Comics

Detective Comics #22

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Detective Comics #22The beginning of a new arc brings new enemies to Gotham for both Batman and Bruce Wayne. As Wayne staves off the aggression of billionaire weapons designer E.D. Caldwell who desperately wants to acquiring Wayne Enterprises technology to further his fortunes, Batman is presented with a new stable of deadly vigilantes operating in Gotham City under the command of Wrath (who, of course, is also Caldwell).

I’m not sure a late 2000’s Lex Luthor-style ripoff who also enjoys dressing up in tights and armor is a good foil for Batman. Batman dispatches Wrath’s first lieutenant without much effort (although he does have to deal with one cop who mistakes Batman for the vigilante and another intent on killing Scorn).

Although it opens up new possibilities and challenges for Batman, I’m not sold on this storyline (or either Caldwell or Wrath). The comic also offers another less than great Man-Bat back-up story that takes up way too many pages and reveals that Francine Langstrom (to no one’s surprise) is actually the Man-Bat attacking the streets at night. Anytime DC wants to dump this story would be fine with me. Hit-and-Miss.

[DC, $3.99]

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Fairest #17

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Fairest #17“The Return of the Maharaja” continues as Nalayani and Prince Charming spend a little time together separated from the rest of the royal entourage and Nalayani learns the series of events that led to Charming becoming India’s latest Maharaja. Although the pair are able to get out of their predicament involving a crocodile and quicksand at the issue beginning, Fairest #17 also introduces a new threat to Charming’s reign as Maharaja.

The quick thinking that gets the pair out of danger in the issue’s first few pages work well. Charming’s flashbacks give us some insight into the series of events on how the prince took power without ever addressing why Charming was in India in the first place. This also forces Nalayani’s story, the arc’s best character, to be put on hold for an entire issue.

The plague which first hits one of Charming’s concubines and later the Maharaja takes the arc even further from the story of Nalayani’s village. The source of the disease and eventual cure might turn out to offer interest insights into both characters, but for now I’m a bit concerned with the shift in direction of this latest arc. Hit-and-Miss.

[Vertigo, $2.99]

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Guardians of the Galaxy: Tomorrow’s Avengers

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Guardians of the Galaxy: Tomorrow's AvengersSet before the new Guardians of the Galaxy series, the Guardians of the Galaxy: Tomorrow’s Avengers one-shot is a series of solo stories featuring the Guardians of the Galaxy before re-teaming to save Earth from Peter Quill’s father.

The stories are about what you’d expect. Drax and Gamora both get into huge battles (although Gamora’s has a nice tie-in to Star-Lord‘s own daddy issues), Rocket Raccoon threatens someone at gunpoint (and discovers something unexpected), and Groot makes a surprising save in the issue’s most well-developed story on an alien world. I’m not sure that the various shorts are actually a good primer for those who don’t already know these characters fairly well. That said, fans of the heroes should have fun.

The timing of the release, as the events all take place before the current comic, seems a little off. We do get cameos from Star-Lord at the end of two of the stories trying to bring the team back together in which he specifically mentions his father and an imminent attack on Earth. For fans.

[Marvel, $4.99]

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Daredevil: Dark Nights #2

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Daredevil: Dark Nights #2The first three-issue arc of the new eight-issue anthology series Daredevil: Dark Nights continues here with Daredevil trying to brave a snowstorm to retrieve a heart from a downed medical chopper with precious cargo: a heart necessary to save the life of a young girl.

Although the problematic amnesia element from the first issue is gone there’s not real reason as to why Daredevil finally has his full memory restored. We’re also forced to read through several pages of the young girl’s father making dangerous deals for his daughter’s only hope with someone dangerous who gives him hope but will no doubt put both Daredevil and the heart in danger but hopefully save his daughter. (It’s dangerous, and the heart’s her only hope, go it?)

That said, Lee Weeks art is once again solid but his writing is only slightly improved over the first issue although it’s still clunky and hamfisted at times (especially involving danger or hope). For fans.

[Marvel, $3.99]

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The Shadow #15

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The Shadow #15As The Shadow investigates The Light’s first victim in hopes of finding clues to the vigilante’s identity, Margo Lane does a little poking around at the hospital where the latest victim somehow met his horrific end in a locked and guarded room not realizing her scandalous behavior has brought Margo to the attention of The Light and made The Shadow’s companion her next intended victim.

The issue also includes flashbacks to Sister Esclarmonde’s strict upbringing and the sense of unwavering justice and brutal vengeance that was instilled in her at a young age eventually leading to the creation of The Light. Just how she acquiring her unique skills that (at least so far) even The Shadow cannot match is still yet to be seen.

Margo’s obvious overacting aside, the issue works to continue to flesh out the latest villain to come to the attention of The Shadow as well as but Lamont Cranston’s one true friend in deadly jeopardy. For fans.

[Dynamite Entertainment, $3.99]

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