Reviews - The Exorcism At 1600 Penn #2, TMNT: Nightwatcher #4 & The Rocketeer Breaks Free #4
From IDW Publishing
This week, I looked at three new comics from IDW Publishing: The Exorcism At 1600 Penn #2, TMNT: Nightwatcher #4, and The Rocketeer Breaks Free #4. They are all very different and entertaining in different ways.
The Exorcism At 1600 Penn #2
After Mara was involved in what students called a satanic and violent incident at school, the First Family worries that she’s succumbing to the stress of being the daughter of the first female president. But unbeknownst to them, a dark force looms from the doomscrolling shadows.
Meanwhile, the Havana Syndrome situation is causing tension in the Oval Office as President Kelly’s trusted circle advises military action that could tip the global scale to World War III, despite her better instincts. Can President Kelly save both her family and the world from the political spotlight, or is something more sinister pulling all the strings?
Author: Hannah Rose May
Artist: Vanesa Del Rey
This is proving to be a gripping story. It combines the horror elements of, for example, The Exorcist and The Omen with a political thriller.
Throwing in some social media and teenage angst, this is proving to be an excellent story that is being drip-fed.
With the horror elements, there is some excellent doubt over what is happening. Is it something supernatural? Is it in the teenage mind and religious mania? Or is it something more down to earth with a possible weapon?
The hints throughout keep us guessing, and there are clues dotted throughout that could lead us in any direction—right up to the final page.
The artwork and colouring do excellent lifting to impress on us the tone of a political fight or a demonic haunting. It all combines skillfully and keeps you wanting to see what comes next.
Get it at Forbidden Planet:
TMNT: Nightwatcher #4
As a new district attorney takes office in New York City, stoking backlash against the acceptance and political progress mutants have been striving for, Nightwatcher is on the hunt for the Mutant Town crime boss Lao Ban.
The only lead to Lao Ban is already trying to escape the city, though, and there’s no guarantee he’ll give up the intel Nightwatcher needs.
If Nightwatcher can’t persuade him to turn on Lao Ban, the trail will go cold…and they aren’t the only one who’s been tracking down Lao Ban’s loose end.
Author: Juni Ba
Artist: Fero Pe
I found myself drawn into this issue. It does have a decent amount of action, but the character work was excellent. Not only does it give us a deeper look into the driving force around the Nightwatcher’s mission, but it also gives us more of the city’s state as a whole.
Lao Ban looks to be the ‘big bad’ of the story here, being the Kingpin of the mutant world and is shown to not only have a physical issue but also an impact on the city.
There are some interesting political aspects in here, and I see the parallels between this story and what is happening in the background in the main TMNT series.
I like that there is a physical foe for Nightwatcher to bounce off of as well.
The artwork is excellent, and the little aspects mean we get some excellent inflexions - even with the Nightwatcher armour!
Get it at Forbidden Planet:
The Rocketeer Breaks Free #4
The Rocketeer has gone to Alcatraz in search of the traitor supplying the Nazis with the intel to attack America on her own soil. When he finds that the German invaders have gotten there ahead of him and are weaponizing the prisoners to stop our hero, Alcatraz turns into a battleground as all the opposing forces converge and the fate of America hangs in the balance.
Author: Stephen Mooney
Artist: Staz Johnson
I’ve said it before - this team is perfect for this title. It helps that I have a soft spot for the Rocketeer, but in this final issue of the story, we get action and romance along with heroes we can get behind and villains we would like to punch!
The break-in/out at Alcatraz is in full swing, and the Nazi group has their target in mind. That is unless Cliff and the gang don’t get in their way.
And they do. In some complete action, we get a satisfying conclusion to the story, mopping up some loose ends and adding a touch of humour as well.
I especially enjoyed the other criminals in this story - those helping on the shoreline and those incarcerated on the island. It reminded me of a scene in the Batman/Captain America crossover when the Joker realises that the Red Skull is a Nazi!
The artwork is excellent, with some suitable dusk scenes outside and the close confines of the inside - even with the Rocketeer flying around.
Don’t be gone too long…
Get it at Forbidden Planet:
