Comics

Black Widow #1

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Black Widow #1 comic reviewA new volume of Black Widow begins here. Black Widow #1 is the third different comic to bear that name since 2016. Honestly, given the fact Marvel will invariably cancel the title, ignore its events, and replace it within a year or two with a new comic from from a different creative team, selling the idea of a Black Widow comic is a bit hard to do. However, Black Widow #1 turns out to be a pretty good read even if it has some rather large flaws.

The comic opens with Black Widow performing a job for the Avengers in retrieving a hard drive before returning home to find someone has broken into her apartment. Karma’s a bitch, right? Oh, and then she gets thrown out a window. Not a bad cliffhanger.

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G.I. JOE: A Real American Hero #274

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G.I. JOE: A Real American Hero #274 comic reviewThe penultimate issue of “Snake Hunt” is here and the action if fast and furious as the Joes and their unlikely allies battle Cobra on all fronts hoping to liberate Throwdown (who Cobra still mistakenly believe is the original Snake Eyes) from Cobra’s clutches and Dr. Mindbender‘s evil experiments hoping to turn the Joe into an agent of Cobra.

While the groups within the compound make slow progress, fighting above the bunker turns in Cobra’s favor as reinforcements arrive and an irate Cobra Commander orders the death of every Joe. Not surprisingly, it’s the Arashikage contingent that find Throwdown first. However, their escape appears to have been cut-off as things appear to be setting up for an explosive finale.

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Batman: The Adventures Continue #11

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Batman: The Adventures Continue #11 comic reviewBatman calls on an old friend looking for advice, but Jason Todd‘s current plans as the Red Hood are put on hold as Batman: The Adventures Continue #11 explores more of the tumultuous former Robin’s past and the circumstances behind his final days as Robin.

Writers Alan Burnett and Paul Dini definitely capture the snotty nature of Todd’s late run as the Boy Wonder which made him a divisive character among fans and ultimately led to his death in the comics. As Alfred‘s flashback continue we see more of Robin out of control, becoming more dangerous at times than even the super-villains he was helping Batman apprehend.

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Usagi Yojimbo #12

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Usagi Yojimbo #12 comic reviewMiyamoto Usagi is offered a chance to do harm to Lord Hikiji. The lord is far too well protected to ever attack directly, as Usagi knows all too well. Instead, Kato suggests they strike at Lord Hikiji’s power and weaken his reputation by denying him any further advancement. The cost? Every life in Usagi’s home village.

Kato’s plan is devious and brutal, to attack the shogun’s agent on his way to the city which will harm Hikiji’s reputation and also bring the shogun’s vengeance down on the village. Realizing how large the plot already is, Usagi pretends to go along with it for a time, acting as the samurai willing to do anything for his lord’s honor.

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Angel + Spike 13

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Angel + Spike 13 comic reviewBefore the new creative team begins their storyline, Angel + Spike 13 offers a single-issue story set in 1962 with Angel investigating the death of an actress he met ten years before who sold her soul for fame and glory (and also to stave off the cancer which was slowly killing her). The story is not connected the current timeline or the present in any way, but it does feature an appearance by Spike.

I don’t know that I would stick around for multiple issues from the pairing of writer Adam Smith and artist Piotr Kowalski but the single issue story does allow the comic to bring in a different look and feel without investing too much in a new team. I’m not wild about the art from Piotr Kowalski that we get here, although the noir setting does seem to lend itself to the art more than some of the characters do.

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