Comics

Astro City #12

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Astro City #12Rather than a hero, casual observer, or someone on the fringes of super-hero activity, the latest issue of Astro City examines the life of a costume criminal known as the Gentleman Bandit. Obsessed from a young age with wealth and a well-tailored suit, Astro City #12 follows the highs and lows of the robber and with various costumed groups such as the Menagerie Gang, the Sweet Adelines, and the Gatsbies. Although I’m glad for the return of a one-shot adventure, I have to admit Astro City #12 makes me hope we see more of this character.

Obsessed with the wolf in Little Red Riding Hood, the glory days for Edward “Ned” James Carroway involved working alone and with other “Dapper Dans” or “Clotheshorses” whose robberies always included a touch of style and grace and providing an ideal life for his wife and daughter. However, after being caught first by Jack-in-the-Box and later the Confessor we also see the lows of Ned’s life which include loosing his family and being lured once again back into a life of crime by old friends and a pair of expensive shoes. Worth a look.

[Vertigo, $3.99]

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Fatale #22

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Fatale #22Winding ever-closer to the comic’s conclusion, writer Ed Brubaker and artist Sean Phillips take a step back with the latest issue of Fatale to examine the life of the Bishop, his rebirth during the 1906 San Fransisco earthquake, the pleasure he once took in death and pain, his obsession with Josephine whose sacrifice would have allowed the world to “turn” but instead left him a hobbled shell of his former self, and how the glory of his gifts turned to ash when she escaped.

It’s certainly a dark issue, presented completely from the mind of the creature who was once a man (and now does thing such as listen for answers from a tree of hanging dead babies) looking back on his life. Balanced against these events are his current actions discovering a bread crumb (inadvertantly?) left by Joespehine and preparing for the next convergence when he might once again be able to complete the sacrifice and… well, whatever would happen certainly wouldn’t be good for Josephine or the rest of the world. Worth a look.

[Image, $3.50]

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The 7th Sword #1

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The 7th Sword #1Screenwriter John Raffo teams up with artist Nelson Blake II to deliver an intriguing first issue of the new IDW seven-issue mini-series The 7th Sword. Set in the far future on the colony world of Helios, we’re introduced to former United Nations soldier turned samurai Daniel Cray who, as the comic opens, is working as a guard on a Methane shipment through the desert by Mechanoids (robotic warriors with skull heads).

Loosing the shipment, Cray makes his way across the wasteland with the convoy’s only other survivor to awake in the mythical city of ZenZion. Distrustful of outsiders (espically those who worked as soldiers for Earth), and believing Cray to be a spy from the city’s enemy in a greedy warlord named Kavanaugh, the city puts the warrior on trial which Kavanaugh’s real soliders led by the bizarre Superfecta Five interrupt.

Part fantasy, part sci-fi, part western, with swordplay, killer robots and monsters and a reluctant hero all thrown in, The 7th Sword #1 is a strong opening to the series. I’m curious to see more of Cray and his journey. Worth a look.

[IDW, $3.99]

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Rocky & Bullwinkle #3

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Rocky & Bullwinkle #3Rocky and Bullwinkle head to the moon in the latest issue of IDW’s new comic adventures of the moose and squirrel. Set in the 1960s, Pottsylvania announces they have claimed the moon and demand payment from anyone who mentions or makes use of the celestial object (including even a werewolf). With no one accepting the word of the Moon Men that the Pottsylvanians have never landed on the moon, Rocky and Bullwinkle are sent to discover the truth. Of course Boris and Natasha are sent after them to stop Moose and Squirrel from destroying the country’s lucrative lie.

This month’s intermission tale features Snidley Whiplash‘s new get-rich scheme by selling worthless merchandise with a “double your money back guarantee” realizing most customers are too lazy to take advantage of the deal. Sadly for the villain Dudley Do-Right isn’t most people and soon bankrupts the Snidley’s entire business with his circular logic. Worth a look.

[IDW, $3.99]

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Detective Comics #31

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Detective Comics #31Given a woman overdosing on a drug Harvey Bullock and his former partner pushed out of Gotham six years ago was found on Bruce Wayne‘s doorstep the detective is mighty suspicious of the billionaire. Although Bruce clears himself by proving he has no Icarus in his system, Bullock is far from satisfied that Wayne has nothing to hide. If he only knew.

Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato’s opening arc on the title continues with some beautiful drawn and inked pages from the pair while setting Bruce Wayne in Bullock’s crosshairs and giving Batman some action of his own including taking on a rather large individual known as Sumo.

Focusing on the detective work of both Batman and Bullock separately as the Dark Knight hears the first mention of “The Squid,” while also throwing in some action and beautiful visuals, DC may have finally put together a creative team to consistently sell me on a Bat-book that doesn’t star Scooby-Doo. Worth a look.

[DC, $3.99]

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