Comics

Daredevil #22

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Daredevil #22Daredevil #22 is one of two Marvel comics released this week where the new “superior” Spider-Man (Doc Ock‘s brain in Peter Parker’s body) fights with, and against, other heroes of the Marvel Universe who are more than a little slow in figuring out this isn’t their Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man.

As with the latest issue of Avenging Spider-Man (where Spidey fights with Wolverine) our hero runs into someone with the ability to definitively determine the body is indeed Peter Parker. However in a world where mind control is common (see Winter Soldier), no one even suspects for an instant that Peter Parker might not be in control.

This issue features Daredevil vs. pseudo-Spider-Man who was sicked on Daredevil by Kristen McDuffie. The pair break it up long enough to take on an enhanced Stilt-Man before finally making peace with one another. Mark Waid also throws in an alternate explanation for Foggy Nelson‘s recent behavior. Although no more logical, it does open the door for an entirely new story for Daredevil and his best friend. For fans.

[Marvel, $2.99]

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Ame-Comi Girls #4 (featuring Power Girl)

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Ame-Comi Girls #4The latest issue of Ame-Comi Girls (the alternate reality digital comics female-centric version of the DCU) takes us to the futuristic city of Metropolis whose heroine Power Girl saves Daily Planet reporter Jimmy Olsen from Somali Pirates before taking on giant robots and dealing with the unexpected arrival of a female force of Manhunters and her cousin Supergirl.

In a world without a Superman, Power Girl works really well. Our heroine uses advanced Kryptonian technology to truly make Metropolis a city of the future but still has to deal with a xenophobic element that wants the alien (no matter how helpful she is) out of their city. She also kicks quite a bit of ass.

The retelling of Supergirl’s origin isn’t tweaked too much, but before out two super-powered Kryptonian females can get to know each other they’ve got an army of Manhunters to deal with. Goofy? Yeah, but it’s an awful lot of fun and I’m certainly willing to stick around to see where things go from here. Worth a look.

[DC, $3.99]

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Batman #16

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batman-new-52-16-coverAnd I’m done. Writer Scott Snyder built up an extreme amount of good will with me with his terrific run on Detective Comics before the New 52 reboot. Shifting over to Batman with the launch of New 52 he’s delivered some individually strong issues but several forgettable and some downright bad issues as well. None, however, have lowered the bar more than Batman #16.

I’ve argued often that the entire New 52 seems to have been made off the gritty and hugely popular Arkham Asylum video game. DC proves me correct in this issue where it actually becomes Arkaham Asylum as the Dark Knight enters a Joker-controlled Arkham to stop the madman’s latest plans.

The Death of the Family issues dealing directly with the Joker have only gotten worse as the months have dragged on, finally hitting rock bottom here in this NC-17 horror fetish fantasy that’s so far removed from classic Batman stories it’s nearly unrecognizable. For those who enjoy it I’m leaving it to you. Mr. Snyder thanks for the memories, but I’m getting off this particular roller coaster with this issue. Pass.

[DC, $3.99]

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Worlds’ Finest #8

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Despite delivering the cover this month, the art of Kevin Magquire is nowhere to be found inside the pages of the latest issue of Worlds’ Finest. Up until the issue the art duties had been split equally between Maguire and George Perez. Although Perez is on-hand to draw most of the Huntress‘ storyline in this issue, Power Girl‘s art has been handed over to a pair of other artists giving the latest comic a somewhat mismatched look.

When Helena is wounded by an assassin looking to cash-in on Ibn Hassan’s bounty, Power Girl takes it on herself to have a little talk with Hassan and force him to reconsider the billion dollar death mark he put on her best friend.

Despite having two separate artist working on the Power Girl story it actually works better than the Huntress intro that does little more than set-up Kara’s quest to keep her friend safe. It also reminds us just how powerful (no pun intended) Power Girl is when she isn’t fighting radioactive monsters from Apocalypse. For fans.

[DC, $2.99]

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Scarlet Spider #13

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Scarlet Spider #13This is a comic about a deranged faulty clone of Peter Parker given a second chance as a hero in Houston by using the moniker of the man he spent the better part of his life hunting and torturing. But Scarlet Spider #13 is where things get a little weird.

The comic returns to the story of Aracely, the telepathic young woman Kaine saved at the beginning of the series. As Kaine systematically works through destroying the human trafficking ring that brought the young woman to Houston those in charge of the operation, Carlos and Esmeralda Lobo, show up to retrieve their property.

Between Kaine taking out the smuggling lowlifes and fighting off the werewolves who have come to collect Aracely (yeah, this one has werewolves) we get a bizarre dream sequences of the telepathic young woman full of Mayan imagery and predestination. But we’ll have to wait at least a month to figure out what it all means and just how a bloodied and beaten Scarlet Spider survives being eaten alive by werewolves. Worth a look.

[Marvel, $2.99]

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