Comics

Princess Leia #1

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Princess Leia #1Beginning with the awards ceremony which closes out the original Star Wars, the first issue of Marvel’s new Princess Leia series centers around Leia struggling to find a new role within the Rebellion following the destruction of her homeworld Alderaan.

Although I think some of inking of artist Terry Dodson’s panels look a tad unfinished in places, Dodson’s art is a solid match for Mark Waid’s storytelling the offers a rationale for Leia to have a few solo missions of her own to fuel the series. Not completely on her own, Waid and Dodson introduce the character of X-Wing Fighter Pilot Evaan who is loyal to the last remaining royal from her homeworld even if she has issues with Leia’s public demeanor.

Although we get glimpses of other familiar characters including Luke, Wedge, Han, Chewbacca, and Admiral Ackbar, it seems that Leia and Evaan will be carrying the bulk of the story from here on out as the pair search for other survivors of Alderaan whom the Empire has put a bounty (including a certain Rebel princess). Worth a look.

[Marvel, $3.99]

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Morning Glories #43

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Morning Glories #43Although the story will eventually tie back into the larger arc of Casey‘s bid to be the next Student Council President, the focus of Morning Glories #43 is predominantly on Ike who makes some disturbing discoveries on his trip to the school’s library.

The Librarian hands the young man a series of books causing visions from his past (a ceremony performed shortly after his birth by Abraham and Gribbs and what follows in the offices of Wow-Mo! Enterprises), present (those spying on the his “friends” in the school), and future (in which he sits down with a far older version of himself).

Despite his usual banter with Casey early on, it’s obvious that the fate of Jade is weighing heavy on Ike which makes the revelation of his eyes being opened (an important phrase we’ve seen before concerning the kids reaching an important milestone of their potential) all the more interesting. Such an experience doesn’t leave the cocky young man unscathed as he chooses to join the fight and put together a team to help Casey win the upcoming election. Has a new organized rebellion finally begun? Worth a look.

[Image, $3.50]

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Uncanny X-Men #31

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Uncanny X-Men #31Uncanny X-Men wraps up the Matthew Malloy storyline with a bit of a cheat and in a way that teaches Tempus a horrible lesson about how messing with the past to remove someone from all existence is a good thing for a hero to do. First, I don’t buy Professor Xavier taking such a stance. And second, Tempus’ threat to do the same to Cyclops is not only out of line but also empty as any erasing of the existence of Scott Summers (who matters far more in Marvel history than Mally) would lead to any number of dire futures completely destroyed by the Phoenix or ruled over by Apocalypse or Magneto.

The other problem with the arc’s wrap-up is that removes the intriguing character of Malloy in a way that admits he doesn’t really matter (an argument at odds with everything the X-Men have stood for over the last half-century) as the character was never designed to be anyhing more than a plot device from the beginning. The fallout also leaves several questions about the future direction of this title with Scott closing his school and (apparently) choosing to roam the Earth like Caine in Kung Fu. Hit-and-Miss.

[Marvel, $3.99]

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The Flash: Season Zero #5

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The Flash: Season Zero #5“Smoak Signals” reunites the Flash and Felicity when Green Arrow‘s Girl Friday is target by killer robot drones known as Sky Lords who have been programmed to take out Ms. Smoak. I though the two shows gave up on the possibility of a Felcity/Barry relationship far too quickly so its fun to see the two thrown together here (albeit as friends). Given that the issue teases, but doesn’t offer the identity of, who wants Felicity dead I’m betting we’ll see the thread of this story picked up in the near future.

The first few pages of the issue also give us Felicity watching the Flash battle the Hydro Hunter whose origins and motivations aren’t explored here. The fight is fun but given the level of the villain’s powers he seems an odd choice for what boils down to a pre-credit scene fight. However, the sequence does illustrate how Felicity continues to keep tabs on Barry and offer a more a-hole version of the pre-Atom Ray Palmer than we’ve seen on the show so far (what a dick!).

Fans of both The Flash and Arrow should enjoy the crossover even if questions are left unanswered. Worth a look.

[DC, $2.99]

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Secret Six Volume 1: Villains United

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Secret Six Volume 1: Villains UnitedSecret Six Volume 1: Villains United collects the Villains United mini-series, which relaunched Catman as a major player in the DCU, along with the first Secret Six six-issue mini-series. The best part of Infinite Crisis, the Villains United series centers around a group of villains who refuse to join Lex Luthor‘s Secret Society of Super-Villains led by the most unlikely of characters – Catman.

Despite the depths the character had sunk to in the years previous to writer Gail Simone’s makeover, I’ve always been a fan of Catman and Simone does a terrific job in rebranding the character from D-list back to A-list while still acknowledging his fall from grace. Choosing to join the team on his own, Catman became a part of the Secret Six who were controlled by the mysterious Mockingbird and sent into action with the promise of reward (and the threat of death).

The mini-series follows the group through battle, torture, dysfunction, betrayal, and more while setting up the group’s core dynamics like Deadshot and Catman’s bromance, the insanity of Ragdoll, the deception of Chesire, and the twist of a romantic relationship between Scandal Savage and Knockout.

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