AQUAMAN #5
Plot by EXCITER
Written by GEOFF JOHNS
Art by JIM LEE
“HAIL TO THE KING”
Arthur, Mera, and Crablad continue their quest to unite a fractured Atlantis. Their next stop is the Fisherman Kingdom - an aquatic locale where the denizens are more fish than man. There they learn about a unique culture and how it developed since the realm’s connection to Atlantis dissolved.
Despite its name, the Fisherman Kingdom is traditionally one of Atlantis’ most democratic states. They select their leaders by consensus - usually the largest and strongest rule. Their current leader more than fits that description. His name is Nanaue, but he’s better known as King Shark! His slogan, “Always Move Forward,” combined with an anti-surface platform, make him wildly popular with many of his constituents. To them, every week is Shark Week.
Yet, King Shark has a secret... a secret that Aquaman’s marine telepathy inadvertently leads him to discover. While Nanaue’s father is Chondrakha the God of all Sharks, his mother is... a normal human woman. Like Arthur, he’s a half-breed - but unlike Arthur, he’s decidedly unwilling to embrace his dual nature. In fact, he’s willing to do anything to keep his human lineage a secret... and he’s got 3,000 serrated teeth to help him do it! Can Aquaman convince King Shark to accept himself and embrace his personal and cultural heritage, or has he triggered a feeding frenzy and made Atlantis a deadly new enemy?
32 PGs./Rated T+ …$2.99
BAT-WING #20
Written By Malcolm Jones
Art By Ben Oliver
Plot By Marvell2100
"WHO ARE YOU? I'M BAT-WING!"
Steve Trevor hits David with the shocking statement that he knows who Bat-Wing is! David's thought begin racing, trying to figure out what to say when Steve tells him that he thinks his partner, Kia Okura is Bat-Wing! He wants David's help bringing her in or if necessary taking her out! Over in Luago, a city 30 miles outside of the Capitol, Kia and the vigilante Dawn, have broken up another drug smuggling operation, their third in as many weeks. During these arrests, a single name keeps coming up: Father Lost!
Elsewhere in a high rise apartment suite, Lena Killian is meeting with her new partner, someone who will help bring in more HTWs to Africa and spread them across the entire continent. A new alliance has been formed between Killian and Tasha as Ghul and to accomplish their goal, they will have to kill the thorn in their side known as bat-Wing!
32 PGS./Rated t+...$3.99
DEADLY HANDS OF CONNOR HAWKE #20
Plotter: MARVELL2100
Writer: JEFF LEMIRE
Artist: ANDREA SORRENTINO
THE KARATE KIDS
Billie Badass lies in his bed healing from the injuries suffered against Connor Hawke! He's had many weeks to think about his fight with Connor and what he did wrong. He thinks back to his training with the Masters of the Guild, how he was groomed to be the best. He remembers standing before the leader of The Guild, Richard Dragon and receiving his blessing. The door to his room opens to reveal Dragon and Billie profusely apologizes for his failure to kill The Heretic. Dragon tells him to rest and recover. He will have another opportunity to prove himself once he heals.
Elsewhere, The Magus arrives in Hong Kong. He is searching for Connor's mother and the clues have led him here. But it is a dangerous thing that he is doing. His own history with her is quite volatile and she would not be happy to see him, especially after he left her when she was six months pregnant with their child!
32 PGS./Rated T+...$3.99
DETECTIVE COMICS #13
Plotted by randomideaguy
Written by ED BRUBAKER
Art by TODD MCFARLANE
“With Family Like This, Who Needs Enemies?”
The arrival of a doppelgänger has helped the real Batman. But to help prove his innocence, Bruce will have to turn himself into the GCPD. Now who will cover for him as Batman?
Usually he would ask Dick to fill in, but since Dick is officially dead (unless you're a reader of Red-X) that leaves it up to the second son - Jason Todd! Can the infamous Red Hood play the part of Batman without giving up that the man behind the mask has changed? At least he gets to hunt down a guy who looks just like his (adoptive) father.
Alfred and Jason thus have the unenviable task of trying to keep Van Wayne feeling important but also making sure he stays away from anything actually important. And keeping him from getting killed by the “wrong” Bruce!
In prison, Gordon interviews Wayne and has to lock down the precinct to stop corrupt cops and bold assassins from fulfilling the price on Bruce's head. Bruce is meanwhile trying to solve the case - did Mary Sue Parker fake her death? Where's the proof!?
All groups converge on the police station as Bruce thinks he may he finally cracked the case!
32 PGs./Rated T+ …$2.99
THE FLASH #20
Plot by EXCITER
Written by ROBERT KIRKMAN
Art by FRANK CHO
“HUMANITY FIRST” Prelude “THE STEPS”
While the Flash is still unstuck in time with Claw the Unconquered and the Haunted Tank, 2021 continues on. Dangerous enemies take advantage of the Flash’s absence, and unlikely allies step up to oppose them.
Vandal Savage has been shepherding humanity for thousands of years - a ruthless guiding hand leading mankind unendingly towards power. He and “the Light,” his Illuminati organization, believe metahumans, all of whom can trace their lineage directly to Savage, are the key to the planet’s survival in the face of myriad non-human threats: aliens, demons, and more. With the meddlesome Flash out of the way, now is the time to begin Operation Humanity First: a full purge of non-human powers from Earth!
Flash Fact: The issue-based strategic model is oriented in the present and projects into the future, aiming to identify the major challenges your organization faces now and to resolve those issues before expanding or shifting your strategy.
Step one: Animal Control. Dismantle the dangerous Gorilla City. Savage’s ally, Cheetah, already defeated their warlord Gorilla Grodd. The only obstacle now is Solovar, the so-called wisest of his people, who persists in an effort to rally the other advanced primates!
Step two: Legal Aliens. The U.S. Director of Homeland security John Jones isn’t a human - he’s a Martian Manhunter. This unforgivable intrusion into humanity’s security will be dealt with violently and with intimate knowledge of Martian vulnerabilities... unless CIA agent King Faraday can extract Jones from DHS headquarters in time!
Step Three: Insurance Adjustment. Should the Flash return, Savage needs leverage. He sends his meta minion Killer Frost to abduct the Flash’s fiancée Iris West and his father Henry Allen. But there’s only room for one ice-themed rogue in Central City - and Captain Cold isn’t going to allow kidnapping on his turf!
32 PGs./Rated T+ …$2.99