Comics Briefly: Avengers Academy #15, Batgirl #22, Darkwing Duck #13, Power Girl #25, Ruse #4

Favorite Issue This Week: It's a tossup. Avengers Academy for pathos, Batgirl for fun.

All Books new in stores on 6/15/11

Side Note: What is with all the ads for shoes this month?


Avengers Academy #15 (Fear Itself)
Writer: Christos Gage, Penciler: Tom Raney, Inkers: Scott Hanna & Andrew Hennessy, Colorist: Jeromy Cox

This is a tie-in issue with the Fear Itself crossover and a good issue of Avengers Academy building on what has come before. Good job walking that tightrope, Gage and company! On the edge of melodramatic, on the edge of rushed, but I think this issue did a great job handling the students faced with war. I have never liked Tigra as much as I did here. This was a strong issue.


Batgirl #22
Writer: Bryan Q. Miller, Artist: Pere Perez, Colorist: Guy Major

First, I need to say: that is one fantastic panel on the first page with Steph and the Bat-shadow! Nice. Steph looks cute in her grown-up traveling outfit too. The interplay between Batgirl and Squire is pretty darn adorable. The action is great, the plot solid. Great Issue! (Only downside: it's totally cheating to  have the next part in another book, even Batman Inc.)


Darkwing Duck #13
Writer: Ian Brill, Artist: James Silvani, Colorist: Lisa Moore

I think I missed an issue of this. This one-shot was just fine, while the little seeds of a new arc were pretty intriguing. This is mostly a bridge issue, I need to find the one I missed!


Power Girl #25
Writer: Judd Winick, Artist: Hendry Prasetya, Colorist: Jessica Kholinne

Mixed feelings about the art in this one; some really nice panels and some that felt off. Similarly, the writing was up and down. There were some nice moments, though, and I liked the resolution.


Ruse #4
Writer: Mark Waid, Artist: Mirco Pierfederici

This finishes off the miniseries. I enjoyed these four issues and the climax was well done, but it wasn't quite as good as I wanted it to be. Emma was particularly fun in this issue, and the finale is rather cute. Overall: good, not great.