Comics

Usagi Yojimbo #147

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Usagi Yojimbo #147“The Thief and the Kunoichi” comes to a conclusion as Usagi and Chizu make the best of Kitsune‘s plan to sell Inouye’s secret treaty back to the merchant. The warriors decide to use the time and setting of the transaction to their advantage by destroying a secret shipment of Ginseng Inouye is counting on to help fund his underhanded dealings.

Usagi Yojimbo #147 continues to force Usagi in between the two women and into the role of peacemaker which leads to a humorous farewell with both women that leaves the rabbit ronin all but speechless. The end of the arc also provides plenty of action as Usagi and Chizu work to cut a wide swath through the merchant’s soldiers and provide Chizu a measure of revenge (even if it did mean having to save Kitsune’s life).

The unusual threesome provided by Stan Sakai proved to be a great way to relaunch the ongoing series after it’s lengthy hiatus. Usagi is back and, if this arc is any indication, the rabbit ronin will have his hands full with whatever fate has in store for him next. Worth a look.

[Dark Horse, $3.50]

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Doctor Fate #2

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Doctor Fate #2Khalid Nassour‘s rocky journey into becoming the DCU’s new Doctor Fate continues as he stops fighting the Helm to learn a bit about where the knowledge of power it offers come from as well as save his father from a traffic accident caused by the minions of Thoth who demand a blood price our young hero is unwilling to pay.

Two issues in I’m still on the fence about Nassour as Fate. There’s certainly plenty of room for Nassour to grow into the role, and I like the character, but Doctor Fate has always been one of the most powerful magic users of the DCU and it looks like some time before Nassour will ever truly command that much knowledge or power. I also have to wonder about previous Fates. Did they exist in the DCU after the New 52 relaunch? If so, are they living or dead, and might we see someone like Kent Nelson show up as potential ally or rival? Given how shabily DC relaunched its characters without answering basic questions about their backstories I have to wonder if they’ve even considered these questions. Until they do, and until Nassour truly grows into his role as the new Dr. Fate (complete with costume, please), I’m likely to stay a bit wary of this title. For fans.

[DC, $2.99]

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Arrow Season 2.5 #10

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Arrow Season 2.5 #10Oliver and Roy‘s journey to Lian Yu proves fruitful as the pair get the blood sample they need from Slade Wilson in order to fight the latest Mirakuru-powered madman with a grudge against Oliver walking the streets of Starling City.

The issue does offer another confrontation between Oliver and Slade, while teasing Ollie’s return with Thea to the island in Season Three’s “The Return,” but given his continued imprisonment in the A.R.G.U.S. facility his appearance is rather short and mostly uneventful.

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Secret Six #4

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Secret Six #4Secret Six #4 is a tease of the comic we should be, but aren’t, getting. Thanks New 52. After the new team makes its way to the suburbs they are almost immediately attacked by three of Mockingbird‘s assassins who will be familiar to longtime fans of the team well-before they are unmasked: Scandal Savage, Ragdoll, and Jeannette (who seems oddly toned-down here). Despite still missing Deadshot, and insisting on dressing Catman in that awful fetish costume (#BringBackTheCowl), Secret Six #4 has a bit of the old magic (even if it is unnecessarily stomped on by quite a few superfluous characters).

Ragdoll’s unique voice has certainly been missing in the comic. His addition works well here while Scandal, as enemy rather than one of the major driving forces behind the group, is a bit off-key. The latest issue opens with a buddy-buddy moment between Catman and the nondescript detective-ish guy (a character so forgettable neither I nor the Internet seem to remember who the hell he is) which only makes me miss Catman’s best bud even more. Oh well, at least there’s some fun to be had. For fans.

[DC, $2.99]

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Astro City #24

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Astro City #24While offering glimpses into the world Sticks left behind, and his reasons for doing so, the latest issue of Astro City concludes the warrior-ape turned drummer turned super-hero turned nomad’s story which includes a stint with the super-group Reflex 6 who, among other adventures, fought to close illegal alien speakeasies in Astro City where human brain chemistry and dreams were the drug of choice for an elite clientele. Like super-apes who play the drums are known to do.

As with the opening issue to this two-part tale Astro City #24 offers some twists and turns as Sticks struggles to find his role in Astro City where it’s too dangerous to be a drummer and too hard to be a hero. His solution, thanks in part to an unexpected pep-talk from the Samaritan allows the character to create an unorthodox solution that not only allows him to live the life he’s always wanted but still find a way to put his obvious skills to use. And if he’s got to occasionally dress up in a monkey suit, so to speak, well that’s a small price to pay for finding the freedom to play beautiful music. Isn’t it? Worth a look.

[Vertigo, $3.99]

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