DC Comics Patreon Spotlight Podcast: Harley Quinn and the Birds of Prey #1 and Batman: Pennyworth RIP #1 is Available

This week's DC Comics Patreon Spotlight features Harley Quinn and the Birds of Prey #1 and Batman: Pennyworth RIP #1!  Head over to our Patreon (HERE) to hear that episode and so much more!  Run Time: 1 Hour 12 Minutes

Some other recent shows:

Marvel Comics Patreon Spotlight: Gwen Stacy #1 and Nebula #1

Weird Science Pop Culture Podcast Ep 53: Oscar Night, He-Man, Billie Eilish and "How Dare You"...The Game Show

Weird Science Comics News Podcast Ep 120: Generation Zero, Juggernaut, and My Little Pony/Transformers

DC Comics Secret Origins Podcast: Arrowette

Go on over and check it out at patreon.com/weirdscience

Here is some sample audio from our Batman: Pennyworth RIP review:

Supergirl #39 Review and *SPOILERS*

Government Incompetence

Written By: Jody Houser
Art By: Rachael Stott, Cris Peter
Letters By: Tom Napolitano
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: February 12, 2020

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

Supergirl continues to be in a bad place as not only are we not focusing on her own story, not only are we dragged into ANOTHER crossover story, but we can’t even do that well. In the previous issue we got three monologues about the same thing, from the same person. It was lazy. It was boring, It was legitimately one of the worst issues that I’ve ever read. The only saving grace of that issue was having a face off between Supergirl and Wonder Woman near the end that is going to lead into this new issue. That battle is interesting to me especially with Kara’s true self starting to shine through with the Lasso of Truth wrapped around her. However, we will only really find out the quality of this issue by jumping in and seeing what this creative team has for us in this issue so let’s get to it.

Harley Quinn & Poison Ivy #6 Review

That's It?

Writer: Jody Houser
Artist: Adriana Melo, Mark Morales
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: February 12, 2020

I was looking forward to this mini-series because of DC Comics pushing it as the book that would heal Poison Ivy from that shit show Heroes in Crisis.  There words, not mine!  Well, maybe I paraphrased it a bit, but still, this mini seemed important, especially with the Avatar of the Green job up for grabs.  Somewhere along the line, however, this book seemed to turn more into Harley Quinn and her pal, Ivy, and that's a shame.  So, going into this final issue, I have lowered my expectations a bit and hope we get a decent ending that gives Ivy a good enough new status Quo.  Do we get that?  Let's find out...

Wonder Woman #751 Review and Spoilers

Overtures

Written by: Steve Orlando
Art by: Jan Duursema
Colors by: Romulo Fajardo Jr
Letters by: Pat Brosseau
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: February 12, 2020

The issue following a big celebration or event is often a good time either for a new creative team to come on board a title or for the existing team to re-establish the fundamentals of the series and hint at what's coming down the pipe in future issues. And this latter course of action is pretty much exactly what writer Steve Orlando attempts to do here in this post-celebration issue. Is he successful? Well, there's only one way to find out…

The Dollhouse Family #4 Review

COME UP

Writer: M.R. Carey
Layouts: Peter Gross
Finishes: Vince Locke
Colors: Cris Peter
Letters: Todd Klein
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: February 12th, 2020

In 1847, Joseph Kent is facing Cloax in the cave where they met and she, uh, planted her seed in him(?) that would impregnate his future wife with Cordwainer. Will his knife made of this special kind of metal work? In 2005, Joseph’s ancestor Alice Dealey is struggling to keep the Dollhouse away from her daughter Una. A demonic Jenny sent by the Dollhouse convinces a racist madman to murder Alice and Una, and the issue ends with him blowing the bus they're riding on. To read my reviews of all of this series, click on The Dollhouse Family label.

Hawkman #21 Review

Size Doesn't Matter

Written By: Robert Venditti

Art By: Fernando Pasarin, Oclair Albert, Wade Von Grawbadger, Jeremy Cox, Rob Leigh

Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: February 12, 2020

Sky Tyrant, the evil former life of Carter Hall is still alive and active now that he's become infected by the Batman Who Laughs and when we last saw our former hero, he was on his way to a key that would start a doomsday weapon to destroy all life in the Universe.  Thankfully though, we have Hawkwoman, Adam Strange and The Atom working together to stop their former friend and hopefully, end the infection and bring Carter Hall back to all of us.  I don't know if they'll be in time though because in the previous issue we saw Sky Tyrant going up against a Hawk Titan on a world of giants to get the key, but it doesn't look like this guardian is going to make it easy on him.  Let's jump into this issue and check it out.

Gotham City Monsters #6 Review

Killing In The Name Of...... The Multiverse!

Written By: Steve Orlando

Art By: Amancay Nahuelpan, Trish Mulvihill, Tom Napolitano 

Cover Price: $3.99

Release Date: February 12, 2020

It's time for the biggest book that DC Comics is putting out right now, especially since we're kind of on a hiatus with Justice League as far as dealing with Perpetua and the reason I say this is because we have the Gotham City Monsters going up against Melmoth, who apparently wants to stop Perpetua from destroying the Multiverse......... and yet, somehow he's the bad guy.  Yeah, he's sacrificing people and using the Bible of Crime to reach out into the Multiverse and create an immune system to fight back Perpetua's hold, but sometimes you gotta crack a few eggs to make an omelet.... am I right?  Things might actually go Melmoth's way too because when last we left him it looked like Killer Croc had betrayed the Gotham City Monsters by impaling Frankenstein, allowing Melmoth the time he would need to complete his ritual.  Let's jump into this finale and see how everything plays out.

Batman and the Outsiders #10 Review

Back to the Start

Writer: Bryan Hill
Artist: Dexter Soy, Veronica Gandini and Clayton Cowles
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: February 12, 2020

I have been up and down with this series, but overall, I do like it.  At times the pacing feels a bit off, but Bryan Hill is giving readers more character moments than most capes and cowls books usually present, and there are moments where they have paid off.  However, there are big chunks of time where I just wanted something to blow up or someone to get punched.  Thankfully, there has been more of a solid mix of character and action in the last bunch of issues, and it's all leading to what should be an epic fight with Ra's al Ghul...if there are any Outsiders left standing when it comes.  So, how was this issue?  Let's find out...

Catwoman #20 Review

Writer: Joelle Jones

Artist: Fernando Blanco
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: February 12, 2020

I can't believe we are still dealing with Raina Creel!  She was hardly worth six issues, and it just points to the sad fact that nothing much has happened in this series since it began.  It seems this is the penultimate issue of Raina's story, if not Joelle Jones' time on this book, and I can only hope that somehow, she has a hail mary play to make it all tie together and make it all worthwhile.  Does this issue point to that maybe being the case?  Let's find out...

The Flash #88 Review and *SPOILERS*

Origin

Written By: Joshua Williamson
Art By: Howard Porter, Hi-Fi
Letters By: Steve Wands
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: February 12, 2020

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

To say that I was disappointed with the previous issue is an understatement. As with all of our comics in recent years, The Flash dragged it audience back to the status quo, kicking and screaming. It’s so frustrating to get invested in a storyline just for the writer to say, “just forget that happened because we have to have things back to normal”. As far as I’m concerned the stakes in Williamson’s run has been completely removed, which is actually quite a feat. Williamson’s run has actually had a lot of longstanding effects. The New Forces, the breaking of the Force Wall, etc. There have been a lot of things in this book that would normally have effect upon the rest of the DC Universe. However, with this last issue taking away those stakes, I can’t help but think that Williamson’s run with this character will end in the exact same way. I hope I’m wrong but until then, let’s jump into this new issue and see where it takes us.

Superman #20 Review

Ramifications Revealed!

Written By: Brian Michael Bendis

Art By: Ivan Reis, Joe Prado, Oclair Albert, Alex Sinclair, Jeremiah Skipper, Dave Sharpe

Cover Price: $3.99

Release Date: February 12, 2020

The Truth of Superman's secret identity continues this issue and with it...... The Unity Day stuff, but at least here it seems like it at least ties into what's going on and doesn't come off as a weird side story. I'm getting ahead of myself though, we're continuing to look at the ramifications of Superman's reveal to the world and while in the previous issue it didn't look like there were any ramifications, which felt ridiculous, it's time that we finally see why Superman should always keep his identity secret. Let's jump into this issue and see what's what.

Superman: Heroes #1 Review

Superman's Truth

Written By: Brian Michael Bendis, Matt Fraction, Greg Rucka

Art By: Kevin Maguire, Mike Perkins, Steve Lieber, Mike Norton, Scott Godlewski, Paul Mounts, Gabe Eltaeb, Andy Troy, Nathan Fairbairn, Troy Peteri, Clayton Cowles, Simon Bowland

Cover Price: $5.99

Release Date: February 12, 2020

What happens when Superman reveals his identity to the world?  Well, he then has to go and confront his friends and family about his decision.  That seems to be the point to this issue, where we'll see short little vignettes about Superman's time talking to each person about his decision or how others see his decision.  Hopefully, we'll see some ramifications to his actions because you know they're coming and I mean more than just what's going on in Superman right now, but mostly, this will just be a quick look into the life of Superman after one of his biggest decisions.  Let's jump into this issue and check it out.

Batman: Pennyworth R.I.P. #1 Review

Boys to Men

Writer: James Tynion IV, Peter J. Tomasi
Artist: Eddy Barrows, Eber Ferreira, others
Cover Price: $4.99
Release Date: February 12, 2020

I have never been a fan of these specials when it deals with something that felt like it happened for shock value in the first place.  This issue feels odd in so many ways...timing, who isn't writing it, and information that has come out since.  I will discuss all of that below, so let's get to the review...

PREVIEW: Catwoman #20

Writer: Joelle Jones

Artist: Fernando Blanco
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: February 12, 2020

Raina Creel's thugs are making a move on the pawnshop where Catwoman has set up headquarters, and if Selina can't stop them, it could cost the lives of the allies she has working there. Luckily, none of them will go down without a fight; unluckily, Raina's biggest bad may have more fight than any of them can handle.

PREVIEW: The Flash #88

Writer: Joshua Williamson
Artist: Howard Porter
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: February 12, 2020

Witness the birth of Paradox! As a hero, the Flash helps as many people as he possibly can...but Paradox shows what happens when ordinary people pay the price for super-powered battles royal. What started as a happy life of family and science turned into a nightmare when the Turtle's attack on Central City rained down from the future-and now the story of the civilians caught in the crossfire will change the Flash's life forever!

PREVIEW: Green Lantern: Season Two #1

Writer: Grant Morrison
Artist: Liam Sharp
Cover Price: $4.99
Release Date: February 12, 2020

The team of writer Grant Morrison and artist Liam Sharp continue their bold new take on the Emerald Warrior in a wild 30-page second season opener! In the wake of the Blackstar incursion, Hal Jordan and his fellow Lanterns must pick up the pieces from that cataclysmic conclusion. Among them is Jordan's next critical mission: search for the next generation of cosmic immortals. Is the universe ready for...the Young Guardians?

PREVIEW: Harley Quinn & Poison Ivy #6

Writer: Jody Houser
Artist: Adriana Melo, Mark Morales
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: February 12, 2020

It's the end of the road for our Gotham City sirens...and the revelation of Poison Ivy's shocking secret will rock you to your core! Will Harley Quinn be able to make the ultimate sacrifice to become the hero she so desperately wants to be? Or will old habits die hard and end Harley and Ivy's friendship forever?

PREVIEW: Harley Quinn and the Birds of Prey #1

Writer: Amanda Conner, Jimmy Palmiotti
Artist: Amanda Conner
Cover Price: $5.99
Release Date: February 12, 2020

The creative team that transformed Harley Quinn forever returns to shake up her world once more-and this time, the gloves are off!  Harley Quinn has avoided Gotham City ever since she broke up with The Joker and found a home, and a kind of family, in Coney Island. But when she gets an offer she can't refuse, she has no choice but to slip back into the city as quietly as she can, hoping to be gone before anyone - especially her ex - learns she's been there. But for Harley, "as quietly as she can" is plenty loud... and before she can say "Holee bounty hunters, Batman," The Joker's sicced every super-villain in the city on her pretty ombré head-and the only team tough enough (or crazy enough) to come to her defense is the Birds of Prey! The foul-mouthed, no-holds-barred sequel to one of DC's raciest runs is here! Get on board early, before we come to our senses!

PREVIEW: Supergirl #39

Writer: Jody Houser
Artist: Rachael Stott
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: February 12, 2020

After the Lasso of Truth reveals something unexpected about Supergirl's infection, Wonder Woman is quickly running out of ways to try to bring Kara back peacefully. Making matters worse, the government has sent robotic military backup to Smallville to deal with the possible atomic threat of Infected Supergirl-and neither Wonder Woman nor Supergirl is prepared for the innocent casualties this could mean for the town.

PREVIEW: Wonder Woman #751

Writer: Steve Orlando
Artist: Jan Duursema
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: February 12, 2020

Wonder Woman...under arrest! As she starts to protect her new hometown of Boston, the city wonders-who will protect Boston from her? Agent Nora Nunes must shadow Wonder Woman for a day to ensure the city will be safe if Diana resides there. But what starts as a tranquil day transforms into disaster relief, and Diana and Nora will need to survive not only the elements, but also the arrival of the three Dark Fates!

PREVIEW: The Terrifics #25

Writer: Gene Luen Yang
Artist: Dan Mora
Cover Price: $4.99
Release Date: February 12, 2020

Choose your fate, choose your action, choose your destiny! In this special extra-sized 25th issue, Michael Holt has dis-covered a deadly hidden enemy, and only a series of life-or-death simulations can bring the threat to the forefront! But when Mr. Terrific lies to his team, how can they trust him again? Don't miss this epic multi-path journey that puts you, the reader, in charge of the story! Pick your ending, but choose wisely! The Terrifics team hangs in the balance!

PREVIEW: Superman: Heroes #1

Written By: Brian Michael Bendis, Matt Fraction, Greg Rucka

Art By: Kevin Maguire, Mike Perkins, Steve Lieber, Mike Norton, Scott Godlewski, Paul Mounts, Gabe Eltaeb, Andy Troy, Nathan Fairbairn, Troy Peteri, Clayton Cowles, Simon Bowland

Cover Price: $5.99

Release Date: February 12, 2020

Lois Lane, Jimmy Olsen, the staff of the Daily Planet, even the Justice League-their lives all changed when Superman revealed his secret identity to the world! This unique Superman experience explores what the identity of Clark Kent meant to those close to him-and what their relationship to Superman will be in the future. All the rules are about to change-and it all starts here.

The dream team of writers Brian Michael Bendis, Matt Fraction, Greg Rucka, and Jody Houser team up for this amazing special, with art anchored by DC legend Kevin Maguire, plus sequences focusing on each corner of the Superman universe by artists Steve Lieber (Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen) and Mike Perkins (Lois Lane). ONE-SHOT

PREVIEW: The Batman's Grave #5

Writer: Warren Ellis
Artist: Bryan Hitch
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: February 12, 2020

The Batman is summoned to Arkham Asylum, where he is presented with parts of a deadly puzzle he couldn't see assembling all around him. And he may not make it out alive.

PREVIEW: Batman and the Outsiders #10

Writer: Bryan Hill
Artist: Dexter Soy
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: February 12, 2020

When Batman recruited Black Lightning to join the Outsiders, he warned him of the dark world he was entering. Black Lightning shrugged it off, but now that Ra's al Ghul has gone after him directly, the darkness Batman warned of has enveloped him. Will the Outsiders be able to free him from it?

PREVIEW: Batman: Pennyworth R.I.P. #1

Writer: James Tynion IV, Peter J. Tomasi
Artist: Eddy Barrows, Eber Ferreira, others
Cover Price: $4.99
Release Date: February 12, 2020

Alfred Pennyworth served the Wayne family for decades-even through the tragic loss of Bruce Wayne's parents. His death at the hands of Bane is the only event that could possibly compare to that fateful night in Crime Alley, and it leaves Bruce at a similar crossroads. If Alfred was the glue that held the Bat-Family together, how will Batman deal with that all falling apart? And if the Caped Crusader is to be truly alone, he might either hang that cape up once and for all...or double down and carry on with this vengeful quest forever. Batman: Pennyworth R.I.P. #1 celebrates the life of one of the most important people in the history of Gotham City, while also addressing questions about what's next.

PREVIEW: Superman #20

Written By: Brian Michael Bendis

Art By: Ivan Reis, Joe Prado, Oclair Albert, Alex Sinclair, Jeremiah Skipper, Dave Sharpe

Cover Price: $3.99

Release Date: February 12, 2020

The United Planets is a perfect, beautiful idea…that completely flies in the face of everything the barbaric Mongul has been fighting for his entire life. Mongol will destroy the United Planets and Superman with it. And he said something about using Earth as his toilet. Which doesn’t sound very nice. The return of one of Superman’s biggest and baddest villains…bigger and badder than ever!