Archive for November, 2011

Wonder Woman #3 Delayed Review

Posted: November 30, 2011 in Brian Azzarello, Cliff Chiang, Comic Book Review, DC Comics, Wonder Woman
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Writer: Brian Azzarello
Penciller: Cliff Chang
Colorist: Matthew Wilson
Letterer: Jared K. Fletcher
Editors: Chris Conroy & Matt idelson

Wonder Woman created by William Moulton Marston

The secret behind Wonder Woman’s new origin has been revealed!  Tangled with mistrust and deception, the birth of Wonder Woman comes at us with an entirely different perspective that gives new meaning to Diana’s name.  No longer is she a miracle child formed from clay, but rather the daughter of the God Zeus.  Now paradise island is blaming the princess for the death of many Amazons, talking of revolting against her and reclaiming the island in the name of the Amazons.  But now, with Wonder Woman uncertain of her own beginnings, and also blaming herself for the Amazonian bloodshed, she begins her journey away from Paradise island, never to return.

This was not the origin reboot I was expecting for Wonder Woman.  It seems the title of Wonder Woman is no longer held by the Amazon who earns the right to travel to the world of man, but rather a position of question.  Diana is uncertain of her own life, with no name or title, thus calling herself Wonder Woman, wondering who she is and/or who she will be.

Emotions were running pretty high in this issue; Diana furious with her mother for lying to her, Hippolyta unsure of how to tell Diana the truth without causing her pain, virtually the entire island on the verge of revolting against the princess, and Diana feeling an enormous sense of guilt for something that truly wasn’t her fault, causing her to leave the island.  This is a community of women who are definitely having difficulties living with deceit.  Fingers pointing, they seem to have this need to blame someone, even if it’s obviously not that person’s fault.

Since she’s already wearing the silver and red uniform and leaving the island on her own accord, we can assume this means the contest to “win the right to live in man’s world” is no longer apart of the Amazonian tradition.  I really do love that origin story, but this one seems to show a lot of promise with the potential of being BETTER than the pre-reboot origin.  It’s interesting that this version of the Amazonian culture seems to be much more primitive in their lifestyle and thinking, yet at the same time not feeling too different either.

Cliff Chiang is very good, but sometimes his art doesn’t come off as good as it truly is when the colorist is sub-par.  Thankfully, Matt Wilson shows off his complimentary talents, holding nothing back.  The artistic combination reminds me of Kill Shakespeare’s Andy B. and Ian Herring; there’s nothing about it that’s overly flashy and dramatic, yet it’s as beautiful and amazing as anything Jim Lee has put out there.

I’m certainly enjoying this reboot.  Three issues in and I’m sold on this title even more than I am on Suicide Squad.  I’m not sure why this title was qualified as a horror comic as the last two issues weren’t really that horrifying.  There’s so much more content in this title than the typical horror comic.  Not that horror comics aren’t substantial, but there is a significant difference between Wonder Woman’s run vs. other horror comics.

10 out of 10 stars.

Breaking Dawn Is In Your Hair Now!

Posted: November 29, 2011 in Twilight
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I think life has become a utter shit hole now.  But, I guess if you want hair like Eddy, you gotta to the patent Twilight Hair Dryer.  Excuse me, I need to locate my my Legion of Superheroes power ring, Japanese warrior sword, and everything else that’s cooler than this blow dryer.

The Muppets Movie Review

Posted: November 27, 2011 in Disney, Frank Oz, Jim Henson, Movie Review, The Muppets
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Release Date: November 23, 2011 
Studio: Walt Disney Pictures 
Director: James Bobin 
Screenwriter: Jason Segel, Nicholas Stoller 
Starring: Jason Segel, Amy Adams, Chris Cooper, Rashida Jones, Alan Arkin, Jack Black, Billy Crystal, Zach Galifianakis, Kathy Griffin, Ricky Gervais, Emily Blunt, Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Gonzo, Animal, Walter 
Genre: Comedy, Family 
MPAA Rating: PG (for some mild rude humor) 
Official Website: Disney.com/Muppets

Back on the big screen once again, the Muppets showcase much of the old gang in brand new material, voice acting, and puppet mastery.  However, while everything about “The Muppets” is new and technologically advanced, the same genius, charm, love, and character in this most recent cinematic installment of the Muppet legacy is just as fantastic it was when I was a child, if not better.

I wouldn’t call this film a “reboot” as some reviewers seem to be doing, but rather a Muppet rejuvenation for a new generation of viewers who might have never had the chance to see the frog, pig, bear, and chicken on TV or movie screen.  What better way to do that than by calling back to the moments that made the previous Muppet films so lovably funny.  Condensed as far as it can go, the film is a fantastic display of the best optimism and human characterization that defined all of Henson’s best work.

In a nutshell, the world’s biggest Muppet fan, Walter, his brother Gary (Jason Segel) and Gary’s girlfriend, (of 10 years) Mary (Amy Adams) learn of a dastardly plot by oil tycoon Tex Richman (Chris Cooper) to destroy the Muppet theater for the oil which lies beneath.  The trifecta find Kermit and convince him to reunite with the old gang to put on “one last show” to help raise the money needed to save the theater.  The question is, can they do it in time?

The film’s basis is one of cultural irrelevance.  Sure, they’ve stuck around on the viral side of the life, had a few movie shorts here and there, and few films to help keep the Muppets alive, but there hasn’t been anything to remind us of the Muppet legacy.  This film brings us back to those days, delivering that same type of corny humor that only the Muppets can produce audience laughs with.

We start down this nostalgic escapade with a musical number, “Life’s a Happy Song,” combining as much of the hilariously hokey 80′s mentality into the intro as possible.  The best aspect of it all being the opening dance number in the streets with all of Smalltown’s citizens joining in the random fun.  (until the three protagonists leave of course.)  We continue down the journey with Walter and the Muppet’s, reliving Gonzo’s crazy antics, Fozzie’s hilariously bad jokes, Ms. Piggy’s karate chop action, the Swedish Chefs unintelligible culinary ramblings, and Dr. Teeth and his band giving us one last hoorah with Animal going nuts again!

Not only that, but the live actors are almost like Muppets themselves; Jason Segel and Amy Adams were almost born to play alongside the Muppets, having no fear of making fun of themselves in the best of ways.  But even more impressive was the performance by Chris Cooper.  Has anyone EVER seen him play anything OTHER a straight man, bad guy, or down to earth farmer with the natural frown? Now, all of the sudden, he breaks out into a rap, complete with a bouncing dot sing-along and all! Nicely done Mr. Cooper!  And of course, seeing the exceptionally tiny cameos by so many famous actors and actresses, especially Mickey Rooney, who most likely grew up loving the Muppets as well was a fantastic sight to see.

Certainly, however, the TRUE stars of this story come from the mouths of the Muppets…the voice talents of Frank Oz and Steve Whitmire.  Whitmire has the uncanny ability to voice Kermit, Beaker, Statler, and Rizzo almost as well as Henson himself.  And Frank Oz, in this reviewers opinion, is the master of voice acting, bringing his famous Piggy, Fozzie and Animal voices back for all of us to hear again.

But the moment that brought the film together was the brief, yet heart warming musical number where Kermit comes out on stage singing his marquee song, Rainbow Connection. Later, the joy is amplified with the strangely successful song “Mah Na Mah Na” during the credits.  Life truly is a Happy Song in the Muppet’s world.

For those of us who grew up with the Muppets, those two moments, along with many others throughout the film, will put yourself in such a state of nostalgic joy that even the roughest and toughest will have trouble holding back the tears.  This film is a reminder that, not only will puppets remain as one of the most lovable forms of visual family entertainment, but also that these specific characters are timeless and will never become relics.

9 out of 10 stars

Green Lantern: New Guardians #3 Review

Posted: November 26, 2011 in Comic Book Review, DC Comics, Green Lantern: New Guardians, Tony Bedard
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Writer: Tony Bedard
Pencillers:  Tyler Kirkham & Harvey Tolibao
Inker: Batt
Colorist: Nei Ruffino
Letterer: Dave Sharpe
Cover: Kirkham, Batt, & Ruffino
Editors: Pat McCallum & Sean Mackiewicz

You know what the biggest problem for comic books are?  The fact that each issue is only 20 pages long!  Wait…nope, sorry, I’m wrong, it’s only 20 pages now – even worse!  Even the best arcs in the history of comics have weak chapters due to the length constraints each issue has.  #3 of New Guardians is suffering from this same predicament; exciting happenings with little explanation.

Kyle Rayner opens this issue up showing off his multiple rings, drugged out on power and wailing out against the Guardians.  They are, however, able to overcome Rayner’s onslaught and suddenly become heartless and primeval. #3′s purpose, obviously, is to give a reason for the NEW Guardians (who ever they might be) to make their appearance, kicking the blue mini-me’s “owt tha doe!” The action is great, and the suspense for what’s coming next is even better, but I felt there was very little explanation for why everyone was behaving so poorly.

Rayner’s actions were justified…he was being consumed by the power of all those rings.  And as the Guardians said, no human should be able to wield every ring in the emotional spectrum.  It’s the Guardians actions that seem very out of place to me.  Their actions have always been questionable, and they progressively got worse as time went on, especially during Blackest night and Brightest Day.  However, in this issue they felt especially odd as they were blaming Rayner for something he couldn’t control and felt completely emotionless, which was very uncharacteristic.  If this arc results in the complete destruction of the Guardians, I will be the first to celebrate!  But there’s something uncharacteristic about how the Guardians are behaving…not sure I like it.  But I do hope Ganthet sticks around after the Guardians are gone, he’s the only one that had his head screwed on right.

Everything else was great though; questionable allegiances, power struggles and the constant flooding of bad guys that make everything worse was a flawless flow of awesome!  I was glad to see Larfleez used in a deceptive way and not so much as a comic relief, like the more recent stories involving him have done.  At first I wasn’t sure if I was going to like the whole “gang” feel of the other different Corps members, but it seems to be working out quite well thus far.

Kirkham and Tolibao are rocking it as the pencillers; the action is non-stop, and  the excitement is at its highest!  Ruffino gives that nice touch of explosive color that makes this book worth every penny.  The opening page is awesome enough to blow up and hang on the wall!  (which I might just do!) One thing that trumps every other title ever since the introduction of the different Lantern Corps is how fantastic the coloring job has been and how every colorist has taken full advantage of the vast aray of color combinations and mixtures.

So far, New Guardians is very enjoyable, definitely the BETTER of the Green Lantern titles thus far, without a doubt.  I just want the Guardians to go already!  Kick them out!  push them out of the window! feed them to the dirt and shove them off this mortal (or immortal) coil!  Lets get on with it!!!

8 out of 10 stars

Aquaman #3 Review

Posted: November 25, 2011 in Aquaman, Comic Book Review, DC Comics
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Writer: Geoff Johns
Penciller: Ivan Reis
Inker: Joe Prado
Colorist: Rod Reis
Letter: Nick J. Napolitano  
Editors: Sean Mackiewicz & Patrick McCallum

You learn something new everyday! That saying definitely applies to Aquaman in issue #3.  Even he has no clue as to who these sea dwelling cannibals are.  Known as “the Trench,” the monsters bombard the shores, attacking human after human to feast on, with the leader tackling the strongest and most resilient human they’ve ever met.  After Aquaman and Mera fight off the ugly hoard, with a condescending gratitude given by the local police force, they seek help from a dangerous part of Aquaman’s past to solve the mystery of the trench.

With the exception of Brightest Day, Geoff Johns has really done nothing wrong in his comic book career.  You can give him anything and he’ll deliver some of the more interesting stories in comics.  One thing that’s true about Johns, however, is how obvious it is when he’s working on a character he favors.  Johns has a knack for creating a great mystery with wonderful twists and turns along the way.

#3 finishes off the initial shock of the Trench, gently shoving bits and pieces of at us that answer some questions, while creating more questions at the same time.  Not being a faithful follower of the Aquaman mythology before the reboot, I have no idea if this Mr. Shin was a constant character in Aquaman’s history.  It’s obvious that he is now, and the tension in the room once Aquaman entered was more than enough to get me excited about how these two are going to connect with each other; whether by becoming great friends, forgetting the past, or by becoming sworn enemies.  Clearly, however, this visit made by Aquaman will reawaken a thirst in Mr. Shin, and I doubt we’ve seen the end of this.

Of course, mysteries are part of the game in storytelling, and the Trench have certainly created an enormous one.  I have a feeling that they are more connected to Aquaman than we might realize.  What about the Aquaman’s trident is going to cause this unknown figure to return?  What caused this evolution in the Trench and how is it Aquaman has never heard of them?  There is so much to get excited about and I dare say that Johns is having the time of his life writing this arc!

The Reis Brothers also seem to be having a good time based on the artwork they’re producing in this book.  The opening page brings us to a calming moment of relaxation despite Arthur’s dad’s inner monologue, juxtaposed by the very next page which is nothing but blood and chaos due to the attack made by the Trench.  Ivan brings out the best emotional aspect in both Mera and Arthur’s eyes and facial expressions, as well as giving so much depth to their physical forms, and Rod’s usage of color, especially during the in-the-water scenes, are fantastically brilliant.    His coloring job makes it actually LOOK like both Arthur and Mera are in REAL water.

Needless to say, I was MORE than impressed and taken with this Aquaman installment.  I rank this book right up there with my other favorites, Suicide Squad, Wonder Woman, and Action Comics.  Seriously? I have to wait another FULL MONTH to get issue #4?!?!?  This sucks!

10 out of 10 stars

Happy Thanksgiving To All My Readers

Posted: November 24, 2011 in Happy Holidays
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I’m going to go ahead and wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving, as well as wishing you a happy everything else as well!  This way, for one year, if I DON’T wish you a merry Christmas, Happy New Year,etc etc on those specific days…I’m still good because I already did it!  Boo-Yah!

The Fury Of The Firestorm #3 Review

Posted: November 23, 2011 in Comic Book Review, DC Comics, Ethan Van Sciver, Firestorm, Gail Simone
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Writer: Gail Simone
Plot: Ethan Van Sciver & Gail Simone
Artist: Yildiray Cinar
Colors: Steve Buccellato
Letters: Travis Lanham
Cover: Van Sciver & Hi-Fi
Editors: Rickey Purdin & Rachel Gluckstern

This is all quite strange to me to be perfectly honest.  I’m not sure what I think about it all.  It almost feels like a forced plot, like there’s something definite and strong at the center of this first arc for Firestorm, yet with tons of uncertainty tangled throughout it.  Is Simone and Sciver making this up as they go along, or do they have a plan?  If there is a plan, I certainly can’t see it.

If rumors are correct, Simone will be off this title before too long, with Sciver (I’m certain) taking over the literary responsibilities.  That makes me wonder how much of the plot is actually Simone’s, and how much of it is Sciver’s.    Is Simone simply helping out until Sciver becomes less busy?  Whatever the case may be, I’m definitely regretting paying $25 for the subscription to this title.

This mostly seems like an excuse to have a battle against giants, both of them so eager to fight that they simply pound away at everything because it’s fun.  I’m still not sold on the whole “by our powers combined” bit this comic seems to by driving with, but I was never a big fan of Firestorm having a second consciousness living inside him either.

Never-the-less, the book isn’t without it’s redeeming qualities.  The dialog between characters, such Ronnie and Jason, find their way into fantastic, yet bickering harmony.  Plus, their seems to be some fairly interesting side stories that could prove quite interesting down the road.  And while they hate each other so very much, Ronnie and Raymond understand that the only way they are going to survive any threat coming their way is by working together.  The bond that these two will obviously develop together has the potential of being quite good.

Cinar did some great work this issue; a combination of terrifying and saddening shots is where this book shines.  There’s a great usage of lighting within the coloring job that gives #3 that much needed visual aid to keep us interested.  I just wish the story were just as good.

5 out of 10 stars

Green Lantern Corps #3 Review

Posted: November 21, 2011 in Comic Book Review, DC Comics, Green Lantern Corps, Peter J. Tomasi
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Story & Words: Peter J. Tomasi
Guest Penciller:  Geraldo Borges
Inker: Scott Hanna
Colorist: Gabe Eltaeb
Letter: Pat Brosseau
Cover: Alex Garner
Editor: Darren Shan & Brian Cunningham

Having only been a follower of Green Lantern since the early 90′s, I have no idea if something like this has been done with the Corps before or not.  Regardless, it’s an interesting a new take that I’m pretty fond of, despite many of the flaws that come with this issue.

The whole idea of willpower generating the power rings was something that hadn’t been fleshed out until half way through Geoff John’s run on Green Lantern the last time it was renumbered.  But now that the concept has been fully integrated and developed, Tomasi is now throwing a monkey wrench into the works.  I had never considered the fact that simple willpower could act as a defense mechanism against the Green Lantern rings.  The army the Corps fights on Xabas has only conventional weaponry, with each individual containing enough willpower where they can simply walk right into a Green Lantern beam and be unscathed.  Something the Guardians didn’t consider and definitely something the Corps is going to have extreme difficulties with.

On the downside, one of the problems with a title like the Green Lantern Corps is the fact that it enlists members from all over the universe…meaning any number of aliens with different powers can come in out of no where to save the day.  In my opinion, it’s a bit of a cop out method. This issue gives us new comer Green Lantern agent Porter, whose teleportation ability makes him the perfect man for saving a band of Green Lanterns from the onslaught of the thousands of Ring Slayers surrounding them.  Where did he come from and how come we’ve never heard of him before?  And what’s worse is the fact that he dies due to overusing his teleportation power.  I guess he didn’t come with an occupancy limit.

Another little irk I have…couldn’t the Lanterns have simply flown away, hovered over the Xabas army and rethink their battle plan?  All they had were solar powered swords and no sign of flying abilities, the Corps could have fled and come up with a better plan of attack right?

Tomasi is a great writer and I wouldn’t want anyone else trying to tackle such a difficult book, but this issue had A LOT of flaws.  It’s still fun to read but there were just a few too many plot devices that irritated me.

The guest artist did a great job as well.  Borges kept very close to the art work we’ve typically found in the GL Corps title in the last few years.  This is such a busy book and any artist trying to take on such an enormous project should consider that an honor!  They have to keep the characters recognizable and remember the small details  of each new and old character that come into play.

The Green Lantern side of the DC Universe is, without a doubt, the weakest side of the DC reboot.  I can’t put my finger on it, but there’s something happening that just isn’t meeting the quality coming from the other rebooted titles.  However, with that said, There’s still a lot great potential for the future of Green Lantern.  I’ll stick with it!

7 out of 10 stars

Captain Atom #3 Review

Posted: November 20, 2011 in Captain Atom, Comic Book Review, DC Comics, Freddie Williams II, JT Krul
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Writer/Artist: JT Krul & Freddie Williams II
Letterer: Ron Leigh
Colorist: Jose Villarrubia
Cover: Stanley “Artgem” Lau
Editors: Rickey Purdin & Rachel Gluckstern

If you want to know where the inspiration came from for Watchmen’s Dr. Manhattan, just pick up Captain Atom #3 and your question will be answered.  However, Alan Moore decided to change Dr. Manhattan into more of a quantum based superhero.  Now it seems JT Krul is following the example of Moore and turning Captain Atom into a being with more power than any living creature in the known universe, and with that comes a plethora of moral dilemmas.

Apparently Captain Atom is a believer in the mystical and religious side of life, as strange as that may sound.  The beginning of the book portrays Him to be the reason that so many people survive the unsurvivable.  One might assume from this that, in the world of Sci-Fi, miracles don’t exist and that the concept of “God” is a joke that science rolls around as a running gag.  However, Captain Atom is using his powers to save everyone, giving them the strength to survive what should have killed them…and he’s having a moral dilemma because of that, thinking he might be interjecting in on a divine plan.  As powerful as he is, with the ability to see life down to it’s smallest scientific detail, he still believes in some unknown force that is all knowing an stronger than he.

This is the fundamental difference between Captain Atom and Dr. Manhattan. Dr. Manhattan admits to the fact that he may no longer be human, and this doesn’t faze him in the least.  Atom shows his humanity in doing the same thing, but is morally confused and concerned by this revelation.

Having the Flash enter into the picture didn’t really help Atom’s dilemma as the speedster himself question what Captain Atom was.  Of course, I felt it to be a tad bit non sequitur having the Flash in this book to begin with.  So it stands to reason why I found his inclusion and interactions with the Cap to be very odd and out of place.  Of course, who could have a conversation at light speed with the Flash OTHER than Captain Atom, right?

#3 introduces two new bad guys, one being General Eiling, (who may or may not turn out to be a bad guy and simply remain a constant thorn Cappy Atom’s rear end) and a phantom scarecrow-looking monster that was only granted a one page introduction to show off his scary red eyes.  Why is it every superhero has to have a mortal enemy, and a supernatural enemy?  It always makes for great stories, but it seems every superhero has that villainous pattern.  Oh well, JT Krul is proving to be the right man for the job for Captain Atom, I’ll trust him with this for now.

JSA All-Stars really pissed me off in the beginning with the art.  Freddie Willaims was doing too much with every character, especially giving Power Girl the super human ability to have non-existent back problems.  But as the All-Stars continued towards the two year mark, the art became increasingly better.  Now in Captain Atom, there’s so much great artwork on every page that I can barely contain my excitement!  The character definition is amazing and the coloring job is perfect!  Thanks Williams and Villarrubia, this was fantastic work!

8 out of 10 stars

Nightwing #3 Review

Posted: November 19, 2011 in Comic Book Review, DC Comics, Eddy Barrows, Kyle Higgins, Nightwing
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Writer: Kyle Higgins
Pencils: Eddy Barrows & Eduardo Pansica
Inks: JP Mayer, Paulo Siqueira & Eber Ferreira
Colors: Rod Reis & Allen Passalaqua
Letters: Carlos M. Mangual
Cover: Barrows & Reis
Editors: Katie Kubert & Bobbie Chase

Nightwing created by Marv Wolfman & George Perez

Well, Dick Grayson is certainly gettin’ lucky with the women as of late; he and his old fling, Rayna, are definitely becoming reacquainted in more ways than one while reliving some romantic moments with Barbara Gordon in her own title, as well as acquiring the rights and ownership of the circus that raised him.  Despite his good fortune, however, Dick is certainly not free of the bittersweet feelings that are tagging along for the ride.

Mr. Haley was almost like a second father to Dick, one that he hasn’t seen in a long time.  If this weren’t post-reboot Nightwing, I might find this plot twist a little strange.  As it turns out, however, Higgins is taking full advantage of DC starting from scratch and forgetting Grayson’s history of venturing out on his own, becoming his own self-made superhero.  The funeral of Mr. Haley  marks the new beginning in Dick Grayson’s double life as the next Bruce Wayne…business man by day, superhero by night.  The difference is, with his ownership of the circus, he now has the perfect excuse to travel and extend his superhero territory, keeping watch over every major city the circus travels to. Fingers crossed that this will last and not become overly cumbersome.

I wonder how long it’s going to be until Higgins runs out of new surprises for Nightwing’s outfit to unveil?  Last month was a jolt of electricity…a nice little twist that the reviewers loved.  However, now the suit has the capability of inverting signals, such as the one that was bringing him to his knees to defeat Saiko on the rooftops of Gotham.  Granted, this was simply Grayson thinking on his feet and tweaking a bit of technology that we already knew was there, but there’s still that potential of a nasty trend to develop.  Let’s hope this is as far as it goes.

I did feel like the revelation of Saiko’s identity was lacking in excitement, even with that incredibly awesome flashback sequence into Dick’s past.  It must be my preconceived ideas about how this should have been revealed,but I’m sticking to my instincts on this one.  I wanted more of an “AH HA” moment rather than a lack luster “oh” moment.  But even with that, there’s still a lot of emotional baggage that drives this story forward and excites me for next month!

As always, Eddy Barrows can do no wrong.  The way the colors are textured and the characters being so well defined is a perfect display of talent and artistry.

More in 30 days….

8.5 out of 10 stars

Catwoman #3 Review

Posted: November 18, 2011 in Catwoman, Comic Book Review, DC Comics, Guillem March, Judd Winink
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Writer: Judd Winick
Artist: Guillem March
Colorist: Tomeu Morey
Letterer: Sal Cipriano
Editors: Rickey Purdin & Rachel Gluckstern 

Batman will most certainly be at front of the hits via internet reviews, with Catwoman tailing way behind…regretfully.  It seems people have gotten over the initial shock of issue #1 and moved on to the more “popular” hero of the DC Universe.  But for those of you who decided to drop Catwoman like a pan of hotcakes after issue #1, you’re definitely missing out one of the better titles in the DC Universe.

Now don’t mistake, this issue doesn’t have a lot of content; Catwoman is tapped down by bones, escapes her captures, (blowing out a few knees in the process) beats Bones over the head with a baseball bat, shares a passionate moment with Batman, (minus the sex) and then finds a crawl space to curl up in and cry over the loss of her friend.  it’s a fairly quick read but loaded with some of the most emotionally moving scenes I’ve seen in one comic.

Guillem March may receive  lot of criticism for the overly sexual way he draws his women, but one thing I don’t think anyone can deny is how masterful he is at giving each character life, both in body and face.  This is where the book shines and is a clear representation of the new Catwoman and how she values her friendships and loved ones…and will stop at nothing to avenge them.

SHEESH!! This is talent! Click To Enlarge

Yet there is a bitter sweet end to all of this too.  Catwoman admits (via inner monologue) that even though she was torn part by the loss of Lola, she is still willing to burn all of Lola’s work to save her own skin.  Selina feels terrible about it, but in order to continue living in the shadows, she must do all she can to conceal Lola’s involvement and her research.  Too bad the cops came in at the last minute with Catwoman over her best friend’s dead body huh?

Catwoman was driven by her kleptomania, which only got her in trouble with the gang and also led to the death of her friend.  Even beating Bones to a bloody pulp didn’t do much for her as she was still caught in an exceptionally incriminating position where she will now, undoubtedly, be wanted to murder. Everything’s simply going to Hell for Selena!  Is Judd Winick trying to say something?

Don’t hesitate, pick up this issue!  Even if you haven’t been following the series thus far, this issue stands on its own without any trouble.

10 out of 10 stars

Justice League #3 Review

Posted: November 17, 2011 in Comic Book Review, DC Comics, Geoff Johns, Jim Lee, Justice League Of America
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Writer: Geoff Johns
Penciller: Jim Lee 
Inker: Scott Williams
Colorists: Alex Sinclair w/ Hi-Fi & Gabe Eltaeb
Letterer: Pat Brosseau
Cover: Lee, Williams, Sinclair
Editors: Darren Shan & Brian Cunningham

Wonder Woman is a United States newbie, wandering around looking for trouble while at the same time displays her gentle, more loving side.  Victor Stone suffers some fatal 1st degree burns, (or is it 2nd degree?  I didn’t learn anything in fire training apparently) and in true Sith style, is saved by fusing his body with mechanical external and internal implants.  The League shows their experience in using their powers, while also showing their LACK of experience in working as a team.  And another sea bound rapscallion makes his debut on the pages of the Justice League, just itchin’ for a fight!

Oh, and Darkseid is pushing is onslaught forward too!  Just FYI…

This issue is pretty hefty!  The best so far me thinks.  This title is running under a flashback mentality, dating back five years ago.  Super heroes are a fairly new concept, and they just keep coming!  As no OFFICIAL League has been formed yet, the heroes are trying to stop the other-worldly baddies without any semblance of a plan.

Not only that, but we are given a sample of each hero’s advantage and disadvantage with their super powers.  Superman is stronger than any hero on the planet, but he’s certainly more of a bronze over brains kind of guy.  Flash needs to stop and think things through a little instead of doing as much as possible before he gets whacked unconscious. Green Lantern may wield the most powerful weapon in the universe, but like the old saying goes, “It’s not the size that counts, but how you use it!,” and Hal definitely needs to learn focus.  But, of course, Batman is…well, he’s Batman…I don’t dare attempt at correcting his behavior.

The introduction of Wonder Woman into the book was a fantastic integration, combined with honor, humor, and maintaining a sexy, intimidating persona.  Although, I wonder, is Wonder Woman going to be too distracting for the guys?  Certainly the Flash and Green Lantern had a moment of incompetence while oogling the woman in the silver, red and blue suit, slinging the sword around.  Even Superman seemed very taken by Wondy…in which case Diana reciprocated Superman’s “flirtatious” moment.  C’mon DC, give Supes and Wonder Woman some romance, PU IT IN THE PLAN!!!

Has anyone ever wondered why Wonder Woman never had multiple comic book series’s where Bats and Supes have HUNDREDS!?!?!  Johns and Lee seem to have made this BIG DEAL of Wonder Woman’s entrance, yet she constantly seems underrated within the DC ranks.  It’s very disappointing and sad to me.  However, it’s nice to see Johns giving Wondy a full spectrum of likes fans can dig into.  She is ready for battle, displaying her warrior ways, and also given some hilarious moments and bits of dialog; eating ice cream and asking everyone if they had seen a Harpy.  Clearly, the rebooted Wonder Woman is going to be a fine addition to the team.

With Aquaman now having entered into the picture on the last page, the only real hero introduction remaining is Cyborg’s.  I’ve never been a fan of Cyborg, but Johns has certainly been building up his back story with the greatest of ease…and I find myself very anxious to see how it all works out.  Was it a precognitive sense Cyborg inherited, or do the cybernetic implants somehow give Victor an ability to see into other dimensions?

Whatever the case may be, Darkseid is certainly coming in full throttle and without mercy…and the team couldn’t be LESS prepared.  Much like what Dwayne McDuffie and James Robinson tried to do with the League before the reboot, (and failed) Johns and Lee are bringing a team together and allowing them to grow as a unit.  There’ll be punches thrown, and obviously leadership issues, but this is going to turn into something truly great and memorable!

10 out of 10 stars.

Pixar’s “Brave” Trailer Is Here!!!

Posted: November 16, 2011 in Brave, Disney, Pixar
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I’m excited for Pixar’s Brave more than I am about any film coming out in the upcoming months.  Mostly because its unique to everything else Pixar has done.  A typical Pixar film humanizes the inanimate objects and/or the animal kingdom, with exception to the Incredibles.  Pixar is now taking on its second film that puts humans at the center stage in the mystical past of Scotland.

I think co-director Mark Andrews summed up what protagonist Princess Merida (voiced by Kelly MacDonald) is all about in the film best.   “Princess Merida isn’t your typical princess. She doesn’t wear nice clothes except in a couple of scenes when her strict mom, Queen Elinor, makes her do it for special functions. She’s an active and action-oriented person. She wants to get out in the outdoors of the Highlands, escaping from castle life and exploring the woods.”  

the summer of 2012 can’t come soon enough….

New Comics Day 11/16/2011

Posted: November 16, 2011 in New Comics Day, Wonder Woman, Wonder Woman Wednesday
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Pull List For This Week
Captain Atom #3
Catwoman #3
Green Lantern Corps #3
Justice League #3
Nightwing #3 

It’s new comics day and Wonder Woman is finally jumping on board with the League!  The League has been met with some fairly unbalanced reviews; either people love it, or hate it.  There aren’t that many who’ve been somewhere “in the middle.”  I’m one of those reviewers who’s fallen head over heals for the JLA reboot and I can’t wait to see how things begin to really COOK with Wonder Woman coming aboard.

My pull list is pretty full this week, apart from the Justice League, the titles I’m most excited about are Catwoman and Nightwing.  Catwoman’s up against a wall with people trying to take away another one of her nine lives, and Nightwing is facing a tempting decision of joining back up with his old life in the circus.

Quickly rising as one of my favorite titles is Captain Atom.  JT Krul and Freddie Williams are doing a splendid job creating a new and riveting story for the Captain, making him almost TOO powerful.  How this will affect Atom is yet to be seen, but it’ll certainly be a story worthy of reviewing!

The GL Corps has been less than exciting.  In fact, the entire Green Lantern side of the DCU is simply not as good as it could be.  If #3 doesn’t prove itself, I just might drop this title quicker than I have any other title.

But, like most Wednesdays, I find time to pay tribute to Wonder Woman with a fantastic piece of artwork.  Seriously, This is an epic piece that took my breath away the moment I saw it!  Please, if anyone knows if Penichet has a website with his artwork on it, please let me know so I can see what else he’s done!

By Penichet - Click To Enlarge

1944 Lord of the Rings, Staring Humphrey Bogart

Posted: November 16, 2011 in Uncategorized
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The 1944 release of Tolkien’s masterpiece, Lord of the Rings, has almost been totally lost!   Praise Allah that Youtube has preserved it in the cinematic archives. Enjoy!

Star Wars Episode 1 In 3D…Please, Someone Make It Stop!!!

Posted: November 14, 2011 in Star Wars
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So in case you didn’t know, Star Wars will be coming to theaters…AGAIN, but this time in 3D.  If you know me, you know that, more than likely, I won’t be going to see this new attempt by George Lucas to steal my money.

The problem with this is the post 3D conversion of Star Wars is…it just doesn’t work!  If you film a movie with only one lens instead of two initially, you can’t convert a film into 3D without getting that blurry, eye-bleeding effect.  There’s a lot that goes into making movies 3D, but if you don’t use the right technology to do that at first, you’re going to have one big mess of a movie.

But really, even if you COULD convert a film into 3D after the fact perfectly, do we REALLY need to to have that added third dimension in order for you to whip out your wallet for a ticket?  More importantly, Is Jar Jar Binks worth the price of admission…especially when he’s going to be popping out at you in an annoying frenzy?

Trust me, I LOVE Star Wars!  I was first at the ticket booth when the original films, episode 4,5, and 6 were brought back to theaters almost a decade ago as a way of exciting fans for the release of episodes 1,2,and 3.  But what I have at home on DVD (because I DID NOT buy the Blu-Ray releases) is enough to satisfy my Star Wars needs.

So, if you’re one of those people that’s going to see Star Wars in 3D, (I’m not judging you if you do) then mark your calendars for February 10th, dust of your Vador or bounty hunter helmet and get ready for the eye popping action!

Batman & Robin #3 Review

Posted: November 14, 2011 in Batman & Robin, Comic Book Review, DC Comics, Pat Brosseau, Patrick Gleeson, Peter J. Tomasi
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Written By: Peter J. Tomasi
Penciled By: Patrick Gleason
Inked By: Mick Gray
Colored By: John Kalisz
Lettered By: Pat Brosseau
Cover By:  Gleason, Gray, & Kalisz
Edited By: Mike Marts
Assistant Editor: Katie Kubert
Associate Editor: Harvey Richards

Batman created by Bob Kane 

One thing is certainly true, Damian Wayne is one of the more ruthless Robins in history!  He’s a freaking ten year old boy who has more emotional distress, anger, and natural fighting abilities than most people have in their pinky finger!  Damian is dealing with a lot of issues involving his dad, Alfred, and everyone else he’s surrounded by.  Even though he may be tough as nails, however, he still annoys the crap out of me.  But this title has left me with a dilemma, which  is simply this….the story is freaking  amazing.  Ugh!!!!

I work with students every day, especially those labeled with behavior disorders.  BD students are typically placed in this category due to bad adult relationships, growing up with the inability to talk and act appropriately.  In Damian’s case, I think he qualifies as a behavior disorder child.  Not only is he one big giant walking hot head, but he also has trouble with the fact that Bruce Wayne’s fatherly instincts are severely lacking.

But that’s certainly the point isn’t it?  Bruce Wayne has to learn, once again, how to be a father.  The only difference here is…Damian is his ACTUAL son.  Bruce is  not a surrogate father to another orphan.  It’s obvious Batman cares for his son as he continually tries to keep Damian out of the heat of battle and safe at home, in doors.  But this is no different from how Batman cares for the rest of Gotham city; he doesn’t want anyone harmed.  However, the challenge for Bruce is to find a way to reach Damian on that special level that a father strives for.  What better way than by allowing Damian to name the dog???  Bruce definitely has a lot to learn yet, and I suspect the bond the father and son will develop will spawn from this fight against Morgan.

I felt a little irked by the ending.  It wasn’t bad by any means, I simply wanted to know what the heck Morgan was having the dynamic duo watch!  There couldn’t have been a glimpse of what’s to come?  A vision of what’s to come in the future which is to be their doom?  Oh Tomasi, you certainly know how to leave me wanting more.  Applause to you!

Patrick Gleason does he’s usual quality work; the dark alley way where Robin takes out the thug, the moments where Batman leaves Damian back at the Batcave, and the horrifically Hitchcockian moment where we leave Batman and Robin in the car out in the middle of the field, all incredibly tense and gothic scenes that the team of Gleason and Gray are masters of.

Be warned, dear reader, if you d not start following this series before it’s too late, you may regret it forever.

10 out of 10 stars

Justice League: Doom Movie Trailer

Posted: November 14, 2011 in Uncategorized
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Ok, so the animation looks to be a bit not-so-good, but I’m only comparing it to the AWESOME animated movies DC’s done in the last few years.  But the trailer makes the film out to be pretty darn epic.  I’m excited for it, are you?

Batwoman #3 Review

Posted: November 13, 2011 in Batwoman, Comic Book Review, Dave Stewart, DC Comics, J.H. Williams
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Written By: J.H. Williams III & W. Haden Blackman
Colored By: Dave Stewart
Lettered By: Todd Klein
Editor: Michael Marts
Assistant Editor: Rickey Purdin
Associate Editor: Harvey Richards 

Ok, so if you know me, you know that I have a bias towards the dark and more depressing comics…It’s how my mom raised me!  What attracts me to the Bat-world of DC Comics is just how depressing and dark almost every story is!   Kate Kane is an interesting character because of her pale skin and emo life style.  Batwoman has clearly established itself as a dark and mystical suspense story that can be equated as one big meth trip down F’d up lane…and I love every bit of it.

The first seven pages contain very little dialog and mostly gorgeous artwork that represents a symbolic imagery of Kate Kane’s different manifestations throughout her history in the DCU.  Williams is known for how he stretches his panels across pages in interesting and beautiful ways, but I think people sometimes miss just how smart he is about making his artistic interpretations appropriate for the story.  The imagery of Batwoman fighting against the weeping woman, floating in a tumultuous state of anxiety, allows the readers the option of determining what is real and what’s in Kate’s mind.  It’s an emotional roller coaster ride, and it’s all in the first seven pages!

I remember DC building up the Weeping Woman almost a YEAR before the reboot, and I began to wonder when the heck everything was going to be revealed…and we STILL don’t have any idea who this weeping woman is!  However, we’re given a slight clue as to who or WHAT the weeping woman might be.  She could either be connected to Kate Kane herself, or simply have a bit of unfinished business that Kate will undoubtedly resolve by the arc’s end. And knowing William’s story telling style, the end result will be worth the wait!

But if you thought that was enough to get your muscles tense up for a few days, get ready because it doesn’t stop there!  Kate’s cousin, Bette, shows her defiance towards her in going out in costume against her wishes.  Stepping down as her trainer, Kate came to terms with the danger of the situation and the emotional impact the weeping woman had on her and decided Bette is better left out of harms way.  Watch out Batwoman, your cousin is not as easily controlled as you might hope!

Of course, the book isn’t without it’s lighthearted, loving situations.  Kate and her girlfriend share a wonderful moment, juxtaposed with the bright colors in contrast with the dark and murky visuals from the previous pages.  There’s enough bright moments that keep this book from feeling too depressing for the readers.

More to come in 30 days!

10 out of 10 stars 

Snow White And The Hunstman…God Help Me

Posted: November 12, 2011 in Movie News, Movie Trailers
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Catherine Hardwicke’s Red Riding Hood didn’t belong in theaters, what makes Rupert Sanders think Snow White and the Huntsman does?

Of course, it doesn’t help that actress Kristen Stewart, who claimed her fame from the success of the Twilight series is in it.  Was it her acting abilities that got her the part of Snow White, or her pretty face?

The only redeeming part of this film will be Charlize Theron and Chris Hemsworth, but even their thematic expertise won’t save this cinematic farce.  Excuse me while I await the release of the Muppet movie coming out November 23rd.  Come on Oscar season, bring us some movies to look forward too!

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