Comics

Red One #1

/ / Comics

Red One #1Originally written as a French comic under the title Red Skin, Xavier Dorison and Terry Dodson’s spy-thriller opens in 1977 during the Cold War when the Soviet Union’s best agent is tasked with her latest assignment: work undercover in America to become the country’s greatest super-hero.

Most of the unusual tale takes place before Vera Yelnikov begins her assignment in America giving us glimpses of her Russian family, her flippant attitude to her superiors, and her undeniable physical abilities, warm nature, and sexual presence. The comic also introduces the character of the Carpenter, a new right-wing American vigilante whose popularity could cause trouble for the Soviets if left unchecked.

The first issue of Xavier Dorison and Terry Dodson’s certainly has fun with the character of Vera and the reaction of various men to her. I’m more interested in the character and the process of how she is transformed into a super-hero than the the inevitable conflict with the Carpenter (or the questionable undercurrent that anyone who isn’t a rabid right wing Republican is actively helping the Soviet agenda). For fans.

[Image, $2.99]

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Arrow 2.5 #6

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Arrow 2.5 #6Taking place before the events of Arrow‘s Third Season Arrow 2.5 has dealt predominantly with the fallout of Season Two and a new villain taking on the role of Brother Blood. Arrow 2.5 #6 shifts away from that storyline to focus on the ongoing back-up story involving a madman in Kahndaq who has come to the attention of Amanda Waller and A.R.G.U.S.

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Star Wars #3

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Star Wars #3Star Wars #3 continues the opening arc of Marvel’s new main Star Wars comic as Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Princess Leia, Chewbacca, and the droids attempt to make it out alive where their plan to cripple an Imperial weapons factory blows up in the face thanks to the timely arrival of reinforcements and Darth Vader.

Mostly action (and multiple nods to the classic trilogy including C-3PO getting blown apart, Leia joking about the Falcon‘s condition, and Luke on a speeder bike), the third issue of the series does end on an interesting note suggesting that Obi-Wan Kenobi had left something for Luke in his hovel on Tatooine that will likely become important in the series somewhere down the line.

The storyline also explores Luke’s need to prove himself worthy of a father’s legacy and Kenobi’s teaching while still not understanding how to grow into the Jedi is destined to become which leads him to taking dangerous risks to protect his friends and complete their mission despite the Dark Lord of the Sith standing in his way. For fans.

[Marvel, $3.99]

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Spider-Gwen #2

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Spider-Gwen #2Set on an alternate Earth where Gwen Stacy was bitten by a radioactive spider, I felt a bit lost reading the first issue of the series that, other than the look of Gwen as this world’s Spider-Woman, did little to sell me on the concept. The second issue, which picks up following our heroine getting her ass kicked by the Vulture, is a little more entertaining thanks in large part to the appearance of Spider-Ham as a delusional sidekick only the heavily-concussed Spider-Gwen can see and hear.

The rest of the comic continues the storyline from the first issue as Gwen puts off dealing with both her father and the Mary Janes, each interested in finding Gwen for different reasons. We also learn George Stacy has been replaced on the Spider-Woman case by this world’s Frank Castle who appears only moderately more reasonable than the regular Marvel Universe version.

Other than Gwen (and the hallucinatory pig) the only variation of a well-known character that has caught my eye is that of crime lawyer Matt Murdock who is going to have to be given a much larger role to keep my interest (especially if the end of Gwen’s concussion means farewell to Spider-Ham). For fans.

[Marvel, $3.99]

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Rocket Raccoon #9

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Rocket Raccoon #9Set 30 years in the future Rocket Raccoon #9 offers a glimpse at a possible dark future for Rocket and Groot. Long after their collective adventures have ended, and Groot has decided to stay on Earth without his friend (helping its heroes unlock the secret to his regenerative properties), a monster-sized Groot is terrorizing the planet destroying everything in sight. Who’s Tony Stark gonna call? Gundam-style Rocket Raccoon, that’s who!

Dark future stories of heroes are hardly anything new but writer Skootie Young still finds a way to infuse the comic’s zaniness and fun without getting lost in the grim future.

The twist near the end of the comic lessens the impact of the story a bit as it’s revealed we’re only seeing a simulation of one possible future of the pair. What makes the story work is Young flipping the idea that Groot keeps Rocket in line and that the raccoon’s loving friend might become something far more dark and dangerous without his questionable influence. Yeah, looks like Rocket Raccoon is a good influence after all (at least for a living tree turned Kaiju monster). Worth a look.

[Marvel, $3.99]

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