July 2013

Nova #5

/ / Comics

Nova #5Followed back to Earth by Titus, the disgraced former member of the Nova Corps now working for the Chitauri, Sam Alexander must protect his home, his mother (who we will learn knew far more about her husband’s galactic adventures than she ever let on), and even the bullies from school who give him a hard time, from the one-eyed space tiger’s wrath.

Flying Titus back into space, the new Nova uses the Ultimate Nullifier to present a stalemate that the villain refuses to accept. Forcing its activation, Titus and the entire Chitauri fleet are sucked into a black hole. Only after the young man single-handedly saves Earth do we get cameos from Rocket Racoon, Gamora, and the Watcher (as well as one more important character in the issue’s epilogue).

Writer Jeph Loeb and artist Ed McGuinness deliver a fun wrap-up the series’ first story arc that cements Sam as the new Nova, a hero with some powerful friends but one who is also willing and able to stand-up to world-threatening threats on his own. Worth a look.

[Marvel, $3.99]

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The Flash #21

/ / Comics

The Flash #21Searching for answers about the mysterious killer connected to both the Speed Force and his symbol, the Flash runs down an uncooperative Kid Flash for some answers. Kid Flash proves apt enough to stop Barry Allen from catching him for much of the issue but not skilled enough to loose the Fastest Man Alive.

With not one but two speedsters writer/artist provides some beautiful shots of the pair racing around the world, although the comic does get into some questionable New 52 revisionism as once the two finally stop to talk as it suggests this version of Kid Flash may not be Bart Allen at all. Yes he’s from the future, but it appears his speed comes from a method other than the Speed Force and his total disdain for the Flash and any connection they have makes it seem unlikely they are related.

Honestly, I could have done with a less dickish Kid Flash (but that’s what I can say about nearly all the New 52 characters). Once again we get a cameo by the (horrendously redesigned) Reverse-Flash who may finally be turning his attention to our hero beginning next month. Worth a look.

[DC, $2.99]

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