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Marvel Comics, $3.99
Yes! Yes, Scottie Young's version of your favorite rascally ringtail is every bit as good as you'd imagine. Kudos to Marvel for releasing this fun comic (and isn't fun what comics are supposed to be?) just before release of the Guardians of the Galaxy movie, and without spoiling the plot of that flick in any way. I will say, however, it's a mystery to me why Marvel doesn't have kiosks set up at every multi-plex in America selling comics tied to its movie releases. The trick since the mid-'70s collapse of newsstand distribution is to get the comics where the kids are, and movie theaters seem like just the place to capture casual readers predisposed to sampling a comic based on the film they've just seen. GRADE: A
DC Comics, $2.99
I was afraid when the male half of the "wonder twins" turned out last issue to be a psychopathic murderer that this series had jumped a 31st century shark. Not so, and JL3K remains one of my favs currently being published, especially as the heroes grow into their roles and become more heroic. I was a little concerned with Lantern ex machina, however, as GL's solution seemed a little too easy; a little too pat. Also, it sort of spoils the big, last-panel reveal that Flash is now a chick when you've got her plastered all over the cover. GRADE: A-
Green Arrow #33DC Comics, $2.99
It's a bit of a pain for this old codger of a comic book fan to keep my New 52 continuity straight from the CW television version of our battling bowman, especially now that Diggle has been shoehorned into the cast. Still, this is good stuff. Heck, even hateful little Emiko is growing on me. I was bummed to learn Jeff Lemire and Andrea Sorrentino will be leaving at the end of this arc, as they're the reason I came back to Green Arrow after dropping it early in the current run. Given that the new team will include creators from the TV show, I'm kind of hoping DC can somehow merge continuities, but that's doubtful. At the very least, here's hoping for Felicity! GRADE: B+
DC Comics, $2.99
A fun little story. Pretty straight-forward, nothing tricky. But then, this is a title for "kids." Still, these days I'm thankful for any comic that can tell a story in one, or even two issues, and there were a few decent gags. That art was WAY basic however, and I suspect it was drawn with a tablet, rather than on paper. It was interesting to me to note that Wonder Woman here sports her original "eagle tits" costume, rather than the more recent, trademark-able "double-W" version. I've been kind of a fan of this book and I've hoping for future team-ups with Wendy, Marvin and Wonder Dog, the Wonder Twins, the full Super Friends team, Rex the Wonder Dog, Detective Chimp, and, yes, the Legion of Super-Heroes . . . or, at least the Subs. GRADE: B+
DC Comics, $3.99
So, we finally get the official debut of Val-Zod as the Superman of Earth-2. Of course, this is less and less like "my" Earth-2 all the time, even if it is intriguing enough. For some reason, as the heroes finally start coming together, I find myself FAR more interested in the Tom Taylor heroes — Aquawoman, Thomas Wayne Batman, Genius Jimmy, Lois Tornado and Val — than Green Lantern, Flash, Hawkgirl, and the other characters James Robinson created to launch this series. While I am fascinated by the newer characters, I fault the glacial movement of the over-arching plot, along with how little actually happens in any one issue. I read this entire comic in a little more than eight minutes, and that's a short read for my four bucks! GRADE: B
Marvel Comics, $3.99
The mid-series retcon of Nick Fury's history sort of grinds this book to a halt for me, in part because it raises more questions than it answers. For one, was Fury still leader of the Howlin' Commandoes? It doesn't seem so, although he's once again age-appropriate to have been in World War II. And, really, how did Fury find time to rise up to become director of S.H.I.E.L.D., never mind running that organization while playing Punisher-in-Space? Also, I hate Life Model Decoys. They're total copouts for sloppy storytelling. Seriously, they're the friggin' Superman Robots of the Marvel Universe. GRADE: B
DC Comics, $2.99
I'm happy to see Vostok back, but I do have to wonder how his spirit self stuck in the ghost lands was able to give Ya'wara his actual, physical helmet? That's really the only fun part of this book, however. The A-plot with Legend and his evil grandkids is as basic as the artwork. Not much to write home about, for sure. Plots are going to have to be about more than some ancient big bad trying to steal the Atlantean artifacts if this book is to survive. Although, based on sales, we may not have to worry about the Others' long-term prospects. GRADE: C
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