Comics

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Nine #18

/ / Comics

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Nine #18Buffy, Illyria, and Koh work together to take down Severin, but things get a little complicated when they discover what he’s after (Illyria’s power) and why (to rip apart the fabric of space and time and change the past to save his girlfriend’s life).

The issue also includes Xander‘s growing frustration with Dawn‘s mysterious illness (which apparently is leading to another “let’s trap Dawn in another goofy body” storyline), and the continuing misadventures of Billy the would-be Slayer who continues to investigate Buffy’s disappearance that left Billy and Detective Dowling at the mercy of a mob of zompires.

The Billy story aside, the comic works well as Severin’s motives (if not his logic) are easily understood and Illyria’s ego certainly hasn’t been damaged too much for her time in Los Angeles. However, the last few panels make me a little concerned that the old one’s time in Season Nine may be very short-lived. Worth a look.

[Dark Horse, $2.99]

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Morning Glories #24

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morning-glories-24-coverThe latest super-sized issue of Morning Glories centers around Ike‘s relationship with his estranged father Abraham. Over the course of the issue we’re shown several flashbacks of Ike and his father including the first time the young man murdered him.

With Abraham now a prisoner of Mr. Gribbs, the Morning Glories Academy stooge tries to pressure Ike into killing his father again (this time a little more permanently) by threatening the life of Jade should he refuse. By the end of the issue Ike’s cunning wins out, but it also leaves both Jade and his father in a precarious situation as the young man demands the answers to questions that have been kept from him his entire life.

Although Morning Glories #24 doesn’t answer any of the big questions the series has kept under wraps for two years it does provide some background to Ike and one hell of a cliffhanger that should promise real answers whenever the comic returns to this storyline. Worth a look.

[Image, $3.99]

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Ame-Comi Girls #5 (featuring Supergirl)

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Ame-Comi Girls #5 (featuring Supergirl)After a brief introduction of the destruction of Krypton, the final issue of Ame-Comi Girls picks up from last month’s cliffhanger as Power Girl and the newly arrived Supergirl fight against a female force of Manhunters is put on hold by the arrival of Brainiac.

The Manhunters free the two Kryptonians to help prevent the destruction of Earth and get a little help with the arrival of the Flash, Steel, Catwoman, and Robin. However, things get far more complicated when Braniac bends Supergirl to her will with the use of Black Kryptonite (and a costume quick change) and sends Supergirl out to stop the heroes.

Once again this all-female version of the DCU provides tons of action and a sense of craziness and goofiness missing in far to much of the New 52. The issue ends with the promise of an all new series beginning next week and a Dark Supergirl/Wonder Woman throwdown to kick things off. Worth a look.

[DC, $3.99]

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Worlds’ Finest #9

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Worlds' Finest #9When Karen Starr‘s private island is invaded by a group of masked thieves it falls on a wounded Huntress to suit up and stop them from stealing her best friend’s technology.

The main story works well, but the flashbacks to earlier adventures of Helena and Karen are only slightly tied to the new tale and don’t add anything of significance other than to take up several pages which could be used for the main story. And once again it takes several artists to take over half the artist duties from the missing Kevin Maguire. The result of which are better than last month but still more mixed than I’d like.

Things do pick up in the end with the arrival of Power Girl and the reveal of who the thieves are actually working for. Although the prospect of Mr. Terrific showing up doesn’t do much to excite me, it is a nice twist and it looks like the comic is finally ready to deal with Karen Starr’s relationship to the hero whose pretty much disappeared from the New 52 since his book was cancelled. For fans.

[DC, $2.99]

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Winter Soldier #15

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Winter Soldier #15The first issue launching a new creative team and direction for the characters of the Winter Soldier is a little disappointing. Writer Jason LaTour takes over for Ed Brubaker whose overseen nearly all of Bucky Barnes best moments since his return to comics (at Brubaker’s hands) in 2005.

LaTour has to deal with the fallout of a broken-hearted Bucky whose lost the love of his life due to the mad plans of a Soviet sleeper agent. Without the Black Widow, however, an even more morose than usual Bucky is a far less interesting character.

The comic does include an appearance by the Nick Fury (a rarity in Marvel Comics these days) and a new assignment that ties back into his road to redemption involving saving a longtime undercover S.H.I.E.L.D. agent inside HYDRA.

While Winter Soldier #15 isn’t all that good neither is it a bad comic. However, it doesn’t do nearly enough the sell me on the new direction for the title or the character. Pass.

[Marvel, $2.99]

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