Comics

Earth-2 Annual #1

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Earth-2 Annual #1I haven’t given Earth-2 much thought since its first couple of issues, but as the series’ first annual promised a new Batman I decided to give it a shot. Despite the cover featuring the new Batman, most of the comic actually centers around Al Pratt and his role of a soldier for the World Army since an atomic accident game him the power to grow big and hit enemies with an atomic-powered punch.

The story moves around too much for my taste as we go from Pratt’s exposure to various flash-forwards of his career dealing with the agents of Apokolips. Despite taking up 80% of the comic it’s actually less interesting than the introduction of the new Batman (whose identity isn’t revealed here), and various other storylines touched on involving Hawkgirl, and Big Barda and Mister Miracle.

For those like me who haven’t been keeping up with the events of Earth-2, the annual does a fairly good job of getting you up to speed and teasing you with reasons to think about picking up the title. Given it’s emphasis on Pratt’s story I’m not sure it’s worth picking up on its own but it has me considering paying a little more attention to what is happening in the monthly title. Hit-and-Miss.

[DC, $4.99]

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The Shadow: Year One #3

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The Shadow Year One #3The Shadow: Year One continues as the vigilante’s war on crime heats up, Margo Lane confronts the man posing to be Lamont Cranston, and we learn that The Shadow isn’t the only one with the ability to cloud men’s minds who is working behind-the-scenes to use the gang war to his advantage.

Of the various developments in The Shadow Year One #3 the most important is Margo learning her suspicions about Lamont are true and finding herself caught up in a world the former call girl was ill-prepared for. Writer Matt Wagner uses The Shadow’s recent saving of another new minion in his network to reinforce the fact that The Shadow is now responsible for Margo as well.

I had been assuming up until this point that he mysterious voice pushing the rival gangs into battle was that of The Shadow. This issue reveals the identity of a new villain, Dr. Zorn, whose abilities are eerily similar to our hero (although his methods are quite different). Worth a look.

[Dynamite Entertainment, $3.99]

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Atomic Robo Presents Real Science Adventures #8

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Atomic Robo Presents Real Science Adventures #8Realizing someone is after his technology, Nikola Tesla hires a Master Wong Kei-Ying and Annie Oakley to protect the scientist’s Magnifying Transmitter which Tesla is moving by train. It’s a good thing he did to, as the train is hijacked and the unlikely pair of a martial artist and cocky sharpshooter are all that stand in the way of the shadowy group getting their hands on another of Tesla’s inventions.

There’s plenty of action here involving Wong taking down a train load of robbers and the explosion of the train itself when it becomes necessary to destroy Tesla’s invention rather than allow it to fall into the wrong hands. Wong and Oakley make for an amusing pair who I wouldn’t mind see more of in the future.

The back-up story concludes Atomic Robo and his group’s discovery of a giant robot in Egypt. As Robo and the other scientist argue how best to continue with the creature looming large before them, Jenkins takes matters into his own hands and settles the question once and for all. Worth a look.

[Red 5, $2.75]

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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #22

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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #22Tired of the encroaching Savante and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles both meddling in his plans for the city, the Shredder decides to lay a trap by kidnapping Casey Jones and forcing the Turtles and Splinter to rush in and save him without the time to come up with a plan.

The ensuing fight features all four Turtles, plenty of Foot Ninja, Alopex, Karai, and even Shredder himself who give the Turtles a little more incentive to jump immediately into the fray and save their wounded friend. Although the Turtles manage to drag the Casey to safety, the Shredder’s plan works to perfection as one member of the group doesn’t make it out of the fight. Trading Casey for Leonardo, Shredder’s plans for his would-be new first lieutenant (teased months ago) can now begin in earnest.

I don’t envy any artist starting a new arc following and issue Kevin Eastman drew himself. Honestly, I have a mixed reaction to the art by Mateus Santolouco, especially with his depiction of April. Some of the action sequences are well done, but I think it’s going to take me some time to get used to his style. Worth a look.

[IDW, $3.99]

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G.I. JOE #4

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G.I. JOE #4IDW’s new main G.I. JOE title began with a select team of JOEs being ambushed and separated in what what they expected to be an easy mission in Warrenton, Ohio, only to find themselves hunted by the locals who have all been turned by Cobra. G.I. JOE #4 will see the team finally reunited as Quick Kick and Doc work to save Shipwreck‘s life, Cover Girl frees Duke from Dr. Mindbender‘s virtual reality, and Roadblock leads the rest of the team to knock out the transmitter blocking their coms.

With Doc injured, Quick Kick does some emergency field surgery, but even near death’s door Shirpwreck manages to steal one of the comic’s best sequences as he returns the favor by saving both Quick Kick and Doc after they have stabilized his condition. We also get the teasing of a future relationship between the Baroness and Destro.

The comic ends with Tunnel Rat realizing what Cobra’s plan really is when he comes face-to-face with Scrap-Iron who has wired the entire town to blow and make it look like the entire incident was the fault of the JOEs.

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