PREVIEW: Dark Knight III : The Master Race #6

Written by: Brian Azzarello and Frank Miller
Art by: Klaus Janson, Brad Anderson and Clem Robins
Cover Price: $5.99
Release Date: October 19, 2016

Is Gotham City ready for a new Batgirl?!

The answer is...Maybe!

Weird Science DC Comics Comic Books of the Week 09/28/16

Another week, another ton of DC Comic Books hitting the shelves.  My mom used to tell me that New Comic Book Day was like a box of chocolates and yes, I mean that you poke holes in them to see what they are and put back the crappy ones for someone else to eat.  That's what this column is all about...telling you which books are the Caramel (delicious!) and which ones are the Maple Nut Creams.  What am I, I freaking lumberjack?!?  The answer is...maybe.

Top 5 Fridays: Top 5 Teen Heroes in Comics

Welcome back to another exciting installment of Top 5 Fridays! When there's trouble, do you know who to call? Well yes in real life it would be the police, but in the DC universe, we would call the Teen Titans!! This week, our newest iteration of the Teen Titans has been revealed in their rebirth issue. While I can't say I'm the biggest fan of Damien Wayne, I am excited to see where this new team will go. This if you made me think of all the other teen heroes created in comics, so today will be going over my personal favorites. The rule of being in this list is that the character has to be physically a teenager(so Shazam won't be qualified) and have a series that doesn't have them grown up. As always this is an opinion based list, so if you don't see your favorite character, I apologize. Enough talk! Let's jump on in...

Weird Science DC Comics Podcast Spotlight: Batman Beyond Rebirth #1

The spotlight is on and it's shining brightly on Neo-Gotham and it's newly returned hero, Terry McGinnis!  That's right, Terry is back and while it's odd that there is no mention of Tim Drake in this issue, the classic feel was enough to set Jim and Eric's hearts a flutter.  See how much they like it and how little they Know about Batman Beyond villain Terminal in this week's spotlight.  If you like what you hear, check out our regular weekly podcast that releases each and every Sunday night.

DC Comics Best Covers of the Week 9/28/16

Cover Girl! Put the Bass in Your Walk

Another Wednesday is done, and that means it's time to assess the week's comic book covers and assign them arbitrary values. In the post-apocalyptic future, comic book covers will be the only form of accepted currency, so be sure to hoard them! Throw away the interiors if you lack space, the covers are all that matters. Why do you think publishers accept only the torn covers and not the whole book when accepting returns? They're no idiots! They intend on replacing the Federal Reserve after humanity near annihilation.

The Hellblazer #2 Review and **SPOILERS**

Look Mom! I Put London’s Souls in Dire Peril!

Writer: Simon Oliver

Artist: Moritat

Colorists: Andre Szymanowicz and Moritat

Lettering: Sal Cipriano

Cover Price: $2.99

On Sale Date: September 28, 2016

**NON SPOILERS AND SCORE AT THE BOTTOM**

One of the worst things about being a superhero is that a lot of your work goes unrecognized. Oh sure, Superman gets plenty of accolades after saving Metropolis from one of Brainiac’s giant robots, but only if he punches it into the stratosphere in full view of its citizens. And people wonder why he doesn’t change the venue of every cataclysmic fight to Antarctica: for the props, man! The Green Lantern Corps saved the universe from hidden threats dozens of times, and everyone hates them because all they see are the atmospheric-level arrests. This is why Booster Gold makes a lot of sense to me. Sure, if you’ve got the powers then you should use them heroically, but there’s nothing wrong with getting a little face time with the people while you do it! Heck, I’d rather watch Wonder Woman showboat than Keeping Up With the Kardashians. And what I’d really like to see is Wonder Woman dragging Kris Kardashian behind her invisible jet by her golden lasso. What does this have to do with this issue of the Hellblazer? Mmmaybe it’s relevant, read on to find out!

Christian Wildgoose Announced as New Artist on the Batgirl Ongoing Series!

Batgirl Makes Her Way Home to Burnside With a New Artist!

Christian Wildgoose announced as new artist on the Batgirl ongoing series 

 

This January, Batgirl is headed home— with a new artist and new villain to kick off the next arc! Artist Christian Wildgoose (GOTHAM ACADEMY) will take over art duties once Rafael Albuquerque’s run concludes with BATGIRL #6. Wildgoose joins writer Hope Larson upon Batgirl’s return home in “Son of Penguin.” Since the launch of Rebirth, Barbara Gordon has left Burnside and Gotham behind for some well-earned time off. Traveling to Japan, Singapore and more she’s been on a quest to train with the most elite masters of the East— as well as taking a break from her everyday crimefighting life. But where she goes, danger always follows. 

Read on for some quotes from Christian and some promotional art for his forthcoming run on Batgirl!

Harley Quinn and her Gang of Harleys #6 Review and **SPOILERS**

I Wanna Be a Harley

Writers: Frank Tieri & Jimmy Palmiotti

Pencils & Inks: Mauricet

Colors: Hi-Fi

Letters: Dave Sharpe

Cover Price: $3.99

On Sale Date: September 28, 2016

**NON-SPOILERS AND SCORE AT THE BOTTOM**

Here we are, at the conclusion of the Harley Quinn and her Gang of Harleys miniseries! I must confess, it has been pretty crazy. But I've enjoyed the heck out of it, far more than a previous miniseries co-starring Power Girl (and which is actually referenced at the end of this comic book!) The Gang of Harleys could support their own comic book, but since Harley Quinn and its offshoot titles feature practically every supporting member of the cast at all times, there might not be a point. Let's just accept, at face value, that the Gang of Harleys are in the mix, and one or more of them will be present for some Harley Quinn stories in the future, okay? So look for them along with Big Tony, Egghead, that goat-human guy, the lady that runs the wax museum, Red Tool, Sy Borgman, her roller derby crew, that one friendly police officer from like five issues ago, and about twenty other characters I've forgotten, maybe because their roles have been incidental...so far. You can bet that if a story thread is reeled out, team Harley Quinn is going to follow it. And that's one of the most rewarding things about reading comics from the Harley Quinnverse. Yes, that's a thing. I made it up and now it's a thing. Read my review of the last issue of Harley Quinn and her Gang of Harleys, that's a thing too!

Wonder Woman #7 Review and *SPOILERS*

Cheetah Wants A Divorce

Written By: Greg Rucka

Art By: Liam Sharp, Laura Martin, Jodi Wynne

Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: September 28, 2016

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

Okay, let's get back to our "Lies" story, where in the previous issue we saw Steve Trevor captured by the warlord Cadulo so that he could use Steve as a vessel or avatar for the god Urzkartaga........ or something along those lines because it also seems that Cadulo wants to be the vessel for the mucky god.  Maybe vessels and avatars mean something different to Cadulo than they do to me, either way, things don't look good for Steve Trevor so hopefully Wonder Woman and Cheetah get to the sacrificial alter fast and stop Urzkartaga from walking the Earth once again.  Let's jump into this issue and check it out.

Titans #3 Review and *SPOILERS*

Time Lost and Love Lost

Written By: Dan Abnett
Art By: Brett Booth, Norm Rapmund, Andrew Dalhouse, Carlos M. Mangual
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: September 28, 2016

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

Titans has the advantage of featuring the main player of the DC Comics Rebirth Special, Wally West and with that I think this series gets a bit of a pass...... or at least gets people more interested than they normally would be because while this series feels "big", it's a bit low key in the fact that it's only a monthly series (DC's spoiled me with their bi-weekly titles) and that we're really in the dark about a lot of things going on, with the events of Titans Hunt leading into this and the lost time that the Rebirth Special presented us with.  We just don't know a lot about what's going on, but hopefully that changes since in the previous issues we saw Abra Kadabra come back into continuity and not only did he immediately go back to his vendetta against Wally, but he also let it slip that he's the one behind Wally original disappearance.  Let's jump into this issue and see if he let's anything more slip so that we can start wrapping our heads around what exactly is going on in the DC Universe.

Action Comics #964 Review and *SPOILERS*

A Day With Superman

Written By: Dan Jurgens

Art By: Patrick Zircher, Ulises Arreola, Rob Leigh

Cover Price: $2.99

Release Date: September 28, 2016

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

With all the world changing secrets that Rebirth has presented us with, this title is one of them that seems to want to keep it close to the chest and not reveal anything.......... Yeah, no title really wants to reveal what's going on, but this one seems extra secretive because of all the Doomsday and Mr. Oz play we've gotten so far not to mention our current story arc, dealing with the not so mild-mannered Clark Kent, who has apparently never been Superman.  Yeah, we have a ton of "Super" characters running around after the New 52 Superman died and for as weird as that is, it's even weirder to me to have a Clark Kent character who isn't super at all.  Let's jump into this issue and see if we can get any more answers out of Clark's investigation into the Geneticron company and if our Pre-Flashpoint Superman can get any answers about who this Clark Kent actually is.  Let's check it out.

Sixpack & Dogwelder: Hard-Travelin’ Heroz #2 Review and **SPOILERS**

You’d Think God Would Have an Amazing Sense of Humor

Writer: Garth Ennis

Artist: Russ Braun

Colorist: John Kalisz

Letterer: Pat Brosseau

Cover Price: $2.99

On Sale Date: September 28, 2016

**NON SPOILERS AND SCORE AT THE BOTTOM**

Okay, here’s my issue with Christianity. Mind you, I wasn’t raised a Christian, but it’s all part of the American milieu so I feel entitled to my issues: I cannot get past the idea that some guy that died two-thousand years ago is going to return. It sounds like the Mummy or something. I can jibe with the miracles and the parables, I’m willing to suspend my natural disbelief and take the Book of Genesis at face value, but the part about Jesus the Christ coming back into existence—to do anything—is a bridge too far for me. Of course, that leap of faith is sort of the central tenet of Christianity, and so I am not one. It seems so egregiously unlikely, given all we do know about death’s finality and the desperate wishes that our beloved deceased will someday come knocking on the front door and ask to watch the Big Bang Theory with us. I mean, that’s what Christianity amounts to, right? A sustained delusional mourning where we think there must be something wrong; the coroner must have filled the form incorrectly, or the autopsy wasn’t thorough enough, and any minute Grandma will rise from the grave and bake some of her delicious snickerdoodles again. Never mind that the reality of such a thing happening would reduce even the most robust undergarment into a sopping sponge, this is how we’ve all felt after interring our loved ones, and it’s this feeling that keeps the Christ boat afloat. What does that have to do with Hard-Travelin’ Heroz? Uh, well the Spectre is in it. Read on and find out what else is packed into this thing!

Deathstroke #3 Review

Serial Numbers

Written by: Christopher PriestArt by: Joe Bennett, Belardino Brabo, Mark Morales, Jeromy Cox and Willie Shubert
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: September 28, 2016

I have not been a huge fan of Deathstroke since Rebirth started.  I think that this story will eventually get better and that has nothing to do with the actual quality that Christopher Priest is giving fans already.  The problem I have with the book at the moment is not quality, but quantity.  Actually, it's the quantity of the quality...we just haven't gotten enough of a story with each issue.  Plus, what we've been getting is convoluted by the out-of-time storytelling which has made things more confusing than it has to be.  Is this the issue where it all starts coming together and Christopher Priest shows us what he's been leading too?  Let's find out...

Blue Beetle #1 Review and *SPOILERS*

Buggin' Out

Written By: Keith Giffen
Art By: Scott Kolins, Romulo Fajardo Jr., Josh Reed
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: September 28, 2016

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

Okay, are all you Blue Beetle fans ready to see our hero kick a little ass and take a couple names as we jump back into this series?  Let's see where Ted and Jaime's relationship takes them on their quest to find out more about the scarab, while also taking out the trash in El Paso.  I personally love the Blue Beetle, but found the Rebirth issue lacking a bit and hope beyond hope that it picks up here because I'll be depressed as hell if I finally got a Blue Beetle title that I've been clamoring for since the last one was cancelled and it ends up I don't like it.......... That would just be the worst.  Hopefully that isn't the case though so let's jump into this issue and see what threats Jaime faces here.  Let's check it out.

The Flash #7 Review

My Buddy

Written by: Joshua Williamson

Art by: Carmine Di Giandomenico, Ivan Plascencia and Steve Wands
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: September 28, 2016

Well, now that we know who Godspeed is, we can get to the real story, right?  Right?!? What story am I talking about?  How the hell do I know...I'm not the writer of the book! Joshua Williamson is the writer and I have faith that he will now give us a more consistently good Flash book now that the "Who is Godspeed" nonsense is over.  Am I right?  Let's find out...

Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps #5 Review and **SPOILERS**

Hal Jordan's Ego and the Whatsitz Corps

Writer: Robert Vendetti

Artist: Ethan Van Sciver

Colorist: Jason Wright

Letterer: Dave Sharpe

Cover Price: $2.99

On Sale Date: September 28, 2016

**NON SPOILERS AND SCORE AT THE BOTTOM**

I gotta tell you, this idea Sinestro has of policing the universe through fear...it's pretty solid. I mean, that's what it really is, right? You don't slow down on the highway when passing a cop car or put out that PCP blunt and reverse your "OFF THE PIGS" t-shirt on your way into the Police Athletic League out of mutual respect. You're afraid of being arrested. And while some segments of American society have more to fear than other segments, we all tow the line because we don't want to be smashed face down with some fat guy's knee in our back as we've seen so many times on COPS. So Sinestro's plan to grab the strongest people from each word and extract their fear for his jury-rigged yellow lantern is actually a lot better than that. Give up a portion of society to keep the rest safe and comfortable. Which, again, is sort of how it works in the real world also. Okay, enough delicate politicizing! On to my review of Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps #5!

Suicide Squad #3 Review and **SPOILERS**

Who Stole the Soul?

Writer: Rob Williams
Penciller: Jim Lee
Inker: Scott Williams
Colorist: Alex Sinclair
Letterer: Nate Pleikos of Blambot®
Back-Up Artist: Philip Tan
Back-Up Colorist: Elmer Santos
Cover Price: $2.99
On Sale Date: September 28, 2016

**NON SPOILERS AND SCORE AT THE BOTTOM**

Here's one of my most favorite rap songs of all time: "1-800 SUICIDE" by Busy Bee!

That beat is just too incredible to me...this song should definitely have been on the Suicide Squad movie soundtrack. They have practically every other song in existence on there anyway. On to my review of Suicide Squad #3!

Detective Comics #941 Review

Nightwing's Got Nards!

Written by: Steve Orlando
Art by: Andy McDonald, John Rauch and Marilyn Patrizio
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: September 28, 2016

The Night of the Monster Men story is well underway and I have been lukewarm with it up until now.  The story hasn't been horrible, but it also hasn't really grabbed ahold of me either.  It's just kind of happening and at the end of the day, I really just want my regular stories back.  Well, I'll have to wait a bit longer as Monster Men hits Detective Comics this week to finish up the first phase of the story. What does Steve Orlando have in store for Batman and Company?  Let's find out...

Batgirl #3 Review and **SPOILERS**

With Her Bat Tail Between Her Legs

Writer: Hope Larson

Art: Rafael Albuquerque

Colors: Dave McCaig

Letters: Deron Bennett

Cover Price: $2.99

On Sale Date: September 28, 2016

**NON SPOILERS AND SCORE AT THE BOTTOM**

There's a Batarang in your belt

That's what makes you Bat-iful

Don't let nobody ever make you doubt it, yeah

Your fist is hard and strong

That's what keeps you beating on

Can't keep you down, there ain't no doubt about it

Don't forget, it's all about respect

Nothing else will do

Remember it's your life

Live it any way you like

And practice your kung-fu!

This is for Batgirl

All around the world

Stand up, put your leg up

Kick that villain in the body

This is for Batgirl

Stand up and be heard

This is for my ladies, my sidekicks, all over

This is for Batgirl!

PREVIEW: Titans #3

Written By: Dan Abnett
Art By: Brett Booth, Norm Rapmund, Andrew Dalhouse, Carlos M. Mangual
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: September 28, 2016

“The Return of Wally West” part 3. The Titans receive word that Karen Beecher-Duncan—a.k.a. Bumblebee—has been kidnapped! Is there a connection between a shadowy new foe and the intergalactic demon that stole their memories? 

PREVIEW: Wonder Woman #7

Written By: Greg Rucka
Art By: Liam Sharp, Laura Martin, Jodi Wynne
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: September 28, 2016

“THE LIES” part 4! One god down—how many more to go? Diana takes another step closer to the truth, and Steve Trevor confronts his past!

PREVIEW: Action Comics #964

Written By: Dan Jurgens
Art By: Patrick Zircher, Ulises Arreola, Rob Leigh
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: September 28, 2016

“WHO IS CLARK KENT?” part 2! Superman comes face to face with Clark Kent, and he wants answers! But first the Man of Steel must protect his former alter ego. Clark Kent tells all in this shocking issue! And don’t miss the return of a ghost from Smallville past…

PREVIEW: Deathstroke #3

Written by: Christopher Priest
Art by: Joe Bennett, Belardino Brabo, Mark Morales, Jeromy Cox and Willie Shubert
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: September 28, 2016

“The Professional” part 3! After Slade discovers that someone has put a contract out on his daughter, Rose Wilson—a.k.a. The Ravager—Deathstroke reluctantly travels to New York City to save her from a deadly ambush.

PREVIEW: Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps #5

Writer: Robert Vendetti

Artist: Ethan Van Sciver

Colorist: Jason Wright

Letterer: Dave Sharpe

Cover Price: $2.99

On Sale Date: September 28, 2016

“Sinestro’s Law” part 5! Sinestro’s Fear Engine powers up as the Green Lantern Corps streaks across the universe to find Guy Gardner, but instead come face to face with a battle-ready armada standing in their way.

PREVIEW: Harley Quinn and her Gang of Harleys #6

Writers: Frank Tieri & Jimmy Palmiotti

Pencils & Inks: Mauricet

Colors: Hi-Fi

Letters: Dave Sharpe

Cover Price: $3.99

On Sale Date: September 28, 2016

This is it! The moment you’ve been waiting six long issues for! The identity of Harley Sinn is revealed, and Harley’s gang has found their great leader. But trouble is only beginning for Har—oh who are we kidding? This is the issue where Harley and her Gang kick butt on her captors (and she gets quite a few shots with her mallet as well), as Harley Quinn teaches her gang the most important lesson of all: losing stinks, so win—and never leave Brooklyn if you can help it.

PREVIEW: Suicide Squad #3

Writer: Rob Williams
Penciller: Jim Lee
Inker: Scott Williams
Colorist: Alex Sinclair
Letterer: Nate Pleikos of Blambot®
Back-Up Artist: Philip Tan
Back-Up Colorist: Elmer Santos
Cover Price: $2.99
On Sale Date: September 28, 2016

“THE BLACK VAULT” part 3! It looks like a well-deserved day off for the Suicide Squad—until things go off the rails when the bizarre energies of the dark sphere Amanda Waller’s team brought back slowly drive everyone in Belle Reve Penitentiary to acts of violent, bloody madness. Everyone except the crown princess of crazy, Harley Quinn, who’s somehow been…cured?

PREVIEW: Batman Beyond: Rebirth #1

Written By: Dan Jurgens
Art By: Ryan Sook, Jeremy Lawson, Tony Avina, Travis Lanham
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: September 28, 2016

Six months have passed since the events of BATMAN BEYOND #16. While areas of destruction remain in the outside world, Gotham City has made great strides toward reclaiming its bright future. But new threats arise and old adversaries may be coming back. And the question still remains: whatever happened to Bruce Wayne?