January 2011

Supergirl #60

supergirl-60-coverAs someone who works in the social media space I’ve got to admit I’m intrigued by the first story new writer Nick Spencer chooses to tell. There’s no super-villains here, and (thankfully) no extra Kryptonian nonsense. What he does give us however is an idea how to use Facebook to kill the young heroes of the DCU with the willing help of the unsuspecting public.

Our baddie, whose name is never mentioned (unless I missed it), creates an open source Facebook app so people can immediately share sightings of super-heroes. Sounds great, right? Its real purpose is much more nefarious. Knowing their location leaves the heroes vulnerable to sneak attacks by groups of heavy-hitting super-villains (like the one Supergirl runs into here) ready to take out the heroes – for good.

I’ve got to admit I’m intrigued by the idea, and like that the app was created to look innocuous with a hidden purpose rather than stolen and later corrupted. The following issues promise all kinds of guest-stars as this on-going storyline unfolds.

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Uncanny X-Force #3

uncanny-x-force-3-coverFor those who haven’t been reading this title this is a pretty good place to start. The X-Force team (WolverinePsylockeDeadpoolArchangel, Fantomex) makes their way to the moon to kill a small defenseless child. Why you ask? Well, it turns out that child is the recently resurrected Apocalypse with four brand spankin’ new Horsemen to do his bidding.

The story introduces all four of the new Horsemen and lets them wipe the face of the moon with these X-Men. This works well enough, even if it has one major flaw. As “edgy’ as Marvel wants us to believe this title is there’s no way it’s going to let any of these characters kill a defenseless child who isn’t even sure what he wants. This means the stakes here are far smaller than Marvel would like us to believe.

Even with this limitation the team itself works well in its own dysfunctional way. And I will give credit to writer Rick Remender for breathing some much needed life and charm back into Psylocke. For at least an issue I actually cared about the character again. Worth a look.

[Marvel $3.99]

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Fairly Legal

  • Title: Fairly Legal – Pilot
  • tv.com: link

I’ve been very pleased with the shows USA Network has put out in recent years. I was a big fan of Monk, and I love Psych, as well as Burn Notice and White Collar. I was impressed with the first season of Covert Affairs, and In Plain Sight has proved to be an engaging drama centered (as most USA shows tend to be) a deeply human, and deeply flawed, central character.

USA’s latest, Fairly Legal, revolves around a lawyer turned mediator (played by the lovely and charming Sarah Shahi) who works for the law firm started by her late father and now run by her step-mother (Virginia Williams).

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Doctor Who #1

doctor-who-1-coverIDW finally brings the Eleventh Doctor to his own monthly comic. The first issue surrounds Rory‘s misuse of the magic phone aboard the TARDIS which leads to spamming of an epic scale.

Although the set-up is rather silly, writer Tony Lee gets the tone of the characters right including Matt Smith zaniness and his mix of acceptance and incredulity at the situation which includes a magic talking stapler (I kid you not!).

If I have one complaint its the inconsistent art of Andrew Currie where Amy Pond is concerned. The Doctor, Rory, and the various aliens and spam creations come off well, but the quality of Amy seems to vary wildly over the course of the comic.

As first issues goes it’s certainly a bit of fluff, but it’s entertaining enough for Who fans to pick up. It’s not going to bowl you over, or compare with the best of Series Five, but it just may help tide you over until Doctor Who returns to the airwaves this Spring.

[IDW $3.99]

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White Collar – Burke’s Seven

  • Title: White Collar – Burke’s Seven
  • wiki: link

White Collar returned last week with a strong mid-season opener which answered several questions (such as what happened to Mozzie, and who wants the music box) as well as unite several supporting characters to come to Peter’s (Tim DeKay) defense after he’s framed for a crime which would ruin his entire career.

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