Comics

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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Nova #16

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Nova #16Wrapping up Sam‘s adventure in space and his team-up with Beta Ray Bill, Nova #16 pits the young hero against Skaarn who is now in control of a former Herald’s weapon imbued with the Power Cosmic.

I was actually surprised to see David Baldeon credited as the issue’s only artist as I thought stylistically the final chapter of the arc’s look varied quite a bit. Not that the art is bad, but on a first read through I would have guessed more than one artist was responsible. The final battle may have been a little anti-climactic given last issue’s push to super-size the threat of the villain who took advantage of Sam several issues ago, but Sam proves up to the challenge and earns the respect of both Bill and Cosmo (who I hope we haven’t seen the last of).

Emotionally the comic makes a big shift its final pages as Sam’s victory is space means nothing to the troubles awaiting him at home and a new problems for the young hero and his family to deal with beginning next month. Worth a look.

[Marvel, $3.99]

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Morning Glories #38

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Morning Glories #38While Abraham awakens halfway around the world in a snake-filled room, safe but still pursued by agents of the Morning Glories Academy, his son faces his own troubles when Gribbs awakes from his coma caused by Ike shooting the teacher in the head.

Still obsessed with finding Abraham, and carving a pound of flesh out of his son, Gribbs wastes no time in drugging Ike with mysterious cocktail in the dungeon cell from where his father disappeared and beating the shit out of the boy forcing a connection between the pair and information about where Abraham has gone and what he is currently up to.

Artist Joe Eisma doesn’t skimp on the violence of Gribbs’ brutal attack on the campus’ smart ass (which is more than a little difficult to watch), but he and writer Nick Spencer do offer a surprise with the unexpected return of one of Abraham’s new companions. How exactly she survived the events of Wood Run (or is this a version of Zoe before those events?) has yet to be established, but obviously she still has a role to play. Worth a look.

[IDW, $3.50]

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