PREVIEW: Amethyst #3

Writer: Amy Reeder
Artist: Amy Reeder
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: June 9, 2020
Cover Price: $3.99

After being shunned by every royal house of Gemworld, Princess Amethyst finds a friend in the kingdom of Aquamarine, famed for its courageous navigators! Unfortunately, the lady of the house offers help only in the form of Prince Maxixe, whose duties as Amethyst's guide are complicated by the fact that he. Hates. Her. Guts.

DCeased: Hope At World's End #2 Review

Walk Like a Man

Writer: Tom Taylor
Artist: Renato Guedes
Cover Price: $0.99
Release Date: June 3, 2020

DCeased: Hope at Word's End continues this week, and after a recap, issue getting people up to speed on everything going on, through a Jimmy Olsen lens, I expect Tom Taylor to kick things into high gear.  I mean, announcing the Anti-Life War was coming at the end of Chapter One had me pumped!  How was this issue, and does Taylor have me "infected" to his Digital-First story?  Let's find out...

Wonder Woman #756 Review

When Three Equals Four

Writer: Steve Orlando
Artist: Jesus Merino, Vicente Cifuentes, Romulo Fajardo Jr, and Pat Brosseau
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: June 3, 2020

Steve Orlando is finishing up his time on Wonder Woman, and it's a shame he didn't have a more cohesive run.  He's done a decent job as Themyscira's go-to relief pitcher, filling in at times and now, getting to tell his Four Horsewomen story before setting sail into the sunset.  While I may be on the lower part of the Comic Book Roundup for most of his Wonder Woman issues, I do think he loves and respects the character, and that does mean something even though it gets lost in the shuffle sometimes.  So, how is this issue?  Let's find out...

Detective Comics #1022 Review

Writer: Peter J. Tomasi
Pencils: Brad Walker
Inks: Andrew Hennessy
Colorist: Brad Anderson
Letters: Rob Leigh
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: June 2nd, 2020

Man, it seems like forever since the last issue of Detective. March 25th feels like a loooong time ago, right? I'm so glad the books are back and now I just want my comic shop to open up again! Meh, I'll catch up on the ones I collect through Midtown BUT I'M NOT HAPPY ABOUT IT, DARN IT!

Alright... let's get back to Two Face and his cult. I didn't like the last issue at all, but this one is a different story. And man, the art is FANTASTIC.

Catwoman #22 Review

Maid to Order

Writer: Paula Sevenbergen
Artist: Aneke, Laura Allred, and Gabriela Downie
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: June 3, 2020

With Joelle Jones's time on Catwoman over, we are going to get a couple of issues before Ram V starts his run, and I am ok with that.  I could use a little palette cleanser from what we just came out of, and I always like to see what other creative teams can do with a character.  So, what does Paula Sevenbergen and Aneke have for Catwoman fans?  Let's find out...

Birds of Prey #1 Review

The Many Faces of Crime Fighting

Written By: Brian Azzarello

Art By: Emanuela Lupacchino, Ray McCarthy, Trish Mulvihill, John Kalisz, Steve Wands

Cover Price: $9.99

Release Date: June 2, 2020

It's finally here!  The on-going series turned mini-series, turned Black Label one-shot that was delayed beyond belief is finally out and about and it's a hundred damn pages.  Well, at least we're getting a bang for our buck and the creators are hopefully being able to tell all the story they can in that over-sized page count because it's got to be hard to put everything you had into one release and hope that everything makes sense and flows together well.  That's just what we're going to find out as we jump into this Black Label look at the Birds of Prey and see what kind of mature Universe we're dealing with.  Let's check it out.

Shazam! #12 Review

Looking For a Better Class of Bad Guy

Written By: Jeff Loveness

Art By: Brandon Peterson, Mike Atiyeh, Rob Leigh

Cover Price: $3.99

Release Date: June 2, 2020

I had to go and look it up and boy was I disappointed to find out that the first issue to this series came out in December of 2018 and we're only at issue twelve here.  Yeah, the delays have killed all momentum that this book once had going for it and I'm sure that the hold on all comics for that time didn't help things either, but the worst thing that I think we could have done was interrupt our previously scheduled Monster Society of Evil story to have a brief interlude be put in between our penultimate and finale issues, but that's what we're getting here.  Now, don't think that I'm a Negative Nancy right out of the gate because of simple circumstances....... No.  I'm just upset that this series hasn't had the time to shine that it should have with its first big story and here we are with a one-shot that takes place before Shazam! #1 and not only that but has Batman as a guest star.  Maybe this is the boost that the book needs, but let's quit complaining about what has happened to our beloved Billy Batson's series and see what the future writer of this series, Jeff Loveness has for us with this interlude.  Let's check it out.

Justice League Dark #22 Review

Who Runs The Rot?

Written By: Ram V, James Tynion IV

Art By: Alvaro Martinez Bueno, Amancay Nahuelpan, Raul Fernandez, June Chung, Rob Leigh

Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: June 2, 2020

It's back to the War of the Parliaments, as our Justice League Dark tries to take on as many aspects of the forces of life that they can.  Previously, we saw Wonder Woman, Detective Chimp, and our special guest star, Animal Man fighting against The Grey, while Zatanna and Constantine made their way to the realm of The Rot to try and find Abigail Arcane.  Hopefully, with Doctor Fate going to check in on the other, less-known Parliaments this issue, we'll finally start seeing some resolution to this big ol' war, but with that, I hope that the excitement level is boosted too because while this should be a huge story, with giant ramifications, what we've gotten up to this point has been a bit subdued while hinging on the convoluted in the way the story has progressed.  Let's jump into this issue and see if things have become more clear and if our Justice League Dark team can overcome the forces of life itself.  Let's check it out.

Catwoman: 80th Anniversary 100-Page Super Spectacular #1 Review

Papa Read

Written by: Ann Nocenti, Will Pfeifer, Tom King, Ed Brubaker, Paul Dini, Jeff Parker, Chuck Dixon, Ram V., Mindy Newell

Art by: Ty Templeton, Jonathan Case, Steve Rude, Lee Garbett, Tim Sale, Pia Guerra, Kelley Jones, Fernando Blanco, Robson Rocha, Jim Balent, Emanuela Lupacchino, Tula Lotay, Mikel Janin, Cameron Stewart

Cover Price: $9.99

Release Date: June 2, 2020

I am torn when it comes to these big Anniversary issues. As a fan, I love seeing all the creators celebrate a character, some of whom had successful runs with the character in the past. As a reviewer, it's a pain in my ass, and I am a lazy guy! So, how was this 100-page issue that will take me so long to review? Let's find out...

Batman/Superman #9 Review

Explosive!

Writer: Joshua Williamson
Artist: Clayton Henry, Alejandro Sanchez, and John J. Hill
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: June 3, 2020

I am hoping that the time away and a new arc can get me into this book.  I haven't been able to escape the feeling that Joshua Williamson's main job was to set up Hell Arisen, and now that it's over, the book doesn't have much purpose.  That said, there is always a purpose for the World's Finest to have a book, but after the lackluster Zod story we just finished, I am still worried.  So, did this Atomic story calm my nerves a bit?  Let's find out...

Action Comics #1022 Review

Meetings and Mobsters


Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Artist: John Romita, Dani Miki, Brad Anderson, and Dave Sharpe
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: June 3, 2020

I have not been a fan of the Super books by Brian Michael Bendis, but this House of Kent story has me optimistic.  I love the idea of Conner Kent hanging with the rest of the Super-Family and hope we will get some solid answers to what is going on with him.  You know, answers that fans of Young Justice have been waiting over a year to arrive!  So, do we get something that makes me start looking forward to reading a Super book again?  Let's find out...

PREVIEW: Shazam! #12

Written By: Jeff Loveness

Art By: Brandon Peterson, Mike Atiyeh, Rob Leigh

Cover Price: $3.99

Release Date: June 2, 2020

Revealing his devious plans, Mr. Mind attacks Billy Batson and the entire Shazam family! Pushed to the limit by a fierce battle against both Black Adam and the Monster Society, can Shazam turn the tide and save himself and his adopted family of friends and fellow heroes?

This is the solicit, but the actual issue deals with Billy going to Gotham and having a team-up with Batman in a story that takes place before Shazam! #1.  Just a brief interlude before we get back to our regularly scheduled Mightiest Mortal next issue.

PREVIEW: Wonder Woman #756

Writer: Steve Orlando
Artist: Jesus Merino, Vicente Cifuentes, Danny Miki
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: June 3, 2020

With Wonder Woman down, the Four Horsewomen are victorious-and now they set their sights on the rest of the Amazons! Can anyone stop Warmaster from delivering ultimate vengeance upon Wonder Woman's family?

PREVIEW: Justice League Dark #22

Writer: James Tynion IV, Ram V
Artist: Alvaro Martinez, Amancay Nahuelpan
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: June 3, 2020

What dreams may come-we be so lucky! Instead, the nightmares are here!  Zatanna and John Constantine take a dive into the mind of Abigail Arcane to save her from the all-consuming Rot, while Animal Man must reach deep within himself to save Detective Chimp and Wonder Woman from the hordes of infected rot monsters. Minds, worlds, and lives hang in the (in)balance!

PREVIEW: Detective Comics #1022

Writer: Peter J. Tomasi

Artist: Brad Walker, Andrew Hennessy
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: June 3, 2020

"Ugly Heart" part three! Batman has been blasted with bullets and left for dead by Two-Face's deadly Church of the Two-and if Gotham City is going to survive Two-Face's final revenge, they're going to need a miracle! But be careful what you wish for, because resurrection is already in progress, and this one involves a certain Clown Prince and the heir to Gotham's vigilante throne...

PREVIEW: Catwoman #22

Writer: Paula Sevenbergen
Artist: Aneke
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: June 3, 2020

Ever seen those hot-pink vans stationed around town advertising sexy maids who'll come clean your house? Little did you know those sexy maids are actually part of a secret underground sting operation that only Catwoman can claw her way through to find the artifact they've stolen. It's leather versus lingerie in this epic cat chase!

PREVIEW: Catwoman: 80th Anniversary 100-Page Super Spectacular #1

Written by: Ann Nocenti, Will Pfeifer, Tom King, Ed Brubaker, Paul Dini, Jeff Parker, Chuck Dixon, Ram V., Mindy Newell
Art by: Ty Templeton, Jonathan Case, Steve Rude, Lee Garbett, Tim Sale, Pia Guerra, Kelley Jones, Fernando Blanco, Robson Rocha, Jim Balent, Emanuela Lupacchino, Tula Lotay, Mikel Janin, Cameron Stewart
Cover Price: $9.99
Release Date: June 2, 2020

Our gal Catwoman is turning 80 next year (and looking very good, if we meow say), and DC is celebrating with nothing less than with a huge soiree, invite only, packed with creators who mean the most to her and to whom she means the most! Stories featured in this 100-page spectacular include a tail-sorry, tale-that takes place at the end of the Brubaker/Stewart Catwoman run, in honor of artist Darwyn Cooke. Plus, Catwoman is caught by an exotic cat collector, runs into a wannabe thief trying to prove himself as her apprentice, encounters a mystery involving memorabilia from alternate continuities, and of course some Bat/Cat fun.

PREVIEW: Birds of Prey #1

Written By: Brian Azzarello

Art By: Emanuela Lupacchino, Ray McCarthy, Trish Mulvihill, John Kalisz, Steve Wands

Cover Price: $9.99

Release Date: June 2, 2020

Black Canary's life has spiraled out of control: her personal life is going through the ringer and her band is in crisis when an old flame resurfaces only to flicker out and set her on an all-new mission against an all-new opponent. The only thing she has to be grateful for is the fact that she's not alone, as Huntress finds herself on a collision course with Black Canary's quarry at Detective Montoya's urging. Meanwhile, Harley Quinn has resurfaced outside of Gotham City and out of the Suicide Squad, with a new lease on life that is sure to make everyone else's life more complicated. 

And that's only the first five pages of this high-octane, graphic novel-length one-shot that pushes the Birds of Prey far beyond their limits and puts them up against the most brutal crime syndicate to ever sweep into Gotham City! Hardboiled superstar writer Brian Azzarello and the bombshell art team of Emanuela Lupacchino and Ray McCarthy take the Birds into the no-holds-barred world of Black Label, and none of them will ever be the same! 

PREVIEW: Batman/Superman #9

Writer: Joshua Williamson
Artist: Clayton Henry
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: June 3, 2020

"Atomic" part one! The Atomic Skull is dead. When Batman and Superman arrive on the scene of his explosive demise, they discover that this villain-turned-would-be hero was one of many people to be the subject of grisly-and sometimes fatal-experiments. But who is pulling the strings of these bizarre and unnecessary surgeries? Whom will they experiment on next? And what does one of Superman's oldest foes, the Ultra-Humanite, have to do with this deadly mystery?

PREVIEW: Action Comics #1022

Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Artist: John Romita, Klaus Janson
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: June 3, 2020
Cover Price: $3.99

First, Metropolis was hit with the biggest ground battle in the history of the city and barely survived. On top of that, Leviathan threw down his gauntlet for the entire world to see, and Superman revealed the truth of his identity as Clark Kent. Now the city is in a state of shock-and Clark and Conner Kent need to figure out what's next for them and the city they protect! Guest-starring Wonder Comics' Young Justice in a unique crossover!