Comics

The Shadow: Year One #5

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The Shadow: Year One #5Matt Wagner’s retelling of early days of The Shadow continue as Margo Lane begins her new role as a member of his organization (although his reluctance to use her does force the fiery Ms. Lane to set off on her own to get a better look at just what The Shadow gets up to on a nightly basis).

With the gang war still brewing, The Shadow turns his attention to an armored car heist put together by two of the families working to gather enough cash to take out the man responsible – Big Gun Massaretti who is still under the thrall of the mysterious Dr. Zorn. What they don’t realize is The Shadow has learned of their little scheme as well.

Much of the issue is set aside for conversations between Lamont and Margo about her new role. These work fine, and show us the two have feelings for each other neither is likely to share anytime soon, but the action certainly picks up with the appearance of The Shadow and the bloody gunfight on the bridge for the money inside the armored cars and some terrific laughter-filled panels by artist Wilfredo Torres. Worth a look.

[Dynamite Entertainment, $3.99]

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Two-Face #1

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Two-Face #1Another Forever Evil .1 tie-in issue offers us a look at Two-Face accepting the role of Gotham’s protector (and dispenser of his own brutal form of justice) all at the flip of a coin. True to the character, Batman and Robin #23.1 certainly doesn’t skimp on the bloodshed as the villain becomes judge, jury, and executioner for all who get in his way.

Although the comic gets the character right, there is obviously something missing (besides anything resembling fun). The absence of Batman (or really any member of the Bat-Family) to oppose him, really hurts Two-Face as a character who only flourishes when he has a rival to go up against. The choice to make some of the lesser villains angry at his vigilante rampage to try and force that kind of conflict doesn’t really work.

By the end of the episode the luck of Gotham City (which is far less covered in vegetation that the Poison Ivy comic would suggest) has finally run out as the flip of the coin leads Two-Face back to his more destructive ways. For fans.

[DC, $2.99]

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Grodd #1

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Grodd #1The basic premise of these Forever Evil .1 tie-in issues is to show fans what the bigger name villians get up to when the heroes of the DCU disappear. This is problematic for the obvious reason that you’re buying a comic to see the hero’s adventures and with The Flash #23.1 it’s also an issue as the New 52 version of Grodd is fare less interesting than the original.

What made Grodd originally interesting (and ridiculous) was the character’s great intellect shoved into a gorilla’s body. Here we’re left with a brutal warrior without the cunning or charm of the original.

On the eve of a peaceful Gorilla City officially becoming a neighbor of Central City (so much for the invisible African home) a Speed-Force-infused Grodd shows up to take control of his former warriors leading to bloodshed. Yeah, it’s Planet of the Apes.

It’s not a bad issue and its competently told, but without the Flash, regular co-writer and artist Francis Manapaul, or a willingness to embrace the absurdity of the hero’s Rogues it does feel a bit flat. Hit-and-Miss.

[DC, $2.99]

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Poison Ivy #1

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Poison Ivy #1As part of Forever Evil (DC’s new event that I’m not now, or planning on ever, reading) villains take over various titles in the coming weeks as the DC heroes have all gone missing. Here Detective Comics turns over Gotham to Poison Ivy who wastes little time in transforming the entire city from a concrete jungle into a far more natural one.

Given the absence of Batman (or any other member of the Bat-Family to stop her) it doesn’t take long before the eco-terrorist turned super-villain has recreated the entire city in her image. Writer Derek Fridolfs and artist Jason Fabok also take the opportunity to flush out Ivy’s New 52 origins a little more fully (which include unnecessarily tying her research to Wayne Enterprises and a backstory involving her abusive father).

Detective Comics #23.1 isn’t a great issue by any means, but I was able to easily follow the story without being forced to seek out Forever Evil. I could have done without the usual New 52 tweaks to Pamela Isley’s origins but the core of the character seems largely intact. Worth a look.

[DC, $2.99]

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