CAPTAIN AMERICA #2/ Story by TA-NEHISI COATES/ Pencils by LEINIL FRANCIS YU/ Inks by LEINIL FRANCIS YU & GERRY ALANGUILAN/ Colors by SUNNY GHO/ Letters by VC’S JOE CARAMAGNA/ Published by MARVEL COMICS

Review by MATT MORRISON

First the American government cut ties with Steve Rogers in the wake of The Secret Empire debacle. Now they’re trying to stop him from fighting crime altogether, as Captain America is seen as something of an embarrassment. Of course Steve has fought without the approval of his country before, but still he wonders how he can best serve The Dream, as both Captain America and as Steve Rogers.

Coates’ story is unfolding at a leisurely pace, with little in the way of action or plot development in this issue. Despite this, it’s a fantastic character study of Steve Rogers and has a lot of little touches that build Steve up wonderfully. For instance, he listens to talk radio while he works out, as it builds him up to punch the weight bag harder. The artwork by Leinil Francis Yu, Gerry Alanguilan and Sunny Gho is similarly full of wonderful detailing and looks fantastic. This issue is a bit slow, but well-worth reading.

 

DOCTOR WHO: THE SEVENTH DOCTOR #3/ Story by ANDREW CARTMEL/ Art by CHRISTOPHER JONES/ Colors by MARCO LESKO/ Executive Produced by BEN AARONOVITCH/ Letters by RICHARD STARKINGS & COMICRAFT’S JIMMY BETANCOURT/ Published by TITAN COMICS

Review by MATT MORRISON

With a group of alien convicts about to escape the Earth and nuke it in the process to cover their tracks, The Doctor, Ace and their friends in the Intrusion Countermeasures Group have their work cut out for them. Can they and their new alien cop friends save the Earth?

As strongly as this mini-series started, the ending is a bit anti-climactic. Cartmel’s story would make for a great episode of the television series but his sense of pacing as a comic book writer is a bit off. The action sequences are crammed into a paltry few panels while sequences of characters talking go on for pages. Everything still looks amazing, however, thanks to Christopher Jones’ artwork and Marco Lesko’s colors. This isn’t a bad comic but it’s a disappointing conclusion after such a strong start.

 

INJUSTICE 2 #69/ Story by TOM TAYLOR/ Pencils by DANIEL SAMPERE/ Inks by JUAN ALBARRRAB/ Colors by REX LOKUS/ Letters by WES ABBOTT/ Published by DC COMICS

Review by MATT MORRISON

Even among the Suicide Squad, one can find a chance at happiness. At least, that’s the hope of what remains of their membership, who push Killer Croc to make an honest whale-woman of Orca. Meanwhile, as Gorilla City prepares for a wedding unlike any ever seen before, Grodd plots an invasion.

Folks, there’s little I can say about this issue beyond one sentence. “Look at that cover!” The artwork is lovely, of course, as is the interior. And if you aren’t the least bit curious about the interior and Tom Taylor’s story based on that cover… well, I’m not sure I want to know you as a person. This book is everything that is creative and wonderful and beautiful about superheroes and comics and you should be reading it. Even if you aren’t a brazen romantic like me who is touched by the story of a crocodile man and whale woman finding love.

 

JUSTICE LEAGUE #5/ Story by JAMES TYNION IV/ Pencils by DOUG MAHNKE/ Inks by JAIME MENDOZA/ Colors by WILL QUINTANA/ Letters by TOM NAPOLITANO/ Published by DC COMICS

Review by MATT MORRISON

The Legion of Doom are but moments away from achieving victory. But how is it that Lex Luthor came to bring this group together and discovered the seven primal forces they needed to tame to save the multiverse? Now the tale can be told…

If you missed out on the first four issues of Justice League, this is the perfect catch-up issue. Lex Luthor’s plan to date and everything occurring behind the scenes is lain out in plain detail. More, James Tynion IV conducts a wonderful study into Luthor’s character and the fatal flaw that will forever define him as a villain, no matter how many good deeds he may accomplish in his efforts to show-up Superman.

The artwork shows an equal level of care and craft, with Dough Mahnke’s pencils and Jaime Mendoza’s inks proving a perfect partnership. Will Quintana’s colors offer up the perfect finishes, making this one book that looks as good as it reads. On every level, this is the Justice League done right.