Comics

Daredevil #2

/ / Comics

daredevil-2-coverIssue #2 of the latest relaunch of Daredevil certainly has its moments, most notably the fight between Captain America and Daredevil which kicks off the issue. While the fight itself, involving the pair switching weapons, is actually pretty cool, I’m with Daredevil in my confusion of how quickly the battle starts and ends. Some may say Cap is simply taking his grief over Bucky on Daredevil, but that doesn’t sound too much like Captain America (who, as America’s top cop, would by now have access to all of the Shadowland data proving Murdock wasn’t in control of his actions) to me.

The issue also includes a fun conversation between Foggy Nelson and Kirsten McDuffie and Daredevil trying to hunt down who is behind the railroading of Ahmed Jobrani. Sadly, I’m less impressed with the issue’s reveal of the first big bad of the series. I’ve never been a fan of Klaw. Sure, a “master of sound” makes for an intriguing villain for Daredevil, but I’ve always found him fairly ridiculous. The second issue isn’t without a misstep or two, but it does have its moments. Worth a look.

[Marvel, $3.99]

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Batman #713

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batman-713-coverAfter more than 70 years and 700 issues another one of DC Comics longest running monthly titles comes to an end. This final issue of Batman gives us a look back at Batman’s history through the narration of his adventures to a young audience. I won’t spoil who the narrator is, but there are plenty of clues if you watch for them.

Rather than a solo adventure, of some kind of final tip of the hat to Dick and Damian adventure as the Batman and Robin this issue focuses on putting the entire history of Batman to rest with an underlying story that actually plays out over the course of Batman’s history.

Some might find it a little schmaltzy, but I thought this story worked well as a Coda for the series and a nice send off for this version of Batman and Robin. I also enjoyed art recreating the various looks of Batman over the years and the outline of the big moments in Batman’s history. There’s also a nice splash page of the Bat-Family. It may not have been my first choice for the Caped Crusader’s final issue, but it’s a solid one. Worth a look.

[DC, $2.99]

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Darkwing Duck #15

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darkwing-duck-15-coverWhat can I say? Darkwing Duck can even make politics fun! The battle for Mayor of St. Canard heats up as both Darkwing Duck and Launchpad McQuack stave off negative campaigning (who they blame each other for, although neither is responsible). As the comic nears its final issue this one is jampacked with cameos including Launchpad’s new campaign manager, Spike, and Darkwing and Launchpad putting aside their issues to battle The League of Barely Remembered Supervillains!

The League is made up entirely of lesser known criminals from the Darkwing Duck cartoon including Lilliput, Professor Moliarty, the Bugmaster, Jambalaya Jake (and his pet gator Gumbo), and Tuskernini. Victory of the also-rans is shortlived as Suff-Rage pulls out all the stops by mysmerizing the audience to attack all three candidates.

Once again writer Ian Brill and artist James Silvani outdo themselves in creating an insanely fun read (with extra insanity). If you aren’t reading Darkwing Duck you’re missing out. Worth a look.

[Boom, $3.99]

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Power Girl #27

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power-girl-27-coverTime is running out for Power Girl, in more ways than one. As a metaphor for the end of the series writer Matthew Sturges gives Kara the task of saving victims trapped in three separate life-threatening situations in under one-minute. The man behind the deadly tests is the Calculator who knows Power Girl won’t be able to stop all three attacks. But, then again, he doesn’t know our girl very well, does he?

The issue works on its own as a solo adventure as well as a not too obvious send-off for Power Girl who (at least right now) doesn’t look to have a spot in the new DCU. Those picking the issue up three years from now out of a longbox might not even realize its the series’ finale.

Although it was never quite as good as Batgirl or Secret Six, I’m sorry to see this title go away. It’s provided some extremely entertaining stories including magic dinosaurs, a misunderstood Arab super-hero, appearances by Batman, Superman, and Zatanna, clones, a Power Girl fan convention, and more. Worth a look.

[DC, $2.99]

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Captain America #2

/ / Comics

captain-america-2-coverAlmost 70 years ago a team of special team of Allied Forces and the Hydra agents they were lost in a dream world when Captain America‘s team was infiltrated by spy. The young boy, Jimmy Jupiter, who had the power to open rifts into this dreamspace and transport people across worlds was knocked into a coma from which he has only now, decades later, finally awoken.

With the second issue of the newly rebooted series writer Ed Brubaker gives us a little more insight into the mission that went wrong as well as give us glimpses how the dreams of both Cap and Sharon Carter are being affected by Codename: Bravo and others lost in the dreamspace.

The issue is solid, and includes Cap beating down several Hydra soldiers, but only reveals part of the puzzle (and if I have a complaint it’s that the revelations feel more drawn out than necessary).

The final panel shows us things aren’t going to get easier for Cap anytime soon with the return of the Ameridroid and Bravo playing Casanova in Sharon’s dreams. Creepy! Worth a look.

[Marvel, $3.99]

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