Batman Solicitations - January 2011

January looks like being another fantastic - and expensive - month for fans of the Bat-books: aside from regular highlights that for me at the moment include Batgirl, Batman - good to have Tony Daniel back on the book - Batman & Robin and Red Robin, we've got the first issue of Batman: Europa, a four-issue mini conceived by Brian Azzarello and Matteo Casali, Batman Beyond becomes an ongoing series and Azrael gets stronger with every issue thanks to the talents of David Hine.

The covers of a number of the regular titles take on a distinctive new look in January, some examples of which I've included here with the solicitations, and while I certainly appreciate the artwork - particularly the unbridled joy on Steph's face on Batgirl and the fantastic illustration from Stanley 'Artgerm' Lau on Birds of Prey - I think I need to see the finished, titled covers before I make up my mind whether I'm a fan of the format: with the plain backgrounds and single colour logos they lack, for me at least, a little of the warmth I'm used to.

BATMAN: EUROPA #1
Story by BRIAN AZZARELLO & MATTEO CASALI
Written by MATTEO CASALI
Layout art by GIUSEPPE CAMUNCOLI
Painted art and cover by JIM LEE
1:10 Variant cover by TBD
Superstar artist Jim Lee returns to The Dark Knight with this painted issue! The impossible has happened and Batman is on the verge of being taken down by an enemy he cannot defeat: a virus for which there is no cure! And his only possible hope for salvation is The Joker! Who infected Batman, what does the Clown Prince of Crime know, and how will The Dark Knight get that information? Together, the enemies crisscross Europe, desperate to find answers before time runs out.
Co-conceived by Brian Azzarello (100 BULLETS) and Matteo Casali and written by Casali, this 4-issue miniseries event will feature painted art by many of the industry’s top talents over layouts by the incomparable Giuseppe Camuncoli (HELLBLAZER, Dark Wolverine)! Future artists providing stunning overlay paints will include Diego Latorre (DANTE’S INFERNO) and Jock (DETECTIVE COMICS), with the first issue painted by none other than Jim Lee!
Retailers please note: These issues will ship with two covers each. Please see the Previews Order Form for more information.
On sale JANUARY 5 • 1 of 4 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US

BATMAN BEYOND #1
Written by ADAM BEECHEN
Art by RYAN BENJAMIN & JOHN STANISCI
Cover by DUSTIN NGUYEN
Yep, you read that right – the future of the DC Universe continues, as BATMAN BEYOND becomes an ongoing series! Terry McGinnis and Bruce Wayne are stronger than ever after the battle with “Hush” brought their alliance close to the breaking point. But now a super-powered criminal has gotten in way over his head – and the whole Justice League has come to Neo-Gotham to hunt him down! To top it all off, the crook’s taken hostages... including Terry’s mom! It’s the start of a story that will change Terry’s life — and the BEYOND universe — forever... so don’t miss out!
On sale JANUARY 5 • 32 pg, FC $2.99 US

BATGIRL #17
Written by BRYAN Q. MILLER
Art by PERE PEREZ
Cover by DUSTIN NGUYEN
Batgirl has been given her first sanctioned Batman Incorporated assignment solving a series of high-profile kidnappings, and she’s thrilled! Well, she was – until Damian Wayne decided to ride shotgun. Can the Dysfunctional Duo stop fighting long enough to save the children of Gotham City’s elite?
On sale JANUARY 12 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

BATMAN #706
Written by TONY DANIEL
Art and cover by TONY DANIEL
A powerful relic, hidden and protected by an ancient order, falls into the hands of one of Batman’s deadliest foes! The Dark Knight and his allies are outnumbered and outmatched as they struggle to free themselves from their merciless adversary. With death and destruction imminent, Batman must make a crucial sacrifice...
On sale JANUARY 19 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

BATMAN & ROBIN #19
Written by PETER J. TOMASI
Art by PATRICK GLEASON & MARK IRWIN
Cover by PATRICK GLEASON
“Dark Knight, White Knight” part 3 of 3! A wave of light blankets Gotham City as The White Knight makes his horrific mission personal! Meanwhile, Robin is targeted for death, and Batman must find a way to save the Boy Wonder and the countless other Gotham innocents whose lives are now
at stake!
On sale JANUARY 12 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

RED ROBIN #19
Written by FABIAN NICIEZA
Art and cover by MARCUS TO & RAY MCCARTHY
When Red Robin and his friends are trapped in the unknown world of the Unternet by the Calculator’s fail-safe program, it’s Batman and Robin to the rescue – but which Batman and Robin is it? If the Unternet is a telepathic communications gestalt where the villains’ dreams come true, can Red Robin become its waking nightmare?
On sale JANUARY 12 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

BIRDS OF PREY #8
Written by GAIL SIMONE
Art by ARDIAN SYAF & VICENTE CIFUENTES
Cover by STANLEY “ARTGERM” LAU
The stunning “Death of Oracle” arc continues, with complications that will resonate through the DC Universe! And find out more about Mortis, the most twisted BIRDS OF PREY villain ever, as she sets her sights on Hawk and Dove in this BATMAN INCORPORATED tie-in!
On sale JANUARY 12 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US


BATMAN INCORPORATED #3
Written by GRANT MORRISON
Art and cover by YANICK PAQUETTE & MICHAEL LACOMBE
1:25 Variant cover by J.H. WILLIAMS III
Batman and Catwoman travel to South America to reunite with Gaucho, Argentina’s Batman Incorporated representative. But their trip may be cut short when an unexpected adversary sends things spiraling downward!
Retailers please note: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the Previews Order Form for more information.
On sale JANUARY 19 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

DETECTIVE COMICS #873
Written by SCOTT SNYDER
Art and cover by JOCK
Now at the mercy of the deadly Mirror House, Dick Grayson must fight for his life against one of Gotham City’s oldest and most powerful evils!. Be here for the shocking conclusion to “The Black Mirror,” the first arc by the highly anticipated new creative team of writer Scott Snyder and artist Jock!
On sale JANUARY 26 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

KNIGHT & SQUIRE #4
Written by PAUL CORNELL
Art by JIMMY BROXTON
Cover by YANICK PAQUETTE MICHAEL LACOMBE
The Knight battles against his own armor – in his own castle! Elsewhere, Squire struggles with romance and the possibility that she’s being set up for betrayal! And meet Hank, the Knight’s very American butler...
On sale JANUARY 12 • 4 of 6 • 32 pg, FC $2.99 US

GOTHAM CITY SIRENS #19
Written by PETER CALLOWAY
Art by ANDRES GUINALDO & BIT
Cover by GUILLEM MARCH
With Talia al Ghul’s treachery behind them, Zatanna approaches Selina with an offer Selina never even dreamed of – erasing Batman’s secret identity from her mind! The question sends Selina on a spiritual journey to learn what it means to love and live and how significantly memory plays into both.
On sale JANUARY 26 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

BATMAN: STREETS OF GOTHAM #19
Written by PAUL DINI
Art by DUSTIN NGUYEN & DEREK FRIDOLFS
Cover by DUSTIN NGUYEN
In this penultimate issue of “House of Hush,” a forgotten villain steps into the spotlight – Dr. Death! Batman is shocked to learn that the very first villain he ever faced once posed a deadly threat to his mother and father. Now, years later, the bad doctor is back, and Hush has him! Their sinister alliance spells destruction for all The Dark Knight holds dear!
On sale JANUARY 19 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

OUTSIDERS #36
Written by DAN DIDIO
Art by KEITH GIFFEN & MICK GRAY
Cover by DAVE JOHNSON
It’s an unhappy homecoming for Black Lightning when his reunion with his daughters, Thunder and Lightning, brings his Outsiders into a direct confrontation with the Justice Society of America!
On sale JANUARY 19 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

AZRAEL #16
Written by DAVID HINE • Art by CLIFF RICHARDS
Cover by GUILLEM MARCH
Azrael’s fate lies in the hands of Ra’s al Ghul, and not even Batman may be able to help him! And what part will the mysterious Suit of Sorrows finally play?
On sale JANUARY 5 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

BATMAN CONFIDENTIAL #52
Written by MARC GUGGENHEIM • Art and cover by JERRY BINGHAM
In “Super-Powers” part 3 of 5, Batman faces the Justice League for the first time! The landmark meeting triggers a memory back to the time he met his first super-powered team – The Zhuguan! Take a trip down memory lane to a time when a young Bruce Wayne traveled the world to find the methods he’d need to embrace his fate as The Dark Knight!
On sale JANUARY 5 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

More details, and cover previews for each of the books, can be found at The Source.