4.5 Razors

Astro City #52

/ / Comics

Astro City #52 comic reviewThe longest continuous run of Astro City comes to a close in issue 52. Writer Kurt Busiek and artist Brent Anderson aren’t going away as they still have several projects in mind to continue and explore a world where heroes are observed by, and often interact with, the city’s locals. Even knowing that there are other graphic novels, mini-series, and one-shots still to come, it will be missed.

Astro City #52 concludes the volume’s final arc centering around Michael Tenicek, a broken man whose wife was deleted from existence during one of the Honor Guard‘s battles years ago. Since then the man has found meaning leading a support group of others affected by super-heroes and being the only one to remember a woman who the rest of the world never knew existed.

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Usagi Yojimbo: The Hidden #4

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Usagi Yojimbo: The Hidden #4 comic reviewHappy Usagi is one of my favorite things. There’s a moment in Usagi Yojimbo: The Hidden #4, during a lull in the case, where Inspector Ishida invites the rabbit ronin home with him and Miyamoto Usagi enjoys the hospitality of his friend, wife, and son. While there’s still plenty of work to be done in the remaining three issues of the series, it is nice to see Usagi get a respite (however short it turns out to be).

As to the larger arc of the issue, Usagi Yojimbo: The Hidden #4 picks up with Usagi and Ishida being led into an ambush the the street thief and being forced to slice their way through a large number of cheap merecenaries before the remaining turn tail and run. It’s so hard to get good help these days.

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Samurai Jack – Episode X: Jack and the Lava Monster

/ / Television Reviews
  • Title: Samurai Jack – Episode X: Jack and the Lava Monster
  • wiki: link

Samurai Jack - Episode X: Jack and the Lava Monster television review

Throwback Thursday takes us back to the adventures of the time-displaced samurai and his quest to make his way home. Following a mysterious call in the wildrness, though a valley of bodies and a mountain of traps, leads Jack (Phil LaMarr) to a cursed warrior (Richard McGonagle) deep within the mountain. Cursed by Aku (Mako) and left for eternity encased in a rocky prison, the warrior awaits for an opponent worthy enough to defeat him in battle and send him to Valhalla. Initially refusing to fight, Jack agrees to a one-on-one battle which frees the viking and delivers his long-sought peace.

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Justice League Action – Captain Bamboozle

/ / Television Reviews
  • Title: Justice League Action – Captain Bamboozle
  • wiki: link

Justice League Action - Captain Bamboozle television review

The first of two episodes to feature the fifth-dimensional imp Mr. Mxyzptlk (Gilbert Gottfried, in some inspired casting), “Captain Bamboozle” finds the mischievous creature causing new havoc by imparting super-powers to Billy Batson‘s (Sean Astin) foster uncle Dudley H. Dudley (John Astin) whose feeling a bit useless in not being able to help Billy when her turns into Captain Marvel, er… Shazam. Pretending to be the wizard, Mxyzptlk grants Dudley a wide range of super-powers (and costume that perfectly captures the homemade costume the Golden Age version of the character wore to feel part of the Marvel Family). Longtime fans of the Marvel Family should enjoy themselves here, although the only thing we don’t get, which I’ll admit leaves me slightly disappointed, is a way to fit Hoppy into the story.

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The Man of Steel #1

/ / Comics

The Man of Steel #1 comic reviewThe Man of Steel #1 not only gives us a little bit of backstory to the new character of Rogol Zaar but it also gives readers a day in the life of Superman as the Man of Steel literally puts out a Metropolis fire, uses minimal effort to take down a pair of villains stupid enough to set up shop in Metropolis, meets a new friend, and finds a quiet moment of contemplation and joy in an unexpected moment between saving the day.

Maybe I’m just reading into things, but I was surprised by the hints of martial discord sprinkled throughout the issue. Is there trouble at home, Clark? I’m curious to see how this may play out.

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