Comics

Usagi Yojimbo #136

/ / Comics

usagi-yojimbo-136-coverThe rabbit ronin’s travels lead him to cross paths with Suzuki-Sensei, a friend to his master Katsuichi, and moves further into the countryside that is threatened by the attacks of the mysterious and deadly Red Scorpion Gang (which may be far closer than Usagi Yojimbo realizes).

As we’ve come to expect, Stan Sakai delivers another strong issue. I especially enjoyed the duel between Usagi and Suzuki-Sensei in front of his students, and the split-second decision Usagi must make whether or not to win the match. Usagi makes the right decision, which may prove more important than he realizes as this storyline continues.

This issue begins a multi-story arc and the final page delivers all we need to know about the troubles the rabbit ronin has in store for him next month. If you haven’t been reading Usagi (what’s wrong with you?) this is actually a really good story to jump in and get your feet wet with the character and his world. Worth a look.

[Dark Horse, $3.50]

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Annihilators #2

/ / Comics

annihilators-2-coverThe second issue is full of action as Silver Surfer, Beta Ray Bill, Gladiator, Quasar, Ronan the Accuser and the Space Knights battle Doctor Dredd and the Dire Wraiths.

In the B-story Rocket Raccoon rescues his friend Groot from the Isle of Punishment only to discover he’s put every living thing on Planet X in terrible danger. More clown assassins, psycho woodpeckers, some awfully good puns, an annoying computer, and our first glimpses into the secrets of Rocket Raccoon’s past make this one impossible to put down.

Both stories get equal time this time around and both provide great moments. The cosmic level of the Annihilators matched with the craziness of Rocket and Groot is a great combination. The level of adorableness Timothy Green II infuses the art the B-story with (particularly the look of Rocket Raccoon) is just wonderful. If you only bought one comic this week I hope it was this one. It’s rare I’m happy paying $5 for a single issue, but this time I think I got my money’s worth. Must-read.

[Marvel, $4.99]

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Secret Six #32

/ / Comics

The Secret Six continue their journey through Hell, to rescue Knockout and find Ragdoll, and Catman takes a side trip to poke a demon in the eyes and visit someone from his past. I’ll be glad with this storyline is over.

It’s not a bad story, in fact it has a couple nice turns, but every story that takes in Hell, be it DC, Marvel, or any other comic publisher, is limited by design. And too often writers trying to tell a tale in Hell quickly write themselves into a corner. I’m hoping that’s not the case here with Gail Simone, but I’ll admit after two issues I have my doubts.

I’d much rather see the Six back in action in Gotham City than traipsing through the underworld. The storyline I enjoyed most was the all-too-short look into Scandal Savage‘s recent squeeze which seems far more ominous than the team’s struggles down below.

The last panel does give us a bit of a surprise and should make the final issue of this storyline worth reading, but I’ll just be glad when things get back to “normal” for the team. Hit-and-Miss.

[DC, $2.99]

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Fear Itself #1

/ / Comics

fear-itself-1-coverAlthough I liked this issue more than I thought I would, I was surprised at the amount of effort writer Matt Fraction went to try and convince me how epic Marvel’s latest summer event Fear Itself will be (ex: giving seemingly everyone who works at Marvel Comics credit on the title page). For a story centered around Odin and the Red Skull’s daughter, you’ll have to forgive me if I’m not yet ready to drink the Kool-Aid just yet.

The story begins with Sin, having adopted the persona of her late father the Red Skull, breaking into a secret Nazi base to retrieve the Hammer of Skadi. On taking possession of the hammer Sin is tranformed, still herself, but also imbued with the presence and power of the former god. Sin uses the hammer to release the “true All Father” from his prison and help him take his revenge on Odin and Asgard.

Also in this first issue we get the falling out of Odin and Thor, Tony Stark‘s determination to help the economy by rebuilding Asgard on Earth, and the total ineptitude of Steve Rogers to prevent a riot. Although the Sin story works well enough, I had problems with each of these pieces.

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Deadpool Family

/ / Comics

deadpool-family-coverIt only took me a couple pages of this one-shot to remember why I stopped reading Deadpool Corps. Sometimes stories featuring these characters can be fun, but sometimes they can be excruciating to read.

The issue is broken into four separate stories surrounding various Corps members. Kidpool attempts to join in on robot fun with the other kids (mildly entertaining), Lady Deapool and Zombie Deadpool go to counseling (I wanted to stab out my eyes), and Deadpool himself is presented in a serious cheap Frank Miller style noir that has far less gravity than it should given the choice of main character and the rest of the antics on display here (all around bad idea).

Although the Kidpool one is passable (barely), the only one of the four stories that I can actually say I enjoyed was the insanity of Dogpool going against Sunny the Sentry Dog, written by James Asmus. Yeah, that was fun. The rest I could give or take (or line a birdcage with). Hit-and-Miss.

[Marvel, $3.99]

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