Comics

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #23

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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #23Primarily concerned with the fallout of the last issue, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #22 focuses on the lives of two of our heroes whose lives hang in the balance. As Raphael, Michelangelo, Donatello, Splinter, and April rush a severally wounded Casey Jones to the hospital, the Shredder and his Foot Clan bring the injured Leonardo home and put him immediately under the care of Kitsune who begins manipulating the mind of the Turtles’ leader and bending it to her will.

For such a big turning point in the series the comic reunites all the artists who have worked on the title during its first two years and allows them each to draw panels from Leonardo’s fevered dreams as Kitsune’s weaves her magic to break the ties that bind Leo to his brothers and brainwash him into becoming Shredder’s loyal student.

The early juxtaposition of Leonardo and Casey is well-handled. Casey’s story offers more insight for April into her friend’s relationship with Angel, and Leonardo’s story (which includes a cameo from a concerned Karai) offers serious repercussions for the Turtles and the rest of the city. Must-read.

[IDW, $3.99]

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Batman/Superman #1

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Batman/Superman #1Um, what? Writer Gre Pak’s Batman/Superman #1 is a confusing tale that doesn’t seem to fit anywhere in DC’s current New 52 storyline. It’s presented, at least initially as the first meeting between both Clark Kent and Bruce Wayne, and later between Batman and Superman. Okay, this part of the comic works fine (although Bruce Wayne’s undercover slumming isn’t well-explained).

Here’s the problem: We know that Justice League #1 is the first time the characters met, so is DC already retconning the New 52? Much more troubling is the turn the issue takes halfway through where it appears Batman and Superman have known each other for some time and Batman is confused while Superman is wearing jeans rather than his regular costume. Yeah, I’m confused too (with everything that’s happening)!

The story also involves some kind of entity that takes over its host and gets off on pain and power. The character is never properly introduced nor are his powers defined. This is a clusterfuck of a first issue that makes less sense the more you read it. Pass.

[DC, $3.99]

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Nova #5

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Nova #5Followed back to Earth by Titus, the disgraced former member of the Nova Corps now working for the Chitauri, Sam Alexander must protect his home, his mother (who we will learn knew far more about her husband’s galactic adventures than she ever let on), and even the bullies from school who give him a hard time, from the one-eyed space tiger’s wrath.

Flying Titus back into space, the new Nova uses the Ultimate Nullifier to present a stalemate that the villain refuses to accept. Forcing its activation, Titus and the entire Chitauri fleet are sucked into a black hole. Only after the young man single-handedly saves Earth do we get cameos from Rocket Racoon, Gamora, and the Watcher (as well as one more important character in the issue’s epilogue).

Writer Jeph Loeb and artist Ed McGuinness deliver a fun wrap-up the series’ first story arc that cements Sam as the new Nova, a hero with some powerful friends but one who is also willing and able to stand-up to world-threatening threats on his own. Worth a look.

[Marvel, $3.99]

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The Flash #21

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The Flash #21Searching for answers about the mysterious killer connected to both the Speed Force and his symbol, the Flash runs down an uncooperative Kid Flash for some answers. Kid Flash proves apt enough to stop Barry Allen from catching him for much of the issue but not skilled enough to loose the Fastest Man Alive.

With not one but two speedsters writer/artist provides some beautiful shots of the pair racing around the world, although the comic does get into some questionable New 52 revisionism as once the two finally stop to talk as it suggests this version of Kid Flash may not be Bart Allen at all. Yes he’s from the future, but it appears his speed comes from a method other than the Speed Force and his total disdain for the Flash and any connection they have makes it seem unlikely they are related.

Honestly, I could have done with a less dickish Kid Flash (but that’s what I can say about nearly all the New 52 characters). Once again we get a cameo by the (horrendously redesigned) Reverse-Flash who may finally be turning his attention to our hero beginning next month. Worth a look.

[DC, $2.99]

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Battlestar Galactica #2

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Battlestar Galactica #2After using the time missiles in the first issue of last month’s relaunch of the classic Battlestar Galactica comic book, Starbuck and Apollo find themselves in the middle of a temporal storm with an army of Cylons on their tail and no Galactica in sight. Nearly out of both fuel and ammo, the pilots split up hoping that at least one of them can make to a nearby Colonial supply station.

I’ll be honest, the first issue of the series didn’t wow me and I really was only tempted to pick this one up becuase of the beautiful cover from Alex Ross. That said, Battlestar Galactica #2 is an improvement over the first issue that raises quite a few intriguing questions. Captured, Starbuck finds himself on a Cylong Battlestar with other prisoners while Apollo gets the surprise of is life by making it to the supply station only to find he’s definitely not in Kansas anymore.

Alternate dimensions, weird timelines, and plenty of classic Cylons, may be enough for me to stick around a little longer to see how this plays out. For fans.

[Dynamite Entertainment, $3.99]

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