3.5 Razors

Daredevil #4

/ / Comics

daredevil-4-coverThe latest issue is a little unfocused (but in a good way) as both Daredevil and Matt Murdock deal with several issues rather than focusing on a single story. Once again writer Mark Waid gives us a strong issue featuring the Man Without Fear battling evil in and out of a courtroom.

The issue gives us small pieces of several of Nelson & Murdock’s new clients as well as giving us glimpses of Daredevil out in action doing everything from running down a gangster, to fighting of lions, to saving children from a burning building. We’re also introduced to Murdock’s latest client, a blind teenager who was fired from a job without warning and now finds his life in danger.

In terms of larger context you could probably skip this issue and not miss anything all that important to the ongoing storyline but that doesn’t mean you should. There’s plenty here worth picking up including a very cool cover by Paolo Rivera featuring Daredevil swinging through a city scape made of guns. Worth a look.

[Marvel, $2.99]

Daredevil #4 Read More »

Red Hood and the Outlaws #1

/ / Comics

red-hood-and-the-outlaws-1-coverOf all the the issues set for the DC Reboot this was one that caught my interest. Here are three characters who, each in their own way, had been abused by the old DCU. I was curious to find out what the New 52 versions might look at. And you know what? I’ll admit, I kinda like it.

The first half of the issue centers around the Red Hood and Starfire breaking Roy Harper out a military prison in Qurac and getting reacquainted. First off let me say I like this version of Jason Todd far more than Grant Morrison‘s (and thankfully his additions to the character have been ignored here). I also felt the inner-monologue of each of the three characters worked well.

Some might object to this version of Starfire, but she’s always been hyper-sexual and at least writer Scott Lobdell’s explanation for her behavior (that as an alien she sees humans as roughly all the same and has a far less puritan view of sex than anyone who watches FOX News) makes more sense than the childish version we’ve seen before. And, thankfully, Roy Harper is in far better shape then we last saw him before the Reboot.

…

Red Hood and the Outlaws #1Read More »

Red Hood and the Outlaws #1 Read More »

Nightwing #1

/ / Comics

nightwing-1-coverAfter being disappointed with Dectective Comics #1 and Batgirl #1 (and to a lesser extent Batman and Robin #1) this week seems to be the one where the Bat-books start to make their comeback. Dick Grayson is out of the Bat-suit and back as Nightwing but writer Kyle Higgins makes sure that Dick’s time as Batman wasn’t wasted.

The issue is broken into three parts. The first involves Nightwing taking down a low-rent thug while thinking over his return to the role of Nightwing. This works well to reintroduce readers to the characters as well as a pleasant reminder that Dick’s time under the cowl hasn’t been lost in the DC Reboot.

The second-half of the story, however, was the one that the most pleasant surprise. When I heard the first issue had to do with Dick returning to the circus I was less than enthused. Haley’s Circus returns to Gotham for the first time since the Flying Graysons last performance and Dick’s conflicted feelings about making an appearance remind us, for all his differences, Dick does have a few things in common with Bruce Wayne.

…

Nightwing #1Read More »

Nightwing #1 Read More »

Captain America #3

/ / Comics

The story picks up right where the last issue left off: Captain America is battling the Ameridroid (a giant robot with the brain of a crazy scientist, made to look like Captain America) while Sharon Carter has her own hands full with Baron Zemo.

Meanwhile, Codename: Bravo and his mysterious lady friend continue to work behind the scenes using the comatose Jimmy Jupiter to play havoc with reality and pull a certain patriotic super-soldier into the dream world.

Writer Ed Brubaker does a good job explaining the Ameridroid without pausing the action. And even if the character is insanely goofy, it works well as a real threat to Cap. The fight between Agent 13 and Zemo isn’t quite as exciting but it does allow Sharon to get a couple zingers at Zemo’s expense. (I also liked Sharon’s attempt to throw Cap his sheild, which, of course, doesn’t go exactly as planned).

With Cap locked in the dreamworld for the next issue I’m assuming the craziness seen here is only the beginning. Worth a look.

[Marvel, $3.99]

Captain America #3 Read More »

Daredevil #3

/ / Comics

daredevil-3-coverI’ve never been a big fan of Klaw. So when he was chosen as the first “big” villain to show up in the latest volume of Daredevil I certainly wasn’t expecting much. Although it’s not a great issue, writer Mark Waid gives me more than I expected in a solid story that pits Daredevil against the Master of Sound.

The issue opens with Daredevil captured by Klaw who has been fractured into separate pieces or “soundshadows” who are hoping to restore themselves into a solid form. Although the complexity of Daredevil’s confinement isn’t satisfactorily explained, his escape and defeat of Klaw on the streets of New York works quite well.

The real fun of this issue, however, comes in the conversations between Matt Murdock and Foggy Nelson as the figure out a way for their client to win his case, talk with some attractive women at a local watering hole (careful, they might be super-villains), and decide the new direction of their law practice. Worth a look.

[Marvel, $2.99]

Daredevil #3 Read More »