3 Razors

Captain America #15

captain-america-15-coverCaptain America and the Falcon deal with the new threat of the Discordians, the latest weapon pointed at Cap and his friends by the triumverate of Codename: Bravo, Baron Zemo, and Queen Hydra.

Although the Discordians cause quite a bit of damage in a small amount of time they’re stopped relatively easily. Sure, the Falcon gets thrown around a little, but then again, he is the Falcon.

The best parts of this issue are the small glances and unsaid words between Captain America and Diamondback and later between Diamondback and Sharon Carter whose “stay the hell away from my man” vibe couldn’t be any stronger if she was shouting it at Cap’s ex.

Captain America #15 isn’t a bad issue, but the Discordians aren’t really that impressive and I’ve already grown tired of Bravo and Queen Hydra’s (failed) attempts to fuck with Cap far from the battlefield. It’s worth a look but not an issue you’ll miss much if you decide not to pick it up.

[Marvel, $3.99]

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Political Animals – The Woman Problem

  • Title: Political Animals – The Woman Problem
  • tv.com: link

Political Animals

At a private family dinner Elaine (Sigourney Weaver) announces to her mother (Ellen Burstyn) and sons that she intends to run against President Garcetti (Adrian Pasdar) in the next election. To help lay the foundation of his hush-hush campaign by getting the help of an old friend and pollster (Chris Ellis), Bud (Ciarán Hinds) sets out with Douglas (James Wolk) and T.J. (Sebastian Stan) under the guise of a fishing trip.

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The Flash #11

The Flash #11The latest issue of The Flash begins a new story arc as the Scarlet Speedster has relocated to Keystone City letting everyone back home believe Barry Allen is dead. I’m less sure about The Flash leaving Central City than Barry Allen letting his true identity die (which I’m really not in favor of), but as long as writers Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato keep this arc relatively short I’m willing to see how things play out.

Barry gets himself a job in one of Keystone City’s super-villain dives where on the first day of work he has to suit up and stop a brawl between Captain Cold and Heat Wave. The Flash makes quick work of the two villains, but on the way back to prison they’re surprised by a visit from the Golden Glider.

I enjoyed Barry as the Flash, but I’m still unsure of his life out of costume in this arc. It’s also interesting to note that in the New 52 Keystone City is compared to Gotham in terms of in terms of high levels of crime and corruption. We’ll see what the Flash has to say about that. Worth a look.

[DC, $2.99]

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Winter Soldier #8

winter-soldier-8-coverWhile Bucky and Jasper search frantically for Leo Novokov, the third Soviet sleeper agent trained by Bucky and now loose in the world, the pair keep coming up empty. And now that Novokov has the Black Widow he can put his plan into action.

And his master plan is to turn Natalia back into… a ballerina? Sorry? I know, I know, Novokov uses Professor Rodchenko and his brainwashing techniques to return the Black Widow to the Soviet assassin she once was, I just think it’s funny (and a little stupid) that the one instance we see of Natalia’s old self is dancing around on stage.

Meanwhile Bucky and Jasper are able to find and trace the helicopter Novokov used to make off with Natalia, but they don’t know that they are far too late because Natalia has now fallen to the dark side and is… dancing. Great idea for a story, but Brubaker’s choice of the final reveal makes the comic read far more humorous than ominous. Still, worth a look.

[Marvel, $3.99]

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Captain America #14

captain-america-14-coverCaptain America finds himself fighting the new Scourge, but long before Sharon Carter can arrive to tell him it’s one of his friends under the mask Steve Rogers figures out who is trying to kill him.

Most of the comic centers around Cap’s fight with Scourge and the immediate aftermath involve Sharon Carter’s actions to save the man she loved. It’s clear Cap can forgive her for using lethal force to take down a former friend, but the question that lingers as the issue comes to a close is whether Sharon will ever forgive herself.

The episode is a weird mix of art by Patrick Zircher and Mike Deodato, Jr. The two styles don’t really mesh all that well giving the comic a somewhat unsatisfying feel. The story itself works well, setting up more conflict and guilt for Cap with the loss of another friend (although I’ve never been a fan of D-Man and didn’t even know he was even alive somewhere in the Marvel Universe so it’s not like Codename: Bravo did this to the Falcon). Worth a look.

[Marvel, $3.99]

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