4.5 Razors

Grendel vs. The Shadow #1

/ / Comics

Grendel vs. The Shadow #1Finding himself sent back in time to 1930s New York after his encounter with an ancient artifact, Hunter Rose makes the best of the situation by using his well-honed skills and knowledge of the future to go about carving out a new empire in the name of Grendel during the waning days of prohibition.

Written and drawn by Mark Wagner, the comic begins in the black-and-white style of a Grendel comic before transporting the deadly Grendel into the past. Although The Shadow becomes aware of a new figure murdering his way through the various criminal families, the paths of the two characters do not intersect until the final page of the issue.

A fan of both Hunter Rose and The Shadow, the first issue of the three-issue mini-series is a joy to read. The double-sized prestige format makes the comic a little pricey, but it delivers in both story and style pitting my favorite of Wagner’s creations against a hero nearly as mysterious and deadly as Grendel himself. Best of the Week.

[Dark Horse / Dynamite, $5.99]

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Batman Beyond Universe #13

/ / Comics

Batman Beyond Universe #13Sometimes a comic can surprise you. After largely ignoring Batman Beyond Universe I decided to pick up the latest issue which promised the return of the Phantasm, flashbacks to the old Batman: The Animated Series days, and the reveal of what really destroyed the Bat-Family all those years ago.

Batman Beyond Universe #13 weaves a story that feels more like part of the Timmverse, without being overly nostalgic, rather than the increasingly watered down version we’ve seen come and go in recent years. The result is the best Batman Beyond comic I’ve read and easily sells me on the conclusion of the two-part storyline which will not only see the fallout between Dick Grayson, Barbara Gordon, and Bruce Wayne but also force Terry McGinnis to deal face-to-face with the man responsible for the death of the man who raised him.

Joining the comic with this issue, artist Phil Hester manages to faithfully recreate the look of both series. I particularly love the flashback art. Best of the week.

[DC, $3.99]

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Star Trek – The Menagerie

/ / Television Reviews
  • Title: Star Trek – The Menagerie
  • wiki: link
  • wiki: link

Star Trek - The Menagerie

Offering the show the opportunity to use footage from the unaired pilot episode, the First Season’s only two-part episode featured rebellious Spock (Leonard Nimoy) standing trial for stealing the Enterprise and taking it to the forbidden planet of Talos IV and the return of the show’s first captain Christopher Pike (Sean Kenney/Jeffrey Hunter). “The Menagerie” is possibly the best example from the original series of the human side of the Vulcan science officer getting the best of him where his loyalty to his ship and captain comes into conflict with actions that, at least on the surface, are highly illogical.

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Covert Affairs – Grounded

/ / Television Reviews
  • Title: Covert Affairs – Grounded
  • wiki: link

Covert Affairs - Grounded

With Annie‘s (Piper Perabo) secret revealed, Annie, Joan (Kari Matchett), and Calder (Hill Harper) all find themselves the subject of governmental hearings as to what else Miss Walker may have been hiding besides her medical condition which even puts the the recent win of taking down Nathan Mueller (Max Martini) into question. Despite being put on desk duty and preparing to testify in front of those who control her future with CIA, Annie’s attention is split when she’s contacted by Auggie‘s (Christopher Gorham) conspiracy nut asset who reports to have information about who was really behind the Chicago bombing.

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Beware the Batman – Fall

/ / Television Reviews
  • Title: Beware the Batman – Fall
  • wiki: link

Beware the Batman - Fall

The mid-season finale of Beware the Batman picks up several loose threads from the show’s First Season including Katana‘s (Sumalee Montano) relationship with scientist Jason Burr (Matthew Lillard), the completion of the Ion Cortex, and the League of Assassins‘ interest in both. “Fall” also introduces the show’s first villain who proves more than a match for Batman (Anthony Ruivivar), as a rejuvenated Ra’s al Ghul (Lance Reddick) assumes control of the League and puts his plans into motion.

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