Comics

New Warriors #9

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New Warriors #9With the set-up of the team settled and the New Warriors victorious over the High Evolutionary I decided to pop back in on this title and give it a look. New Warriors #9 has two things going for it: lots of Scarlet Spider and an insane giant basketball mascot intent on proving himself a hero. This my friends is a good time.

Returning Kaine to Houston against his will Vance Astronik attempts to sell the hero on staying with the team when the city’s former basketball mascot, transformed into a giant 100 ft. insane bear, shows up to take down the “super-villains” and prove himself the true hero of the city. Scarlet Spider vs. giant stuffed bear? Yeah, that’s pretty awesome.

The B-story involves the rest of the team blowing off some steam by hitting a nightclub in Prague. Although it gives the various other characters less a role to play (which is fine by me with Kaine picking up the slack), this lighthearted subplot does foreshadow dark times ahead for one particular member. Must-read.

[Marvel, $3.99]

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Velvet #7

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Velvet #7Although she doesn’t make an appearance in this issue other than in a flashback, Velvet Tempelton‘s spirit can be found of every page of the latest issue of Ed Brubaker and Steve Epting’s Velvet. Where the previous issues were spent to set-up the premise and the mystery of searching for the truth of what happened to the super-spy turned secretary, Velvet #7 is focused on the woman herself and how she’s viewed by the two men leading the search to find her. Even if, for the first time, we aren’t seeing the world from her perspective, the latest issue arguably offers readers the clearest picture of the character yet.

Velvet’s continued actions baffle Colt and Roberts who are only beginning to suspect that there’s likely far more to the story than the simple frame job suggests. Colt’s perspective gives us a glimpse at the dangerous false trails one finds while searching for a master spy while Roberts more analytical approach searches for assets and leverage which can be used against Velvet, although he discovers just how far he’s been lagging behind his target in the final couple pages of yet another terrific issue. Best of the Week.

[Image, $3.50]

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Smallville Season Eleven: Chaos #2

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Smallville Season Eleven: Chaos #2The second issue of Smallville: Chaos focuses on the misadventures of Lois Lane and Superman dealing with being trapped on a parallel Earth under control of the Manhunters while back home Lex Luthor capitalizes on the Man of Steel’s absence to put his plan into action.

The storyline involving Eclipso continues as well, but it’s not given much space to develop and feels somewhat neglected given the focus on various other storylines happening here. We do get more of Booster Gold in action, stepping in to be the hero of the hour in Superman’s absence along with Hank Henshaw (although neither appears ready to step into Superman’s shoes just yet). Sadly don’t get more of Zatanna this time around.

The main takeaway from Smallville Season Eleven: Chaos #2 seems to be that no matter what Earth Superman may find himself living on, his dead computerized father is still a giant jerk. For fans.

[DC, $3.99]

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Fairest #29

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Fairest #29The latest issue of Fairest splits its attention continuing to examine Reynard‘s misadventures with the angry family of the beautiful farm girl he bedded in their barn (who may not be quite as much of Deliverance cliches as the previous issue suggested) and the continued clamor of the various Fables of The Farm over the five available glamours which will soon be up for grabs in the coming lottery.

More intriguing than Reynard’s tale, the main story on The Farm this month centers around Owl and his wife the Pussycat whose dreams of traveling with her husband to various exotic locales have only intensified since the news of the lottery for the five new glamours.

The Owl and Pussycat story is worth picking up, especially given the husband’s sweet attempt to give his wife a small taste of what she’s been missing for hundreds of years, but even with the twist Reynard’s tale is taking up far too many pages of the series limited number of issues for my liking. For fans.

[Vertigo, $2.99]

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Rocket Raccoon #3

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Rocket Raccoon #3After breaking out of prison and surviving a murderous armada made up of dozens of Rocket Racoon‘s pissed-off ex-girlfriends, Rocket, Groot, and their friend/hostage take a bizarre trip to Sendak and Funtzel’s Intergalactic Towing and Recovery Service (of course that’s after Rocket goes super-violent on a couple of amateurs foolish enough to refer to him as a “raccoon”).

There’s plenty of mayhem and crazy violence for fans of Rocket Raccoon here along with finally giving a hero a look at the impostor who has been killing in his name. Longtime fans of the character should also be keenly aware of the mention of the Book of Half-World foreshadowing where this journey may ultimately lead our hero.

We’ll have to wait at least another month for the story behind the other raccoon, and probably even longer to find out how the latest setback effects Amalya’s murderous plans, but Skootie Young delivers yet again matching art and story for some bizarre fun. Worth a look.

[Marvel, $3.99]

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