Comics

Batman #36

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Batman #36 comic reviewOkay, this is pretty good. Kicking off a new arc, writer Tom King and artist Clay Mann tackle the issue of Batman‘s impending wedding to Catwoman, and his friendship with Superman, from the perspective of both the Dark Knight Detective and the Man of Steel. While both are attempting to get to the bottom of their latest cases (which will end up linked by the end of the issue) each has to deal with the women in their lives asking why one hasn’t talked with the other about the wedding.

The two storylines run parallel, at times side-by-side as both men struggle to explain the other. In an issue where each tries to explain how fundamentally different they are, the creative team perfectly illustrates how just the opposite is true. Along the way they’ll also tackle issues like Catwoman’s trustworthiness and Superman’s super-secret identity.

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Usagi Yojimbo #164

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Usagi Yojimbo #164 comic reviewThe middle chapter of “The Mouse Trap” picks up with Usagi‘s attacker delivering the rabbit ronnin to the Black Goblin Gang where the quick intervention of Inspector Ishida and the thief Nezumi prevent a groggy Usagi from meeting an inglorious end. Although Ishida is able to save his friend, Usagi is able to overhear a bit of the underlings talk about the hidden true head of the gang, and several members are killed by our heroes, Usagi and Ishida don’t learn about the next attack of the Black Goblin Gang until it is too late.

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John Wick #1

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John Wick #1 comic reviewSet prior to John Wick‘s retirement in the first film, the new series from Dynamite Entertainment focuses on the professional killer’s earlier career. Ghosts from the past lead John Wick to El Paso, Texas where an encounter leads to a confrontation with a gangster he knew from childhood. Whether or not Wick was specifically hunting the killers, or merely coincidence, is a bit unclear (although the former seems more likely). Stepping in on a hit allows John to reintroduce himself to and old “friend” and likely get him into considerable trouble int he issues to follow.

The trouble with John Wick: Chapter 2 was that the motivations in the sequel will far more convoluted than the simple revenge fantasy in the original film. Tying events in this issue to Wick’s childhood makes an attempt to streamline the plot of the comic and lead John Wick on another personal crusade.

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Tomb Raider: Survivor’s Crusade #1

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Tomb Raider: Survivor's Crusade #1 comic reviewThe first issue of Tomb Raider: Survivor’s Crusade takes Lara Croft to Corniglia, Italy inside a secret underground tomb discovered by Trinity. Lara isn’t there for the tomb, its riddles, or its treasures. She’s come seeking out members of the mysterious organization for answers concerning the identity of the person responsible for her father’s death.

Narrated throughout with the multiple attempts by our protagonist to explain her absence, and failing, the first issue does a fairly good job in kicking off the point of the series and just what Lara is questing for this time around. Although I enjoy Ashley A. Woods’ work, I’m not wild about the art in this issue. The action scenes work well-enough but there’s a grit to Lara and her adventures that doesn’t come across well in this first issue.

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Astro City #49

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Astro City #49 comic reviewAstro City #49 takes a look at the unusual hero Registor as shown through the eyes of a reporter who catches the wiff (literally) of a story with ties to her childhood when she witnesses the hero appear to stop an attack by Earthpride white supremacists during a protest. With ties to old school civil disobedience, civil rights protests and rallies, I’d be curious to know the origins of this story which tie our protagonist’s current search back to her missing father.

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