Comics

G.I. JOE #20

/ / Comics

G.I. JOE #20Betrayal is the name of the game as the events of “Target: Snake Eyes” begin to wind down and Scarlett and the JOEs head deep into the Cambodian jungles to jump into the battle between the Arashikage Clan and the Coil. By the end of the issue both forces will be bloodied with severe loses on both sides, just as Snake Eyes planned.

Snake Eyes makes it into the temple just in time to save Helix and escape in one piece, despite having issues to settle with both Storm Shadow and Tomo who shows up to kill the JOE for the Soft Master who has been whispering sweet lies into the young man’s ears. Although Tomo doesn’t get the vengeance he sought against the JOE, he does find some retribution in blinding the Soft Master for playing him for a fool.

With his forces depleted, but still better off than the Coil (who lost nearly 2,000 men in their attempt to destroy the Arashikage), Storm Shadow allows his sword brother to leave. Matters are far from settled between them as “Target: Snakes” concludes with a throwdown between the two in the next issue of Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow. Worth a look.

[IDW, $3.99]

G.I. JOE #20 Read More »

Fairest #10

/ / Comics

Fairest #10Three issues into “The Hidden Kingdom,” after Rapunzel has been temporarily abandoned by Joel in Japan after fleeing from her former lover Tomoko (by way of orgasm), the storyline finally fills in the back story explaining Rapunzel’s distrust of men (and mother figures), her pregnancy, and the loss of her infant twin daughters whom she has search for over the centuries.

The latest issue, the end of which marks the halfway point of this arc and delivers our first look at Rapunzel’s “children,” includes a pretty cool giant cat (of the Cheshire variety), a long train ride, assassins, Bigby Wolf, quite a bit of back story for our hairy heroine, and Rapunzel facing her revenge.

Although the cliffhanger works pretty well, the story behind it isn’t as clear as I’d like (especially for an issue that finally spends time to explain the past and motives of our main character). However, once again Fairest delivers one of the best comics of the month. I wouldn’t expect anything less. If you aren’t reading this comic you are missing out on one of the few bright spots in comics this year. Worth a look.

[Vertigo, $2.99]

Fairest #10 Read More »

The Lone Ranger #11

/ / Comics

the-lone-ranger-vol-2-11-coverAfter spending several issues exploring Tonto‘s past before he met the Masked Man, The Lone Ranger #11 returns to the “present” to focus on the Lone Ranger‘s struggle to get his wounded friend the medical attention he so desperately needs.

The warriors of the Ute tribe would prefer to kill the Ranger, and the elders seem perfectly willing to turn him away, but the Masked Man argues persuasively for the life of his friend. However, to save Tonto he’ll have to work with the braves to save the Ute medicine woman from local Mormons.

What should be a relatively simple mission is complicated by the braves’ double-cross and a second twist involving the identity of the doctor the Ranger doesn’t see coming.

I was hoping the flashbacks would take us up to the first meeting of the Lone Ranger and Tonto, but with only one issue left in the arc we may not get to see writer Ande Parks’ take on the famous scene following the death of all but one Ranger at the hands of Butch Cavendish. For fans.

[Dynamite Entertainment, $3.99]

The Lone Ranger #11 Read More »

Worlds’ Finest #7

/ / Comics

worlds-finest-new-52-7-coverThe children of Batman team-up to take on a werewolf. Seriously, what’s not to like? The Huntress, Damian, and Power Girl team-up set out to discover who (other than Helena) has been siphoning off huge amounts of cash from Wayne Enterprises.

As Power Girl heads to the Congo, where she runs into child soldiers armed with Apokolips weaponry, Damian and the Huntress come to an understanding while fighting off a pack of wolves, the bitter cold, and a werewolf while teaming up to do their own investigating.

When the comic introduced Damian last month I wondered if the plan was to allow Helena to step into the big sister role a character like Damian sorely needs (which was filled by Stephanie Brown before the New 52 reboot). I really enjoyed the two together, including Damian’s promise to keep her secret – even from Batman. I hope we get to see more of the pairing in the future. Worth a look.

[DC, $2.99]

Worlds’ Finest #7 Read More »

The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes #9

/ / Comics

marvel-universe-avengers-earths-mightiest-heroes-9-coverAlthough I’ve grown disinterested in Marvel’s Avengers titles as of late, with the fallout of AvX and the newly relaunched title by writer Jonathan Hickman (neither of which I enjoyed), I have been a fan of Marvel’s animated The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes cartoon and the cover of this issue promised the kind of Avengers story I was interested in reading. I wasn’t disappointed.

The first story involves Thor and Ms. Marvel (wearing her classic costume) taking on a long-dormant Skrull killing machine who attacks the pair when it recognizes Ms. Marvel’s powers come from Kree origins. The one-upsmanship between the mighty Thor and the mighty Ms. Marvel is a lot of fun.

The back-up story involves the Black Widow and the Wasp sneaking into Doctor Doom‘s laboratory to rescue a pair of scientists whose work Doom is corrupting to turn into a biological weapon. Complete with insane escape, quarreling scientists, and Doombots, it proves to be just as much fun. Worth a look.

[Marvel, $2.99]

The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes #9 Read More »