February 2013

The Shadow: Year One #1

The Shadow: Year One #1The Shadow has been around, in one form or another, since 1930. A vigilante with the power to cloud men’s minds, a skill he picked up during his time in the Far East. Over the years different writers have added pieces to the character’s past, but with Dynamite Entertainment’s new series writer Matt Wagner and artist Wilfredo Torres delve into the origins of the character that have been largely shrouded in mystery for more than 80 years.

After a few panels of the mysterious Cambodian warrior Ying Ko, the series starts off in earnest with Lamont Cranston’s return to New York after several years abroad. The comic also introduces Margo Lane (and here Wagner takes a page out of Frank Miller‘s handbook making The Shadow’s faithful companion a high-priced whore for a New York gangster).

We also get The Shadow’s first appearance, and several mentions of how much Cranston has changed. The most interesting of these is Margo, who knew the man before his travels, mentioning that Lamont seems taller which could mean either he is more imposing or the man calling himself Lamont Cranston isn’t the same man she met two years before.

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Sports Illustrated 2013 Swimsuit Model Natasha Barnard

Sports Illustrated 2013 Swimsuit Model Natasha Barnard

We previously shared with you both cover model Kate Upton’s appearance as well as Danish model Nina Agdal’s appearance and Russian model Irina Shayk’s appearance in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. Here’s a gallery of South African model Natasha Barnard‘s photos.

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House of Lies – Family Values

  • Title: House of Lies – Family Values
  • tv.com: link

“The people you work with are assholes.”

House of Lies - Family Values

After his boss tries to kill his deal with U.S. National Bank behind Marty’s (Don Cheadle) back, things between Marty and Galweather Stearn’s new CEO (Bess Armstrong) come to a head at a company team-building retreat when he decides to cut out early to keep his promise to see Roscoe’s (Donis Leonard Jr.) inappropriate school dance performance. Back at the retreat, Doug (Josh Lawson) begins see the Pod in an entirely new light after they meet Sarah (Jenny Slate), especially after Clyde (Ben Schwartz) comes onto her at the pool and Clyde and Jeannie (Kristen Bell) bully Doug into looking like a fool in a competition with another team during one of the team-building exercises.

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Nova #1

Nova #1Writer Jeph Loeb and artist Ed McGuinness give us a solid (although at times somewhat confusing) first issue as Marvel NOW! sets out to relaunch Nova with a new hero under the helmet. Part of the problem with Nova #1 is that it has to introduce not one Nova, but two. Had the Loeb been able to fit Sam Alexander‘s story into the already existing Nova history (rather than show us that his drunken father was once a member of the Nova Corps so forgettable he had never appeared in any issue in the Marvel Universe until now).

On the plus side Sam is likable enough (although does Marvel really need more angsty teenage heroes with parental issues?), and the comic does include an appearance by Rocket Raccoon and Gamora (that will nearly always earn you some points in my book).

The structure of the comic, though confusing given none of these characters are familiar, actually works well as Sam’s dad relates his experiences in space to Sam’s younger sister in a series of bedtime stories Sam has gotten too old to believe in anymore.

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Daredevil #23

Daredevil #23With only hours left before Foggy hears his test results, Daredevil takes his friend on a whirlwind journey around the rooftops of New York City (which includes the hero’s favorite spot in the city). Attempting to brighten his friend’s mood is put on hold when Daredevil is forced to deal with a small army of thieves all of whom appear to have been experimented on in an attempt to recreate the exact events that gave Daredevil his powers.

The bad guys are an interesting, if a bit bizarre, addition to the mastermind attacking Daredevil from all angles. It’s the scenes between Matt and Foggy, finally out of the poorly conceived distrust for each other, that work the best. The comic ends with Foggy learning the truth of his condition which could mean serious ramifications for the lawyer in the months and years to come.

We’re still no closer to the reveal of who is behind the attacks on Daredevil, although knowing the exact details of the accident which caused his blindness and enhanced senses narrows the field considerably. Worth a look.

[Marvel, $2.99]

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