4 Razors

DC Retroactive: Justice League – The 90’s

dc-retroactive-justice-league-90s-coverDC’s Retroactive titles have been a failed experiment (and that’s putting it kindly). The attempt at telling tales from the 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s with writers and artists who worked on those characters during that time period has delivered some of the most disappointing and awful tales the publisher has put out this year. Until now.

When I heard of the idea I was cautiously optimistic. Most of the group didn’t interest me much but I was going to get Dennis O’Neil writing a Green Lantern story (sadly, without Neal Adams), and Len Wein was doing a Batman story, but the one that really piqued my interest was Keith Giffen, J.M. DeMatteis, and Kevin Maguire reuniting for a classic Justice League tale. And, unlike the others, this one actually delivers the goods.

The issue gives us the classic 90’s team (Booster Gold, Blue Beetle, Mr. Miracle, Guy Gardner, Fire, Ice, Martian Manhunter, Oberon and Maxwell Lord), a Parademon who has lost Darkseid’s inhaler (or something) in a card game, the Injustice League, a giant monster loose on the city, and Power Girl shows up with that #$%@& cat!

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Leverage – The Cross My Heart Job

  • Title: Leverage – The Cross My Heart Job
  • tv.com: link

leverage-cross-my-heart-job

Season Four is likely to be remembered as the season the writers shook things up by putting the team in unusual situations. Already this season we’ve seen the actors play characters in 70 year-old flashbacks, get caught in a murder mystery, have one of the team (Aldis Hodge) get buried alive, and now this week the Leverage team tries to steal back a stolen heart with no prep time or any of their regular tools.

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Darkwing Duck #15

darkwing-duck-15-coverWhat can I say? Darkwing Duck can even make politics fun! The battle for Mayor of St. Canard heats up as both Darkwing Duck and Launchpad McQuack stave off negative campaigning (who they blame each other for, although neither is responsible). As the comic nears its final issue this one is jampacked with cameos including Launchpad’s new campaign manager, Spike, and Darkwing and Launchpad putting aside their issues to battle The League of Barely Remembered Supervillains!

The League is made up entirely of lesser known criminals from the Darkwing Duck cartoon including Lilliput, Professor Moliarty, the Bugmaster, Jambalaya Jake (and his pet gator Gumbo), and Tuskernini. Victory of the also-rans is shortlived as Suff-Rage pulls out all the stops by mysmerizing the audience to attack all three candidates.

Once again writer Ian Brill and artist James Silvani outdo themselves in creating an insanely fun read (with extra insanity). If you aren’t reading Darkwing Duck you’re missing out. Worth a look.

[Boom, $3.99]

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Power Girl #27

power-girl-27-coverTime is running out for Power Girl, in more ways than one. As a metaphor for the end of the series writer Matthew Sturges gives Kara the task of saving victims trapped in three separate life-threatening situations in under one-minute. The man behind the deadly tests is the Calculator who knows Power Girl won’t be able to stop all three attacks. But, then again, he doesn’t know our girl very well, does he?

The issue works on its own as a solo adventure as well as a not too obvious send-off for Power Girl who (at least right now) doesn’t look to have a spot in the new DCU. Those picking the issue up three years from now out of a longbox might not even realize its the series’ finale.

Although it was never quite as good as Batgirl or Secret Six, I’m sorry to see this title go away. It’s provided some extremely entertaining stories including magic dinosaurs, a misunderstood Arab super-hero, appearances by Batman, Superman, and Zatanna, clones, a Power Girl fan convention, and more. Worth a look.

[DC, $2.99]

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Leverage – The Boiler Room Job

  • Title: Leverage – The Boiler Room Job
  • tv.com: link

leverage-the-boiler-room-job

The team faces one of their toughest challenges yet when they take on con man aristocracy. There latest mark (David Rees Snell) is the youngest of a long line of great con men, who knows every con in the book. He’s so observant it only takes him a cursory glance to conclude Nate (Timothy Hutton) and Sophie’s (Gina Bellman) relationship (much to the shock of the rest of the team).

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