Comics

Super Dinosaur #23

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Super Dinosaur #23To call the release of Super Dinosaur inconsistent would be kind. The large irregular gaps between issues has made me wonder more than once whether or not the comic was silently killed by Image. Returning for a single issue to wrap-up the current story arc involving the attack on the Dyna Dome and the reunion of the Dynamo family, Super Dinosaur #23 offers plenty of action as well as sets up a new arc when the comic returns after (yet another) prolonged hiatus.

I do take some issue with Derek‘s reaction (or lack thereof) to the fact that his newly-returned mother poisoned his best friend along with the attacking dinosaurs without first attempting to warn Super Dinosaur to get clear. Despite SD’s deteriorating condition everything at the Dynamo Dome appears hunky dory, well at least until the return of the Exile and the invasion of humankind by the Reptiloids.

Given the responsibilities of Robert Kirkman and Jason Howard on other titles I don’t know when Super Dinosaur will return but I hope that when it does we won’t get the same multi-month gaps we’ve seen over the show’s recent publication. Worth a look.

[Image, $2.99]

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Supergirl #37

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Supergirl #37Supergirl #37 begins Kara‘s training in the specialized academy for super-humans (think Sky High but in space). Despite Kara making friends and fitting in to her new life, writers K. Perkins and Mike Johnson waste little time in revealing to readers that the Crucible Academy has more nefarious items on their agenda than simply training tomorrow’s super-heroes leading (one would expect) to the rug pulled out from underneath Supergirl once again.

But for now the Crucible story works well allowing readers to explore the hero facility through Kara’s eyes and better introduce both Maxima and Tsavo, the later Kara goes out on a mission with as they discover his homeworld is being attacked by Crucible rejects led by Tsavo’s brother.

I’m enjoying Emanuela Lupacchino’s art for a second straight issue, but the reveal of the Crucible planning to kidnap and clone Superboy vastly limits the scope of the storyline going in by narrowly defining the group at the outset and setting up yet another hard choice for Kara involving sacrifice no matter what she chooses. Worth a look.

[DC, $3.99]

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Fables #147

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Fables #147Offering a brief interlude to the rising tensions between sisters, Fables #147 takes Rose Red back home to the house she grew-up in and offers her the opportunity to choose a peaceful path in nature rather than continue the road to war begun so many issues ago. Although momentarily tempted, Rose chooses forbidden knowledge

The issue’s other storyline involves Fabletown attempting to bring the immortal Prince Brandish to justice for the murder of Weyland Smith. Choosing trail by combat Brandish squares off against, and is quickly decapitated by, Lancelot. However, the prince’s unique medical condition doesn’t allow the contest to end causing serious confusion as to what happens next.

Should the pair be still dueling when Rose Red returns you have to wonder what her reaction to the odd scenario might be and if Lancelot’s realization that he is indeed Guinevere may come to pass as his attempt to take down a guilty knave his queen has pardoned might actually quicken the fall of the new Camelot. Worth a look.

[Vertigo, $2.99]

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Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Ten #10

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Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Ten #10The latest issue of Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Ten begins Buffy realizing the duties and politics she’s been forced to take on since accepting ownership of the Vampyr tome. Meeting with everyone from new vampires to leprechauns, the Slayer’s sanity is tested. And, if that wasn’t enough, two old friends come to call.

Albeit for different reasons both Harmony and Clem have been fan favorites for quite a long time but haven’t been given that much to do since the end of both Angel and Buffy‘s TV runs. Issue #10 changes that with Harmony’s new master plan to change the book and rewrite magic in the world to her liking. Thankfully Clem, now in the role of her toadie, still has a conscience. Although he does grant one of Harmony’s bizarre wishes (no, not the crazy fanfic one) in deciding to make unicorns real.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Ten #10 proves to be an awful lot of fun capturing Harmony’s craziness. I hope to see more of each of them. And Buffy’s new position offers up all kinds of odd meetings that I’m sure the Season Ten writers will enjoy exploiting. Worth a look.

[Dark Horse, $3.50]

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Uncanny X-Men #29

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Uncanny X-Men #29Uncanny X-Men #29 not only offers us a battle of words between Cyclops and Magneto over the fate of the extremely powerful, and a bit out-of-control, Matthew Malloy, but it also adds a mew wrinkle with a pair of time-traveling subplots one of which may stabilize the situation and another that may through the X-Men’s entire history into chaos.

Along with continuing to play on Magik jumping back-forth through time for the assistance of Doctor Strange, who comes us with an unusual solution to the Malloy problem, the latest issue also gives Tempus her own subplot as she considers altering time in a very large way by warning Professor Xavier of the Malloy situation in the past and alloying him to try and prevent the current situation before it ever occurs. Of course you have to wonder what else a past version of Xavier might learn about both his future and that of his prized student opening up the door for a very big shakeup if Brian Michael Bendis wants to walk the reader through. Worth a look.

[Marvel, $3.99]

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