Comics

Red Hood and the Outlaws #8

/ / Comics

red-hood-and-the-outlaws-8-coverThe Red Hood returns to Gotham along with Starfire and Arsenal in an issue that gives us the backstory of Suzie Su and begins to weave Jason Todd back into the Bat-Family (at least for the foreseeable future).

The Outlaws show up Gotham to take down Su who is holding the residents of the Children’s Ward at Gotham General Hospital hostage in order to draw out the Red Hood and take revenge for the murder of her entire clan.

The Suzie Su story works well enough, but the issue is memorable for two other reasons. The first the Red Hood responding to Alfred‘s message for help with the Court of Owls unleashing their assassins across Gotham. The choice of the man Red Hood is supposed to save should make for a fun next issue.

And the second is a small scene between Todd and Tim Drake that suggests the pair have an interesting relationship that may not be sanctioned, or known about, by the Dark Knight Detective. Worth a look.

[DC, $2.99]

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The Shadow #1

/ / Comics

the-shadow-1-coverDynamite Entertainment brings another old-timey public domain hero back into the spotlight with The Shadow written by Garth Ennis with art by Aaron Campbell. As first issues go it’s certainly not going to knock your socks off.

The character of The Shadow has been around since his first radio show back in 1930. Set in the early days of WWII, the comic does a fair job of reintroducing Lamont Cranston and Margo Lane to both old and new readers alike.

Ennis wouldn’t be my first choice to write this character and so far I’m less than impressed with Campbell’s art. The comic certainly takes the character back to his darker roots (fans of the Alec Baldwin version might be surprised by the body count in the first issue).

At best the first issue of The Shadow is a mixed success with a great cover by Alex Ross. Is that enough to keep me reading the title? Maybe, but much like Dynamite’s Green Hornet titles it’s going to have to get better for me to plop down $4 each month. Hit-and-Miss.

[Dynamite Entertainment, $3.99]

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Green Lantern #8

/ / Comics

green-lantern-new-52-8-coverFor a storyline entitled “The Secret of the Indigo Tribe” it’s sure seems like the comic would rather tease us then give us any real answers as to who the Indigo Tribe really is or explain their connection to Abin Sur.

Although the story arc continues to be intentionally vague in order to draw it out over more comics than necessary, it does have some moments including (finally!) showcasing Hal Jordan‘s ingenuity in how he finds away to recharge his ring without a power battery.

Hal’s search for Sinestro leads him into the Indigo Tribe’s sacred temple where he finds a giant statue of Abin Sur as well as altered Sinestro, who is now part of the tribe.

After months of treating him as little more than a guy who never bothered to learn what his ring could really do, writer Geoff Johns finally showcases Hal Jordan and his ability to make it through several Indigo Lanterns with only a partially charged ring. Worth a look.

[DC, $2.99]

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Scarlet Spider #4

/ / Comics

scarlet-spider-4-coverKaine‘s past finally catches up with him as the Assassin’s Guild send several of their most skilled killers to Houston to kill the new Scarlet Spider over an old grudge. Kaine, however, has other plans.

The latest issues is high on action, but the B-story of Doctor Medlund confronting the man who put a hit on him for the death of his wife and baby girl keeps killing the momentum of the main storyline.

Kaine’s unorthodox solution to stopping the assassins by offering to perform one murder for them in the future, at their convenience, certainly isn’t something Peter Parker would do but it reminds us, despite his new career as a super-hero, how Kaine troubleshoots and deals with problems.

We also get yet another person (Annabelle) learning the Scarlet Spider’s secret identity (geez, this guy keeps secrets worse than movie Batman) as well as getting our first glimpse at Aracely‘s hidden talents. Worth a look.

[Marvel, $2.99]

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Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Nine #8

/ / Comics

btvs-season-nine-8-coverThe search to discover the truth behind how Buffy was replaced with a Buffybot with all of the Slayer’s memories leads one-armed mechanical Buffy and Spike to the one person they know with experience in this type of thing – Andrew.

It turns out not only is Andrew responsible for downloading Buffy’s brain and sticking it into a robot, but he did it to help the Slayer. Now the group has to retreive Buffy’s real body (which is living out an idyllic life in the suburbs with no knowledge of who she really is) before someone else finds her. However, they may already be too late.

With the first big Season Nine twist writer Andrew Chambliss keeps going for the unexpected. This isn’t some nefarious plot by a big bad to hurt the Slayer, but an ill-thought-out attempt by a friend to keep her safe. Meanwhile, with the Slayer out of action Xander and Dawn help Detective Dowling with his Zompire problem. Worth a look.

[Dark Horse, $2.99]

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