4 Razors

Scarlet Spider #3

/ / Comics

scarlet-spider-3-coverDespite his intentions to do anything else with his life, Kaine finds himself the popular new super-hero of Houston tracking down street criminals just like Spider-Man (okay, not just like Spider-Man), and still trying to find a way to protect the young illegal immigrant from the people who want her dead.

On the Aracely front Kaine gets some help from the hotel’s bartender Annabelle Adams and Dr. Meland but things get far more complicated when Kaine learns the Doctor has a contract on his head from the greiving husband whose wife and child died on the doctor’s table. Even more troubling is the fact that the Assassin’s Guild now knows that Kaine is still alive and exactly where to find him.

Although I’m a little concerned that Kaine doesn’t understand the basic concept of a secret identity (a doctor, cop, bartender, assassin, and a smuggled illegal immigrant all know he’s the Scarlet Spider) things look pretty good for this title with plenty of action and some really good Spidey narration – Kaine-style. Best of the week.

[Marvel, $2.99]

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Fatale #3

/ / Comics

fatale-3-coverNicholas Lash continues to search for clues into the mysterious woman and the odd circumstances that left him with a vandalized house, the loss of a limb, and a bizarre manuscript that has more truth in it than he originally realizes.

My problem with issue #2 was it was entirely set in the past. This month’s issue not only returns the Nicholas Lash character, but starts him on an investigation which should bring both storylines together.

In the past we see just how powerful Josephine’s pull over Hank is, and when confronted by a deranged cultist from her past, we see her ability to bend men to her will can have deadly consequences. I’m not quite as sold on the corrupt cop storyline, but I’m willing to wait to see how it all plays out.

A very strong issue that doesn’t give away many of its secrets but doesn’t feel like its necessarily obscuring a reveal for another month either. I can’t wait to see where this supernatural noir goes from here.

[Image, $3.50]

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Fairest #1

/ / Comics

fairest-1-cover

The new series from writer Bill Willingham, artist Phil Jimenez, and with covers by Adam Hughes, explores the secret histories of Sleeping Beauty, Rapunzel, Cinderella, the Snow Queen, Thumbelina, Snow White, Rose Red and others. The first issue centers around Ali Baba and a bottle imp named Jonah Panghammer (think genie, without the wishes).

We see the meeting of Ali Baba and his over-talkative imaginary friend and then quite a bit of running as the thief tries not to be mauled to death by a monster while his new friend prattles on about himself. Once safe, the imp tells him of a way for the thief to find the riches he so deserves. His new master jumps at the chance, even if that means sneaking through a goblin camp to kiss a sleeping princess and win himself a kingdom.

Fans of the Fables series should enjoy themselves here. The writing is quick-witted and Jimenez’s art looks terrific. Worth a look.

[Vertigo, $2.99]

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John Carter

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: John Carter
  • IMDB: link

john-carter-posterOriginally published 100 years ago in The All Story Magazine in serialized fashion over a period of months Edgar Rice Burroughs‘ first story, A Princess of Mars, launched a career than spanned decades including several more novels in what became known as the Barsoom series and the creation of a certain Lord of the Jungle you may know by the name of Tarzan.

It’s taken a century, but Hollywood finally has its first big screen adaptation of Burroughs’ tale. (For our purposes here we’re just going to ignore the existence of the 2009 straight-to-DVD version starring Antonio Sabato Jr. and Traci Lords.) Adapted and directed by Pixar’s Oscar winning filmmaker Andrew Stanton (Wall-E, Finding Nemo, A Bug’s Life) John Carter breathes new life into the century-old work while still staying true to the Burroughs’ original novel.

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Usagi Yojimbo #144

/ / Comics

usagi-yojimbo-144-coverUsagi Yojimbo #144 concludes the two-part storyline that began last month as the rabbit ronin helps out a soy sauce from a ruthless competitor. The second issue gives us a little more action than last month as well as a few more snippets of information for anyone who has ever been curious about the (far more complex than I had expected) process of making soy sauce.

Even the the vandalism of old man’s factory and the murder of his assistant isn’t enough to get the lazy local sheriff involved. Usagi Yojimbo takes matters into his own hands by throwing the local law in the middle of the gang determined to drive the old soy sauce maker out of business.

A good conclusion to the tale, which include some terrific panels of Usagi in action. Worth a look.

[Dark Horse, $3.50]

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