6 Awesome Comics You Must Read This Week (13 February)

2. Batman #28 By Scott Snyder, James Tynion IV, And Dustin Nguyen (DC)

Readers expecting the next part of Zero Year this month will be disappointed as Batman #28 stops the story temporarily to jump ahead in time to a very different Gotham City in the near future. But it's definitely not a disappoint issue as get a preview of what to expect from the forthcoming weekly Batman series, Batman Eternal, which launches in April. Scott Snyder's character Harper Row looks to be one of Eternal's main players as the issue follows her adventure from the streets, where Gotham's new police impose a strict curfew, to the privileged rooms of one of the city's elite social clubs, The Egyptian - not Penguin's Iceberg Lounge! So what happened to Gotham? Where's Alfred? Who's that shadowy figure in the Batcave? This comic doesn't even attempt to explain any of those questions, but that's fine as this is a teaser for Eternal where they will be explored. Batman #28 is a great standalone adventure with Batman and Harper as they take on the patrons and owner of The Egyptian. Batman regular Greg Capullo sits out this issue with the brilliant Dustin Nguyen drawing a great looking issue, and Snyder is joined by James Tynion IV, who will also be contributing to Eternal. This issue is more action-oriented than Snyder's usual comics but it's done really well and it's a very lively affair. I'm holding back on this review because there are three big characters in this issue that get great reveals (especially the third!) so check out this issue to find out €“ and be surprised! €“ for yourself. They're all great characters though I was surprised at how easily Batman was defeated by The Egyptian's club owner, making me wonder if that is Bruce under the cowl or someone else €“ he's never referred to as Bruce in the comic. We will have more than one Batman in Eternal, or maybe have someone else as Batman while Bruce goes elsewhere for some mysterious task? Batman #28 is another great, solid Batman issue from Snyder and co. that does what it sets out to do: generate excitement about Batman Eternal. Mostly because the final page is one big surprise and explains why Batman was in this club in the first place. Obviously I'm not spoiling it in this review but it's a character who's been missing from the New 52 so far and who fans (like me) have been wondering whether they will make it in - well, that character has and looks to be a main player in Eternal. If you weren't already excited about Batman Eternal, this issue ratchets up the anticipation!