Is Jared Leto the Joker and Should He be in the Suicide Squad Movie?

While Casting News has always been followed by heated debates on message boards throughout the intranets, few characters fuel the fire more than the Joker.  One has to look no further than when Heath Ledger was announced as the Clown Prince of Crime in Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight to see how fiercely DC Comic fans rage over the selection of their most iconic villain.  It's also the best example of an entire group opening mouth and inserting foot after seeing the final results.  Heath Ledger was awesome and (posthumously) won an Academy Award for his performance.  I know some people who go so far as to say they could never see anyone else as the Joker after Ledger's performance.  Well, I guess they better close their eyes real tight.

New Suicide Squad #4 Preview

Written by: Sean Ryan
Art by: Tom Derenick, Rob Hunter and Trevor Scott
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: November 12, 2014


Outgunned and out of time, this could be the end for Harley, Deadshot and The Joker’s Daughter as they struggle to survive in Russia against Deathstroke!

I have been enjoying Sean Ryan's run on the New Suicide Squad.  It's been a fun ride and Sean (let's pretend we are on a first name basis) has even made me like Joker's Daughter...kind of.  This issue gets right to business with Deathstroke vs Deadshot with the odds a bit on Slade's side.  I really wanted the whole "Do you expect me to talk" thing here, but I guess that is a bit played out. I'm looking forward to this issue and that didn't happen a ton with the "old" Suicide Squad.

The New 52: Futures End #28 Preview

Written By: Brian Azzarello, Jeff Lemire, Dan Jurgens, Keith Giffen
Art By: Andy MacDonald
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: November 12, 2014




It’s the battle you’ve been waiting for: Batman vs. Batman Beyond! But since Bruce taught Terry everything he knows about combat, who knows who will win?


Now the problem with this weekly title and the Earth 2: World's End weekly title is that they are trying to tell so many different stories leading to the climax, that we only get snippets to what we want to see week to week.  Now if this was a purely Batman and Batman violence issue with the two moving the plot forward through exposition and Batman's realization about who this character is, well I'd be happy as hell.  But the solicit is purely a hype machine getting my body so pumped on adrenaline that I might has well be a junkie for the paneled page.  I'm digging Futures End, so I guess I really can't complain, but I'd love to see this issue be what the solicit says it is.  Who knows, we had that one issue where it was a Red Arrow back story, so maybe it will surprise us.  Let's see if the preview gets us to lick our lips in anticipation.

Klarion #2 Preview

Written by: Ann Nocenti
Art by: Trevor McCarthy
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: November 12, 2014



Klarion just can’t help himself when he battles the friend he made on his first day on Earth. The War of the Witches escalates when Tech-Wizard Coal releases a robot without a killswitch, Klarion has to learn how to control his rampaging powers, and a kiss changes everything.

I really don't know what to think about Klarion just yet.  As a self professed Ann Nocenti lover/hater I have to admit that last Month's #1 was probably her best single issue I've read in a long time.  Remember, though, the bar for that prize is set pretty low.  Pretty low, indeed. I did love Trevor McCarthy's art and judging by this preview, that isn't changing anytime soon.  One thing...does anyone else think Zell looks like Bayonetta?  Also, Check out Andrea Sorrentino's variant cover which is awesome.  Enjoy!

Top 5 Fridays: Top 5 DC Cartoons That Need To Be Brought Back

Welcome back to another (Insert non disparaging adjective here) Top 5 Fridays and for this week's installment, I figured I'd take a look at something that means an awful lot to me.  Imagine if you will.  You're a child......... or just a adult child, because that's what I'm going with and it's Saturday morning.  What do you do?  Why you get up, get your bowl of cereal and plop your ass down in front of the television and enjoy a few hours of uninterrupted cartoons.  That's right folks we'll be looking at cartoons this week, of the DC variety and since we're kind of lacking in the whole "lose yourself in awesome adventure" kind of cartoons from DC at the moment, I want to talk about the great ones that are currently in rerun land or the ones that you have to search online for just to get a glimpse of something that we're currently lacking in our lives.  I don't know how kids today feel about cartoons, but I look at the fact that they can at anytime turn on a channel and be greeted by animated goodness and yeah, I'm a little jealous, but the fact that we had to wait for a block of new cartoons every Saturday I think made them just a little more special.  So let's take a look at said animated goodness with this week's Top 5 Fridays: Top 5 DC Cartoons That Need To Be Brought Back.  Let's check it out.

Marvel Editor Ellie Pyle Announces Move to DC Comics

The winds of change are blowing. Marvel editor Ellie Pyle, who has worked on books  such as Daredevil, Black Widow, and Spider-Man 2099, and the company's new series Silk, announced  via Twitter that she would be departing Marvel and moving over to DC Comics LA offices to work as an editor for their Vertigo imprint. In a statement released on her Twitter page, Pyle said:

Smallville: Continuity #11 Review

Written by: Bryan Q. Miller
Art by: Marcelo Di Chiara and Ig Guara
Cover Price: $0.99
Release Date: November 11, 2014

A New Beginning?

This is the penultimate issue of the Continuity arc and the entire Smallville series.  It doesn't feel like it, though.  Last weeks issue ended the Continuity story complete with a New Hope style celebration and even set up a few cool things for the last two issues. While this issue does feel a bit like an epilogue,strange things are afoot at the Circle K.  After reading last weeks issue and now this one, I wouldn't be shocked if a spinoff book was announced after next weeks finale.  Of course, that may just be me hoping with all my might that every week I get to read a Bryan Q. Miller penned book, but a boy can have dreams, right?  Speculation aside, I did like this character heavy issue and almost everything about it.  What didn't I like?  I guess you'll have to keep reading to find out.

Justice League 3000 #11 Review

Written bt: Keith Giffen and J.m. DeMatteis
Art by: Howard Porter
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: November 5, 2014

History Never Repeats

Justice League 3000 has been one of my favorite books since it came out.  Sure, the first arc was a bit drawn out and by the time the Five went down last issue, they had long overstayed their welcome, but I didn't care.  Why?  Because I was having too much fun.  The secrets surrounding the League's creation may have been revealed, but the fun of this mashup of Heroes with faulty memories keeps on ticking.  In fact, the things that are wrong about the team are what make it so much fun.  That's the reason I really enjoyed this issue and am looking forward to next month already.  The mishandling of a new team is sure to be great fun and the final reveal really throws this book for a loop.  I don't want to get too far ahead because I'm here to talk about this month's issue.  Shall we?

Earth 2: World's End #5 Review and *SPOILERS*

Written By: Daniel H. Wilson, Marguerite Bennett, Mike Johnson
Art By: Jan Duursema, Jonathan Glapion, Tyler Kirkham, Joe Weems, Eduardo Pansica, Jaime Mendoza, Eddy Barrows, Eber Ferreira
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: November 5, 2014

More Battles

Okay let's get down to business here and talk about what's been going down with World's End.  Last week we saw....... you guessed it more battles, but I guess there was a little more going on as well.  Batman, Power Girl, Val-Zod, Red Tornado and Huntress decided to go down into the Geneva fire pit to try and shut it down, but it might be harder than they hoped because they came across that tyrant of torture, Desaad.  Elsewhere Hawk Girl was having a hell of a time trying to keep up with Doctor Fate as he tried to find a new, less crazy host and it looks like since Constantine is currently in Earth 2, he just might fit the bill, leading us to the possible future we saw during the Futures End event.  Aqua Woman is also having troubles when she discovers that the Fury: Death made a visit to Atlantis killing and resurrecting a lot of her people making them into her monsters.  Finally when Green Lantern was on his way to check in on Aqua Woman's dilemma, he was held up by a resurfaced Grundy, who if you didn't remember, really likes hurting Alan Scott.  Okay let's check out this issue and see how our pilgrimage to a parallel planet places this week.

Gotham Academy #2 Review

Written by: Becky Cloonan and Brenden Fletcher
Art by: Karl Kerschl
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: November 11, 2014

History and Mystery

Last month's Gotham Academy #1 took me by surprise.  I didn't just like it, I loved it.  I'm talking every thing about it.  The characters, story, setting and art all came together into one helluva comic that had me hooked and waiting for the next issue the minute I finished it.  Well, that issue is here and I'm glad to say that I still love it.  The mysteries are all slowly taking shape, the main characters are still charming as hell and Becky Cloonan and Brenden Fletcher introduce a great character into the New 52.

Green Lantern #36 Review and *SPOILERS*

Written By: Robert Venditti
Art By: Francis Portela, Scott McDaniel
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: November 5, 2014

You Know What?  It's All Good

TRIPPY ASS COVER

Here we are groupies of the green ring we love to see sling....... slung?   GODHEAD Act 2 Part 1 is here and from looking at this issue it looks like we're out of the whole Lanterns getting their asses kicked scenario that Act 1 was rife with.  So just in case your coming into this cold and let me just say how dare you if you are, but I'm a giver so I'm going to do my best to catch you up.  The New Gods come to the Prime Universe in search of the life equation that they feel can be harnessed with the seven rings of the emotional spectrum....... Well that didn't work, but then they go after Kyle Rayner and his mighty White Lantern ring and the whole fact that he has the life equation within him.  Kyle's gone off to New Genesis to have it extracted from him and the rest of the Corps' struggle in trying to keep their lives from the forces of the New Gods that want to strip the rings from anyone they deem "Lesser Beings", so pretty much everyone.  Now it's time for the Green Lanterns to go on the offensive and to do so, they'll need allies.  Let's check it out and see what Act 2 holds for us.

Grayson #4 Review

Written by: Tim Seeley and Tom King
Art by: Mikel Janin
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: November 5, 2014

Man-ty Raid!

I may be one of the few people that loved Nightwing and also really likes Grayson. Sure, if I had my druthers I'd still be reading about Dick's exploits in Chicago, but I'll take what I can get.  It makes it easier that I'm having so much fun reading this book and this month is no different.  "Fun" is the word to keep in mind because while this issue is pretty much filler, it is unabashed fun for the reader and for Dick, himself.  I don't think this issue will convince the naysayers to come over to Team Grayson, but it will put a smile on those who have already signed up.

Earth 2 #28 Review and *SPOILERS*

Written By: Tom Taylor, Marguerite Bennett
Art By: Alisson Borges, Andy Smith, Trevor Scott, Javier Fernandez, Diogenes Neves, Marc Deering
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: November 5, 2014

The Forming of A Fury

Even though the last issue of Earth 2 was dealing with Batman and Huntress coming to terms with who they were to one another and Power Girl and Val-Zod getting tingly feelings for each other, it looks like this issue has decided to say the hell with all that and give you some background into the Four Furies of Apokolips.  Oh and there were mutants too last issue!  Anyway, I don't know when this became the secondary title for Earth 2....... since it's called Earth 2, but it's weird that World's End seems to be in the drivers seat now, at least as far as what stories can be told.  So for the World's End recap to get you familiar on the off chance that you're only reading this title.  Shit's going down on Earth 2 and the Four Furies of Apokolips are tearing shit up.  No seriously, that's about it.  So let's dive into this issue and see how these four became the Furies known as Pestilence, Famine, War and Death.  Let's check it out.

Superman Unchained #9 Review

Written by: Scott Snyder
Art by: Jim Lee and Dustin Nguyen
Cover Price: $4.99
Release Date: November 5, 2014

Super Ending

I could start this review with jokes about how late this book was, but I won't.  Unfortunatley, this is the final issue of Scott Snyder and Jim Lee's run and after reading it I have to admit, I'm a little sad.  I have enjoyed every issue so far and this one is no exception, but I can't help but wonder "what if".  What could have been an iconic run ended up being a nice one that reeked of wasted potential.  That being said, it was still really good and was part of DC's effort to get Superman back on track in the New 52.  Too bad it has to end just as the plan is coming to fruition.

The New 52: Futures End #27 Review and *SPOILERS*

Written By: Brian Azzarello, Jeff Lemire, Dan Jurgens, Keith Giffen
Art By: Aaron Lopresti, Art Thibert, Hi-Fi
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: November 5, 2014

Leap of Faith

Okay all you future freaks, our quick recap this week will be about Green Arrow still being alive and recruiting an army on his Green Arrow Island..... Man Ollie's bad at naming things.  Anyway, Emiko went and brought Big Barda there so she could be on the front lines when this army breaches Cadmus Island's shores and this group of heroes tries to rescue the imprisoned Earth 2 Wonders.  Too bad that they've all been taken over by Brother Eye and Mister Miracle and Furry believe they are the only ones left to take down Brother Eye and Deathstroke, Fifty Sue, Grifter and Lana Lang are elsewhere on the island and believe they are the only hope in stopping the sentient satellite.  Last issue we saw that Jason Rusch was fired by Dr. Yamazake when the crazed doctor listened in on a conversation Jason was having with Ronnie and found out that he's secretly Firestorm.  For Dr. Yamazake who's become a bit of a nut when it comes to hating on heroes, this is some earth shattering news.  So what does he do?  Well when Madison Payne came looking for Jason, he decided to kidnap her for her association and for the fact that her father was a Earth 2 War criminal, who Dr. Yamazake decides to blame as well as the heroes for his wife dying.  Finally Batman Beyond and Plastique have decided that they need Tim Drake's assistance for their search for Brother Eye and it could be possible this is what get's Tim killed so that he isn't around during Terry's future.  That should do you for this week, so let's check it out.

Swamp Thing Annual #3 Review

Written by: Charles Soule
Art by: Javier Pina, Carmen Carnero, Ryan Browne, Dave Bullock and Yanick Paquette
Cover Price: $4.99
Release Date: November 11, 2014

Small Popcorn

There is one thing I've learned about Charles Soule's run on Swamp Thing, let him write a one-shot story and he will hit it out of the park.  With his run nearly at an end, this Annual seems like the beginning of an encore that I'm sure will be stellar.  While he's brought so much to the Swamp Thing Mythos, this issue is a very personal one.  Personal for Alec Holland, personal for Capucine and personal for the fans of this book.  Like every Soule story, it has twists and turns, but ends up right where it should.

Batman: Eternal #30 Review

Written by: Ray Fawkes
Art by: Fernando Pasarin
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: October 29, 2014

Green Means Go...to  Hell

Last week, Baternal ended with a "mysterious" green, magical light ripping up through Arkham and into the Gotham night.  What could possibly have happened?  Okay, we all know it was the Spectre and we all know it was pretty awesome.  Ray Fawkes is back this week to continue his story and I am glad since he is my favorite writer on Batman: Eternal so far.  It's partly his writing and partly that his stories involve Jim Corrigan (and the Spectre) and Batwing.  We get all of them this week, but this issue is all about destruction.  Some of it good, some of it bad and some of it a week overdue.  Let's check it out, shall we?

Justice League United Annual #1 Review and *SPOILERS*

Written By: Jeff Lemire
Art By: Neil Edwards, Jay Leisten, Jeromy Cox
Cover Price: $4.99
Release Date: October 29, 2014

Time Definitely Is Not On Our Side

Leading up to this Annual we saw the Justice League United split off into two teams.  Supergirl, Green Arrow, Stargirl and Animal Man went back up into space to get to the bottom of the supposedly dead Hawkman's communication device that mysteriously went off.  Back on Earth Martian Manhunter, Equinox and Alanna Strange stayed to watch Ultra, but even though the child seems to be docile, I still think that the away team got the better deal because Mon-El From The Legion of Superheroes has come back in time and wants to......... Well he wants to kill children.  I don't care who you are, when you have to fight Mon-El you know you're having a bad day.  So let's check out this Annual and see what's going on with the Legion and maybe find out when they made killing children a priority and hopefully we'll find out what's going on in space with one of my favorite characters, Hawkman.  Let's check it out.

Injustice: Year Three #6 Review

Written by: Tom Taylor
Art by: Bruno Redondo
Cover Price: $0.99
Release Date: November 4, 2014

It's in the Cards

Last issue of Injustice dealt with the aftermath of the Spectre's attack on Team Batman.  Harley Quinn proved she had the best bedside manner, Doctor Fate's credentials were called into question and Rose Constantine gave readers a peek at an ability that will certainly come into play eventually.  The issue ended with Batman and Constantine heading off to see Madame Xanadu in an attempt to even the fight with Superman.

Earth 2: World's End #5 Preview

Written By: Daniel H. Wilson, Marguerite Bennett, Mike Johnson
Art By: Ardian Syaf, Guillermo Ortego, Mike Atiyeh
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: November 5, 2014




As Earth 2 burns, Green Lantern battles Grundy.


Now while that's an awesome cover to this story, I highly doubt that this really small synopsis is the entirety of what we'll see.  As much as I hate lying solicits, I really hate small solicits that really tell us nothing.  Okay, it told us that Alan Scott would be fighting Grundy, but what else is new?  Besides for the forces of Apokolips, Grundy's all he's fought and technically since we saw that Grundy made a pact with Apokolips, I guess he's still fighting the forces of Apokolips.  Bah.  I'm all for this issue being good, but I just want something more from the comic than what we've seen so far........ Which I guess you could say is Green Lantern actually doing something, so at least we've got that going on.  Great cover, hopefully the story is as good as what we're judging it on.

Justice League Dark Annual #2 Review and *SPOILERS*

Written By: J.M. DeMatteis
Art By: Klaus Janson, John Stanisci
Cover Price: $4.99
Release Date: October 29, 2014

Houses Are Terrible People

In Justice League Dark #35, we saw Zatanna in a sort of Wonderland after her and the JLD were transported after some sort of epic adventure that we didn't get to see yet.  Well I hope you're a fan of prequels because we've got one here.  In this Annual we'll see what led to Zatanna's adventures in Wonderland and how a whole mess of present and past Justice League Dark members got themselves all messed up in space and time......... and possibly dimensions.  Magic's weird.  Okay let's check out this Annual and see if this story breaks our preconceived notions about prequels.  Let's check it out.

Superman Unchained #9 Preview

Written by: Scott Snyder
Art by: Jim Lee
Cover Price: $4.99
Release Date: November 5, 2014

This is it – the extraordinary, extra-sized finale of Scott Snyder and Jim Lee’s Superman saga, surrounded by an epic wraparound cover! It’s a battle in the sun as Superman and Wraith accept their destinies…and Lex Luthor pulls the trigger on his ultimate weapon!

Gotham Academy #2 Preview

Written by: Brenden Fletcher, Becky Cloonan
Art by: Karl Kerschl
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: November 5, 2014

Olive joins the creepy Order of the Bat as an afterschool activity, and we learn more about her secret past!

I loved the first issue of Gotham Academy and while I want more Maps, I'll deal with more Olive as well.  This preview does look more "teen" than the first issue, but I'm guessing Brenden Fletcher and Becky Cloonan will keep the charm going.  Plus, I just love Karl Kerschl's art.  This book has quickly risen to the top of my pile.

Green Lantern #36 Preview

Written By: Robert Venditti
Art By: Francis Portela
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: November 5, 2014




“GODHEAD,” Act 2, Part 1: With the various Lantern Corps routed by the New Gods, Hal Jordan leads the survivors to a haven that may not be any safer: the Antimatter Universe! But as differences are set aside and strategies drawn, the greatest of the Lanterns makes a decision that will forever alter his life and the future of the Corps – and it involves enlisting the help of the deadliest of threats. Here’s a hint: Black Hand!


Does this solicit make anyone else out there hard?  Jesus, if this solicit is actually accurate - we just might have one of the coolest Green Lantern comics yet.  During last week's Sinestro issue we saw a big collage of events happening and in the bottom corner we saw Black Hand........ you know, doing Black Hand things and I was wondering where he'd come in at and I guess I was just given my answer.  While currently GODHEAD has been limited in it's story because it's just been the New Gods simply kicking the shit out of the Lanterns, the promise that this story has is unbelievable and I'm going to be going through it all, soaking in the awesome.  Here's to Act 2 being something that will blow our minds.

DC Comics Announces "Convergence" For 2015

"Convergence" Promo Art.
(Photo: DC Comics)

Eighty years of comic book history all in one story! The rumor mill has been turning that DC Comics would be launching a huge company wide event in early 2015 in order to facilitate their move from New York to California and now the company has announced that the rumors are indeed true. Starting on April 1, 2015 DC Comics will be putting all of its books on hiatus for a two month period, in which it will be running a colossal event known as Convergence.

Sensation Comics Featuring Wonder Woman #12 Review

Written by: Michael Jelenic
Art by: Drew Johnson
Cover Price: $0.99
Release Date: October 30, 2014

I Liked it, Butt...

The last bunch of issues of Sensation Comics have been one-shots and while that's not really a problem, it's nice to see a longer story beginning this week.  In the first of a two-parter, Michael Jelenic pits Wonder Woman against her most iconic villain in an issue about family, honor and tradition.  Drew Johnson's art is good (except for one unnecessary panel at the end) and the story is a nice setup for what I hope is a good conclusion next week.

Smallville: Continuity #10 Review

Written by: Bryan Q. Miller
Art by: Marcelo Di Chiara
Cover Price: $0.99
Release Date: October 31, 2014

The End or the Beginning? 

Here we are at the antepenultimate issue of the Smallville series.  I really wanted to use "antepenultimate" in a review, I just wish it wasn't for this book.  Recent issues aside, Smallville has been so good and a fixture for me every Friday night.  Well, it's Sunday and I'm just getting around to reviewing this issue.  Why?  Well, it's partly because I don't want it to end and in the back of my mind if I don't review it it won't.  I know that's crazy, but I never claimed to be sane.  The other reason is a bit more plausible.  I just haven't enjoyed the Continuity story.  This issue changes things up...kind of and I have to say I'm a bit confused, but I liked it. Let me tell you why.

DC Comics Best Covers of the Week 11/1/14

October had a fifth week and you know what that means...Annuals!  It also means that there were not too many issues released last week.  Thank God because I'm not a huge fan of Annuals.  It's not that I don't enjoy reading them, it's the whole review thing that brings me down.  They are long, usually have multiple artists and I'm lazy.  That's a recipe for disaster, if you ask me.  Oh well, time stops for no man and comics stop for no site so I had to put my nose to the grindstone and...actually I'm still not done reviewing every issue I have for the week.  Remember, I'm lazy.  Well, here are the covers that I found nifty this week.  Enjoy.