Comics

Star Wars #12

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Star Wars #12After getting all the recently-returned Rebel soldiers up to speed on recent events (including Kell Bircher‘s role as the Rebellion’s mole within the Empire) the comic moves forward with Wedge announcing his plans to form Rouge Squadron, Prithi‘s decision to leave the Rebellion and return home to Chalacta, and Leia making a startling announcement about the Rebellion’s new home… and that of her future husband.

Of all the big events in this single issue fans are likely to be psyched for the creation of Rouge Squadron, but my attention was directed at the sad farewell of Luke and Prithi (by far the comic’s most interesting original character who I’m very sorry to see go).

As to Leia’s pronouncement of her plans to wed and get an entire planet for the Rebellion as a dowry, while still having time to get into some sexually-tense moments with Han, we’ll have to see what circumstances occur to throw a wrench into the proceedings and leave Leia free, years later, to marry a certain scruffy-looking nerfhereder. Worth a look.

[Dark Horse, $2.99]

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G.I. JOE #11

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G.I. JOE #11Rather than move forward to immediately deal with the fallout from the “Threat Matrix” story arc, the latest issue of G.I. JOE takes a look back at the circumstances behind how Roadblock became a member of the team. The issue begins with the Roadblock dealing with the apparent death of his cousin (terrifically portrayed by artist Steve Kurth).

Despite being told Heavy Duty died on a top secret operation, the soldier begins to suspect his cousin may still be alive which leads him to hunt down an IP address, break into a secret military facility, and headbutt Snake Eyes (an awesome sight that does not go unnoticed by Scarlett). His ingenuity and toughness not only lead him to find his missing cousin but get recruited to join Heavy Duty as a member of the JOEs. Worth a look.

Giving us a look at the origins of not one but two JOEs (and a cameo from Snake Eyes) G.I. JOE #11 is a very good single issue break from the title’s ongoing storylines. Worth a look.

[IDW, $3.99]

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Red Hood and the Outlaws #26

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Red Hood and the Outlaws #26After taking several months off from this title I returned to see Jason Todd get his memory returned and battle alongside Starfire and Arsenal against the League of Assassins and newly-rejuvenated Ra’s al Ghul. Although the issue still relies a bit too much on the All-Caste subplot that’s been a huge part of the tile since it’s New 52 launch, the characters of Essence and Ducra are kept at arms-length here.

Given the choice of watching his friends die at the hands of Ra’s al Ghul and his soldiers, Todd chooses to remember his past and, once fully restored, reveals this was all part of his (irrational) plan.

The issue ends with the Red Hood and the Outlaws doing a pretty good job of holding their own against the League including the Red Hood fighting Bronze Tiger to a standstill. But should Todd be victorious (which seems likely as the comic has solicitations for the next several months) I’d like to see the character given a chance to spread his wings without the baggage of the All-Caste or the Outlaws to weigh him down. For fans.

[DC, $2.99]

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Uncanny X-Men #15

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Uncanny X-Men #15The Inhumanity tie-in (Marvel’s winter event cross-over) offers a look at the female members of the team (Magik, Jean Grey, Celeste, Irma, Phoebe, Tempus, and Kitty Pryde) who Emma Frost leads out for a little shopping in London. Their normal night out is sadly cut short by the presence of an Inhuman cocoon and the birth of a new Inhuman.

The Inhumans have never really interested me as anything but minor supporting characters in larger Marvel events so I’m not too keen on yet another cross-over event I’m less than thrilled about looking to hijack another book I want to read. That said, I really enjoyed this issue for the interactions between the various members of the team before running into the newborn Inhuman.

With the addition of some of the time-displaced X-Men and Kitty Pryde, Cyclops‘ team of X-Men is growing larger (and less reliant on former super-villains). With the teasing of Magneto‘s eventual betrayal it will be interesting to see how much more shake-up we see in the team over the course of 2014. Worth a look.

[Marvel, $3.99]

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The Rocketeer & The Spirit: Pulp Friction #4

/ / Comics
  • Title: The Rocketeer & The Spirit: Pulp Friction #4
  • Comic Vine: link
  • Writer: Mark Waid
  • Artist: J. Bone

The Rocketeer & The Spirit: Pulp Friction #4The four-issue mini-series comes to a close with The Spirit able to talk a mind-controlled Betty out of going all stabby-stabby on the undead hero and the two heroes once again putting their differences aside and The Spirit and The Rocketeer work together to uncover the plot of the Octopus and Trask who attempt to use their new teleporting television signal to deliver the President to the Nazis.

The Rocketeer & The Spirit: Pulp Friction #4 works well to wrap-up the various storylines (although it gives Betty a far bigger part of the final chapter than the largely absent Ellen). The use of FDR was well done, as was Cliff learning to use leverage to keep the rocket out of the hands of the U.S. Government.

The storyline ends with a hint of another possible team-up between the pair which I would certainly be up for (although next time maybe we could stick with a single artist to give the story a more consistent look?). I’d also love for DC to actually give The Spirit new life of his own in an ongoing title, but I won’t hold my breath for either to happen anytime soon. Worth a look.

[IDW, $3.99]

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