It’s been a while since I wrote one of these, mostly because I cover my reviews in the podcast. However, we’re not releasing a podcast this week, so I figured I should do what I love to do. Make my opinion known…
Buffy The Vampire Slayer – Season 9 #4
We end the first story arc, and get not so much a bang of an ending, but a whimper. I’m honestly glad that one’s over and hope the next arc gives us a good story. Chalk this one up to a bad episode.
Mister Terrific #4
I know, I know, I said I was taking it out of my hold, but I haven’t done that yet. This issue Mr. T gets to break out of a spaceship that kidnapped him as he hopped dimensions (what?). The story is less convoluted after that, and we get some fun pseudo science… though he quotes “the 5th Law of Infinite Fractal Dynamics,” and when he uses that law to aid his escape, he says “thank you Isaac Newton.” Now maybe he was referring to Mr. Newton in the sense of the general laws of physics, otherwise I’m fairly sure Newton knew nothing of Infinite Fractal Dynamics. Just sayin’. Yep, this one’s out for me.
Batgirl #4
We get the end of the Mirror story arc and some nice Christmassy moments for Barbara. We also get to see some of the Barbara we’ve come to know and love from the old Birds of Prey comics, and it’s nice to see that work with Batgirl. We also get our first clue as to how Barbara is able to walk and be Batgirl again… evidently there is a clinic in South Africa… that’s all we get for now, but at least we’re going to be told.
Batwoman #4
In this issue… well, again, I’m not sure. Kate’s sidekick, Flame Bird gets herself fairly messed up by a bad guy. I’m still uncertain of Kate’s motives when she told FB that she was cutting her off. She had to know that FB would go off on her own into something like this, right? She wasn’t really cutting her off from heroics was she? I guess have to to wait until next issue to find out. Still a nice surreal comic.
The Ray #1
It’s a 4-issue limited, and seriously, go pick this up and get them to make this a monthly! It’s the right combination of funny, self-aware and sarcastic, while at the same time is a great start for a hero book. Go check this one out.
The Shade #3
We head off down-under for this issue, and I’ll have to re-read #2 to see if there’s a reason for it. Still this is one of the best comics being produced by DC, so I’m willing to permit a little side-trip from time to time.
Journey Into Mystery #632
I’m pretty much done buying this mag, but I’m glad I got this one. It’s a nice little holiday story, a one-and-done. It’s Loki and evil puppies, Volstagg as Santa Claus. Lots of fun for the season, and a good issue to go out on. Next up, Hellstrom makes an appearance and seems to stick around for a long while (at least through March). Yeah. Not all that interested.
Avengers: X-Sanction #1
*sigh* It’s written by Jeph Loeb, who’s been more miss than hit lately. He needs to team up with Tim Sale again. Remember Long Halloween? Superman Blue? Daredevil Yellow? Then he ruins the Ultimates and creates the Red Hulk… AND the main character in this is Cable, a half-cyborg, half-mutant created by Rob Leifield? Yeah. Not too much going for it… The story isn’t bad (it isn’t that good, either, but it isn’t bad), and it’s mostly an all-out action comic. I’m just glad it’s only 4 issues. Oh. And there’s NO WAY Cap would have been taken out that fast. Not by Cable. Just sayin’.
Avengers Academy #23
We teased it last episode and here it is! X-23 (Wolverine’s cloned daughter) joins the Academy. Striker finally comes out of the closet and has a fantastic scene with Julie Power. And we get the return of an old Rom The Spaceknight (remember him?) villain. I love that Gage dug deep into the Marvel vaults to bring back Hybrid. But this future visiting the past to fix things stuff? They already did that in X-Men, New Mutants, Teen Titans and several other books. Why do we need this part of the storyline? It ruined what was otherwise a perfect teen book for me.
New Avengers #19
Wow. Bendis can make any character look cool. I mean ANY. Gorgon? The blind samurai (who is named Gorgon for some reason) that leads the Hand, and turned Wolverine into (yet again) a mindless killing machine who attacked all the Marvel heroes. Yeah. He was as pathetic as he sounds, but one scene between Madame Hydra and Gorgon… just the two of them talking and suddenly he’s pretty cool. Jessica is having her doubts about being an Avenger, particularly keeping her baby safe. It’s likely we’ll see Jessica leave soon. Peter pushes on Victoria Hand and Daredevil is suspicious of her as well. We, the readers, know they should be, but it’s cool to see it unravel. Norman plays his first cards in his game. Looks like it’s going to be a great fight!
More next week, True Believers!
Slacker.