4.5 Razors

Astro City #25

/ / Comics

Astro City #25Astro City #25 offers a snapshot of the life of a second-generation super-hero in Hummingbird who is both gifted and cursed with unique gifts which begin to express themselves during adolescence including wings that give her the power of flight.

Drawn by guest-artist Jesús Merino, the latest issue of Astro City is very much a throwback to the kinds of comic tales that DC and Marvel, for whatever reason, seem to have gotten out of the habit of telling in favor of large-scale event tie-ins. In a single issue you could argue we get a better feel of Hummingbird than any recently-rebooted version of a major character from either of the big two comic publishers.

And she’s heroic! Presented with hard choices our hero rises to the challenge to save not just one world but two. There’s no cynicism or unnecessary grim filter that Busiek and Merino are forced to tell their tale through. This results in a fresh take on a rather basic premise that, like nearly all issues of the series, delivers just the kind of story you’ve been looking to read. Worth a look.

[Vertigo, $3.99]

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Usagi Yojimbo #147

/ / Comics

Usagi Yojimbo #147“The Thief and the Kunoichi” comes to a conclusion as Usagi and Chizu make the best of Kitsune‘s plan to sell Inouye’s secret treaty back to the merchant. The warriors decide to use the time and setting of the transaction to their advantage by destroying a secret shipment of Ginseng Inouye is counting on to help fund his underhanded dealings.

Usagi Yojimbo #147 continues to force Usagi in between the two women and into the role of peacemaker which leads to a humorous farewell with both women that leaves the rabbit ronin all but speechless. The end of the arc also provides plenty of action as Usagi and Chizu work to cut a wide swath through the merchant’s soldiers and provide Chizu a measure of revenge (even if it did mean having to save Kitsune’s life).

The unusual threesome provided by Stan Sakai proved to be a great way to relaunch the ongoing series after it’s lengthy hiatus. Usagi is back and, if this arc is any indication, the rabbit ronin will have his hands full with whatever fate has in store for him next. Worth a look.

[Dark Horse, $3.50]

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Usagi Yojimbo #146

/ / Comics

Usagi Yojimbo #146Usagi finds his hands busy in the middle issue of “The Thief and the Kunoichi” dealing with an army of ninja and keeping Chizu from taking her aggression out on Kitsune all over the botched robbery of a worthless scroll that holds a secret tied to an old enemy of the rabbit ronin.

The reveal that the scroll leads back to Hijiki, whose actions led to the death of Usagi’s Lord and his fall from samurai to ronin, make this latest adventure hit close to home for the wandering warrior. As Usagi and Chizu attempt to keep the small group alive Kitsune tries to cash in on the situation by blackmailing Inouye and once again raising the ire of Chizu.

It seems Usagi’s thankless (but very enjoyable) job to keep the two women from killing each other is far from over heading into the final issue of the storyline. Usagi Yojimbo #146 is filled with the type of action and comedy Stan Sakai’s creation is known to deliver, I can’t wait to see how the story ends. Must-read.

[Dark Horse, $3.50]

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Star Wars Rebels – The Siege of Lothal

/ / Television Reviews
  • Title: Star Wars Rebels – The Siege of Lothal
  • wiki: link

Star Wars Rebels - The Siege of Lothal

Season Two of Star Wars Rebels opens with a large space battle. Since we’ve seen them last the crew of the Ghost has joined the struggling Rebellion, a decision which doesn’t sit well with all members of the crew. Tricked into returning to Lothal to rescue Minister Tua (Kath Soucie) who offers them valuable intelligence for their assistance, the crew is lured into the first of two traps by Darth Vader (James Earl Jones).

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Pretty Little Liars – Songs of Innocence

/ / Television Reviews
  • Title: Pretty Little Liars – Songs of Innocence
  • wiki: link

Pretty Little Liars - Songs of Innocence

After a brief stint in the hospital the Liars return home to rooms the mirror image of their prison cells and to families who, despite their need to help, have no idea what their children endured. Each reacts differently to their return. Aria (Lucy Hale) becomes obsessed with putting Andrew (Brandon Jones) behind bars, even going so far as to lie to the prosecutor to help her make her case. Hanna (Ashley Benson) strips her room down to the bare walls, removing all traces that remind her of captivity. Emily (Shay Mitchell) steals her father’s gun to take out some frustration on the gun range. And Spencer (Troian Bellisario), denied the drugs to help her sleep by her overprotective mother who is afraid of reawakening her daughter’s pill addiction, struggles to get even a single night sleep which will likely cause the very thing her mother was trying to prevent.

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