Comics

Nova #7

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Nova #7It’s hard out there for a pimp, er.. new teenage super-hero. After saving the galaxy, Nova tries his hands at a little planet side heroics only to discover that 15 year-old with nearly unlimited cosmic powers isn’t always all that helpful for the day-to-day troubles inside the Marvel Universe.

Sam’s attempt to help in New York leads him to a confrontation with Doc Ock Spidey who puts the young hero in his place before sending him on his way. Nova is no more helpful in Los Angeles (where his big save disrupts an angered Joss Whedon’s latest movie set), or in a host of other places before the young hero finally returns home and helps repair the damage caused in New Mexico from his recent fight with Titus.

Although our hero isn’t able to get into much action, this issue is quite entertaining as Nova continues to struggle to grow into his role as a super-hero and try (and often fail) to learn the best way to use his powers to make a difference. Worth a look.

[Marvel, $3.99]

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Batman and Nightwing #23

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Batman and Nightwing #23Bruce Wayne‘s obsession about his son’s death continues in this issue as Alfred reaches out to Nightwing when Batman becomes lost in a virtual recreation of events trying desperately to change the outcome and save his son’s life. Although the structure of the story feels a little off, the emotion works well especially once Nightwing, and later Alfred, join in.

With Nightwing’s help Batman is able to “save” Damian, but it’s the advice Dick gives Bruce back in the real world that seems to finally start the healing process. And the comic’s final few pages dealing with Alfred resetting the simulation shows us, and Batman, just how much grief the butler has been carrying around for allowing Damian out of the Batcave on that fateful night.

Although the final former side-kick issue is done, the comic will continue the Batman and… with villains such as Two-Face and Killer Croc leading into Batman and Carrie Kelly #25 which may, or may not, begin a new direction for the title. Worth a look.

[DC, $2.99]

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Fables #132

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Fables #132The news that Rose Red plans to finally accept her destiny as the Paladin of Hope and reconstitute the Round Table spreads like wildfire around Fabletown, the farm, and the furthest reaches of every world where the message is spread. Taking a little time off from her new duty, Rose Red also confronts the still very much alive Prince Brandish with a machine gun leading to a discussion of just how the insane Fable would like to spend his immortality.

Although I’m still waiting to see Arthur and the old Knights of the Round Table (which we may have gotten a tease of here), the issue continues Red Rose’s story and makes something unexpected out of the continued existence of Brandish (something I’m not really in favor of).

It will be interesting to see who signs up for the new Round Table as the story continues to unfold and who Red Rose may have to pressure in to joining their ranks (even Brandish?). The B-story of this issue continues the so-far-failed attempts to reconstruct and resurrect the shattered Bigby. Worth a look.

[Vertigo, $2.99]

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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles – Karai

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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - KaraiThrough Karai‘s visit to her old sensei in an attempt to work through her reduced role in the Foot Clan now that the Shredder has taken on the brainwashed Leonardo as his second-in-command we learn he history of Shredder’s descendant, returning her family to the old ways of the Foot Clan, and studying to become the kind of ninja who could kill her father to take command of his empire.

The second-half of the latest Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Micro-Series one-shot focuses on a battle between Karai and Leonardo where the young ninja allows herself to be defeated only after coming to the understanding that the brainwashed Leo fights with neither the skill nor heart of the original (which makes sense, but seems to contradict the ass whoopin’ he put on his brothers in the last issue of TMNT).

Although this isn’t a series I plan to pick up every month, the last two issues have been strong focusing on Alopex and now Karai, two of the more intriguing characters of the Foot Clan. Worth a look.

[IDW, $3.99]

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Daredevil #30

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Daredevil #30Matt Murdock‘s life gets even more complicated when former Assistant District Attorney Kristen McDuffie takes Foggy‘s place as his new law partner and Daredevil is approached by an alien seeking sanctuary while fleeing the wrath of the Silver Surfer.

Although the Surfer is a tad too emotional here, which can be explained by the Achian’s powers of persuasion and distorting perception, I enjoyed writer Mark Waid’s take on the character even if the issue falls back on the most basic of comic tropes: a misunderstanding to pit two heroes against each other.

Daredevil gets his chance to fly the Surfer’s board and take down a cosmic bad guy, but in true Murdock fashion the comic ends on a downbeat as Murdock takes the lying alien’s “truth” to heart.

In an age when nearly everything being written is planned in advance to put out in a single arc trade paperback one-shots like this are a dying breed. And that’s too bad, because Waid and artist Chris Samnee prove how good such issues can be. Must-read.

[Marvel, $3.99]

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