Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: First Look At Issue 2

Who could have guessed that Batman and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles would wind up being two great tastes that taste great together? DC Entertainment and IDW are continuing their hot streak of hilariously over-the-top collisions between the rain-slicked gloom of Gotham and the cartoon color of the Turtles’ New York City with Batman/TMNT III–the third and final miniseries in the crossover saga. And this time, TMNT co-creator Kevin Eastman is getting in on the action alongside writer James Tynion IV and artist Freddie Williams II.

Take a look at this exclusive preview of Batman/TMNT III #2.

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While the first miniseries brought the villainous Foot Clan to Gotham and the second brought longtime Batman foe, Bane, to NYC, the third series is getting bigger than ever before as Krang–though probably not the Krang you might be familiar with–poses a threat to the multiverse itself.

That’s right, the weird and wild world of Batman/TMNT is going full Cosmic Crisis as Krang is mixed in with the Anti-Monitor. And that’s only the beginning of Batman/TMNT III’s reimagining of classic characters: The Turtles themselves all borrow looks from the roster of Robin alumni like Red Hood and Nightwing while Joker is now the Shredder-like leader of the terrifying Smile Clan.

Issue #2 continues the multiversal insanity as Batman and the Turtles are pitted against strange black-and-white doppelgangers of themselves that may or may not be from some other dimension. Or, maybe, something even more insidious is at play.

Batman/TMNT III hits shelves June 5.

Pokemon Sword / Shield Direct: How To Watch, Start Times, And More

We’re only a few days away from E3 2019, but for Pokemon fans, the most exciting news is coming this week. Ahead of Nintendo’s E3 livestream, the company is broadcasting a special Pokemon Direct this Wednesday, June 5. In contrast to the broader E3 Direct set for next week, which will showcase a number of Switch games coming in 2019, this week’s presentation will focus exclusively on Pokemon Sword and Shield. If you’re eager to tune in, here’s everything you need to know about when the Pokemon Direct starts and what to expect from it.

What Time Does The Pokemon Direct Livestream Start?

Fans in the US will need to wake up a little early to catch Wednesday’s Pokemon Direct, as the broadcast is scheduled to begin at 6 AM PT / 9 AM ET. That translates to 2 PM BST in the UK. Those in Australia, meanwhile, will need to stay up until 11 PM AEST to watch the presentation.

  • 6 AM PT
  • 9 AM ET
  • 2 PM BST
  • 11 PM AEST

Where To Watch

Nintendo will be streaming the Pokemon Direct on its usual channels. You’ll be able to watch the broadcast on the company’s website, as well as on its YouTube or Twitch pages. You can also tune in right here on GameSpot and watch the Direct via the embed below once it goes live.

What To Expect

All Nintendo has said about the Pokemon Direct is that it will showcase “roughly 15 minutes of new information on Pokemon Sword and Shield.” Just what that entails is anyone’s guess at this point, but considering this will mark the first time we’re getting new details about the games since they were unveiled back in February, there will presumably be a lot to dig into. One thing we can safely count on seeing, though, is new Pokemon. Each new generation of games introduces a variety of new monsters to catch and raise. So far, we’ve only seen the three new starters players will be able to choose from, so Nintendo will likely unveil at least a few more Gen 8 monsters during the Direct.

We’ll also likely learn more about the games’ cast and setting. Nintendo has already confirmed that Sword and Shield take place in an entirely new region called Galar, and we’ve gotten a quick glimpse at some of the places players will be able to explore, but we don’t yet know anything about the games’ story. Nintendo will presumably use the presentation to introduce some of the characters players will meet on their journey, such as your new rival (or rivals) and the professor who’ll be giving you your first Pokemon. We may also get a look at the villainous team serving as Sword and Shield’s main antagonists.

One more thing we can expect to see is a new gameplay mechanic. Nearly every installment in the series thus far has introduced some sort of new feature to keep gameplay fresh, such as Mega Evolution in Pokemon X and Y, and Z-moves in Sun and Moon, and that trend will likely continue with Sword and Shield. We don’t yet know what form that mechanic will take, but give that it will presumably play an integral role in adventure, we’ll likely get our first look at it this week. We may also get to see the games’ cover art, and possibly a new Legendary Pokemon. For more thoughts, check out what we hope to see from Pokemon Sword and Shield at E3 2019.

June Game Release Dates 2019: PS4, Xbox One, PC, Switch

A new month has arrived, which means we’ve got a slate of new games coming. While June is often associated with the excitement of E3, that doesn’t mean the game releases will be slowing down. This month features an array of exciting new games, which includes big names like Nintendo’s Super Mario Maker 2, a remaster of PS1 classic Crash Team Racing, and Yakuza series spin-off Judgment.

You can see all of the biggest game releases coming out in June in the table below. For a broader look at what’s ahead this year, be sure to check out our complete list of game release dates in 2019.

Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled (PS4, Xbox One, PC, Switch) — June 21

Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled is a remaster of the PS1 classic of the same name. It follows in the line of Activision’s most recent Crash Bandicoot and Spyro the Dragon remasters with vibrant new visuals and revamped control schemes. While Nitro-Fueled contains all of the original’s tracks, it’ll also include remastered content from later games in the series, such as Crash Nitro Kart and Crash Tag Team Racing.

Suggested Reading:

Judgment (PS4) — June 25

Judgment is the latest from Yakuza developer Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio. It’s a spin-off of the Yakuza series’ universe that puts you in control of private detective Takayuki Yagami, who becomes embroiled in the mystery of a serial murder case. Judgement takes place in familiar locales from the Yakuza series, but its story and gameplay are a bit different. You beat up thugs in typical over-the-top fashion, but you also investigate crime scenes and gather leads in your case in hopes of discovering the truth.

Suggested Reading:

Super Mario Maker 2 (Switch) — June 28

Super Mario Maker 2 is the sequel to the Nintendo’s much-loved Super Mario Maker. Much like the original, the sequel allows you to create and share your own custom Mario levels. As to be expected, the stages can be made in the style of the original Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros. 3, Super Mario World, or New Super Mario Bros. U. This time around, Nintendo has also added Super Mario 3D World assets. Other major improvements include the ability to customize how auto-scrolling levels scroll, more diverse objective sets, and an assortment of new tools.

Suggested Reading:

Full June Release Schedule

Game Platform Release Date
The Elder Scrolls Online: Elsweyr PS4, Xbox One, PC June 4
The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel II PS4 June 4
Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth 3DS June 4
Trover Saves The Universe PC June 4
Octopath Traveler PC June 7
Doraemon: Nobita’s Story of Seasons Switch June 12
Blaster Master Zero PC June 14
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night PS4, Xbox One, PC June 18
Crash Team Racing Nitro Fueled PS4, Xbox One, Switch June 21
Heavy Rain PC June 24
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night Switch June 25
Judgment PS4 June 25
The Sinking City PS4, Xbox One, PC June 27
F1 2019 PS4, Xbox One, PC June 28
Super Mario Maker 2 Switch June 28
Cadence of Hyrule Switch June TBA
Samurai Shodown (2019) PS4, Xbox One, PC June TBA