Comics

Atomic Robo and the Ghost of Station X #5

/ / Comics

atomic-robo-vol-6-5-coverIt’s always fun to get to the final issue of an Atomic Robo series and see how writer Brian Clevinger will tie things together and what crazy climax artist Scott Wegener will save for each series’ finale.

Atomic Robo and the Ghost of Station X has given us a trips to space and Nebraska (which more action-packed than you might initially expect), and Japan, a well-financed shadowy government conspiracy, and a convoy of truckers (for science!). The final issue reveals who has been behind the attacks on Atomic Robo‘s life, and why. And as the title states it’s a ghost… well kinda. It’s a computer ghost.

Under Hashima Island, Japan, Atomic Robo discovers an “Automatic Learning Algorithm Network” built by Dr. Alan Turning in 1951. The program has been running unsupervised since Turning lost security clearance the following year. Over time the artifical intelligence has used beureaucrazy, secrecy and telecommunications to influence the world and predict the collapse of human civilization.

…

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Young Justice #13

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young-justice-13-coverIn the sewers below Gotham City the Young Justice team tracks and fights the new character of Clayface (who was introduced in last month’s issue). The team soon discovers the difficulty in fighting a villain who can assume the shape and mannerisms of anyone he comes into contact with.

With Aqualad distracted with thought of Atlantis and the team divided Clayface takes them down one-by-one. It’s only the arrival of Batman that saves complete disaster.

Although it’s a bit of a letdown after a terrific Batman and Robin issue and well-done Talia al Ghul issue that introduced the character of Clayface, Young Justice #13 continues to define this new version of Clayface and bring Aqualad’s indecision to the forefront as the team is bested far too easily by this new enemy. It will be interesting to see if Aqualad’s story plays out in similar fashion to the similar arc on the television show or if the comic takes a different path beginning next month. Worth a look.

[DC, $2.99]

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Batman and Robin #6

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batman-and-robin-new-52-6-coverDamian‘s true colors are shown as Nobody attempts to turn him into his new sidekick. Not surprisingly, Nobody finds him as hard to control as Batman has ever since the New 52 DC reboot.

As Batman searches for his son we get more of the flashbacks of his early days with Henri Ducard and his son and the confrontation that led to the end of their partnership. The flashbacks are told almost as if Bruce is making a recording for Damian in case anything happens to him, to let him know the truth.

Damian’s turning on Nobody is hardly surprising, but I’m thankful writer Peter J. Tomasi didn’t milk the story for another issue or two. It’s also good to see Damian standing up for something other than himself for a change (even if there’s no one else to witness it). The final panels, suggesting some serious injury to the boy, should lead to a brutal confrontation between Batman and Nobody in next month’s conclusion of the arc. Worth a look.

[DC, $2.99]

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Captain America #8

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captain-america-8-cover"Writer Ed Brubaker’s “Powerless” story arc continues which means we get more of skinny pre-Super-Soldier Serium Steve Rogers who finds himself at the mercy of a mob whose anger has been fueled by a Madbomb.

I haven’t been the biggest fan of this story arc, but it hasn’t turned me off the comic either. There’s a nice action sequence where Captain America and Sharon Carter get some revenge on Cobra, Eel, and Viper. We also get a glimpse at how imposing Sharon Carter can be in the interrogation room and learn the villains are working with Codename: Bravo.

I feel like I missed a page (or three) as Sharon comes to the conclusion of what villain is behind Cap’s regression back to Skinny Steve Rogers. It’s possible Cobra let this slip off-panel in Sharon’s interrogation but I just don’t see him knowing that much of the operation. Worth a look.

[Marvel, $3.99]

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Green Lantern #6

/ / Comics

green-lantern-6-coverAfter being returned to Earth with no way to power the ring Sinestro left him Hal Jordan picks up the pieces of his life, and his relationship with Carol Ferris, and puts his past as Green Lantern behind him. Of course the universe has other plans.

As Carol tries to get used to the new Hal, Sinestro searches out Lyssa Drak but what he learns from the Book of the Black shocks him to his core. Now knowing what the Guardians of the Universe have in store, with foreknowledge of his own death, and with the entire universe on the brink of disaster, Sinestro has no choice but to search out the only man he can trust – even if that man’s name is Hal Jordan.

I really enjoyed this issue. It was nice, given the tumultuous events of Jordan’s life over the past few years, to see him given a chance to enjoy life – even without a ring. Of course this respite was going to be short lived, but now we’ll find out just how far Sinestro is willing to go to stop the future he glimpsed from happening. Worth a look.

[DC, $2.99]

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