Comics

Daredevil #36

/ / Comics

Daredevil #36With the final issue before yet another relaunch, writer Mark Waid and Chris Samnee send Daredevil out in style with Matt Murdock‘s public admission in a court of law to his radar sense, his vigilante activities, and why he enjoys parading around in red tights. Daredevil #36 feels a little rushed as it deals with Murdock’s big shocker while also tying up the loose ends of the Sons of the Serpent, Foggy‘s life-threatening illness, Matt’s relationship with Kristen McDuffie, and setting up the new monthly title featuring Murdock and Nelson in San Fransisco.

Before its over Daredevil will get to kick a little ass and kiss the girl, but Nelson and Murdock will both be disbarred (setting up more obstacles to their possible return to New York sometime down the line). As to McDuffie, it’s left unsaid whether or not she will be accompanying the partners out west or if this is (for now) the end of Matt and Kristen’s story.

The final issue does its best to justify an unnecessary renumbering and reboot next month while providing a milestone in both of Murdock’s chosen professions. Worth a look.

[Marvel, $2.99]

Daredevil #36 Read More »

Red Hood and the Outlaws #28

/ / Comics

Red Hood and the Outlaws #28With the League of Assassins, the All Caste, and Jason Todd‘s temporary amnesia all behind them the series offers the Outlaws a temporary reprieve of the most exclusive island resort in the world and a chance to bring back Isabel and tie-up the loose plotline of her relationship with the Red Hood.

Although the vacation starts well enough, despite Starfire‘s complaining about the hologram hiding her true form to the other guests and Isabel’s obvious distance, things take a turn when the super-villain in charge of the island gets wind of the Outlaws appearance and, assuming the worst, decides to preemptively strike.

Far less convoluted than several issues of the series, the straightforward storytelling works well and provides plenty of action while introducing a new enemy in Midas and the Army of the Golden Hand. Stephen Segovia steps in to do an okay job with the art this month although his Starfire is a little off and some of the wideshots are less detailed than I’d like (a common complaint about much of the New 52). Worth a look.

[DC, $3.99]

Red Hood and the Outlaws #28 Read More »

Uncanny X-Men #17

/ / Comics

Uncanny X-Men #17Dropped off in the middle of nowhere in a bizarre locale by Magik, the young X-Men (Tempus, Fabio, Celeste, Irma, Phoebe, Benjamin Deeds, Triage, Hijack) are put to the test in a field training exercise to determine both their survival instincts and their ability to follow orders and work together to stay alive. Although the entire group makes it back home in one piece, the casual disregard for Cyclops‘ explicit orders means (for now) that one member of the team is no longer an X-Man.

I’ve got to say I’m not altogether happy with the set-up of this issue as Cyclops throws the unprepared recruits into a dangerous situation without the control of a Danger Room scenario. Although they each perform well in surviving the bizarre super-evolutionary town in Montana, they nearly get taken in by S.H.I.E.L.D. thanks to Hijack’s cellphone leading the heroes right to them. And I’m not exactly buying the idea that this is the last we’ve seen of Hijack whose skills are far too valuable not to see him return after he’s “learned his lesson” (if that’s even why he was truly let go). Worth a look.

[Marvel, $3.99]

Uncanny X-Men #17 Read More »

Batman ’66 #8

/ / Comics

Batman '66 #8More of an homage to the wacky adventures Batman and Robin were having in the comics than on the television show in the mid-to-late 60s, the latest issue of Batman ’66 pits the Dynamic Duo against professor of Egyptology turned deranged super-villain who actually believes himself to be King Tut.

Originally created for the show, Tut’s inclusion in the comic is appreciated, but the adventure itself involving a time tunnel hidden inside a sarcophagus taking the villain and Batman and Robin into Egypt’s past is pretty damn bizarre (as it the convoluted plot involving time travel for the sole purpose of trading chocolate for gold).

…

Batman ’66 #8Read More »

Batman ’66 #8 Read More »

Teen Titans Go! #2

/ / Comics

Teen Titans Go! #2As in the style of the cartoon which spawned it, the latest issue of Teen Titans Go! includes two wacky adventures for our heroes. The first involves Robin bowing to peer pressure (and his crush to Starfire) and allowing the team to compete on a reality-TV talent competition which becomes more of an all-out brawl when they discover The Brotherhood of Evil are also contestants.

The second-half of the comic involves the consequences of Captain Cold successfully freezing Robin in ice. Eventually thawing their leader, the Titans decide to shrink Beast Boy to microscopic levels in an Innerspace style advneture to send him into Robin to kill the virus making him sick. Of course things go terrible wrong and Robin awakes “years later” with a broken arm as the team tries to play off their various mistakes with a prank.

Both adventures are fun. I like the choice of judges in the first story, and the inclusion of the classic version of Captain Cold (who is honestly surprised he was able to successfully freeze one of the heroes) is terrific. Worth a look.

[DC, $3.99]

Teen Titans Go! #2 Read More »