What I Bought 2/3/2012 - Part 1

Five weeks brings me. . . 10 comics. It'd be 11 but the last issue of Atomic Robo: Ghost of Station X was delayed. I read Mr. Clevinger's explanation online, and it's fine, they want to assure quality, that's cool. It doesn't really validate my decision to buy the book in single issues instead of waiting for the trade (which I likely would have purchased used, at a reduced price), does it? Ah well, that's the unfortunate chicanery of life.

Angel & Faith #6 - Russian Nesting Doll Giles is kind of terrifying. Actually, at first glance I thought he was one of those punching bags that won't stay knocked down, which seemed like a mean thing for someone to do, turn Giles into one of those.

In this issue, we learn what event prompted young Rupert to bail on being a Watcher to spend his youth being "Ripper" Giles, and that the monster responsible, called a Lorophage, was not destroyed, and may be active again. This investigation intertwines with one concerning a mysterious vampire calling herself "Mother Superior", and so Faith and Angel will get to kill two birds with one stone. Or get twice as stoned while bird-watching. One or the other. Also, a man purporting to be Faith's father has shown up. Yes, no chance that won't end horribly.

It's an interesting issue. Lots of stuff about pasts. Giles', Faith's, Angel's. We'll see how it goes. I'm leery of this "Faith's dad" arc already, and it's hardly even started. It feels like a way to possibly throw into a relapse of her wild child mode, but who knows? I don't have much new to say about Rebekah Isaacs' art. I still like it. The Lorophage seems to be based on insects, which is a good choice because bugs are creepy looking when you inspect closely enough.

Resurrection Man #5 - Mitch has developed explodey hands power! Hmm, what was the name of that Bloodlines guy who could turn anything he touched into a weapon? Ennis made fun of him in the Hitman 1 Million issue? Firearm? Gunfire? Perhaps Mitch has the power to make his hands hand grenades. I'd imagine he can only do it once, though.

There are three stories running through the issue. In one, Suriel (the angel) tries to determine what happened to Mitch's soul, and curbstomps the Body Doubles and the Transhuman off-panel. Another thread is set in the past, showing Mitch using wounded soldiers as unwitting test subjects for his experiments with regeneration abilities. This explains how Bonnie and Carmen met, and also probably explains the Director who wants Mitch back. Oh, and Deathstroke was there, taking a moral high ground with Mitch. Which is a) funny, because he is a guy who kills people for money, and b) terrifying, because he knows what he is, and he still finds Mitch's actions repugnant. The third thread is Mitch beat up on a gurney being transported somewhere. Where? Arkham Asylum!

I have no idea how Mitch wound up there. Especially since there's still a skull on the ground where he was standing when Suriel did. . . whatever on the first page. Art gaffe, or clue? I don't know how everything ties together yet, because I'm not convinced the drug Mitch was injected with explains his resurrections. It doesn't work that way for Bonnie or Carmen. It feels like a ruse. Still intriguing. Fernando Blanco's the artist and I miss Dagnino. Blanco isn't bad, but his figures look odd, like the perspective is off, sometimes. Also, his Deathstroke looked really clunky, but I guess we blame that on whoever designed Slade Wilson's New 52 look. Anyway, the mystery surrounding Mitch is what keeps me reading. I'd really like to know what's going on.