Batman: Cover to Cover

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Issue 291, also known as “Where Were You On The Night Batman Was Killed,” begins with the announcement that Batman is finally dead. While the criminal underworld should be thrilled about this news, the problem is that nobody is quite sure who actually killed him, as nearly every crook and villain is claiming to be the one who finally brought Batman down. Eventually, a Gotham mobster has to hold a trial at his mansion to discern the identity of Batman’s killer once and for all. Apes alive! When Solovar, leader of Gorilla City, is apparently assassinated by pro-human extremists, Gorilla City’s new government declares war on humanity. Part of their plot involves turning the JLA into human-hating gorillas to help carry out their bidding. When the Deadly Duo’s investigation brings them into the catacombs under Gotham, Batman and The Joker’s adventure becomes a trip into hell. If you thought this series had already shown you its horrors, get ready for a descent into the heart of darkness as Batman and The Joker’s true enemy is revealed.

The Metropolis of the future is here today, but can it survive a terrorist who’s out for revenge against its builder—John Henry Irons, a.k.a. Steel—and his company, Steelworks…and who possesses secrets that could undo everything John has worked so hard to build? Now it’s up to Batman (the only member who wasn’t transformed, of course) and Martian Manhunter to find a cure for their banana-loving buddies and prevent all-out gorilla warfare from encompassing every civilization fromThere’s always been a classic vibe to the battles between Ra’s al Ghul and Batman, despite the fact that one is a grown man who dresses as a bat and the other is a repeatedly resurrected master of assassins. With few exceptions, their clashes often come down to sword duels or straight-up fistfights. It’s a proud tradition of timeless conflicts that continues in this issue, where Batman travels to the desert to claim vengeance against Ra’s via a sword duel. Batman 251’s story is about what you’d expect a Batman comic from the ‘70s to be about. In it, The Joker has escaped yet again and has devised an elaborate plan to capture and kill Batman as well as some former gang members that he believes have betrayed him. It does include a surprisingly poignant moment where the Joker refuses to kill Batman because he ultimately captured him by chance, not because of the brilliance of his elaborate scheme, but for the most part, this is your standard Batman vs. Joker fare. Elsewhere, but still related to Batman, I'm excited to see a new Red Hood solo series. Poor old Jason Todd has been put through the wringer these last few months, but Red Hood: The Hill sounds like it will give him the chance to grow now that he's apart from his former mentor.

The Joker’s enjoying the sunny, warm weather of Los Angeles so much that he’s decided to stay…and get involved in local politics! Kate Spencer’s fists might have something to say about that, though! The Flash #53 (1991), in which villain-turned-hero Pied Piper comes out to his friend the Flash and helps thwart a dastardly villain The Lazarus volcano has erupted, releasing clouds of its unique lava into the atmosphere and causing bizarre and dangerous rainstorms all over the world. Those who survive exposure to the storms are transformed: those without superpowers gain powers, and those who had powers before—including some of the DC Universe’s heaviest hitters—find their abilities amplified or changed in unexpected ways…or both! With Batman out of commission, it’s up to Robin to assemble the world’s greatest heroes to stop the storm and defeat the deadly villains who caused it. Supergirl #19 (2018), which tells the story of Lee Serano—a nonbinary teenager who befriends the Girl of Steel Spirit World follows the adventures of Xanthe Zhou, a non-binary Chinese hero with the ability to travel between the land of the living and that of the Spirit World—the realm of the dead! Xanthe possesses the ability to burn items folded from ceremonial joss paper and turn them into real objects. They can make anything they can fold, but their weapon of choice? A magical broadsword—because who doesn’t love a big sword when you can choose to wield a big sword?!The last age of magic is upon us! Wonder Woman has gathered the DC Universe’s greatest and strangest to form a new Justice League Dark to protect the world at any cost. But is it too late?