Comics

Fables #138

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Fables #138In a break before beginning the series next arc in Scotland, Fables #138 gives us a glimpse at the evil machinations of Gepetto who has grown tired of his recent position on the Farm and regain a bit of the power now lost to him. To that end he sends a small wooden soldier into the magic grove which he is barred from entering to retrieve the villain a bit of magic which may aid in his mischief somewhere down the line.

Presented mostly from the view of the noble and faithful knight Gepetto sends on a suicide mission (whose real purpose on the tinkerer truly knows), we see the wooden solider fight off a variety of obstacles (or to his view vicious monsters) before entering the heart of the grove and leaving with a tiny bit of magic which he returns to his master.

Slow simmering, the single issue lays the groundwork for Gepetto’s possible return to power sometime down the line while, as he notes, all eyes in Fabletown and the Farm are on threats elsewhere. Worth a look.

[Vertigo, $2.99]

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Nova #13.NOW

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Nova #13.NOWSam Alexander vs. the Space Horse! For a title which screams about its newness (given the lame .NOW tag) Nova #13.NOW is actually a throwback issue to a longtime staple of comics history. Two heroes meet under some form of misunderstanding leading to the pair to duke it out for a few panels before discovering their error and agreeing to team-up to take on the real threat.

Following on the events of last issue and Nova accidentally helping the wrong side in a conflict, Beta Ray Bill comes to Earth for answers. As a longtime fan of Bill I’m happy to see him, and the fight between Nova and and Walt Simonson‘s creation of a Space Horse dressed up as Thor with his own Asgardian hammer is fun to read (especially playing on the idea of Bill using his Hammer to hold Nova in place).

By the end of the issue the heroes are finally on the same page and next month we’ll see they can provide as much fun working together as fighting as the pair head off into space to find the ship of slave traders who tricked the young Nova into helping them. Worth a look.

[Marvel, $3.99]

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Amazing X-Men #4

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Amazing X-Men #4The reunions continue as Nightcrawler talks some sense into an out-of-control Beast and gathers the rest of the team including saving Iceman and Firestar (who between the two of the literally froze and then burned down Hell), and rescues Northstar and Wolverine from the icy wastes (finally bringing Logan and Kurt together again).

Inter-cut with flashbacks of Nightcrawler with his various teammates, the latest issue continues to deliver with fan-friendly scenes while building to the story’s climax. With the reunions finished and team reassembled, Amazing X-Men sets up next month’s conclusion of its opening arc featuring the X-Men vs. a band of demon-mutant pirates with the fate of all creation at stake. Sounds fun, don’t it?

Along with the various reunions writer Jason Aaron reveals the origin of the Bamfs and lays the groundwork for the possible cost of Nightcrawler’s current heroism which may have serious repercussions for the still-dead hero and his teammates very soon. Worth a look.

[Marvel, $3.99]

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Supergirl #28

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Supergirl #28Finding himself over-matched, crappy New 52 pseudo-Lobo first tries to beat Supergirl and when that fails he tries his best to reason with the extremely pissed-off young woman whose tired of being taken advantage of. The only thing that saves the supremely-awful redesigned character from the ignoble death he surely deserves is Kara’s all-out rage that sets up the next several issues of the title and its tie-in with Red Lanterns.

Putting aside the shittiness that is this version of Lobo, a constant complaint I’ve had with Kara is her propensity to whine (which comes off even pathetic from someone with Superman‘s power set). Apparently that’s not going to be an issue going forward.

Although I’m against throwing a ring on an already super-powered character like Supergirl, I have hopes the experience might give her a bit more perspective once she inevitably returns to normal (and gives her a little bit of Power Girl‘s spunk, which this version of Kara is sorely lacking). And, hey, maybe we’ll get a cameo from Dex-Starr? Worth a look.

[DC, $2.99]

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G.I. JOE: Special Missions #12

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G.I. JOE: Special Missions #12The search for Destro continues as Scarlett, Mainframe, and Helix track their escaped prisoner Copperback to a bizarre location in Russia known as Beaver Falls made to look like a small American town. Here they will discover the secret of Destro’s new B.A.T. experiments as the group walks right into a demonstration Destro has planned for Cobra Commander and high-ranking Russian officers secretly providing the criminal organization with their base of operations.

By the end of the issue the pressure on Destro continues to build as the JOEs outperform his new weapons and even decide to turn his new prized soldier back on his master.

I’m hoping the inclusion of Helix to the Special Missions team continues after wrapping up the current “Destro Must Die” arc next month. Aside from finally forcing both Scarlett and Helix to deal with each other and the loss of Snake Eyes it would also add another kick-ass female character to a team that at times has lacked some star power. Worth a look.

[IDW, $3.99]

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