Comics

Sledgehammer 44 #1

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Sledgehammer 44 #1There’s something very Atomic Robo-ish about this first issue from Mike Mignola and Jason LaTour featuring a battle between men of iron in the middle of WWII (and I mean that as a compliment). Although less wacky than what you’d get from Brian Clevinger and Scott Wegener, this first issue of a two-issue limited series about a man of iron who falls from the sky and the Army unit ordered to look after him is a pretty good read.

Although the art doesn’t quite explain the electric attack our metal hero uses on the Nazi troops and their robot of destruction, I really enjoyed LaTour’s designs. The mysterious man or robot in question, however, isn’t the focus of the issue as much as the unit he saves and who is tasked with keeping him out of the reach of the Nazis when his energy is spent.

I know Dark Horse, and Magnola in particular, like these two and three-issue mini-series, but I’m not sure the comic publisher might not have been better off teasing this and then releasing the whole story in a single old school double-sized issue to complete the nostalgic feel of the comic. For fans.

[Dark Horse, $3.50]

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The Shadow #10

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The Shadow #10The Shadow is forced to leave George Orwell in the capable hands of his sidekick and pilot Miles Crofton when Cranston’s presence is demanded by Major Esmeralda Aguilar and a handful of soldiers who take the traveler to meet the madman who plans to see himself on the throne of Spain when the war ends.

Although taken by force, Cranston is shown every courtesy of a respected guest in El Rey’s castle fortress which allows Lamont time to make plans for later that night when the Shadow makes an unexpected appearance during El Rey’s dinner party killing the maniac’s minions and supporters who plan to help install him on the throne.

Of course the Shadow also has to deal with the Black Sparrow who, although sexually aroused by watching her former lover kill so skillfully, isn’t to pleased when the targets in his sights belong to her boss. The comic ends on a cliffhanger as the Shadow unmasks Del Rey, but we’ll have to wait a month to find out who is under his mask. Worth a look.

[Dynamite, $3.99]

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Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Nine #19

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Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Nine #19The main storyline is put pretty much on hold as Buffy and Koh catch up with the de-powered Illyria who has been completely drained of her powers by Severin. As to the time-shattereing plans of Severin, we’ll have to wait at least another month as the focus shifts back to the B-story and he strange illness which is slowly killing Dawn.

Even without her powers, Illyria quickly diagnoses the problem. The magic used to keep The Key in human form is failing and the mystical energy is slowly leaving Dawn’s body. Which means yet another person close to her may have been irrelevantly harmed by Buffy deciding to destroy The Seed and end magic in this reality.

The issue ends with Buffy taking responsibility for her action which still isn’t enough for Xander who is watching the woman he loves slowly fade away because Buffy and Angel couldn’t keep it in their pants. Despite the dustup, the pair put their issues aside and work together to help save Buffy’s little sister. Worth a look.

[Dark Horse, $2.99]

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Batman #18

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Batman #18I really hope writer Scott Snyder is pulling a fast one on fans because I honestly dread what the Bat-titles may be like if the foreshadowing in Batman #18 holds true. Rather than give us Batman‘s perspective following the loss of his son Damian (even in Batman’s own title we don’t get Batman’s take on the situation?), Snyder gives us an entire issue from the perspective of street rat Harper Row, who, in the spirit of Carrie Kelly, takes to the streets in a costume of her own making to help Batman (whether he wants her help or not). At least it’s not a Robin costume… yet.

As in every single issue where Harper appears, there’s far too much of the character and her brother (whose defining characteristic still seems to be that he’s gay), and not nearly enough Batman. Although barely under control, Batman is running himself ragged and has begun to make small mistakes which cause the young woman to jump into the fray and confront the Dark Knight. The scene of Batman breaking the girl’s nose to teach her a lesson doesn’t play out all the well for either of them (or fans).

…

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Transformers: Regeneration One #89

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Transformers: Regeneration One #89Shockwave and Grimlock in the same comic (and Shockwave even gets the cover)! Yeah, I’ll give that a look. IDW’s Transformers: Regeneration One #89 continues the storyline from the original Marvel Comics series which ended in 1991. In the latest issue, which takes place mostly on Cybertron, Grimlock faces the wrath of his fellow Dinobots for betraying them to Scorponok.

As Grimlock tries to talk and/or beat some sense into his (far too intelligent) Dinobot brothers about his “ingenious” plan to betray the Autobots and release the “warrior gene,” elsewhere on the planet Hod Rod (in, by far, the most ridiculous storyline) discovers a pair of ancient Primus relics which allow him to view and fight the Transformers’ past.

On Earth, Optimus Prime is out for a pleasure drive (really, he doesn’t do anything more in his one page cameo), and on the crashed Ark a battered Decepticon awakens as Shockwave brings his broken memories into focus and plans his next move. For fans.

[IDW, $3.99]

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