Captain America

Captain America #13

/ / Comics

captain-america-13-coverCaptain America tracks down Jack Garrett, the leak in S.H.I.E.L.D. who has been supplying HYDRA with names of criminals in witness protection, which leads him one step closer to Henry Gyrich. We also see how Gyrich is controlling the new Scourge, who no one but a still unconscious Diamondback knows is Cap’s old friend D-Man.

The latest issue moves the plot forward, and sets the table, but other than a quick battle at the airport where Cap takes down Garrett (and the HYDRA agents sent to silence him before he talked), it is a little light on action.

Sharon Carter and Dum Dum Dugan set a trap that gets them Gyrich. However, Cap’s already in the field after the new Scourge before Diamondback wakes up, meaning he’s not aware he’s hunting a friend who has been brainwashed by HYDRA.

As to the big throwdown between old friends (teased on the cover but not shown here), we’ll have to wait at least another issue. Worth a look.

[Marvel, $3.99]

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Captain America #12

/ / Comics

captain-america-12-coverAs S.H.I.E.L.D. doctors try to help Diamondback, who has slipped into a coma after the beatdown from the new Scourge, Captain America and Dum Dum Dugan set out to get a little revenge by attacking an underground HYDRA base and learning the secret of the S.H.I.E.L.D. leak.

We get a couple of revelations here including Sharon Carter‘s discovery of the leak within S.H.I.E.D. to be a brainwashed Henry Gyrich as well as a look at the face of the man wearing the new Scourge costume – Dennis Dunphy.

Although the inclusion of Gyrich and Dunphy does nothing to help sell me on the story, there’s certainly enough here to pick this one up including some good inner monologue from Cap during his attack on the HYDRA base and the art by Patrick Zircher whose action sequences really pop. Worth a look.

[Marvel, $3.99]

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Captain America #11

/ / Comics

captain-america-11-coverDum Dum Dugan and Diamondback discover that someone out there, posing as the new Scourge, is killing former terrorists and minor super-villains who are now protected witnesses for S.H.I.E.L.D. Okay, it turns out they aren’t that well protected.

A little digging into the leak leads to the discovery of an even bigger problem when Captain America finds a HYDRA infiltrator in to the echelons of S.H.I.E.L.D. Meanwhile the group tries to narrow down the list of potential targets the new Scourge may hit next which leads to a confrontation between the assassin and Diamondback and the murder of another witness.

I like the inclusion of Dugan and Dimondback here, the later (given she’s a former super-villain) will have a real stake in the case. Scourge, in one for or another, has been around forever in the Marvel Universe to help trim the fat. I’m intrested to see how writer Ed Brubaker uses the character in this new arc. Worth a look.

[Marvel, $3.99]

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The Avengers

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: The Avengers
  • IMDB: link

the-avengers-posterWell done Joss Whedon. Ensemble casts aren’t always the easiest to deal with, especially when you’ve got stars of several franchises who all need to be showcased. Not only does the creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer succeed in giving each hero their own moment to shine, but he crafts what is inarguably one of the best super-hero movies of all-time. I don’t know if The Avengers is going to be the best movie of the summer, but if it’s not I can’t wait to see what could possibly top it.

One thing Whedon and the numerous special effects experts used on the film get just right is scale. From the first time we see the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier to the film’s final battle (which can only be described as epic) the size and breadth of it are awe-inspiring. I viewed the film in IMAX 3D, and while I think a regular screening will still be quite good, the IMAX certainly helped sell the larger-than-life aspects of the script (which Buffy fans should be glad to hear is peppered with classic Whedon one-liners and humorous asides).

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Captain America #9

/ / Comics

captain-america-9-coverAs Tony Stark tries to figure out a cure to turn skinny Steve Rogers back into Captain America and the Falcon searches for the villains behind the madbombs, Sharon Carter finds herself aboard the Hellacarrier in the fight for her life against Machinesmith.

Although Cap doesn’t get in on the action there’s plenty to go around. Agent 13’s battle with Machinesmith, which includes the super-villain taking over all aspects of the S.H.I.E.L.D. Hellacarrier, is a lot of fun. How Sharon manages to force Machinesmith’s cooperation not only fits into her character but opens possible new trouble for Cap and friends down the line. The Falcon’s story isn’t as compelling, but it gets the job done by moving the story arc forward.

If I have one big complaint about issue #9 it’s that the art by Alan Davis isn’t as consistent as I’d like. Although the closeups look good, many of the other panels look rushed – especially the faces of the characters in some of the action shots. Here’s hoping this is just a one-time problem. Worth a look.

[Marvel, $3.99]

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