DC Comics' "Justice League" solicits for December 2013

Below you'll find the solicits for DC Comics' "Justice League" series for December, Forever Evil's till going, and the Justice League are still... wherever the Crime Syndicate has left them. Anyway, check out the full solicits below!

FOREVER EVIL #4
Written by GEOFF JOHNS
Art and cover by DAVID FINCH and RICHARD FRIEND
1:25 Villain A cover by ETHAN VAN SCIVER
1:25 Villain B cover by ETHAN VAN SCIVER
1:25 Villain C cover by ETHAN VAN SCIVER
1:200 B&W Variant cover by DAVID FINCH and RICHARD FRIEND
On sale DECEMBER 24 • 32 pg, FC, 4 of 7, $3.99 US • RATED T
 Combo pack edition: $4.99 US
It’s all-out chaos as the DC Universe continues its march through darkness! War erupts across the Earth between the villains! Allegiances are formed! Rivals are murdered! And at center stage it’s Lex Luthor versus Batman—and their fight couldn’t come at a worse time as Deathstroke’s Hunting Party closes in on the world’s only hope against the Crime Syndicate!
 This issue is also offered as a combo pack edition with a redemption code for a digital download of this issue.

JUSTICE LEAGUE #26
Written by GEOFF JOHNS
Art and cover by IVAN REIS and JOE PRADO
1:25 Variant cover by AARON KUDER
1:100 B&W Variant cover by IVAN REIS and JOE PRADO
On sale DECEMBER 24 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T
Combo pack edition: $4.99 US
A FOREVER EVIL tie-in! Why has the Crime Syndicate really come to our Earth? What are their darkest secrets? And how will their actions fundamentally change the Justice League as we know it? Meanwhile, Grid controls the world’s power and communications, but what does he truly want from the Syndicate? Plus, a member of the League struggling to survive plots a path of return...and revenge.
This issue is also offered as a combo pack edition with a redemption code for a digital download of this issue.



JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #10
Written by MATT KINDT
Art and cover by EDDY BARROWS and EBER FERREIR
A1:25 Variant cover by DALE EAGLESHAM
1:100 B&W Variant cover by EDDY BARROWS and EBER FERREIRA
On sale DECEMBER 11 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T
Combo pack edition: $4.99 US
 A FOREVER EVIL tie-in! The survivors of the Crime Syndicate’s attack now face a world where Earth’s most dangerous criminals are in charge. Can they bring a new team together in time to combat them? This issue is also offered as a combo pack edition with a redemption code for a digital download of this issue.





FOREVER EVIL: A.R.G.U.S. #3
Written by MATT KINDT
Art by PHILIP TAN and JASON PAZ
Cover by MIKEL JANIN
1:25 B&W Variant cover by MIKEL JANIN
On sale DECEMBER 31 • 32 pg, 3 of 6, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Steve Trevor and his small band of surviving A.R.G.U.S. agents track down the deadly Cheetah, who has Wonder Woman’s lasso in her possession. That lasso could be the only hope of freeing the Justice League!







FOREVER EVIL: ROGUES REBELLION #3
Written by BRIAN BUCCELLATO
Art by SCOTT HEPBURN
Cover by DECLAN SHALVEY
1:25 B&W Variant cover by DECLAN SHALVEY
On sale DECEMBER 18 • 32 pg, FC, 3 of 6, $2.99 US • RATED T
 The Rogues continue their flight from the ruthless Crime Syndicate, who have put a bounty on their heads. But en route back to Central City, Mirror Master’s powers malfunction, and they land in the middle of the events of ARKHAM WAR with pretty much every Bat-villain around going after the bounty!








JUSTICE LEAGUE 3000 #1
Written by KEITH GIFFEN and J.M. DeMATTEIS
Art and cover by HOWARD PORTER
1:50 B&W Variant cover by HOWARD PORTER
RESOLICIT • On sale DECEMBER 4 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
The new series starring the heroes of today—tomorrow is resolicited, now with legendary artist Howard Porter (JLA) on board! But what are these heroes doing in the year 3000? And who (or what) brought them there? Get ready for a dose of wonder from the writing team of Keith Giffen and J.M. DeMatteis!









JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA’S VIBE #10
Written by STERLING GATES
Art by ANDRES GUINALDO and MARK IRWIN
Cover by BRETT BOOTH and NORM RAPMUND
On sale DECEMBER 18 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
 Can Vibe save his brother, stop an alien invasion and stay alive? That last one may be a tall order!












KATANA #10
Written by ANN NOCENTI
Art by ALEX SANCHEZ and WAYNE FAUCHER
Cover by ALEX SANCHEZ
On sale DECEMBER 11 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Katana must choose: Side with her new Sword Clan allies or her old friend Shun as the Mad Samurai plots his revenge!












TEEN TITANS #26
Written by SCOTT LOBDELL
Art by TYLER KIRKHAM and ART THIBERT
Cover by BRETT BOOTH and NORM RAPMUND
1:25 B&W Variant cover by BRETT BOOTH and NORM RAPMUND
On sale DECEMBER 31 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Secrets are revealed and trusts tested as the Teen Titans finally begin to understand Kid Flash’s criminal actions before he became a heroic member of the team.








 GREEN ARROW #26
Written by JEFF LEMIRE
Art and cover by ANDREA SORRENTINO
1:25 B&W Variant cover by ANDREA SORRENTINO
On sale DECEMBER 4 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
 “THE OUTSIDERS WAR” begins here! Oliver Queen finally knows the location of the Outsiders’ base, but first he must return to the place where Green Arrow was born: The Island! Secrets are revealed, new villains introduced, and a mind-blowing final page kicks off this new storyline with a bang!









WONDER WOMAN #26
Written by BRIAN AZZARELLO
Art and GORAN SUDZUKA
Cover by CLIFF CHIANG
1:25 B&W Variant cover by CLIFF CHIANG
On sale DECEMBER 18 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
 Wonder Woman’s brother and sister are being held hostage by none other than Cassandra, the sadistic sibling she hasn’t even met yet! And speaking of hostages, we’re taking bets on how long chains can hold the First Born!










SUPERMAN/WONDER WOMAN #3
Written by CHARLES SOULE
Art and cover by TONY S. DANIEL and BATT
1:25 Variant cover by GUILLEM MARCH
1:100 B&W Variant cover by TONY S. DANIEL and BATT
On sale DECEMBER 11 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T
Combo pack edition: $4.99 US
 Zod unleashed! Can Superman and Wonder Woman stop this madman before he gains full power under the Earth’s yellow sun? Guest-starring the JLA, and featuring a shocking conclusion that could mean the end of Superman and Wonder Woman together!
This issue is also offered as a combo pack edition with a redemption code for a digital download of this issue.






WORLDS’ FINEST #18
Written by PAUL LEVITZ
Art by R.B. SILVA and JOE WEEMS
Cover by EMANUELA LUPACCINO
On sale DECEMBER 11 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
 As Power Girl’s abilities grow increasingly uncontrollable and unpredictable, Huntress finds herself without backup as she stalks a new villain preying on the upper crust of New York City glamour.

EARTH 2 #18
Written by TOM TAYLOR
Art by NICOLA SCOTT and TREVOR SCOTT
Cover by ETHAN VAN SCIVER
1:25 B&W Variant cover by ETHAN VAN SCIVER
On sale DECEMBER 4 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
The new Batman of Earth 2 tries to turn the tide in the war against the forces of Darkseid and Apokolips, but even as new allies reveal themselves the planet trembles before its new rulers.

AQUAMAN #26
Written by JEFF PARKER
Art and cover by PAUL PELLETIER and SEAN PARSONS
1:25 Variant cover by PAUL PELLETIER and SEAN PARSONS
On sale DECEMBER 31 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
“Sea of Storms” begins with the debut of new AQUAMAN writer Jeff Parker! The Earth’s crust is grinding to life, releasing deadly volcanoes and bizarre creatures…so humanity’s first instinct is to blame Atlantis! And as the plates pull apart, the pressures of ruling a kingdom under siege are weighing on Aquaman and Mera as well!







THE FLASH #26
Written by CHRISTOS N. GAGE
Art by NEIL GOOGE
Cover by BRETT BOOTH and NORM RAPMUND
1:25 B&W Variant cover by BRETT BOOTH and NORM RAPMUND
On sale DECEMBER 31 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
In this special standalone story, The Flash loses someone important to him. To catch the villain responsible, The Flash must figure out how to use his powers in the one place where they do him little good: the sky!








I've decided on a theory for the Forever Evil Batman, actually, but be warned it will contain a few spoilers for the first issue, so if you haven't read it yet, stop reading this post now... gone yet? good. Anyway, as we all read, Nightwing had his identity revealed to the entire world in the first issue of Forever Evil, and my theory is that the person under Batman's cowl in the Forever Evil covers ( who we can assume is not Bruce Wayne ) is Dick himself, after all, he probably wouldn't want to be running around as Nightwing after the events of the first issue ( Needs a bit of work, I know ), we'll have to wait and see I guess.

I have to say, though, the whole scale is of Forever Evil is starting to look pretty epic, I can't wait to see what happens when the Rogues wind up in the middle of the mass prison breakout in Gotham City...

Also, I've given in and decided to place Teen Titans in the Justice League group, considering the Young Justice group I used to have it in has been pretty much wiped out, I won't bother going into another rant, I said all I wanted to say on that matter last month.

And finally, some Creative changes, as you can probably see two major runs have already come to a close by the time we get to December, with Geoff Johns leaving Aquaman and Brian Buccellato and Francis Manapul departing from Flash, both of the runs end at issue 25. Aquaman will be taken over by Jeff Parker, who's name you'll probably know from one of his current series, "BATMAN '66", then onto the Flash; no permanent creative team has been set for after Buccellato and Manapul but we do know that the issue after they've left will be written by Christos Gage ( With art from Neil Googe), who you'll probably know from his co-writing credits on Amazing Spider-Man and Superior Spider-Man, and the solicit for his one-shot story sounds pretty interesting.

(Source: DC Comics)

DC Comics' Young Justice Solicit for November 2013

DC released their November 2013 solicits this week, and now it's time to see what's happening in the "Young Justice" corner of the DC Universe. And, yes, there's a reason I wrote "Solicit", not the plural in the title. Here's why:

 
 


TEEN TITANS #25 Written by SCOTT LOBDELL
Art by TYLER KIRKHAM and ART THIBERT
Cover by BRETT BOOTH and NORM RAPMUND
1:25 B&W Variant cover by BRETT BOOTH and NORM RAPMUND
On sale NOVEMBER 27 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Retailers: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the order form for more information.
A FOREVER EVIL tie-in! The Titans’ fall through the time stream is stopped by Echo! But is this the help they’ve been looking for, or are things about to go from bad to worse? Plus: The secrets of Kid Flash’s origin begin here!







(Source: Newsarama)

That's IT!

We started off the New 52 with 6 books (Teen Titans, Legion of Superheroes, Legion Lost, Blue Beetle, Hawk and Dove and Static Shock ). By the Second wave of the New 52, Static Shock and Hawk and Dove were cancelled, but the Young Justice group was given an extra book in the form of The Ravagers. The third wave wiped out Blue Beetle, and when the fourth came, Legion Lost was cancelled as well, not long after followed by Legion of Super-Heroes. Basically, what I'm saying is, for a company who want to pull in younger readers, cancelling all but one of your teenager based comics probably isn't a good idea.

And as a teenager myself, I can say that I enjoy reading series surrounding teenage super-heroes, they're more relatable, in my opinion, to the younger readers. My suggestion is to move "The Movement" by Gail Simone and Freddie Williams II and "The Green Team: Teen Trillionares" by Art Baltazar, Franco and Ig Guara to this group, at least give it one or two extra books, DC have a lot of teenage heroes they could use again, and I think It would help bring younger readers to the company. Teen Titans and Static Shock were what brought to reading comics when the New 52 started.

In slightly better news, Brett Booth confirmed over twitter in a conversation with me that he'll be drawing the covers to this series again for four issues after this one, which is great news because Booth was the best artist this series has had so far.

Anyway, that rounds up DC Comics' solicits for the month of November 2013, if you missed any of the groups click on the links attached to the group's name: Batman, Dark, The Edge, Green Lantern, Justice League, Superman ( and obviously, you've just read the Young Justice one ).

DC Comics tease Forever Evil for Green Lantern- "The unexpected happens"

In the past few hours DC have been releasing new teasers for their September company-wide crossover, "Forever Evil", so far for the miniseries of the same name, Teen Titans, and now Green Lantern teasing a female Green Lantern taking the spotlight for once!

Check it out below:

This certainly looks quite interesting, should make for some interesting stories. Remember, in the final issue of Geoff Johns' run on the Green Lantern series a female green lantern from Earth was teased named Jessica Cruz, and since we haven't yet seen her face, this could be her. I mean, Forever Evil is Johns' story.

DC Comics tease Forever Evil for Teen Titans- "When the Unbelievable happens"

So, DC are continuing to tease their upcoming event, "Forever Evil", this time with a teaser for Teen Titans with what has been suggested to be Ultraman and Superwoman from Earth 3's Crime Syndicate of America. Check it out below:

Could this also signify a creative change for this series, considering the artwork above doesn't appear to be done by regular Teen Titans artist, Eddy Barrows.

Make sure you keep your eyes open for more Forever Evil news as DC are sure to be releasing more teasers throughout the day!

Why I have a problem with 'Over in one month' events

So, a comic book company ( and it's usually DC Comics who do this ) are announcing a new event/crossover related to one of your favourite books. This is obviously great since it's a big new story with your favourite characters and something that is hopefully a real stand-out on shelves for the numerous months that the story spans. Hang on, did I say "Numerous months", oh, I'm sorry, I meant ONE MONTH. That's right, this book you're enjoying has one month to tell the entire story it's been building up to for ages.

ONE.

This really gets on my nerves, you wait ages for an event related to one of your favourite characters and it's gone quicker than Joshua Hale Fialkov's run on Green Lantern Corps!

The example I'm going to use right now is 'The Culling'. Now, I'd been a huge fan of the Teen Titans for years and was really enjoying the New 52 run of the book so when I found out about the crossover centred around the series I was really excited. Then I found out that this event would only run through one month. This story was being led up to for almost nine months and I knew it would be building to something important but it's something I wished could've lasted longer.

 Look at some of the major DC Comics crossovers, they last for months (like most of Marvel's too, actually) events such as Blackest Night ( running for eight issues in it's own series and spinning off to include nearly the whole DCU), Flashpoint ( Five issues of it's own solo series, with loads miniseries spinning off from it, although to be fair it did reboot the DCU) and the recent Death of the Family ( four months tying into almost every Bat-book on the shelves for that time ), why not give all of the events the multi-month treatment?

I mean, don't the creators deserve it? they've been building to it for months and months so why not let the climax of their arc last a little longer? This concept was probably exciting when it was first used, that it's so fast-paced and quick but now it's just sort of tiring.

 DC are using this tactic again in October with the next Green Lantern event, "Lights out". It starts in Green Lantern #25, runs through that month's Green Lantern Corps, New Guardians and Red Lanterns then concludes in Green Lantern Annual #2 less than a month after it began.

I feel like this doesn't do the story justice, considering this is the first big story that the new Green Lantern creative teams are facing, and it's something that deserves to be bigger. Getting it done in one month seems like it's being rushed, which isn't exciting to me, it's annoying.

Another point that I want to bring up about this topic goes back to the Teen Titans example, and the fact that after "The Culling" the book didn't keep at a good standard. I feel like that series peaked with the Culling, but it seems that was the last good idea for the book. If the story had been allowed to continue a little longer it could've given the writer some more time to come up with ideas for the next stories because as much as I loved that title around the time of the event, I have to admit, it seems to be running very low on ideas and the only good bit about it now is the characters, really.

There is a pretty easy solution to this problem, why not have the story run just through the main book for several months rather than multiple books for one? You can still include all of the characters from different books, just use them in the one book and let the story run longer, it's most likely what the event and the creative team deserves.

If mainstream events are allowed to go on for months, why not all of the books? It adds more impact to the story if it lasts longer, and the longer the event is on the shelves for, the more new readers are likely to take notice and read it.

DC Comics announce new annuals for October

Today DC Comics have announced a new batch of annuals hitting the shelves the fifth week of this October, check out below to see what they are!


ACTION COMICS ANNUAL #2

Written by SCOTT LOBDELL
Art by KENNETH ROCAFORT, DAN JURGENS and NORM RAPMUND
Cover by KENNETH ROCAFORT
On sale OCTOBER 30 • 48 pg, FC, $4.99 US • RATED T Part 1 of “KRYPTON RETURNS,”


continuing next month! What does this mean to the Universe? Superman, Supergirl and Superboy are enlisted by the Oracle to go back to their home world and correct what the villainous H’El has done! This epic adventure spans eons, from Krypton’s savage past of Clones to the very minutes before Kal-El’s ship is sent into space! You only think you know what happened in the last days of Krypton!



AQUAMAN ANNUAL #1


Written by JOHN OSTRANDER
Art by GERALDO BORGES and RUY JOSE
Cover by PAUL PELLETIER and DANNY MIKI
On sale OCTOBER 30 • 48 pg, FC, $4.99 US • RATED T



Aquaman must reunite with The Others to investigate whether or not their recently deceased member Vostok has returned from the dead. If he has, he is definitely not the same Vostok they remember…





GREEN LANTERN ANNUAL #2



Written by ROBERT VENDITTI
Art and cover by SEAN CHEN
On sale OCTOBER 30 • 48 pg, FC, $4.99 US • RATED T


 Don’t miss the stunning conclusion of “Lights Out!” Can Relic be defeated? Who lives? Who dies? The new status quo for the Lanterns is revealed here!









NIGHTWING ANNUAL #1



Written by KYLE HIGGINS
Art by JASON MASTERS
Cover by TONY S. DANIEL
On sale OCTOBER 30 • 48 pg, FC, $4.99 US • RATED T


 Robin and Batgirl grew up fighting side by side…but with Dick Grayson about to embark on a new crime fighting quest and Barbara Gordon no longer fighting under the Bat, is there anything left between them? Following the “Batgirl: Wanted” epic, this is the story of a twosome with nothing left to lose, fighting for the only thing they can: each other!



SWAMP THING ANNUAL #2


Written by CHARLES SOULE
Art by JAVI PINA
Cover by TRAVEL FOREMAN
On sale OCTOBER 30 • 48 pg, FC, $4.99 US • RATED T+



Tying directly into the current storyline with The Seeder—witness the next evolution of Swamp Thing! Alec’s going to need to take his powers to another level to take Seeder down...with help from the stranger coaches imaginable! Plus: an appearance from a Swamp Thing you never thought you’d see!









TEEN TITANS ANNUAL #2

Written by SCOTT LOBDELL
Art by ANGEL UNZUETA and ART THIBERT
Cover by EDDY BARROWS and • EBER FERREIRA
On sale OCTOBER 30 • 48 pg, FC, $4.99 US • RATED T


Leading into next month’s landmark issue #25, the Teen Titans continue their trip through time as the team must confront Jon Lane Kent, the Superboy of the future, who could one day wipe out the most powerful heroes on Earth. Can the Titan's Superboy defeat the man he was cloned from by Harvest?

DC Comics' "Teen Titans" solicits for September 2013, Villains Month

Here are the solicits for the September issues of Teen Titans from DC Comics, September is villains month for DC so every title in the New 52 is being taken over by one of it's villains, for most titles more than once, there being two issues of Teen Titans that month.

TEEN TITANS #23.1: TRIGON

Written by MARV WOLFMAN

Art by CAFU

3-D motion cover by EDDY BARROWS and EBER FERREIRA

On sale SEPTEMBER 11 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T

He is the ruler of six kingdoms of pain, suffering and agony—but the one world that

evades Trigon is Earth. Trigon’s influence has been spread across worlds by his sons, but it wasn’t until he conceived a daughter of Earthly origin that the monster finally had an heir who could aid his quest. Now, with all the world’s heroes missing— is this the final victory of Trigon?

 TEEN TITANS #23.2: DEATHSTROKE

Written by COREY MAYS and DOOMA WENDSCHUH

Art by ROBSON ROCHA

3-D motion cover by EDDY BARROWS and EBER FERREIRA

On sale SEPTEMBER 18 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T

One of the deadliest men in the world has a secret: his family. Slade Wilson lives to kill, but can even Deathstroke the Terminator balance his home life with a complicated hit?

(Source: Comic Vine)

I have to say, I was expecting Teen Titans to take a  month off for September considering the huge amount of multiple issue books DC are putting out for that month, but I'm glad it's not if Marv Wolfman, writer of New Teen Titans and creator of Trigon, is writing it. I haven't been enjoying Lobdell's titans of late so this should be a good issue!

Roundup: Top 10 viewed posts of May

Here are the top ten viewed posts for the month of May!

Brett Booth's JLA, Image from Comic Book Resources

1. Interview: Brett Booth on leaving Nightwing, JLA and the future.

2. Interview: Ryan Stegman talks Superior Spider-Man, Spider-Man 2099 and Scarlet Spider.

3. Interview: Brett Booth on Comics, Nightwing and more!

4. Brett Booth to leave Nightwing after #21.

5. Comics Catch-Up: Avenging Spider-Man #21 ( What you need to know ).

6. Interview: Robert Venditti on taking over Green Lantern.

7. Full cinematic trailer for Batman: Arkham Origins released.

8. James Robinson confirms he's NOT writing Namor.

9. Review: Teen Titans #20

10. Dan Didio and Ethan Van Sciver's...Bat-cow?!

Enjoy!

Review: Teen Titans #20

I wasn't extremely keen on this issue. I didn't hate it, it just didn't seem to be very appealing and wasn't particularly enjoyable.

This issue was basically Trigon explaining His and Raven's entire history, which, even though it was a good origin, I think could've been told better. The characters Trigon was explaining his story to were his sons, who I'm sure would already know the story, right? I think it could've worked better if Raven was explaining to the Teen Titans after last issue's battle as they obviously wouldn't know the story.

Another thing I wasn't keen on was some of Eddy Barrows' art. Particularly the faces. I loved his work on Nightwing but I feel like it's really stepped down on this book, his landscapes and full body or team shots are great but a lot of the faces just look odd.

This series seems to be at quite a dull level every month, and I really hope it steps up for the next arc, about Kid Flash's origin. The only thing really keeping me from dropping this book is my loyalty to the characters, with a lot of my favourites in this series I don't really want to drop it. It's a shame because Teen Titans' first arc was one of my favourite stories in the New 52, but I haven't enjoyed it nearly as much since then.

Rating: 4/10.

(Despite my bad review, the book got a 3 and not a 1 because the colours were good, some of Eddy Barrows' art was good and I like the characters)

Review: The Green Team: Teen Trillionares #1

I have to admit that when DC first announced the Green Team (along with The Movement) I was a little hesitant. DC basically marketed it as one of two books about the politics of the DC Universe, which I don't think was quite a fair description since this book is a lot more interesting than "a book about the politics of the DC Universe" makes it seem.

Art Baltazar and Franco are two fantastic writers who you probably know form books like Tiny Titans or Superman Family Adventures, or maybe their own comics series, Aw Yeah Comics. The majority of their work is for All ages books, which are funny and great, but I wasn't sure if they'd manage to transfer their excellent writing to a mainstream DC book (Rated T for Teen, rather than All ages) but I think it has. They've come up with interesting characters and an intriguing plot, and it's exceeded my expectations.

Another thing that was said about this book, which is pretty obvious from it's title, is that the main characters are really rich teenagers, I could see this as being a little bit tiring and getting old for a whole series but they've managed to build in villains and a very interesting twist for one member of the Green Team, which I don't want to spoil, but trust me, it's great.

Something that I wasn't very excited about for this book was Ig Guara's art, I first saw his work on issues 8 and 9 of Teen Titans and I really disliked his art there. I've realised now that this was just because the colours didn't work with his pencils but I think in this series the whole art team works together perfectly.

One of my favourite things about this issue is that it doesn't have to rely on big guest stars to carry it like so many other books at the moment do. It got by just on the story and art and it feels like it's in it's own little corner of the DC Universe, which I really like.

Overall, this is a fascinating and fun book that's very different from anything else DC's putting out at the moment, definitely worth picking up!

Rating: 10/10

Review: Teen Titans #19

Teen Titans #19 cover.

Teen Titans is a series that hasn't had the best comments from a lot of fans, but I've enjoyed it mostly since the beginning, and I disagree with most of the bad comments it's been getting. That said I did have one or two issues with this...issue, but we'll get onto those later.

Just to quickly sum up what's going on in this issue, Tim Drake has started taking his job more seriously, and isn't really treating the rest of the Teen Titans like equals, more like minions, and they're not taking it too well. They're getting quite suspicious of him, and very impatient with him, since he's barely told them anything about himself but they're risking their lives for his cause. I like that Lobdell is re-enforcing the fact that they aren't a fully formed team yet, and there are still very obvious problems between some of the members, and you would expect arguments between a team of super-powered teens.

I love Eddy Barrows' art on the book, he seems to portray the characters' emotions and movement styles just right. Although it's very different to the previous artist, Brett Booth's, art style which I was a big fan of, it's certainly up to the same standard and is pretty much excellent.

I like Scott Lobdell's writing, and he comes up with some good plots for this book, but I'm not too keen on some of the lines he gives the characters, and he seems to write teenagers quite stereotypically, with too many "like"s. Also, I'm not very keen on his use of thought bubbles, he uses them to explain things that have happened before but makes the characters speak in quite a patronising way for the audience.

My final problem is that you see Beast Boy in this issue, but it's set after the events of "The Ravagers" #12, which doesn't come out until next month, and it sort of spoils what happens in the final story in that book, pretty much revealing that Deathstroke's ruined the Ravagers, and pretty much everything's gone wrong.



Overall, it's a good issue, but I'm not keen on some of the aspects of the story, like how Lobdell writes teens.

Rating:
6/10

Interview: Brett Booth on Comics, Nightwing and more!

CS: First off, Hi, Brett, thanks for doing the interview!

BB: You are most welcome!

CS: Brett, how does drawing a solo book like Nightwing compare to a team book such as Teen Titans or even crossover stories, like the Culling story?

BB: It's different. WAY more backgrounds! There are different tricks you need to do. In a team book you can use the other characters to create depth, in a solo you have to do it with backgrounds. The Culling was a bit different, that's a crossover kinda thing and that can get messy. So much in every panel, you just want it to end!;) With a solo you can focus on just the main character more, so he or she needs to look good!

CS: Is there any particular aspect of a character that you add or exaggerate when you're drawing Bat-related characters like Dick and Tim?

BB: Well, I try to make their agility pop. They are the more acrobatic characters so they move with more of a purpose. And Dick needs to reflect this even more than Tim. He needs to be agile yet graceful, flashy yet elegant. Hard to do right and I have plenty of scrapped pages to show this. It needs to be 'right'.

CS: How closely do you work with a writer when you're drawing a book? And do different writers control different amounts of the storytelling duties?

BB: It's different with every writer. Scott left me alone after some headbutting at the beginning. Took me a bit to figure out how to do the panels for him to show the story and not over panel the page. I usually call them up and talk to them if I want to move something around or tweak it. Most times they're game, anything to make the book look better!:)

CS: Now, onto some questions about your new book, Nightwing!

How does it feel to be joining the book in what seems like a new beginning for the character and the series? With Dick Grayson moving to Chicago after Gotham, and, I'm assuming, a new supporting cast.

BB: Well... MOSTLY new cast. It's both easier and harder. Now everyone has to be introduced and this can be a slow process. With the old city you could just drop a name and you knew who they were, now you have to explain everything. On the other hand I'm not stuck drawing to someone else's designs so more freedom

CS: I've noticed that your Nightwing costume is a little different to Eddy Barrows and Juan Jose Ryp's. Specifically the finger stripes, belt and neck. Were the small changes your idea?

BB: Kyle and I were talking and he mentioned the finger stripes. They couldn't figure out a way to do them with the new gauntlets. So I took a stab. After the stripes, we decided to see what else we could tweak and after a few designs we had something we liked. We were going to work up to the changes but our Editor said to just go for it, and we did.

CS: Is there anything specific you like to do for drawing Nightwing? Any specific research for his style of movement?

BB: Not really. Because you sort of have to pose him for what he's doing. Forcing him into some pose just 'cause I saw it doesn't quite work. He really needs to flow on the page but that needs to work with what he's doing

Nightwing Design, by Brett Booth. With added finger stripes!

CS: Now, you've drawn a lot of Nightwing for your weekly Sketch Saturday that you do on your twitter page, did drawing Nightwing in a book feel slightly easier than drawing a character you'd never drawn before?

BB: Yeah, because I already have a feel for him. With all those sketches, they serve a few different purposes, one is me getting a feel for a character. It usually takes me a few issue to get a proper feel for someone. This way I knew what I was doing right out of the block!

Sketch Saturday Nightwing, by Brett Booth

Sketch Saturday Nightwing, by Brett Booth

CS: How much research do you do before drawing a city? Is it harder to draw real cities than Fictional cities, and which do you prefer?

BB: It depends, if I have to do something specific I'll try and get some shots of what I need. Most cites look pretty much the same. Average person wouldn't know the difference if they were magically plopped into one. 

I prefer fictional, because I can make the city do exactly what I need it to do! And what's in my head is simply cooler;P

CS: Is it nice to still be working with the same inker and colourist, Norm Rapmund and Andrew Dalhouse, that you were on Teen Titans?

Nightwing print, by Booth, Rapmund and Dalhouse

BB: Yep! We're one crazy dysfunctional family! But we can count on each other to get stuff done!

CS: Can you say which issue you're on at the moment?

BB: Was in the home stretch of 21, but got pulled off to help on another book. So 21:)

Sneak peek at Nightwing #21, by Brett Booth

CS:  Is there anything you can tease for the upcoming arc in Nightwing?

BB: Nope;)

CS: A few more general questions here.

Now, you do a lot of costume designs for characters in the New 52, if you could re-design any of the existing characters who would you pick?

BB: Hmmmm.... not sure. Earth 2 Flash I think. I just don't like that helmet... I know, WW 1 but with all the changes on Earth2  that would have been a good one. I know I'm in the minority on that!

CS: are there any characters, from any company that you'd like to draw in a regular book?

BB: Besides Wally West and Ted Kord? Booster Gold! Cyclops from the X-men. He was may favorite character growing up!

CS: And one crazy question, if Dick Grayson was a fruit, what would he be?

BB:  Pineapple... Wait that's Ted Kord.... Blueberry

CS: Thanks again, Brett!

BB: Best!

Nightwing #19 is released on April 14, and is written by Kyle Higgins and pencilled by Brett Booth. With inks and colours by Norm Rapmund and Andrew Dalhouse.

You can also catch Brett on his blog, http://demonpuppy.blogspot.co.uk/ . And his twitter page, https://twitter.com/Demonpuppy .