Comics

Red Sonja #2

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Red Sonja #2Red Sonja has returned to the lands where she was kept prisoner for months fighting to the death in gladiatorial combat to fight for the King who freed her and battle an old friend only to suffer the greatest defeat of the She-Devil with a Sword’s life.

Although Sonja manages to fight Annisia, the only other survivor of their captivity, to a standstill, the kind is dead and her friend’s broken mind (haunted by the ghosts of those they slaughtered) demands justice from Sonja, and surrender.

The comic’s opening arc takes a dark turn as we learn Sonja has contracted plague from the very people she was trying to protect. As a bargain to keep the citizens quarantined, but living, Sonja surrenders her sword and agrees to banishment in the mountains of the north.

As I doubt Dynamite is willing to kill off the character, Sonja should survive her current situation but it will be interesting to see how long it keeps her in seclusion (the end of this arc or beyond?). Worth a look.

[Dynamite, $3.99]

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Tom Strong and the Planet of Peril #1

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Tom Strong and the Planet of Peril #1In order to save the life of his daughter and unborn grandchild (who has inherited the super-powers of its father), Tom Strong will enlist the help Val Var Gram and travel to the alternate Earth known as Terra Obscura, the home of the magic elixir Aluson which can bestow temporary invulnerability and may be the only option to get his daughter safely through childbirth.

I was happily surprised to see a character like Tom Strong earn a new series from DC (as he certainly doesn’t fit either the tone of the New 52 or Vertigo’s usual fare). Originally created by Alan Moore and Chris Sprouse, the character has been in limbo since even before DC ended their Wildstorm line.

The science hero raised in high-gravity chamber certainly embraces Silver Age comics (which are even directly referenced) in a style antithetical to DC’s current gritty 90s reboot. I’m not sure how many issues we’ll get out of this series (Vertigo currently lists solicitations for five issues), but I’ll gladly take what I can get. Worth a look.

[DC, $3.99]

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Star Wars #8

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Star Wars #8As Luke and Wedge put themselves in danger by allowing themselves to be taken prisoner aboard the Star Destroyer Devastator (before escaping to go in search of the Empire’s spy inside the Rebel Alliance), Han and Chewie try to get themselves out of danger on Coruscant by separating and dealing with the pair of bounty hunters on their trail.

Aboard the Falcon, Chewie must deal with Bossk, while Han and the friendly local smuggler try to get the most out of their junk freighter and stay one step ahead of the deadliest bounty hunter in the galaxy – Boba Fett. Meanwhile Leia has snuck away from the fleet to fulfill her other objective and find a new home base for the Rebellion which takes her closest enough to stop at the ruins of Alderaan and make a surprising discovery of an old Clone War battleship hiding inside the asteroid field.

Star Wars #8 gives us separate stories involving all three of the big name characters as well offering readers appearances by Bossk, Boba Fett, and Darth Vader. Fans should feel right at home. Worth a look.

[Dark Horse, $2.99]

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Uncanny X-Men #10

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Uncanny X-Men #10As the X-Men continue to train, and discover untapped potential among some of their younger recruits, Magneto sneaks off for a not-so-covert meeting with Maria Hill who is less than pleased at the X-Men, attacking S.H.I.E.L.D., stealing their prisoner, and disrupting the Helicarrier.

Forced into accepting Hill’s new deal, which involves working with Dazzler (who only we know is really Mystique), Magneto continues to work both sides to his own advantage (a subplot I’m already getting tired of).

Action picks up with the X-Men make an impromptu appearance at a pro-mutant rally to promote a message of peace only to get attacked by the first of a new version of Sentinel bred for their destruction. The attack by the Sentinel, on the peaceful demonstration certainly makes me wonder just who is behind the new mutant killers and what their ultimate agenda really is. Worth a look.

[Marvel, $3.99]

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Worlds’ Finest #15

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Worlds' Finest #15When the Huntress is abducted by Desaad and his minions, Power Girl jumps through the Boom Tube to rescue her friend. Despite not being a big fan of Desaad, I really enjoyed this issue as it allowed writer Paul Levitz and yet another new artist Emanuela Lupacchino (who has a knack for drawing our heroines, particularly Power Girl) to showcase a determined Kara’s impressive power set without worrying about collateral damage.

Other than a few panels of Desaad torturing Huntress (thankfully nothing too graphic), and her escape and reunion withe Kara, most of the comic features Power Girl ripping through the secret base of the stranded Apokolips‘ scientist. The comic ends on bit a twist as Kara and Helena make it home, but not before Desaad’s final move to screw with Power Girl’s powers.

Over the years Power Girl’s origins and powers have been tweaked several times. I’m assuming this latest move is to try and separate her a little from the New 52 Supergirl, but I’m hoping we aren’t going to see any huge lasting changes to the character. Worth a look.

[DC, $2.99]

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