Weird Science DC Comics: 2017-01-08

Thursday, January 12, 2017

Weird Science DC Comics Podcast 2016 DC Comics End of Year Awards Live!

It's time for the Weird Science DC Comics Podcast Best of 2016 Awards Show. Join Jim, Reggie and Eric as they pick their favorite Writer, Artist and Book of the Year, plus so much more...and it's LIVE! Well, it was LIVE when they recorded it. Enjoy!

THE DARK KNIGHT AND THE FASTEST MAN ALIVE DIVE DEEPER INTO THE MYSTERY OF DC UNIVERSE: REBIRTH THIS APRIL!

Batman and The Flash Team Up For the Four-Part Mystery “The Button”

All Four Issues to Also Feature Special Lenticular Covers

If you’ve been wondering about how the mystery behind Geoff Johns’ DC UNIVERSE: REBIRTH #1 continues, you’ll find out more beginning this April in “The Button,” a four part story arc in issues #21 and #22 of BATMAN and THE FLASH.

Read on for more information and cover images!

Written by:Tim Seeley

Art by: Scot Eaton, Wayne Faucher and Gabe Eltaeb
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: January 18, 2017

A “JUSTICE LEAGUE VS. SUICIDE SQUAD” tie-in! It’s the day no one saw coming when Harley Quinn finds herself the protector of Gotham City, repelling a brutal assault from the super-villain threat of [REDACTED].

How the [REDACTED] did we get an exclusive preview?!? I'm sure someone's [REDACTED] is being chewed out right now! I guess all that [REDACTED] is finally paying off. Enjoy!

DC Comics Best Covers of the Week 1/11/17

#DCDIALOGUECOVER

Not only does this week bring us a literal metric butt-ton of comic books (and therefore a similar number of comic book covers), but there seems to have been a rash of "DC Comics Dialogue Covers" that's been increasing as late. I wanted to highlight them because there's something about seeing a word balloon on a comic book cover that just makes me giddy, so I encourage more shenanigans like this in the future! Perhaps a bit more shenanigannish than what's on Batgirl and the Birds of Prey #6. Anyhow, enjoy this definitive list of the best comic book covers this week!

HONORABLE MENTIONS

DC Comics "Dialogue Covers"

I'd actually marry this entire cover, full stop

The Flash #14 variant

Dave Johnson

Beginning To Feel Like Home

Written By: Dan Abnett

Art By: Lee Weeks, John Kalisz, Carlos M. Mangual

Cover Price: $2.99

Release Date: January 11, 2017

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

Now that Abra Kadabra's out of the way and we don't have to worry about Wally West being sucked into the Speed Force again, it's time to get this series going and after Omen told the team that the one word that she kept hearing while probing Kadabra's mind was Manhattan....... Well, that's just where our heroes are going because either that's where they belong or something is going to happen there and they might as well be ready for it. Hopefully now that Wally's fully back we can start seeing the other members of our Titans team doing stuff because even though I enjoyed the first arc, them not having anything to do was my biggest complaint. Let's jump into this issue and see how the Titans are handling their move to the city so nice they named it twice and if Manhattan holds anything more ominous than simply being a location. Let's check it out.

Make This Woman Shut Up

Written by: Phil Jimenez

Art by: Matt Santorelli

Cover Price: $2.99

Release Date: January 11, 2017

Rebirth has been a hit or miss with me on the quality of the books, whether it's the story, the art, or the non-funness of it. Superwoman, however, isn’t a miss. It’s an absolute failure. I’m surprised this title is still being published and hasn’t been canceled yet. I could write all day about how this comic is bad, unnecessary and just plain bad. But I’ll have you read this review instead. Did I mention it was bad? This is “Who Killed Superwoman? Part 6: Come Dancing”

Fire and Ice

Written By: Scott Snyder

Art By: Jock, Matt Hollingsworth, Steve Wands, Francesco Francavilla

Cover Price: $4.99

Release Date: January 11, 2017

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

It's time to move on now that we've dealt with Two-Face and his plan to rain down hell on Gotham if Batman didn't destroy the Harvey Dent personality and just let Two-Face run free, without Harvey having to face the burden of fighting it.......... Which was really messed up because it really came off that Harvey was just as bad as Two-Face with him orchestrating the acid rain attack at the beginning of the series so that he could get Batman to start the journey to erasing his personality. It's time to get some Mr. Freeze action now, which I think is pretty bad ass because we haven't really seen this character front and center in a long time. Let's jump into this issue and see what Scott Snyder has in store for us with the second arc of All-Star Batman. Let's check it out.

Here Comes the Airplane

Written by: Scott Lobdell
Art by: Dexter Soy, Veronica Gandini and Taylor Esposito
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: January 11, 2017

Red Hood and the Outlaws is so good that it was Eric Shea's Book of 2016. Now, who am I to argue with America's Sweetheart? Nobody, that's who. I also love this book and don't think I am making up shit by saying it is a lot of people's surprise hit of Rebirth. Just think how great it will be when we finally get the Dark Trinity out and about together, kicking ass and taking names. Well, the wait is almost over as this is the last issue of the first Rebirth arc. How was it? Let's find out...

Metropolis Is A Mess

Written By: Dan Abnett

Art By: Vincente Cifuentes, Rex Lokus, Travis Lanham

Cover Price: $2.99

Release Date: January 11, 2017

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

Man, I'm so curious about what's going to happen to Earth 2. I've been following these characters so long now that it's weird to have this book ending in March without an announcement about it continuing with another title........... Right when the characters get interesting again! Yeah, it seems that our Wonders have finally found a home to call their own in the remade world of Earth 2, but this miracle of the Pandora Casket just doesn't seem right..... you know, with Ultra-Humanite running the show and no one knowing what an actual Wonder is. When we left the previous issue we saw the majority of our heroes taking on more of those shadow looking Sandmen, which happen to be the main police force of this world and the closest thing to a Wonder that there is and Batman, Huntress and John Grayson getting shot at by a new Sergeant Steel, who believes that these three are working for Ultra-Humanite and trying to bring him down. Let's jump into this issue and see how our heroes fare in this new world and what surprises await right around the corner. Let's check it out.

Send Deathstroke, Guns and Money

Written by: Christopher Priest
Art by: Cary Nord, Jeromy Cox and Willie Shubert

Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: January 10, 2017

If you hang around our site or listen to our podcast (if so, you just passed the test!), you know that my faith in Deathstroke is waning. There are a bunch of reasons, but it's the confusing nature of the narrative that is public enemy number one. I'm not just talking about the out-of-time, look I saw Pulp Fiction way the story has unfolded at times, but just the way that Priest seems to withhold information to make everything seem bigger and more mysterious. That being said, when the book clicks for me, it clicks hot and heavy and that's what I hope for with each issue. Is this Four Rooms finale one of those issues or did I pull my hair out in frustration once again? Let's find out...

Mommy Dearest

Written By: Julie Benson, Shawna Benson

Art By: Roge Antonio, Allen Passalaqua, Deron Bennett

Cover Price: $2.99

Release Date: January 11, 2017

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

While I was originally really looking forward to a Rebirth of the Birds of Prey, what with me not really being a fan of the previous series, I can't say that this series is exactly what I imagined it would be. Yeah, we got some decent characters that are making strides to be an actual team and some decent art accompanying it, but the overall feel of the book feels off. Everything just seems way too jokey all the time, which is fine in small doses, but here it never seems to stop and that's all while we have multiple murders taking place and someone besmirching the good name of Oracle....... not a laughing matter in my mind. Anyway, in the previous issue we saw our Birds team out the Oracle as just being a Batgirl fanboy, who besides for being an accomplice to murder with all the information he's released to Fenice, pretty much seems on the up and up and on top of that, we found out that Fenice is actually Huntress' thought to be dead mother...... Which is messed up because the only reason Helena is out murdering all the mobsters that she can is because of them killing her family. Uh-Oh Mommy, you got some 'splaining to do! Let's jump into this issue and check it out.

Heart of Darkness

Written By: Joshua Williamson

Art By: Fernando Pasarin, Matt Ryan, Alex Sinclair, Jeremiah Skipper, Rob Leigh

Cover Price: $3.99

Release Date: January 11, 2017

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

Now that the Justice League and the Suicide Squad are pals, it's up to them to take down Maxwell Lord and his Lost Prisoners, which shouldn't be too taxing.... at least in the whole finding them part because as we left the previous issue we found out that Amanda Waller is housing a weapon at Belle Reve that Max desperately wants to get his hands on and with that, the Lost Prisoners and old Maxy boy are on their way to our title teams. Now Jim and I came off with a crazy theory about what Maxwell is up to and while I'd love to go over that here........ I'm not going to because I've already read this issue and it looks like we were completely wrong. Who knows though because we still have two more issues after this and anything could happen, but for now it looks like the him/it that Max was looking for is something that us at Weird Science never saw coming. Let's jump into this issue and see what Max's big plan is for saving the world and what at Belle Reve will help him achieve that goal. Let's check it out.

Role Reversal

Written By: Dan Jurgens

Art By: Stephen Segovia, Art Thibert, Arif Prianto, Rob Leigh

Cover Price: $2.99

Release Date: January 11, 2017

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

Lex Luthor has sure gone and got himself in quite a predicament with this story arc because intergalactic doom sayers came to Earth and snatched his ass back to their home planet so that they can judge him for being some kind of cosmic genocide machine in the future and much to Superman's dismay, he has to go and save the New 52 version of his worst enemy. That was the plan originally though because as we saw in the previous issue, it looks like our Man of Steel has changed his mind about the innocence of Lex Luthor once his captors, L'Call and Zade showed him that they found a mother box on Lex. Yeah, we all know that this mother box is powering Lex's battle armor and that it was built for him by the people of Apokolips........... you know, since he's their god and all, but apparently Superman isn't too hip on this and we ended last issue with Clark thinking that Lex was guilty and deserving of death. Let's jump into this issue and see what the sitch is and if Superman will get back to being the hero we all know and love. Let's check it out.

Extra! Extra!

Written by: Greg Rucka
Art by: Nicola Scott, Romulo Fajardo Jr. and Jodi Wynne
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: January 11, 2017

This is the finale of a couple of things...the Year One story and also Nicola Scott's art on this book. While I am excited to see how Year One ends, it makes me so sad to see Scott leave. Her art has been tremendous and one of the big reasons (along with Liam Sharpe's art) I have enjoyed Wonder Woman since Rebirth started. I say all that, but have to admit that this book is starting to show some chinks in it's armor and I hope this issue can put it back on the very top of my pull list. Does it come through? Let's find out...

My Name Is...

Written by: Steve Orlando
Art by: Brian Ching, Michael Atiyeh and Steve Wands
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: January 11, 2017

This book has so much going for it...an awesome lead character, a fan favorite villain and enough shoutouts to the television series to get a whole new audience involved. So why am I not enjoying it? There are a bunch of reasons, but mainly it's that it just doesn't seem to take itself seriously. For every cool moment with Cyborg Superman we get a ridiculous scene with Cat Grant and for every Moment with Kara, we have to sit through a meaningless scene with Ben Rubel. I don't mind having a supporting cast, but I don't like these characters (yet?) and every time they arrive, the story suffers. Oh well, this issue continues the Reign of the Cyborg Supermen arc and let's see if things heat up a bit now that Kara is headed off to confront her dad.

Uh, What?

Story: Brenden Fletcher, Becky Cloonan & Karl Kerschl

Plot: Brenden Fletcher

Pencils: Adam Archer

Inks: Sandra Hope

Background Painting: Msassyk

Colors: Msassyk & Serge Lapointe

Breakdowns: Rob Haynes

Letters: Steve Wands

Cover: Karl Kerschl

Cover Price: $2.99

On Sale Date: January 11, 2017

**NON SPOILERS AND SCORE AT THE BOTTOM**

I gotta say, with the Academy of the Bat happening over in New Super-Man #7 (see my review right now!), Gotham Academy seems a little lackluster. Like, sure it’s got a luxurious, spooky campus, but is anyone training to be a superhero here? Or anything, really? Seems like Gotham Academy has a lot of weird classes about magic literature and alchemy, and not many about economics and history. And zero classes about being Batman—when Gotham City is right next door! I think someone’s got to have a talk with the City’s Chancellor of Schools, start putting education first and get our fictional private schools on par with the fictional private schools of China. Gotham Academy life isn’t that bad, though, just a little…strange. As you will find out if you read my review of Gotham Academy Second Semester #5, right here!

How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Brain Bomb

Writers: Rob Williams & Si Spurrier

Artist: Riley Rossmo

Colors: Ivan Plascencia

Letters: Pat Brosseau

Cover: Riley Rossmo

Cover Price: $2.99

On Sale Date: January 11, 2017

**NON SPOILERS AND SCORE AT THE BOTTOM**

It’s a Suicide Squad vs. Justice League tie-in, and you know what that means! It will have no relevance to the actual event and may contradict the story therein. But that doesn’t mean it has to be a bad comic book, it can be…Riley Rossmo? On Suicide Squad? Oh no. I hate to be cliché, but I’ve got a bad feeling about this. But I ask myself What Would the Suicide Squad Do? and realize that I’d jump right into the fray, no matter how messy it is. So let’s not wade in slowly like some timid ninnies, let’s blast in like Killer Croc or Harley Quinn or some other criminal with a psychotic death wish! It’s my review of Suicide Squad #9, right here!

Orange You Glad I Didn’t Say Convergence?

Writer: Robert Vendetti

Artist: Ethan Van Sciver

Colorist: Jason Wright

Letterer: Dave Sharpe

Cover: Van Sciver and Wright

Cover Price: $2.99

On Sale Date: January 11, 2017

**NON SPOILERS AND SCORE AT THE BOTTOM**

Unless Hal Jordan and Kyle Rayner stop off for chili dogs—which could very well happen in this book—they should connect with John Stewart, Soranik Natu and their respective posses on Okarra fighting Larfleeze. If Hal and Kyle don’t make it…well, the Green Lantern and Sinestro Corps and pretty well screwed. So what are we waiting for? Let’s get right into the action!

New Year, New Me

Writer: Gene Luen Yang
Pencils: Billy Tan
Inks: Yanqiu Li
Colors: Yangfeng Guo
Letters: Dave Sharpe
Cover: Viktor Bogdanovic and Mike Spicer
Cover Price: $2.99
On Sale Date: January 11, 2017

**NON SPOILERS AND SCORE AT THE BOTTOM**

I’m so happy to see this issue pop up in pull list every week, it’s just a pure pleasure to read and always puts me in a good mood. I was a little tentative going into this issue, however, because it begins a new story arc and for much of Rebirth, the second story arcs have been worse than the first. Except on Aquaman, where the second was better. And on the Flash. And Action Comics. Point is that it’s a flawed formula, but there’s always the possibility that Gene Luen Yang had only enough gas in the tank for six issues, and now it’s going to coast into oblivion or irrelevance. So what’s the prognosis, doc? Hm? No doctors reading this right now? Only miscreants and malcontents? Fine, I guess I’ll give my opinion on New Super-Man #7, right now!

Cold Lampin' With Snart

Written by: Joshua Williamson
Art by: Carmine Di Giandomenico, Ivan Plascencia and Steve Wands
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: January 11, 2017

I have really started to like Flash and it's for one big reason...Kid Flash! Having Wally step up his game has really cranked the fun level up and I love the interaction between him and Barry. Of course, getting to see the first steps of the Barry/Iris love affair is not too shabby either and if that all isn't enough, the promise of the Rogues being back in Central City is pretty damn cool too! Seriously, if Joshua Williamson keeps going at this pace, The Flash is quickly going to become the place to be! So, does the fun train continue in this issue? Let's find out...

Monster Men Continue

Written by: James Tynion IV and Marguerite Bennett
Art by: Ben Oliver and Marilyn Patrizio
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: January 11, 2017

While I have enjoyed Detective Comics for the most part, taking a little time out to spotlight Kate as she gets ready to star in her own book is fine with me. I loved the New 52 Batwoman book (yes, the whole run) and think that she is a great character who deserves a solo book all her own. So, does this beginning of the two part Batwoman Begins arc (love the name, by the way) show how great the book will be? Let's find out...

PREVIEW: Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps #12

Operation: No Toys for Larfleeze

Writer: Robert Vendetti

Artist: Ethan Van Sciver

Colorist: Jason Wright

Letterer: Dave Sharpe

Cover: Van Sciver and Wright

Variant Cover: Kevin Nowlan

Cover Price: $2.99

On Sale Date: January 11, 2017

“BOTTLED LIGHT” part five! Trapped and collected by Larfleeze, the Green Lantern Corps’ only hope is Hal Jordan and White Lantern Kyle Rayner—but can these two heroes save their friends before they all become playthings to the Avatar of Avarice?

That would sort of be a switcheroo in the series, huh? If Larfleeze captured all the Lanterns and kept them as pets? Do you think they'd change the title? Larfleeze and Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps and the Sinestro Corps and Plus Kyle Rayner. Someone's got a lot of logo work to do. All you have to do is check out some preview pages, below!

The Issue That Will Change Gotham Academy FOREVERRRRR

Story: Brenden Fletcher, Becky Cloonan & Karl Kerschl

Plot: Brenden Fletcher

Pencils: Adam Archer

Inks: Sandra Hope

Background Painting: Msassyk

Colors: Msassyk & Serge Lapointe

Breakdowns: Rob Haynes

Letters: Steve Wands

Cover: Karl Kerschl

Cover Price: $2.99

On Sale Date: January 11, 2017

The Book of Gotham holds a truth that Olive Silverlock may not be ready for. When devastating secrets are revealed, Olive’s closest allies will be seen for what they truly are, and the fate of the Academy itself may hang in the balance.

Not a lot to go on from the solicit. I seem to recall Colton was also on the verge of being expelled? Guess we'll have to read the issue to find out! Check out some preview pages below for potential clues.

Second Stanza

Writer: Gene Luen Yang

Pencils: Billy Tan
Inks: Yanqiu Li
Colors: Yangfeng Guo
Letters: Dave Sharpe
Cover: Viktor Bogdanovic and Mike Spicer
Variant Cover: Bernard Chang
Cover Price: $2.99
On Sale Date: January 11, 2017

“TRAINING DAY” part one! To uncover the truth behind his mother’s murder, the New Super-Man must reawaken his full power under the tutelage of the mysterious I-Ching! But as training begins, Kong Kenan’s ego isn’t the only thing taking a beating! Plus, Baixi’s return to his alma mater, the Academy of the Bat, has turned from triumphant to deadly! What shocking betrayal lurks in the shadows of the school that trained the New Bat-Man of China?

It's the second story arc of New Super-Man ever, and you bet I'm excited! The Academy of the Bat? Yes please! This is one of my favorite DC Rebirth titles and I'm hoping it can maintain its momentum through another trade collection. You can check out some preview pages below for all your speculating needs!

Behold a [REDACTED] Horse

Writers: Rob Williams & Si Spurrier

Artist: Riley Rossmo

Colors: Ivan Plascencia

Letters: Pat Brosseau

Cover: Riley Rossmo
Variant Cover: Lee Bermejo

Cover Price: $2.99

On Sale Date: January 11, 2017

A “JUSTICE LEAGUE VS. SUICIDE SQUAD” tie-in! Finally, discover the true history behind [REDACTED BY ORDER OF TASK FORCE X DIRECTOR AMANDA WALLER].

A "true history?" Sign me up! I don't need to know the subject, I just want the truths. It could be about sneaker-producing sweatshops in Sri Lanka or your Aunt Margie's conspicuous mustache, I wanna know about it. Maybe there's a clue in the preview pages, which can be seen below!

Navigation

Thursday, January 12, 2017

Wednesday, January 11, 2017

Beginning To Feel Like Home

Fire and Ice

Here Comes the Airplane

Metropolis Is A Mess

Send Deathstroke, Guns and Money

Mommy Dearest

Heart of Darkness

Role Reversal

Extra! Extra!

My Name Is...

Cold Lampin' With Snart

Monster Men Continue

Tuesday, January 10, 2017