Comics

The Shadow #14

/ / Comics

The Shadow #14The Shadow comes face-to-face with the self-appointed angel of death and gets his butt kicked by the dual-katana wielding vigilante known as The Light. The Shadow is unable to stop the glowing assassin before she makes an attempt on another man’s life, he is however able to get the man to a nearby hospital. Sadly, it’s not safe enough from her reach.

So far I like the idea of The Light better than the execution, but it is nice to see The Shadow come up against a rival with a purpose and (far different skill set) to rival his own. The comic ends with Lamont Cranston putting the entire legion of The Shadow’s eyes and ears on the case to find the mysterious woman.

I’m curious to see how long it will take The Shadow to turn his gaze on the nun at the dead man’s hospital who matches both The Light’s description and temperament, or if it will be another member of his network that makes the discovery. For fans.

[Dynamite Entertainment, $3.99]

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Worlds’ Finest #13

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Worlds' Finest #13The latest issue of Worlds’ Finest picks up with Power Girl and the Huntress looking for answers as to how long Desaad has been masquerading as as Michael Holt and how his illegal takeover of Starr Industries was allowed to continue. Oh, and they fight a really, really big dog.

While working to create a new evil minion (a gruesome subplot I could have done without), Desaad sends a giant hell beast after the heroines. Fighting it off once, the pair are later attacked a second time in Helena’s favorite safe house when the dog tracks them down.

For a series that has been schizophrenic with its art, we finally get an issue with a single artist. I don’t love Robson Rocha’s art but it’s passable and he certainly has a flair for drawing Power Girl in action. The idea of the pair fighting a giant hell dog sounds more fun that the actual adventure, and I could do with less Apokolips-centric storylines (which at this point doesn’t seem likely). Hit-and-Miss.

[DC, $2.99]

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Star Wars #6

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Star Wars #6Disobeying orders, Luke and Prithi head out in search of the rest of the squadron. Finding the group and a severely wounded Leia in an equally damaged X-Wing, the pilots put their heads together and come up with a plan to trap the Star Destroyer Devastator and the TIE Intereptors quickly closing in on their location.

Although the plan isn’t all that well explained by writer Brian Wood, the effects are impressive. Most impressive. The fallout earns Leia an extended stay in a Bacta tank with C-3P0 and R2-D2 and promotions for both Luke and Wedge now that the princess is out of commission for the time being.

With Han Solo stuck on Coruscant and out of contact, and a pissed-off Col. Bircher wanting revenge for his lost Star Destroyer, it becomes even more necessary for the rag-tag fleet to find the mole. Sadly, it appears the group will move forward without Prithi who leaves after witnessing the depths of Luke’s feelings for Leia. I like the character, and I’m hoping we’ll continue to see more of her in the months to come. Worth a look.

[Dark Horse, $2.99]

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Guardians of the Galaxy #3

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Guardians of the Galaxy #3After being arrested for stopping a Badoon warship from attacking Earth at the end of the last issue, the Guardians of the Galaxy and Iron Man are put into status awaiting trial. Thankfully for them, the group has one member of the team not accounted for. Sure, he may have a limited vocabulary, but that doesn’t stop Groot from making an impressive rescue and letting the Guardians go on the offensive.

Although I think Tony Stark is a bit too humorous in the face of danger here (he’s basically Robert Downey, Jr. with even better lines), the capture and escape of the team both work well. I can’t say the same for the entire enterprise by Star-Lord’s father which besides being doomed to failure (you really don’t want to try and make the Guardians your patsies) the logic behind his plan (which makes him look exactly like the conniving schemer he is) is shaky at best.

Groot and Rocket Racoon both get great moments here, and the teams smallest member racks up another impressive body count before Peter Quill basically decides to declare war on his father. Best of the week.

[Marvel, $3.99]

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Herobear and the Kid Special #1

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Herobear and the Kid Special #1Writer and artist Mike Kunkel’s Herobear and the Kid has a very strong Calvin and Hobbes feel to it. The Eisner Award winning stories center around the misadventures of an easily distracted young boy named Tyler and his stuffed polar bear who, when no one is looking, transforms into a full-sized bear with super-powers.

Herobear and the Kid Special #1 follows a common theme of Tyler getting sidetracked by adventures which first cause him to be late for school and then almost make him miss “Picture Day” at school as Tyler and Herobear set out to stop an attack on the Simpleton Bridge from Von Klon and his Sub of Doom.

At $4 its a little pricey for an all-ages comic (although that seems to be the going rate for these now). I enjoy Kunkel’s black and white style, with flashes of red (which actually remind me of some of Matt Wagner‘s far darker Grendel stories). Worth a look.

[Kaboom! Studios, $3.99]

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