Comics

Scarlet Spider #23

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Scarlet Spider #23The Kraven the Hunter storyline comes to a close as Kaine fights the suicidal madman who is threatening the lives of all of the new Scarlet Spider’s friends. Only willing to spare Aracely, Annabelle, Wally, and Donald if Kaine can kill him, the hero tries his best to fight off his darker nature, defeat Kraven, and save his friends.

Kaine is able to stop Kraven (although the comic doesn’t explain why Aracely wasn’t of any use when her life, and those of her friends were threatened), but the super-villain makes his escape and one member of Kaine’s new group of friends is severally injured which will send another on a late-night search to discover more about the history of Houston’s super-hero. I’m betting he’s not going to like what he finds.

With Kraven’s defeat, writer Christopher Yost sets up the series’ final arc as Kaine’s past will apparently haunt him through the end of the series (and possibly beyond?). Worth a look.

[Marvel, $2.99]

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Powerpuff Girls #2

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Powerpuff Girls #2Professor Utonium agrees to Mojo Jojo‘s request of wanting to return to life as a simple monkey rather than face any more crushing defeats at the hands of the Powerpuff Girls. Once exposed to Antidote X, Mojo Jojo looses his mojo and his intellect and returns to the Utonium’s simple lab monkey Jojo.

Although Bubbles is happy at the prospect of having a pet monkey and Blossom believes Jojo deserves a second chance, Buttercup isn’t happy with the news that their former archnemesis is returning home with them. The monkey quickly makes a mess of the house and the lab, but Jojo does so without any evil intent of the old Mojo Jojo. The same can’t be said for Him who decides to use his mind control for an odd purpose: to make all the other villains of Townsville as helpful as possible and teach the Powerpuff Girls a lesson about second chances.

The issue does a great job with Mojo Jojo’s transformation and fallout, and the introduction of Him’s odd new scheme seems to spell trouble for the Girls for the next few issues. Worth a look.

[IDW, $3.99]

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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: New Animated Adventures #4

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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: New Animated Adventures #4Lured into a trap by the Foot Clan, Raphael is hit with a dart containing a rare hallucinatory and deadly poison. With their brother slowly slipping away, Leonardo, Michelangelo, and Donatello take a page from his book and go on the offensive against greater odds to get him the cure.

To get the cure the three Turtles will have to battle the Foot Clan as well as Dogpound who likes his odds now that there are only three Turtles left to deal with. Despite the odds, the threesome is to get the cure and reunite the entire team.

Writer Erik Burnham steps in with this issue and the comic doesn’t miss a beat as it continues to have the same feel, pace, and humor of the latest Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon. Aside from the action, the issue also teaches lessons to both Raphael (to not be so quick to run head-first into action) and his brothers (who need to adopt Raphael’s reckless style to save him). Worth a look.

[IDW, $3.99]

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Transformers: Regeneration One #95

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Transformers: Regeneration One #95Cybertron is at war as the Autobots fight off both Decepticon forces and Bludgeon and his Warworld. Although the issue doesn’t feature Galvatron (who is certainly conspicuous by his absence) Transformers: Regeneration One #95 features a host of familiar faces including Omega Supreme, Blaster, Soundwave, and Shockwave and Starscream who are still debating what their role in the battle should be. Oh, and Grimlock? He’s back!

Finding evidence of Matrix energy below ground Kup leads the Wreckers on a search for answers. Sadly for most of the team, Bludgeon decides to follow and makes short work of pretty much all of Kup’s friends. However, the sudden appearance of Rodimus Prime freshly returned from his time-travel odyssey helps turn the tide.

The issue ends with several questions still unanswered about the future of Cyberton, but with Rodimus Prime the Autobots have a new leader and with Bludgeon’s defeat the comic should be able to turn its attention back on Galvatron and the Decepticons and the lingering issues on Earth. Worth a look.

[IDW, $3.99]

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Beware the Batman #1

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Beware the Batman #1Hitting comic shops the same time that Cartoon Network announced they have shelved the cartoon its based on for the rest of the year, the first issue of Beware of the Batman should please fans of the show and give younger audiences a new Batman comic to read.

The writing by Ivan Cohen is better than many of the episodes of the half-hour cartoon as Batman uncovers the latest scheme of Simon Stagg who takes advantage of his new high-tech locking mechanism that actually leaves most of the city open thanks in part to the meddling of Anarky and an Occupy Wall Street-ish group. And there’s also an explosive plot timed for the Fifth of November.

Artist Vecchio does a fair job in trying to adapt the show’s sleek CGI-animated look to the printed page. The comic’s continuity is a little perplexing as Katana seems to be Batman’s fully-fledged partner (something hard won on the series over several weeks) but is still in possession of the Soultaker Sword. Small continuity issues like that aside, the first issue does a good job is selling the all ages Bat-book. Worth a look.

[DC, $2.99]

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