Comics

Morning Glories #25

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Morning Glories #25Billed as the “Season Finale,” the double-sized Morning Glories #25 fills in several missing scenes, while revisiting others, from the first two dozen issues of the comic’s run. There are no big revelations (except this one), but we do get some clarity on a handful of the characters’ motivations (particularly those of Abraham and Irina).

Hisao (who is really Jun) dies in his brother’s arms, Abraham is forced to reveal more than he’d like to Ike who is holding the current version of Jade hostage, and Irina’s true mission is revealed to the rest of her group when Guillame reveals that Irina isn’t hear to save Abraham but to kill his son (which, according to how she reads the situation, is the only way to save them all).

Hunter is saved by an older version of Jade who gets him to uses his mysterious ability to try and set the events, which are currently spiraling out of control, back on their natural path. However, it’s the one character (Casey) whose story isn’t touched on here who we learn is the key to everything. Worth a look.

[Image, $3.99]

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The Flash #18

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The Flash #18Things are going pretty well for Barry Allen. He’s in a committed relationship with a woman who knows his secret, the Flash is back in the good graces of Central City, and he’s working to get his old job as a police scientist back. However, there are still issues for the Scarlet Speedster to solve including helping repair the damage of the the ape attack, looking into who might be framing the Trickster for murder, and watching out for a pair of would-be super-heroes enhanced by their time trapped in the Speed Force.

Brian Buccellato takes over the sole writing duties for this issue and Marcio Takara steps in to do the artwork for a missing Francis Manapul giving the comic a sleeker look. The art is good, but the layered panels that flow into each other, which the comic is known for, don’t quite have the same zip.

Even with Manapul’s abscence the comic works pretty well, although I’m less sure of the storyline that unfolds concerning the Outlander Nation or Barry Allen inexplicably suddenly loosing his powers (I’m also less than pleased I have to read the next issue of Dial H to apparently find out the cause). Worth a look.

[DC, $3.99]

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Green Hornet #1

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Green Hornet #1Writer Mark Waid launches a new Green Hornet series for Dynamite Entertainment and the first issue is a must-read. Set in November of 1941, Green Hornet #1 reintroduces the characters of the Green Hornet and Kato while providing narration from a far older version of Britt Reid looking back at the heyday of his career as he fought crime both as the owner of the Daily Sentinel and as a masked crime fighter masquerading as a crime lord.

The first issue deals with Britt Reid taking on both a corrupt State Senator and the Governor while the Green Hornet works at night to clean up the streets. Waid works in language of the time while allowing an older Britt to explain the basis of the Hornet and his world. Artist Daniel Indro adds some nice touches of his own by working several Daily Sentinel headlines into the comic to help tell the story.

Waid is a great storyteller and, together with Indro, has found a new character to revitalize. Fans of the character should enjoy this fresh, yet certainly old-school, retelling of the Green Hornet’s adventures. Best of the week.

[Dynamite Entertainment, $3.99]

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Guardians of the Galaxy #1

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Guardians of the Galaxy #1The new adventures of Star-Lord, Rocket Raccoon, Gamora, Groot, and Drax begins with Peter Quill receiving a surprise visit from his estranged father and a warning that Earth has been deemed off-limits to all extra-terrestrials. Realizing such a bold pronouncement would only paint a bullseye on his homeworld, the Guardians of the Galaxy head into the Milky Way where they find Iron Man, in his spiffy new space armor, fighting off an entire battleship of Badoon.

After a pretty good reintroduction to Peter Quill (and his major daddy issues) the comic ramps up the action pretty fast as Iron Man and the Guardians work together to stop whatever the Badoon have planned. The good news is the group is successful. The bad news is the Guardians crash land on Earth, immeadiately violating the treaty his father just signed (which may have been his plan all along).

A strong first issue, even if Quill and (to a lesser extent Iron Man) get the spotlight shone of them far more than the rest of the team.

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Batman Incorporated #9

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Batman Incorporated #9As Batman, Alfred, Nightwing, and Red Robin lay Damian Wayne to rest Grant Morrison’s craptastic Leviathan storyline continues. Talia, her overgrown clone of a son, and the Leviathan troops are in control of Wayne Enterprises and issue demands for Batman to be banned from Gotham City and all of Batman Incorporated’s operations around the world to cease immediately.

Sure I could sit here and rip apart Grant Morrission’s “plot,” such as how Leviathan could ever make good on their threats, or the near-impossibility of removing all likenesses of Batman from a city in eight hours. Or I could simply point out the writer’s usual brand of mumbo-jumbo that the writer uses in place of actual plot.

Or I might mention how ridiculous the events covered in this storyline appear when (aside from Damian’s death) are completely being ignored in EVERY OTHER BATBOOK. You’d think Gotham under siege of a terrorist organization run by Batman’s former lover might be something that would effect other Batman-related comics.

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