This Just Happened: Meet the New Batwing

SPOILER ALERT: If you have not read BATWING #19 and do not wish to know what happens, stop reading this post now (major spoilers ahead!)

From the brand new creative team of writers Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti (ALL-STAR WESTERN) and artists Eduardo Pansica and Júlio Ferreira, BATWING #19 takes the character in a bold and exciting new direction.

Following the events of the last couple of issues, David Zavimbe has decided to end his career as Batwing, but first he must submit his resignation to Batman. In a flashback sequence, David reveals that he has worked hard to tie up all the loose ends he created while serving as a masked vigilante.

First, he locates Stash Marksbury’s murderous son Ancil and uses him as bait. With Ancil in his custody, Batwing is able to question Marksbury and discover the whereabouts of Sky-Pirate. Batwing decides to put Sky-Pirate out of business once and for all with a couple of well placed explosives on a ship the villain is planning to rob. 

But there is something more important to David than the battle against injustice: his manservant Matu, who happens to be on his death bed. After his escapades as Batwing, David rushes to his side and spends the night wishing he could do more the help his ailing friend.

When morning comes, Matu is awake and strong enough to give David some final words of advice. He urges him to take back his own life before it is too late.

David does just that. His work as Batwing is over, and now he must also end his work as a police officer. With the help of his friend Kia, David makes one final arrest and turns his badge over to the captain.

It’s time for a new beginning for David Zavimbe and Batman now understands his difficult decision to resign as Batwing. But Batman still needs a Batman Inc. agent to shut down the Marabunta gunrunners and save the lives of the children in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

It’s time to recruit his first choice for Batwing: recent M.I.T. graduate, trained martial artist, and son of one of Wayne Enterprises’ most important employees: Luke Fox!

Above, take a look at the last page from “The End of the Beginning” as Luke Fox proves himself to be a suitable replacement for David. And don’t forget to pick up your copy of BATWING #19, in stores now!

Learn the dangers of being Batman's friend in BATMAN BEYOND #4

As you'll pick up from last week's Jimmy Olsen Special (and from countless other Jimmy Olsen stories over the decades), being Superman's pal has its share of pratfalls. But what if you're Batman's closest confidant?

Terry McGinnis's friend and intelligence expert, Max, explains what it's like being Batman's best friend in BATMAN BEYOND #4, in comic shops (and our digital store) today.

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Prepare for 'The 100 Minute War'

You read that correctly. An interstellar conflict waged at superspeed.

Could this be in any way related to THE WAR OF THE SUPERMEN, which we announced not too long ago?

Same thing, folks, and it's all hitting in May, courtesy of writers Sterling Gates and James Robinson.

An epic, defining battle for the Man of Steel unleashed in one month. Because super-beings that fly fast? Well, they fight pretty fast, too.

But let's move past the high concept and dive into the nitty gritty, shall we? We pestered Superman Group Editor Matt Idelson on his day off to give us the goods, so take it away, Matt:

"The war between New Krypton and Earth has been the worst kept secret in comics the last several months. The number of mocking 'Wouldn't a world of supermen defeat Earth in five minutes?' questions I've been assaulted with have undone years of therapy. Now, thank Freud, the time for secrets is over, as the two sides are finally going to war! And it's going to last a lot longer than five minutes--100, to be exact, told in 25 minute increments. That doesn't count the few minutes before the clock starts, in WAR OF THE SUPERMEN #0, our contribution to this year's FREE COMIC BOOK DAY. There, we'll bring new readers up to speed on everything they really need to know, while hitting our regular loyalists with a tense tale the ending of which baps you between the eyes. Yay, war!

Jokes aside, this 100 minute thing made us realize that spreading the story over several months would kind of deaden the impact of the timeframe device, not to mention starting the war a month after #0. Besides, with five covers by Mr. Eddy Barrows, and Eddy being joined on this thing by the likes of Aaron Lopresti, Jamal Igle and Eduardo Pansica, why wait to put the issues out?"

But there's more.

With Superman caught between the war-hungry factions of General Zod and General Lane, could any victory be much more than Pyrrhic? What side will Supergirl take, and could it find her at odds with her cousin? Where are the other "Supermen" of the DCU, like Steel and Superboy? Right in the thick of it, is the answer.

War is declared. Time is of the essence. May is going to be a game changer for Superman, and if you don't believe me yet, maybe these stunning in-progress Eddy Barrows WAR OF THE SUPERMEN covers -- along with the cover to #0 -- will help sway you.

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