Comics

Daredevil #4

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Daredevil #4The opening arc of the new series concludes as Daredevil finds himself in the middle of a battle of wills between the Owl and the Shroud, one of whom is obsessed with achieving a new level of unfettered knowledge and the other who Daredevil comes to believe has a death wish.

Dispensing with the death trap that closed the last issue fairly quickly, Daredevil #4 deals mainly with Matt Murdock coming to understand the reasons behind the Shroud’s actions and attempting to stop the blackmailed hero from helping the Owl steal unfiltered photons of data which will transform the character into something more than human before the issue comes to a close.

Although Murdock counts the capture of the Owl as a win, Daredevil is unable to stop the villain from fulfilling his purpose (suggesting he’s become an even greater threat), and fate of the Shroud’s girlfriend is left very much up in the air. Victory? I’m not so sure. Worth a look.

[Marvel, $3.99]

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Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Ten #4

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Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Ten #4After double-crossing the Scoobies, Dracula (with his re-installed manservant Xander) begins writing in new laws of magic into the Vampyr tome. First, Dracula decides to make himself the lord and master of all vampires, which leads to some humorous consequences for Spike, but unsatisfied with the result Dracula decides to become the most powerful vampire of all leading to disastrous consequences not only for Xander’s master but all of Earth.

Worth picking up for the Dracula and Xander alone, the latest issue continues to develop the Willow and younger Giles relationship which might be my favorite of the new season so far. We also get several mentions of turning “Dark Willow,” as Willow’s evil turn has become a much-used verb about the dangers of power (much to the witch’s chagrin).

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Ten #4 is the first issue to deal with with Dawn and Xander’s relationship issues directly as Dawn explains her “reset” following almost being wiped out of existence in Season Nine. As to what this means for the couple long term, we’ll just have to wait and see. Worth a look.

[Dark Horse, $3.50]

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Fables #141

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Fables #141The final ten issue of Fables begin here as writer Bill Willingham and artist Mark Buckingham continue the storyline of the broken relationship between Snow White and Rose Red while picking up several loose threads from the series concerning Geppetto‘s tucked away army of Boxers who begin to break from their containment in favor of a more interesting host and the character of Grimble (a former troll now trapped in the body of a bluebird) who seeks out Cinderella for assistance.

Bigby‘s return is also teased and discussions of the 13th Floor over the current state of things in Fabletown lead Maddy to being the first to choose sides and support Snow White for what the cat believes is an inevitable all-out war.

It’s obvious the conflict between Rose Red and Snow White will play a huge role in the issues to come, but the idea of Geppetto’s old sorcerer weapons taking refuge inside Rose makes for an interesting twist. We’ll have to wait and see how Bigby’s return and the role of Grimble will play into the battle yet to come. Worth a look.

[Vertigo, $3.99]

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Fatale #23

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Fatale #23For the entire run of Fatale writer Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips have offered hints and glimpses to Josephine‘s past but have largely kept the reader in the dark as to the specifics of her long tortured existence. Setting up next month’s series finale, Fatale #23 changes that as Nicholas Lash relives some of the more brutal moments of the woman’s past during a night of sexual ecstasy that opens his eyes to secrets which Josephine has kept long buried.

The ritual which transformed her is still quite shrouded in mystery, but along with setting up Lash’s pivotal role in next month’s finale the glimpses we get here into Josephine’s past concerning the tragedy of her son are as heartbreaking for the reader as the man who has become consumed with her love.

I’m going to be sad to see Fatale end, but the rich history of Josephine leaves open any number of stories for Brubaker and Phillips to return to the character somewhere down the line. Worth a look.

[Image, $3.50]

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Dexter’s Laboratory #3

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Dexter’s Laboratory #3Given the perfect set-up I expected Dexter‘s successful attempt to write his sister Dee Dee out of reality and his subsequent dimension jumps to find her would be the start of IDW’s Cartoon Network summer crossover. Sadly it appears that’s not the case, but Dexter’s adventure continues here as the genius inventor finds himself in a reality where science is outlawed and ruled over by a sister who has no memory of him.

Despite getting some unexpected help from Dee Dee’s subjects who want their queen to return to her own reality, Dexter’s attempts to talk some sense into his sister only get the scientist thrown into the pink palace’s dungeon. And his escape only draws Dee Dee’s further wrath.

Next month’s final issue should wrap up the arc as Dexter will have to find some way to convince, or trick, his sister into returning home and let their reality get back to normal (or as normal as things get in Dexter’s Laboratory). Worth a look.

[IDW, $3.99]

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