Comics

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Nine #20

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Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Nine #20Friendship is at the crux of the latest issue of Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Nine as one of the Scoobies returns and another will make a choice that may leave his relationship with the Slayer forever damaged. Willow returns with a little newfound magic power (which I’m guessing she got in that recent mini-series I couldn’t be bothered enough to read).

Willow’s return and the return of her bestie’s magic mojo gives Buffy hope that they might be able to save Dawn from the magic (or lack of) which is killing her. Still blaming Buffy for Dawn’s condition, Xander is offered a second alternative to help his girlfriend. Despite dismissing the the offer, he eventually caves and agrees to help Severin and Simone get what they need to stop Twilight from ever happening (which, when you think of how monumentally Season Eight went of the rails, may not be that much of a betrayal).

I’m not sure I like Xander as Judas, especially betraying Buffy to a coldblooded killer like Simone, but I’m willing to wait and let this play out. Worth a look.

[Dark Horse, $2.99]

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The Shadow #11

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The Shadow #11The “Revolutionary” story arc comes to an end with The Shadow exposing El Rey as nothing more than a puppet of the Black Sparrow who was using the figurehead, and further destabilizing all of Spain, for nothing more than the cold hard cash lining her pocket book.

Despite the pair’s obvious attraction, and the Black Sparrow’s offer of partnership, The Shadow continues his role as “Fate’s triggerman” by doing a dance of death with his adversary on the castle walls on last time before avoiding temptation and steeling himself for a hard decision which makes it unlikely we’ll see the Sparrow again anytime soon.

I’ve enjoyed this arc by the series’ new creative team, even if I am a bit sad to see the Sparrow go away so quickly. I do like how his decision weighs heavy on Lamont Cranston once he returns home to the comforting arms of Margo Lane. Now we’ll have to wait and see what new trouble awaits his alter-ego in New York City. Worth a look.

[Dynamite Entertainment, $3.99]

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G.I. JOE: The Cobra Files #1

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G.I. JOE: Cobra Files #1The newest of IDW’s G.I. JOE titles centers around Chameleon, a former agent of Cobra now working for the good guys in an usual JOE team which includes Flint, Lady Jaye, Clockspring, and another former member of Cobra who tried to kill Chameleon several times in the past – Tomax.

Based out of Tomax’s casino the group works covertly to take out Cobra threats around the world. In this first issue the JOEs successfully liberate enslaved children in Vietnam and then, based on Tomax’s intel, turn their attention to the former head of Cobra’s amphibious assault squadron – Copperhead. This mission doesn’t go according to plan when the Chameleon is forced to kill Copperhead and almost dies herself from the wrong end of a shotgun held by the former Cobra agent’s son.

G.I. JOE: Cobra Files assembles an unusual assortment of characters for this team. I’m not sure there’s enough to keep me coming back every single month, but I may pop in from time to time to see how Chameleon and her team are fairing. For fans.

[IDW, $3.99]

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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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