Comics Round-Up: Week of 4/28

By Teresa Jusino

We have a more varied selection this week, dear readers.  Thank the Comics Goddesses!  This was a hefty week for me, so let’s get crackin’!

The Invincible Iron Man #25
Marvel

This was the first Iron Man of “The Heroic Age,” and it is clear that there’s an entirely new vibe sweeping the Marvel Universe.  Tony Stark is BACK after having disassembled himself for the sake of the world.  Even geniuses sometimes forget to back up their data.  In this case, the genius was Tony Stark, and the data was HIS BRAIN.  Now, he doesn’t really remember anything after the beginning of Dark Reign and has to deal with a world that’s very different form the one he does remember.  Tony Stark is back, but he’s a new man; a man who’s figured out the next stage in Iron Man’s evolution; a man who is turning his back on weapons and devoting his life and his technology to more peaceful pursuits.  He is an Iron Man for a more heroic age.  Not everyone is happy about this, especially not the US Government, which was used to Stark Industries taking its contracts.  There are, however, those who seek to fill the void Stark Industries left in the weapons industry; women more unscrupulous than Tony Stark ever was.  Issue #25 was my favorite title this week, not just because Matt Fraction told a hell of a story, which he always does, but because this is setting up some fascinating themes for future issues.  Should Tony Stark really be Iron Man on an organic level?  Is Stark Industries leaving the weapons industry just going to be worse for the world by allowing more dangerous people to enter it?  Is it naive to think that people and governments will choose helping others over war?  So far, this “Heroic Age” business has me intrigued…

The Guild #2
Dark Horse

My favorite new title is back this month with the continuing story of how Cyd meets the members of what will become The Knights of Good guild, becomes a more confident person, and deals with her douchebag boyfriend (who is keeping more than just band issues secret from her!).  It is painful in the beginning, as Cyd explains “making up” with Trevor after their “fight” in the last issue, which leads to her being used as a doormat.  AGAIN.  However, once she gets into gaming, she begins to learn how to reach out to people, if only online at first.  She becomes more proud of her abilities.  And it is downright thrilling to watch her completely ignore Trevor as she’s frantically involved in her first quest.  It was great to see Cyd as Codex begin to bond with Clara, Zaboo, and Vork, and we even catch glimpses of Bladezz and Tinkerballa.  She continues to reflect Geek Girl-dom in all its complexity, and I will always be grateful to Felicia Day for that.  Jim Rugg’s art continues to be terrific as well, and I’m really loving how he captures the game world.  If you haven’t yet checked out The Guild in comic form, it’s only two issues in – now’s the time!

Scalped #37
Vertigo

The conclusion of the “A Fine Action of an Honorable and Catholic Spaniard” feels inevitable, but not in an overly predictable way.  While not as shocking as the first part, this issue delves deeper into Shunka, and has made him the most compelling character in the world of Scalped.  We watch as he lashes out at those responsible for the death of a fallen gay Indian Chief he recently bedded and know that it’s not just revenge for a dead lover, but revenge against the world for maligning people like him.  Even more fascinating was the fact that the gay chief turns out to be not as dead as all that…and oh look, Shunka killing those guys has put him back into power.  What’s great about this, and indeed about a lot of genre stuff containing gay characters these days, is that we’re getting stories about gay characters that aren’t stereotypical.  It isn’t all about flaming queens and being the BFF of the female protagonist.  I love that there are stories out there in which gay men are badass, masculine, heroic.  It’s about time.

Green Hornet #3
Dynamite

Now we’re getting to the meaty character stuff I love so much!  After the bland events of Issue #2, Issue #3 begins with a man dressed as the Green Hornet attacking Britt Reid Sr. at a fundraiser as Britt Jr. looks on.  Luckily, there’s also a woman skilled in martial arts in attendance to help them fight this guy off.  Alas, even she can’t prevent what comes, and Britt Sr. is killed.  Guilt-ridden over having been a less-than-ideal son and never making peace with his dad after their recent argument, Junior goes to a bar looking for the Green Hornet…and a fight.  He finds the fight, as well as a mysterious, elderly Asian man who reveals to him the one thing that pulls his entire life into focus – the fact that his father, Britt Sr., was the Green Hornet.  It’s clear that Kevin Smith loves writing this title, and I’m enjoying how he’s writing Britt Jr.  He has a Batman-like origin story, and yet he doesn’t feel maudlin.  I wish the story would get to the Woman Who Would Be Kato a bit faster, though.  She shouldn’t still be this much of a mystery, especially since she’s been promised to us on all the covers since Issue #1.  Lastly, I could’ve done without the “Mr. Miyagi” references about the Asian stranger.  I made the Karate Kid connection on my own, thanks.  Didn’t need to be beaten over the head with it!

Unknown Soldier #19
Vertigo

In the first issue of a new story arc, “A Battle of Little Note,” Moses is not having the best day ever.  He finally decides to take it upon himself to keep a shipment of weapons from continuing to circulate throughout his African homeland, rigs the shipment with explosives, resigns himself to death, and attempts to set it off.  Nothing happens, and he must now not only deal with the rebel army and angry cattle rustlers, but with the voice in his head that continues to plague him, despite his increasing mastery over it.  And he’s apparently being pursued by another organization, who refers to the Unknown Soldier as “Subject 9.”  This issue was exciting, fast-paced, and brutal, and it was the first time that Moses truly felt like a Hero (capital H!) to me.  This issue is a great place to jump onto Unknown Soldier, which is always an intriguing read.

Madame Xanadu #22
Vertigo

In the penultimate issue in the “Broken House of Cards” story arc, the title’s best story arc to date, the conflict between Nimue and her sister, Morgana, comes to a head.  Morgana is using a group of Satan-worshipers to bring her own plan for death, destruction, and mayhem to fruition – she wants to resurrect her long-dead son, whose bloodthirst in these modern times where so much more is permissible will make the world descend into chaos.  Just how she likes it.  Nimue and Mr. Jones, who is capable of magical things despite not being a magical entity, attempt to stop her, but Morgana traps them in a ring of fire. (cue Johnny Cash)  This issue was not only exciting, but a bit disturbing.  Matt Wagner has done a great job of making Morgana and the Satan cult really cringe-worthy.  It felt like watching Rosemary’s Baby – and FYI, I mean that as a compliment.  Nimue and Morgana’s relationship also continues to fascinate, and Amy Reeder Hadley’s art is impressive as always.  Once this story arc ends next month, I’d highly recommend getting the trade of “Broken House of Cards” and starting with Madame Xanadu there, if you haven’t checked out this title already.

Teresa Jusino was born on the same day that Skylab fell. Coincidence? She doesn’t think so. She is a contributor to Tor.com, a website that covers sci-fi, fantasy, “…and related subjects.” Her work has also been seen on PopMatters.com, on the sadly-defunct literary site CentralBooking.com, edited by Kevin Smokler, and in the Elmont Life community newspaper. She is currently writing a web series for Pareidolia Films called The Pack, which is set to debut Fall 2010! Get Twitterpated with Teresa, Follow The Pack or visit her at The Teresa Jusino Experience.

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