Comics

Comic Rack

It’s a new week so it must be time to talk about comics! Welcome to the RazorFine Comic Rack boys and girls. Pull up a bean bag and take a seat at feet of the master as we offer you this quick list of all kinds of comic book goodness set to hit comic shops and bookstores this week from all your favorite publishers including DC, Marvel, Dark Horse, Archie, Dynamite, Image Comics, and others.

This week includes Action Comics, Amazing Spider-Man, Animal Man, Deadpool, Defenders, Dial H, Earth 2, Epic Kill, Fairest, First X-Men, Garfield, G.I. JOE, Green Lantern, Hawkeye, Harvest, The Lone Ranger, The Mighty Thor, Mind the Gap, Muppets, Near Death, Phantom Stranger, The Punisher, Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?, Spawn, Stormwatch, Venom, Worlds’ Finest, X-Factor, the first issues of Fashion Beast, Damsels, Guarding the Globe, Peter Cannon: Thunderbolt, Road to Oz, and the final issue of Night Force.

Enjoy issue #189

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The Lone Ranger: Snake of Iron #2

the-lone-ranger-snake-of-iron-2-coverIn the second issue of the new Lone Ranger mini-series Tonto‘s train comes under attack from the Kiowa tribe whose chief wants the return of his son. But it turns out that’s impossible as the chief’s son is dead and the child being passed off for him is nothing more than a ruse.

Meanwhile, in the other storyline, the Lone Ranger comes to the aid of Lily Travers, the troublesome reporter who got herself captured by outlaws. With an explosion, and a little theatricality, the Ranger manages to take down the outlaws, free the woman, and hold the prisoners for the eventual arrival of soldiers from Fort Griffin.

Although the issue jumps around quite a lot, and doesn’t flow nearly as well as I’d like, both stories advance forward. Given Tonto’s desperate need for aid it would be in everyone’s best interest for the two separate stories to converge in the next issue (although I’m betting it will take at least one additional issue before this happens). Worth a look.

[Dynamite Entertainment, $3.99]

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Phantom Lady and Doll Man #1

The reintroduction of a Golden Age character and a cover that resembled something published by Image Comics rather than the grittier version of DC’s current New 52 piqued my interest enough to pick this one up. It’s not exactly what I expected.

Based on the cover and title I was hoping for a somewhat goofy adventure/super-hero comic. What writers Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti deliver instead is organized crime comic centered around a completely brand new character who steals most of the backstory of the second (and now shelved) version of the Huntress – Helena Bertinelli. Seriously, it’s almost the exact same origin including the young girl watching her father die gangster style from the shadows and growing up seeking vigilante justice.

Phantom Lady was originally introduced way back in the Golden Age by Quality Comics in 1941. Over the years there have been several versions of the character including three different characters using the name in the DCU after DC Comics acquired the rights to the character in 1956.

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Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow #16

snake-eyes-and-storm-shadow-16-cover“Serpents Shadow” concludes as Cobra Commander springs his trap on Storm Shadow and Rika. All Snake Eyes must do to let the Arashikage Clan fall is to do nothing, but that’s the one thing he simply can’t do. Springing into action Snake Eyes saves Rika, whether she wants him to or not. With Arashikage lost to him, the new Cobra Commander looks to fill the void by enlisting the aid of Serpentor and the Coil to be his new group of spies and assassins.

Although he makes it out alive, and with Storm Shadow, Rika is mortally wounded. Only in her final moments does she understand the kind of man her distrust wouldn’t allow her to see. But despite her last second change of heart, the plans she set in motion by uniting her son and the Soft Master (an old teacher and enemy of Snake Eyes) against the JOE.

Another strong issue full of action and flashbacks to Snake Eyes younger days with the clan. Although I’m a little sad to see Rika leave so soon, her death certainly puts several other story elements in play, meaning the next few months should be very interesting. Worth a look.

[IDW, $3.99]

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Young Justice #19

Young Justice #19The latest issue of Young Justice concludes the Gorilla City arc including giving us an origin of the city unique to the title. The issue also stands out as the final issue with the original team as Robin‘s case notes transition to a final panel revealing Nightwing thinking back on the adventure. This means starting next month the comic, like the show, will move forward with the “Invasion” storyline set five-years in the future.

Although I’m not thrilled by the rewriting of the origin of Gorrilla City to be nothing more than the effects of the Ultra-Humanite and the Brain experimenting on gorillas in Africa, the story centainly plays out well within that design as the team works alongside Gorilla Grodd to stop the super-villains which leads to the creation of Gorilla City.

We get Grodd, the final adventure with the original core team, and even cameos by Congrilla and Nightwing. That should be enough to warrant fans picking this one up. Worth a look.

[DC, $2.99]

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