GeekMom: Comic Book Corner — April 24th, 2013

Happy Comic Release Day! Welcome to another installment of GeekMom Comic Book Corner, where we recap our adventures in comics for the week.

Dakster Sullivan — The Flash– Rebirth (written by Geoff Johns, art by Ethan Van Sciver)
This past Sunday, I finally took a moment to read my little brother’s The Flash: Rebirth comic books he loaned me a few weeks ago. The Flash is one of my favorite characters, but I don’t know too much about him.

From past talks with a few comic book veterans, I learned that Barry Allen is the Flash before Wally West. I’m most familiar with Wally because of Justice League: The Animated Series. I also learned that Barry was sucked into the speed force a while back. This story picks up with Barry finding his way out of the speed force and how he deals with life after the fact.

A major part of Barry’s inability to adjust to being out of the speed force is due to the Reverse Flash screwing around with him. We get to see how long the Reverse Flash has been playing a part in Flash’s life, without Barry’s knowledge.

I’m a rebel when it comes to comic book stories, so it was no surprise that I liked this story, while others told me they were disappointed in it. The story itself moves pretty fast (no pun intended). Even with my newbie status, it didn’t leave me with many questions. My favorite part is when we see Superman go up against Flash in an attempt to stop him from running back into the speed force. I really enjoyed the dialogue between the two  and it made me giggle a little. There’s also a page with Liberty Bell and Impulse that I love so much, I might have to locate an issue so I can frame it up.

Curious to know what I’m pulling this week? Check out my pull list on Comixology.

Corrina–Smallville Season 11 #12 by Bryan Q. Miller and Jorge Jimenez, The Once and Future Tarzan by Alan Gordon, Thomas Yeates, and Lori Almeida

Smallville Season 11 has been a favorite since its inception but I lost track of a few issues digitally, and caught up by buying the print issue #12, which is all about endings and beginnings. The story featuring Impulse and the threat of a dark speedster is wrapped up, there are hints of future problems with an alternate Earth and a coming crisis, Lois gets to smack Lex Luthor, and a formerly dead character returns in a somewhat altered form. Ollie and Chloe also leave the book, though not because of tragedy. In other words, it was well worth the $3.99 I paid for the issue.

The Once and Future Tarzan is a one-shot from Dark Horse comics featuring the jungle lord in a much altered urban environment. I spotted it at my local comic shop and couldn’t resist, as it definitely featured the immortal Tarzan mentioned at the end of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ tales. Tarzan is fully in character, even skinny dipping in the pools created in what looks like a destroyed London and taking care of the jungle animals and innocent humans too.

He’s not the noble savage here so much as a blend of his civilian and wild selves. The plot concerns an army of female warriors sent to recruit Tarzan in their struggle to survive and the battle with a militia sent to oppose them. All the journeying  was a reason to show off the wonderful backgrounds of this strange world along with action featuring guns, Tarzan and Tantor.

The artists outdid themselves.

The ending is strangely anti-climatic but only because I wanted there to be a next chapter and the story felt unfinished. More, please.

Kay Moore – A shout out to Free Comic Book Day 2013

Free Comic Book Day (Saturday, May 4) is less than 2 weeks away and the published book lists tempt me worse than chocolate. I fear being pushed out of my local shop as they attempt to lock up.

Some of the goodies that are calling my name: A free flipbook with several stories, including my fave, Mouse Guard from David Petersen, plus lots of other kid-friendly shorts from Archaia, including Rust, and a dinosaur story. I also took a look at a preview of Damsels by Matthew Sturges (of Jack of Fables, Doctor Who), Jean-Paul Deshong, and Stephanie Hanseremy, a story about an imprisoned mermaid and the broken toy soldier who comes to rescue her. The preview intrigued me; I wonder how hard it will be to score a copy at the shop on FCBD?

And finally, this list of free issues alerted me that Prince Valiant comics are now published in hardcover, collected from the 70+ years the cartoon has brightened the Sunday papers. Val! May 4th– don’t get in my way. If you aren’t familiar with the sweeping vistas and well-developed story lines of this Arthurian-influenced heroic, humorous, colorful saga, get in line behind me to pick one up on May 4.

Looking for something else, readers? Check out this week’s listed books:

All Star Western #19 Arrow #6 Batman Illustrated Neal Adams Tp Vol 02 Batman Incorporated #10 CP Batman The Dark Knight #19 Before Watchmen Comedian #6 (6) CP Blue Beetle Tp Vol 02 Blue Diamond Flash #19 Fury Of Firestorm The Nuclear Man #19 I Vampire #19 Injustice Gods Among Us #4 Justice League Dark #19 Katana #3 Red Lanterns #19 Savage Hawkman #19 Superman #19 Superman Beyond Man Of Tomorrow Tp Superman Family Adventures #12 Talon #7 Teen Titans #19 Unwritten #48

A Plus X #7 Avengers #10 Avengers Arena #8 Castle Tp Richard Castles Deadly Storm Dark Tower Gunslinger Tp Deadpool #8 Now2 Deadpool Killustrated #4 (4) Fantastic Four #7 Ff #6 Ff #6 Iron Man Vc Fury Max #11 Gambit #11 Guardians Of Galaxy #2 Journey Into Mystery #651 Marvel Previews May 2013 Extras Marvel Universe Ultimate Spider-Man #13 Mmw Mighty Thor Tp Vol 04 Morbius Living Vampire #4 New Avengers #5 Phineas And Ferb Magazine #17 Scarlet Spider #16 Squadron Supreme Tp Twelve Hc Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #22 Uncanny Avengers #7 Uncanny Avengers Hc Vol 01 Red Shadow Uncanny X-Men #5 Wolverine And X-Men #28 X-Men Longshot Tp X-Termination #2 (2) Young Avengers #4

Acronym Key:  VC = Variant Cover  / HC = Hard Cover / TP = Trade Paperback  / CP = Combo Pack  / PE = Premier Edition

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