Batman Solicitations - December 2011

DC have released their Batman solicitations for December 2011 and, in addition to finding out why Barbara Gordon is wearing Stephanie Brown's Batgirl costume in Birds of Prey, I'm looking forward to learning how many of these first story-arcs develop.

My own highlight, potentially, is actually a one-shot - Batman Inc: Leviathan Strikes written by Grant Morrison. “The long-awaited conclusion to season 1 of Batman Incorporated” features art from Cameron Stewart and Chris Burnham, is told across 80 pages and goes on sale on 21 December.

Further details from DC's The Source and Batgirl to Oracle.

Batman Incorporated: Leviathan Strikes #1
Written by GRANT MORRISON
Art by CHRIS BURNHAM and CAMERON STEWART
Cover by CHRIS BURNHAM
One-Shot • On sale DECEMBER 21 • 80 pg, FC, $6.99 US • RATED T
In this sensational, giant-sized one-shot spinning out of BATMAN INCORPORATED, Batman realizes to his horror that he's been outwitted as the true identity of Leviathan continues to elude him. Is his deadly adversary an old foe with a grudge to settle, a new face of evil…or something completely different? Only one thing is certain: You won't soon forget the shocking ending!

BIRDS OF PREY #4
Written by DUANE SWIERCZYNSKI
Art by JESUS SAIZ
Cover by DAVID FINCH and RICHARD FRIEND
On sale DECEMBER 21 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
The only thing worse than a bomb on a speeding train is three bombs. Hidden inside the skulls of three different people. All on the same speeding train. And the Birds of Prey – Black Canary, Starling, Katana and Poison Ivy – know the names of only two of these walking bombs. Don’t miss the shocking revelation that will rewrite the rules of the team forever! Yes, we know it’s only issue #4! Guest starring Batgirl!

Huntress #3
Written by PAUL LEVITZ
Art by MARCUS TO and JOHN DELL
Cover by GUILLEM MARCH
On sale DECEMBER 7 • 32 pg, 3 of 6, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
The Huntress has vowed to take down one of the most powerful mob bosses in Europe…but who's the even more powerful man behind him? And why is she facing a showdown in the ancient ruins of Pompeii?

NIGHTWING #4
Written by KYLE HIGGINS
Art by TREVOR McCARTHY
Cover by EDDY BARROWS
On sale DECEMBER 21 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
As Haly’s continues to travel the east coast, Dick’s search for answers take him – and the circus – to Miami! But when a case from Gotham City brings Barbara Gordon to Florida, Nightwing and Batgirl must work together to bring a thief to justice. Be here as Nightwing and Batgirl tackle South Beach – and discover the true nature of the circus! The answers start this issue!

CATWOMAN #4
Written by JUDD WINICK
Art and cover by GUILLEM MARCH
On sale DECEMBER 21 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+
Catwoman pays a call on Wayne Manor, but those who live there prefer that you call first. Then Selina Kyle says goodbye to an old friend, says hello to an older one, and resolves more firmly than ever to strike out on her own. Only one of those things almost gets her killed.

BATWOMAN #4
Written by J.H. WILLIAMS III and W. HADEN BLACKMAN
Art and cover by J.H. WILLIAMS III
On sale DECEMBER 14 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Blood drenches the back alleys of Gotham City in Part four of “Hydrology” – and Batwoman’s life begins to burn!

BATGIRL #4
Written by GAIL SIMONE
Art by ARDIAN SYAF and VICENTE CIFUENTES
Cover by ADAM HUGHES
On sale DECEMBER 14 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Batgirl’s secret past finally catches up to her as she races to a final confrontation with the deadly sociopath Mirror! All the answers start right here in this thrilling issue!

BATMAN #4
Written by SCOTT SNYDER
Art by GREG CAPULLO and JONATHAN GLAPION
Cover by GREG CAPULLO
Variant cover by MIKE CHOI
1:200 B&W variant cover by GREG CAPULLO
On sale DECEMBER 21 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Shocking discoveries lead Batman deeper into the mystery of the Court of Owls and its secret and bloody ties to both Gotham City and the Wayne family. But an even deadlier threat awaits Batman: a trap set hundreds of years ago, far beneath his city. The war for Gotham’s soul begins here!

DETECTIVE COMICS #4
Written by TONY S. DANIEL
Art and cover by TONY S. DANIEL and SANDU FLOREA
On sale DECEMBER 7 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
As Batman uncovers a deranged plot with far-reaching tentacles that touch some of the city’s most elite citizens, he finds himself facing off against his newest and most fearsome foes: Dollmaker and his twisted family of killers!

BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT #4
Written by PAUL JENKINS and DAVID FINCH
Art and cover by DAVID FINCH and RICHARD FRIEND
On sale DECEMBER 28 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Batman must race against time to save a friend’s life. But his mission may prove impossible as he reels under the weight of three hundred chemically enhanced super-criminals who stand against him. All clues point to one psychotic criminal, and all roads to a solution that will lead to one secret location… but will Batman arrive too late to stop the rage let loose on his city?

BATWING #4
Written by JUDD WINICK
Art by CHRISCROSS
Cover by BEN OLIVER
On sale DECEMBER 7 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
As Massacre’s bloody reign of murder continues and more heroes fall, Batwing closes in on this mad villain. But with his memories stirring, Batwing’s dark past begins to emerge… At last, the truth of his past will come to light.

BATMAN AND ROBIN #4
Written by PETER J. TOMASI
Art and cover by PATRICK GLEASON and MICK GRAY
On sale DECEMBER 14 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Batman and Robin are at the mercy of NoBody as he forces them to embrace a new way to battle crime and injustice. But Batman has other ideas! Plus: Don’t miss the origin of NoBody!

RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #4
Written by SCOTT LOBDELL
Art and cover by KENNETH ROCAFORT
On sale DECEMBER 21 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
The man who has pursued Starfire all the way to the wilds of Colorado has only one thing on his mind: her slow and painful death. His name is Crux – and he’s done some dark and dangerous work on his DNA to reach his goal of ridding the Earth of every alien on the planet! And Kori’s about to learn that Red Hood and Roy Harper have their hands full with the ancient evil known as The Untitled!

Batman Solicitations - November 2011

November's Batman solicitations have been released and my highlight from the months new books might surprise you: not normally a title I pick up but I'm really looking forward to The All-New Batman: The Brave and the Bold #13 - a story from Sholly Fisch that sees the Phantom Stranger gathering together every former Boy Wonder ... just for the record there are 5 - not 4 - of them!

Aside from that title my eye was caught by the covers for the second issues of a couple of mini-series: Guillem March providing the cover for The Huntress and Szymon Kudranski providing both cover and interior art for Penguin: Pain and Prejudice.

Further details from a variety of sources including Comic Book Resources and The Source.

THE ALL-NEW BATMAN: THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD #13
Written by SHOLLY FISCH
Art and cover by RICK BURCHETT and DAN DAVIS
On sale November 9, 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US, RATED E
Batman is seriously injured, so it’s up to a whole team of Robins to stop the League of Assassins! How? The Phantom Stranger reaches through space and time to gather everyone who’s ever been “The Boy Wonder,” but will their combined skills be enough?

THE HUNTRESS #2
Written by PAUL LEVITZ
Art by MARCUS TO and JOHN DELL
Cover by GUILLEM MARCH
On sale November 9, 32 pg, 2 of 6, FC, $2.99 US, RATED T
Helena Bertinelli takes a trip to Naples, Italy, but she’s not there on holiday. As her alter ego, the Huntress, she’s uncovered a human trafficking and gun-smuggling ring that only scratches the surface of Mafioso activity! With no backup, no safety net, can this one-woman wrecking crew clean up the mean streets of this ancient city?

PENGUIN: PAIN AND PREJUDICE #2
Written by GREGG HURWITZ
Art and cover by SZYMON KUDRANSKI
On sale November 9, 32 pg, 2 of 5, FC, $2.99 US, RATED T
Writer Gregg Hurwitz and artist Szymon Kudranski continue their dark examination of the Penguin in PENGUIN: PAIN AND PREJUDICE. The Penguin runs a vast crime empire that’s always one step away from faltering, thanks to the interference of Batman. How can Penguin keep Batman at bay and maintain the power and image that’s become so important to him? And what dark family secrets is the Penguin hiding?

BATMAN #3
Written by SCOTT SNYDER
Art by GREG CAPULLO and JONATHAN GLAPION
Cover by GREG CAPULLO
1:25 Variant cover by IVAN REIS and JOE PRADO
1:200 B&W Variant cover by FRANCIS MANAPUL
On sale November 16, 32 pages, FC, $2.99 US, RATED T
As Bruce digs deeper into the mystery of the recent owl murders, he soon finds himself face to face with a shocking enemy - an enemy the Wayne family has secretly been at war with for centuries. Be there for the first shots of the war for the soul of Gotham City. Friends will become deadly enemies and secrets will be revealed - revelations that will change the Bat-family forever.

DETECTIVE COMICS #3
Written by TONY S. DANIEL
Art and cover by TONY S. DANIEL and RYAN WINN
On sale November 2, 32 pages, FC, $2.99 US, RATED T
He makes dolls out of his victims - and he's tired of being referred to in the media as the Gotham Strangler. His moniker is the Dollmaker, and he and his insane family are going to hunt down Gotham City's public figures and turn them into the ultimate collectables. As the Dollmaker ups the stakes, Batman finds himself in a race against time - because one of his allies is the Dollmaker's next target!

BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT #3
Written by PAUL JENKINS
Art by DAVID FINCH and RICHARD FRIEND with JAY FABOK
Cover by DAVID FINCH and RICHARD FRIEND
On sale November 23, 32 pages, FC, $2.99 US, RATED T
A wave of fear washes across Gotham City as a mysterious toxin radically alters the bodies of its criminals, sending crazed villains into the streets and stretching the resources of the police department. Can Batman and his vigilante partners follow the clues and uncover the perpetrator's real identity? And when one fabled hero is stricken by the poison, the trail will point to the mysterious White Rabbit.

BATWING #3
Written by JUDD WINICK
Art and cover by BEN OLIVER
On sale November 2, 32 pages, FC, $2.99 US, RATED T
Massacre's crusade of blood continues, and the only one standing in his way is Batwing, who finds himself fighting alongside a legendary hero of Africa: the mighty Thunder Fall! As more heroes are targeted by this madman, the mystery of why begins to unfold, as does the story of Batwing's dark past.

BATMAN AND ROBIN #3
Written by PETER J. TOMASI
Art and cover by PATRICK GLEASON and MICK GRAY
On sale November 9, 32 pages, FC, $2.99 US, RATED T
As Robin does all he can to keep his own killer instincts at bay, Batman focuses his energies on Nobody, the deadly enigma from Bruce's past who has arrived in Gotham and is hellbent on forcing him to accept a new world crimefighting view even as he infiltrates the Waynes' personal lives.

BIRDS OF PREY #3
Written by DUANE SWIERCZYNSKI
Art by JESUS SAIZ
Cover by DAVID FINCH and RICHARD FRIEND
On sale November 16, 32 pages, FC, $2.99 US, RATED T
Someone's come up with a way to turn ordinary citizens of Gotham City into undetectable walking bombs...and only Black Canary (a.k.a. Dinah Laurel Lance), Starling (a.k.a. Ev Crawford) and new team member Katana (a.k.a. Tatsu Yamashiro) can stop them. But will Canary's choice of a fourth team member, a notorious bioterrorist, tear them apart first?

BATMAN: ODYSSEY VOL. 2 #2
Written by NEAL ADAMS
Art and cover by NEAL ADAMS
1:10 B&W Variant cover by NEAL ADAMS
On sale November 30, 40 pg, 2 of 7, FC, $3.99 US RATED T
Retailers: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the order form for more information.
Batman’s odyssey has brought him to the underworld, where The League of Assassins has been firmly established for decades! The League is liquidating its enemies to make way for the Sensei to take over his father’s kingdom, and after that, the world itself. But if Batman can’t conquer his inner demons and learn to save lives by taking them, he may forfeit the war to the League!

CATWOMAN #3
NOT FINAL COVER ART
Written by JUDD WINICK
Art and cover by GUILLEM MARCH
On sale November 16, 32 pages, FC, $2.99 US, RATED T+
Cats hate baths. Cats hate dogs. And cats hate being caught. Catwoman stole from the wrong man, and now he's got her. He wants his stuff back, he wants answers and he wants blood. Cats had better have nine lives, because Selina Kyle is about to lose one!

BATWOMAN #3
Written by J.H. WILLIAMS III and W. HADEN BLACKMAN
Art and cover by J.H. WILLIAMS III
On sale November 9, 32 pages, FC, $2.99 US, RATED T
Horror! Batwoman faces the terrifying villain stalking Gotham City's children. Can she defeat the gruesome monster in time to save the city's most innocent victims? Intrigue! Kate Kane unearths a ghost she has tried hard to bury, even as the D.E.O. closes in on Batwoman. Can Kate outrun her past and Cameron Chase? Romance! Kate's relationship with Detective Maggie Sawyer continues to evolve. But will Kate's nocturnal activities cause a rift between the two?

BATGIRL #3
Written by GAIL SIMONE
Art by ARDIAN SYAF and VICENTE CIFUENTES
Cover by ADAM HUGHES
On sale November 9, 32 pages, FC, $2.99 US, RATED T
It's the story you've been waiting for! As Barbara Gordon struggles to find her place in the world, Batgirl and Nightwing collide with the unstoppable force of a train wreck! Will it be sparks flying, or fists for this star-crossed duo? Also, the terrifying Mirror ups the ante in his bizarre war on the citizens of Gotham City! Featuring the eye-popping art of rising superstar Ardian Syaf!

RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #3
Written by SCOTT LOBDELL
Art and cover by KENNETH ROCAFORT and BLOND
On sale November 16, 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US, RATED T
Red Hood, Arsenal and Starfire enter the Chamber of All to discover what the Untitled wanted - but they'll need to leave their most cherished memories as collateral! And when you're a reincarnated sidekick who lets your madon get the better of you, a former addict turned soldier of fortune, and an intergalactic princess who never quite recovered from a childhood spent as a prisoner of war...? Well, there aren't a lot of cherished memories to choose from! All this as the trio draws ever closer to dealing with a threat that's already killed the ancient caste of assassins who taught Jason Todd everything he knows about the art of killing!

NIGHTWING #3
Written by KYLE HIGGINS
Art and cover by by EDDY BARROWS and JP MAYER
On sale November 16, 32 pages, FC, $2.99 US, RATED T
The Big Top comes to the Windy City! After the massive events of issue 2, the circus heads to Chicago - and Dick Grayson is along for the ride! But as Nightwing puts pressure on ex-Haley connections in search for answers about his past, one lead may be far too explosive to handle! Be here as Nightwing takes his quest for the truth to the Second City!

Paul Levitz Talks About The Huntress

One of the bright spots over recent issues of DC's Birds of Prey title has, for me, been the focus on Helena Bertinelli, The Huntress.

As I've acknowledged elsewhere, in the past I've probably been guilty of underestimating the character, dismissing her as a fairly shallow, 'hit-now-ask-questions-later', character. One of the things that fan-favourite Gail Simone has done well while writing Birds of Prey is present Helena as a strong, determined, complex individual ... and to my great disappointment she didn't appear to have much of a future in the DCnU.

Then there was news of a six-issue mini-series launching in October reuniting the character with her original creator Paul Levitz.

Yesterday CBR ran a very interesting, and lengthy, interview with Levitz during which he explained what readers should expect from the series; he makes some interesting comparisons between his Huntress and comic strip heroine Modesty Blaise and he explains some of the thinking behind setting the series in Italy.

With Marcus To taking care of interior art and Guillem March providing the cover for the first issue I'm certainly looking forward to this mini-series which launches in October. Read the interview in full here at Comic Book Resources.

Batman Solicitations - October 2011

DC have released the Batman solicitations for October 2011 ... and there are a couple of surprises. In addition to all of the second issues I was expecting there's news of two new mini-series: a six-part mini from Paul Levitz, Marcus To, John Dell and Guillem March entitled The Huntress and a five-part mini from Greg Hurwitz and Szymon Kudranski called Penguin: Pain and Prejudice.

My choice for favourite covers this month goes to Guillem March for The Huntress #1 and Adam Hughes for Batgirl #2. For more details of these titles visit DC's The Source and Newsarama.

THE HUNTRESS #1
Written by PAUL LEVITZ
Art by MARCUS TO and JOHN DELL
Cover by GUILLEM MARCH
On sale OCTOBER 5, 1 of 6, 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US, RATED T
Look out! By the end of this hot new miniseries, the Huntress will have the largest price on her head in DC Universe history.
What will the Huntress do that warrants such a death mark? And who puts it there? The jaw-dropping events will be revealed as the Huntress heads home to Italy and embarks on a mission that defines her life. Don’t miss out, because this story will tie in to upcoming events in BIRDS OF PREY!

PENGUIN: PAIN AND PREJUDICE #1
Written by GREGG HURWITZ
Art and cover by SZYMON KUDRANSKI
On sale OCTOBER 5, 1 of 5, 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US, RATED T
In this exciting new miniseries from novelist Gregg Hurwitz (You’re Next) and rising star artist Szymon Kudranksi (Spawn), the painful and dark past of one of Batman’s most devious foes is examined. How did young Oswald Cobblepot go from being the apple of his mother’s eye to the leader of underworld gangs and adversary of The Caped Crusader? Find out in PENGUIN: PAIN AND PREJUDICE!


BATMAN #2
Written by SCOTT SNYDER
Art and cover by GREG CAPULLO and JONATHAN GLAPION
Cover by GREG CAPULLO
Variant cover by JIM LEE
1:200 B&W variant cover by GREG CAPULLO
On sale OCTOBER 19, 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US, RATED T
Bruce Wayne is back in the cowl, hunting a new and deadly killer in Gotham City – a killer with a vendetta against Bruce Wayne! But who is this mysterious killer in an owl skull mask? And is he the key to unlocking one of Gotham’s oldest and most terrifying secrets? Be there for their first brutal encounter!

BATWING #2
Written by JUDD WINICK
Art and cover by BEN OLIVER
On sale OCTOBER 5, 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US, RATED T
He is called Massacre, and he brings death. What does the soldier in service of Batman Incorporated do when he’s met his match? When he’s been brought so low and been wounded so badly? What does he do when lost Super Heroes begin turning up as victims? Batwing fights back!

DETECTIVE COMICS #2
Written by TONY S. DANIEL
Art by TONY S. DANIEL and RYAN WINN
Cover by TONY S. DANIEL
On sale OCTOBER 5, 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US, RATED T
Batman sets his sights on the Gotham Ripper, who in turn has his sights on Batman. Meanwhile, Bruce Wayne explores a budding romance with television journalist Charlotte Rivers, who’s visiting Gotham City to cover the gruesome slayings – while also trying to uncover Bruce’s own mystery. But time is running out as both Commissioner Gordon and Batman work to uncover the true identity of this new serial killer.

BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT #2
Written by DAVID FINCH and PAUL JENKINS
Art by DAVID FINCH and RICHARD FRIEND with JAY FABOK
Cover by DAVID FINCH and RICHARD FRIEND
On sale OCTOBER 26, 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US, RATED T
Something sinister surges through Arkham Asylum, and Batman finds himself bombarded by his greatest foes in this second sensational issue from superstar creator David Finch!
Bigger, meaner, and more powerful than ever before, the inmates of Arkham Asylum run rampant as the entire Bat Family struggles to keep the walls from falling down, unleashing Gotham City’s worst criminals on the unsuspecting population. And you won’t believe the jaw-dropping final page! Just keep repeating, “It’s only a comic book. It’s only a comic book…”

BATMAN AND ROBIN #2
Written by PETER J. TOMASI
Art by PATRICK GLEASON and MICK GRAY
Cover by PATRICK GLEASON
On sale OCTOBER 12, 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US, RATED T
Batman’s fears about Robin’s tendency to dish out more pain than necessary are growing! And who is the man named NoBody, visiting Gotham City to say hello to his old friend Bruce Wayne and find out where he went wrong in his battle against crime.

BATGIRL #2
Written by GAIL SIMONE
Art by ARDIAN SYAF and VICENTE CIFUENTES
Cover by ADAM HUGHES
On sale OCTOBER 12, 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US, RATED T
The nightmare-inducing brute known as Mirror is destroying the lives of Gotham City citizens seemingly at random, and an explosive confrontation between Batgirl and Mirror leads Babs to question wearing the cape and cowl at all!
The riveting adventures of Batgirl continue in stunning fashion, with script by fan-favorite Gail Simone and stellar art by superstar Ardian Syaf!

BATWOMAN #2
Written by J.H. WILLIAMS III and W. HADEN BLACKMAN
Art and cover by J.H. WILLIAMS III
On sale OCTOBER 12, 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US, RATED T+
Horror! A terrifying new villain stalks the innocent children of Gotham City! Intrigue! A threatening government agency is hot on Batwoman’s trail. Romance! Kate Kane’s new relationship is heating up!
Can Batwoman stop the new evil rising from the damp back alleys of Gotham’s barrios? And overcome the many challenges she faces as both Batwoman and Kate Kane? 2011’s most anticipated new series intensifies in this exciting second issue!

NIGHTWING #2
Written by KYLE HIGGINS
Art and cover by EDDY BARROWS and JP MAYER
On sale OCTOBER 19, 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US, RATED T
When a mysterious assassin targets Dick Grayson, Nightwing must work fast to uncover the killer’s plot before he strikes again. But as Haley’s Circus continues to perform in Gotham City, Dick finds himself torn between two lives: His old one as a circus performer and his new one as a Super Hero. And they may be more connected than he ever realized!

RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #2
Written by SCOTT LOBDELL
Art and cover by KENNETH ROCAFORT and BLOND
On sale OCTOBER 19, 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US, RATED T
Red Hood is already globe-trotting in an effort to find the ancient assassins behind the slaughter of those who taught him some of his darkest skills… and if Roy and Kori are going to be of any help, well, they’ll just have to tag along – whether Jason wants them to or not!

BIRDS OF PREY #2
Written by DUANE SWIERCZYNSKI
Art and cover by JESUS SAIZ
On sale OCTOBER 19, 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US, RATED T
An explosion in a secure Gotham City airport terminal hurls Black Canary and Starling headlong into a nightmare involving stolen pharmaceuticals, terrorists for hire and killers in stealth suits who can appear – and disappear – at will. When Canary calls in backup, Starling’s not so sure a vengeful samurai who talks to her dead husband in a sword is the best choice.

CATWOMAN #2
Written by JUDD WINICK
Art and cover by GUILLEM MARCH
On sale OCTOBER 19, 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US, RATED T+
She’s a thief who lives to steal just for the thrill of breaking the law. He’s The Dark Knight, obsessively driven to battle evil with every ounce of his strength. They should keep each other at arm’s length, but…they just can’t seem to help themselves! Don’t miss this issue – things are gonna get messy!