Official Press Release DC Comics announces that the next four issues of BATMAN will have a change of contents, with the 4-part story "Grotesk," written by John Ostrander and illustrated by Tom Mandrake moving up an issue to begin in BATMAN #659. Each of these issues will keep their original Diamond item codes and instore dates. Regular series writer Grant Morrison will return in February with BATMAN #663, featuring the story previously scheduled to appear in BATMAN #659, illustrated by guest artist John Van Fleet.
- BATMAN #659 (SEP060191), featuring part one of the 4-part story "Grotesk," is scheduled to arrive in stores on November 29.
- BATMAN #660 (OCT060154), featuring part two of "Grotesk," is scheduled to arrive in stores on December 13.
- BATMAN #661 (OCT060155), featuring part three of "Grotesk," is scheduled to arrive in stores on December 27.
- BATMAN #662 (NOV060174), featuring part four of "Grotesk," is scheduled to arrive in stores on January 10.
Writer Grant Morrison returns in February with BATMAN #663 (DEC060180), illustrated by guest artist John Van Fleet. In this issue, the Joker makes his triumphant return to Gotham City to take revenge on Batman! BATMAN #663 will be solicited in the December Previews (Volume XVI #12) and is scheduled to arrive in stores on February 14. Because of these changes, DC will make BATMAN #659-662 returnable at a later date.