Comics

Nova #11

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Nova #11Despite the final issue of the last panel suggesting Sam Alexander was blind, that’s actually far from the case (as he has his sight for he entire issue). What Sam is actually seeing (even when not wearing the helmet) is a series of dots that make up a map to the remains of other members of the Nova Squadron all of whom are dead (at least so far that we know).

After making the revelation, and serving out his sentence in Chess Club rather than detention for his latest fight with a bully whose behavior the principal so far has shown zero interest in altering, Nova eventually shoots back into the stars to investigate one of the small blips on the map where he not only finds the body of a Nova but the space-spider creatures who killed him.

Despite immediately abandoning the set-up of a blind Sam, the issue has fun moments on both Earth (involving Sam babysitting his little sister) and in space (where they hero discovers the fate of another Nova). Worth a look.

[Marvel, $3.99]

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Powerpuff Girls #4

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Powerpuff Girls #4Although things start off well-enough for our pint-sized heroes with working with the various former villains to keep the city safe, the second-half of the six-issue mini-series begins a big shift in the story. The new-found peace and happiness of Townsville is threatened when HIM decides to lessen his control over the city’s super-villains allowing each of them to begin to revert back to form.

Powerpuff Girls #4 has some fun moments (one of my favorite being Bubbles‘ picnic with Fuzzy Lumpkins which is captured so beautifully on the variant cover by artist Agnes Garbowska I just had to snatch it up). Buttercup and and Blossom also have issues when their newly-reformed friends “accidentally” put the pair in danger. And it appears the transformation of Mojo Jojo back into plain old Jojo wasn’t such a permanent thing after all.

With the various villains all now up to no good I’d expect quite a bit of action in the final two issues of this enjoyable mini-series from writer/artist Troy Little. Worth a look.

[IDW, $3.99]

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Astro City #7

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Astro City #7Although the comic begins with the perspective of a young boy badly beaten looking for help, Astro City #7 is the first issue of new series to focus primarily on heroes rather than that normal people whose lives are affected by them. The new four-issue arc finds Winged Victory under attack by super-villains who are claiming that the heroine and protector of women is actually the brains behind their entire operation.

While offering both an origin story for the hero as well as a glimpse of her romantic relationship with the Samaritan, the comic explains how public perception of the heroine, and lack of trust in her, could very well spell the end of her career.

The focus may be different than the adventures we’ve gotten so far, but the storytelling is still just as good. Given what we’ve already seen over six issues I’d expect the role of the battered young boy to play a larger role in the story than we’ve seen so far, as will The Confessor who makes an appearance in the comic’s final panel. Worth a look.

[Vertigo, $3.99]

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Noir #2

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Noir #2Although I enjoyed the first issue of this mini-series which centered as much around the unresolved relationship between the Black Sparrow and The Shadow I was a bit fearful in what the second issue’s absence of Lamont Cranston might bring. I was right to be concerned.

Only appearing at the very end of last month’s issue, Noir #2 focuses primarily on Miss Fury and the series of events that caused her to take on this quest for the missing Templar treasure.

Although the issue offers plenty of action with the two women kicking ass to get a hold of the one person who can answer their questions, the Black Sparrow is really playing second fiddle to the far less interesting Miss Fury (a poor man’s Catwoman) this time around.

The mystery of the treasure doesn’t get any clearer here and the focus so heavily on Miss Fury didn’t help matters any. The second issue’s rough art by Andrea Mutti also works against the sex appeal of the comic’s pair of female leads. Hit-and-Miss.

[Dynamite Entertainment, $3.99]

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Legends of Red Sonja #2

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Legends of Red Sonja #2The second issue of the latest Red Sonja mini-series isn’t as strong as the first, offering only two tales of Red Sonja’s exploits for the Grey Riders with not much in the way of pushing their hunt for Sonja forward in he segments in-between by Gail Simone and artist Jack Jadson.

Although it ends with a nice twist, the tale of Red Sonja’s cowardice and ineptitude from a fellow adventurer didn’t do much for me. The second tale of Sonja taking on the protection of a young girl and her mother is a bit hit-and-miss as well, although once again the tale does find a way to offer a nice wink to the reader at the expense of the villains. I also didn’t think the various styles of the three artist meshed as well this time around.

Undeterred from the tales of the She-Devil with a Sword’s heroics in the first issue, which weren’t having the desired effect, Sonja sets out to pull back on the legend a bit in hopes that the group may overconfidence when their paths finally do meet on the battlefield. For fans.

[Dynamite Entertainment, $3.99]

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