Comics

Winter Soldier #16

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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]

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47 Ronin #3

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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]

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Detective Comics #18

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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]

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Ame-Comi Girls #1

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Ame-Comi Girls #1The all-new Ame-Comi Girls series picks up with the last one left off with Earth’s heroes (or to be more specific the all female Ame-Comi versions of them) united to stop Braniac‘s attack on Earth. As Wonder Woman battles a Supergirl corrupted by the influence of the machine that destroyed her home world, Batgirl tries to foil Braniac’s schemes with nothing more than her wits and smart phone.

After realizing Braniac’s plans to destroy the planet the villainesses join the heroes in fighting off the robotic soldiers and trying (unsuccessfully) to destroy the machines which have risen from deep in the Earth from transferring all human knowledge off-world into Brainiac. Meahwile, at the center of the Earth the right fight takes place as Power Girl, after convincing the mechanical beings living in the Earth’s core to help, takes on Braniac one-on-one.

Although Brainiac’s master plan seems more than a little ridiculous (even by Silver Age standards) this first issue is full of action and some humorous moments (such as Duela‘s amusement of Wonder Woman’s attempt to stab every problem into submission). Worth a look.

[DC, $3.99]

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Uncanny X-Men #2

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Uncanny X-Men #2Before teasing us the huge conflict on the horizon for Scott Summers and his new band of X-Men, the latest issue of Uncanny X-Men takes a step back and deals on the relationships inside the new Charles Xavier’s School for Mutants, particularly that of Cyclops and Emma Frost.

Issue #2 catches us up on the state of Cyclops and Emma’s strained relationship after the fallout of AvX that left both unable to fully control their powers. Although still able to project her thoughts, often without meaning to, Emma’s ability to read other’s minds has not returned. Although no longer romantically involved, it’s obvious the two still care for each other and if Cyclops’ new version of the X-Men is going to work he’s going to have to rely heavily on his former flame.

We also get learn a little more about a couple of Cyclops’ new recruits: Fabio Medina and Tempus (whose wish to see her family send the group back to Australia and, thanks to Magneto‘s betrayal, right into the path of the Avengers). Worth a look.

[Marvel, $3.99]

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