The Blacklist – The Kingmaker

  • Title: The Blacklist – The Kingmaker
  • wiki: link

The Blacklist - The Kingmaker

While sending the FBI after The Kingmaker (Linus Roache), the latest name on The Blacklist with an unique skill-set who offers select clients the ability to arrange their ascendance in public life by helping clear obstacles (often by murderous methods). Knowing the man has been working for Reddington’s mysterious adversary, Red hopes the FBI’s capture of The Kingmaker can give him a solid lead on his opposition. Reddington (James Spader) also attempts to enlist the help of Alan Fitch (Alan Alda) and his alliance for help in his quest to uncover and defeat a threat systematically attacking Red’s organization from the shadows.

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Daredevil #2

Daredevil #2After the last issue offered readers a glimpse of things to come in Matt Murdock‘s life down the line, Daredevil #2 returns to the present and the newly-relocated hero/lawyer to San Fransisco alongside his new law partner Kristen McDuffie. We don’t get any more information on Foggy Nelson (other than the fact the world appears to believe he is dead), but the new version of the title does offer Daredevil with an opportunity to do something rather unusual – go up against another blind vigilante.

Pulling the Shroud out of half-forgotten Marvel mothballs, writer Mark Waid and Chris Samnee dust the vigilante off first as a rival for Daredevil, but later the character is be revealed as the new (sorta ridiculous) kingpin of crime in the city.

A poor man’s Daredevil in several respects, the Shroud is an interesting first choice to pit against the hero, although it does make me wonder how far Waid and Samnee will have to scrape the bottom of the Marvel barrel for West Coast threats going forward. Worth a look.

[Marvel, $3.99]

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Castle – Law & Boarder

  • Title: Castle – Law & Boarder
  • wiki: link

Castle - Law & Boarder

Beckett (Stana Katic) and Castle (Nathan Fillion) investigate the murder of a professional skateboard artist in town for New York Street Sports Festival who friends and rivals both say was acting very odd in the 24-hours leading up to his death. Seeing as the victim was favored to win, the investigation begins with his main competition (Yani Gellman) but soon takes some unusual twist and turns involving the purchase of a 10 year-old camcorder, borrowing money from his mother’s (Claudia Christian) Albanian mob boyfriend (Eric Etebari) now out on parole (after doing time for a crime the victim put him behind bars for), and using the cash to hire another skateboarder (Jesse Luken) for his expertise at breaking and entering.

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The Flash #30

The Flash #30Time travel and the character’s relationship with the passage of the time have long bee staples of the Flash comic storylines over the years. Beginning with something as innocuous as a new watch, The Flash‘s new writers Robert Venditti and Van Jensen begin to examine the idea for the first time in the New 52.

For those, like me, who have totally ignored DC’s Forever Evil event the beginning of the issue, jumping us into a wrecked Central City, is more than a little confusing. The amount of damage to the city is extensive which leaves the Flash constantly needed. Although putting too much emphasis on those awful yellow streaks in the character’s costume, new artist Brett Booth proves up to the task in showing off the Scarlet Speedster, particularly in a sequence where Barry uses his super-speed to keep cutting out of his psychological evaluation to save people.

Those expecting the first appearance of a blue-clad Wally West are going to be disappointed. Although the comic does end with a scene of a future Flash, it’s Barry Allen not Wally who is consumed with past mistakes and obsessed with the passage of time.

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Coming Soon

  • Title: Batman: Assault on Arkham
  • IMDB: link

Following Son of Batman (available for download now, and on DVD and Blu-ray next week), DC Animation turns to Batman: Assault on Arkham for its next project. Returning Kevin Conroy as Batman, the film is obviously inspired by the popular video game franchise whose design I’ve never really care much for (although the gameplay is at times quite a bit of fun), in a storyline centering around the Joker (Troy Baker), Arkham Asylum, and a New 52-ish version of the Suicide Squad (Neal McDonough, Eliza Dushku, Hynden Walch, Kevin Grevioux). Batman: Assault on Arkham should hit the direct-to-video market sometime later this summer.

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