The all purpose new bat-book thread.

[SuaveStar]

I think that's a good decision. As much fun as it is to see the Joker match wits with other heroes, the man is Batman's arch-nemesis, not Dick Grayson who is Batman but not in the same way that Bruce was Batman. It's only right that the return of Bruce signal the return of his dark half.

So who's Dicks Batman Joker, Proffesor Pyg?

[Stavros]

There has to be a better way of discussing this. Can't we just allow spoilers in the thread?

[SuaveStar]

Stavros is right. Anyway, Morrison has said in the past, he wants to see how Quitely draws the Joker, and to be honest, so do I.

[Delete]

I assume Morrison will still be on Batman after he is done with The Return of Bruce Wayne

[SuaveStar]

I assume Morrison will still be on Batman after he is done with The Return of Bruce Wayne

Possibly. But one thing is for sure, I am not getting the Gulliem March issues of Batman.

[Molly]

I want to see Dick versus Joker. Dick has been up against the Joker more times than anyone who's not Bruce. Joker paralyzed one of his great loves, killed his little brother. It's not like Dick hasn't been around when Bruce fought Joker. Dick should have the chance to prove himself against Joker, and the fact that he probably won't get it, because Joker is Bruce's playmate, really pisses me off. Tim gets Ra's Al fucking Ghul, and Dick gets Professor Pyg. That's fair.

[SuaveStar]

The Source has posted up som news this morning that may make a lot of people happy. Fabian Nicieza will be taking over Red Robin starting in June.

Nicieza who worked on Robin, closed out the series along with artist Freddie Williams III. We at The Batman Universe praised his work in the series along with his follow-up work during Battle for the Cowl. Fabian understands Tim Drake and there couldn't be a better writer on the series.

Nicieza commented on the move over at The Source. “To unexpectedly get the chance to come back at this time, with Tim Drake in a more positive place mentally, stepping into his own as a young adult and better prepared to develop his own distinctive approach to crimefighting — both in Gotham City and across the world — only means the hundreds of stories I’ve always wanted to tell with the character now number in the thousands!"

He also commented on what is to come in the series once he takes over duties. “What lies ahead? Adventure, mystery, complex moral issues, an evolving rogue’s gallery specific to the character, romantic triangles (maybe quadrangles!), fun and humor all ripe for the picking! I can’t wait for readers to see this excellent character’s continuing development into something unique and special in the DC Universe!”

So we will see the further development of Tim Drake in the pages of Red Robin. This is probably one of the better bits of changes for the books in a while. The only question tht remains is, what will happen with Azrael?

Source

Also, Batman #700 cover:

[Koete]

Also, Batman #700 cover:

Why does Moon Knight have a different costume?

[SuaveStar]

If anyone still cares about Tony Daniel's Batman run, and who the new Black Mask is.

It was revealed to be Jeremiah Arkham. This will be followed up in the Arkham Reborn team doing a two issue story in Detective Comics.

[SuaveStar]

Batman solicitations for June. Putting in spoiler tags.

THE JOKER’S ASYLUM ONE-SHOTS • RIDDLER on sale JUNE 2

HARLEY QUINN on sale JUNE 9 •

MAD HATTER on sale JUNE 16

KILLER CROC on sale JUNE 23

CLAYFACE on sale JUNE 30 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99

US THE JOKER’S ASYLUM: THE RIDDLER #1 • Written by PETER CALLOWAY • Art by CLAYTON HENRY Cover by ETHAN VAN SCIVER

THE JOKER’S ASYLUM: HARLEY QUINN #1 • Written by JAMES PATRICK • Art by JOE QUINONES • Cover by CLAUDIO CASTELLINI

THE JOKER’S ASYLUM: MAD HATTER #1 • Written by LANDRY WALKER • Art and cover by BILL SIENKIEWICZ

THE JOKER’S ASYLUM: KILLER CROC #1 • Written by MIKE RAICHT • Art by DAVID YARDIN • Cover by FRANCESCO MATTINA

THE JOKER’S ASYLUM: CLAYFACE #1 • Written by KEVIN SHINICK • Art and cover by KELLEY JONES

Top creators lend their talents to a new installment of THE JOKER’S ASYLUM – a special month-long, weekly series of one-shots starring the greatest villains in Batman’s rogues gallery. Each issue is narrated by The Joker and tells a special stand-alone story that gives readers an inside look into the insane lives of The Dark Knight’s greatest adversaries! This batch of tense tales spotlights The Riddler, Harley Quinn, Mad Hatter, Clayface and Killer Croc!

Can you stand the madness?

BATMAN: THE RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE #3 On sale JUNE 16 • 3 of 6 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US Written by GRANT MORRISON • Art by YANICK PAQUETTE • Cover by ANDY KUBERT • 1:25 variant cover by YANICK PAQUETTE The most anticipated miniseries of 2010 continues! As Bruce Wayne’s astonishing journey through time continues in this 6-issue miniseries, The Dark Knight travels to the eras of high seas thievery! Mastermind writer Grant Morrison’s most ambitious project to date continues to chronicle the return of the original man behind the cape and cowl – Bruce Wayne! Featuring the dynamic artwork of YANICK PAQUETTE. Retailers please note: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the Previews Order Form for more information.

RED HOOD: LOST DAYS #1 On sale JUNE 2 • 1 of 6 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US Written by JUDD WINICK • Art by PABLO RAIMONDI • Cover by FRANCESCO MATTINA 1:25 variant cover by BILLY TUCCI Judd Winick (BATMAN: UNDER THE HOOD) returns to write the adventures of Jason Todd in this special 6-part epic exploring the lost days of this misunderstood character. Learn what secret events led Jason on his eventual path of death and destruction. Guest-starring Ra’s al Ghul and Talia with amazing artwork by Pablo Raimondi (BATTLE FOR THE COWL: THE UNDERGROUND, X-Factor). Retailers please note: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the Previews Order Form for more information.

BATMAN BEYOND #1 On sale JUNE 30 • 1 of 6 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US Written by ADAM BEECHEN • Art by RYAN BENJAMIN • Cover by DUSTIN NGUYEN 1:25 variant cover by J.H. WILLIAMS III Terry McGinnis – the Batman of the future – and an elderly Bruce Wayne – the original Batman – are the sworn protectors of Neo-Gotham. But when someone targets The Dark Knight’s old foes, the new Batman must begin a case that reaches back into Bruce Wayne’s past and puts Terry’s future directly in danger! Don’t miss the long-awaited return of the popular Batman Beyond franchise in this 6-issue adventure from Emmy Award-nominated animation writer Adam Beechen (Batman: The Brave and the Bold) and artist Ryan Benjamin (BATMAN & THE OUTSIDERS). And be sure to check out the SUPERMAN/BATMAN ANNUAL #4 from writer Paul Levitz and artist Renato Guedes starring the Batman Beyond characters! Retailers please note: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the Previews Order Form for more information.

BATMAN AND ROBIN #13 On sale JUNE 2 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US Written by GRANT MORRISON Art by FRAZER IRVING Cover by FRANK QUITELY 1:25 variant cover by FRAZER IRVING Writer Grant Morrison is joined by artist Frazer Irving (BATMAN: RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE) for the first chapter of a 3-part epic! Thomas Wayne – a man believed murdered over 20 years ago – has returned with an incredible tale to tell, and he’s claiming the entire Wayne fortune! He’s slyly demanding that Bruce Wayne must return if Bruce wishes to oppose the claim! Plus, the long-awaited return of the ultimate Batman villain! Retailers please note: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the Previews Order Form for more information.

DETECTIVE COMICS #866 On sale JUNE 23 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US Written by DENNIS O’NEIL Art and cover by DUSTIN NGUYEN 1:25 “DC 75 Anniversary” Variant cover by WALTER SIMONSON Continuing the spirit of celebration from BATMAN #700, comics legend Dennis O’Neil’s returns to the Batcave in this stand-alone, 40-page issue! O’Neil spins a tale of the Dick Grayson Batman intertwined with those classic days when Batman and Robin, the Boy Wonder, patrolled the mean streets of Gotham City! And come back next month for the return of The Question and Batwoman! Retailers please note: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the Previews Order Form for more information.

BATMAN: STREETS OF GOTHAM #13 On sale JUNE 23 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US Written by PAUL DINI Co-feature written by MARC ANDREYKO Art by DUSTIN NGUYEN & DEREK FRIDOLFS Co-feature art by JEREMY HAUN Cover by DUSTIN NGUYEN Hush finally breaks his silence and decides to make life difficult for Batman. What is Tommy Elliot’s gameplan? And what will Bruce Wayne’s return mean for the man who’s been masquerading as Bruce all these months? Also, the final, thrilling installment of the Manhunter co-feature is here! Kate confronts a vicious enemy who has infiltrated her personal life. Everyone she cares about is in danger, and so is her secret identity! Can she protect her loved ones? And when it’s all said and done, will she decide to stay in Gotham City – or return to the relative peace of Los Angeles?

BATGIRL #11 On sale JUNE 9 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US Written by BRYAN Q. MILLER Art by LEE GARBETT & JONATHAN GLAPION Cover by STANLEY “ARTGERM” LAU In part 3 of “The Flood,” Oracle faces off against the Calculator, while Batgirl is forced to team up with the Calculator’s daughter in an attempt to save the citizens of Gotham City from a crippling techno-plague. But who will save Batgirl from an infected and rampaging Man-Bat?

RED ROBIN #13 On sale JUNE 2 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US Written by FABIAN NICIEZA Art and cover by MARCUS TO & RAY MCCARTHY Fabian Nicieza joins RED ROBIN as the new regular writer! A surge of organized mobs spreads across Gotham City like a virus! Who are The Socials and what is their mysterious agenda in moving young people across the city in self-organizing crowds? Is it mind-control or simply youth boredom? What starts as fun and games becomes deadly serious and leads to an unexpected confrontation between Red Robin and Robin!

GOTHAM CITY SIRENS #13 On sale JUNE 30 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US Written by PAUL DINI Art and cover by GUILLEM MARCH Poison Ivy’s new romance hits some turbulence as she discovers something weird going on around the office! She loves her job and doesn’t want anything to get in the way – not even her new boyfriend! But when Ivy discovers an old ally is behind everything, will she turn against her employers? And what do the other Sirens think of Ivy’s odd romance and even odder choices regarding her job?

OUTSIDERS #31 On sale JUNE 30 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US Written by DAN DIDIO Art and cover by PHILIP TAN & JONATHAN GLAPION WANTED: The Outsiders – dead or alive! The Outsiders are officially enemies of the state and on the run for their lives. Can Geo-Force and Black Lightning bring the team back together in time to prove their innocence? And what will become of the Eradicator’s role in Markovia? Will he help the Outsiders? Or will he be the one responsible for their deaths? Be here to find out

AZRAEL #9 On sale JUNE 16 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US Written by FABIAN NICIEZA • Art by RAMON BACHS & JOHN STANISCI Cover by FRANCESCO MATTINA In Europe, a cult has turned Azrael into the host for something evil, but can his faith overcome the possession? As the walls of sanity begin crumbling around Michael Lane, only his enemy the White Ghost can save him.

BATMAN CONFIDENTIAL #45 On sale JUNE 2 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US Written by KEVIN VANHOOK • Art and cover by TOM MANDRAKE “Batman vs. the Undead” continues as Batman fights alongside the vampire Dimeter to stop a horde of reanimated corpses. But the living dead are just a distraction by the evil Professor Herbert Combs, who intends to unleash black Voodoo magic upon the world. The Dark Knight may need a little help from his friends…

Source

Will get: Riddler #1 shot, ROBW #3, B&R #13, Red Hood #1 and Red Robin #13

Might get: Batman Beyond #1, Detective Comics #866, Mad Hatter one shot.

[Koete]

I'm totally getting that Mad Hatter one shot. Mad Hatter by Sienkiewicz is going to be awesome.

Waiting for Batman Beyond in trade.

[Molly]

I'm 50/50 on Beechen writing BB, but the cover that Nguyen did is TIGHT.

EDIT: Also, Prof. Herbert Combs is Re-Animating Corpses in Confidential.

...I get it.

[TDK_theBatmaN]

Batman and Robin #13 - return of the Joker???

[SuaveStar]

Batman and Robin #13 - return of the Joker???

I think it's actually Dr Hurt coming back.

[Koete]

I'm with Suave.

[SuaveStar]

Coloured cover of JA: The Riddler.

[TDK_theBatmaN]

Batman and Robin #13 - return of the Joker???

I think it's actually Dr Hurt coming back.

I know he's the villain of that arc, due to all the teaser art on the last pages of Batman and Robin, also he makes that phone call w/ Gravedigger, and Thomas Wayne involved. But when the solicits say stuff like "Plus, the long-awaited return of the ultimate Batman villain!" along with a mini-series titled Joker's Asylum, I think and really hope it's the JOKER.

[SuaveStar]

Batman and Robin #13 - return of the Joker???

I think it's actually Dr Hurt coming back.

I know he's the villain of that arc, due to all the teaser art on the last pages of Batman and Robin, also he makes that phone call w/ Gravedigger, and Thomas Wayne involved. But when the solicits say stuff like "Plus, the long-awaited return of the ultimate Batman villain!" along with a mini-series titled Joker's Asylum, I think and really hope it's the JOKER.

Oh, I agree, I still think Morrison is going to just keep B&R full of his villains that he created. Morrison will be the one to explain Jokers absence at some point. But I don't think it's going to be in this arc. I think it will be the last issue of the series, at the earliest.

[SuaveStar]

Preview of BOP art

I like it. Makes me want to save to get some Benes art/

[dc20willsave]

I like that Babs is operating out of the Batcave. It makes sense, especially in light of her doing so in Batgirl as well.

[Stavros]

Barbara working out of the cave is a really nice touch, its another change that Dick is making that Bruce wouldn't have, which sets up some interesting storylines for Bruces return. I really like the idea of Dick rebuilding a Bat-family similar to the one that Bruce demolished around War Games, when he banned other costumed heroes from Gotham. We know he was confident that Dick could take over, but given how controlling Bruce is it'll be interesting to see how he responds to Dick's changes to his legacy.

[SuaveStar]

Babs has been working out of the Batcave since Batgirl #2.

But I do like the idea of when Bruce comes back him to look at everything and just say "You're all fired."

[Delete]

Barbara working out of the cave is a really nice touch, its another change that Dick is making that Bruce wouldn't have, which sets up some interesting storylines for Bruces return. I really like the idea of Dick rebuilding a Bat-family similar to the one that Bruce demolished around War Games, when he banned other costumed heroes from Gotham. We know he was confident that Dick could take over, but given how controlling Bruce is it'll be interesting to see how he responds to Dick's changes to his legacy.

I liked how in the last Batman and Robin they had Damien afraid that he and Grayson wouldn't be Batman and Robin anymore when Bruce comes back.

[TDK_theBatmaN]

Babs has been working out of the Batcave since Batgirl #2.

But I do like the idea of when Bruce comes back him to look at everything and just say "You're all fired."

[TDK_theBatmaN]

I haven't been reading Red Robin, just casually keeping updated with the general idea that he's fighting Ra's al-Ghul. Having said that, I got Red Robin #11 because Batman and Robin were guest starring, and I loved the issue. I was able to pick up on what was going on through the dialogue, even though it's part 3 out of 4. Liked the art, and it was just a entertained with story. Definitely gonna pick up the next issue to catch the conclusion.