Comics

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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Fairest #12

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Fairest #12As Rapunzel faces of against the army of bezoars she created years ago to survive at the bottom of the well and use to escape and kill Ryogan, as well as Mayumi who wants her head, Bigby and Frau Totenkinder make their way to Tokyo only to get caught in the middle of Tomoko’s yakuza gangsters and Katagiri’s sumo school.

Things are certainly moving forward here as Rapunzel not only survives her reunion with her bozoars of hate and her run-in with Mayumi, but she’s made stronger by facing the past.

With one issue left to the arc and Tokyo about to erupt in a gang war started by Rapunzel’s old lover Tomoko you have to expect Rapunzel isn’t about to simply take he bozoars and go home. As to what final actions Bigby and that Chesire Cat may have to play, I guess we’ll have to wait one more month to find out. Worth a look.

[Vertigo, $2.99]

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Detective Comics #17

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Detective Comics #17While trying to hunt down and stop the Merrymaker and the League of Smiles before the Joker-obsessed group adds to the list of victims, Batman searches the past of the sadistic Dr. Byron Meredith who once treated all members of the group while employed as a doctor at Arkham Asylum.

Batman tracks the three mentally-unstable members of the League to the Gotham Children’s Hospital where he also finds the Merrymaker and reveals to his fairly angry followers the true reason behind the League’s murder spree. The issue also includes a backup story involving Meredith’s time at Arkham, how he used the Joker to further his own career, and the reasons behind his elaborate hoax.

Unlike much of the endless teasing, Bat-Family bickering, and grotesque nature of Death of the Family, the Merrymaker storlyine involves Batman doing a bit of old fashioned detective work and using his brains to take down another threat to Gotham City. Worth a look.

[DC, $2.99]

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