NB of the Week

-I NEVER SPOIL FASTER THAN I CAN SEE. BESIDES THAT, IT'S ALL IN THE REFLEXES-

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #31
Written by Tom Waltz
Drawn by Ross Campbell

The Turtles just can't catch a break. Most recently, Shredder kidnapped Leonardo and brainwashed him into leading his foot. This led Splinter and the other three to do some shady deals (with the likes of Old Hob and Slash) and an eventual fight with their lost family member. Though they were able to mostly break the control and get Leo back, the group is very uneasy and trying to mend. Leo hates himself and doesn't trust his own action (even though the spirit of his mother talks to him and tells him otherwise), they all hiding out in the forests at April's parents place (hid from them as well) and Alopex has followed them, wanting to turn over a new leaf after she found out that Shredder used her and was the one who killed her family before he mutated her.
That's kinda the catch-up and what happens here. Don may have found how to destroy the Technodrome that Krang is building. April cut her hair short like all women in Hollywood are doing. Raph is starting to let Alopex in a little without wanting to kill her. Mostly though, this is Leo's issue. As he sulks alone in the forest,Splinter comes up and begins to tell him that much like a sword that is drawn, Leo was just a tool used by Shredder. He was able to fight it before blood was drawn and he shouldn't hold that against himself. He then reveals that Leo is not alone is talking to his mother. Splinter also speaks with her and he tells Leo that for her sake, he won't let him give up on himself or their family. He then returns Leo's blue mask and walks away. Later that day, as they all (sans Leo, April and Casey) sit and eat, they are attacked by a new mutant, an eagle of sorts who was flashed last issue to us, and a few Foot Assassins ("Killers of the highest order!"). As the five of them try to fight and are quickly taken down, the bird stands over Splinter and says "You are beaten, rodent. There is no Escape. Are you prepared for the slaughter?". But then, from behind him comes "That's funny, bird..." and in a gigantic, TMNT boner moment

we get a final page of Leo standing with his katanas and Blue mask.
"... I was gonna ask you the same thing."

This title has been damn awesome from it's very start. With the exception of one story, everything has been great, old Turtles fun. These guys get what makes them so awesome and it's the gimmicks or toys or cartoons. It's the characters. This is a family that will fight each other but more often fight for each other and you get that. The stories have flowed together very nicely and overall, it's just great to be a Turtles fan again. If you have ever been one, this is the title you've been waiting for since the original Laird and Eastman days.

(Sorta Late)NB of the Week

A smaller week leaves larger runs yet again.

Savage Wolverine #15
It's 1933 and Wolverine is pissed off that some gangsters have taken his friends (children and all). This issue, while doing a lot, doesn't progress the story very much. He gets the kids out but not before one of them gets back into trouble causing Wolverine to trade himself for the boy. I don;t mind the lack of movement because the writing is awesome and the art is damn amazing.

Justice League #28
Pulling from the Book of Bendis, Geoff Johns does a great job of making a good read while doing nothing to further the already existing arc. We get the story behind Magnus's Metal Men, the how and why of their creation and ultimately their demise. However, they're not quite as dead as he thought and he's ready to bring them back into battle against the Crime Syndicate.

He-Man and the Masters of the Universe #10
Still willing to die fighting in the Realm of Dreams in the Underworld, He-Man, King Randor and Battle Cat wage war but are surprised when Teela, Stratos and Moss Man come to their rescue, The latter three have found out that the Sky Realm is a pathway through all the Circles of the Underworld and can easily leave now. As Randor takes over flying their ship, he guides them directly into the Realm of Death where the Snake Men live. Turns out it wasn't Randor at all as we geeks get the introduction of King Hiss.

Captain America #17
Or Dr. Mindbubble, what a weird, great character you are. After Cap fights some stereotype Asians, he finds out it was just a distraction from what was really happening. Nuke is dead and it was to release Weapon Minus (Mindbubble) who takes control with his mind bubbles (literally bubbles that come from a pipe in his forehead) and has Fury Jr attacking his own people without even knowing it.

Daredevil #36 (MAJOR SPOILS IN THIS ONE)
Murdock has revealed himself to be Daredevil in court! Not a hoax or ruse or dream! He does it to make sure the Serpents can't, thus taking their leverage away. By the end, he defeats them (as was expected) but in doing such, he and Foggy (still dying from cancer) have been disbarred from legal practice in New York (apparently being a costumed hero and a lawyer cause ethical problems). And since it's very unlikely he'll get any state to issue another, he has to go to where he already has a license: California. Here comes the new series.

Wonder Woman #28
Another amazing issue from Azzarello that seemingly does nothing yet leaves me wanting more. Wonder Woman and Hermes find their way back to Zola and Zeke and find that their "guide" Dionysus has been taken and is being used to get into Olympus. Up on Olympus, First Born escapes his chains and surprises Apollo with how little he is willing to die. As First grabs Apollo and claims he is but the first God he shall kill, Apollo tells him it will be over his dead body and the last page is everything exploding. Great cliffhanger from what is still DC's best book.

Boobs of the Day

Gamora
In honor of the release of the first trailer for Guardians of the Galaxy, we have the scantily clad Gamora. Granted, she doesn't wear this costume anymore and this particular Gamora is actually a Skrull but who cares. She's a hot green chick.

NB of the Week

-THAT SPOILS REALLY TIED THE ROOM TOGETHER-

Winter Soldier: The Bitter March #1 (of 5)

Written by Rick Remender
Drawn by Roland Boschi

Remember in the current Captain America, we have the Iron Nail, who used to be a SHIELD agent and now wants to take down the western government? Of course you do. Turns out that years ago, he and Fury had a run in with the "urban myth" that is the Winter Soldier. After Hydra kidnapped a brother and sister scientist team (is that a team? I guess it's a team), Shen has been sent to rescue them. Turns out they have cracked the Alchemy Formula and SHIELD can't have Hydra having that. After a run in with Fury (the white one, not the black son who hasn't been born yet), the two set to infiltrate Castle Hydra. After Shen thinks he has a woman spilling all the beans, it turns out she has had him the whole time and Madame Worm has worked her tiny.. um, worms into Shen. After Fury helps kill (presumably) Worm, they find the two siblings and head to the roof to leave. But in a "blur of shadow", they are quickly taken. Turns out somebody else wants the formula. With convenient winged suits, Shen and Fury take off after the would be kidnapper. As Shen distracts, Fury swoops in with a blow that knocks the scientists out of villain's arms. Shen is able to fly in and save the two from certain deaths but now all five are stranded in the snow covered forest. Worse over, Shen caught a glimpse of the new kidnapper and the red star on his metal looking arm. The mark of the soviet assassin that no living man has ever confirmed.
"Part man. Part machine. You better hope he's myth. Better hope that wasn't him. Better pray to God you're not stranded in this forest with the Winter Soldier."
It's almost a given that with Remender writing Captain America and this mini, things will carry over and tie in but with this first issue, nothing is needed except the general knowledge of Bucky and his Winter Soldier history. Remender writes with intelligence and a great flare for espionage. Those final words, even though we know everything works out for Fury and Bucky (kinda), are terrifying. You feel how scared these guys should be, even trained SHIELD agents, by the notion of The Winter Soldier. Great first issue and I can't wait to see where this story takes us.

BONUS NB!!!
Check out this amazing cover from All-New X-Factor #3. The story was great and the cats have nothing to do with anything other than we find out Gambit has three pet cats but who cares? It's a damn awesome cover.

(Late)(er)NB of the Week

Late once again so here's the rundown of the few books I read.

All-New Invaders #2

Jim Hammond is under attack by Tanalth the Pursuer (Kree badass chick) as she looks for the missing pieces of the God's Whisper (a machine that can control Gods). As Cap and Bucky come to his rescue, Tanalth gets word that they've recovered all the pieces and she heads. Now it's up to the three to find Namor and kick Kree ass.

New Avengers #14
Another Earth is taken out by another Incursion and Doctor Strange tells the dark lords that he wants all the power possible and he's willing to sell all his soul for it... I love Hickman but this issue seemed lacking and could been told in the last issue.

Earth 2 #20
After the revelation that the new Batman if Poppa Wayne (not dead in this universe), we get back to the action as he and his rag-tag group run from Parademons and try to get the new Kryptonian kid to realize how strong he can be and how much good he can do. Meanwhile, Superman destroys all places of holy worship as he declares Darkseid to be the only true God.

Captain America #16.NOW/#1
Jet Black runs around New York as she comes to realize that people of this dimension are soft and weak. She is then approached by Red Skull and is told that she should join him (out of respect to her father, whom was combined with Skull for a while). She turns him down but we're left with the forsehadowing that she may not be the hero we're hoping she becomes.

Forever Evil #5

Sinestro Joins up with Luthor's "Injustice" team and so does Deathstroke after being convinced that his business will die once the Syndicate takes over... And that's really it. Very slow issue.

Artifacts #34
The second issue by Top Cow's Talent Hunt winners gives us a story of Ian Nottingham really wanting his swords and killing a lot to get 'em. Not much here but it was a fun story.

If Only...

I woulda loved to see this commercial but it's probably funnier now through two different ones.