Alan Rapp

Captain America #11

/ / Comics

captain-america-11-coverDum Dum Dugan and Diamondback discover that someone out there, posing as the new Scourge, is killing former terrorists and minor super-villains who are now protected witnesses for S.H.I.E.L.D. Okay, it turns out they aren’t that well protected.

A little digging into the leak leads to the discovery of an even bigger problem when Captain America finds a HYDRA infiltrator in to the echelons of S.H.I.E.L.D. Meanwhile the group tries to narrow down the list of potential targets the new Scourge may hit next which leads to a confrontation between the assassin and Diamondback and the murder of another witness.

I like the inclusion of Dugan and Dimondback here, the later (given she’s a former super-villain) will have a real stake in the case. Scourge, in one for or another, has been around forever in the Marvel Universe to help trim the fat. I’m intrested to see how writer Ed Brubaker uses the character in this new arc. Worth a look.

[Marvel, $3.99]

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News and Notes

/ / Film News & Trailers

Keira KnightleyScreen Daily is reporting Keira Knightley has replaced Scarlett Johansson on Can A Song Save Your Life?, the latest film from Once writer/director John Carney

Celebuzz! shares new Tom Cruise‘s shirtless spread for W Magazine as his character Stacee Jaxx from Rock of Ages

Rolling Stone is reporting Aaron Sorkin has signed on to write a biopic based on the life of late Apple founder Steve Jobs

The Playlist shares the first poster and pics released for Nicolas Cage‘s new thriller Stolen

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Fairest #3

/ / Comics

fairest-3-coverFinding themselves captured by the Snow Queen, Jonah Panghammer regales the the unlikely group with the story of Briar Rose‘s birth and magical blessings bestowed upon the princess. Slighted, and at the most opportune hour, the Snow Queen also bestows her own curse on the newborn child.

This series is becoming an awful lot of fun and the third issue shows us the complexity and deviousness of Panghammer who has used the situation involving the Snow Queen to his own advantage. We’re going to have to wait until the next issue to find out what the imp really has in mind, but writer Bill Willingham has certainly crafted and intriguing new character in the Fables universe.

There are a couple of small, but fun, touches as we learn magical blessings can have quite literal translations in the real world (and the reason why Briar Rose never sang for her 60’s girl band). With strong art by Phil Jimenez and another cool cover by Adam Hughes, this tale of Sleeping Beauty is definitely worth a look.

[Vertigo, $2.99]

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Morning Glories #18

/ / Comics

morning-glories-18-cover“P.E.” continues, and although we don’t get any answers about the school and its mysterious ways we do learn a little about Abraham‘s group working against Morning Glories Academy. The issue is centered around Jun (really Hisao) who gets into another fight with his brother Hisao (really Jun) but is rescued by a childhood fried, Guillame.

As Guillame and Jun reconnect and kill time in a way that would be sure to make Bill O’Reilly shout down the evil homosexual comic book agenda of Image Comics, we also get flashbacks to Jun and Guillame’s time together as children growing up in Abraham’s compound.

Although the issue doesn’t really move the plot forward it does cement a couple of important points (other than Jun’s sexual preference). One, we know Jun isn’t alone working for Abraham. And two, we discover which other member of the new Morning Glories recruits is not only part of the group but in charge of their mission. It’s not who you expect. Worth a look.

[Image, $2.99]

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Fatale #5

/ / Comics

fatale-5-coverHank wakes bloodied, chained, and with odd symbols carved into his chest. He’s a guest of the Satanic cult deep below the bowels of the city. Their Bishop plans to use him as a sacrifice to, as he puts it, “help me see my god again.”

Jo finds herself betrayed by her former lover Walter Booker who has found a way to lessen her hold on him and now it seems he plans to turn her over to the very people who he saved her from all those years ago, but appearances aren’t all that they seem.

Issue #5 concludes the series’ first arc “Death Chases Me.” And although Hank is saved from the cult and makes away safely with Josephine it’s clear evil has only been stymied, not stopped. As to whether Hank’s life is better today than before he met the woman he loves with all his heart, well, that’s a little murky as well.

Credit to Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips for delivering a noir/horror thriller that it appears is only getting started. Bring on Book Two. Worth a look.

[Image, 3.50]

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