Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Power Girl #13


Power Girl is a character that takes a bit of love to do right. She's far from the most interesting DC character, often being pigeonholed as the "other" Supergirl, the lost girl, or the spunky sexpot, but there is a character in there worth exploring. I've stayed away from this series since the first issue which I found largely forgettable. But this new direction has me intrigued.

Issue #13 brings in the new team of Judd Winick and artist Sam Basri. Both are good choices. First, Basri's art shows off the character without making you feel like a perv. And Winick immediately ties in the series to the current Maxwell Lord storyline from Justice League: Generation Lost to add to the daily confusion and craziness that Power Girl must handle.

Wait, am I talking about the plot of a Power Girl comic? Holey Moley! Aside from the Lord arc we also get some genuinely funny moments of Power Girl out of costume like the one above (there are so many good panels in this issue it was hard for me to choose which one to use).

Winick's Power Girl is conflicted about her relationship with the JLI and her feelings for her former teammates Booster Gold and Maxwell Lord. Character first (wow, don't remember if I've ever said that about a Power Girl comic before). It appears that Winick has also found a loophole to bring another former Leaguer into the hunt for Maxwell Lord, but we'll have to wait until next month to find out for sure. And you know what, I'm looking forward to it (yeah, can't remember saying that before either). Worth a look.

[DC $2.99]

Monday, June 28, 2010

Batman: Streets of Gotham #13


I don't really have much to say about this comic. Truthfully the only reason I'm writing about it is to share this panel. It's about time someone commented on his Batbuckle, don't you think? "The Carpenter's Tale" wasn't much to write home about, but it did provide a moment or two. There's also more foreshadowing of Hush's revenge which begins next month, but you won't miss much if you skip this issue. For fans.

[DC $3.99]

Sunday, June 27, 2010

Green Arrow #1


I don't know whether to giggle or groan. Green Arrow has always been a thinly-veiled modern day Robin Hood, but I guess the veil is gone completely now. Oliver Queen is living in the forest (but still wearing his costume and mask), forever exiled from Star City, taking down any baddies who come his way, robbing the rich to feed the poor (I'm not making this up). Then you have this panel promising some Merry Men to help him out. Had the entire issue been more lighthearted and campy this new path for our hero may have been easier to swallow. Instead the series seems to be stubbornly stuck on the path laid down for the character in the best-forgotten (and never, ever, mentioned again) Cry for Justice mini-series. I can't help wonder if writer J.T. Krul is having a good laugh at all of our expense.

Lone Ranger #22


So I'm finally getting to the latest issue of Brett Matthew's The Lone Ranger... Where to begin? Cavendish destroys the silver mine. Linda and Dan Reid find themsleves attacked in their home. Throw in a pair of hard conversations and difficult decisions, death by hornet sting, and attempted rape, and you've got one intense issue paced within an inch of its life. The art by Sergio Carillo is in fine form, and John Cassady gives us another great cover. It certainly isn't for everyone, and it's not the type of Lone Ranger kids should pick up, but when this title is good it's damn good. Worth a look.

[Dynamite $3.50]

Friday, June 25, 2010

Detective Comics #866


Have I mentioned how happy I am to have Batman back in Detective Comics? Although the story itself is only so-so I like how Dennis O'Neil gives us a case that's been bothering Dick Grayson since he first put on his Robin booties, and one he can now finally close as Batman. Plus I love the flashback art from Dustin Nguyen. I'm even willing to forgive the mistake of Batman's costume not fitting the period (Batman hadn't yet added the oval when Robin first hit the streets). Throw in Robin's first encounter with the Joker and I'm pretty happy. Definitely worth a look.

[DC $3.99]

Hulk #23


After skipping the last three issues of this title (seriously, I just couldn't take any more) I decided to pick-up this one given the promise of answers considering the origins of the Red Hulk. Does this issue provide those answers? Yes. Do they make sense? Well...

The entire comic is from the perspective of Gen. Thunderbolt Ross, and one thing I did enjoy was the stylistic choice of recreating different panels in the comic style of the age in which they originally took place. In order to achieve this the comic called on the talent of several artists including Sal Buscema, Ian Churchill, Mike Deodato, Ed McGuinness, Tim Sale, and John Romita Jr.

I just wish the story was as well thought out as the art. After the explanations are over there's still plenty of head-scratching to be done over the questionable logic involved in Ross becoming the Red Hulk, Betty becoming the Red She Hulk, and all the rest of the nonsense we've had to put up with for months. Even with its "revelations" it's certainly nowhere near good enough to justify the $5 price-tag. Hit-and-Miss.

[Marvel $4.99]

Justice League: Generation Lost #4


I love it when a team comes together. And then there were six. The team grows with the return of Fire and the addition of Rocket Red. We also learn two important things about Maxwell Lord: 1) There are limitations and gruesome side effects to his mind control, and 2) The reuniting of the JLI is just one more piece of his plan. Worth a look.

[DC $2.99]

Thursday, June 24, 2010

The Avengers #2


The bad news? The time steam is broken. The good news? The Avengers, with the help of Noh-Varr, are ready to hop into the future and set things straight (unless Wonder Man can stop them). And any title that has a cameo from both the 2099 Universe and the original Guardians of the Galaxy gets a pass from me. Worth a look.

[Marvel $2.99]

Superman #700


To be honest I haven't been a regular reader of Superman for a very long time. Much like Batman #700 this issue gives us three tales, though here they are unrelated. The first guest-stars the Parasite in the long awaited reunion of the Man of Steel and Lois Lane. The last is a grief stricken woman laying a planet-sized guilt trip on our hero causing him a level of introspection that seems odd given the length in his history (you'd think he'd have come to grips with such circumstances decades ago). But it's the middle story, guest-starring a young Dick Grayson as Robin, that works best. There are some fun moments including Superman trying to save Dick from Bruce's wrath by quickly doing his homework and the Batman's message to Clark in the epilogue. Worth a look.

[DC $4.99]

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Knight and Day


Tom Cruise is crazy. Crazy I tell you! And he's soooo dangerous! Or is he? That's the basic theme of Knight and Day which enlists Cruise to play the burned-out spy gone mad who happens upon the unsuspecting June (Cameron Diaz) on her way to her sister's (Maggie Grace) wedding. One thing leads to another (don't you hate it when a plane full of trained killers tries to take you out in mid-air?) and suddenly June is seeing much more of Roy (Cruise) than she bargained for.

In film, as in life, charm can both overcome and hide a number of flaws. And Cruise and Diaz make for a charming on-screen couple. Just not quite charming enough to hide a level of ridiculousness that even The A-Team dared not go. At no time should you attempt to think through the chain of events you are presented with which rely on the kind of dumb luck, chance, opportunity and fate you only find in movies of this genre.

The script by Patrick O'Neill has a few more twists and red herrings than it really knows what to do with, and while director James Mangold gives us plenty of action, and some funny quiet moments between the our stars, the movie never becomes more than a curiosity. We know what's going to happen to Roy and June but we're never really given a reason to care.

The film also earns demerits for wasting the talents of Grace, Peter Sarsgaard, Viola Davis, and Paul Dano in thankless, and mostly forgettable, roles. It's really a two-man show from beginning to end. When the script stays with this concept it works well enough, but every time it tries to broaden its scope by bringing in less-than fleshed-out characters it struggles. The only one who really comes of well besides our leads is Marc Blucas in his trademarked dorky role we've come to expect from him.



That's not to say Knight and Day isn't fun. There are several action scenes that work well visually. They might not make a lick of sense, but they're fun. And fun is one thing Knight and Day has in abundance.

From the plane encounter to racing a motorcycle through the running of the bulls the film packs as much action as it can muster. There is also a running gag involving Roy drugging June for her own good that is used quite well on multiple occasions. Not only are the groggy glimpses we see funny, but the film also hints at more craziness going on just behind her vision.

At times the movie struggles to keep the comedy/drama/romance/action aspects of the story all working, but when Cruise is running around having a grand time and Diaz is trying not to smile slyly through through the craziness you can almost forgive it its mistakes.

I can't quite go so far as to recommend you spending upwards of $10 to see this in the theater. If you can see at a cheap matinee, or, better yet, if in a couple of years you're home with nothing to do on a lazy Saturday afternoon and come across this on the tube, you might give it a look.

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Deadshot...


...is great with kids.

Monday, June 21, 2010

World Domination via the Metric System

New Avengers #1


So they're the New, New Avengers? Okay. I'm still not sure which of the numerous new Avengers teams is going to be my favorite (seriously, are they trying to outnumber the X-teams?), and I'm a little sad Bucky-Cap isn't part of this group, but I like how most of the core of the New Avengers stayed intact. Spider-Man, Ms. Marvel, Wolverine, Hawkeye, and Luke Cage make for a formidable group 'specially if you throw in Iron Fist and the Thing. The first issue deals with the formation of the new team, and demons, spirits, or some such, coming over from another dimension and possessing the likes of Doctor Strange. The possession story isn't as good as the rest of the book but it's still worth a look.

[Marvel $3.99]

Sunday, June 20, 2010

Incredible Hulk #610


Guess who's back? This entire World War Hulks storyline has been ridiculous but the latest issue does mark the return of one big, green, and very angry Marvel icon. It's just about the only good thing about this issue, but the event which leads to his return is fairly well done. Hit-and-Miss.

[Marvel $3.99]

Saturday, June 19, 2010

Amazing Spider-Man #634


War between tribes? *Sigh* The "Grim Hunt" conclusion of The Gauntlet begins here, and for the life of me I can't get Knightfall out of my head. And not in a good way. Here we have villains I couldn't give two shits about (Ana, Alyosha, and Sasha Kravinoff) sending waves of former big name baddies after our hero to weaken him until they step in for the kill. Sound familiar? Throw in some fuzzy mysticism and human sacrifice and I'm groaning my way through a comic best forgotten.

Although I've liked individual stories in The Gauntlet, the story behind the scenes, which comes to the forefront here, has done more to weary me than our hero. Why am I supposed to care about forgotten Spider-Women, Madame Web (a character I've never liked), Ezekiel, Kaine, or Kraven's wacky family? Hopefully Marvel can get through the "Grim Hunt" and on to better things for the wallcrawler as fast as possible. Pass.

[Marvel $3.99]

Friday, June 18, 2010

Birds of Prey #2


The plot behind the mysterious assassin deepens as the Birds find themselves on the run from a foe who knows their secrets, is at least two-steps ahead, and is able to make everyone dance to the song they have decided to play. I have faith in writer Gail Simone, but I'm a little concerned with where the story is heading, the near omniscience of their opponent, and the long list of repercussions the book will have to deal with (perhaps for years) unless Oracle and her crew mount a comeback, quickly. Although I wasn't a big fan of either Savant or Creote they deserve a better fate than they're given here. Hit-and-Miss.

[DC $2.99]

Toy Story 3


With Toy Story 3 Pixar moves into uncharted territory. The studio has shied away from movie franchises and, other than Toy Story 2, has even stayed away from sequels. It's been 15 years since the original Toy Story hit theaters and an entire generation has grown up with these characters. So the question is: Does the third film do the franchise proud?

The answer, thankfully, is yes.

As the third film opens Andy (John Morris) is no longer so young. Over the past decade-and-a-half the young boy who played with Woody (Tom Hanks), Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) and the rest of the toys has grown up. About to leave for college Andy is forced to make decisions on what vestiges of his youth to keep.

Without giving too much away, through a series of misadventures the toys find themselves packed away to a local daycare. The situation divides the group as to whether they should return to Andy or make new lives for themselves with the young children eager to play with them.

After a terrifically fun opening sequence (which includes my favorite line from the film) the film gets right down to business. Once again Pixar gives us a very personal story (growing up and leaving pieces of your childhood behind) and presents it in a moving and unflinching manner. Seen through the eyes of his toys the film, at times, is heartbreaking. Though one or two faces are absent most of the toys from the first two films, plus many new ones, make appearances here.

The newcomers include the cuddly but ornery Lotso (Ned Beatty), an old rotary-style telephone (Teddy Newton), an all-seeing monkey, a bully of a baby, and (my personal favorite) a somber clown named Chuckles (Bud Luckey). Although most work well, I did grew a little tired of Ken (Michael Keaton) who has some great early scenes with Barbie (Jodi Benson), but every time he comes back on screen he's a little less interesting. In terms of well-known toys he's also a bit of stunt-casting (more appropriate to something like the Shrek franchise?) the series had stayed away from with its first two films.

Although the film is very good I do have a nitpick or two. The film, at least for me, is about 10 minutes too long. The film's third act also feels too much like the creators were trying to make this third film bigger and better with elaborate sequences and quick twists that keep one such sequence involving the daycare and a junkyard going far longer than needed. That said, the sequence pays off with one of the film's most dramatic moments and a nice (if obvious) joke involving the alien triplets.

Toy Story 3 is an easy recommendation to make. It may not be everything it sets out to be, and it did start to make me impatient at one poit, but when it's good it's very good. And, as you would expect from Pixar, the film has a nice message - one that I plan to completely ignore. I'm not giving away my favorite toys anytime soon! Go see it; you'll be glad you did.

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Batman...


...has never heard of call waiting.

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

How exactly do you tell the Man of Steel that you want to see other heroes?

Very, very carefully.

“I think we need a break, Clark. It’s just not working out. It’s not you, it’s me. I have… issues.”

Monday, June 14, 2010

Batman #700


It's funny how many of Grant Morrison's stories come with that caveat. For Batman's #700 issue Morrison gives us a scientist, the Joker's myserious joke book, and a "maybe machine" that can alter time. And yes, that's the dumbest name for a time travel invention ever.

Story one involves Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson in an adventure from their earlier years. The story continues in the current continuity and in the future with Damian as Batman. There are short glimpses of the future involving Terry McGinnis as the Dark Knight and beyond.

What's so interesting is in an attempt to give us an epic Batman story what Morrison hasn't given us a Batman story at all. He's given us a Matt Wagner story instead. It seems much like Grendel the shadow of the bat will continue across time in dystopian futures and beyond.

Is it worth picking up? For big-time Bat-fans, yes. For everyone else, probably not. The time mystery isn't that interesting and of all the stories here only the current version of Batman and Robin is told all that well. Hit-and-Miss.

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Booster Gold #33


Booster Gold's time travel back to the glory days of the JLI may not have gotten him the proof of Max Lord's existence he was looking for but that doesn't mean there's not plenty to enjoy. We get Booster's off conversation with J'onn (the kind you can only get between a time traveler and telepath), our hero hiding in the bathroom from Black Canary, and a little lesson about watching the #@%& cursing. There's also a great scene in the present with Booster defending his league to the "waling iPad" known as Cyborg. Keith Giffen provides a must-read for fans of the old Justice League.

[DC $2.99]

Prince of Power #2 (of 4)


Cho vs. Thor, what more do you want? I was never a big fan of Hercules, but I've got to say I'm really starting to warm to Amadeus Cho. Cho walks right into the trap left by Loki's bastard Vali Halfling and finds himself defending himself against a very angry God of Thunder. Vali Halfling is after the secret to immortality and has convinced everyone that Cho is helping him (which is bad news for our hero). There are some nice sequences here, and I especially love Thor's consternation with the Prince of Power. Definitely worth a look.

[Marvel $2.99]

Saturday, June 12, 2010

Secret Six #22


"Cats in the Cradle Part Four" ends Catman's quest for revenge, and possibly his membership in the Secret Six? Say it ain't so Gail Simone, say it ain't so! All around another strong issue including a look into the pain of Black Alice, Ragdoll acting like a man, and a final flashback into the childhood of Thomas Blake. Oh, and Catman eats somebodies face off! You don't want to miss that, do you?! CATMAN!!!!!! Must-read.

[DC $2.99]

Batgirl #11


Things could be going better for these two. Calculator has captured Oracle and is rooting through her mind for secrets. Batgirl is being attacked by army of zombies Calculator has under his control - roughly 40% of the population of Gotham City (including Catwoman, Huntress, and Man-Bat). Yeah, things could be going better. A good issue, though given the issue's nature it is lacking in the humor that has really been a big part of this book. (We don't get a couple moments like the one above). Still, it's a good read and worth a look.

[DC $2.99]

Uncanny X-Men #525 (Second Coming Pt. 10)


As X-Force attempts to halt the attack in the future and the Avengers and the Fantastic Four try to break through the dome that surrounds San Fracisco, the X-Men are trapped inside in a fight for their lives. Lots of action here, plus the possible first signs of Hope's powers beginning to manifest themselves. The future, and present, looks bleak for mutants, but Second Coming isn't over yet.

[Marvel $2.99]

Friday, June 11, 2010

The A-Team


I was a little cautious sitting down to watch the new A-Team, adapted from the 80's television show of the same name. Although I liked it as a kid, the show itself hasn't aged all that well.

The new film does make some departures from the original. The squad are no longer Vietnam vets, instead they are veterans of several skirmishes and war zones including the U.S. involvement in Iraq. This is where things turn bad for the team as they are framed for a crime they didn't commit.

I enjoyed the similarly themed The Losers from earlier this year and proposed if The A-Team was half as good I'd be happy. Turns out I'm happy. It's not as good as The Losers, and it amps up the absurd to new levels (the team flies a tank in this movie), but I've got to admit it's a fun ride.

Here's your team (all of whom are crazier than their television counterparts):

Murdock (Sharlto Copley): Crazy as ever, though all the members are to some degree which slightly negates Mrudock's defining characteristic. Unlike on the TV-show Murdock is charged and convicted along with the rest of the team.

B.A. "Bad Attitude" Baracus (Quinton "Rampage" Jackson): Still afraid of flying (and you learn why) B.A. joins the team by being shot by its leader. Although they try to provide a questionable subplot in an attempt to make the character more conflicted the film works best when they just let Barrackas do his thing - bust heads.

Face (Bradley Cooper): Probably the film's best casting choice. Charming, with a weakness for the ladies, Cooper picks up where Dirk Benedict left off. The sub-plot involving Face's former squeeze Jessica Biel threatens to derail the film a couple of times, but his charm helps push it along.

Col. Hannibal Smith (Liam Neeson): Although he's no George Peppard, Neilsen makes the character more of a mad genius and he's probably the only one of the group who wouldn't have gotten court martialed within days of his enlistment.

The film is entirely set around the team's creation, the mission which landed them in prison, and their attempt to right that wrong. Which means the main basis of the weekly series, of the team helping someone in need, isn't to be found here.

It's not a great film, but you could do worse for a summer popcorn flick. Absurd and fun, if you're in need of some fun, if no other movie can help, and if you can find them, I'd recommend you see the A-Team.

The Karate Kid (2010)

In 1984, director John G. Avildsen and writer Robert Mark Kamen presented the world with a coming-of-age story about young high school student named Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) who moved to California and learned karate from kindly handyman Mr. Miyagi (Pat Morita).

The Karate Kid was a hit and cultural touchstone for anyone who grew up in the 80s. It produced two sequels (and a third with Hilary Swank replacing Macchio), an animated series, a videogame for the NES, and countless merchandise. It also introduced the world to Elizabeth Shue, earned Morita a best supporting actor nomination, and forever cemented William Zabka (Johnny) in the minds of millions as a total dick.

Twenty-six years later director Harald Zwart and producers Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith have remade the film for new audiences (coincidentally also giving their son a star vehicle). The plot is very similar to the original, but includes a few important departures in an attempt to allow the remake to stand on its own. So, how does The Karate Kid compare to the original? Well...

Let's start with the obvious. This is a movie called The Karate Kid that includes no karate. Doesn't that seem a bit odd? In terms of martial arts, this film holds its own with kung fu, and while some of the sequences work well how they are presented, at times, is nearly impossible to swallow.

In the original film, Daniel learns the basics of karate though a series of seemingly unrelated menial tasks (waxing a car, painting a fence, and sanding a wooden floor). In the new film, Dre's (Jaden Smith) initial training includes only one such activity: taking off his jacket, dropping it, and hanging it up (also teaching Dre a lesson about not keeping his clothes on the floor). If the original was a little cheesy, this new version is almost cringe-inducing. The film actually states the following: You can successfully defend yourself from a kung fu master simply by learning how to pick a jacket up off the floor and hanging it up. Thankfully, Dre's training through the rest of the film is handled with more care.

In one of the changes that works, Dre and his mother (Taraji P. Henson) move from Ohio to China (instead of California). This amps up the culture shock for our main character and provides a great backdrop for the story to unfold.


Dre soon gets picked on for being different. His friendship with a young classical violist (Wenwen Han) angers a group of students led by Cheng (Zhenwei Wang) who just happen to study under a merciless hardcore kung fu master who discourages weakness and mercy.

Much like the original movie, Dre's salvation comes from the unlikely help of his apartment's maintenance man Mr. Han (Jacke Chan). Far less mysterious than Miyagi (Morita), Chan finds a way to infuse the role with some humor, and the script takes the opportunity to write in a backstory to his character that provides some the film's most dramatic moments.

Dre is younger and whinier than Daniel. At times you come close to rooting for the bullies to kick his ass. The relationship with his mother is also incredibly hard to watch. My heart goes out to Henson for being wasted on this thankless role of the worrisome parent. (The film even includes yet another trite scene where a mother yells out "I love you" while dropping her child off on the first day at school.) This nature is her only real character attribute, that is at least until the tournament when she roots on her beaten down son and never even considers pulling him from the competition - even after he has suffered a serious injury.

We still get the tournament montage (sadly without Joe Esposito's "You're the Best") and the dramatic final confrontation between our hero and his tormentor (though the term "sweep the leg" has been modified). The film's training montages (not counting the jacket) and the those of the tournament itself are some of the film's best moments. When the film tries to deal with genuine emotion, awkward young love, and family interaction, and it fails at least as much as it succeeds.


For those who have seen the original, this one will seem a younger, cuter, and dumber version. It's heart is definitely in the right place but at times its head is stuck firmly up its ass. The film is trapped in trying to stay as true to the original as possible, yet adding several new elements including placing the tale in a foreign land and lowering the ages of all the major characters. Had the film embraced its differences and been more unique, it might have been more successful. Instead, its just a remake no one was clamoring for.

For those seeing the story for the first time it may work better, but still has its share of rough edges including some laughably bad dialogue and an insistence to try and make the young hero seem cool (something the original wasn't obsessed with). Daniel was brave, but he was never a stud. I can't quite bring myself to recommend the film, even though it overcomes most of its issues in its second half, but for a new generation this Karate Kid might be just type of film kids today will look back on fondly 26 years from now. Me? I'll still take the original.

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Heralds #1 (of 5)


Did Hellcat just punch out a clone of Albert Einstein? Did Valkyrie just kill a T-Rex above the streets of Paris? Did Frankie Raye just come back from the dead? Did Cyclops just crack a joke? Did Abigail Brand's S.W.O.R.D. facility just explode, unleashing all kinds of craziness? Are Photon and She-Hulk really wearing fake mustaches? The answers to all these question is yes. Damn, Emma Frost throws the best birthday parties ever! I really wasn't expecting much from this mini-series by Kathryn Immonen and Tonci Zonjic, but this first issue is a whole lot of fun. Definitely worth a look.

[Marvel $2.99]

Saturday, June 5, 2010

Red Hood: Lost Days #1 (of 6)


The decision to return Jason Todd to the land of the living was questionable and best. Other than his initial run as the Red Hood in "Under the Hood" (also by Judd Winick) the character was pushed aside to waste away. And when he has been used the stories have been mediocre at best (*cough*Grant Morrison*cough*).

Winick returns to the character he resurrected in this six-part mini-series focusing on what happened to Jason Todd between his rebirth and reappearance as the Red Hood. If this first issue is any indication the series has a chance to be pretty darn good.

Issue #1 fills in Todd's time with Talia and Ra's al Ghul before regaining his mind in the Lazarus Pit. I've always been a fan of Talia and it's nice to see a side of her here other Batman writers (*cough*Grant Morrison*cough*) seem to have forgotten. It seems the Bat-books can do no wrong lately...well, most of them, anyway (*cough*Grant Morisson*cough*), and I'll be happily waiting to see how this story plays out. Must-read.

[DC $2.99]

Avengers: Prime #1 (of 5)


Can a fractured friendship be forged anew? Can trust lost be regained? Can Tony Stark, Steve Rogers, and Thor stop from killing each other long enough to survive the hell to which they've just been sent? Those are just three questions this new mini-series sets out to answer. There's much to enjoy here including Iron Man in my favorite classic armor, Steve Rogers taking down a small army, and an unexpected villain for Thor to battle. Worth a look.

[Marvel $3.99]

Friday, June 4, 2010

Red Robin #13


First Red Robin was searching for Bruce Wayne, then he was taking on Ra's al Ghul, and now? Well, that's the question as this arc begins. Now back in Gotham, Drake takes down a gang leader (which may turn out to be a mistake) as he tries to answer questions about his role and mission now that he's back. There's also a nice scene wrapping up the engagement news of Lucius Fox's daughter Tam. Strong issue all around, and I like how writer Fabian Nicieza is playing on Red Robin's over-confidence, leaving open the possibility of a big fall in the future. The comic remains fun, well-written, and one of DC's best. Definitely worth a look.

[DC $2.99]

Secret Warriors #16


Two terrorists organizations (HYDRA and Leviathan) go to war, whittling down their forces while Nick Fury smiles and waits. Although the big events in this issue don't deal directly with the team (except for the late revelation of a traitor in their midst - a twist I'm still on the fence about) they do move the plot forward and set up action for the next several issues. Worth a look.

[Marvel $2.99]

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Serenity: Float Out (One-shot)


We finally get a post-Serenity comic (something I've been waiting for). And it's written by...Patton Oswalt? Wait, what? The entire comic seems ill-conceived. We're given a memorial and flashbacks by characters we haven't seen before (and couldn't give two shits about) for a character that's been dead for five years. If you wait that long to honor someone like Wash you better do it in style (and not a completely forgettable throwaway comic like this). The art of Patric Reynolds doesn't help either. The ships look fine, but the characters looked rush, blurred, and half-assed. A comic with a strong story can sometimes overcome bad art (and vice-versa), but when they both are unremarkable you end up with a turd like this. Oswalt is a funny guy and should stick to what he knows. We have enough mediocre comic book writers.

[Dark Horse $3.50]

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Zorro...


...insists on your cooperation and silence.