Comics

Comic Rack

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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 All-Star Western, Amazing Spider-Man, Aquaman, Astonishing X-Men, Batman: The Dark Knight, Brilliant, Chew, Cobra, Deadpool, Fables, Fantastic Four, The Flash, Green Hornet, Hulk, Irredeemable, Near Death, No Place Like Home, Orchid, Powers, Rebel Blood, Snake Eyes & Storm Shadow, Superman, Teen Titans, Vampirella, Youngblood, the first issues of Batman Incorporated, Godzilla, Mind MGNT, Resident Alien, Star Wars: Darth Vader and The Ghost Prison, True Blood, and the final issue of Magic: The Gathering.

Enjoy issue #177

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Justice League #9

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justice-league-9-new-52-coverAs Batman calls in Superman and Cyborg to help quash an uprising in Arkham Asylum caused by The Key, The Flash, Green Lantern, and Wonder Woman take down the Weapons Master who was terrorizing Central City. Although they don’t realize it, both attacks are connected to the mysterious Graves who is amassing information about all the league’s members.

Near death and running out of time, Graves kidnaps and tortures Steve Trevor for information about the League and how to get into their satellite. When the torture doesn’t work Graves threatens the soldier’s family to get what he wants.

The return of artist Jim Lee means the overall quality of the art improves, but once again we get odd group shots where characters are presented and posturing at odd angles while in battle or attempting to communicate with each other. The back-up story gives us Billy standing up for his foster siblings (but still being a jerk), and Sivana unearthing a mystical tomb. It’s certainly not great, but for JL fans it is worth a look.

[DC, $3.99]

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Avengers vs. X-Men #4

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avengers-vs-x-men-4-coverThe fourth-issue of Marvel’s big summer event only moves forward the larger story in a minuscule way as the Phoenix Force awaits in space above Earth. However, Avengers vs. X-Men #4 does give give us a face-to-face confrontation between Hope Summers and Wolverine as the mutant messiah attempts to convince the man who wants her dead that she should be given the opportunity to try and control the Phoenix Force.

With frozen beers and a well-reasoned argument Hope convinces Logan to help get her to the moon where she can confront the looming cosmic entity. Although Logan agrees, he proves to have other motives leading to another confrontation between Marvel’s two marquee teams on the surface of the moon.

The comic does a good job by showcasing how powerful the Phoenix Force is (it takes down Thor and the rest of the space-fairing Avengers with little effort), and Hope’s early scenes with Wolverine work really well, but Logan’s multiple turns are a little awkward and far too rushed.

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Batman and Robin #9

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batman-and-robin-new-52-9-coverDamian gets his first solo mission of the New 52 in this “Night of the Owls” tie-in issue as he’s sent to protect Major General Benjamin Burrows from a being the latest victim of the Court of Owls.

Although it’s not a bad issue, Damian taking control of a small squad of soldiers to save their wounded leader, for Damian’s first big adventure on his own it’s far from memorable. The dialogue of Damian convincing the soliders to take his orders, and eventually lead them is pretty damn awkward. I’m also not totally sold on the art by Lee Garbett which in some panels feels a little too goofy for so serious a storyline.

If you’re only picking this up as a “Night of Owls” tie-in you could probably give it a pass. If, however, you’re a fan of Damian (even the New 52 version) there’s enough here to keep your interest, at least for awhile. For fans.

[DC, 2.99]

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Captain America #11

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captain-america-11-coverDum Dum Dugan and Diamondback discover that someone out there, posing as the new Scourge, is killing former terrorists and minor super-villains who are now protected witnesses for S.H.I.E.L.D. Okay, it turns out they aren’t that well protected.

A little digging into the leak leads to the discovery of an even bigger problem when Captain America finds a HYDRA infiltrator in to the echelons of S.H.I.E.L.D. Meanwhile the group tries to narrow down the list of potential targets the new Scourge may hit next which leads to a confrontation between the assassin and Diamondback and the murder of another witness.

I like the inclusion of Dugan and Dimondback here, the later (given she’s a former super-villain) will have a real stake in the case. Scourge, in one for or another, has been around forever in the Marvel Universe to help trim the fat. I’m intrested to see how writer Ed Brubaker uses the character in this new arc. Worth a look.

[Marvel, $3.99]

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