Comics

The Shadow #12

/ / Comics

The Shadow #12In this single-issue tale The Shadow spends hours scouring the city looking for a deadly new gang of bank robbers who aren’t afraid to kill and have already gotten a taste for blood. Although it puts a crimp in his dating life and requires hours of work and a variety of sources at the vigilante’s disposal, The Shadow is eventually able to track them down though a call girl one of bank robbers frequents.

Needing to catch the gang, and make the whole thing look like the police set his trap, The Shadow performs a little hypnotism to plant the idea of a big score into the gang. That and a good deal of understanding of human nature and greed, allow The Shadow makes sure the bank robbers take the bait before sitting back and enjoying the show.

The Shadow #12 reminds readers of the resources the vigilante uses to in his one man war against crime along with plenty of action and some lighter moments between Lamont and Margo Lane. Worth a look.

[Dynamite Entertainment, $3.99]

The Shadow #12 Read More »

Guardians of the Galaxy #2

/ / Comics

Guardians of the Galaxy #2Crashing to Earth with the Badoon warship, Iron Man and the Guardians of the Galaxy find themselves trapped in London with no possible support other than from the likes of British heroes like Captain Britain. (And, really, what help would they be anyway?)

The latest issue is a little slow to get going, and the action is interrupted on several occasions to showcase King J-Son‘s political workings with a who’s who of the leaders of the Marvel Universe’s cosmic races (including the Supreme Intelligence, Annihilus, Freya, Gladiator, Y-Gaaaar, and the Brood Queen, which leads to the Badoon attacking Earth (and which eventually gets our heroes in trouble after saving London).

The reasoning behind no other heroes showing up to assist Iron Man and the Guardians is a little weak (to say the least), but it does offer plenty of opportunities to showcase the the deadly skills of Gamora, Drax, and especially Rocket Racoon (who is his usual awesome self). Worth a look.

[Marvel, $3.99]

Guardians of the Galaxy #2 Read More »

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #21

/ / Comics

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #21Written and drawn by Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles co-creator Kevin Eastman, the latest issue of the title features the heroes in a half shell doing battle with an annoying enemy in command of a variety of martial arts styles who continually bests the Turtles over the course of a single evening, while constantly mocking their feeble skills and even goes so far as to threaten the life of their master, Splinter.

We also get a short back-up story, setting up the comics next arc, involving the Shredder digging up a new threat for our heroes. As someone who didn’t read The Secret History of the Foot Clan, I’ll admit Kitsune’s appearance didn’t do much for me on its own, but Shredder’s reaction certainly help sell her arrival as an important event.

Fans of Eastman’s style will definitely want to pick this issue up as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #21 is filled with several fight sequences all drawn in the original style of the first TMNT comics. Longtime fans of the Turtles should be able to guess the identity of the Turtles’ attacker, but it certainly doesn’t take away from one hell of a great comic. Must-Read.

[IDW $3.99]

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #21 Read More »

The Shadow: Year One #2

/ / Comics

The Shadow: Year One #2The Shadow saves Margo Lane from a pair of gangsters who attempt to throw her off the roof of the Cobalt Club by riddling the pair with holes and throwing their bodies off the rooftop for the cops to find. Who says chivalry is dead?

The Shadow’s plans begin to take effect as his attack begins a gang war between the rival families fueled by Massaretti’s paranoia, the death of his men, and a little hypnotic suggestion courtesy of the vigilante. As the mobsters begin killing each other The Shadow just sits back and laughs that creepy laugh of his.

I have mixed feelings about Margo recognizing Lamont Cranston as The Shadow so easily. I know she’s to become his Girl Friday, but the series of events feels a tad rushed for my tastes. There’s also an interesting scene during the party concerning the new Bela Lugosi movie which Cranston overhears and uses to help form the look and theatrics of the vigilante who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men. Worth a look.

[Dynamite Entertainment, $3.99]

The Shadow: Year One #2 Read More »

Fables #128

/ / Comics

Fables #128An incensed Bigby Wolf returns home to find his wife a prisoner in the castle tower and vile Prince Brandish still claiming Snow White as his own. As one might expect, this leads to disagreement between Snow White’s husbands.

Although we get a couple of pages dealing with the B-story of Beast and the Lady of the Lake, working on the details of Geppeto‘s possible marriage to the Blue Fairy (a subplot that, as yet, has still yet to bear fruit), most of Fables #128 deals with the duel between Brandish and Bigby (who is unaware that any damage he does the infuriating scoundrel falls on his wife).

By the end of the issue Brandish’s many magical defenses prove to much for Bigby who is transformed into a glass statue by the Prince’s magical sword. This leaves a wounded Snow White to stand-up for herself (’bout time) in next month’s final issue of the (somewhat disappointing) arc. For fans.

[Vertigo, $2.99]

Fables #128 Read More »