Comics

Atomic Robo and The Savage Sword of Dr. Dinosaur #4

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Atomic Robo and The Savage Sword of Dr. Dinosaur #4With Tesladyne under full-scale attack based on the convincing frame job by Majestic 12 to present Atomic Robo and the company as nuclear terrorists, Robo and his action scientists have their own hands full with Dr. Dinosuar, not one but two armies of magma creatures, and the deranged dinosaur’s rebuilt Time-Bomb which he believes will destroy the last 65 million years.

Although much of the issue deals with the scientists both joining an army in Hollow Earth and fighting for control of Tesladyne, Atomic Robo and The Savage Sword of Dr. Dinosaur #4 also brings our hero and villain back together for some insane, and truly wonderful, banter.

With only a single issue left, Jenkins captured and Tesladyne in the hands of their enemies, and Dr. Dinosaur detonating his absurd creation, there’s still quite a bit of ground to cover to find out just how Atomic Robo and his friends defeat his supremely-awesome arch-nemesis and get out of this one. Best of the week.

[Red 5, $3.50]

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Fables #136

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Fables #136Revelations and discoveries are the major theme of the latest issue of the “Camelot” as the Lady of the Lake takes time to clue Rose Red in on some possible ramifications to her attempt to recreate Camelot which include new versions of the feuds that ended’s its first run, the possible interference of the Fates, and Rose Red’s true purpose in the undertaking.

Fables #136 also finally reveals the identity of the woodsman who, as suspected, is indeed one of King Arthur’s former knights, and (far more obscure than anyof the other reveals) offers a revelation for the Lady herself whose own fate is sealed when she comes face-to-face with one of Snow White‘s sons.

A very strong issue that continues the current story while laying the foundation for ramifications down the line by suggesting the evil to destroy the new Camelot is already in place. The issue also several times refers to the never-discussed parents of Snow White (who could play the role of Morgan le Fay this time around) and Rose Red as having some huge consequences of its own. Worth a look.

[Vertigo, $2.99]

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Tom Strong and the Planet of Peril #6

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Tom Strong and the Planet of Peril #6Tom Strong and the Planet of Peril comes to a close with a perfunctory final issue where the various issues raised over the course of the mini-series (the fate of Tom Strong‘s daughter in childbirth, the disease ravaging the alternate Earth known as Terra Obscura, and Val Var Gram contracting the disease) are all wrapped-up without much fuss.

Because so much is covered (much off-panel) in the final issue Tom Strong and the Planet of Peril #6 feels more like an epilogue to Tom and Val’s adventure together than an actual final issue to the series. Several of the characters the pair met get cameos here, and there is some fun to be had, but those expecting a big payoff are likely to be disappointed as the various problems of Tom, Val, and Terra Osbscura have all fought dovetail so neatly they pretty much solve themselves.

Even if this is the weakest issue of the mini-series it still has some fun moments, strong (pun intended) character interactions, and the kind of off-beat humor you would expect. For fans.

[Vertigo, $3.99]

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Codename: Action #4

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Codename: Action #4Together Operative 1001 and Black Venus infiltrate the secret facility of Hexagon to rescue Operator 5 and get to the bottom of the shadowy organization’s plan to replace leaders around the world with doubles in an attempt to start World War III. However, they find far more than they expected.

Along with showing us the fate of all the missing heroes, including American Crusader (who offers some insight into the group’s experiments), the latest issue of Codename: Action offers the infiltration of a secret base, a mad scientist (who apparently is far more than just Hexagon’s head of the doppelganger program), torture, and plenty of action.

Codename: Action #4 ends with a late reveal and a cliffhanger that suggests Dr. Thorpe has his own agenda outside the plans of Hexagon as the mini-series moves into its final two issues with our heroes coming face-to-face with the series’ true face of evil. Worth a look.

[Dynamite Entertainment, $3.99]

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Batman and Two-Face #26

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Batman and Two-Face #26Continuing the “Big Burn” storyline Bruce Wayne attempts to talk some sense into Erin McKillen before the would-be crime boss he broke out of prison (under the guise of Matches Malone) and Two-Face take their vendetta to an entirely new level.

In more flashbacks to the series of events which led McKillen and Two-Face to their present war, Batman and Two-Face #26 offers a look at the death of Erin’s twin-sister Shannon (which has to be, without a shadow of doubt, the dumbest prison escape plan in the history of the written word). Letting her sister commit suicide (because in Gotham where everyone is on the take there was no plan that made a lick of sense), we see the horrifically stupid series of events that ended one sister’s life and has led the other obsessed with Harvey Dent’s death.

Although the comic has some nice moments, especially in the early scenes between Bruce and Erin, the flashbacks are so unbelievably dumb it wouldn’t surprise me if everyone who read this issue lost a couple of IQ points. Pass.

[DC, $2.99]

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