Weird Thoughts: Week Three of DC Comics June Sneak Peeks

Like Tag Team, we are back again with another Weird Thoughts on the DC Comics Sneak Peek Previews tucked all nice and snug in the back of those Convergence tie-ins I know you are all reading.  If you somehow haven't gotten your hands on them, you can go  HERE and get them for free.  Yes, I said free!!!  Wait that's not all. After you download them and read them, you can come back here and tell us what you thought as well.  Truth be told, I care more about what you guys think than anything Eric has to say.  I talk to that guy all the time and between hearing about horror movies and watching him adjust his headband, I kind of tune him out.

This week feels a bit different than the first two because it is dominated by returning books instead of new ones.  Granted, they are some of my favorites (Gotham Academy, Grayson and Catwoman), but I really enjoy seeing the new stuff.  Enough chat, let's get to it...



Batman Beyond

Written by: Dan Jurgens
Art by: Bernard Chang and Marcelo Maiolo

Trapped in the future, Tim Drake becomes the new Batman Beyond as he protects a Gotham City that stands on the edge of a great disaster.

Jim's Take

Eric will be reviewing this book and I'm glad.  It's not that I don't think it looks good, because it does, it's just not the Batman Beyond book I want.  It's kind of odd to me that in DC's grab for younger readers, they didn't go with the animated series BB, but after Futures End, this makes sense.  In fact, it appears that the whole Futures End series was setting this up.  Bernard Chang and Marcelo Maiolo bring their unique style to the book and Dan Jurgens is setting up a story that should be a hit with all those post apocalyptic survival fiction fans out there.  I'm remaining optimistically cautious on this one.


Eric's Take

I'm really, really confused by what's going on in this book.  The events of Futures End shouldn't have happened and this strange, strange future isn't anything like we know Batman Beyond to be....... or even what we thought Thirty Five Years From Now would be.  One positive that I can say is that this title has the ability to be anything it wants to be at this point and I hope that Dan Jurgens takes it to it's full potential......... Well, two positives I guess because I actually really dug the art in this book.

Batman/Superman

Written by: Greg Pak

Art by: Ardian Syaf, Vicente Cifuentes and Ulises Arreola

The Epic new storyline "TRUTH" continues!  In this chapter, what are the consequences of a  broken bond?

Jim's Take

Okay...I loved this preview for so many reasons, but one thing is still driving me crazy.  Why the hell would Jim Gordon/Batman be attacking Superman?!?  I guess we will find out in June, but it just didn't feel right.  What did feel right was Ardian Syaf's art which I have loved since he jumped on this book.  I hope he stays a long, long time.  I also liked Superman using the scraps of cape he had left from the Action Comics preview as hand wraps and seeing him riding a motorcycle looked so damn cool.  Seriously, I hope he likes it enough to keep doing it after his power of flight returns. Then there is the ending with Lex.  This doesn't feel like the Justice League Lex and I'm okay with that because like Supes on a cycle, Lex looked so badass!  I can't wait for this book.

Eric's Take

I'm all for interesting new ideas and taking these characters into new territory, but this really comes off odd to me.  Yeah, we have a new status quo for Superman and Batman, but to see the police try to take Superman down is weird.  The weirdest damn thing though is seeing Lex looking like a techno hipster.......... or James Franco's Green Goblin from Spider-Man 3.  Apparently the next Crisis will be midlife one.  I do love the art so I guess I'll just have to take a wait and see approach on this one.

Catwoman

Written by: Genevieve Valentine

Art by: David Messina and Lee Loughridge

She's still Gotham's queen of crime - but now, in order to work all the angles, Selina Kyle is back as Catwoman!

Jim's Take

I have been a huge fan of Genevieve Valentine's Catwoman and while it took me a bit to get used to Gary Brown's art, I ended up being a fan of his as well...and now he's gone.  Have no fear, however, because David Messina jumps right in and Lee Loughridge is there to make his landing soft and smooth.  I'll admit that I may have sold Loughridge's colors short because he is a huge part of the look of this book.  As for the sneak peek itself, it's more of a "previously on Catwoman" thing than a preview of what's to come.  I'm okay with that because this book deserves all the readers it can get.  I've said it in my reviews, but I'll say it again...if you are looking for a book with a strong female lead that doesn't pander to anybody, check this book out.  Now, if Valentine would start quoting the Duke of Wellington. I'd be in heaven.

Eric's Take

I guess I'm just a Negative Nancy here because I seem to be one of the few people that isn't digging this new approach to Catwoman and not only that, I'm not really enjoying the art that goes with it either.  It all comes off very boring to me and this preview just served as a reminder why, with it's "Let's catch you up" approach to the mob drama. I'll sit back and wait for Selina to leave the families behind and get back to taking it to the streets, Doobie Brothers style.

Gotham Academy

Written by: Becky Cloonan and Brenden Fletcher

Art by: Mingjue Helen Chen

Gotham Academy's newest student Damian Wayne drops by the academy - and he is not pleased to meet his new classmates!

Jim's Take

I adore Gotham Academy, but after reading this preview I realize that the spell is starting to fade. Sure, I love a book that references Dungeons and Dragons and Dio, but this sneak peek doesn't have the charm that the first couple of issues of the series had.  I can't fully explain it, but Chen's computer generated art is a big reason.  Karl Kershl gave the book a classic animated look that made me smile...this art didn't make me smile.  The preview itself was a cute little poem by Maps that "hasn't happened yet" and I'll be there when it does and hopefully by then, the smile will return.



Eric's Take

I was really getting into this series after the last two issues, but after reading this preview, the series is going to have to win me back again.  I have no idea who this preview was meant for, but I can't see people reading it and saying "Damn, I gotta go check out this Gotham Academy"........ Maybe I'm just pissed because I expected to see Damian Wayne somewhere in it...... You know since it said he would be.  I'm not as critical about this new art as Jim is, but I'm not at all impressed by what we were given to get pumped up for June.





Grayson

Written by: Tom King and Tim Seeley
Art by: Mikel Janin and Jeromy Cox

Everything changes as Helena takes over SPYRAL!  Plus: Grayson  gets a new partner!


Jim's Take

If you want to know why Grayson is my favorite book right now, read this sneak peek.  Dick Grayson is so kick ass and the crazy excitement in these eight pages is just a little taste of the awesomeness you get each month.  Seriously, Dick delivered a baby during a helicopter crash a couple of issues back.  If you are smart enough to have already been reading, then you'll love seeing Agent #1 as his partner and while we don't get a real glimpse of what Helena will be like as a boss, she is pretty damn cool flying through the sky (with the greatest of ease).  Mikel Janin's art is the icing on this scrumptious cake that I can't wait to take a big old bite out of.  I'm not kidding, I want some cake.



Eric's Take

This series is such a surprise hit for me because after DC killed off the Nightwing persona, I figured people would be rioting in the streets and way too pissed to be buying this book.  Luckily I was wrong and we have this title each month because it's just awesome.  Too bad that this sneak peek wasn't the greatest.  It's all over the place and expects us to suspend our disbelief a little too much. Yeah, the preview wasn't great but if the title continues to be as good as it's been, that's all we need to know, sneak peek be damned.

Martian Manhunter

Written by: Rob Williams

Art by: Eddy Barrows, Eber Ferreira and Gabe Eltaeb

J'onn J'onnz always said he was the last of his kind.  Hw lied. When Mars launches a full-scale invasion of Earth, the Manhunter will have to decide where his loyalties lie.

Jim's Take

This is my biggest surprise of all the previews this week.  I do not have a large history with Martian Manhunter, but Rob Williams has me sold.  It feels like a horror comic through and through and I can't wait to see this story of a lesser than super Martian Manhunter unfold.  This sneak peek had more tension than any of Eric's crazy Puppet Master comics and the art fits the story to a tee.  This book just made my list.

Eric's Take

I was a bit wary at the idea of a Martian Manhunter book because I'm one of those assholes who believes that J'onn can't hold his own series.......... and hell, that might still be the case but after reading this sneak peek, I'm all like "bring it on".  This looks like one hell of an interesting book and I can't wait to see Martian Manhunter face a White Martian threat.  All that and I even loved the art.

New Suicide Squad

Written by: Sean Ryan

Art by: Phillippe Briones and Blond

On a mission in Ukraine where the team fights Russian Red robots. In the DCU, yes, there is Russian military in Ukraine, imagine that! 

Jim's Take

This just felt like a missed opportunity.  Where is that awesome, newly announced Team?  Why are we still getting Harley, Boomerang and Black Manta?  This sneak peek was a golden opportunity to introduce the new team and get everyone, including myself, pumped for June.  Oh well, I'll still be reading in June...just 75% less pumped.

Eric's Take

Yeah, it's just more of the same with Suicide Squad, but instead of spotlighting the new team and getting people excited, we get a sneak peek at something that seems like pretty much the entire New Suicide Squad run rolled up into eight pages.  I love the Suicide Squad so I'll read it and most likely enjoy it, but this is no way to get people into the book.

Secret Six

Written by: Gail Simone

Art by: Dale Eaglesham and Jason Wright

Six outcasts (or seven, if you count the murderous puppet) are thrown together and forced to carry out deadly missions by an anonymous force that hates their guts. They'll have to learn how to become a team pretty quickly, as survival is not guaranteed!

Jim's Take

This sneak peek was not for me.  The problem is, I don't know who it was for.  This book has been delayed so many times that it feels like one of the new books and I guess that current readers will enjoy seeing this little caper, but those checking it out for the first time have to be confused.  I did like seeing Dale Eaglesham's art and hope he stays on the book for a long time...especially since the book comes out every 4 months.  I kid because I care.


Eric's Take

This is a weird sneak peek because I don't know where we left this team off because it's been so long since the last issue came out.  It has some nice moments and showcases a few of the characters and gives everyone at least a speaking role....... well, except for Strix........she has some problems.  Really, the highlight for me was seeing the new direction in art because man was the book suffering because of that before.

Teen Titans

Written by: Will Pfeifer

Arts by: Kenneth Rocafort and Dan Brown

The Titans and Superboy on the run from Wonder Girl and Power Girl's new super team.

Jim's Take

After continuously being disappointed by this book, Eric gave it to me to review.  He's done that before and it always seems to bite him in the ass because it immediatley gets better.  I don't know that this will be the case here, but I enjoyed this sneak peek.  I love the teams and the story of Titans vs Titans with Superboy in the middle is pretty damn cool and unlike Eric, I love Kenneth Rocafort's art.  Plus, I get Klarion in a book not written by someone named Nocenti.  That's a win for me.

Eric's Take

I don't know if it's anyone's fault, but the way the story was heading before our Convergence break and now with this sneak peek, I'm kind of getting offended at what we're getting on the Teen Titans front.  In the cliffhanger of the last issue, we had a new Teen team being put together to take Kon down and one of the members was Kid Flash and another was Guardian.  Here we continue that, but get no information about how or why Kid Flash is back in this century and where the hell Solstice is and the last time we saw Guardian, he became best buds with John Lane Kent Superboy........... Yeah, this isn't really about the sneak peek at this point, it's about Will Pfeifer having some 'splaining to do!

Robin: Son of Batman

Written by: Patrick Gleason

Art by: Patrick Gleason, Mick Gray and John Kalisz

Damian's quest to atone for the Year of Blood takes him to a remote mountain village, but danger awaits him and his unwilling companion Goliath! And someone connected to Damian's dangerous past may be closing in on him.

Jim's Take

Here at Weird Science Central, Patrick Gleason is tops.  His art on Batman and Robin was so good so it was great to hear he was doing the art on this book.  That it looked great is no shock, but Gleason also wrote a kick ass story as well.  Really, all I need is seeing Damian kick multiple asses while a mysterious villain pulls strings from the shadows.  Guess what?  That's what it looks like we'll be getting.  I can't wait for June.

Eric's Take

This is pure Damian kicking ass and that's what I love to see....... Especially when the art is done by Patrick Gleason, who not only continues to draw the young Robin, but takes on writing detail as well.  While I hope the series doesn't rely on using fantastical creatures and concepts to pit Damian against, this title is still a welcome addition to the DC lineup of books.

I hope you enjoyed our Weird Thoughts on this week's previews.  We will be back next week as we take one last look at all the books coming out in June before we get to...ummm...June.  See you then and remember, Whomp! (There it is)