3 Razors

• Title: Grendel: Devil Child
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Diana Schutz
• Artist: Tim Sale

Okay, this one’s not for everybody.  This bleak look at the life of a girl raised by a serial killer, ushered in an out of psychiatric hospitals, abused by a doctor she believed loved her, and mother to a legacy of Grendel, isn’t what one would call a happy tale.  Now available in a new hardcover collection from Dark Horse Comics, it is however worth a look.

Grendel: Devil Child takes a look at one of the most important transitionary characters of Matt Wagner‘s Grendel storyline.

The story follows the tragic life of young Stacy Palumbo, the adopted daughter who turned on Hunter Rose after learning of nighttime activities as the original Grendel.  Stacy spends the entire length of this tale in and out of psychiatric institutes, never quite coming to grips with that fateful night she purposely sent Grendel and Argent to their doom.

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• Title: Final Crisis #1
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Grant Morrison
• Artist: J. G. Jones

A “final” crisis you say?  I’ll believe that when I see it!  What, it’s here?  That’s right folks the first issue of Final Crisis has hit the shelves and we’ve got the review.  Filled with appearance from countless DC heroes and villains, Grant Morrison has packed the first issue with characters, and a somewhat bewildering story.

After a brief introductory scene involving Metron supplying Anthro with knowledge, which perhaps is more than just the gift of fire, the story moves into full gear with a dying Orion and the discovery of a connection between a group of missing children, all of whom have a genetic disposition towards super-powers.

As the Justice League and Green Lanterns begin to search for the cause of Orion’s death, and the possibility of other New Gods on Earth, a villain named Libra temps the members of the Secret Society into joining his quest by offering them them their heart’s desire.  His presentation is quite convincing, as it ends with the apparent death of the Martian Manhunter (except for that odd final page…?).

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• Title: Infinite Crisis
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Geoff Johns
• Artist: Phil Jimenez, Jerry Ordway, George Pérez, Ivan Reis

If Crisis on Infinite Earths streamlined and simplified the DCU, Infinite Crisis did just the opposite. 20 years after Crisis on Infinite Earths (read that review) had restructured the DCU and set a new standard for both limited series and rebooting and entire company’s comic line, DC set out to something to commemorate the event.  The result was Infinite Crisis which returns the characters seen at the end of the original leaving the newly created Earth – the Earth-2 Superman, Superboy-Prime, and Alexander Luthor.

The heroes from lost worlds return from their confinement to change the current Earth which has grown into a dark and dangerous place.  The threesome have their own plans to replace the current world with one from the now defunct vast Multiverse.  Although Kal-L’s motives are pure, the other two have their own agenda.

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• Title: newuniversal: shockfront #1
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Warren Ellis
• Artist: Steve Kurth

Warren Ellis’ reinterpretation of Marvel’s New Universe was one of more memorable projects from the House of Ideas last year.  Now Ellis returns with “season two,” a new six-issue mini-series entitled newuniversal: shockfront which picks up the further adventures of Earth’s new super-powered heroes and those who want them dead.

For those who haven’t read the first mini-series, available in trade paperback and hardcover (read the review), I’d suggest giving it a peruse before jumping into Season Two.

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• Title: Serenity: Better Days #1-3
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Joss Whedon, Brett Matthews
• Artist: Will Conrad

The story begins, as is often the case with this crew, with a heist which doesn’t go exactly according to plan.  The team captures a new prototype attack droid (by the skin of their teeth) only to find their contact unable to pay for the merchandise.  However, he knows where the crew can get their hands on some buried cash.  Of course this sounds like another wild goose chase, but without other options the crew agrees – only to get their biggest surprise yet.

This new three-issue mini-series, written by Joss Whedon and Brett Matthews, takes place after the events of Serenity: Those Left Behind and before the events of the film Serenity.  With Whedon on board the characters actions and words ring true, even when the looks sometimes does not.

The art by Will Conrad is a bit spotty for me as he captures some of the characters well (Jayne, Zoe, Inara) but seems to completely miss on others (Shepherd Book, Wash).  Still, I like the look and feel of the action on the page, even if the characters themselves aren’t always quite up to snuff.

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