Comics

Star Wars #4

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Star Wars #4As Han Solo and Chewbacca manage to evade the Imperials by plunging the Millenium Falcon deep into the core of Coruscant, Leia and Wedge discover their position has been given away as the pair of X-Wing pilots find themselves cut off from the rest of the Rebellion with two Star Destroyers and an entire fleet of Tie Interceptors between them and rejoining the fleet.

Although grounded, Luke gets a message from an old friend warning him of Leia’s danger. With the help of C-3PO and R2-D2, Luke gets the clearance codes he needs to stage a rescue mission on his own, but given the odds it may be too little too late. The comic makes an interesting choice to allow Prithi to overhear Ben‘s message making me wonder if she’s Force-sensitive or if Ben’s message is audible, not telepathic, and could possibly be overheard by anyone in the vicinity.

In the comic’s other ongoing storyline Darth Vader looks for new ways to motivate the second Death Star workers to get them back on schedule. Worth a look.

[Dark Horse, $3.99]

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Transformers: Regeneration One #90

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Transformers: Regeneration One #90Grimlock and the reunited Dinobots along with the handful of untainted Autobots make one last desperate effort to prevent Scorponok from unlocking the warrior gene and remaking all Transformers in his image. Although they are successful, Grimlock is forced to sacrifice himself to stop Scorponok from continuing his plans.

Far below the surface, near the core of Cybertron, Hot Rod has discovered the ancient weapons of Primus which gives him control of the feral robots living in the core. And on Earth a semi-functional Shockwave reactivates Starscream to work together to pilot the Ark back to Cybertron. Optimus Prime arrives to late to stop the ship from launching, but he does get his first glance at Galvatron.

There’s plenty of action in this issue as the remaining Autobots fight those Transformers held under Scorponok’s sway. I’m betting we haven’t seen the last of either Grimlock or Scorponok as the two, still locked in battle, fall from sight down a deep shaft. The Shockwave/Starscream alliance has possibilities but it will be interesting to see just how Galvatron fits into their plans. Worth a look.

[IDW, $3.99]

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Batman and Red Robin #19

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Batman and Red Robin #19Damian may be dead, but he won’t stay that way if Batman can help it. Batman and Robin begins anew with Batman getting a different member of the Bat-Family filling-in for the recently departed Robin. That doesn’t mean you can classify Batman and Red Robin #19 as a team-up by even the loosest definition of the term.

Overcome with grief Batman has sought out Frankenstein Agent of S.H.A.D.E. in an attempt to learn what keeps the undead creature alive and find a way to resurrect his son. It’s certainly an unexpected cameo, and the first time we’ve seen the New 52 version of the Dark Knight driven to such extremes. That said, the story worked for me (especially as the New 52 has been vague about both the existence and Batman’s knowledge of Lazarus Pits leaving that option, at least for now, off the table).

Carrie Kelley, the young woman who would become Robin in Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns is given new life as a Gotham City College student who had been tutoring Damian before his death. Bruce is unlikely to forget his first face-to-face meeting with the spunky young woman as she opens her door dressed in a Robin costume.

…

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Winter Soldier #17

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Winter Soldier #17After uncovering the identity of the “Electric Ghost” a pissed off Winter Soldier realizes why Nick Fury wanted him on this assignment as the last time Bucky saw the woman responsible for terrorist attacks around the world he was still brainwashed and working for the Russians and she was a young girl whose parents he had just murdered in front of her.

Once Fury fills him in on how bad things have gotten thanks to this Russian-bred madwoman enhanced by the same Cosmic Rays which gave the Fantastic Four their powers, Bucky and S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Joe Robards have no choice but to risk their lives by heading into space, sneaking aboard the woman’s cloaked satellite and eliminating the threat once and for all.

After the heavy set-up, questionable plot choices, and goofy island of assassins, writer Jason LaTour finally seems to be settling down with the character. Winter Soldier #17 has a Bond-like quality (even if that Bond is Moonraker), that fans of the character may enjoy. For fans.

[Marvel, $2.99]

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Super Dinosaur #18

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Super Dinosaur #18The latest issue of Super Dinosaur gives us the destruction of Castle Maximus, the rescue of Julianna Dynamo, the capture of Max Maximus, and the birth of the series’ new villain Tyrannosaurus X (who is ever bit as awesome as his name would suggest).

The comic begins with the destruction of Maximus’ home base just as Super Dinosaur and his team were preparing their assault, putting all the heroes a bit on edge throughout the rest of the comic, particularly Derek who still can’t remember his mother even after the team finds her comatose body (possibly foreshadowing more twists to this story?).

The best part of Super Dinosaur #18 is the evolution of Minimus into the far more deadly threat of Tyrannosaurus X. Aside from looking pretty cool, the character’s unique match of brains and brawn gives the series a legitimate super-villain whose far more interesting, and threatening, than Maximus. His addition also pumps some new life into a comic that at times (despite it’s absurdly awesome premise) has felt a little stale. Worth a look.

[Image, $2.99]

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