In the series third season finale the graduating members of the New Directions say goodbye to the Glee Club and prepare to for their lives after graduation. Although the show undercut the finality of each moment by announcing almost all the characters will be returning in some role next season, it’s still nice to see each get their own final story and a chance to say farewell.
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“The Longest Winter” concludes at the Winter Soldier and the Black Widow are able to stop Lucia von Bardas‘ plans to launch missiles from Doctor Doom‘s secret nuclear silos using the codes the Latverian monarch programmed into his Doombots.
With their tenuous alliance with Doctor Doom, Bucky and the Black Widow are able to take down Bardas and the second Soviet sleeper agent trained by the Winter Soldier, Dimitri. However, the Red Ghost alludes capture, and the fate of the third sleeper agent is unknown.
A good conclusion of the arc that still leaves a couple of threads let unanswered. It also marks the returns of the Red Ghost’s army of gorillas with machine guns (c’mon, who doesn’t love that?). There’s plenty of action and even an ending that gives Bucky some of his beloved solitary brooding time (along with a quick assassination at the end). No, he’s certainly not Captain America anymore. Worth a look.
[Marvel, $3.99]
“The cop deserves the benefit of the doubt.”
Robert B. Parker‘s Jesse Stone (Tom Selleck) returned to television this past weekend, but sadly without his author’s voice. Written by Selleck and Michael Brandman Benefit of the Doubt continues to examine the the life of the recovering alcoholic police chief of Paradise, Massachusetts. Although the latest made-for-TV film delivers another strong character-centered story, the script is lacking the flair of Parker’s trademark wit.
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While searching the future for the cause of the end of the world Captain Atom comes to face-to-face with the destructive god-like force known as Chrono Mota and he’s shocked to see the unintended effect his time on Earth has had on those he’s saved.
While Captain Atom finds little war and bloodshed he’s at a loss in trying to process the fact that he’s become a god to those like Ramita and Mikey Parker. Mikey has become a doomsday prophet ready to destroy and remake the world in his name, and Ramita has become a warrior using the power unknowingly gifted to her to help those who can’t help themselves.
But it’s in the final pages where Captain Atom looks into the heart of the time-space paradox and world killer known as Chromo Mota that he learns the truth about his own future and the destruction of the Earth.
Another good issue of the series that gives us some answers but raises even more questions. Now that Atom knows what his future holds, the question becomes how will he use that knowledge, and what can he do to prevent it? Worth a look.
[DC, $2.99]
“Night of the Owls” continues as the Red Hood finds himself in Gotham doing a favor for Batman and protecting Mr. Freeze from an man brought back to life as an assassin. The irony of the situation isn’t lost on Jason Todd.
As Todd gets reacquainted with his hometown, and deals with his conflicted feels with helping his former boss who he is adamant he now hates (although it’s clear his feelings are far more complicated), Starfire and Arsenal try to keep Freeze under control so the Red Hood can deal with the Talon sent to kill him.
Although I’m not thrilled with the redesign of Freeze or the conclusion of the Red Hood’s battle with Talon there are several nice moments here including Kory’s reaction to being attacked by Mr. Freeze, Todd’s inner struggle and walk down memory lane, and his confrontation with Batgirl in the comic’s final pages. Worth a look.
[DC, $2.99]
Red Hood and the Outlaws #9 Read More »
