Comics

Uncanny X-Men #12

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Uncanny X-Men #12Seeking refuge from current and future X-Men who would forcibly return them to their own time, the younger versions of Scott Summers and Jean Grey seek out Cyclops and his team in hopes of refuge. Cyclops answer is not surprising, although Emma is less than pleased.

Uncanny X-Men #12 is a solid issue, and on the plus side I’m able to follow the events of the Battle of the Atom crossover (which sadly doesn’t involve Ray Palmer and Ryan Choi) without having read the other issues. As much as I liked the issue, however, it didn’t sell me on buying an extra three issues before the storyline returns to this comic.

The dilemma Cyclops is presented with here, try to help the past version of himself and the love of his life (and continue to screw with the timeline) or abandon them is a tough one that the issue handles well. When the future version of the group shows up to forcibly take back the original X-Men, Emma Frost is surprised to find an older Jean Grey among them which should lead to a rather un-ladylike battle between the pair of Cyclops’ exes. Worth a look.

[Marvel, $3.99]

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The Rogues #1

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The Rogues #1Although (like most DCU characters since the New 52 reboot) The Rogues are merely shadows of their former selves, The Rogues #1 is a fair bit better than the wretchedly awful Reverse-Flash #1. Of course since The Flash has already spent time fleshing out the history of The Rogues and their unnecessary power-infusion, there’s actually not much for this latest Forever Evil tie-in issue to do.

The main purpose of The Rogues #1 is to restate the tension between Captain Cold and the rest of the team following their power upgrades, retrieve The Trickster from prison, and return the trapped Mirror Master from the mirror realm (at the cost of Glider). Sadly, the team is still without Captain Boomerang (who is stuck leading the New 52 version of the Suicide Squad).

The last part of the issue catches up with the events of Grodd #1 as The Rogues find themselves once again forced to play hero and save their city from the gorilla invasion as the Flash and the rest of the Justice League have been taken out by the Secret Society of Super-Villains. For fans.

[DC, $2.99]

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Morning Glories #31

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Morning Glories #31Hunter takes center stage as the latest issue of Morning Glories continues to return to the revolving single-character issues following the aftermath of Irina‘s failed coup d’état. With guilt over the death of Zoe (who was killed while trying to kill him – and noticeably isn’t included in the school’s memorial for the fallen students) and several unanswered questions about the dreams and visions he saw with future Jade, Hunter heads to the Morning Glories Academy library hoping to find the poem and yearbook that each played prominent roles in what the young man saw.

Although he finds neither on his search, Hunter does make some new friends in the form of the school’s secret A.V. Club, all of whom have a certain talent for viewing things slightly out of linear time just like Hunter. This leads to a discussion about the difference between dreams and reality.

Morning Glories #31 continues to play with ideas of reality, time, and perception in this issue focused on the character who we’ve met who has the hardest time separating them. Worth a look.

[Image, $3.50]

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Daredevil #31

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Daredevil #31There are equal parts good and bad to writer Mark Waid’s thinly-veiled look at Treyvon Martin as Daredevil jumps into action when a Civil Rights leader apparently gives the names and addresses of twelve jurors to an incensed public following the acquittal of a man who gunned down a defenseless black teen and demands they take violent action.

Of course the circumstances are nothing more than more behind-the-scenes manipulation of the the Sons of the Serpent, but that doesn’t stop Daredevil from having to put out the fire caused by the stunt (with the help of storm-cloud-seeding giant ants).

The ants are cool, as is the nice hospital sequence as Foggy tries to inspire other patients with Daredevil’s example. However, once again the ridiculous behind-the-scenes power of the Sons of the Serpent storyline doesn’t quite work for me, and, surprisingly, several panels from artist Chris Samnee look uncharacteristically rushed and not up to snuff. The cliffhanger ending hinting and the suicide of Foggy feels equally half-assed. Hit-and-Miss.

[Marvel, $2.99]

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Ra’s al Ghul and the League of Assassins #1

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Ra's al Ghul and the League of Assassins #1The latest Bat-Family Forever Evil tie-in issue gives us a look at the leader the League of Assassins whose presence in the New 52 has been only (strongly) suggested up until this point. Although the .1 issue doesn’t deal with the man’s origins from the language used it appears Mike Barr‘s Birth of the Demon remains largely intact.

Instead, Ra’s al Ghul and the League of Assassins #1 examines the man’s rise to power and the creation of the League of Assassins, his battles with Batman, and his goal to reform the world in his own image in the form of the myth retold as Ra’s al Ghul is sought out by a messenger of the Secret Society of Super-Villains hoping to bend The Demon’s Head to their will.

Writer James Tynion IV and Jeremy Haun deliver a solid retelling of the various aspects behind the character even if he’s decidedly lacking in the kind of crazed evil malice that has defined Ra’s al Ghul since his creation. It’s far from a great Ra’s al Ghul story, but for those needing a primer on the character it’s sufficient. Worth a look.

[DC, $2.99]

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