Review: COMMANDERS IN CRISIS #1 – A Series With A Lot Of Promise

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On October 14, Image Comics releases Commanders in Crisis #1 from superstar writer Steve Orlando and artist Davide Tinto. They are joined by colorist Francesca Carotenuto and letterer Fabio Amelia in a story that stretches from the streets of Philadelphia to the halls of power in D.C. to the very fabric of reality itself!

Writing

Orlando has given himself a gargantuan sized task in his first issue. He has to create brand new characters, make readers care about the characters, and establish the cosmology of the world. Commanders in Crisis #1 is pretty ambitious and plays off of past Crisis-tropes from DC Comics in a way that would read like parody if it wasn’t for the fact that Orlando and company seem to be using it to craft a relevant social message for our time. A message of hope, empathy, and the consequences of our present actions on the future.

While this first issue is a little heavy in exposition, which makes the dialogue a bit clunky at times, Orlando establishes the characters, his or her motivations, as well as their backgrounds, laying a clear groundwork for the series. If future issues can avoid being overly exposition-heavy, this has the potential to become a very solid series.

Another danger this series may face is being a bit “on the nose” with its moral and political messaging. If it can be nuanced without being preachy, this could be a very profound series.

Art & Colors

Co-creator Davide’s artistic powers are on display in this issue. Davide can capture the bombastic action in this issue, and there is a fair share of furious action. He is able to capture the movement and motions of the characters well in a very busy issue.

Davide also portrays the emotions of the characters well. Readers meet a lot of new characters in this issue, and it would be very easy for an artist to phone it in when it comes to the facial expressions of multiple characters, but Davide spares no details and draws characters whose faces exude personality.

Davide and Orlando have created characters with unique power sets, and Davide highlights his skills by drawing some very abstract sounding powers. He is, of course, joined in this endeavor by Carotenuto, whose colors assist in portraying the various characters’ abilities.

Carotenuto’s colors are bright and almost shiny in certain places, adding some shading and shadows that make this a lovely book to read.

Letters

Amelia’s letters are quite serviceable in this issue. The sound effects and intros for the characters are nicely stylized, particularly one character’s dialogue, which is uniquely colored when she uses her power. The dialogue is also easy to follow. As noted earlier, there is a lot of expositional dialogue in this issue, but Amelia’s letters never make any of the pages look overcrowded.

Conclusion

Fans of DC Comics crisis events should love Commanders in Crisis #1. It is a pastiche of DC’s crisis stories, which takes those concepts in some potentially unique directions. Morrison fans especially should love what Orlando, Davide, and company are doing in this issue. This story touches on the importance of hope, empathy, and the consequences of allowing those things to disappear from public discourse. I’ll definitely be checking out issue #2!

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Review: BE GAY, DO COMICS—Queer Pride Anthology of the Year

By

Elizabeth Buck

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Available now, Be Gay, Do Comics, is the queer anthology you didn’t know you needed. A partnership between The Nib and IDW, the book features stories from forty different contributors, edited together by Matt Bors, Eleri Harris and Matt Lubchansky, Sarah Mirk, and Andy Warner.

Like many pieces of media released this year, this book unintentionally satisfies an emotional need. Because of COVID-19, Pride month didn’t happen as usual. Instead of the typical in-person fun, community-engaging celebrations, everything was relegated to socially-distant internet hangs. Be Gay, Do Comics brings the celebration to you, giving each individual the chance to learn history and empathize with personal stories from diverse creators.

The anthology’s artistic through-line is its cartoonish style, especially in the way people are drawn. Colors are bold and bright, and facial features are unrealistic. Choosing cartoon style over realism makes the book more accessible.

Dimensions

However, that doesn’t mean the stories themselves are cartoonish, two-dimensional narratives. Cartoon style seems to give the creator emotional distance from their personal narrative. This then allows them to capture the essential beats of their story.

For example, in Shing Yin Khor’s story “The Undercut,” they combine a cartoon-like drawing of self with watercolor and poetic narration. The combination shows how we objectify ourselves, honing in on hair as a sign of identity. Lettering that looks like handwriting adds to the sense of intimacy and introspection the lyrical narration provides.

Moreover, the same principals apply to the historical stories. In the case of “The Wonderfully Queer World of Moomin” by Mady G, the style is borrowed from the Finnish “Moomin” comic strips by Tove Jansson. Pastel colors and the particular cartoon style of Jansson’s characters lend a sense of whimsy to the story.

Balancing whimsy and emotional intimacy through cartoonish art ensures the book’s accessibility. So we can all have respite and time to reflect on this stressful year. But for LGBTQIA folks, Be Gay, Do Comics hits differently given that queer folk’s increased risk of contracting COVID. If you weren’t satisfied with Pride this year, this book just might help you feel a little less alone.

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THE DEPARTMENT OF TRUTH #1: How Reality Becomes Subjective

By

Jake Palermo

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The Department Of Truth is a new thriller courtesy of James Tynion IV, Martin Simmonds, and Aditya Bidikar. Image Comics publishes the first issue on September 30, and with MFR already recommending this, it might be good to subscribe to this series. The series delves into the infectiously uncomfortable world of conspiracy theories. Disturbing influences aside, this may be one of the best comics to come out this year with its suspenseful storytelling that leaves readers on the edge of their seats.

The Department Of Truth #1 Story

The Department Of Truth #1 releases alongside Tynion IV’s other series, Something Is Killing The Children. Both books deal with the feeling of helplessness against the impossible. But the threats of the Dept. are not overwhelming just for the effects they have on people; it’s how these threats defy common sense. Unlike monsters that appear only to children, conspiracy theories are like a virus that people can’t shake. Even the reader won’t be able to shake the conspiracy theory’s influence after reading this issue. But specific details would be spoilers.

Reflecting current times of unease and misinformation, this series takes a supernatural spy thriller angle to the social commentary. Because if The Slender Man can invade people’s minds as much as Flat Earth theories, wouldn’t that put them in the same category? The newest recruit of the titular agency, Cole Turner, seems to think so. With the company he’ll be keeping, his and the reader’s world will turn upside down. With real-life twists and turns taking place during the publishing of The Department Of Truth #1, the suspense both on and off the plot will be something to remember. So much that readers won’t get enough of just one read and will re-read it endlessly.

Art

In just the prologue section, The Department Of Truth #1 sets itself up by overwhelming the reader. Simmonds arranges the panels in a grid to try to keep everything in control while the muted/blurry visuals display the difficulty in comprehension. It’s the perfect setup to a spy thriller with how it removes itself from the main story, which features a watercolor design. That design actually has a solid reason for it. In Cole’s perspective, things are strange but still make sense, even the creepier parts like identical smiles that are pasted to people’s faces. This brings unease to a situation already keeping readers on their toes. It’s relatively comparable to the numerous illustrators of Neil Gaiman’s Sandman franchise, like Colleen Doran.

Bidikar’s lettering only adds to this suspense. Most people speak in word balloons that don’t completely connect to the outline. This gives the feeling that everybody is speaking out of context or struggling to give the best answer to a question. Two different kinds of captions even make up two perspectives. The standard captions without voice-over borders are like paperwork descriptions for reports. The other voice-over captions have borders that are like Cole writing his experiences down in notes. The uneven borders, however, feel like they’ve been ripped out and jumbled. For all the professionalism, these descriptions might not be as reliable. It’s almost like the reader is trying to make as much sense of everything as much as Cole, bringing a sense of empathy throughout the issue. Enough to re-read the issue for Cole’s sake.

You’ve Been Approved By The Department of Truth #1

The Department of Truth #1 is a spy thriller like no other. Conspiracies have always been decent plots in comics like The Black Monday Murders, but now the more fantastical side takes hold. It looks like whatever readers believe about intrigue plots is about to be challenged. This series will bring readers in to re-review what’s on this issue just to try and make sense of everything. But no matter how much they try to familiarize themselves, readers might never adjust to it all. The illustrations make everything feel like a dream; even the characters are trying to make sense of everything. Readers are just along for the journey. One they might not mind doing again and again to make sense of everything.

Are you going to pick up The Department Of Truth #1? Leave your thoughts in the comments?

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Review: BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #17—The New Watcher

By

Elizabeth Buck

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Available now, Boom! Studios’ Buffy the Vampire Slayer #17 combines the written talents of Jordie Bellaire and Jeremy Lambert. Artistic contributions come from illustrator Andres Genolet, colorist Raul Angulo, and letterer Ed Dukeshire. Continuing the Ring of Fire arc, the book welcomes Buffyverse favorite Watcher, Wesley Wyndam-Price, into the fold.

Wesley of the BtVS TV series was an uptight rule-follower, drawing the ire of his Slayer charge Faith, Giles, and the rest of the Scoobies. His run on the original series was brief, however, and he gained most of his popularity as a main character in the Angel spin-off. Played for laughs in the series, Wesley’s uptight nature was part of his charm and set the tone for his introduction in #17.

Boot-Licking Hero

The book hilariously opens with Wesley writing self-insert fantasy fan-fiction. It reveals his strong desire to be a hero–and introduces the ghost of Ethan Rayne. Our favorite warlock interrupts the Watcher-in-training to alert him to a council meeting. Here, ghost-Ethan acts as Wesley’s conscience, prodding him for comedic effect and encouragement.

Ethan wants Wyndham-Price to stand up to the status-quo loving head of the Watcher’s Council, Dorothy. Mysteriously, three watchers and a slayer have died in the Cleveland, OH region. Ethan encourages Wesley to investigate and confront the council, partly blaming the murders on the council’s tendency to view Slayers and Watchers as expendable.

Watcher Council Meeting — WESLEY’S LATE TO A WATCHER COUNCIL MEETING.

But despite Wesley’s desire for heroism, he prefers to be a “boot-licker” instead of a rabble-rouser. He’s a new Watcher, after all, and taking such a risk could lead to unwelcome council scrutiny. Fortunately for Wesley, being a boot-licker works in his favor as Dorothy sends him on his first assignment as a Watcher. He’s to guide an unexpected third Slayer, another apparent fluke of the Hellmouth battle.

Big Stakes

With Ethan’s ever-present specter by his side, the new Watcher is welcomed to Sunnydale by a vampire. Shocked, he stakes the demon with Dorothy’s parting gift. Maybe he’s in over his head.

Characteristic fast-pacing and warm, saturated coloring provide the familiar, inviting backdrop to this exciting new subplot. The heavy use of wide shots emphasizes Wesley’s bashfulness, on occasion diminishing him so much that he almost blends into his environment. This artistic choice and others make issue seventeen a unique character study when compared to others in the series.

For one, Wesley’s interior self is revealed through the fanfiction instead of the more conventional choice of captions as employed in Kendra’s issue (#13). He also gets a purple Ethan ghost torso bearing a strong facial resemblance to the Watcher himself, acting as his conscience. These artistic choices ultimately streamline the story, making it more cinematic while complementing the overall tone and pace of the series.

Nonetheless, it’s the big stakes (in terms of both wooden weapons and plot) that entice. Will who or whatever murdered the Cleveland Watchers pose a threat in Sunnydale? And could this third Slayer possibly be… Faith?! We’ll just have to bite our nails in anticipation.

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Review: THE OWNERS Offers Familiar Home Invasion Thrills

By

Eric Trigg

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The Owners is the latest home invasion thriller to mix up elements from previous films that share identical plots. The film is very much a mixture of Don’t Breathe, Villains, and The Visit. Due to that, it doesn’t offer anything that original, but it’s enjoyable for what it has to offer and includes another great performance from Maisie Williams.

While we anxiously wait for the Don’t Breathe sequel to arrive, The Owners is here to remind us to not underestimate the elderly, especially a skilled doctor and his crazed spouse. What start’s off as a robbery quickly turns into an evening of terror. This elderly couple doesn’t take well to intrusion, and these young thieves have made a severe mistake. Directed and co-written by Julius Berg, the film Stars Maisie Williams, Sylvester McCoy, Rita Tushingham, Jake Curran, Andrew Ellis, Ian Kenny, and Stacha Hicks. The Owners follows a group of friends who attempt a robbery, only for the homeowner’s to return sooner than expected. Chaos ensues, as the elderly couple quickly turn the tables on their intruders.

Berg penned the script for this bizarre home invasion film with the help of Mathieu Gompel and Geoff Cox. This is yet another project that offers viewers no indication of who to get behind. We follow Mary (williams), Gaz (Curran), Terry (Ellis), and Nathan (Kenny). A group of friends who have underestimated the couple they are about to terrorize, but they themselves are unlikable characters. The elderly couple, Richard (McCoy) and Ellen Huggins (Tushingham), aren’t as defenseless as the film initially makes them. You’ll find yourself struggling to decide which group of criminals you want to see get the upper hand.

The script does include a few touches of foreshadowing and dialogue that effectively establishes multiple setups and payoffs, which is always a great detail. Also, the writers do a great job at connecting the Huggins to two members from the group of intruders. Hints are sprinkled throughout the script, and there are many nods to what is to come, but it’s almost impossible to predict. Sadly, this twist is too familiar, and not refreshing. It probably won’t warrant the big O. It’s clear they want us to get behind Mary, because she’s the most likable. Also, it helps when Williams is acting her butt off in the role. Mary and Terry are fleshed out as the film progresses, but their friends mostly exist to add to the body count.

Sylvester McCoy as Richard Huggins in The Owners

McCoy and Tushingham also offer some great performances. When Williams isn’t eating up the scenery, these two are here to fill in and they deliver. Curran, who is only featured in the first half, absolutely embraces his role as Gaz. Gaz is the pompous leader of the intruders, and for the little time we spend with him, Curran makes the most of it. Berg effectively builds tension throughout the film, and doesn’t let up once the Huggins return to their home. The score featured only heightens the unease you will feel for most of the films runtime. The Owners won’t be the most memorable home invasion film, that position is reserved for You’re Next. Still, this is an adequate horror thriller with a few surprises up its sleeve.

The Owners won’t be breaking new ground, but between Williams, McCoy and Tushingham’s acting chops, it will be enough to keep you interested for its 90 minute runtime. Williams is really shining on her own these days, and this project utilizes her better than the recent New Mutants. Despite it’s unlikable characters, the film features a trio of solid performances, and effective tension building, which is more than enough for fans of the genre to be pleased with.

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Review: JOHN CONSTANTINE: HELLBLAZER: MARKS OF WOE — Foul-Mouthed And Horrifying Once More

By

Anthony Composto - EIC

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DC Comics’ JOHN CONSTANTINE: HELLBLAZER VOL. 1: MARKS OF WOE is out September 29th, and England’s favorite bastard goes back to his Vertigo roots in this wickedly smart, funny, and exciting collection.

John Constantine is plucked from an apocalyptic future and returned to present-day London with simple instructions: All he has to do is be the best version of himself. But Constantine is a selfish ass — so what does the best version of himself even look like?

Contents & Credits
MARKS OF WOE collects The Sandman Universe Presents: Hellblazer #1, John Constantine: Hellblazer #1-6, and Books of Magic #14. It’s by writer Simon Spurrier and artists Aaron Campbell, Matías Bergara, and Marcio Takara, with colors by Jordie Bellaire and Cris Peter, and letters by Aditya Bidikar. The Books of Magic issue is co-written by Kat Howard and illustrated by Tom Fowler and Craig Taillefer, with colors by Jordan Boyd and letters by Todd Klein. The stunning collection cover is by Bilquis Evely and Mat Lopes.

Si Spurrier proves himself to be the perfect choice to write a modern HELLBLAZER comic. His Constantine is sardonic, witty, and outright rude. You love to hate John Constantine, but there’s also a clear pain beneath his surface that makes you root for him. Plus this is DC Black Label, so there’s no censorship here. Spurrier can write Constantine as crass as the character was back in the Vertigo days, and he takes full advantage of that freedom.

That’s going to be the big selling point for a lot of readers: This is a return to form for HELLBLAZER. After he was folded into the mainstream DC Universe and started palling around with the Justice League, Constantine had to be watered down and put on a leash. But now he’s off that leash again. And this doesn’t just mean he can swear openly once more (because, let’s be honest, if that was the main appeal it would get old fast). No, the real benefit is that HELLBLAZER can once again tell darker, more twisted, and more mature horror stories — and boy does it do just that.

Upon returning to the present, Constantine is greeted with an unfamiliar London — a post-Brexit London overflowing with ignorance and hate. There are evil forces at play which are poisoning people and fueling their anger, and the Hellblazer is on the case to take them down (if only for the bragging rights).

This is a book with a lot to say about the current state of London and the world at large. It’s full of smart social commentary, but it never comes off as preachy. If anything, the commentary makes these stories even scarier: Some of the evils that Constantine faces are the same evils that many of us face in the real world every day. The monsters aren’t just metaphorical though, so don’t you worry. MARKS OF WOE is full of terrifying demons that will haunt your nightmares.

john constantine hellblazer dc comics review — Art by Aaron Campbell & Jordie Bellaire

A few different art teams work on this book, but the changes never feel jarring. Each team tackles its own story within the overall story, so the transitions actually feel smooth and natural. Plus, each artist brings a different vibe with his or her style, which elicits various tones and feelings.

Campbell’s London, for instance, is dark and dirty. You feel like the grit is going to rub off on your fingers when you turn the page. Horrors lurk in the shadows. Then Bellaire’s colors peek through the darkness and reveal the magic and wonder hiding beneath the city’s surface. With the combination of inks and colors, the settings recall classic art (particularly the work of Vincent van Gogh), especially in regards to the lighting and skyscapes, which further drives home the magical and mysterious tones of the story.

Bergara’s work meanwhile (still with Bellaire’s colors) is then more cartoony and bright. It works well since the story being told in Bergara’s issues is more humorous and fun, but it also sets up the reader for even bigger scares. Because the art and story is more lighthearted, when the terrors strike, they’re all the more terrifying.

Regardless of their style, though, or how they deliver horror, every artist on MARKS OF WOE is an excellent storyteller. They all know exactly how to frame and utilize silent panels in order to build dread and drama (and even comedy). Personally, I love the repeated use of a single shot during a sequence, changing only a character’s position or facial expression in either subtle or dramatic ways — or even adding a spooky element to the background. Whether the intent is to scare or amuse, it always seems to pay off. Also, ending a page on a shot and then doing a reverse shot on the page turn for a reveal is an excellent way to make the hairs on the back of your readers’ necks stand up.

The point is, when you’re doing a horror comic, the artwork is both the most important and the most difficult component to get right, but this team nails it. They pull every trick out of their respective bags to give you the willies.

If you like horror, or dark fantasy, or smug protagonists that you sometimes want to punch in the face but also maybe grab a drink with, definitely pick up JOHN CONSTANTINE: HELLBLAZER VOL. 1: MARKS OF WOE, out September 29th from DC Comics. With respect to everyone who’s written Constantine over the years, this is peak HELLBLAZER right here.

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Review: TENET Gives Action-Packed Puzzle

By

Eric Trigg

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Tenet will warrant head-scratching, multiple re-watches, and a lifetime worth of patience to finally understand the film entirely. Christopher Nolan’s latest sci-fi thriller will do quite a number on the minds of everyone who dares to watch. It’s been said ad nauseam, but Tenet is the most ambitious film to date from the acclaimed director.

In what will easily be called the most baffling film in his career, Tenet impresses more with it’s action sequences than with its complex narrative. Nolan shows so much interest in wanting you to figure out the plot that he neglects giving us any chance to connect with the characters involved. Directed and written by Nolan, the film stars Robert Pattinson, Elizabeth Debicki, Michael Caine, Kenneth Branagh, Dimple Kapadia, and John David Washington. Tenet follows an unnamed CIA agent, as he attempts to manipulate the flow of time to prevent the third world war.

A simple premise that quickly evolves into mind-bender of the year. If Nolan’s intent was to spark conversation, job well done because Tenet is not easy to follow upon first viewing, and that’s the point. Nolan’s script is layered with details to help you along the way, but it will not come together easily with one viewing. Sadly, despite spending many years working on this script, the characters involved have little development. You won’t find yourself caring for them, but Tenet’s compelling plot is enough to keep you interested.

The lead role, simply called the protagonist, is well acted by Washington, but we spend most of the film with this unnamed character and it’s hard to get on his side. Acting aside, this character is not that interesting because very little is known about him outside of trying to save the world. In fact, he is the only character in the film without a name. Tenet features some solid performances from the entire cast, and of course, as seen in the trailers it is filled with impeccable cinematography throughout. Pattinson stars alongside Washington as Neil, who at first glance seems to be a simple sidekick, but then is transformed before the credits roll.

Pattinson’s performance here may get a few doubters more hyped for his upcoming Batman persona. Nolan does what he is a master at by directing this film with ease, but I would say this isn’t one of his better outings as a director. Despite that, he is part of the elite, and effectively depicts why his spot is deserved. It’s evident the focus was on putting together a visual spectacle, and that’s exactly what Tenet will be remembered for if nothing else. The dialogue between our characters may be hard to follow at times and the time travel may take multiple viewings to understand. However, Tenet is still a beautifully shot film that features great acting, and a score that is oscar worthy.

The film’s biggest detractor is it’s plot and the muffled dialogue. As ambitious as it is, Tenet has so many missing pieces that you have to put together on your own that it can become tiring. Coined the film that would save cinemas, Tenet is Nolan’s latest attempt at causing moviegoers minds to constantly shift gears while watching. Featuring some of the year’s best action sequences, and probably the only film this year that will cause a migraine. A spy film that won’t go down as his best film, but a movie that needs to be seen many times to appreciate how well made it is, and to fully grasp the concept of inversion. Tenet is another impressive outing from Nolan, who indeed may have just saved cinemas.

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Marvel Comics Exclusive Preview: X-FACTOR #3

By

Anthony Composto - EIC

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September 3, 2020

X-FACTOR #3 hits your local comic book store September 9th, but thanks to Marvel Comics, Monkeys Fighting Robots has an exclusive two-page preview for you.

About the issue:
DROWNING IN THE STREAM! Every streamer in the Mojoverse is desperate to get a little of the X-magic on their channel, but all X-Factor wants to do is figure out who murdered a Krakoan citizen.

X-FACTOR #3 is by writer Leah Williams and artist David Baldeon, with colors by Israel Silva and letters by Joe Caramagna.

Krakoa may have conquered death, but that doesn’t mean its citizens will just let murder slide. X-FACTOR focuses on the mutants tasked with investigating any Krakoan deaths prior to resurrection. Williams and Baldeon previously worked together on GWENPOOL STRIKES BACK for Marvel.

Check out the X-FACTOR #3 preview below:

What’s your favorite X-book of the new era? Sound off in the comments!

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Marvel Preview: A Warrior Is Born In SHANG-CHI #1

By

Gabriel Hernandez

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September 3, 2020

In anticipation of the Marvel film, Marvel Comics has released a preview trailer for the comic of the same name, SHANG-CHI #1. Available to retailers on September 30th.

Written by Gene Luen Yang, this series will explore the Martial Arts hero’s origins, history and family secrets. You can check out a preview of the first cover, a preview trailer, and the full Marvel press release below.

Is Shang-Chi a worthy addition to both the comics rack and MCU? Let us know your thoughts about the character in the Comments section, and please share this post on social media using the links below.

MARVEL’S GREATEST FIGHTER DISCOVERS HIS SECRET DESTINY IN THE SHANG-CHI #1 TRAILER!

Writer Gene Luen Yang teams up with artists Dike Ruan and Phillip Tan for the next chapter in the legend of Shang-Chi!

New York, NY— September 3, 2020 — Shang-Chi returns this month in a brand-new series by Eisner Award-winning writer Gene Luen Yang (American Born Chinese) and acclaimed artists Dike Ruan (Spider-Verse, Black Cat) and Philip Tan (Uncanny X-Men). The former Avenger will be forced to confront his family’s dark history when the mysterious Five Weapons Society emerges from the shadows. With the group’s leadership in question, a bloody power struggle will erupt into a full-blown war and only the deadly fists of Shang-Chi can protect the Marvel Universe from the fallout. Founded by his father, Zheng Zu, this ancient group of warriors will reveal long-hidden truths about Shang-Chi’s past and drag the hero back into a world he thought he left behind forever. Get your first look at this shocking family reunion in the SHANG-CHI #1 trailer, featuring never-before-seen art from the debut issue!

“We are keeping all of the big pieces of Shang-Chi’s backstory. He’s the son of a supervillain who dreamed of taking over the world. Shang-Chi grew up in a remote area of China, separated from modern society. He eventually made his way to America and joined forces with American superheroes. We want to flesh him out by adding to his supporting cast,” Yang revealed in a recent interview with SYFY Wire. “We’ve met some of his siblings in the past, but in this particular miniseries we’re going to meet a full set of them. Each is going to bring out a different aspect of Shang-Chi’s personality.”

Don’t miss this fascinating new take on the Shang-Chi mythos when this action-packed series kicks off on September 30th!

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JOKER WAR ZONE Preview: Battleground Gotham City

By

Kevin Sharp

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September 3, 2020

Between “Joker War” raging across the Bat-titles and the recent announcement from writer John Ridley, it’s been a busy time for Dark Knight news. Now September brings Batman: The Joker War Zone from an all-star creative roster.

Check out the description and preview art below direct from DC Comics:

The Clown Prince of Crime has taken control of the Wayne fortune and wages war against Batman and his allies, with Gotham City as the battleground!

Here’s a first look at three stories that show how the war’s being fought in the streets, stories with far-reaching implications for Batman and Gotham City in 2021!

Writer Sam Johns (DC’s Crimes of Passion, November’s Punchline #1) and artist Laura Braga (DC Bombshells, Harley & Ivy Meet Betty & Veronica), team up for “Ashes of Eden,” spotlighting the return of Poison Ivy to Gotham City (following the events of Batman #98).

Batman writer James Tynion IV and artist James Stokoe spotlight Gotham’s newest vigilante, Clownhunter in “Clown Hunt,” whose appearance in Gotham City will have major ramifications for Batman, beyond The Joker War.

And for those of you still curious about John Ridley’s announcement about his 2021 Batman miniseries, here’s more to stoke those curiosity fires with a look at “Family Ties,” featuring art by superstar Olivier Coipel (Batman, Action Comics #1000, Wonder Woman #750). When the Joker’s war against Batman hits them where it hurts most, the Fox family decides it’s time for them to start fighting back. All of them.

Ridley and Batman Group Editor Ben Abernathy will talk more about his story and its implications on September 12, during the Batman: Joker War panel, part of DC FanDome: Explore the Multiverse.

Batman: The Joker War Zone #1 also includes a Joker/Bane story by Tynion and Guillem March, as well as a Cassandra Cain/Spoiler tale from The Flash writer Joshua Williamson with artist David LaFuente. This 48-page one-shot arrives at open and operating comic book stores and participating digital retailers on Tuesday, September 29. Solicits details below and assets attached, enjoy!

BATMAN: THE JOKER WAR ZONE #1

Written by JAMES TYNION IV, JOHN RIDLEY, JOSHUA WILLIAMSON, and others

Art by GUILLEM MARCH, DAVID LAFUENTE, JAMES STOKOE, and others

Cover by BEN OLIVER

Card stock variant cover by DERRICK CHEW

ONE-SHOT | ON SALE 09/29/20

$5.99 US | 48 PAGES | NO ADS | FC | DC

CARD STOCK VARIANT COVER $6.99 US

Gotham City is a battleground as The Joker takes over the Wayne fortune and wages a street war against the Dark Knight and his allies! Enter the “war zone” with short stories featuring characters like Cassandra Cain, Stephanie Brown, and Luke Fox and see how they’re fighting back in a city under siege! Also, the brutal full debut of the mysterious new anti-hero known as Clownhunter!

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