What I Bought 12/17/2012 - Part 1

I'm not even sure what date to use. I'm starting the reviews today, but I opened the box on Monday, but the books arrived last Monday (or Tuesday). I plan for this to take about a week, maybe 6 days if I pick up the pace in the middle.

Angel & Faith #16, by Christos Gage (script), Rebekah Isaacs (art), Dan Jackson (colors), Richard Starkings and Jimmy Betancourt (letters) - This cover, that one Isaacs did of Faith and Angel driving through L.A., I'm getting concerned by all these covers of Faith smiling. People smiling in that universe never ends well.

Angel and Faith steal a crown with regenerative ability from albino cave lizards. They'll use this to restore Giles' body, then transfer his soul into it. Except Giles' body is missing! Before they can deal with this, the other Slayers show up, pissed at Faith for protecting Angel, and wanting them to use the resurrection trick on the Slayer Dru killed. I just realized Dru caught up to Spike on Slayer kills. Quick Spike, kill Buffy and retake the lead! Anyway, Angel points out it won't work on Marianne because she doesn't have decades of mucking about with magic like Giles, an explanation Nadira finds unacceptable, but she and the others leave to use Plan B. After the requisite threats and "Besties No More!" comments to Faith. Plan B involves, well then. That was a hell of a surprise until I remembered a particular detail from a certain character's past.

That was interesting. Lots of heavy emotional stuff, most of it coming down on Faith. Angel might be bothered, but he's so repressed and locked up in his guilt complex most of the time, it's hard to tell. I am curious who the flashback between Faith and Giles was about. He pointed out once she cares about someone, she sticks by them, even if it might drag her down. It's clearly foreshadowing, but does it refer to Angel or Nadira? Whatever the Slayers say, Faith won't abandon them just because they've turned their backs on her.

There's a lot of talking and FEELINGS in this issue, so Isaacs has to bring it with the faces, and she really does. Nadira is always angry, always leaning forward, aggressive, into other people's personal space. Sometimes she's on the boundary of a panel, but it suggests she wasn't even supposed to be in that one, but barged by force of will and self-righteousness. What I really like is most of the other Slayers don't look mad, or even sad. They look uncertain, confused. They trusted Faith, and they've not heard why she did what she did. They aren't as clear on who's wrong, if they should be trying this.

Atomic Robo: The Flying She-Devils of the Pacific #4, by Brian Clevinger (words), Scott Wegener (art), Nick Filardi (colors), Jeff Powell (letters) - That's not exactly what I'd call a visually arresting cover. The deep red background is nice.

Robo has been captured by Chokaiten, a Japanese weapons think tank that has continued to work towards winning the war, even after the Emperor surrendered. To that end, they've developed weapons beyond anything anyone has, some of which are based on Tesla's designs. Like the ion guns. Oh, and earthquake bombs, which, if used on the San Andreas Fault, will sink the entire Western Seaboard. Between that and the E-99 bombs in Singularity wiping out the Eastern Seaboard, I'm glad I live in flyover country.

Robo is saved form being dismantled by the She-Devils who arrive in their jetpacks, and Hazel, who has been sticking to the shadows the whole time, as illustrated in a quick flashback page. They pursue Cokaiten' super battleship/sub thing, and the big fight commences. Where it turns out the battleship/sub thing can also fly. Crap. While Robo and the She-Devils try to survive, Takeshi (the guy who shot Robo down twice during the war) breaks off to deliver the bomb (which he seems oddly reluctant about). With no other option, Robo straps his modified jet engine to his back, grabs a .50 cal and goes after him. Good luck, Robo.

I wonder if Wegener was a little rushed on this issue. There are a few panels in the second half of the book where his lines are much thicker than usual, and everything looks a bit rougher. He does get to draw some actions scenes, which are a strength of his, and those look pretty good.

I like the Chokaiten scientists for their comedic aspects. Debating what part of Robo they should remove first and why. trying to save themselves from the She-Devils by threatening Robo, except none of the She-Devils know Japanese. Sadly, one of them didn't survive, so the team of Chokaiten Scientist One and Chokaiten Scientist Two won't be making a return appearance. What was it the Joker said, Dying is easy, comedy is hard?