Comics

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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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: New Animated Adventures #3

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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: New Animated Adventures #3Unable to sleep after his zombie marathon, Michelangelo leaves the sewers and hits the streets of New York only to find actually mindless zombies doing the Kraang‘s dirty work. At first his brothers are far from receptive to the idea, but under Splinter‘s orders Leonardo, Raphael, and Donatello follow their brother topside to find out just what the hell is going on.

Although the aren’t exactly zombies, the turtles are forced to deal with hundreds of New Yorkers sleep walking and delivering technological components to the Kraang. Without doing too much damage to the brainwashed sleepwalkers, and rescuing Dr. Sloane (the scientist whose research the villains from Dimension X have corrupted for their own purposes), the Heroes in a Half-Shell will set-out to save the day once more.

Any issue that forces the other turtles to take Mikey seriously is a good one. Although they aren’t really zombies, Mikey’s knowledge of the walking dead not only discovers the problem but helps the turtles defeat the Kraang. Worth a look.

[IDW, $3.99]

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Transformers: Regeneration One #0

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Transformers: Regeneration One #0Sent traveling through time and space by Primus, Hot Rod finds himself in various settings all across time as Transformers: Regeneration One uses this zero issue to tie the existing comic continuity and the 80’s Transformers movie together in a single issue. Although occasionally confusing, the comic mostly succeeds.

On his trip through time Hot Rod watches Optimus Prime sacrifice the Matrix to stop the Deathbringer, watch as the Earth is consumed by zombie Decepticons, see hidden origins of the early Transformers long purged from their memories, and on a planet of junk watch Galvatron fight to the death with a robot who looks very familiar.

Despite not quite following all the various plotlines (zombie Decepticons? and what exactly did Jhiaxus steal from the rest of the Transformers millennia ago?), the issue does well to deliver plenty of action and provide an opportunity to bring both the Matrix of leadership back into the original Marvel Comics continuity but introduce Rodimus Prime as well. Worth a look.

[IDW, $3.99]

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Fables #133

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Fables #133An impasse between sisters temporarily halts Rose Red‘s new calling as the Paladin of Hope when Snow White discovers her sister is actually considering saving the man who held her captive and killed her husband. While Rose sees Prince Brandish as the perfect attempt to proves second chances can breed positive results, Snow has very definite feelings about never letting the villain loose to do any more harm to any member of her family.

Given the fact that neither will budge, the grudgingly new-formed friendship between the sisters falls apart as Rose decides, for good or ill, to make Brandish part of her new Round Table (even if it costs Rose her family).

Fables #133 presents a strong story in that both sister’s points are valid from their point of view. It also gives us a very un-Disney version of Snow White’s history as the character discusses with her daughter Therese the hard choices she’s need to make over the years to survive. Worth a look.

[Vertigo, $2.99]

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