Comics

She-Hulk #5

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She-Hulk #5With the opening arc to the new series complete, She-Hulk #5 moves forward with finally delving into the mysterious “Blue File” concerning a law suit in North Dakota with several heroes and villains named as defendants including She-Hulk. As Angie and Hei Hei head to a North Dakota courthouse to look for records of a case that’s been buried for years, She-Hulk sends Hellcat to discuss the lawsuit with fellow ex-Avenger Tigra while the jolly green lawyer pays a visit to the Shocker.

The jump from Javier Pulido’s art (found in the first four issues of the series) to that of Ronald Wimberly is more than a little jarring. That said, writer Charles Soule does well offering the reader breadcrumbs about the Blue File while not revealing anything more than the mere mention of the plaintiff or case can cause hero, villain, or city employee to go crazy.

Pulido’s style doesn’t work for me here, particularly in the big fight between Hellcat and Tigra, but the issue does provide a few fun such as the Shocker’s misconception about just how many Thors there are in the Marvel Universe. For fans.

[Marvel, $3.99]

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Justice League United #2

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Justice League United #2With the Justice League team transported to Rann the comic explains how the Ultra Project, meant to bring a group of constantly warring worlds together in peace, has been usurped by a madman who plans to use the product of the genetic experimentation and transform it into the ultimate weapon.

Introducing Supergirl to the team for the first time (but making no effort to explain why she’s not wearing a Red Lantern ring as she has been in her own comic for the past several months), Justice League United #2 gives us the still-not-quite fully-assembled team with more of the Green Arrow and Animal Man banter that so far has been one of its biggest strengths. With Supergirl’s arrival I’m hoping writer Jeff Lemire has plans to develop strong dynamic between the two younger female members as well as Kara may finally find the friend she’s been seeking in Stargirl.

The genetic plot is pretty goofy, but I’m willing to let this opening arc play out and see if Lemire and artist Mike McKone can make it work. Worth a look.

[DC, $3.99]

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Detective Comics #32

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Detective Comics #32The Icarus storyline continues as both Batman and Harvey Bullock continue to investigate the return of a dangerous street drug to Gotham the GCPD successfully stamped out years ago. Co-writers Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato keep Batman up late enough for an early dawn conversation as the Caped Crusader attempts to comfort the daughter of the woman who overdosed from the drug on Bruce Wayne’s front lawn.

The first-half of the issue deals primarily with both Batman and Bullock’s investigation, but the second-half of Detective Comics #32 amps up the action as the Batman infiltrates the Squid‘s lair and finds himself in a fight for his life against the would-be kingpin’s pet as well as in the middle of a stand-off between the Squid’s men and the Kings of the Sun.

Although neither the Squid nor the biker gang pose much of a threat, the mystery of Icarus continues to allude both Batman and Bullock as the new creative team provides another beautifully-illustrated issue of a Batman comic I’m really enjoying. Worth a look.

[DC, $3.99]

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Rocky & Bullwinkle #4

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Rocky & Bullwinkle #4Pottsylvania’s latest plot to destroy the good old USA involves getting Americans addicted to Boris Burgers which turn those who consume them into giant over-sized bowling-ball shaped consumers in just a few bites. Let’s just say it’s not exactly the most subtle issue of the series. The cure for the burgers turns out to be Bullwinkle‘s new Mooseberry Bush Burgers which are equally scrumptious and deflate Boris’ consumers but end up have an unexpected side effect of their own.

The interlude features a motivated Nell who learns Dudley Do-Right is being transferred because of the low crime rate decides to intervene and tricks an incarcerated Snidley Whiplash into in turn tricking Dudley into becoming a bank robber leaving Dudley arrested and Nell and Horse with plenty of quality time together.

Although both provide some fun moments, neither the set-up for Rocky and Bullwinkle nor the Dudley Do-Right interlude are all that special. That said, fans of the character should still enjoy themselves here.

[IDW, $3.99]

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Star Wars #18

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Star Wars #18With an Imperial blockade appearing above the planet and an explosion near the palace where Princess Leia was to wed, Arrochar‘s betrayal of the Rebellion to the Empire is revealed in the final issue of the arc. Given the amount of chaos in the midst of various characters fighting off both local and Imperial agents Star Wars #18 doesn’t have a chance to highlight much in the way of character interaction other than Leia’s sorrow over how the entire matter played out.

In the midst of the action the issue does introduce the first use of a powerful weapon of the Rebellion as they make use of the stolen Ion Canon technology for the first time to allow their ships to break through the blockade and slip through Darth Vader‘s fingers yet again.

Star Wars #18 offers a satisfactory ending to the marriage that might have been while fueling Vader’s rage and offering a nod to technology the Rebels would make later uses of on Hoth in The Empire Strikes Back. Worth a look.

[Dark Horse, $3.50]

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