Tuesday Roundup: Wonder Woman, Nightwing, Batgirl, Red Hood and More

Okay, before we get into this week’s Roundup, we have just one question. Is this not the creepiest Batgirl cover you’ve ever seen, or what?

Yowza! Stuff of nightmares, that.

Well, at least it is for us. In fairness to poor Barbara, after everything her brother’s put her through, it would probably take a lot to give her nightmares. If she can even sleep at all. Batgirl’s latest challenge kicks off in this week’s BATGIRL #20, which launches us into a new storyline and introduces the Ventriloquist into DC COMICS – THE NEW 52. However, if that cover illustration is any indication, don’t expect your father’s Ventriloquist.

(Actually, if your father does have a Ventriloquist, it’s probably better to go through life without any expectations at all because your life is clearly a lot stranger than most.)

Also in shops tomorrow is VIBE #4 and RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #20, which mark the second issues by new series writers Sterling Gates and James Tynion IV, respectively. Of course, it’s not too late to grab their first issues if you haven’t yet because these are two runs you don’t want to fall behind on. And speaking of getting caught up on comics, if you haven’t been reading Wonder Woman, you’re going to want to go back and grab the previous 20 issues right now (yes, we’re serious and not we haven’t forgotten how to count—there was a zero issue, remember?). The book is just that good, and seeing how it only gets better from here, now’s the time to jump onboard.

Look for previews of all of those titles below and more, including the second issue of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, new issues of Catwoman, Nightwing and Supergirl, a first look at the last issue of Sword of Sorcery, and more!

Here are the DC Comics previews that hit the Web this past week…

USA TODAY ran an exclusive preview of JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA’S VIBE #4 and interviewed writer Sterling Gates.

NERDIST ran an exclusive preview of WONDER WOMAN #20 and interviewed writer Brian Azzarello.

IGN ran an exclusive preview of BATGIRL #20.

MTV GEEK ran an exclusive preview of HE-MAN AND THE MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE #2.

AIN’T IT COOL NEWS ran an exclusive preview of BIRDS OF PREY #20.

CRAVE ONLINE ran an exclusive preview of RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #20.

CBS’ MAN CAVE ran an exclusive preview of JSA LIBERTY FILES: THE WHISTLING SKULL #6

COMIC BOOK RESOURCES ran an exclusive preview of BATWOMAN #20.

NEWSARAMA ran an exclusive preview of CATWOMAN #20.

COMIC VINE ran an exclusive preview of SUPERGIRL #20.

GAMMA SQUAD ran an exclusive preview of NIGHTWING #20.

SCIENCEFICTION.COM ran an exclusive preview of LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #20.

The DC Comics website ran exclusive previews of FABLES #129, GREEN LANTERN: THE ANIMATED SERIES #13, and SWORD OF SORCERY #8.

Preview Monday: WONDER WOMAN #19 and FABLES #128

Welcome back for another installment of Preview Monday! This week, we’re giving you exclusive first looks at WONDER WOMAN #19 and FABLES #128!

This month, WONDER WOMAN launches an explosive new story arc. “Don’t miss issue #19,” writer Brian Azzarello teased to COMIC VINE about the series a few weeks ago. “I don’t think Superman would approve.” Well when BUZZFEED exclusively debuted the full gatefold cover for WONDER WOMAN #19 depicting Diana and Orion in a passionate liplock, fans began to understand what Azzarello might have been alluding to. Also in WONDER WOMAN #19, Poseidon shares a piece of information with the First Born that puts Zola’s son in immediate danger. But will Wonder Woman and her army be able to protect him when her team is unraveling from the inside out? Find out in WONDER WOMAN #19, in stores on Wednesday, written by Brian Azzarello and illustrated by Goran Sudzuka, Tony Akins, and Dan Green.

Meanwhile over in Fablestown, “Snow White” continues with its fourth chapter. In FABLES #128, Bigby howls back to Castle Dark for a showdown with Prince Brandish for the hand of his/their wife, Snow White. But unbeknownst to Bigby, any physical harm that he inflicts on Prince Brandish will also be felt by Snow White, who remains locked away in her tower. Will Bigby be able to save his wife before he accidentally kills her? Or will Prince Brandish defeat the mighty wolf? In stores this Wednesday, FABLES #128 is written by Bill Willingham and illustrated by Mark Buckingham, Steve Leialoha, and Andrew Pepoy.

5.2 Reasons We're Excited for Injustice

We’ve all be there. Discussing our favorite super heroes with our friend (let’s randomly say, oh, Jimmy) and suddenly the conversation turns to who would win a fight. Not between us and Jimmy (obviously, that’d be us—what now, Jimmy?!) but in match-ups between Superman and Batman, Wonder Woman and SHAZAM!, the Flash and Green Lantern. The debate rages, and even though Jimmy is clearly wrong because he’s a big, stupid, jerkface, you never come to an agreement.

Well, things are about to change because with the release of the Injustice: Gods Among Us video game on April 16, you can finally take the debate to the ring by pitting your favorite super heroes and super villains against one another in a scenery-smashing, face-punching, level-exploding brawl across the DC Universe.

The early videos got us buzzing and the more we’ve seen—between online reveals and convention demos—the more that buzzing became an all-out electrocution of anticipation. With the game’s release less than a week away, we’re breaking down the 5.2 Reasons We’re Excited for Injustice!

 

1. The Story

Yes, we realize Injustice is a fighting game and generally speaking, who needs a story when Catwoman is dropkicking Solomon Grundy in the face—but we’re actually really interested to play through the story mode and explore a world where Superman and other members of the World’s Greatest have taken over, turning the Earth into a totalitarian regime. And have Catwoman dropkick Solomon Grundy in the face while doing so.


2. The Battles

There’s just no getting around it. We’re really excited to pit these characters against one another, to finally settle these debates once and for all... at least until the next round. And for those who have been joining us each week for Injustice Battle Arena—which culminates on Monday night in a final fight between Batman and Superman—and demanding rematches, well, now you can have it! There’s definitely going to be a lot of “best two out of three,” “best six out of ten,” “okay, okay, best eleven out of twenty.”


3. The Cast

Sure we’ve got the basics we all wanted—Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Green Lantern, Aquaman, Cyborg—but some revelations about the extended cast got us incredibly excited: Nightwing, Raven, Ares, SHAZAM! AND Black Adam, Hawkgirl, Sinestro and more. Not to mention who knows who else they’ll bring out for DLC.


4. Interactive Environment

Each level comes equipped with a multitude of environmental weapons at your disposal with unique usages depending on your particular character build. Powerhouses like Doomsday and Bane can pick up cars and bash them into their opponent’s heads while acrobats like Nightwing and Deathstroke can utilize overhead items to escape from a tricky situation. Not to mention being able to knock your opponents through buildings or floors of the Batcave into a whole new section of the level.

 

5. Multiple Game Modes

We’ve mentioned the Story Mode and of course there’s your standard versus mode, but Injustice also includes Battle Mode, an online “King of the Hill” mode, and S.T.A.R. Labs, which include 240 character-specific challenges.

 

5.1 Super Moves

In Superman’s Ultimate Attack, he punches you into freaking space!


5.2 Alternate Costumes

Nothing quite beats Red Son Wonder Woman uppercutting the hell out of Blackest Night Batman.

 

What are you most excited for and what characters would you love to see as DLC? Let us know in the comments! In the meantime, we’re going to prepare to prove to Jimmy once and for all that Harley Quinn could totally beat Doomsday in a fight!

MAD Celebrates Alfred E. Neuman’s Birthday with DC Comics Variant Covers

For some, April 1st means a day of practical jokes and pranks.

But here at the DC Entertainment offices, this date signifies the birthday of beloved MAD icon Alfred E. Neuman. This year, Alfred turns 12 (again!), and what better way to celebrate than by giving him a shot at being a superhero?

Throughout the course of the month, various DC Comics titles will have MAD themed variant covers, injecting the magazine’s unique blend of humor and satire into The New 52. Below, take a look at where you can check out all of these covers:

AQUAMAN #19 – IGN

BATMAN #19 – THE HUFFINGTON POST

BATWOMAN – LOGO’s NEWNOWNEXT

DETECTIVE COMICS #19 – BUZZFEED

THE FLASH #19 – GAMMA SQUAD

GREEN ARROW #19 – MTV GEEK

GREEN LANTERN #19 - MAXIM

JUSTICE LEAGUE #19 – CRAVE ONLINE

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #3 – ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY

SUPERGIRL #19 – WIRED’s GEEK DAD

SUPERMAN #19 – COMIC BOOK RESOURCES

TEEN TITANS #19 – NEWSARAMA

WONDER WOMAN #19 – THE MARY SUE

And don’t forget to pick up the latest issue of MAD when it hits stands at the end of the month!

This Just Happened: A Family United

SPOILER ALERT: If you have not read WONDER WOMAN #18 and do not wish to know what happens, stop reading this post now (major spoilers ahead!)

From the creative team of Eisner Award-winning writer Brian Azzarello (100 BULLETS) and artists Cliff Chiang, Goran Sudzuka, Tony Akins, and Dan Green, WONDER WOMAN #18 continues the Amazonian’s latest adventures with an unforgettable supporting cast chocked full of gods and goddesses from classic Greek mythology.

Following the events of the last couple of issues, Wonder Woman and her new ally War have come to Demeter’s Realm to retrieve Zola’s baby. But this is not your average infant. According to fan-favorite character Orion, this is the same baby that is prophesized to begin the end of time. And he’s been sent to kill him/her!

But before Orion can get his hands on the infant and save the universe, Wonder Woman must rescue it from her brother Hermes. And he won’t give up the child without a fight! And while Wonder Woman may have had one of the greatest combat teachers in the world, she is no match for Hermes’ speed.

Just when it seems like Wonder Woman has met her match and her premature demise, someone comes to her rescue: Orion! Together, these unlikely allies defeat Hermes and venture to find Harvest, who is hiding the child. Little do they know: War has already taken the child as his own!

Betrayed by War, Wonder Woman and Orion return to Zola’s apartment to admit their failure and devise a plan for revenge. But when they arrive, there is a surprise waiting for them … Zola’s baby! And it’s a boy!

Will the return of Zola’s son mean even more problems for Wonder Woman? And how will she repay her debt to War for rescuing the child? Place your bets in the comments section below!

Above, take a look at the last page from “The Queen of Roots” as the child is surrounded by his new unconventional family. And don’t forget to pick up your copy of WONDER WOMAN #18, in stores now!

Talking WONDER WOMAN’s New Story Arc with Brian Azzarello

Since its launch in September of 2011, WONDER WOMAN has chronicled the Amazonian’s adventures with an unforgettable supporting cast chocked full of gods and goddesses from classic Greek mythology. If you’ve already picked up your copy of WONDER WOMAN #18 (in stores today), you read the conclusion of the acclaimed series’ current story arc. So with a brand new arc kicking off next month, what’s on deck for Diana and Co. in issue #19?

“We are telling a long-form story here, but this is a good place if you want to jump on,” Eisner Award winning series writer Brian Azzarello told IGN. “We're gonna see some major upheavals in the world that we have created for her. This is a great place to get a front row seat and watch it happen. The character we have been building with the First Born, he will come crashing in.”

“The next story arc is going to be a big one,” Azzarello continued to NEWSARAMA. “We are just getting started with First Born. You can tell something big's going to happen between him and her, right? He is going to have a major, major impact on her family … She [Wonder Woman] hasn't changed enough yet. She's got some more changes. I think the changes have worked really well, but we're not done. It's part of the plan … She's actually leading a team now, which is something that's different for her. But obviously, things around her — the whole mythos — has changed.”

“Don't miss issue #19...I don't think Superman would approve,” the writer teased to COMIC VINE.

For more from Azzarello about the launch of this big and bold new story arc in WONDER WOMAN #19, check out the full interviews that ran with him this morning in IGN, COMIC BOOK RESOURCES, NEWSARAMA, COMIC VINE, and AOL’s COMICS ALLIANCE.

And in the gallery above, check out a sneak peek at some interior art for WONDER WOMAN #19, which flies into stores on April 17th.

5.2 Reasons Earth 2 is Blowing Our Minds

Pack your theoretical bags and don’t forget your magic-repellant enchantments and custom-made Jay Garrick Flash helmet because this week we're taking a little trip over to EARTH 2—home to the re-imagined members of the Justice Society of America!

The first issue alone had us salivating for more and with each new character appearance and plot twist, we need to chug more and more water to replenish all those lost fluids (cause of, you know, the salivating). What makes this series so awesome? Well, with the first volume collection hitting stores this week, we thought it would be a good time to give you the 5.2 Reasons Why Earth 2 is Blowing Our Minds!


1. A World without Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman...

The opening salvo of EARTH 2 introduced us to alternate versions of the Big Three of DC—engaged in an all-out brawl of insurmountable odds against the hordes of Apokolips. This isn't necessarily new for Supes, Bats, and, uh, Wondy, but whereas normally they've got friends helping them, this time they're on their own... and their victory came at a terrible price as in the first issue, the Big Three of DC get straight up murdered! How’s that for a plot twist Shyamalan?

2. ... But Not a World without Heroes

Sure the Big Three are gone, but that doesn't mean that Earth 2 threw up its metaphorical hands and went “Screw it, we’re out.” That would make for a very, very short series. The consequences and repercussions of Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman’s sacrifice lead to the emergence of an all-new generation of heroes, including the Flash Jay Garrick, Green Lantern Alan Scott, Hawkgirl Kendra Saunders, the Atom Al Pratt, and more.

3. A Whole New World

However, though the names and powers might seem familiar, this isn't the same JSA of old. We've got a young Jay Garrick just discovering his powers (granted to him by a freakin’ god no less), a very different Alan Scott as an avatar of the Green, a military man version of Al Pratt, a gun-totting Hawkgirl, a villainous Fury, and much more we don't even know yet. With a whole new world to play with, the possibilities are endless.

 

4. Welcome Home, Mr. Robinson

Speaking of endless possibilities on a whole new world, who better to weave those webs than James Robinson? Robinson gained much praise and popularity for his work with Earth 2 on such titles as JSA, THE GOLDEN AGE and STARMAN. It's very obvious to anyone who reads his work that he has a deep-seeded love for these characters, so it's especially exciting to see him not only back on Earth 2 but also re-imagining these characters for a new age.

 

5. Wardrobe Change

One of the coolest things about the series is seeing the multitude of cosmetic changes that have been made to the costumes of these characters. Check out some of them below!