Comics

The Flash #22

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The Flash #22When the Speed Force killer kills again, the Flash sets out to protect the only other person besides himself who he believes is still tied to it, Iris West, by cloaking her in a suit like his own, which for some reason has hidden the hero from the Reverse-Flash.

After racing around with Iris, Barry calls on the help of Patty Spivot to watch over her while the Flash takes a closer look into the recent activities of Dr. Elias whose Speed Force engine has drawn the unwanted attention of the Reverse-Flash leading to the first meeting between the villain and our hero.

After teasing the confrontation for months the comic finally delivers with Barry pretty much getting his ass kicked by the Reverse-Flash. But I’m betting the Flash gets his second wind. After setting up Elias as a future villain it will be interesting to see what the loss of his invention means going forward. Iris suit, logic not withstanding, provides for some fun panels including her racing around with the Flash on his investigation. And leaving her with Patty allows for a tense conversation between the pair about Patty’s relationship with Barry. Worth a look.

[DC, $2.99]

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The Shadow: Year One #4

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The Shadow: Year One #4Matt Wagner’s retelling of the origins of The Shadow continue as Margo Lane earns her spot the ever-widening web of spies working silently for The Shadow. Although the issue does nothing to explain the motives of the monstrous Dr. Zorn, it does confirm he is behind the gang war whose true purpose only he seems to fathom.

Now at the halfway point of the mini-series we do have Margo and Lamont Cranston working together, but I would have expected The Shadow to at least get some inkling, if not actually have met, the figure working against him to rid the city of crime. The storyline is beginning to feel like a six-issue arc that has been unnecessarily inflated and drawn out over two extra issues. That said, what we do get in the further teasing of Zorn and the showcasing of how The Shadow builds his silent army are both handled well.

I’m hoping Wagner speeds things up a little in the next issue involving The Shadow’s investigations as well as the reveal of Zorn’s motives and origins. For fans.

[Dynamite Entertainment, $3.99]

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G.I. JOE: Special Missions #5

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G.I. JOE: Special Missions #5When the Chinese Government forces down a Cobra spy satellite using a combination of a high and low tech assault, the satellite crashes to Earth somewhere in the middle of the Australian outback. The JOEs send Roadblock, Tripwire, Hard Drive, Beach Head, and Spirit to retrieve the remains of which contain vital information about Destro‘s M.A.S.S. Project.

The team runs into trouble, first from the half-crazed nomad who decides to drag away what he believes is a UFO and then from an old enemy. Zartan has built himself his own personal army of road warriors since Snake Eyes blasted him from the skies over Australia, and now with the M.A.S.S. data one of Cobra’s former top lieutenants once again has real power at his fingertips.

G.I. JOE: Special Missions #5 does a good job of reintroducing Zartan and giving an explanation of how and why the master of disguise would put a crew like the Dreadnoks together. The issue introduces Buzzer, Ripper, Thrasher, Crusher, and an unnamed character I’m guessing to be either Zanya or Zarana. Worth a look.

[IDW, $3.99]

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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles – Alopex

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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - AlopexAlthough I haven’t paid attention to the previous one-shots of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Villains Micro-Series, this one caught my eye. Of all mutated enemies the Turtles have faced Alopex (Kevin Eastman’s first new TMNT character in more than 15 years) is one of the most intriguing in that the arctic fox is an honorable warrior bound to the Shredder‘s will who, given a different path, could easily be seen as an ally for the Turtles.

Presented entirely from Alopex’s point of view, the one-shot provides insight into the creature’s backstory as Shredder takes the arctic fox back the wilderness in which she was found and teaches her a valuable lesson about who her true family is while planting the first seeds of animosity between Alopex and her master.

Given we know so little about the character this issue should appeal to fans, and the dark turn it takes involving the arctic fox’s former home hopefully foreshadows a crisis on conscience for the character that we could see played out over several months (if not years). Worth a look.

[IDW, $3.99]

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Batman and Catwoman #22

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Batman and Catwoman #22The constantly revolving door of Batman and… brings Catwoman to town with a secret mission from the Justice League of America to break into the Chinese Embassy and rescue the young daughter of a defecting biological weapons designer from those who want to use the girl as leverage for force her father to return to his work in China.

The more brutal Batman we’ve seen over the past few months is back in action, although he does find it in his heart to set the young girl’s fears at rest and even crack a smile. Artist Patrick Gleason makes good work of shadow panels as Batman and Catwoman make their way through the embassy’s guards. He also provides a nice splash panel celebrating the successful rescue.

Catwoman helps break Batman out of his funk as does Carrie Kelley whose continued perseverance at talking to Damian forces Batman to go to extreme lengths to continue the pretense that his son is still alive. I’m not sure where Carrie will eventually fit in, but any comic with her instead of Harper Row has to be counted as a win. Worth a look.

[DC, $2.99]

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