Comics

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: New Animated Adventures #2

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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: New Animated Adventures #2The second issue of the new comic based on the current Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon pits our foursome of amphibious ninjas against Snakeweed who has turned Manhattan into a jungle.

Although Snakeweed is far from my favorite TMNT villain, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: New Animated Adventures #2 does provide some fun interactions between the characters: Michelangelo attacking a Central Park tree after mistaking it for Snakeweed, Leonardo‘s angry diatribe about the evils of nature when it ruins his sci-fi marathon (and another heroic call to action the earns Raphael‘s disapproval), and a courteous nod to the original cartoon as April O’Neil makes her first report for Channel 6 News.

Where I though the first issue did a terrific job of kicking off the new series, issue #2 is solid and enjoyable comic but it’s certainly a (small) step down from issue #1 (although fans of Snakeweed may enjoy this one more than I did). Worth a look.

[IDW, $3.99]

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Supergirl #23

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Supergirl #23It isn’t every month you get the death of a title character in her own book. Fighting Kryptonite poisoning, Cyborg Superman, and an entire legion of replicated heroes and villains created from her own memories (Superman, Superboy, Wonder Woman, Power Girl, Silver Banshee, Reign, Tycho, H’el, Appex) Supergirl battles valiantly until the end.

With the disillusion of Supergirl’s physical form, used to purge the Kryptonite from her system and to create a new body for Cyborg Superman, we learn the identity of our villain (who sure isn’t Hank Henshaw). The comic also gives us the arrival of the creature who created him as Brainiac arrives on I’noxia.

With the number of villains thrown at Kara the issue is filled with action but still packs an emotional punch with Kara facing both the mistakes of her past and her own mortality. Don’t weep for our heroine quite yet as I’d be very surprised if Kara isn’t back among the living and trashing Brianiac’s ship before the end of the next issue. Worth a look.

[DC, $2.99]

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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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