Comics

Transformers: Regeneration One #96

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Transformers: Regeneration One #96Victorious over Bludgeon and Soundwave, and with a new leader in Rodimus Prime, the Autobots turn their attention to the four looming threats Primus warned the new Prime about: Galvatron (who is spirited off to safety by a Unicron cult), the mysterious Jhiaxus (who makes a shocking return to Cybertron), the Dark Matrix creature, and Spike Witwicky.

It will be interesting to see these various threats play out, either individual or if there is some kind of convergence that drives them to a tipping point. The future of Shockwave and Starscream, as well as the Dinobots and the ancient Transformers who have returned to the surface of the planet for the first time in eons, and what role they are to play also remains uncertain.

Although I’m a bit uncertain of the Spike and Dark Matrix creature subplots, Transformers: Regeneration One #96 does a good job of wrapping up the loose ends from the last arc and setting up several new threats for the Autobots moving forward. Worth a look.

[IDW, $3.99]

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The Shadow #20

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The Shadow #20The severed finger with a ring very much like his own in a box leads The Shadow to the frozen plains of Sibera to seek out an old acquaintance who knew the man as “The Dark Eagle” long before he adopted either the name Lamont Cranston or The Shadow when the mysterious figure worked as a member of the Seventh Star (a secret intelligence organization for the former Tsar of Russia) who, like The Shadow recognizes the ring as the mark of the organization.

The search for an inmate of a Russian prisoner sends Cranston into the woods after a killer for information about the “White Tiger.” Armed with more knowledge than he arrived with (and a depressing look at the fate of two men he once considered colleagues), The Shadow’s world tour continues to the Himalayas in search of answers.

After an issue off, artist Giovanni Timpano returns to the title with a style that fits the cold and darkness of the setting and storyline as our hero journeys into a mystery linked to his shadowy past. Worth a look.

[Dynamite Entertainment, $3.99]

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Larfleeze #5

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Larfleeze #5As Larfleeze is enslaved by the Orange Lanterns his former butler attempts to flee from his new mistress, the powerful but flighty Wanderer, when she gets distracted with other matters. Although neither manages to extricate themselves from their situation, both provide some interesting nuggets along the way.

The scene of Pulsar Stargrave attempting to flee the planet by any means necessary (only to draw the suspicion of security) is quite funny. And Larfleeze’s storyline offers yet another possible origin for the character in the form of the character’s hallucinatory vision of his mother who shows us a far less heroic story of the Orange Lantern’s history with the slavery on his homeworld. Of all the versions we’ve seen so far this one fits the tone of the selfish character best (even if it is pretty damn depressing).

The Wanderer’s suspicions foreshadow a serious threat not only to her newly arrived family but to the entire universe as she suspects a powerful enemy has put aside their own internal squabbles to to their attention on her family. Worth a look.

[DC, $2.99]

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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #28

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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #28“City Fall” concludes as Splinter, Michelangelo, Donatello, and Raphael fight to free a brainwashed Leonardo from the Shredder‘s control. Things were looking pretty good for the group, at least until the arrival of Karai and her two new mutant soldiers Rocksteady and Bebop. With the help of Angel, Casey, Old Hob, and Slash the Turtles are able to reunite their family but their small victory is overshadowed by the Foot Clan‘s larger victory and total control over New York City.

Leo returns to his family, thanks in large part to Raphael, but the scars of his time of his brainwashing look like they may take quite a long time to heal. Karai proves her worth as he finally earns the role of Chunin, but all is not perfect for The Foot as Rocksteady and Bebop are unable to prevent the Turtles escape and Alopex seizes the moment to take his revenge (leaving the future of the character very much up in the air).

With The Foot in control of New York and the Turtles in exile to lick their wounds and put their family back together the series moves forward into its new arc beginning next month. Worth a look.

[IDW, $3.99]

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Tom Strong and the Planet of Peril #5

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Tom Strong and the Planet of Peril #5Tom Strong andVal Var Gram‘s search for Tom Strange finally comes to an end on the science hero’s moon base. Although his counterpart agrees to give Tom and Val the elixir they journeyed to the alternate Earth to find, the pair cannot leave until they find a cure for the Red Death or risk exposing their Earth to the same deadly disease (especially after Val begins developing symptoms).

To save the life of his son-in-law, and return home in time to save the lives of his daughter and unborn grandchild, Tom Strong will have only one issue remaining in the six-issue mini-series to solve the riddle of the Red Death, find a cure, and make his way home.

I’ve enjoyed this mini-series and issue #5 (as I expected) sets the table for a run to finish as Val contradciting the disease with a 100% mortality rate puts even more pressure on Strong to find a cure. I enjoyed Strong and Strange together here (and hope we get more of the two science heroes working together in next month’s finale). Worth a look.

[Vertigo, $3.99]

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