Comics

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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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #43

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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #43The Turtles’ plan begins to unfold as Krang and Shredder‘s forces work diligently to kill each other allowing Leonardo, Raphael, and Michelangelo time to sneak aboard and put a stop to the Technodrome before Krang brings it online. However, trouble unfolds with the unexpected double-cross of Baxter Stockman who attempts to seize control of the Technodrome for himself.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #43 is heavy on action featuring battles between Krang and The Foot, Old Hob‘s mutant mob and Splinter verses Karai’s soldiers (offering us a short sword battle between Splinter and Karai), and the Turtles battling their way to stop Stockman from activating the Technodrome before it is too late.

The only ones not thrown into action are Alopex (who sadly doesn’t appear in the issue) and Donatello who is likely going to face the wrath of Shredder next month as, after discovering the betrayal, the leader of The Foot orders Rocksteady and Bebop to kill the Turtle. Gulp. Worth a look.

[IDW, $3.99]

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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: New Animated Adventures #20

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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: New Animated Adventures #20As Leonardo, Donatello, and Raphael fight off their collective fears (including squid clowns and the Kraaang) courtesy of the Fear Mushroom, Michelangelo faces down Pizza Face who has plans to devour all of New York starting with one pizza-loving Turtle.

Despite saving the city from an impossible pizza monster (which eventually grows to Godzilla-like size) and his Mega-Pizza Kitchen of Ultimate Evil from which he plans to bake all of the city’s inhabitants, Mikey gets no credit for his save as Leonardo, Donatello, and Raphael (lost in hallucinatory fear) just assume he’s making up the entire story.

The comic’s back-up story features the Turtles struggling with a blackout. With all their favorite pizza places closed, and none of them wanting Mikey to cook, the Turtles accept their brother’s challenge of a pizza baking contest which just goes to prove that loving pizza and being able to make pizza are two very different things. Worth a look.

[IDW, $3.99]

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