New Titans #37 Review

 

New Titans #37 Review

Writer: Tate Brombal

Artist: Marcus To & Sam Basri

Colorist: Adriano Lucas

Letterer: Tom Napolitano

Cover Artist: Taurin Clarke

Variant Cover Artists: Ethan Young; Rickie Yagawa & Tamra Bonvillain

Editors: Marquis Draper & Brittany Holzherr

Publisher: DC Comics

Price: $3.99/$4.99 Card Stock

Release Date: July 15, 2026

 

Everything is new for the Titans. They've made a new home in the Justice League's former Secret Sanctuary. Everyone is new to working together. They've even got a new teammate in Eva, an android sporting advanced bio-robotics that are totally new to Cyborg.

 

Unfortunately, Cyborg is experimenting with something everyone knows and fears. And Red Devil has spotted someone in the nearby town of Happy Harbor who awakens bad memories. Can the New Titans gel together as friends and a team? And who will lead them? Let's leap into New Titans #37 and see!

 

Story: Home is Where the Heart of Apokolips is Part 2

Starfire has left the Titans. No one recognizes Nightwing’s authority. With Cyborg sequestered in his laboratory, Terra considers leaving. But when she ventures down into Cyborg’s Omega Forge, Terra sees what Cyborg doesn’t. A dragon is watching Cyborg work on his equipment powered by Darkseid’s Heart of Apokolips.

 

While her friends and neighbors sacrifice to help their town thrive, Officer Audrey Lee sees the evil in their pact with Nebiros. Unlike Cyborg, they’re unhappy when Red Devil alerts them to the dangers they face. So, while Cyborg and Terra fight together in the Justice League's former Secret Sanctuary, Red Devil and his new teammates battle the citizens of Happy Harbor in New Titans #37.

 

Tate Brombal highlights Red Devil’s origins while weaving events in the Secret Sanctuary into the clash in Happy Harbor. Amid all the action, Nightwing ponders whether he should follow Starfire's course. Nightwing has led the Titans in the past. Cyborg brought this new group together. But as the team changes, Red Devil and his colleagues must decide who will lead them into the future in New Titans #37.

 

Art: Home is Where the Heart of Apokolips is Part 2

Red Devil exhales fire as he remembers the events that defined him. After starring on the first page, Red Devil stands at the forefront on the second, his wings intruding on our view of Nebiros and his supporters. Yet Batgirl steals the bottom panel as she looks for her missing teammate. Amid the tense standoff, Officer Audrey Lee interposes herself between the heroes and her misguided neighbors. Yet a handcuff dangles from her wrist, indicating the town's feelings about her recent actions.

 

In Mount Titans, Terra and Cyborg gaze up at a dragon with many eyes. Despite his former blindness to the Dragon, Cyborg is quick to react. The fiery confrontation evokes the Terrific Ten’s recent incursion into Hell and suggests that the barriers between Earth and Hell are far from closed.

 

As Adriano Lucas adorns Marcus To’s action-packed art with a pleasing palette, the Red Devil and the Dragon seem linked together in New Titans #37. The orange lava surrounding the Dragon suggests that Cyborg wants more than he should have. Like Officer Audrey Lee, Wonder Girl and Superman wear grayish blue. Even though Nightwing wonders where he belongs, the blue portions of his costume shine brightly as he reacts to danger. Green Nebiros and Eva both want to bring people together. Yet as yellow fire erupts in Mount Titans and fills the sky over Happy Harbor, Batgirl’s indigo suit multiplies across pages as she capitalizes on her dedication in the Titans’ Training Simulator.

 

As black uppercase letters fill white balloons, Red Devil’s conversation fills yellow balloons, and his thoughts appear in yellow boxes. Terra, Nightwing, and Batgirl’s off-camera conversation appears in colored boxes and often guides readers from one page to the next. Red letters establish locations, while giant colored dialogue accompanies roaring, cries of dismay, and laughter. Tom Napolitano’s sound effects enhance the fighting, as energy blasts tear through the air, and a rumble shakes the Earth. Thanks to DC Comics for sharing this story with us.

 

Final Thoughts

Like Dick Grayson, Virgil Hawkins has a lot on his plate. But unlike Dick, Virgil struggles with telling his girlfriend about his superhero life. Amara senses the conflict within him. Yet whatever is going on, Virgil refuses to share it with her. In Tate Brombal and Sam Basri’s bonus story “The Spark,” Static has some thinking to do. And as with all the residents of Mount Titans, it involves where he belongs in New Titans #37.

 

Rating 9.8/10

 

To look inside, see my preview of New Titans #37. 

 

For what happened last time, see my review of New Titans #36.

For what happened before that, see my review of New Titans #35.

For what happened even before that, see my preview of New Titans #34.

For how everything became new, see my review of New Titans #33. 

 

Absolute Batman #22 Review

 

Absolute Batman #22 Review

Writers: Scott Snyder

Artist: Werther Dell’Edera

Colorist: Frank Martin

Letterer: Tom Napolitano

Cover Artists: Nick Dragotta & Frank Martin

1:25 Variant Cover Artist: Werther Dell’Edera

Variant Cover Artists: Dan Quintana, Brett Bean & Derrick Chew

Editors: Sabrina Futch, Katie Kubert & Chris Conroy

Publisher: DC Comics

Price: $4.99/$5.99 Card Stock

Release Date: July 8, 2026

 

His father's death shook Bruce Wayne to the core. Then, once he forged a new path to prevent other children from losing their parents, Eddie, Harvey, Waylon, and Ozzie's closeness to Bruce ruined their lives. His mother may be dead. Jim Gordon, who looked after him following that terrible day at the zoo, is dead. Bruce has even lost Joe Chill, the last person who linked him with the events that changed him forever.

 

As Mayor Hill's high-powered mechs tear the city apart while hunting down Batman, someone else arises to help him protect Gotham. Her abilities surprise Alfred Pennyworth as she aids Bruce Wayne. But is Harley Quinn another of Jack Grimm's creations? And how far can Bruce Wayne trust her? Let’s leap into Absolute Batman #22 and see!

 

Story

As a child, Harley Quinn wrote letters to a father she didn't know. While the dark frightened her, the bedroom light seemed too bright. And then there was the closet. Something about it frightened her. So her mother gave Harley a hammer to whack the ghost hiding in the closet. While the girl wished for a father, she didn’t believe in ghosts. And even if she did, Harley didn’t believe a toy hammer could hurt one. But her mother suggested that if Harley believed both were real, then she could use the hammer to banish the ghost.

 

In Absolute Batman #22, Batman trudges resolutely toward a goal. Police patrolling the streets in riot gear try to stop him. And while others also hunt for the Batman, Harley urges him to turn back. As Scott Snyder weaves the Robins search for Batman into Bruce's search for the truth, Harley plays her final card. Desperate not to lose Bruce, one of the brightest lights in Gotham, Harley Quinn tells him her story. Yet Bruce doesn't want to listen.

 

As the two trek through the darkness, Jack Grimm's shadow hangs over them. Bruce can't forget the Scarecrow's revelation about his youth. Nor can Bruce forget how he contemplated his life while standing on a beam that extended beyond the building he engineered. Then Jack Grimm appeared and refused to let Bruce walk the plank.

 

Bruce has built his life around the truth. He believed that his actions as the Batman imposed order over the chaos at the zoo. Instead, Jack Grimm's decisions impose order on the world, and Bruce's actions create chaos. If this is true, not only has nothing he has ever done mattered, but Bruce has ruined his friends' lives for no reason. So, as Bruce Wayne undertakes a journey to determine his future, Harley tries to protect him by revealing her childhood in Absolute Batman #22.

 

Art

After Harley Quinn draws a picture of her family and the danger lurking in her crooked house, inset panels stretch across a two-page spread. These small windows reveal the events inside the house while the grasses sway in the surrounding plain. Then the art moves to the present. As Batman knocks aside assault rifles, Harley leaps over the armored police, wielding her Electrochemical Thunder Mallet. Then, Batman knocks her against a wall, covering her mouth with his hand, and shielding her with his body, as a mech haunts the night.

 

Frank Martin lavishes two separate palettes on Werther Dell’Edera’s portrayal of events in Harley Quinn's and her present. While green electrifies the present, it provides a comforting environment in Harley's youth. Her red jacket and shoes evoke her toy hammer and her mother's hair. But they also link with Jason's mech and the view through his visor. Amid the bluish-gray combat officers and mechs, Harley's blue hair links her with her surroundings. Yet splashes of yellow threaten to derail Batman's future in Absolute Batman #22. 

 

Black uppercase conversations fill white balloons, while off-screen dialogue in colored boxes narrates events 13 years ago. Intonation swells letters, lowered voices shrink them, and raised voices enlarge them. Creaking, slamming, and cracking haunt Harley’s past, while roaring and crashing follow Batman’s search for the truth. Thanks to DC Comics for sharing this story with us.

 

Final Thoughts

In our childhood, we set goals for our lives. Later, in our teens and adult lives, we determine what matters to us. Like Jason Todd, Batman thought he knew who the enemy was. And like Dick Grayson, he sought to heal Gotham. Yet as the Scarecrow's promise about the discoveries awaiting him rings in his ears, Bruce Wayne fears that the best he can hope for is to throw a wrench in the works like Harley Quinn in Absolute Batman #22.

 

Rating 9.7/10

 

To look inside see my preview of Absolute Batman #22.

For what happened last time, see my review of Absolute Batman #21. 

For what happened before that, see my review of Absolute Batman #20.

For what happened even earlier, see my review of Absolute Batman #19.

New Titans #36 Review

 

New Titans #36 Review

Writer: Tate Brombal

Artist: Marcus To

Colorist: Adriano Lucas

Letterer: Tom Napolitano

Cover Artists: Taurin Clarke

Variant Cover Artists: Ethan Young & Jonboy Meyers

Corner Box Variant Cover Artist: Sami Basri

Editors: Marquis Draper & Brittany Holzherr

Publisher: DC Comics

Price: $3.99/$4.99 Card Stock

Release Date: June 17, 2026

 

As he sat in his comfortable Tower, drinking coffee with his teammates and battling the villains that assailed him, Dick forgot that the Titans had sacrificed their Towers to transport refugees to other planets. So, when Victor Stone and his new team rescue him and Starfire, Dick awakens in the Justice League's Secret Sanctuary. He finds Cyborg split into his Human and Machine halves. And Robo-Cyborg wants to imprison the entire Earth in pleasant memories, blinding Humans to an uncomfortable reality.

 

Like Victor, Dick knows dwelling in the past isn't the way forward. So, he steps back, allowing Batgirl to lead the battle, while Victor tries to help Robo-Cyborg understand that the future is tomorrow. How will the New Titans prepare Earth for Darkseid’s return? And how will they unite as a team? Let’s leap into New Titans #36 and see!

 

Story

Eva may be the Girl of Tomorrow. But when she sleeps, she dreams of dying. When she awakens, Cyborg comforts her. While conducting sleep studies, he yearns to understand her. Cyborg wonders who constructed her. Unless someone conducts medical scans of her, Eva appears Human.

 

In New Titans #36, Eva discovers that Humans don't always get along. Despite her efforts to help the team gel, it seems to be fraying before her android eyes. Nightwing wants to embrace the challenges ahead. Yet, he didn't select his new teammates. No longer surrounded by her friends, Starfire wonders if Mount Titans can be her new home. And while Terra struggles to commit to the team, Cyborg's handpicked newbies also need to bond.

 

Like the Justice League, the Titans’ membership is in flux. Eva wants to help them gel. But her origins are a mystery, and Eva doesn't even know who she is. Yet the person who selected them, and usurped leadership of the team, buries himself in his work. Victor Stone assures Eva that her amnesia is no big deal and leaves his drafted-in players to fend for themselves in New Titans #36.

 

Art

As Eva falls from one explosion toward another, a hand captures and cradles her injured body. A curving road suggests her past, while her bloody chest and the bubbles surrounding her face hint at new beginnings. As wires and conduits connect sensors to laboratory equipment, Eva presses her hand to her forehead, while Victor studies the monitors.

 

Inside the giant A-Frame emerging from a mountain, Nightwing smiles in his blue suit as he gazes around the new headquarters. Terra crosses her arms over her yellow-and-black chest and frowns. Starfire slowly descends to the floor. A circular table pays homage to the Justice League's predecessors, while Eva's white hologram rises from its center.

 

As Marcus To charts the new team's uneasy beginning, Adriano Lucas adorns New Titans #36 with a lively palette. Eva's green schoolgirl outfit evokes Beast Boy, reinforcing her eagerness to bond with her team. Despite his red skin and the red walls of his bedroom, the green-tinged flames rising from meditation candles suggest Red Devil's willingness to belong. Stephanie's indigo Batsuit seems to link her with Starfire. But when Starfire meets Nightwing outside, her orange hair links with her dialogue as the ocean adjusts to her emotions. Despite his recent return to completeness, the red eye that glows amid the silver side of Cyborg’s frowning face evokes an earlier concern about Technis.

 

Tom Napolitano places uppercase black letters in white and beige balloons, while Red Devil speaks into beige balloons. Eva’s thoughts fill green boxes with violet borders, while her dialogue shrinks when the young android’s head falls. As Terra struggles with commitment, yellow sound effects and lines surround her. Yet buzzing and floating music notes seem no cause for concern as revelations await. Thanks to DC Comics for sharing this story with us.

 

Final Thoughts

Victor Stone may have urged his Robo-Cyborg half to accept the inevitability of Darkseid's return. Yet with absent members, drafted-in replacements, and part-time teammates, Victor and his team lack direction while danger still threatens them in New Titans #36.

 

Rating 9.8/10

 

To look inside see my preview of New Titans #36.

 

 

For what happened last time, see my review of New Titans #35.

For what happened before that, see my preview of New Titans #34.

For how this story arc began, see my review of New Titans #33. 

 

 

 

Absolute Batman #21 Review

 

Absolute Batman #21 Review

Writers: Scott Snyder

Artist: Nick Dragotta

Colorist: Frank Martin

Letterer: Tom Napolitano

Cover Artists: Nick Dragotta & Frank Martin

Variant Cover Artists: Nick Dragotta & Frank Martin; David Nakayama; Doug Mahnke

1:25 Variant Cover Artists: Chris Brunner & Rico Renzi

Editors: Sabrina Futch, Katie Kubert & Chris Conroy

Publisher: DC Comics

Price: $4.99/$5.99 Card Stock

Release Date: June 17, 2026

 

When Waylon Jones was struggling, he begged his friend to kill him. Instead, Bruce Wayne ventured into a strange realm, somewhere between Heaven and Hell, to help Waylon live. As he heals, Waylon tries to repay his friend. Instead, Bruce pushes him away. So, Waylon turns to Eddie for ideas on how to reform the gang. Sadly, his riddle-loving friend points out that Ozzie and Harvey have seen their lives shattered. And while Eddie would like to help, he feels just as broken.

 

While Waylon and Eddie ponder how to support their friend, dark forces swirl around Bruce. And the Scarecrow promises things will get worse than he can imagine. Can Bruce repel the combined might of Mayor Hill's new Robins? And will his Crime Alley friends support Bruce Wayne when everything else that has sustained him falls away? Let’s leap into Absolute Batman #21 and see!

 

Story

After visiting Joe Chill in Blackgate Prison, Batman is reeling. So, when the Robins swoop in and force him to the ground, Batman is itching for a fight. The Scarecrow reaffirmed everything Jim Gordon discovered when he dug into the Gotham City Police Department files. No one cared about Bruce's childhood engineering marvel. Instead, Bruce and his friends visited the Gotham Zoo because the Joker wanted his father to die there.

 

As Bruce battles the Robins, Alfred and Harley Quinn monitor the battle in Absolute Batman #21. Both want to help. Harley may call him Jeeves. But while Alfred struggles to find a solution, Harley demonstrates her ingenuity. Still, the odds are against Batman. When he battled Bane in the old arena, he only fought one giant monster. Now, he faces five Robins in their giant mech suits. And as Batman fights, Alfred wonders if the kid has his head in the game.

 

As Scott Snyder weaves Bruce's past into the present, all the actors battle beneath Jim Gordon's shadow. Waylon and his friends must reconcile their identities with their new circumstances. The Robins also grapple with their mission and how they fulfill it. Yet as Bruce Wayne struggles for perspective, Barbara Gordon faces her father's death. She may never forgive Batman for refusing to let her battle Poison Ivy. Yet as Bruce remembers how Jim Gordon watched over him, Barbara Gordon determines how she will let the world shape her in Absolute Batman #21.

  

Art

Monitoring the encounter in the control room, Harley smiles, and her eyes sparkle while Alfred looks on in shock. From a distance, the Robin mechs dwarf Batman. But when the camera closes in, a ground-level shot fills a two-page spread with a giant Batman. As the Robins battle Bruce across panel-packed pages, Jason’s actions provoke concern, while close-ups reveal what drives Slade Wilson.

 

While Frank Martin paints Nick Dragotta's action-packed art, red paint on the Robin mechs links with tracer fire, explosions, and Slade Wilson's face. Bruce remembers how Jim Gordon influenced him amid green backgrounds in Absolute Batman #21. Yet, the former Commissioner's white hair, mustache, and vehicle reaffirm his worldview as a crowd fills the radiant cathedral. Still, the red aisle and the red stripes of the American flag link with Ozzie and Harvey's thoughts, and Mayor Hill's hair.

 

Black uppercase conversations fill white balloons, while off-screen dialogue inhabits colored boxes. As Alfred watches the battle, lowercase words fill gray paper scraps, evoking Bruce's earlier entries in his Bat-journal. Intonation swells letters, while lowered voices shrink them. Sound effects may emphasize the blows, weapon fire, and explosions filling the air. Yet, giant red dialogue and large black laughter induce the Scarecrow's beloved dread. Thanks to DC Comics for sharing this story with us.

 

Final Thoughts

How we view ourselves and the world around us shapes the people we become. But the Joker dreams bigger dreams. As he invests in the world around him, servants like the Scarecrow make people submit to his desires. But while Barbara Gordon vows to uphold her father’s standard, Bruce Wayne wonders what his parents stood for in Absolute Batman #21.

 

Rating 9.8/10

 

To look inside, see my preview of Absolute Batman #21.

 

For what happened last time, see my review of Absolute Batman #20.

For what happened before that, see my review of Absolute Batman #19.

 

For when Bruce encountered Poison Ivy, see my review of Absolute Batman #17. 

 

For Bruce's battle with Bane in the arena, see my preview of Absolute Batman #14. 

 

For insight into the creation of the series, see my post Scott Snyder on Writing Absolute Batman. 

 

New Titans #36 Preview

 

As he sat in his comfortable Tower, drinking coffee with his teammates, and battling the villains that assailed them, Dick forgot about the present. He didn’t remember that the Titans had used the Towers to evacuate people to other planets. So, when Victor Stone and his new team rescue him and Starfire, Dick awakens in the Justice League’s Secret Sanctuary. Cyborg has been split into his Human and Machine halves. And unless the Titans can prevent Robo-Cyborg’s efforts to protect his friends, it will imprison the entire Earth in comforting memories, so Humans don’t have to face the return of Darkseid.

 

Yet, like Victor, Dick knows dwelling in the past isn’t the way forward. So, he steps back, allowing Batgirl to lead, while Victor helps Robo-Cyborg the necessity of embracing tomorrow. How will the New Titans prepare Earth for Darkseid’s return? And how will they find the common ground to work well together? 

Here's all the info from DC Connect:

 

New Titans #36 Preview

Writer: Tate Brombal

Artist: Marcus To

Colorist: Adriano Lucas

Letterer: Tom Napolitano

Cover Artists: Taurin Clarke

Variant Cover Artists: Ethan Young & Jonboy Meyers

DC Pride Cover Artist: Rachel Stott

Editors: Marquis Draper & Brittany Holzherr

Publisher: DC Comics

Issue Length: 32 Pages 

Price: $3.99/$4.99 Card Stock

Release Date: June 17, 2026

 

 

Welcome to Mount Titans!

 

With their towers all destroyed in the aftermath of DC K.O., the Titans set up shop in a new yet familiar location! But who are the Titans in this new era? What is their purpose? And does it have anything to do with the Heart of Apokolips that Cyborg is hiding in the basement?

 

 

Now, let's take a look inside:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks to DC Comics for sharing this preview with us.

 

For what happened last time, see my review of New Titans #35.

For what happened before that, see my preview of New Titans #34.

For what happened between Nightwing and Starfire, see my review of New Titans #33. 

Batgirl #20 Review

 

Batgirl #20 Review

Writer: Tate Brombal

Penciller: Stephen Segovia

Inker: Jason Paz

Colorist: Rain Beredo

Letterer: Tom Napolitano

Cover Artist: David Talaski

Variant Cover Artist: Tirso

Editors: Jessica Berbey & Rob Levin

Publisher: DC Comics

Price: $3.99/$4.99 Card Stock

Release Date: June 3, 2026

 

As she stormed the tower of the Midnight Eye, Batgirl struggled with the imbalance in her life. Cassandra Cain was so used to fighting the two halves of her heritage that it blinded her to the blessings both could provide her. But after getting her spirit back and returning to Gotham, Cassandra realizes that Tenji Turner, Jaya Jayesh, Wu Lin, and her Bat-family are one.

 

Freed from the curse of her Blood powers, she feels freer and more whole than ever before. How will Cassandra Cain navigate the ever-changing world of Gotham? And how will Batgirl ensure that her results always exceed her intentions? Let's leap into Batgirl #20 and see!

 

Story

Cassandra traveled across the world, seeking justice for her mother. Along the way, she found a new family in Tenji Turner and Jaya Jayesh. Sadly, Cassandra's return to Gotham proved short-lived when her family's latent Blood powers activated, prompting her to venture into the Spirit World. But now, Cassandra has not only returned, but has been welcomed back into the Bat-family. But her Bat heritage comes with privileges and responsibilities. So when Batman awakens her from a dream and hands her a card with her name on it, Cassandra realizes it's her responsibility to solve it.

 

After forging their bonds of family on their travels and cementing them in the Spirit World, Jaya and Tenji accompany Cassandra to the crime scene in Batgirl #20. Batman may have taught Cassandra how to solve crimes. But with Vandal Savage ruling Gotham, James Gordon risks his future by withholding evidence of Batgirl's card. With CSI and Savage's TUCO squad on the way, the trio has minutes to investigate the crime scene. Yet the girl's appearance evokes the dream that Batman awakened her from.

 

After delving into Cassandra's relationship with her birth mother, Tate Brombal peers into her formative years with the man who raised her. Cassandra may refuse to call him a father. Yet, as much as Bruce Wayne, David Cain helped Cassandra become the person she is today. As Cassandra recalls her childhood, remembering how David Cain trained her to be an assassin, forgotten memories return. But discovering who staged this crime scene for her benefit could cost Cassandra, Jaya, and Tenji their lives in Batgirl #20.

 

Art

A flower swings on a golden chain while a girl watches with wide eyes. But when she runs away, blood sprays, darkening as it leaves her body. When Cassandra Cain awakens, an upshot emphasizes how she sees her adoptive father. But the note Batman hands her transports Cassandra to an industrial building, where she regards a child’s body in a bed. The black streak and droplets staining her pink dress evoke Cassandra’s dreams. Yet they also remind her of the Blood powers she recently wielded.

 

As Batgirl haunts the crime scene like a wraith or grim reaper, Jaya Jayesh’s red mask contrasts with her recent desire to bring Cassandra healing. While James Gordon’s stony face bespeaks how recent events have deadened him to such nightmarish visions, only Tenji reacts to the girl whose face evokes the Scarecrow. As Stephen Segovia and Jason Paz deliver a haunting look into Cassandra’s past, Rain Beredo casts blue light into the gray industrial building, illuminating the people intent on justice for the girl’s death.

 

White letters in the darkness represent an unseen speaker, while white words in black boxes reveal Cassandra’s thoughts. Her narration guides us through Batgirl #20, as Cassandra discovers a hidden aspect of her past. Tom Napolitano casts her conversation with James Gordon, Jaya Jayesh, and Batman as black uppercase letters in white dialogue balloons. Yet, as Tenji Turner observes the dead girl and Cassandra, this other hidden aspect of her past grows increasingly frightened as a siren splits the air. Thanks to DC Comics for sharing this story with us.

 

Final Thoughts

For a trained investigator, every piece of evidence provides clues to the murderer’s identity. A staged crime scene may make that more difficult. Yet in this very personal investigation, a card left at the crime scene forces Cassandra Cain to once again face her complicated past in Batgirl #20.

 

Rating 9.8/10

 

To look inside see my preview of Batgirl #20.

 

For what happened last time, see my preview of Batgirl #19.

For how Cassandra Cain learned to wield her Blood powers, see my review of Batgirl #18. 

For how Cassandra Cain received her Blood powers, see my preview of Batgirl #17. 

 

New Titans #35 Review

 

New Titans #35 Review

Writer: Tate Brombal

Pencilers & Inkers: Sami Basri, Jordi Tarragona & Vicente Cifuentes

Colorist: Adriano Lucas

Letterer: Tom Napolitano

Cover Artists: Taurin Clarke; Ethan Young; Stephen Segovia & Arif Prianto

Editors: Marquis Draper & Brittany Holzherr

Publisher: DC Comics

Price: $3.99/$4.99 Card Stock

Release Date: May 20, 2026

 

Dick Grayson had heard of "Don't drink the water." But "Don't drink the coffee" was new to him. At home in Titan's Tower, Dick didn't understand why the coffee machine should be speaking to him. Weirder yet, why wouldn't it want him to drink “the most wonderful of all the Earth bean waters"? Still, Dick sensed that he needed a change. So, he broke the coffee maker. Unlike his team, when Batgirl arrived with others, Dick differentiated them from the foes they battled every day. Unfortunately, Dick’s decision cost him Donna Troy, Arsenal, Raven, and Beast Boy.

 

While Dick Grayson failed to recognize his team's captivity, Victor has taken command. Moreover, Victor has invited Batgirl, Superman, Yara Flor, and Red Devil to join the Titans. After aligning with the simulated attackers, Terra contemplates rejoining the team. Everything is different now. Strangest of all, Alpha Energy has split Victor into two people: one fully human, and the other fully robotic. Can Dick and Victor help their new team defeat Robo-Cyborg? And will Terra embrace Raven’s challenge to dedicate herself to becoming a hero? Let’s leap into New Titans #35 and see!

 

Story

After battling Robo-Cyborg and its hard light simulations, Nightwing and Starfire collapse, leaving Victor Stone or Humo-Borg in command. Victor and his teammates may have voted to give Terra another chance at being a hero. Yet as a mysterious interloper joins them, Terra remains the sole conscious representative of the former team under Victor’s command.

 

Victor Stone doesn't know where Eva came from in New Titans #35. Nor does the android remember her past. Yet she rescued Victor from Robo-Cyborg, who saw his Human side as a threat to his friends. Recognizing that Terra’s struggle to commit to the Titans springs from her difficulty in trusting others, Victor takes time to explain why he selected each member of his new team.

 

Shedding his cyborg half may seem like a dream come true for Victor. Yet Tate Brombal’s story recognizes that growth comes through accepting who we’ve become. Victor has trodden a long path to become the hero Cyborg. As he looks back on his life, Victor recognizes that the events that defined him were not tragedies. Instead, his decisions and actions have shaped Victor Stone into a unique hero who bridges the Human and technological worlds.

 

Art

Eva finds Victor bound in a circle. The maze of pipes in the background of Robo-Cyborg’s domain evokes a circuit board in New Titans #35. Eva’s youth and her pink-striped cheeks recall that the Cheshire Cat recently helped Superman rescue Donna Troy and Arsenal from Grail and the Parademons. Terra glares as she leans into Eva’s personal space, then jabs a finger into Victor's chest. Recognizing the handover occurring, Batgirl meekly waves. Superman and Yara also seem hesitant to intrude. And despite his tough talk, Red Devil hefts unconscious Nightwing and Starfire over his shoulders without having been asked.

 

As Sami Basri, Jordi Tarragona, and Vicente Cifuentes fill New Titans with drama and action, white and/or black space separates rectangular panels. Light blue dominates Robo-Cyborg's outer reaches. Yet, the color of the energy coursing through Robo-Cyborg suggests why it protects its friends from chaos. As Adriano Lucas lavishes a loaded palette on New Titans #35, the greatest battle occurs in a white and blue world, where an action figure of Nightwing stands triumphant over Cyborg.

 

Tom Napolitano places uppercase black letters in white balloons, while Red Devil speaks into yellow balloons. White uppercase letters in blue boxes convey Victor Stone’s thoughts. The letters grow bold for intonation and swell for raised voices as the teammates struggle to rally around their new leader. With the fate of the world at stake, sound effects enhance the heroes' fight to embrace chaos. Thanks to DC Comics for sharing this story with us.

 

Final Thoughts

After fighting in the Omega Tournament, Alpha Energy transforms Cyborg in unexpected ways. As he overcomes yet another metamorphosis, Cyborg rises to assume the leadership of his reorganized team. He believes in each member’s potential to become a great hero, even if the team may need time to gel. Yet just like Terra, Cyborg suffers from trust issues in New Titans #35.

 

Rating 9.8/10

 

To look inside, see my preview of New Titans #35.

 

For what happened last time, see my preview of New Titans #34.

 

For how this story arc began, see my review of New Titans #33. 

Absolute Batman #20 Review

 

Absolute Batman #20 Review

Writers: Scott Snyder

Artist: Nick Dragotta

Colorist: Frank Martin

Letterer: Tom Napolitano

Cover Artists: Nick Dragotta & Frank Martin; Kris Anka; Fabrizio De Tommaso; Kyuyong Eom; Nick Robles; Javier Rodríguez; Rickie Yagawa & Alex Sinclair; Jahnoy Lindsay

1:25 Variant Cover Artist: Martin Simmonds

Editors: Sabrina Futch, Katie Kubert & Chris Conroy

Publisher: DC Comics

Price: $4.99/$5.99 Card Stock

Release Date: May 13, 2026

 

After Jim Gordon realized Bruce Wayne was the Batman, he dug into the files at his disposal. What he discovered frightened him. The man who lost the Mayorship to Harold Hill vowed to help Martha's son learn more about his past and what was happening in Gotham. But when he heard a crow cry, Jim Gordon leapt off a tall building without a single bound. And when nearby residents record Gordon’s suicide, their cellphone videos suggest that Batman murdered Jim Gordon.

 

Slade Wilson may be new to Gotham. But after the constant battles that have rocked Gotham, Slade promises to banish the terrors of the night. How will Bruce Wayne continue after losing someone else important to him? And what difficulties will Batman encounter as he investigates the facts that frightened his family friend to death? Let’s leap into Absolute Batman #20 and see!

 

Story

When Alfred returned to Gotham, he found Bruce more committed to being Batman than ever. Yet he worried. Bruce was pushing away everyone in his life to make Batman the sole focus of his life. But as Alfred worried that Bruce could lose himself in his isolation from others, Jim Gordon also felt lost after studying the police files. As he contemplated all he had learned, Jim Gordon felt like he was caught in a maze, struggling to find the exit.

 

Bruce understands the dangers of isolation in Batman #20. But he also knows that his friends have suffered because of him. As Waylon Jones recovers, he discovers how his friends are faring after the Joker exploited Bruce’s friendships. Yet as Bruce acts on Jim Gordon's files, he remembers how Carmine Falcone exploited his loyalty to his friends.

 

While Scott Snyder's story checks in on Barbara Gordon and follows Waylon's journey, Bruce seeks answers to the greatest mysteries of his life. He uncovers links between the Scarecrow and the Joker. Yet, as hard as he works to learn the answers, accepting them proves harder. And as the Joker unleashes his next great scheme, Bruce feels compassion for those who have suffered from the villain's machinations in Absolute Batman #20.

 

Art

If you step through a hidden door behind a grandfather clock, you can descend winding steps through a vast cave. As you pass recognizable touchstones of a hero in another universe, you’ll notice a vast screen that portrays scenes of people and violence from the past and present. A chair, surrounded by a web of conduits, evokes the experiments conducted in Ark-M. Draw closer still, and a double-page spread suggests a less honorable reason for funding Grimm House.

 

As Nick Dragotta packs pages with panels and squeezes grand vistas into half a page, Frank Martin applies a limited palette to Absolute Batman #20. The colorful Robin symbol celebrates empowerment and diversity, while Batman kneels in a dark room wearing black and gray. Yellow embodies healing and revival, while orange symbolizes the power inherent in chaos and change. Yet fluorescent pink and green portray another man struggling to find his way forward.

 

Black uppercase dialogue fills white balloons and off-white narrative boxes as the story interweaves past and present. The letters grow bold for intonation and swell for raised voices as a brown coat links Bruce with Barbara Gordon. Tom Napolitano’s white sound effects accompany Batman's search for answers, while yellow signals a way forward, and orange heralds an unexpected development. Red links cawing, wailing, and laughter with violence to entertain a man who feeds off the living to forestall his death. Thanks to DC Comics for sharing this story with us.

 

Final Thoughts

When Carmine Falcone tried to engineer a boxing bout, Bruce overturned his plans. Yet just as Bruce discovered that a crime boss could manipulate him into doing their bidding, he learns the forces that shaped a boy's future as carefully as he designed a bat-shaped bridge to safeguard his community in Absolute Batman #20.

 

Rating 9.8/10

 

To look inside, see my preview of Absolute Batman #20.

 

For what happened last time, see my review of Absolute Batman #19.

 

For insight into the creation of the series, see my post Scott Snyder on Writing Absolute Batman.