We haven't even gotten the second issue, and Heroes in Crisis is already off schedule.

Despite advance solicitations, Heroes in Crisis #2 will not be in your Local Comic Shop today. The book has been delayed at least a week. According to DCComics.com, it is now scheduled for next week, October 31, although Diamond's website, previewsworld.com, offers no such assurances at this time.

Will we see Heroes in Crisis next week? We'll all find out together.

Meanwhile, if you're looking for another excuse to visit the fine people at your LCS, remember that Batman Vol. 7: The Wedding TP is out today. It reprints Batman #45, 46, and 47, among other issues. If you missed or were trade-waiting the story that explained what Booster Gold was doing in Heroes in Crisis's doomed Sanctuary, this trade is for you.

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I'm sure you've heard by now that printed copies of last week's Batman: Damned marked the first on-panel appearance of Batman's, um, sidekick.

Batman: Damned #1, writer: Brian Azzarello, artist: Lee Bermejo

DC Comics promptly promised to remove, er, "Li'l Wayne" from future printings and all digital copies. IGN.com reported that a DC source justified the company's abrupt about-face by claiming that "it wasn't additive to the story." If that was the case, why was it there in the first place?

The obvious answer is that this was a stunt to sell comic books.

Gratuitous nudity has long been used in comic books and other visual media to increase sales. (Generally speaking, women are the subject of this sort of exploitation far more than men — the target audience for such things is generally male — so in a way, seeing Batman's, ah, primary sexual characteristic is kind of refreshing. Kind of.) But Batman is not an outlier property. He is arguably DC's most valuable property. His name alone in the masthead moves books. If any character shouldn't have to drop trou to get some attention, it's Batman.

Which brings us to the obvious question: who's next?

If they'll do it to Batman, they'll do it to anyone. If DC has reached a point were they are willing to release "mature reader" comic books of their headliners in birthday suits, how long until we get a better look at characters who are somewhat more obscure?

In other words, it seems only a matter of time until we see Booster Gold's penis.

That's a future I don't think I'm prepared for.

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DCComics.com released a "DC Tales From the Vault" episode promoting Batman on Tuesday, and it includes Batman Group Editor Jamie Rich reading his own fan letter published in Booster Gold #7 (1986).

Here's the original letter so that you can read along:

Rich wasn't named Batman Group Editor until April, and Tom King's referenced Booster Gold story, "The Gift," was already deep in production by then. So we won't judge Rich too harshly for that fiasco. (I refuse to believe that any OG Booster booster like Rich would have let King lobotomize our hero if he could have stopped him!)

You get a pass this time, Rich. But know that Booster Gold fans are watching you extra closely now!

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Happy Independence Day! If you can tear yourself away from fireworks and hot dogs, get yourself to your Local Comic Shop today and get your hands on Injustice 2 #29, featuring Booster Gold's new jacket!

Finally! A costume update that looks better than what he was already wearing!

While you're there, consider picking up a copy of the suddenly very controversial Batman #50. Your LCS probably ordered too many of them.

(A quick aside for those of you not glued to the comics press: on Sunday, with the consent of DC Comics, The New York Times newspaper spoiled the events of Batman #50. According to ComicBook.com, DC vice-president of sales John Cunningham defended the company's actions by essentially saying that DC wanted to mitigate what they knew would be terrible backlash if fans didn't find out about the issue contents until the day of release. That's practically an admission that they had promoted and sold the issue — retailers had to commit to orders for the 50+ covers two months ago — on false pretenses. I'm no lawyer, but I would think that qualifies as fraud.)

But I'm not advocating that you pick up Batman because I'm a nice guy who wants to see Local Comics Shops stay in business. No, like Booster Gold, I'm a little shallower than that. I'm suggesting you pick up an issue because Skeets is in it.

What is Skeets doing here? I have no idea. It being a Tom King written book, I bet there's no logical reason, probably just an excuse to get Booster Gold fans to buy a copy. At least in my case, it will work.

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Attention, Booster boosters! Remember to wish Booster Gold creator Dan Jurgens a happy birthday today. (He hides as @thedanjurgens on Twitter.)

In celebration, consider buying today's Batman Beyond #21 written by Dan Jurgens! Maybe also a copy of today's Man of Steel #5, which Jurgens had nothing to do with other than inspiring the cover with his own layouts from the now-classic 1993 Superman #75!

If we're all really, really nice to him, maybe he'll find a way to sneak Booster into Green Lanterns. (Hmm. Isn't it about time there was a gold lantern? Booster already has a ring.)

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