Comics

Rocket Raccoon #5

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Rocket Raccoon #5Set around a campfire where Rocket Raccoon has been telling young children tales of his exploits, Rocket Raccoon #5 showcases Groot telling a story Rocket doesn’t want to share. Although limited in his exposition, we witness the events unfold through a series of panels which inform us of why Groot thinks so highly of the adventure but also why Rocket would rather forget the entire disappointing enterprise.

With every piece of dialogue, signage, and narration all being the same three words writer/artist Skootie Young delivers an unexpected adveture involving a treasure map, robot army, space adventure, high-stakes gambling, the retrieval of a mystical sword, a floating castle, mermaids, giant monsters, and a prize which is far from what Rocket expected. Simply put, it’s amazing.

Forced into telling a story nearly all through its art, Young delivers a campfire story that may bewilder (most) of the young campers but turns out to be the series’ best issue so far. Must-read.

[Marvel, $3.99]

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Scooby-Doo! Team-Up #7

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Scooby-Doo! Team-Up #7Moving away from the super-hero team-ups (which I’ve very much enjoyed), the latest issue of Scooby-Doo! Team-Up sends the Mystery, Inc. gang back in time to Bedrock where they meet Fred Flinstone and his family.

Even for a Scooby-Doo comic this one’s a bit goofy, especially when the team jumps into action to solve the mystery of the Phantom of the Operrock who ruins a night out for Fred, Wilma, Barney, and Betty. It’s hard not to see the latest issue as a slight disappointment given how terrific it has been up until this point. Thankfully it’s still entertaining and does upon up new avenues for some very unexpected team-ups in the future.

Although not as strong as the rest of the series, Scooby-Doo! Team-Up #7 does have fun with having the Scooby Gang comment on the ridiculousness of caveman advancements. Other than a single scene not much is done with Dino meaning Scooby is left out of getting his own prehistoric pal. For fans.

[DC, $2.99]

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Usagi Yojimbo: Senso #4

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Usagi Yojimbo: Senso #4Trapped in the wreckage underneath the latest alien spacecraft to crash land in the area, Usagi Yojimbo: Senso #4 offers a few stolen moments between Usagi and Tomoe filling in some of the lonely future for the rabbit ronin should his path follow the template of events this version of events suggests.

Once again the mini-series delivers its share of action pitting Usagi and Tomoe against an entire spaceship of the octopus-like alien invaders. Thankfully the pair are able to hold their own until help arrives. However, on a larger scale their may be no help coming that can save the land from the alien technology (as I continue to wonder just how far Stan Sakai may take his War of the Worlds story arc).

In the middle of what appears to be a hopeless situation the issue offers a rather bleak picture of what’s to come. However, those with faith in Miyamoto Usagi know that the rabbit ronin has a knack for always finding a way. Worth a look.

[Dark Horse, $3.99]

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Batman ’66 #16

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Batman ’66 #16In an issue overloaded with eggcelent puns, Batman and Robin are forced to match wits with a more highly-evolved Egghead who has used his Eggcelerator to enhance his brain to resemble that of someone from the 40th Century (whom he just assumes are really, really smart).

Gifted with telekinesis and a sixth sense of danger, Egghead uses his new-found superiority to defeat not only the Dynamic Duo, whom he devolves into cave men, but also steal scores from other Gotham City criminals as well and in short order takes over the city.

…

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Fables #145

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Fables #145As the race towards sisterly civil war moves closer, Rose Red and Bellflower step-up in an attempt to kill the out-of-control Bigby who neither realizes is being controlled by the unseen hand of a powerful sorceress. Although the pair make for a formidable team, they are unsuccessful in Fabletown’s second attempt to stop the half-crazed monster.

The Camelot reborn storyline continues (even with a sword stuck in a stone) and it seems less and less likely that Rose Red and Snow White‘s battle of wills won’t end in bloodshed. As foreshadowing of just that, the issue opens with three pages involving a secret meeting between Snow and Cinderella whose unique skills will apparently be put to the test against one of the hardest assignments she’s ever accepted. As for Bigby, with the series winding to a close (and the magic used to effect Bellflower’s dagger) one would suppose that someone might come to the conclusion of other forces being at work. Worth a look.

[Vertigo, $2.99]

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