Comics

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #24

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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #24“City Fall” continues as April and Angel get some good news that Casey should be able to recover from his wounds (although the doctor states he may never play hockey again). The Turtles, however, have a far worse night. With Leonardo still missing the Turtles have no choice but to trust Old Hob who, to absolutely no one’s surprise double-crosses Raphael, Michelangelo, Donatello, and Splinter and leads them right into the Shredder‘s trap.

Although prepared for the trap the Turtles are shocked to find their brother fighting alongside the Foot Clan. Leonardo makes short work of the rest of the Turtles who are only saved by the arrival of Slash and are forced to fleeing knowing their leader is now working for their enemy.

With Leonardo on his side, the Shredder and the Foot (whose gang war attacks for total control of the city have increased as well) look almost unbeatable. The issue puts my favorite Turtle at the forefront and gives his brothers the unique problem of trying to stop the brainwashed Leonardo who is now out to destroy them all. Worth a look.

[IDW, $3.99]

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G.I. JOE #6

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G.I. JOE #6Although this one-shot opens the idea of storyline that will no doubt continue to be played out over the next several months (whether or not Duke may be the traitor with the JOE ranks), the main focus of the latest issue is to offer readers a primer on a single member of the team: Cover Girl.

Told mostly through a prolonged flashback, G.I. JOE #6 humorously examines the career of a somewhat lost Courtney Krieger who found herself on an extreme reality-TV survivor show and how the events on a small tropical island let the Krieger to discovering an entirely new skill set and being recruited by G.I. JOE.

Other than Cover Girl’s suspicions about her boyfriend and her discovery of the wife he neglected to tell anyone about (including Cover Girl), the issue is mostly a self-contained story to help new readers get a better feel for another member of the team and explain how a supermodel became a member of G.I. JOE. It works really well, and I hope we see more of both Cover Girl in the months to come as well as similar issues featuring other JOEs. Worth a look.

[IDW, $3.99]

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G.I. JOE: The Cobra Files #4

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G.I. JOE: The Cobra Files #4The series wraps up its first arc with Chameleon being forced into action with Lady Jaye and Ronin to rescue Flint and stop the Night Creepers who detonate a dirty bomb under the Potomac to attack the JOE’s bunker.

With all the new G.I. JOE titles each wrapping up their first arc I’m still waiting for one to stand-out and match the enjoyment I got out of Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow. The Chameleon, a former Cobra agent now using her skills for the other side is a character I expect could lend itself to some interesting arcs and the art of G.I. JOE: The Cobra Files has been more consistent than the other titles.

Even if I find Chameleon intriguing, I’m not quite sold on the rest of the team. I’ve always found Flint to be a blander version of Duke and the wild cards of Clockspring and Tomax haven’t quite worked for me so far. I’m also not wild about the nuclear event which never feels as big and dangerous as it should. That said, I did like this issue giving us Chameleon’s take on her female teammates and would like to see that kind of insight continue. For fans.

[IDW, $3.99]

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Green Hornet #4

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Green Hornet #4With the city within his grasp Britt Reid‘s world comes tumbling down. What started last issue with Kato abandoning their partnership and The Sentinel accusing and old family friend of being the terrorist known as “The Voice” continues here as Reid’s mayoral campaign goes down in flames before it ever gets started when Kato proves Winston Mills isn’t The Voice after all.

Although the issue continues to deal with the ramifications of the Green Hornet’s recent actions I’m not sure I want to see Reid sued and broke anymore than I’d want to see that same story with Bruce Wayne or Tony Stark. I trust writer Mark Waid knows where he’s going, but things are obviously going to get worse for the character before they get better.

Even if I have issues with where the arc is heading, I’ll admit this might be the kind of story that could appeal more to new readers of the the Green Hornet rather than those of us carrying decades of the character’s history with us. For fans.

[Dynamite Entertainment, $3.99]

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The Rocketeer & The Spirit: Pulp Friction #1

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The Rocketeer & The Spirit: Pulp Friction #1When a murder occurs in Central City but the body is discovered the next day in Los Angeles The Spirit, Commissioner Dolan, and Ellen take a trip to the coast to investigate in this new cross-promotional comic from DC Comics and IDW. On arriving in LA, the good folks from Central City are ambushed by masked man with a jetpack in a classic hero misunderstanding that introduces The Spirit to The Rocketeer for the first time.

Fans of both characters will get their money’s worth here, although The Spirit does seem a little out of place in the sunny settings of Los Angeles rather than the shadow streets of Central City. Mark Waid provides some nice humor not only for both heroes (who spend a good part of this issue fighting in the sky) but also for Ellen and Betty, both of whom take a shine to the other woman’s man.

I’m glad to see Waid and Paul Smith bring these two characters together, but it reminds me of the vast library of great characters DC’s New 52 has closed the door on (which I guess is better than the ones they’ve gotten completely wrong). Worth a look.

[DC/IDW, $3.99]

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