Comics

Super Dinosaur #17

/ / Comics

Super Dinosaur #17Derek and Super Dinosaur continue to try and stop the Civil War on the moon by hunting down the missing children of both families in Paris and explaining what their Romeo & Juliet love affair and unexplained disappearance has wrought.

There’s a good amount of action here, including Super Dinosaur breaking out his new Stealth Jet Armor for the first time. While playing on a Shakespearean story, Robert Kirkman certainly doesn’t go too highbrow to turn off his younger readers (both Derek and SD are amused and disgusted to learn the alien bugs eat poop). It’s a little sophomoric (especially as Kirkman brings up the subject multiple times) but certainly not out of character for our heroes.

The comic’s B-story continues Dr. Dynamo’s search for his wife. The final pages bring Derek in on the truth of his missing mother and set the stage for the comic’s next big arc. Worth a look.

[Image, $2.99]

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Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow #21

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Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow #21I’m going to miss this series. As IDW prepares to reboot their entire G.I. JOE franchise with new titles and new collaborative teams, writer Chuck Dixon and artist Robert Atkins provide one final Snake Eyes comic for us to enjoy. In honor of Larry Hama‘s own silent issue of G.I. JOE #21, Dixon and Atkins provide a final Storm Shadow tale that needs no words to tell.

The story involves both the Hard Master and Storm Shadow’s attempts to retrieve a priceless Arashikage blade discovered in the rubble of a construction site. There’s tons of action here including a final staredown between Storm Shadow and the Hard Master as they former teacher and student, at long last, come to an understanding.

Although given recent events there is plenty for the student and teacher to hash out, the comic needs no words to tell the story. Dixon even leaves us with a nice final surprise from our other title character who doesn’t make an appearance here but whose absence is felt in every panel. Must-read.

[IDW, $3.99]

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Batman and Robin Annual #1

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Batman and Robin Annual #1This is more like it. As the Bat-books continue to be mired in Death of a Family we get a short reprieve here with this annual that’s a breath of fresh air. After Damian arranges a scavenger hunt to keep Bruce Wayne and Alfred busy overseas for a few days, Robin creates his own Batman costume (a nod to the future adult version of Damian as Batman presented in Batman #666) and heads out to defend Gotham on his own as Batman.

What’s great about this story is nothing is wasted. Bruce’s trip isn’t a complete waste of time only to get him out of the way as Damian has put the time and the thought into crafting a very emotional journey for his father which should only bring the pair closer together.

And as for a pint-sized Batman ruling the night in Gotham, it’s a blast! Damian truly works in brutal, but Batman-like efficency, and never becomes the isipid murderous twerp some writers use as his fallback setting. I know I have been hard on the Bat-books recently, but this is a perfect example of what they can be when a little joy is inserted into the equation. Must-read.

[DC, $4.99]

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Fables #125

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Fables #125With Bigby and Stinky off on a road trip in the magical car that used to be an evil witch (remember, the one introduced in the opening arc of Fairest) searching for Bigby’s missing cubs, Snow White has her own troubles to deal with with the unexpected arrival of old friends.

There’s quite a bit of fun here involving Bigby learning to drive a flying car that move between various worlds and dimensions (and nearly crash into several of them). Aside from the car, the comic also brings in Briar Rose fresh from her own Fairest arc to spend some quality girl time with the troubled Snow White.

However, Snow White’s troubles are just beginning as Bigby’s wife is surprised by the return of Prince Brandish, “protector of the realm, marshal of the west, and the first and one true husband of Snow White.” I think things are about to get interesting. Worth a look.

[Vertigo, $2.99]

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Winter Soldier #14

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Winter Soldier #14Ed Brubaker’s run on Winter Soldier ends with the final issue of the “Black Widow Hunt.” Although I’m happy to see someone else get a crack at Captain America, I fear Bucky’s status in the Marvel Universe could take a hit with Brubaker’s departure, particularly with the choices he makes here.

The first third of the comic is pretty much set-up and the retelling of Bucky’s war with the Soviet sleeper agent Leo Novokov who has brainwashed the Black Widow into believing she is once again an agent of the KGB. I’m not saying the amount of pages spent on catching everyone up are wasted, but it does mean the final battle between Novokov and the Winter Soldier feels rushed and anti-climactic.

More concerning however is Novokov’s victory. Although the Avengers are able to restore nearly all of Natasha’s memories, they can’t make her remember Bucky at all. Aside from making no sense, this certainly opens up new possibilities for the character (including the teased pairing with Hawkeye to mirror the movie characters), but it also means a huge piece of what made this book work will be absent for the foreseeable future. Worth a look.

[Marvel, $2.99]

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