom Patrol.

Elasti-Girl smashes the Supermobile, leaving the duo stranded and stuck in an ongoing debate over the concepts of good and evil and redemption. The argument grows more heated the deeper they move into the dream dimension, with the duo’s darker aspects rising to the surface, and the heroes attack each other. Doctor Destiny gleefully watches from the sidelines as the chaos unfolds, but Superman catches himself before it is too late.

Once they realize Destiny has been manipulating them, Batman and Superman turn the tables on the villain, using their teamwork to psyche out Destiny, leaving him a quivering, terrified mess. “Dream Team” ends as the heroes drag Doctor Destiny back to the real world.

Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #50 “Sturm Und Drang” finds Robin and Jimmy Olsen challenging Supergirl and Batgirl to a global scavenger hunt that leads to a remarkable discovery in an underground Egyptian cave. The quartet grudgingly cooperate and bring the “statue” back to the Batcave, but the foolishly curious Jimmy removes the dagger from its chest, releasing a shape-shifting Durlan from stasis (where an ancient pharaoh had trapped it long ago).

The creature takes the form of a Kryptonian dragon (Drang) and knocks the heroes around while trashing the Batcave.

“Sturm Und Drang” ends as Jimmy gets the bright idea to put the dagger back into the Durlan, sending the alien creature back into stasis until the team can find a proper holding cell.

 

page from Batman/Superman: World's Finest #50 showing the team in a dream land

Nice looking car, Superman… (DC Comics)

 

Analysis 

Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #50 celebrates another anniversary while further exploring the interpersonal dynamics that makes this retro team up book a continuing success. The Batman/Superman pairing which occasionally slips from stalwart partnership to heated debate or actual slugfest (see: “Dream Team”), nevertheless illustrates that despite their differences, there is enduring respect and friendship between the World’s Finest that enables the duo to become stronger together.

Contrast that with the recurring (and always hilarious) team up of Robin (Dick Grayson) and Supergirl, whose failed teen romance early in the series descended into a spiral of perpetual torment for both proteges but always pays off for the story. Writer Mark Waid plays off the classic strait-laced teen hero trope, but shows the characters as actual teenagers, sullen, irritable, irritating, impatient and stubborn to great effect (Waid previously did something similar with the character he cocreated, Impulse (Bart Allen).

Adding the newly minted Batgirl and Jimmy Olsen into the mix only ups the enjoyable calamity as Waid continues to repackage Silver Age DC Comics concepts for the modern audience. From Jimmy’s simple “solution” of just replacing the dagger and trapping the Durlan, to the assorted retro contents of his carrying case, to continuous references of the “Jimmy Olsen Revenge Squad”.

Dan Mora returns for Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #50, giving “Dream Team” his special mix of thrilling action and drama (along with a sufficiently creepy Doctor Destiny), the shifting dreamscape visuals and of course the “Supermobile”.  Mora’s layouts reflect the World’s Finest’s nightmare journey with a series of nontraditional, interlocking panels while colorist Tamra Bonvillain provides the dream sequences with a retro-styled color palette that shifts darker depending on the intensity of the sequence (and Mora’s use of heavy shadows).

Adrian Gutierrez offers up well-crafted traditional superhero visuals while mixing in physical comedy and silly expressions for “Sturm Und Drang” while keeping readers focused as the story shifts back and forth in time (and starts out in the middle). That Durlan as a Kryptonian Drang (ha, I get it now) is an impressive standout image.

Luis Gurrero provides a palette ranging from muted to bright primary colors, while adding in visual effects, giving the Durlan reveal more of a pop. From bright desert vistas to shadowy underground tunnels, to cloaking silhouetted figures in a single background color, Gurrero’s work enhances the story.

Final Thoughts 

Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #50 offers up an anniversary issue worth celebrating, one that honors classic ideas with a modern sensibility, while (literally) illustrating the importance of the World’s Finest team dynamics. Plenty of action, humor and just plain fun.

Batman/Superman: World's Finest #50 main cover by Dan Mora (DC Comics)
Batman/Superman: World's Finest #50
Final Thoughts
Batman/Superman: World's Finest #50 offers up an anniversary issue worth celebrating, one that honors classic ideas with a modern sensibility, while (literally) illustrating the importance of the World's Finest team dynamics. Plenty of action, humor and just plain fun.
4.6
Final Score
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April 2, 2026 0 comments
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Batman #8 main cover by Jorge Jiménez (DC Comics)
Comic Reviews and Editorials

Comic Book Review: Batman #8

by Ian Miller April 1, 2026
written by Ian Miller

In this review of Batman #8, as Mayor Poison Ivy and Vandal Savage plot, Batman meets with Alan Scott, the Green Lantern, to counter-plot, and an old man and a boy talk about life on the train.

 

Batman #8 main cover by Jorge Jiménez (DC Comics)

Batman #8 main cover by Jorge Jiménez (DC Comics)

BATMAN #8
Written by MATT FRACTION
Art by RYAN SOOK
Main Cover: JORGE JIMENEZ
Variant Covers: DUSTIN NGUYEN, JORGE MOLINA, RYAN SOOK, JORGE JIMENEZ, DAVID AJA, GUILLEM MARCH
Page Count: 40 pages
Release Date: 4/1/26

 

This review contains spoilers

On the L train, at City Hall, and in a dark alley, three old men have three different meetings. Alan Scott, the original Earth Green Lantern, gets mugged by the Axe Gang, while Commissioner Savage meets with Mayor Poison Ivy. And on the train, Jack Dean tells a young boy named Huston the way the world is changing. Vandal Savage persuades Ivy to declare war on Batman, while Alan uses his Green Lantern ring to easily disable his assailants. Jack says that he started out looking for nuance, now he believes people are good or bad.

Batman applauds Alan, and thanks Green Lantern for meeting him. They have coffee in a nearby diner, and Batman opens up to Alan, saying he wants the citizens and criminals to see him not running from Savage, and not abandoning them or letting them get away with hurting others. Jack Dean continues telling Huston his philosophy, saying that bad people see everyone else as threats, driven by fear. Alan gives Batman his perspective on Vandal Savage, saying he’s driven by hunger and survival, and thinks on a timeline of generations rather than days or even years.

Ivy asks Savage what his war on Batman gives her – and he says it gives her Savage’s loyalty and pledge to use his army of police to support her radical transformation, convincing her to sign. Alan and Batman leave the diner, Batman thanking Alan for giving him insight into Savage – being stuck in Gotham, and using that problem to focus on Batman personally. Alan sees the newspapers reporting that the Mayor has signed warrants for the arrest of the whole Batfamily.

Analysis

Matt Fraction, always looking to provide structural unity for each of his issues of Batman, gives us a trio of meetings involving old men – Vandal Savage, Alan Scott, and Jack Dean (a journalist and editor). Like all good comic writers, he uses dialogue transitions to move thematically between the three scenes, and guest artist and industry legend Ryan Sook provides lovely interiors which highlight the dark and light corners of Gotham City. It’s nice seeing Batman finally addressing the Vandal Savage problem directly, asking Alan Scott to help him think through the problem. The characterization is really appealing – each of our meetings reveals a lot of character for each of the six main figures, and there’s a sense of Batman and Vandal playing chess against each other, trying to move their allies into place against their foe.

Jack Dean’s meeting seems to be a reason for Fraction to continue developing the ideas behind his Batman run. Dean’s philosophy that there are good and bad people, not nuanced and complex people, seems to fit with Batman’s grumpy statement in the first issue that no one really changes. A bit of a dark and sad message, if that’s really what Fraction is trying to convey – but good to keep thinking about as he develops his take on classic and new characters alike. Dean particularly highlights the problem of people who are driven by fear – perhaps an outgrowth of Batman’s idea of criminals as a cowardly and superstitious lot. Hopefully there IS some complexity and nuance as we keep going – I think there will be, since even in this issue, we have a lot of details and interesting pieces of the characters involved, particularly Batman himself, who is trying to change his closed off method of operating with people by being open with Alan Scott.

Tomeu Morey’s colors, while a nice continuity between main series artist Jorge Jimenez and fill-in artist Ryan Sook, sometimes sit a bit awkwardly on the thicker lines of Sook’s pencilling. Alan’s hair seems almost neon yellow instead of pale blonde, feeling a bit unnatural and distracting in an otherwise beautifully colored issue. As a whole, however, the art and coloring for Batman continues to be top notch, and even though it’s sad to see Jorge absent, Sook is more than up to the task of providing creative visuals that pack emotional and visual punch.

Though absent from interiors for Superman/Spider-Man reasons this month and next, Jorge Jimenez does provide a main cover (also available in virgin foil option for a surcharge), a lovely collage of Vandal Savage attempting to persuade Poison Ivy, Batman and Alan Scott Green Lantern, and a flaming newspaper. Dustin Nguyen, who appears to be doing a series of covers for this Batman run, provides an aqua-washed Dark Knight hanging out on a rebar-spiked broken bit of concrete, Batman: Wanted posters plastered beneath him. Josh Williamson Batman artist Jorge Molina provides a painterly Batman holding his hands up for a blurry police force, sirens visible behind him.

Interior artist Ryan Sook gives us a shadowy Batman overlooking Vandal Savage smashing the Batsignal, a huge troop of Vandal’s men and Poison Ivy vines between. As part of the “Things to Come” variant series, where the Next Level plans for the year are teased on the cover, series main artist Jorge Jimenez also provides a picture featuring a mysterious leather-masked figure behind Batman, Dr. Zeller, Matches Malone, the Minotaur, Joker in his tank, and a business suited lady with a blonde braid – all very intriguing! Guillem March provides an “April Drools” variant with Batman being licked by Krypto the super-dog. Lastly, David Aja continues to provide his incentive variant series with a nicely appealing design of Poison Ivy, Mayor.

Final Thoughts

Fraction and guest artist Sook provide a moody, lovely issue pushing the story forward in both plot and character.

Batman #8 main cover by Jorge Jiménez (DC Comics)
Batman #8
Final Thoughts
Fraction and guest artist Sook provide a moody, lovely issue pushing the story forward in both plot and character.
3.5
Final Score
April 1, 2026 0 comments
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