Comics

Morning Glories #42

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Morning Glories #42The disappearance of Jade, who was actually kidnapped by Jun and Guillaume hoping to trade her life to bring back his brother Hisao, has the unintended consequence at firing up Casey‘s hatred for the faculty (who she assumes has taken her roommate again) and, against her better judgement, forces her to announce her candidacy for student council president.

Morning Glories #42 may not sell me on the idea of student elections being a must-read (even in a school as fucked-up as Morning Glories Academy), but the events surround Jade’s disappearance add just the right fuel to the fire to force Casey’s hand (although if we are to believe Jade’s vision it might be leading her down a path to Casey’s own destruction).

Several other pieces of the jigsaw puzzle the comic has become are touched on (without revealing much) including Ian’s odd “science project,” and the relationship between Hodges and Daramount, Akiko and Fortunato, and Vanessa and her mother. Worth a look.

[Image, $3.50]

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Uncanny X-Men #28

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Uncanny X-Men #28While others react to his recent move of attempting to befriend rather than stop the dangerous Omega-level mutant, Cyclops works to attempt to convince Matthew Malloy to join his team of X-Men offering Scott Summers a big gun and game changer in his standoff against S.H.I.E.L.D.

Although the unstable Malloy is still far from A) Joining Cyclops team or B) Being able to control his powers to be able to join the team, Cyclops’ offer leaves Beast, Maria Hill, and others at a complete loss of what to do next. The only one who seizes the opportunity to act is Magneto who finally returns to the series after a lengthy abscence not all that keen on what Cyclops has been doing in since his departure.

I’m happy to see Magneto’s return but sad to learn that he appears to be at odds with a move that could take the X-Men, and the series, to an entirely new level. Worth a look.

[Marvel, $3.99]

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Astro City #17

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Astro City #17The latest issue of Astro City borrows a bit from the Atom and his adventures in the Microverse. Turning the tale on its side, instead of a hero spending his time in a microscopic universe we get the story of a villain who grew from those worlds, growing in power and size with each victory to eventually become one of the Honor Guard’s most powerful enemies.

Tom Grummett steps in for Brent Anderson providing a beautiful issue that fits easily within the already established narrative. To go along with those panels Kurt Busiek offers a story both celebratory and melancholy about a race of pacifists whose actions saved their own world but also led to the death of a hero which all still mourn.

Told as the story by the one who witnessed it, first in dreams and later in reality, Astro City #17 delivers on every level with action, loss, true heroism, and a very Silver Age message about the nature of sacrifice. Best of the Week.

[DC, $3.99]

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Supergirl #36

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Supergirl #36Supergirl goes to Sky High? New writers K. Perkins and Mike Johnson start Kara’s latest adventure with another attempt to live among humans by attempting once again to carve out a normal life. Of course that soon goes to hell when Supergirl is abducted by an exclusive school for super-beings and put through a series of test to determine whether or not she is worthy to join.

The first offering from the new team is a mixed bag. Although I enjoyed the art by Emanuela Lupacchino, choosing to put Kara in armor defeats the purpose of the character and, as I’ve said with the New 52 Superman, is akin to putting Chewbacca in a fur coat. It’s not only completely unnecessary but it looks ridiculous.

Both her short stint as a super-barrista, including another argument with Clark (when will these two be NICE to each other?), and her testing in space continue the trend of an angry young girl whose rage (sadly) may not have burnt out during her stint as a Red Lantern (its only saving grace). I’m far from sold on the book’s new-ish direction which lacks the wit, humor, and style of the new Batgirl. Hit-and-Miss.

[DC, $2.99]

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The Fade Out #3

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The Fade Out #3The latest issue of The Fade Out turns its attention away from the murder of starlet Valeria Sommers (for the most part) and the troubles of screenwriter Charlie Parish to focus on Valeria’s replacement Maya Silver. Troubled by a scumbag of an agent and a dangerous ex-husband, Maya has finally hit the big time by stepping into the role vacated by Valeria’s death.

Although most of the issue is dedicated to Maya, several pages are presented from the perspective of studio owner Victor Thursby, a somewhat lost soul still seeking the unbridled lust of his youth and obsessed with the dead starlet which leads to an awkward moment between the studio head and the dead woman’s replacement.

Although I’m not enjoying The Fade Out as much as Velvet (or the best issues of the now complete Fatale), writer Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips continue to keep my interest by shining a light into the dark corners of post-WWII Hollywood and continuing to slowly build out the world of Victory Street Pictures. Worth a look.

[Image, $3.50]

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