Comics

Smallville Season Eleven: Lantern #1

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Smallville Season Eleven: Lantern #1The return of Kryptonians to their sector in space on the new Argo colony (as seen in the Ninth Season finale) has awoken the Green Lantern ring of Space Sector 2813, to seek out a new host. Unable to find anyone acceptable on the colony made up of Kryptonian clones, the ring continues its search until it reaches Earth and finds Superman.

Although Kal-El has no intention of leaving Earth to defend a space sector half way around the universe, he finds it impossible to turn down his new calling as even chucking the ring into deep space only eventually returns it to his finger.

Along with offering a cameo from John Stewart, who as the Earths’ current GL appears to have been tapped to showing Superman the ropes, and a brief history of Green Lanterns in the Smallville Universe, the opening issue to the latest Smallville mini-series also foreshadows looming problems with the Manhunters who are awoken as well on discovering a new Lantern has been chosen. Worth a look.

[DC, $3.99]

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Uncanny X-Men #20

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Uncanny X-Men #20After the latest Sentinel attack on his team, Cyclops pays Maria Hill and S.H.I.E.L.D. a visit to find out if they are directly responsible. With the help of the Cuckoos and Magik, the X-Men perform a telepathic attack on Hill aboard the Hellicarrier with no one else the wiser.

Although Cyclops doesn’t get the answers he seeks, he does have another avenue to explore as whoever planted the last fake new mutant sighting obviously not only knows about the existence of Cerebro but how to effect it. As the issue comes to a close Cyclops heads to the Jean Grey School for Higher Learning to confront one of the few on the planet capable of turning Charles Xavier‘s invention against his former students – Hank McCoy.

With Cyclops basically declaring war on S.H.I.E.L.D. and antaganozing the other branch of X-Men he makes no friends here. Keeping the true identity of those causing the attacks under wraps, it’s unclear whether Mystique is directly involved or just using the situation to her own advantage. Worth a look.

[Marvel, $3.99]

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G.I. JOE: Special Missions #14

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G.I. JOE: Special Missions #14The Special Missions series comes to close with this finale one-issue story involving Scarlett and her Special Missions team ambushed by Cobra while transporting a prisoner near the borders of Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay. With both Roadblock and Mainframe injured, and a squad of Vipers descending on the position of their destroyed transport, the small squad splits up as Scarlett leads most of the team away from the action.

Staying with the injured Mainframe, the JOE’s sniper Low-Light takes center stage here providing the cover for his teammates to reach safety and take out a Cobra sniper whose skills nearly match his own.

Following the cancellation of G.I. JOE: Cobra Files and the nearing end of IDW’s main title as well it appears the company is set once again for a soft reboot of their various JOE titles. Special Missions may not have always been great, but it was consistently solid and goes out on a high note here. Worth a look.

[IDW, $3.99]

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Astro City #11

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Astro City #11The latest single-issue tale of the new Astro City offers a glimpse into the daily life of the assistant to the most powerful magic user in the realm of Astro City – the Silver Adept (a powerful sorceress with a bit of both Dr. Fate and Doctor Strange thrown in).

Although the Adept makes appearances throughout the issue, Astro City #11 focuses almost entirely on the sorceress’ assistant who keeps the mystic warrior’s house in order, tries to rearrange an impossible schedule allowing the Adept to appear when needed, and, when called upon (as she is here) step up for the missing Silver Adept to reconcile issues for very powerful other-wordly creatures.

Writer Kurt Busiek and artist Brent Anderson have a flair for telling this kind of story focused on those on the periphery of the super-powerful individuals and eventful moments in the world of Astro City while continuing to deliver one of the best monthly comics available. Worth a look.

[Vertigo, $3.99]

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Star Wars #16

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Star Wars #16With a grounded and disgruntled Luke heading off with some of the locals to change a fuel cell on a mountain outpost the latest issue of Star Wars shows us the farm boy from Tatooine and his friends are hardly the only ones with serious doubts about Leia‘s impending wedding and the new alliance between the Rebels and Arrochar.

As Leia fights pressure to act in a manner more befitting a princess from both her fiance and the aristocracy of the rich world which will make a powerful ally for the Rebellion, Luke spends time with the locals who are far less convinced that Arrochar should shed its isolation and get involved in a conflict which hasn’t concerned them until now.

Continuing to foreshadow the betrayal of Leia’s betrothed and Arrochar, the latest issue also gives us a glimpse at an Imperial Probe Droid making it a good bet that the Empire knows exactly where the leaders of the Rebel Alliance are to be found. Worth a look.

[Dark Horse, $2.99]

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