Comics

Fear Itself #7.1

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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.

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Uncanny X-Men #1

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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.

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Usagi Yojimbo #141

/ / Comics

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]

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Comic Rack

/ / Comics

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

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Young Justice #9

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young-justice-9-coverWhen the Young Justice team appears bored with their latest lesson in Espionage 101 Captain Atom decides to present them with an opprunity to learn in the field by solving a case close to his heart.

Using the skills they’ve been taught Captain Atom challenges to prove or disprove the guilt of Nathaniel Adam, an Air Force officer convicted of murdering a superior officer in 1968.

Happy to get out of the classroom, but a little surprised by the request, the team begins to investigate the murder and uncovers a smuggling ring that points to Adams’ innocence. They also run into a magical-sword-wielding samurai intent on keeping the truth hidden.

The story, having the team unknowingly investigate the past of a member of the Justice League, is an interesting idea. It also forces the more powerful members of the team into using covert skills they don’t normally employ. Although I enjoy the cartoon this is the first issue of the series I’ve picked up, and it’s good enough I might go back and read a few more issues. Worth a look.

[DC, $2.99]

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