Comics

Atomic Robo and the Deadly Art of Science

/ / Comics
  • Title: Atomic Robo Vol. 5 #1 (of 5)
  • Comic Vine: link
  • Writer: Brian Clevinger
  • Artist: Scott Wegener

Atomic Robo is back! The first issue of Volume 5 finds a very bored Robo stuck helping Nikola Tesla with his latest experiment only to jilted out of his malaise by a car chase and gunfight involving gangsters and a six-shootin’ vigilante.

It may be going too far to say Robo befriends Jack Tarot, Gunfighter, and his daughter Helen (after all the guy does shoot our robotic pal right in the face), but he does leave an impression (mostly by asking a series of only slightly less annoying questions than Nick Frost asked of Simon Pegg in Hot Fuzz). As to the mysterious scientist and the secrets of the mysterious skull, we’ll have to wait until the next issue to lean more.

Fans of Brian Clevinger and Scott Wegener’s off-beat character should feel right at home. Worth a look.

[Red 5, $3.50]

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Batgirl #15

/ / Comics

Okay, if Stephanie Brown’s retelling of Bat-history doesn’t tickle your fancy there’s really no hope for you. Sorry. In-line with other Bat-titles, Batgirl gets back to basics with the return of Oracle, Stephanie’s struggles in college (and lies to her mother), and some zany antics.

Batgirl’s latest case involves the death of a student at the hands of a cult of robed figures, a missing flash drive, a new Gray Ghost, and Batgirl framed for murder.

That last part troubles me a bit as it seems were in for the proverbial “prove my innocence’ storyline all too many characters have to go through. Hopefully this two-issue arc will wrap things up as quickly as it began since there’s really no chance DC’s going to let Batgirl go full-vigilante and drawing it out serves no purpose.

Not as good as some recent issues of Batgirl, but the trademarks that make the character and comic work are still here. Worth a look.

[DC $2.99]

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Red Robin #17

/ / Comics

I love almost everything about this issue. The epilogue to “The Hit List” gives us a little of everything that’s made Red Robin such a great read in the absence of Bruce Wayne along with a promise that things aren’t going to change.

We get the both the return Cassandra Cain and Batman in his fancy new costume as well as a Tim making a difficult decision to trust Lynx (perhaps not entirely made with his brain). To’s art is terrific (I honestly can’t pick out a favorite panel: the hug? the kiss? the discussion about Damian?), and Fabian Nicieza once again delivers yet another strong story without trying to rewrite the character of make some grand statement (something Grant Morrison could learn).

My only real complaint with the issue is the obvious slight to Stephanie Brown in Tim offering the role of Bagril back to Cassandra. Aside from the fact it’s not his to give, it’s just one hellova a dick move to make. I’m glad to see her pass on the opportunity, and it seems like there may be a new role for the character in the expanding Bat-family that feels more her own. Must-read.

[DC $2.99]

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Captain America: Man Out of Time #1 (of 5)

/ / Comics
  • Title: Captain America: Man Out of Time #1 (of 5)
  • Comic Vine: link
  • Writer: Mark Waid
  • Artist: Jorge Molina

What if Captain America didn’t sleep for twenty years, but 60? What if the Avengers found him today and not at the dawn of the Silver Age? These are the questions Captain America: Man Out of Time, a new five-issue mini-series from Mark Waid and Jorge Molina sets out to answer.

This first issue gives us Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes spending time with a group of soldiers the night before both are lost. Then Rogers awakes to the Avengers standing over him and a world with ATMs, cell phones, sports cars, and teenagers packing guns.

The idea is interesting, though I’m not sure we need five full issues to fully explore it. I enjoyed the look of the world and Waid’s decision to present everything from Roger’s perspective.

For $4 it’s definitely not a must-read, but fans of the character or of Marvel’s various What If…? stories may want to give it a look.

[Marvel $3.99]

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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, BOOM!, Dynamite, Image Comics, and others.

This week includes Astounding Wolf-Man, Batgirl, Birds of Prey, Incredible Hulks, Muppet Sherlock Holmes, New Avengers, Spike, Unwritten, the first issues of 27, All New Batman: The Brave And The Bold, Angel: Illyria, Ant-Man & The Wasp, Atomic Robo Vol. 5, Chaos War: Thor, Dungeons And Dragons, Halcyon, Iron Man: The Rapture, She-Hulks, T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents, Victorian Undead II: Sherlock Holmes Vs Dracula, Wildstorm Presents, and the final issues of Batman: The Return Of Bruce Wayne, Shadowland: Daughters Of The Shadow, Thanos Imperative, and Tron: Betrayal.

Enjoy issue #104

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