Comics

Worlds’ Finest #10

/ / Comics

Worlds' Finest #10After the attack on her island by members of Holt Industries last month, Power Girl decides to give her former boyfriend a little payback using her powers to create natural disasters around his most valuable facilities including even causing a small earthquake which accidentally gets a little out of hand.

As Power Girl cleans up the mess she started from spreading any further, the Huntress does some digging on her own and finds out that Michael Holt is Mr. Terrific. The celebration of the successful mission will have to be put on hold as the Huntress learns of Damian‘s death and barely gets away before Batman finds her crying at Robin’s grave.

After missing for several months Kevin Maguire is back, and for the first time in the series’ near year-long run he’s the only artist on display giving the comic a much more cohesive look than usual. I like the idea of Power Girl being far more hot-headed and mischievous in using her powers than either Superman or Supergirl while pointing out what the ramifications of that would look like. The scenes with Huntress grieving over Damian are also handled with care. Worth a look.

[DC, $2.99]

Worlds’ Finest #10 Read More »

Age of Ultron #1

/ / Comics

Age of Ultron #1I have absolutely no idea what the point of this comic is supposed to be. Marvel’s ten-issue event begins here with only the smallest appearance of it’s leading villain. What we do get is some weird dystopian alternate reality (think Age of Apocalypse but half-assed and really crappy) where the world has fallen to Ultron and D-list villains like the Owl are powerful enough to take down Spider-Man.

Nearly the entire issue is dedicated to Hawkeye‘s bloody rescue of Spider-Man from the Owl and his goons. Making it back to Avengers headquarters we briefly meet far-less heroic versions of Iron Man, Luke Cage, and She-Hulk. Along with Wolverine and Emma Frost it appears the heroes of this world have nearly given up as Ultron reigns supreme and Captain America lacks the will to lead his team into action.

Aside from being extremely violent, unnecessarily gritty, and all around unenjoyable, this first issue is also rather pointless as we don’t really spend any time getting to know any of these versions of classic Marvel characters. Maybe they’re saving that for the next nine issues. God help us all. Pass.

[Marvel, $3.99]

Age of Ultron #1 Read More »

Winter Soldier #16

/ / Comics

Winter Soldier #16After saving the life of rogue S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Joe Robards, the Winter Soldier and his new friend search for leads by heading to an isolated island in the middle of nowhere where the former head of the Red Room has set up a school for young assassins known as The Orphanage.

Although the story is pretty straightforward the reason behind the team-up of Robards and Bucky is less so (even if Bucky keeps the fact that he murdered the man’s handler years ago to himself), as is their final objective. A short conversation between Maria Hill and the retired, but very much still active, Nick Fury suggests the “Electric Ghost” at the end of Bucky’s journey will be another ghost from his past.

The island of misfit assassins is more goofy than frightening and the objectives of Bucky’s new mission are murky at best. Two issues in new writer Jason LaTour has done little to help sell me on the comic’s new direction. It’s not a bad issue, but there’s not much offered here to make me pick up next month’s comic. Hit-and-Miss.

[Marvel, $2.99]

Winter Soldier #16 Read More »

47 Ronin #3

/ / Comics

47 Ronin #3Writer Mike Richardson and artist Stan Sakai’s retelling of the classic Japanese legend continues as the loyal samurai to Lord Asano learn about the seizure of his lands and make plans to set things right by their lord’s widow and restore his honor.

The samurai agree not to fight the forces who show up to claim the lands for the man responsible for their lord’s death. Instead they scatter as ronin and wait in secret, first for news that the petition to the Emperor has been successful, and when that fails to continue to wait and prepare to strike back and get revenge for Asano.

Three issues in 47 Ronin is still quite a bit of politics and set-up without delivering much action. That said, the story is well told and I’m willing to read anything drawn by Sakai (although I prefer it to center around a rabbit with a samurai sword). Worth a look.

[Dark Horse, $3.99]

47 Ronin #3 Read More »

Detective Comics #18

/ / Comics

Detective Comics #18Although the cover suggests this issue to be centered around the fallout of the death of Damian, Detective Comics #18 is far more concerned with continuing to tell the Emperor Penguin storyline. Damian’s absence, although felt, is only really addressed in a handful of panels.

The continuation of the Emperor Penguin storyline gives us Ogilvy in complete control of the Penguin‘s former empire as well as a new partnership between the Emperor Penguin and Zsasz who has his own score to settle with Cobblepot. The issue also includes a backup story focused on filling us in on the New 52 origin of Zsasz and how his partnership with Ogilvy came about.

Although the comic touches on Damian’s death I expected far more. Batman kicks some ass and finally takes down Cobblepot. Zsasz’s new origin story aside (which is ridiculously simple even for a comic book) the Emperor Penguin storyline works well enough here and by the end delivers a new weapon to Ogilvy to help cement his power base – the Man-Bat formula. Worth a look.

[DC, $3.99]

Detective Comics #18 Read More »