Comics

New Avengers #18

new-avengers-18-coverNorman Osborne has escaped from prison and united H.Y.D.R.A. and A.I.M. under H.A.M.M.E.R. Next up for Osborne, reforming his Dark Avengers.

Norman’s new team consists of Barney Barton, Gorgon, Skaar, June Covington, the Thor clone Ragnarok, and the Decapitator. Although I’m not sure which is less believable, H.A.M.M.E.R. and A.I.M. agreeing to work together for Osborne or Skaar joining this team, I enjoyed the Dark Avengers the first time around and I’m curious to see how they’re going to be used here.

I have to say I am more than a little disappointed that Moonstone (by far my favorite member of Osborne’s previous team) isn’t re-enlisted to be Ms. Marvel. The unnamed brunette (Superia?) has a lot to live up to.

The issue works well in introducing most of the members of Osborne’s new team (even if it is the second straight issue that fails to give us the promised new team of New Avengers with Daredevil). Without Moonstone, Venom, Bullseye and Daken the team is missing its more amusing characters, but I’m willing to give it a chance.

[Marvel, $3.99]

New Avengers #18 Read More »

Fear Itself #7.1

fear-itself-7-1-coverIt’s no big secret that I wasn’t a big fan of Fear Itself (or as I like to call it Marvel Comics Hammertime). Nor do I usually give even a first glance to Marvel’s slate of .1 issues which seems like a really odd attempt to explain storylines that writers aren’t doing well in the monthly titles. So the fact that I even glanced at this issue, let alone bought it, might at first appear odd.

The issue (finally!) wraps up with the death of Bucky Barnes from Fear Itself #3 with Steve Rogers preparing the eulogy for Bucky-Cap’s funeral. It also includes a scene where Rogers beats the ever-living-crap out of Nick Fury. And a second where he threatens to give the spy a second beatdown. Why you ask? Spoilers follow!

Bucky isn’t dead. Yeah, you read that right. Fury used the last of the Infinity Formula to save his life (making him yet another Super Soldier… how many does Marvel Comics have now?) and covered up the incident to make it appear the wanted fugitive had died fighting Sin and her magic hammer. Needless to say Cap ain’t too happy about being lied to.

Fear Itself #7.1 Read More »

Uncanny X-Men #1

uncanny-x-men-v2-1-cover"With Wolverine and many of the younger mutants leaving Utopia to return to the ruins of Professor X’s school, Cyclops begins to rebuild by putting together a team he believes is a match for the Avengers and should be able to take on any threat they come across, whether that’s to save humanity or save mutants from humanity.

The Extermination Team includes Magneto, the Juggernaut-cursed Colossus, Storm, Emma Frost, Danger, Magik, Namor, and Hope Summers. The team is put together to not only save the world but to show humanity how powerful and useful mutants can be towards the greater good (and that you really, really don’t want to piss them off).

The team’s first mission comes when Mister Sinister starts tampering with the dormant Celestial in Golden Gate Park. Although the team stops the initial chaos caused by Sinister, the villain is able take control a vast number of citizens in San Francisco and remake them in his image.

Uncanny X-Men #1 Read More »

Usagi Yojimbo #141

usagi-yojimbo-141-coverAfter 27 years, and three publishers, Stan Sakai pens the 200th appearance of Usagi Yojimbo in his own title. And, thankfully, he’s not done yet.

The rabbit ronin’s wanderings take him through a rainstorm into a small village where a local craftsman is carving 200 stone jizo in hopes that the sacrifice will lead to the end of Kaba and his gang who have taken refuge in the village after the other members were killed.

The bandits play on the ronin’s compassion for the townspeople. After forcing him to disarm the group beat the ronin into an inch of his life. It’s that last inch, however, that allows Usagi to slay the bandits and drive Kaba from the town.

Sakai doesn’t try to give us s super-sized story for his milestone. Instead he gives us more of what we’ve come to expect from him every month – a strong tale of Usagi Yojimbo standing up for justice for those who can’t stand up on their own. In a nice touch, the back cover of the comic is a collection of all 200 covers featuring the character. Worth a look.

[Dark Horse, $3.50]

Usagi Yojimbo #141 Read More »

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 Batgirl, Batman and Robin, BtVS Season Nine, Darkwing Duck, Demon Knights, DuckTales, Ghost Rider, Green Lantern, Grifter, The Huntress, Journey Into Mystery, Jurassic Park: Dangerous Games, New Avengers, Orchid, PunisherMAX, Red Sonja, Superboy, Ultimate Comics Spider-Man, Uncanny X-Force, Wolverine, the first issues of Avenging Spider-Man, Battle Scars, Knightingail, The Occultist, Operation: Broken Wings 1936, Pilot Season: Anonymous, Vertigo Resurrected: My Faith in Frankie, and the final issue of Crawl to Me.

Enjoy issue #153

Comic Rack Read More »