3.5 Razors

House of Lies – Pushback

  • Title: House of Lies – Pushback
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“Which one of us do you think he’s going to kill first?”
“Definitely not the one who offed his dog.”

House of Lies - Pushback

Marty (Don Cheadle) deals with trouble on multiple fronts as Lukas’ (T.I.), aware that Dre (Mekhi Phifer) is attempting to push him out, sets fire to the company he helped build by firing all the key positions, shutting down production, and blocking any attempts to resolve the situation leaving everyone involved with the day-to-day business (including Kaan and Associates) unpaid. Meanwhile, Marty also has to deal with Roscoe’s (Donis Leonard Jr.) new crush (Bex Taylor-Klaus) whose influence on his son (and their drunken night together) continues to rub him the wrong way.

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Supergirl #28

Supergirl #28Finding himself over-matched, crappy New 52 pseudo-Lobo first tries to beat Supergirl and when that fails he tries his best to reason with the extremely pissed-off young woman whose tired of being taken advantage of. The only thing that saves the supremely-awful redesigned character from the ignoble death he surely deserves is Kara’s all-out rage that sets up the next several issues of the title and its tie-in with Red Lanterns.

Putting aside the shittiness that is this version of Lobo, a constant complaint I’ve had with Kara is her propensity to whine (which comes off even pathetic from someone with Superman‘s power set). Apparently that’s not going to be an issue going forward.

Although I’m against throwing a ring on an already super-powered character like Supergirl, I have hopes the experience might give her a bit more perspective once she inevitably returns to normal (and gives her a little bit of Power Girl‘s spunk, which this version of Kara is sorely lacking). And, hey, maybe we’ll get a cameo from Dex-Starr? Worth a look.

[DC, $2.99]

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G.I. JOE: Special Missions #12

G.I. JOE: Special Missions #12The search for Destro continues as Scarlett, Mainframe, and Helix track their escaped prisoner Copperback to a bizarre location in Russia known as Beaver Falls made to look like a small American town. Here they will discover the secret of Destro’s new B.A.T. experiments as the group walks right into a demonstration Destro has planned for Cobra Commander and high-ranking Russian officers secretly providing the criminal organization with their base of operations.

By the end of the issue the pressure on Destro continues to build as the JOEs outperform his new weapons and even decide to turn his new prized soldier back on his master.

I’m hoping the inclusion of Helix to the Special Missions team continues after wrapping up the current “Destro Must Die” arc next month. Aside from finally forcing both Scarlett and Helix to deal with each other and the loss of Snake Eyes it would also add another kick-ass female character to a team that at times has lacked some star power. Worth a look.

[IDW, $3.99]

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Red Hood and the Outlaws #28

Red Hood and the Outlaws #28With the League of Assassins, the All Caste, and Jason Todd‘s temporary amnesia all behind them the series offers the Outlaws a temporary reprieve of the most exclusive island resort in the world and a chance to bring back Isabel and tie-up the loose plotline of her relationship with the Red Hood.

Although the vacation starts well enough, despite Starfire‘s complaining about the hologram hiding her true form to the other guests and Isabel’s obvious distance, things take a turn when the super-villain in charge of the island gets wind of the Outlaws appearance and, assuming the worst, decides to preemptively strike.

Far less convoluted than several issues of the series, the straightforward storytelling works well and provides plenty of action while introducing a new enemy in Midas and the Army of the Golden Hand. Stephen Segovia steps in to do an okay job with the art this month although his Starfire is a little off and some of the wideshots are less detailed than I’d like (a common complaint about much of the New 52). Worth a look.

[DC, $3.99]

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Uncanny X-Men #17

Uncanny X-Men #17Dropped off in the middle of nowhere in a bizarre locale by Magik, the young X-Men (Tempus, Fabio, Celeste, Irma, Phoebe, Benjamin DeedsTriage, Hijack) are put to the test in a field training exercise to determine both their survival instincts and their ability to follow orders and work together to stay alive. Although the entire group makes it back home in one piece, the casual disregard for Cyclops‘ explicit orders means (for now) that one member of the team is no longer an X-Man.

I’ve got to say I’m not altogether happy with the set-up of this issue as Cyclops throws the unprepared recruits into a dangerous situation without the control of a Danger Room scenario. Although they each perform well in surviving the bizarre super-evolutionary town in Montana, they nearly get taken in by S.H.I.E.L.D. thanks to Hijack’s cellphone leading the heroes right to them. And I’m not exactly buying the idea that this is the last we’ve seen of Hijack whose skills are far too valuable not to see him return after he’s “learned his lesson” (if that’s even why he was truly let go). Worth a look.

[Marvel, $3.99]

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