Comics

Justice League #18

/ / Comics

Justice League #18With the “Throne of Atlantis” storyline complete the Justice League puts together a recruiting drive aboard the Watchtower to expand their ranks. Although the group invites a dozen or so heroes including Old DCU JLA standouts Black Canary, Vixen, Firestorm, and Zatanna, along with Nightwing, Black Lightning, Blue Devil, Element Woman and others, only three make the final cut (and not really the ones I’d have chosen).

The gathering is interrupted by Platinum, the new android by Dr. Magnus (who in the Old DCU created the Metal Men) who runs amok and begins tossing heroes around the space station. Despite the main Leaguers being present, it’s two relative newcomers in Firestorm and a female Atom (who certainly isn’t Ray Palmer or Ryan Choi) who save the day.

The back-up story continues Billy Batson acting like a spineless prick and his continued unwillingness to be a hero despite the power granted to him and Black Adam‘s rampage and gathering of the Seven Deadly Enemies of Man to his side to unleash his evil on the wizard and his new champion. Hit-and-Miss.

[DC, $3.99]

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Justice League of America #2

/ / Comics

Justice League of America #2There’s certainly some improvement here over the atrociously bad first issue. As Green Arrow fights for his life in the medical bay the rest of the team comes together to fight the mysterious threat of the Secret Society of Super-Villains even though, as Steve Trevor points out to Amanda Waller, the team has never worked together, has almost no intel on the threat, and will probably get their asses kicked.

Aside from Waller’s irrational expectations, the second issue of the new Justice League of America has a few other problems as well. The opening shot of the Scarecrow‘s recruitment runs far too long while at the same time being unnecessarily obscure. It’s also unclear why, despite his injuries, why Green Arrow isn’t offered a spot on this team (after risking his life for them).

Issue #2 does have some fun moments, my favorite being the sequence involving Vibe and Hawkman meeting for the first time. Although it’s pretty forced, I also liked the idea of setting up a relationship between Trevor and Catwoman. Hit-and-Miss.

[DC, $2.99]

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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #20

/ / Comics, Television Reviews

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #20The Teenage Mutant Turtles’ adventure in Dimension X comes to a close as Leonardo and Michelangelo take on General Krang to save the King and Queen as Raphael fights alongside the Neurtrino rebels in this action-packed issue.

The fight between Krang and Leo and Mikey is the real standout, although there’s plenty of action for Raphael (who even gets to shoot an alien bazooka). We also get an interesting discussion between Donatello and Professor Honeycutt about the method of transport to and from Dimension X and how that ties into Splinter‘s belief about his family’s reincarnation as they work on finishing the Neutrinos secret weapon.

Although Honeycutt eventually hands himself over to Krang who makes his escape, the Turtles are able to save the King and Queen and make it home safely where Karai has been getting into some mischief of her own on Burnow Island involving some stolen mutigen (perhaps foreshadowing the introduction Rocksteady and Bebop). Worth a look.

[IDW, $3.99]

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Sledgehammer 44 #1

/ / Comics

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

/ / Comics

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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