Comics

The Flash #29

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The Flash #29The Flash‘s two-issue team-up with Deadman comes a close as the Scarlet Speedster fights off the Keystone Killer who discovers the hero is the perfect new host for the evil spirit. There’s less Deadman this time around and more dancing around the subject of Barry’s true parentage until the reveal that proves the teases were just that and that there is no blood connection between Barry and his mentor Captain Frye.

Agustin Padilla’s art seems a little more suited to the character than that of Patrick Zircher from last month’s issue, and given the ghost and the unusual team-up the two-part story does feel like something of a throwback issue to the Silver Age days.

Using his speed to shake off the killer as he had done with Deadman in the previous issue, the Flash wins the day but the issue does offer a final scene between Frye and Barry’s father suggesting the truth behind the murder of Barry’s mother is far more complicated than anyone knows. Worth a look.

[DC, $2.99]

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Guardians of the Galaxy #13

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Guardians of the Galaxy #13“The Trial of Jean Grey” concludes with Jean Grey being pushed to her limits by Gladiator and the Shi’ar and finally having enough. Not surprisingly when all is said and done both teams leave Shi’ar space with a successful rescue of Jean Grey who has a surprise of her own by tapping into an internal reserve and showing off an increased power-set that proves enough to finally force Gladiator to relent.

As well as showing off a more empowered Ms. Grey, the issue also gives us some flirting between Kitty Pryde and Peter Quill and the loss of one of the time-displaced X-Men and the younger Cyclops decides to journey with his father and the Starjammers rather than return to Earth and face a distressing future that he’s decided he wants no part of.

Cyclops decision opens up more story possibilities for the X-Man as well as more timey-wimey problems for the X-Universe. For the Guardians, however, the mission is a success leading into next month’s double-sized anniversary issue introducing new members and new troubles for the team. Worth a look.

[Marvel, $3.99]

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Beware the Batman #6

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Beware the Batman #6As with the show that spawned it, Beware the Batman comes to a close prematurely just as things were starting to get interesting. With Katana busy and Batman missing it falls to Alfred to track down the Dark Knight Detective who has been captured by Killer Croc.

Presented entirely from Alfred’s point of view, the comic is notable, other than for it being the final issue of the series, for the introduction of a resourceful dark-haired alley-rat who Alfred finds in possession of Batman’s missing utility belt. Had the show and/or comic intended to introduce a Robin character the seed is firmly planted here as the young boy is an obvious stand-in for Jason Todd, but with its cancellation we’ll never know what might have come from his introduction.

Neither the show nor the comic would rank high on my favorite versions of Batman (although they’d be higher than the current New 52 version), but both showed promise, and without another all-ages Bat-title to take its place the cancellation of the series (which had been consistently good) is sad news for Bat-fans everywhere. Worth a look.

[DC, $3.99]

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Fatale #21

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Fatale #21Continuing the comic’s final arc, Nicolas Lash is reintroduced to Josephine‘s world and meets her librarian who is helping Jo make final preparations for “the convergence.” After spending weeks cooped up in the house, obsessing about where Josephine goes without him, Lash is finally offered a night out with the woman who has captured his soul which will earn Josephine a prize and allow Nicolas to play his role in a ritual that will tie the pair of them even closer together.

As the comic’s final arc nears its conclusion there’s still much about Josephine which hasn’t (and may not be) revealed. Fatale #21 continues to play on themes the comic has been known for including the power of Josephine’s sway and the need of blood sacrifice to achieve some yet unknown (at least to the audience) dark purpose.

By the end of the issue Lash knows his darkest fears about Josephine have been proved true, but despite his terror he’s trapped (as are we all) to stay and witness the conclusion even though he knows deep-down things aren’t likely to end well. Worth a look.

[Image, $3.50]

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Rocky and Bullwinkle #1

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Rocky and Bullwinkle #1The first issue of Boom Studios new Rocky and Bullwinkle comic is fun, if not quite as madcap and zany as I would have hoped. In the style of the television show, the two parts of Rocky and Bullwinkle‘s main story (involving Bullwinkle’s accidentally acquiring psychic powers, and Boris and Natasha playing fake psychics) are interrupted by a short Dudley Do-Right adventure involving Snidley Whiplash‘s plan to increase Dudley Do-Right‘s attractiveness to Nell allowing the villain freedom to commit his crimes in peace.

In both the main story and the Dudley Do-Right interlude the villains are defeated by their own actions as Boris and Natasha are unable to keep up their fraud (or kill moose and squirrel), and the horse pheromones Whiplash sprays Dudley lead not only to the villain being captured by the Mountie but also chased down by stampeding mares.

As a fan of the show, and the variant cover by Stephanie Buscema, I’m glad I picked up this okay first issue, but I’m not sure how long I’ll stay with the title. For fans.

[IDW, $3.99]

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