Comics

Checkmate #5

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Picking up exactly where Checkmate #4 ended, Leviathan has invaded Checkmate‘s headquarters, which they then teleport into the middle of Thailand. Although their building is rubble, the heroes aren’t quite out of the game as Mark Shaw had planned, thanks to King‘s use of the extra-dimensional doors which deliver them into the basement of the Hall of Justice with hopefully enough time to prevent Leviathan from getting their hands on the Heroes Network.

And, of course, this turns out to be the perfect opportunity for Talia to double-cross the heroes. It’s still not clear what exactly she’s getting out of helping Shaw, but incapacitating the heroes at the point they might stop him from realizing his goal certainly works in Leviathan’s favor.

Lois Lane is fairing a bit better with the sudden appearance of a brother she never knew about, but the “Snowman’s Ticket” is still a git of a mystery, except, perhaps to Mark Shaw.

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Usagi Yojimbo #23

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“Ransom” continues with Kiyoko‘s kidnapping by Boss Hasegawa’s warriors as Miyamoto Usagi and his cousin Yukichi Yamamoto are given until sunrise to return Boss Hasegawa’s stolen ledger if they want to see Kiyoko again. The circumstances aren’t helped with the local thief, realizing how much the book is worth, steals it from Kitsune leaving our heroes with nothing to trade for Kiyoko’s life.

Usagi Yojimbo #23 is a solid middle issue of the arc adding some drama while drawing out the trouble for our characters to be resolved within the next issue. The comic foreshadows some hope for our heroes given the one honorable member of Boss Hasegawa’s soldiers who keeps Kiyoko safe from the others, and the Boss himself, after giving Usagi his word she would be safe until sunrise. Now, if they can just find that book…

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Wonder Woman: Black & Gold #5

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Wonder Woman: Black & Gold #5 offers black and white tales, with a flourish of gold, featuring Wonder Woman. My favorite of the tales, “Feet of Clay,” is told from the point of view of the Amazons’ greatest general, Antiope, who is reluctantly brought out of retirement to train Hippolyta‘s precocious young daughter molded from clay and given life by the gods (keeping with Wonder Woman’s original origin). The story highlights the pair’s unique relationship, and the similarities the two warrior women share.

In “Hellzapoppin'” Diana visits Hephaestus only to discover the forge of the gods in disarray leading to battle through Hell in a search for her missing friend.  Ships of Themyscira are attacked by a sea ghost in “Beyond the Horizon” and a confrontation with a spirit in torment deep in the ocean’s depths.

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The Amazing Spider-Man #77

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Peter Parker is in the hospital fighting for his life. The Beyond Corporation has bought the rights to Spider-Man. And Ben Reilly is back as Spider-Man. Things certainly have changed. Personally, I’d much prefer to see Reilly as the Scarlet Spider which was far more successful that his last stint stepping in for Peter. But it looks like that’s not in the cards. Ben Reilly is now Spider-Man (and with an entire conglomerate working on gadgets and doodads for him).

After seeing Ben in action for the past couple of issues, The Amazing Spider-Man #77 takes a step back and examines the life of a corporate super-hero trying to live up to both internal and external expectations. If Ben is likely to have struggles, they may be more from Beyond than what he faces on the streets. It’s more building block than standalone issue, although it does offer Spidey versus Morbius for a late fight cliffhanger.

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The Amazing Spider-Man #77 Read More »

Suicide Squad #8

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A Suicide Squad comic narrated by Ambush Bug? Okay, you’ve got my attention (even if Bug’s ADHD does have the story going in seemingly every direction all at once). We get Peacemaker vs. Swamp Thing, the Suicide Squad fighting a group of former (now dead) members raised from Hell on the Rock of Eternity, and a surprise guest in Major Force. And that’s just the first 12 pages.

This is a seriously crazy issue. Even if Ambush Bug’s narration does drone on at times, the humor works and despite the number if irons in the fire including governments coming after Waller, Rick Flag putting together his own team, the machinations of Talon, and now Peacemaker unleashed, Suicide Squad #8 works as a good start for new readers and a nice summary to catch the rest of us up on everything the current volume of the title has going. Let the craziness continue.

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