3.5 Razors

Amazing Spider-Man #657

/ / Comics

amazing-spider-man-657-coverAnother strong issue dealing with the effects of Johnny Storm‘s death. Spider-Man shows up at the Baxter Building offereing his condolences and reminicing with Reed, Sue, and Ben about their fallen friend.

I’ve only got minor complaints with this issue such as it being set before the events of FF #1 (which came out last week) and the awkwardness of the first couple of pages. Other than that I really enjoyed this issue (which is something I’ve only been able to say occasionally about this title in the past few months).

What we do get is multiple stories from different artists including Spidey, Reed, and Johnny in space, Spider-Man going camping with the Fantastic Four, and the Invisible Woman pulling down the pants of criminals in the middle of Central Park. Yes, it’s as fun as it sounds.

There’s also a nice moment at the end where the family sits down to watch the message Johnny left for Peter. It may not be as good as the one from FF #1, but it’s still a nice moment. Worth a look.

[Marvel, $3.99]

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FF #1

/ / Comics

ff-1-coverJohnny Storm is dead and, for at least now, so is the Fantastic Four. With FF #1 writer Jonathan Hickman launches the remaining members of the team, their extended family, and one Webhead into a new series of adventures.

In this first issue Spider-Man joins the team getting yet another costume change. The new group gets their first action by attempting to stop A.I.M. from breaking the Wizard out of prison. Things do go all that well.

On the plus side there are some nice touches throughout including Spidey’s hestitancy and troubling finding his place with the team, the Thing’s grief, a comment Reed Richard’s father makes over dinner, and a surprise appearance by an old enemy an unlikely new ally for the new team.

I’m not quite sold on the look of costumes (although I do like Sue’s explanation for the color scheme) and as first issues go it does a pretty good job of setting the table. I also find it humorous that Marvel went all Dynamite Entertainment with the crazy number of variants for this one.

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The Spirit #12

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the-spirit-12-coverCrimelord Shonder Sheev has decided to move into Central City, but first he needs Commissioner Dolan and the Octopus taken out of the picture. He’s sent his best assassin, The Professor, to deal with Dolan through a small trinket he offers to the commissioner’s daughter, and a few thugs with a rocket launcher to take out the Octopus.

His plans are foiled when he fails to account for two things: 1) The Spirit, and 2) the chance that one of the deadliest assassins in the world would have a soft spot for a beautiful woman such as Ellen Dolan. It seems even a tinkerer madman has a heart.

Fans of old Silver Age Superman stories featuring the Toyman should feel right at home with this one as the weapon aimed at Dolan is a minature clockwork Spirit doll that comes dangerously close to fulfilling its task. A little odd? Sure, but a lot of fun, and its nice to see Ellen play the heroine for a change saving her father and the Spirit with one shot. Worth a look.

[DC, $2.99]

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Power Girl #22

/ / Comics
  • Title: Power Girl #22
  • Comic Vine: link
  • Writer:Judd Winick
  • Artist:Sam Basri

power-girl-22-coverIn this issue Power Girl and Superman team-up to fight magic dinsosaurs running loose in the streets of New York City. Let me say that again – Power Girl and Superman vs. Magic Dinosaurs! What more could you possibly need to know?

The B-story for part one of “Up, Up & Away” centers around Power Girl’s alter-ego getting her company back. The timeline for this seems a bit off as it seems to be jumping ahead a couple of months after the events of Justice League: Generation Lost have been wrapped up. This, as you might expect, is somewhat problematic. However, I did like the scenes involving Superman talking to Kara about the problems with making her secret identity into a public figure and the possible ramifications if someone recognizes Karen Starr, CEO as Power Girl.

We also get a cameo from Zatanna, with the promise of more of her and Batman in the next issue as well. Sounds good to me. Oh, and did I mention this one has magic freakin’ dinosaurs?! Worth a look.

[DC, $2.99]

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The Next Three Days

/ / Home Video
  • Title: The Next Three Days
  • IMDB: link

How far would you go for the person you love? That’s the central question at the heart of writer/director Paul Haggis‘ dramatic thriller The Next Three Days.

After his wife (Elizabeth Banks) is incarcerated for a murder she didn’t commit, and every legal option is exhausted, John Brennan (Russell Crowe) decides to take the only choice left. He begins planning to break his wife out of prison and flee the country with their young son (Ty Simpkins).

Haggis delivers a compelling thriller filled with hard choices as John finds himself going further and further down the rabbit hole. The film is scattered with an assortment of strong supporting roles (Olivia Wilde, Jason Beghe, Liam Neeson, Aisha Hinds, Brian Dennehy), but the weight of the story falls entirely on Crowe’s shoulders and, not surprisingly, he delivers.

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