Romano Molenaar | DC Comics

DETECTIVE COMICS VOL. 2 Debuts at #1 on THE NEW YORK TIMES’ Hardcover Graphic Books Best Seller List

On Friday, THE NEW YORK TIMES published their Graphic Books Best Sellers Lists, and debuting at #1 on the Hardcover list was BATMAN: DETECTIVE COMICS, VOL. 2: SCARE TACTICS!

An armed robbery carried out by gunmen dressed as Batman. A string of similar-looking corpses turning up in morgues … then disappearing. An experiment gone dangerously awry, carried out in Bruce Wayne’s own company tower. Somehow, all of these events are tied together, orchestrated by a terrifying killer known as Mr. Toxic, and the fate of Gotham City—and the world—is on the line. Can the Dark Knight piece together the mystery, while also dealing with a gang of fear-gassing Scarecrows, an attack on Arkham Asylum by the Court of Owls and the escape of one of Arkham’s most dangerous inmates—the hypnotic Black Mask?

In BATMAN: DETECTIVE COMICS, VOL. 2: SCARE TACTICS, writer/artist Tony S. Daniel (SAVAGE HAWKMAN) and artists Ed Benes (RED LANTERNS), Szymon Kudranski (PENGUIN: PAIN AND PREJUDICE), Julio Ferreira (TEEN TITANS), Romano Molenaar (BIRDS OF PREY), and Pere Perez (BATGIRL) put Batman to the fearsome test in the new DC Universe! Plus, witness the deadly final lesson in Bruce Wayne’s training before he became Batman, from writers Gregg Hurwitz (BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT) and James Tynion IV (TALON) and artists Tony S. Daniel and Henrik Jonsson! This hardcover books collects DETECTIVE COMICS #8-12 and #0, and DETECTIVE COMICS ANNUAL #1.

Click here to read THE NEW YORK TIMES’ full list of Hardcover Graphic Books Best Sellers, which also includes BATMAN, VOL. 2: THE CITY OF OWLS, 100 BULLETS: DELUXE EDITION BOOK FOUR, AMERICAN VAMPIRE, VOL. 5, BATMAN, VOL. 1: THE COURT OF OWLS, and BATMAN: THE KILLING JOKE. And click here to see THE NEW YORK TIMES’ list of Paperback Graphic Books Best Sellers, which includes the debuts of SWAMP THING, VOL. 2: FAMILY TREE and WORLDS’ FINEST, VOL. 1: LOST DAUGHTERS OF EARTH 2, as well as PUNK ROCK JESUS. Congratulations to all!

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detective comics, Tony S. Daniel, ed benes, szymon kudranski, Julio Ferreira, Romano Molenaar, pere perez, Gregg Hurwitz, James Tynion IV, Henrik Jonsson, Batman, 100 bullets, american vampire, batman: the killing joke, swamp thing, Worlds' Finest, punk rock jesus

Preview Monday: BIRDS OF PREY #18 and FABLES #127

Welcome back for another installment of Preview Monday! This week we’re giving you exclusive first looks at BIRDS OF PREY #18 and FABLES #127.

Mr. Freeze is out of Arkham and looking for revenge on the Court of Owls! Get ready for a chilling showdown, because his first target is the newest member of the Birds of Prey, Strix! What could Freeze have in store for the ex-Talon? And how will this affect the rest of the team? Find out in BIRDS OF PREY #18, in stores this Wednesday, written by new series writer Christy Marx and illustrated by Romano Molenaar and Vicente Cifuentes.

Also this week, the “Snow White” storyline continues in FABLES. Since Bigby left for his road trip, Fabletown has seen nothing but trouble. And now, the ruthless Prince Brandish has locked Snow White in a tower with no way out. Can Snow escape before the prince takes her as his wife? And what will Bigby do when he finds out her whereabouts? Written by Bill Willingham and illustrated by Mark Buckingham and Steve Leialoha, FABLES #127 arrives in stores this Wednesday.

Tags:

birds of prey, fables, Christy Marx, Romano Molenaar, Vicente Cifuentes, bill willingham, mark buckingham, steve leialoha

COMIC BOOK RESOURCES Announces New BIRDS OF PREY Writer

In BIRDS OF PREY #18, Mr. Freeze is out of Arkham Asylum and is looking for revenge on the Court of Owls. His first target? The newest member of the Birds team, Strix! And if that wasn’t enough trouble for the girls, the issue also introduces The Daughters of the Dawn who are abducting people with super powers … starting with a certain prisoner in Belle Reve!

But that’s not the only exciting news for BIRDS OF PREY fans today. This morning, COMIC BOOK RESOURCES exclusively announced that beginning with issue #18, Jim Zubkavich (SKULLKICKERS) will be the new ongoing series writer!

“BIRDS OF PREY #18 is written as an ideal jumping on point for new or lapsed readers, but it doesn’t get rid of anything that’s happened in previous issues. It sets a new baseline and reintroduces the team while building on the foundation that’s been solidly set up,” Zubkavich revealed to COMIC BOOK RESOURCES.

“After being physically and emotionally trounced by Batman, Freeze is damaged goods and he’s not dealing with that too well. He feels he’s been used by Bruce Wayne, used by Batman and used by the Court of Owls. Since Batman and Wayne Corp. soundly kicked his ass, he’s lashing out at the next thing on his list and is determined to wreck vengeance on the Court and its many minions. That’s going to bring him into conflict with Strix and the rest of the Birds. The end result of that nasty conflict will be far reaching and bloody for everyone involved,” the writer teased about his debut issue. “Playing in the DC sandbox with both classic and new characters feels pretty cool, I don’t mind saying. When Freeze’s name came up during brainstorming sessions I felt I could build on the great new material that started in BATMAN ANNUAL #1. I’m excited about showing readers how focused and dangerous he can be.”

Head on over to COMIC BOOK RESOURCES to read the full interview with Zubkavich and to take an exclusive first look at issue #18’s stunning interior art by Romano Molenaar and Vicente Cifuentes.

BIRDS OF PREY #18 flies into stores on March 20, 2013.

Tags:

birds of prey, Jim Zubkavich, Romano Molenaar, Vicente Cifuentes

Exclusive Preview of BIRDS OF PREY #13

In Yokohama, Japan, one thousand feet below sea level, a bomb is set to detonate in 24 hours. Meanwhile, in Gotham City, a team of ninja assassins attacks Katanna, stealing her sword and leaving her for dead. But does their desire for her sword confirm Katanna’s beliefs that it contains the soul of her dead husband? The ninjas will have to work fast to find out, as they’re not the only ones willing to shed some blood to be in possession of the weapon. And in order to get the sword back, the Birds of Prey will have to travel to Yokohama to track it down … with only 12 hours left until detonation.

BIRDS OF PREY #13, in stores tomorrow, is written by Duane Swierczynski and illustrated by Romano Molenaar and Vicente Cifuentes. Click here to see an exclusive preview of the issue.

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birds of prey, Duane Swierczynski, Romano Molenaar, Vicente Cifuentes

DETECTIVE COMICS ANNUAL #1 Spotlight

This month, DC Comics will release its next batch of Annuals. These special oversized issues will not only build off of the events in their respective series, but will also greatly impact the expanding DC Universe. Every day this week on THE SOURCE, we’ll be putting individual spotlights on each of these Annual issues by talking to various writers, artists, and editors to give you special sneak peeks at what’s to come! First up is DETECTIVE COMICS ANNUAL #1.

“As a new member of the Batman group at DC Comics, it is a thrill working with Tony Daniel on DETECTIVE COMICS ANNUAL #1,” artist Romano Molenaar told THE SOURCE. “He knows exactly how to write for an artist which makes it a delight setting up the pages. Fans can expect fast-paced action and details all over the place as far as the art goes. Batman will need all of his physical and mental strength for this Annual and be ready for the return of one of his most diabolical villains!”

“The first DETECTIVE COMICS ANNUAL features the return of one of Batman’s most dangerous adversaries – the Black Mask!” added series editor Mike Marts. “Picking up from where readers last saw him in the ‘Night of the Owls’ storyline, gangster Roman Sionis has once again donned the maddening mask and formed his False Face Society. How will the Dark Knight combat this unique threat? And is there an even greater villain lurking in the shadows?”

Written by Tony S. Daniel and illustrated by Romano Molenaar, DETECTIVE COMICS ANNUAL #1 flies into stores on August 29.

Tags:

detective comics, detective comics annual, Tony Daniel, Romano Molenaar, mike marts

Announcing DETECTIVE COMICS ANNUAL #1

You already know about this month’s TEEN TITANS, ANIMAL MAN and BATMAN Annual issues. Today, we can exclusively announce another special Annual that’ll be coming your way soon: DETECTIVE COMICS ANNUAL #1.

“This special Annual, written by Tony S. Daniel and illustrated by Romano Molenaar and Sandu Florea, pits the Dark Knight against the Black Mask—a Gotham City villain most recently seen during the Night of the Owls!,” BATMAN group editor Mike Marts told THE SOURCE.

DETECTIVE COMICS ANNUAL #1 goes on sale August 29th.