Avengers: The Initiative: Special – Tie up of old story time! Hardball and Komodo fell in love in the main title, but Hardball was a rather bad person previously and engaged in some business for Hydra. He wants love to change him, but when Hydra comes calling, a confrontation with them and his lover threaten to shatter his life. The entire episode plays well off of Hardball’s past, making him seem foolish, but well-meaning, while Komodo gets her own development flushed out quite a bit, leaving her more than a ball of anger and insecurities. There’s some cliché lines, but nothing out of left-field for an Avengers book. The backup strip is weaker, as Trauma gets psychoanalyzed. His power is a dues-ex-machina so everything works out basically as expected for his past, but now people care, so yay. I know you’re touched. Me too. This is a good way to tie up Slott’s earlier subplots for the post-Invasion status quo. 7/10 – Good
Final Crisis: Resist – Yet another Final Crisis one shot, but this one actually serves a purpose. We have more fill in for the lost time in the core title, including what Checkmate is up to, as they desperately search help. Eventually, their remnants, Mr. Terrific, Snapper Car, and Cheetah, have a brainstorm and figure out how to make up the numbers they are lacking. It’s a really great bit of continuity tie in and a clever idea that I didn’t see coming, as well. For an issue that we probably could have done without, I was duly impressed. 7/10 – Good
Justice Society of America #20 – In this issue, Justice Society Infinity chase Power Girl back from Earth 2 to find out why she pretended to be their Power Girl. Naturally, she didn’t, but when the multi-verse was recreated Earth 2 got its own version of the same person, leading to mass confusion and a big fight. The fight isn’t especially well done, with a lot of hasty decisions being made, but the characterization leading to two major characters acceptance of Gog is top notch and more than carries things. Starman needs to go mad again soon, though. His know-it-all, but keep it mysterious persona is too easily used as a writing crutch to explain plot details characters should have to figure out. That leaves this a weaker than usual issue which is merely good. 7/10 – Good
Secret Six #3 – The Six escort tarantula, find the mysterious card, engage in a fun fight scene, and have amusing, witty dialogue. Eventually, they find the card is a “Get out of Hell Free” card, which is amusing. At least you can see why the villains want it. This still felt rather shallow, as a middle arc issue, but at least it was fun. 6/10 – Solid
