Comics

Magneto #8

Magneto #8Continuing the trend of the comic in recent months Magneto #8 features an increasing number of flashbacks and panels from Magneto‘s complicated past narrated through the current version’s search for justice. The latest issue also offers up another group of mutant killers and traffickers for Magneto to track down leading to S.H.I.E.L.D. finally catching up with the vigilante and the reveal of the less-than-noble goal of Magneto’s quest.

Personally I’m all in favor of Magneto being reinstated back to full strength, but evil Beast storyline already opened the door for that as a possibility (only to be immediately ignored by every X-book afterwards). The choice offered here takes the character down a darker road which may offer some intriguing storylines but probably doesn’t serve the character all that well in the long run. If Magneto is restored to full power (whatever costs may be involved) the question then becomes where does he fit in the larger X-Men and Marvel universes? For fans.

[Marvel, $3.99]

Magneto #8 Read More »

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Ten #6

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Ten #6The second arc of Season 10 begins here with Buffy and the Scoobies dealing with the harsh realities of living in a big city out of their meager price range. Offered an opportunity at a new place to live, Buffy gathers the team to help exorcise a haunted house which isn’t so much haunted by ghosts as controlled by a demon who offers his victims idyllic visions of lives not lived while slowly draining their lives.

With the conclusion of the previous arc co-writer (and former Scoobie) Nicholas Brendon says goodbye leaving Christos Gage in control of the writing duties. Rebekah Isaacs is also supplanted here by Karl Moline. Although Xander’s voice is lessened a bit by both the story and Brendan’s abscence, neither the sound nor look of the characters is hurt by the changes.

The only surprise with the fake reality is the one character who refuses to see through the lies as Giles continues to struggle with his new reality as a teenager cut off from his old life which will likely continue to be a theme of the series going forward. Worth a look.

[Dark Horse Comics, $3.50]

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Ten #6 Read More »

Samurai Jack #11

Samurai Jack #11Beginning a new arc, Samurai Jack #11 leads Samurai Jack to Soule the Seer who believes the samurai’s enchanted blade holds the key to finally sending the time-displaced warrior home. When Soule’s incantations go wrong, however, Jack is left without his trustworthy blade and the one weapon in all of creation which Aku fears.

In the comic’s rotating stable of artists, Andy Suriano provides some of the series best panels with his work in Samurai Jack #11. I particularly enjoyed the Luke and Yoda style trekking as Jack carries Soule on his back to what his mistakenly believes is magical spot which will lead him home.

…

Samurai Jack #11 Read More »

The Multiversity #1

The Multiversity #1I’m so starved for a Captain Carrot comic I’ll even read one by Grant Morrison. What has the world come to? The Multiversity launches here, and in typical Morrison fashion it’s big, messy, and jumps wildly from entertaining to pretentious and crappy.

The concept is pretty simple. There are 52 parallel Earths in the DC Universe, in-between them there exists a sort of weigh station where heroes from various worlds are assembled to deal with the threats which threaten the entire Multiverse (even if it is a stupid looking giant eye with bat wings).

The first dozen or so pages deal with events on Earth-7 where Nix Uotan (a Monitor dressed up like Static Shock for some unknown reason) falls to the grave threat of the eyeball-bat-thingy. Things pick up a bit with the introduction of President Superman of Earth-23 who is recruited into the Multiversity where he comes into contact with a variety of heroes including Captain Carrot (who thankfully is more similiar to the original character rather than the awful New 52 version).

…

The Multiversity #1 Read More »

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #37

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #37One of the staples of the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon was the contentious partnership between the Foot Clan and the Utroms. Having kept the two sets of Turtle enemies separate until this point, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #37 brings the groups together as the Shredder makes an offer of an alliance with his old enemy General Krang. Not surprisingly, both characters plans on ruling the world leave little room for partnership as the meeting ends in bloodshed.

The battle with Krang means the return of Koya and the first appearance of Bludgeon as the comic’s mutant character pool continues to build. The comic’s B-story features Alopex still on her own after abandoning both the Foot and the Turtles, but after the fox is approached and bewitched by a vision of Kitsune it appears Alopex’s freedom will be short lived. As someone who would like to see her stay firmly on the side of the Turtles this isn’t a development I particularly like, but it should at least give us more of the character in the coming months. Worth a look.

[IDW, $3.99]

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #37 Read More »