Comics

Guardians of the Galaxy #14

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Guardians of the Galaxy #14To celebrate the 101st issue of the various Guardians of the Galaxy titles over the years, Guardians of the Galaxy #14 offers a new-reader friendly oversized issue. The comic’s main tale involves the Spartoi Empire finally catching up with Peter Quill and his various companions, each of whom run into a spot of trouble. As Quill and Rocket Raccoon are taken prisoner by a Spartoi warship, Gamora is taken down by a bounty hunter and sold to the Badoon, and Drax is similarly captured on Knowhere while better equipping the team’s newest member Venom.

It’s surprising we don’t see the fates of Angela or Groot shown or even referred to here, but not half as surprising as the choice of Venom as the team’s newest member. Although putting Flash Thompson in space means there’s a very real possibility to get answers about just where the symbiote came from, the choice of choosing a Marvel character who could never join the cinematic version of the group, and doesn’t really bring anything new to the comic team, is a bit of a head-scratcher. I’m also not sold on Carol Danvers involvement being teased.

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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #33

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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #33The Turtles exile ends as Leonardo, Raphael, Michelangelo, and Donatello return to New York. Still hiding in the shadows the brothers work to hone their skills at get the new lay of the land now that the Shredder and The Foot control the city.

Much of the rest of the comic deals with April and Casey readjusting to life back in the city. As April worries about what path Casey’s life will take, Casey searches out Hun, who has just learned Shredder was responsible for his son’s injuries, for a long overdue conversation.

Although the Turtles family appears to finally be healed, Casey’s is anything but as any enemy of the Shredder is an enemy of Hun. Unable to convince his son to leave the city, it’s likely that the next time the pair meet it will be as enemies.

I’m glad to see the Turtles back in NYC, but would have preferred they brougth Alopex with them. Mateus Santolouco returns to do the art for this issue providing some cool Hun/Shredder and Hun/Casey panels. Worth a look.

[IDW, $3.99]

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Justice League United #0

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Justice League United #0Although there are certainly some oddities here, Justice League United launches with a zero issue rather than a #1, the timing of the book is a bit nebulous (taking place sometime after DC’s still running Forever Evil crossover event and with a non-Red Lantern Supergirl), I’ve got to say DC’s grouping of a Canadian-based Justice League team written by Jeff Lemire with art by Mike McKone is better (and funnier) than expected and could be the New 52‘s best new title since Worlds’ Finest.

Offering an Adam Strange (apparently) before his time on Rann, Lemire and McKone populate the team with a nice collection of B-list and C-list heroes which one would assume would allow the creative team a little more leeway in terms of storylines compared to the major Justice League title. The comic puts together Stargirl, Martian Manhunter, Strange, Supergirl (who only appears on the cover), Green Arrow, and Hawkman (who apparently with take on pseudo-Lobo next month) for a first issue that delivers some fun interactions and plenty of action. I’m interested to see where things go from here. Worth a look.

[DC, $3.99]

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Amazing X-Men #6

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Amazing X-Men #6With Nightcrawler recently returned to living (although at a great cost he continues to hide from Wolverine and the other X-Men), Amazing X-Men begins its second arc with a party celebrating Kurt’s return that, even if it is only for a couple of hours, manages to unite two different X-Teams under a single roof without bloodshed.

I’m going to be interested to see just how Nightcrawler reacts to Cyclops and the events which led to Charles Xavier‘s death, but the comic sidesteps the issue at least for now. What writer Jason Aaron and artist Cameron Stewart do deliver with Amazing X-Men #6 is the set-up for the comic’s second arc which will not only center around Nightcrawler’s father Azazel but also his mother Mystique who shows up to Kurt’s party looking for answers.

Despite Mystique’s plans to kill Kurt’s father the pair form an uneasy truce which can’t spell good things for any of the X-Men going forward. Worth a look.

[Marvel, $3.99]

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The Shadow #24

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The Shadow #24The series’ two-issue finale begins here with a string of unexplained deaths in Chinatown and the coordinated rise of the recent undead by an unknown force planning on taking control of New York City. The unexpected horror-element is a surprise as The Shadow dismisses reports of the walking dead only to be attacked by a mob of zombies.

Although The Shadow learns why some in Chinatown believe the dead are rising from the grave, I’m betting the answer is far more nefarious and complicated than simple ceremonial burial practices. Given all that the unusual adventure has to reveal in a single issue, however, I wonder if we’ll be given the full story or if part will be left untold.

With Howard Chaykin on deck to write and illustrate a six-issue mini-series taking place in the late 50s following up the conclusion of this ongoing title, it’s a little unclear where the character goes from here, but I’d be surprised if Dynamite didn’t have future plans for the vigilante who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men. Worth a look.

[Dynamite Entertainment, $3.99]

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