Karen O'Brien Comic Reviews

"Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" #6 is a fun and satisfying conclusion to a fantastic series. Its gripping action sequences are balanced by humor and no shortage of delightful character interactions that will grab readers' attention from the first panel through to the very last.

Samnee and Waid are off to a fantastic start with this irresistible take on espionage. Yes, they're dusting off the "agent goes rogue" notion, but -- with Black Widow's combination of stealthy brawn and tactical smarts -- they're placing a lethal and cunning spin on the idea.

Light on action and heavy on refocusing the team, "Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 10" #28 is the calm before the storm that is sure to come in the arc's final two issues. Teamwork is the key to every victory in the Buffyverse, and -- now that their individual houses are (mostly) in order -- Buffy has a plan for the whole gang. That's more like it.

Captain America fans wanted a young Steve Rogers and now we have him, and issue #2 is definitely an improvement over the first. The corruption of Captain America is a solid story idea -- and I love that the arc is going to include a host of favorite Cap co-stars -- but the creators aren't functioning as a well-oiled machine quite yet.

I'm a huge fan of police procedurals and all things noir, so I really wanted to love "Control #1." Storytelling in comics works when the art and story complement each other, but they are in conflict here. I'd like to see where Diggle, Cruickshank and Mutti are going to take the story, so I'll check out issue #2, but I hope the creative team will make some adjustments to more fully realize Burnham's world.

In "The Matrix Reloaded," Seraph tells Neo, "You do not truly know someone until you fight them." After seeing Daredevil's skills as a fighter and teacher in the first story arc, it's easy to forget he isn't always the toughest guy in Hell's Kitchen; "Daredevil" #6 provides a vivid reminder of that fact and proves just how well Matt and Elektra truly know each other.

More adventure than mystery, "Our Gordon at War" concludes in the next issue. The creative team will likely give this story a turn for the creep-tastic next issue as we learn just what Gordon's old unit found in the desert and what's come back for revenge. While this issue isn't a good jumping-on point for new readers, it is a treat for Jim Gordon fans, whether or not you're in favor of him as Batman.

Overall, Tynion IV and the creative team are off to a solid start. Tynion IV's script follows a good formula for establishing a team title where all the members are strong individuals who will become teammates -- eventually. The bad guy is already a challenge, and best of all, Batman is Batman; he only divulges part of his motivation for creating the team and he is definitely keeping secrets. However, if you were hoping for a solo Batman title or if you aren't a fan of the team's members, you may want to pass on the new "Detective Comics."

Overall, "Green Lanterns" #1 is a solid introduction to the series, but it will probably appeal more to seasoned Lantern readers who familiar with the capabilities, motivations and conflicts among the different colored rings than to rookie readers.

If you're already a Guardians fan, you'll enjoy "Guardians of the Galaxy" #8 and all its the miscellaneous Marvel Universe references. However, it's not a great starting point for new readers.

Conflict and resolution are brewing up an emotional storm in Grimsvig as Morrison and Mora deliver another action-packed issue with excellent character-driven moments in "Klaus" #5. It's been a pleasure to talk about this book with folks at the local comics shop, because the series invites a wide variety of tastes. The guy who loves horror comics and recommended "Southern Bastards" to me digs "Klaus." The guy who is a die-hard "Green Lantern" fan digs "Klaus," and so does the guy who never reads comics about caped heroes. "Klaus" #5 is a good story told well, so it's no wonder the title is appealing to readers across the board.

"Klaus" #6 is the penultimate book of this limited series, and that's exactly what I don't like about it; as much as I want to know how the good guys are going to save the day, I don't want to see it end. "Klaus" is a masterful reimagining of Santa's origins as told for grown-ups. This definitely isn't your innocent Rankin/Bass "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town" rendition of the story -- and issue #6 sets up what will have to be a concussive supernatural conclusion in the final issue.

"The Forgotten Man" is an enjoyable adventure sure to please Lobster Johnson fans. The well-paced one-shot presents its mystery and ties up the loose ends without feeling rushed, but this is not the vehicle to learn about Lobster, as his role is limited to action rather than exposition. If you're not quite so familiar with Hellboy's favorite pulp hero, I recommend catching up with the four trade collections.

Is Marc Spector crazy? Absolutely. Is he a mental patient or a prisoner? That's the real question, and it's what makes issue #2 so enjoyable.

"Rachel Rising #42" is a brilliant bit of storytelling that full-run readers will adore. When I received the issue, I hesitated to read it; as much as I was looking forward to the resolution of Rachel's central mystery, I was totally bummed that this is the final issue -- and maybe that's the best compliment I can bestow on this series: I didn't want to see it end. But what a fantastic ending it was!

With the consistently excellent combination of Vaughan's intriguing story and Staples' intelligent art, "Saga" is the reason you pick up your comics on Wednesday rather than waiting until the weekend.

"Tank Girl: Two Girls One Tank" #1 is an excellent marriage of story and art. It won't be every reader's cup of tea, but it will definitely appeal to everyone with an inner punk and a desire to see Tank Girl kick ass.

Aaron and Dauterman's new arc is a fine bit of storytelling that neatly balances its action with its humanity as Jane Foster/Thor faces off against S.H.I.E.L.D., the cabal, Thor's criminal status on Asgard and -- of course -- her cancer. While we have certainly seen Thor up against bad guys and tremendous odds before, we have never seen a Thor who faced such personal challenges and used them to redefine what it means to be the God of Thunder.

"Tokyo Ghost" is only seven issues in; if you seize the opportunity to pick up the first trade and catch up, you'll be glad you did.

Pontac and Manco's "Wacky Raceland" is an interesting reboot that will be more entertaining if they can balance its near-constant violence with a semblance of humor and let the day's race move from start to finish without allowing the flashbacks to derail the story.

In the end, "Wonder Woman" #52 is a storytelling success. Diana wins the battle, but she loses the war. Although Diana has achieved balance within herself, Finch and Mendonca's conclusion leaves Diana with a profound sense of loss. As with all conflicts of love and war, the fine line between victory and defeat is a blur.