Unreachable Star Reviews December 20th, 2006 (SPOILERS)

This is our 199th edition, with three books. I'm pretty tired and
running a little later than I'd like, so I'm going to be fairly brief
in these reviews.

This week we have...

Birds of Prey #101 - 3.25 Stars
Cable & Deadpool #35 - 3 Stars
Teen Titans #42 - 3.25 Stars

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Birds of Prey #101 - "Blood & Circuits, Part Two: Broken Wing"
(Writer: Gail Simone, Penciller: Nicola Scott,
Inker: Doug Hazlewood, Colors: Hi-Fi Design)

As the Birds of Prey try to complete their mission, they're threatened
by US forces under the command of the Spy Smasher, who has plans to
take down Oracle and her team once and for all.

The issue's about average for the title - enjoyable, with some
particularly nice moments. Still, Simone sets up some nice tension
between Oracle and the Spy Smasher, who have a history together, and
that makes the book my Pick of the Week.

Review: 3.25 stars

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Cable & Deadpool #35 - "Past Indiscretions" (Writer: Fabian Nicieza,
Penciler: Reilly Brown, Inker: Pat Davidson with

Jeremy Freeman, Colorist: Gotham)

Because of a post-hypnotic suggestion, Deadpool begins to suffer pangs
of conscience, and hallucinating some of the many people he's killed.

I tend to have a bias against 'hallucination' stories. Even when
they're relatively straightforward (and not trying to trick you that
it's really happening), there's just something about them that makes me
lose interest. So, although there are a few nice, funny moments, on
the
whole the issue felt a little weaker than usual.

Review: 3 stars

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Teen Titans #42 - "Devil-May-Care" (Writer: Geoff Johns, Guest Artist:
Peter Snejbjerg, Colors: Tanya & Richard Horie)

We learn the origin of Kid Devil's powers, and the meaning of Raven's
warning last issue.

I'm still not entirely attached to Kid Devil. He's new to me, and
although there've been times I've liked him, on the whole I wouldn't
be terribly disappointed if he was replaced. So, for something like
that, sometimes one of the best things you can do is put him in a solo
story that explains more about him. The problem is that it can often
be
make or break in the minds of some readers.

Whether it's a good thing or a bad thing is probably up for debate, but
the issue did neither. I'm neither more interested nor less interested
in Kid Devil than before I read it. It's an okay issue, although it
makes Kid Devil out to be a little more immature than I'd like to see,
the book is Teen Titans, not Adult Titans.

Mostly, the issue just sort of happened. I think I'd have preferred to
have Kid Devil's story integrated more into ongoing plots and revealed
slowly.

Review: 3.25 stars

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Well, that's it for this week folks. Next week, according to the
shipping list, there's just one book, Astonishing X-Men #19. It'll
also be our 200th installment spectacular and the last review of the
year, so I might include my Year In Review. Also, my store'll be
getting books in on Thursday, so the review column will also be
delayed.

See you next week, and to those that celebrate it, Merry Christmas...

Peter Dimitriadis
http://www.unreachablestar.net
The Unreachable Star - Comics & SF News/Reviews/Opinion