Comics

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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Astro City #13

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Astro City #13The latest issue of Astro City weaves around loosely-tied tales of a bank teller falling for a robber, a troubled romance, Jack-in-the-Box, and a robotic dog named Rover all through the reappearance of a celestial entity known as the Dancing Man. Although I think it’s a good issue, exploring themes of current civilization bottled up and asleep to the musical rhythms it once knew, it’s easily my least favorite of the current Astro City run.

Despite his appearance on the cover Jack-in-the-Box is really only on hand for a cameo as his thread of the story feels the most forced (and largely unnecessary) of the bunch. With the focus split in so many directions we learn less about any of the individuals like Gundog who we’re meeting for the first time than you might expect.

Although similar themes have certainly been developed and explored in more depth elsewhere, Astro City #13 still works by playing with the lives of normal characters and larger-than-life entities who don’t always have the same needs or desires. Worth a look.

[Vertigo, $3.99]

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Smallville Season Eleven: Lantern #3

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Smallville Season Eleven: Lantern #3With the Earth being bombarded with yellow rings seeking out those able to harness great fear Batman and Superman have their hands full. Despite his recent injuries, Green Arrow jumps back into the fray this time in a suit of armor. And, in bad news for the heroes, in space another Lantern falls to Parallax.

Setting up next month’s conclusion to the four-issue mini-series, Smallville Season Eleven: Lantern #3 leaves things looking rather bleak for our heroes with John Stewart now leading Parallax’s warriors into battle. It will be interesting to see how Clark and the group manage to turn the tide, but I’m actually more interested in the fallout with several questions to be answered.

Who will wear the Green Lantern ring of New Krypton? If Parallax is defeated and the Guardians are freed does that mean other possible victims (such as Hal Jordan?) may make an appearance as well. And what might happen if Lex Luthor gets his hands on one of those yellow power rings? Worth a look.

[DC, $3.99]

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