the Alice in Wonderland theme is broadening without connecting very well; now enters the mad hatter and his dim witted tweedle deedum henchmen, yet the lingerie bearing white rabbit is no where to be seen.
Gotham is playing a part in the Hatter’s mad scheme, becoming a character in the story itself, and Commissioner Gordon’s sanity is under construction. It’s an examination of Gotham City and how it affects its citizens – a somewhat thought provoking issue from a title that doesn’t require a lot of brain power.
Don’t worry, the story opens up with the aftermath of a major blood bath in a Gotham City subway car. They needed the mindless violence to seep in there somehow right? But this massively violent event washed in red has a much more psychologically terrifying component. These people, laying in their own blood and innards, weren’t murdered…they committed suicide.
I’m reminded of the M. Night Shyamalan film, the Happening, while reading this issue. There’s a different motive behind the self mutilation, sure, but the compelled reasoning for killing oneself is still there. It’s a terrifying idea and plot device, and something this title needed badly!
There’s probably a subliminal message Joe Harris is trying to send out. The Mad Hatter is obviously the culprit behind the random acts of self mutilation, but I suspect there is also some sort of sociological commentary about Gotham City itself. Batman’s always been one to talk highly of the city, as if he were honored to be it’s protector, but no one’s ever taken the chance to examine the city as a destructive force in and of itself.
The only two consistently strong forces protecting this city, succumbing to its evil and manipulative ways seldomly, are Commissioner Gordon and Batman. The Commish undergoes a challenge presented by Lieutenant Forbes and is forced to undergo psychiatric reevaluation. But Gordon isn’t fazed by this move on the Lieutenant’s part and shoves it all back in his face with an eloquent bit of public oratory that showed the confidence of a dozen men.
Ed Benes makes a return to the comic book world, giving nothing but his best. Colorist, Jeromy Cox, doesn’t do Benes justice, but it’s still a sight to see. The Mad Hatter looked a bit too mutated and other-wordly, but he was definitely demented looking as can be.
It’s a good issue with only a few minor faults. It’s still the “muscle” book as opposed to the “brain” book, but it’s as purposeful as should be.
The best part about being a comic book nerd on Facebook is being friends with numerous people I’ve never met who have access, and know, great artists. I enjoy all forms of art, but the kind that appeals to me the most is that of clean lines and incredible detail. Carlos Valenzuela goes beyond that, diving into the retro and campy vintage style pin-ups and horror/sci-fi movie posters.You can think the old horror films are a little too “cheap” for your tastes, but I’ll always love them!
This might just be one of my favorite pieces by him
There’s quite a bit of nostalgia coursing through the veins of all his pieces, especially in his black and white works of art; capturing the very essence and meaning of the old sci-fi and horror films while presenting it with a much cleaner and more pristine style. I actually never thought the campy, horror films from before I was born could look gorgeous…I have been officially proven wrong!
If you’ll notice (for those of you who frequent my blog) my header has been changed to a classic movie monsters motif. Thanks to the amazing art of Valenzuela, my blog page looks that much better!
This is the BEST rendition of Jessica Rabbit I've ever seen!
But his genre interests vary, from old school horror, to comic book super heroes. He dives into color as well as black and white, but also has the ability to CHANGE his style. If I didn’t have his deviant art page to help me know that everything there was his, I would have trouble picking out his work a lot of the time.
I’m a huge fan of his Marvel and DC Comics commissions, but as far as the comic book genre is concerned, I think his World War II era renditions are my favorite. This is an artist who KNOWS how to research, making his period pieces THAT much more enjoyable.
"Every bond you buy is a bullet in the barrel of your best man's gun"
Of course, the way he portrays women are nothing more than things to look at, but I’m not going to delve into that and dwell on it. You take from the art what you want. For me, this is PURE artistry that gets me excited to do sketches similar to this.
If you like what you see, visit Valenzuela’s Deviant Art pageto see more. If you don’t like what you see…you’re wrong!
It's amazing how such a minor character, who had very little influence on the initial Star Wars story, became such an icon.
Six years ago the news media was all about the King of Atlantis. Is he the real deal? How does he breath under water? Is he truly Atlantean Royalty? And who in their right mind gave him that Zack Morris hair do? Eight issues ago we were shown an Aquaman that that very few people cared about or even knew existed. How quickly people forget about their heroes in six years.
But I guess he did run off into the sea, shirt ripped and pectorals bulging, joining a band of vigilante pro-activists who were fighting for…uh…something. But what he do in that one year? That’s the real question. Sure, he was causing some mayhem during his “fight the power” faze, but why did he leave? And how will this impact his life as Earth’s mightiest H2O tolerant, blonde haired heart throb? The past returns to haunt yet again!
And Arthur’s past certainly isn’t getting along well with his present. Ya’wara and Mera partake in a humorous exchange of implied sizing each other up! Leaving Arthur stuck in the middle, finger up his nose, dumb found, and uncertain of what to do. But don’t worry, before he leaves to go on his nostalgic man hunt, Aquaman puts his hand out towards Mera with a heart felt, “I love you.”
More mysteries build up in this issue – the relationship between Aquaman and the Doctor becomes a little more sympathetic, and Black Manta continues to slither around like a water moccasin, killing everyone from Aquaman’s past. No thanks to Arthur’s Aqua Teen Hunger Force, armed with ancient Atlantean weaponry. From six years in the past, this team boosted events to what they are now. This was certainly a band of heroes who could have challenged the Justice League to a stand still!
There was a lot of really cool paneling and architectural work done on the layout of this issue. Not really different from anything else I’ve seen, but very appealing and nice to look at. While I understood what happened in the flashback sequence, however, I couldn’t help but remember the old Looney Tunes shorts where, when calling any man to step forward and fight, comrades took a step backward, leaving the protagonist without a choice…
C'mon guys, we can take 'em...uh, guys...where'd ya go?....oh crap, not again!...um, nice evil doer...
I understand what was going on, don’t worry, (especially since I took it out of context) but there is a certain level of humor in this, wouldn’t you agree?
In all seriousness, however, Reis takes everything he does very seriously; bringing all of his talents to the table, delivering the best work possible from any comic book artist. While Arthur maintained his green and gold motif from six years ago, he was a lot more savage, young looking (giving a hint of Edward Cullen) and obviously mad at the world. This is an artist I can trust to be completely honest on every page.
Aquaman continues to be a book I don’t hesitate to read. Many of the titles I pick up have me wondering if I’ll enjoy it month after month. There are only a few I don’t worry about at all…and Aquaman is among that elite group of titles for me.
Don’t believe the DC Comics plot synopsis! This issue isn’t about John Stewart, although his part in the story is important and will most definitely catapult into next month’s will-powered, Corps installment. But this month DC puts an emerald spotlight on the hothead of hotheads, Guy Gardner.
Due to this, #8 doesn’t hold a lot of meat on its bones – simply providing us with an initial bitching tantrum that Guy always seems to start up, followed closely by an ego ballooning moment where the Guardians tell Guy he was actually right about something. So instead of facing a reprimand, he’s awarded a new position created just for him, making him first in command after the Guardians. Of course, as always, something isn’t quite right with the Guardians thought process. There’s a certain amount of deception in their motives. To be honest…I want the Guardians outta here!
Before I got back into comics after my five here Hiatus in 2006, I was an avid follower of the Justice League: International. Superman was a part of the team, and Tora, our frosty white-haired cutey, had the biggest crush on him. Which, in turn, made Guy a little hot under the gills…and that annoyed me. I didn’t have a lot of respect for the character; he was constantly mouthing off and allowing his mood swings to dictate his actions. That works for some characters, but with Guy, it was a little too frequent for my tastes.
For the last seven years, however, guy has made some significant strides! (Or maybe I’ve just gotten older and understand how stories work a lot better.) I love the honor guard more and more as time goes on, and now he’s been given a chance to shine as the Corps’ highest ranking officer. After constant reprimand after reprimand, Guy is found to be an exceptionally vital asset to the Corps and the Guardians have rewarded that. This is, no doubt, a thrill for Guy and is a nice change of pace for me.
Super nice!
Exceptionally nice!
Ultra nice!
So nice that I’m wondering if it’s too good to be true? He did just defy a direct order and broke rank with the disposal of the Yellow Lantern power battery. Not to mention tipping it over on its side needlessly and acting like everyone else was at fault. I’ll be honest, it’s a nice turn of events that I’m intrigued to see how it turns out.
The Green Lantern titles have always paid special attention to the colors and lighting, especially since Blackest Night! Gabe Eltaeb shows the different shades of green in a perfect amalgamation of color. Likewise, Gardner’s happy face after fully accepting that his promotion wasn’t a joke boosts Fernando up on the penciler’s pedestal.
The Corps just keeps getting better; there’s more concentration on creating a coherent plot amongst the multiple side plots as well as giving characters bigger spotlights and character developing moments. The GL Corps title is turning out to be the best one yet!
Well this is an awkward situation. Who cares though right?
Don’t deny it, there’s a certain appeal to things that are no longer main stream or popular. The rarity of anything no longer being mass produced or pumped out on a regular basis somehow creates a cult following, or at least a desire to have something reminiscent of the past.
In the invisible jet...Looks cozy!
Stephanie Buscema is one such person who’s been keeping the 60′s visual arts alive and kicking! Did you grow up watching the Jetsons or the Flintstones? Well, her art might call out to your nostalgic senses. From the look of things, Buscema seems to enjoy the “direct to paper” application rather than digitally mastered penciling and painting. I can definitely relate to this as I get more out of holding a pencil gliding along on paper in real time than going straight on to the computer. As an old school artist, I’m certain Buscema prefers that classic way of doing things.
Scary, yet spectacular!
You’ll probably recognize her work as being inspired by vintage TV shows like the opening sequence from Bewitched, the Jetsons, and many others from the Hanna-Barbera days of animation. From the bio on her website, it looks as if she’s continually creating work everyday and getting paid for it. I’m certainly glad for it too! It’s rare to see this type of style still being honored and visualized by such a talented artist. Thanks Stephanie, you are amazing!
Below were some of my favorites pieces I found on her website, but everything she does is amazing! Go to her website and enjoy it all!
Death, one of Neil Gaiman's greatest creations...and this doesn't step outside her character either!!
Wonder Woman will always be my crush
I had forgotten about the Rockateer...this is perfect!
Or maybe it’s lust, I can’t really tell at this point. Catwoman gets so hung up on the thrill of the moment that it’s hard to know when she’s compensating for her REAL emotions and when she’s being truly genuine.
Bats is definitely on hiatus from pursuing anything with Catwoman, but new partner in crime, (literally) Spark, (again, literally) so far, seems to have an interest in Catwoman that stems beyond thievery and hijinxs. Whether that’s a good or bad omen has yet to be seen. He seems to be a nice enough guy though, saving people before they’re blown to bits. Hero, villain, or just plain thief with a kind heart. (Oh man, I think I have a crush!)
There simply isn’t a lot to go on right now to make an honest judgement of Spark. Welcome to the mind of Selena Kyle, blindly trusting anyone who makes her purr with ecstasy. But I guess that’s the theme of this issue, the unknown. In addition to the mystery of Spark, we’ve also been introduced to a new hooded villain who prowls the night streets, looking for prostitutes, and killing them…or at least that’s what we’re to assume. And the Court of Owls is invading this titles as well, targeting Oswald Cobblepot! So much is unknown.
Artistically I’m still missing Guillem March, but I still love Adriana Melo. There’s a certain amount of playfulness she puts into our lovely feline kleptomaniac, giving her a equal balance of flirt, sex appeal, and girlish attitude, juxtaposed with her athleticism, womanly charm, and fervor…
aaawwwww, She's so cute!
The only real complaint I have about the art is how loose it feels, but that’s simply my personal taste and doesn’t speak towards the actual quality of Melo’s art. I’m thankful March is still doing the covers, however; his work is gorgeous and exciting. (If I ever see him at a convention, I’m totally going to ask him to do a commission for me!)
Winick is certainly serving Catwoman well by making this more than just about the sex appeal. With a new heist partner (because he’s definitely not a mere sidekick) and a brainy counterpart, there’s a real purpose and focus that’s driving this title forward, attempting to give Catwoman an interesting and vibrant supporting cast. The Court of Owls inclusion doesn’t seem to weigh the story down either.
However, with all that being said, this issue doesn’t go above and beyond; never providing any jaw dropping moments or deep, meaningful bits of oratory worthy of an Oscar nomination. (Because comic books can be nominated for an Oscar? Nice thinking Jimmy :S) This is nothing more than a fun installment of Catwoman filled with stealing, sex appeal, action, and fun. You’ll enjoy this issue if that’s your thing!
More to come in 30! (Well, I guess it’s less than 30 days by this time, but you get my meaning right?)
How many times can we recall Oliver Queen having a GOOD story written for him? If you think about it, I mean REALLY think about it, the answer would be zero. Green Arrow has so much potential as a Superhero but DC’s never provided him with a script worthy of his his character.
I can honestly tell you that Justice League #8 does absolutely nothing for Green Arrow’s popularity in the slightest. There’s too much of a resemblance to the Smallville depiction of Queen and feels more like an unlikable comic relief that reader’s don’t laugh at.
Granted, there is some potential in developing the Emerald Archer in a more positive way, so maybe this issue was simply a way of getting all the bad characteristics out to make way for the his more enjoyable side. But it still doesn’t change the fact that this issue’s a snoozer, acting more as a slap stick comedy sketch or a Merry Melodies animated short where the character keeps on coming back regardless of what hits him. Watch out Wile E. Coyote, you may have some competition in persistence!
Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE the classic slap stick from before I was born, but Justice League has never been marketed as such. For me, that makes it difficult to swallow. But on the bright side, Geoff Johns is truly making the League a central driving force with the New DCU. This is a League that really doesn’t like each other, yet somehow has the ability to work together. A true enigma if I ever saw one.
Plus, I’m enjoying Wonder Woman’s sword slinging. Women and swords, it just feels so right! There was also a nostalgic shout out to the Meltzer days of the Justice League where the team was formed in the heat of battle against Amazo. DC hasn’t forgotten about the quality stories that gave life to the League, and it’s nice to see how well they’re incorporating the old and new continuity building parts of the universe. Martian Manhunter as a League enemy? This is going to be SUPER exciting. (Hopefully MM will fill in for Cyborg when DC realizes he’s just not League material!)
Due to the focus on Green Arrow, the issue is lacking in entertainment. Thankfully, Johns is able to lighten the mood with a Shazam secondary story that’s as fun as it is epic. It’s always a joy to see an 11 page story have as much depth and character in it as a regular 32 page comic. And give props to Gary Frank for continually bringing his top game to the pages of everything he does!
I enjoyed the art in this book, as well as the Shazam story and a few little things within the main JL storyline. However, I wasn’t able to keep my eyes open long enough to finish the issue in one sitting…and that’s saying something for me! Because of that I simply can’t give #8 a very high rating. Sorry boys and girls, #8 just didn’t cut it.
So forget about the fact that Batman is naked, and Robin’s giving Bats a good ol’ pat on the rear end, just give your best comic book pal a high five and enjoy the rest of your day. Besides, Free Comic Book Day is just around the corner!!
Talk about a never ending onslaught! Batman #8 delivers a batch of man-owls right to the door step of Wayne manner. The Court of Owls has every intention of bringing down Bruce Wayne by any means neccesary! Of course, having been scientifically proven to out “Ninja” Churck Norris himself, Batman has the scones to take out even the most cunning of the Court. If only it weren’t for the horde of assassins piling through in that classic, Indiana Jones never-ending style of a thrill ride. This issue is an action packed that won’t give you much time to breath.
Of course, the entire arc has been exciting to say the least, and that’s an interesting notion seeing as how the last few issues have been nothing more than a series of banters between hero and villain. The depth of the story came through, not with the dialog, but with the psychological component attached to the script. #8 almost goes down this same path, but Snyder adds a bit of freshness to it – Bruce Wayne is so fed up with the Talons and their high school bully jargon that he either finishes their phrases for them, or merely kicks their face in faster than they can talk.
No doubt, this is a Bruce Wayne willing to go that extra mile to save himself and others. Don’t pin Mr. Wayne in a corner or he might just snap your arm, or simply evade you with the numerous trap doors hidden throughout the Manor. Resourcefulness is one of Batman’s strong suits! I think the Court bite off a little more than they could chew. Batman’s still going to have a rough time, but not before the Court loses a few jugulars in the process.
The Court of Owls is a fleet of Nemesi that should stick around for a long time, becoming a regular part of the Batman repertoire of villains. They are, without a doubt as terrifying as can be; no one knew about them yet they are THE strongest force within the city of Gotham, more than likely giving the Joker a major evilgasm.
Greg Capullo opens the book up in a flawlessly symbolic way. Bruce tags himself as a fool for never having known about the court, and being in the shadows awoken by the holographic light alludes to everything that’s transpired in one big nut shell. And Greg Capullo’s attention to detail, both visually and literally, are spot on perfect.
While I still firmly believe Batman will prevail, winning this fight against the Court, this arc has certainly put a new perspective on his infallibility. So long have we been under the assumption that Batman knows all the inner workings of every major crime syndicate in the history of the world, and now we are faced with the realization, and a threat that even perplexes Batman, almost causing him to loose his mind. I know some people are getting tired of the Court of Owls, but I say bring them back often, they are definitely a team built on annoymity that I will always enjoy reading about.
Writer: Peter J. Tomasi Penciller: Patrick Gleason Inker: Mick Gray Colorists: John Kalisz & Guy Major Letterer: Pat Brosseau Cover: Gleason, Gray & Kalisz Assistant Editor: Katie Kubert Associate Editor: Harvey Richards Editor: Mike Marts
Batman created by Bob Kane
After a long and brutal battle with Nobody, Batman and Robin are now given a time to rest and contemplate on their relationship that has been nothing but broken and twisted even before the reboot. Bruce shows his concern as a father, putting himself before his son, Damian pours his bratty little heart out before Bruce, and Alfred gets a chance to demonstrate why he’s more than just a butler
Damian has been growing on me as Robin, Tomasi has certainly been treating the new Boy Wonder correctly. Despite my still running dislike for Damian, however, there’s no denying how much of a bad ass he really is! Gleason does a superb job at giving real depth to Nobody’s punctured skull, as if Damian’s two fingers were driven into a tempurpedic mattress. But this issue gives real depth to Damian’s character, which was virtually non existent before; he isn’t just some brat with a vendetta against his father, but rather a normal middle schooler who has no idea how to handle life and naturally defaults to a defiant behavior because of it. But now we have a better understanding what Damian’s going through and I can only see great things coming out of this.
On a lighter note, did anyone else feel like this was an issue driven by double negatives? In turn, giving room for future arcs to arise?…
Later Bruce states that Nobody died, certainly leaving room for a return of the said villain. But how is that possible when he IS, undeniably, dead. if you’re one of those individuals that was picked up by the relaunch, just run with it, this is the life of comics.
My favorite part of this entire issue was the new character developing moments of Alfred. Who knew he had a background in medicine and a technological intelligence that can save the lives of his two masters? Not only does his education stem beyond that of buttlering, but he also has a way of commanding respect out of Bruce that has never been seen to this degree. Even in the face of death, Alfred is able to maintain his composure where Bruce is on the verge of loosing his mind. Alfred is, no doubt, is going to remain the constant sanity within the world of Batman.
It took eight issues, but it’s eight issues well worth it. Tomasi has set the tone of the dynamic duo, giving them life and a new purpose as a team. Maybe they’ll start working together and not always bickering at each other. Working with a family member can be difficult, but with the heart felt conversations filled with tears and hugs, Batman and Robin might just be ready to start a new.
Happy Friday the 13th everyone! Be safe, and don’t cross the path of any black cats! Unless you like black cats…and being murdered. Watch a Friday the 13th movie today as well, it’ll keep you on your toes…and in the arms of a gorgeous, scared female right? Unless she’s like my wife and doesn’t fall for that kind of trickery. OH! And watch out for those ladders!
No doubt, this is what I’ll be using when the time comes. Too much? Of course not! May the force be with you all, til death do you part…in which case you become apart of the force!
Release Date: February 3, 2012 Studio: 20th Century Fox Director: Joshua Trank Screenwriter: Max Landis, Joshua Trank Starring: Dane DeHaan, Michael B. Jordan, Alex Russell, Michael Kelly Genre: Drama, Sci-Fi MPAA Rating: PG-13 (for intense action and violence, thematic material, some language, sexual content and teen drinking) Official Website:Facebook
I think Max Landis and Joshua Trank missed the mark with Uncle Ben’s famous phrase, “with great power comes great responsibility.” There’s certainly an interesting premise lying with “Chronicle,” but a poorly written script and terribly edited segments made for a failed attempt at what could have been a great film.
Thanks to the efforts of director M. Night Shyamalan, who helped to deconstruct the superhero genre, and Christopher Nolan who turned into an art form worthy of recognition, the superhero/comic book movie is a much more widely accepted and enjoyed piece of cinema that has taken American theaters by storm summer after summer. But the question which has been on everyone’s minds as of late is this…When will the comic book movie faze end? My answer…if Chronicle is an example of what’s to come, I suspect the end is nigh!
The film attempts to address the old question of “what if?” What IF I had super powers? Three high schools students make an amazing discovery on the outskirts of a senior party that changes there lives; Andrew Detmer, (Dane DeHaan) a skinny freshman who always seems to be the butt of every bullies joke, Matt Garrety, (Alex Russell) Andrew’s cousin and only silver lining in life, and Stephen Montgomery, (Michael B. Jordan) a young man living high on his popularity but always embracing the new and exciting.
With Andrew using his camera to document his life, he and his comrades dive down into a strange underground cave where they find a gigantic, Kryptonian styled device leaking radiation which gives this testosterone driven trifecta unimaginable powers of telekinesis, flight, strength, and more. As the three slowly develop and experiment with their new gifts, they in turn discover new things about themselves which raises question about their conduct and relationship with the rest of the world. But rules are not always going to keep someone’s dark side at bay.
As I’m sure you can tell from my introductory paragraph, Chronicle was nothing more to me than a film written by a young, energetic screen play writer who tried a little too hard to be inspirational and clever. Instead of Chronicle being this thought provoking and culturally analytical film that hoped to be some form of sociological commentary, the result is a much more convoluted and irritating script that gives its audience very little to be desired.
But don’t worry, you’ll be happy to know that the camera, no matter who’s holding it, will be getting everything on film despite the fact that he or she is falling at enormous velocity, not dropping the camera for an instant. Truly, these are some dedicated bloggers who have the drive of Lois Lane or Peter Parker.
The characters themselves were a confusing bunch, with no purpose other than being typical boys excited about having gifts no one in the world has. This idea is great in concept, but the execution is flawed and lacking. The emotional attachment for an audience is virtually nonexistent, with exception of Andrew and his physically abusive father. But even then, there’s never any real purpose behind the whole ordeal, and neither the dad or Andrew ever learn anything from their experiences.
Likewise, the film was constantly hopping from character to character, trying to determine who its protagonist was. Established early on in the film, Andrew’s camera played the part of the first person narrative until it jumped to third person, then back to first, and so on and so forth. Clearly, it was Andrew who was meant to be the focus of the story as he’s the one most impacted by everything happening around him. But intertwined with that are three to four separate story lines involving the other characters that tried to be just as important to the film, but ended up being more than the script could handle. As a result, not even a drop of closure in any of the film’s side stories, much less the main one, can been seen or heard.
The only part of the film that truly makes any sense is in the death of Andrew’s mother as it’s the only tangible thing we, as an audience can grab onto, keeping our minds from exploding over the random incoherent jargon radiating off of the screen. Even Stephen’s death within the lighting storm served very little purpose in Andrew’s inability to cope with his life. One thing led to another, and ultimately we come to a climactic final battle between two cousins that never delivered any sense of a moralistic storyline. It was nothing but chaos with no lessons learned.
Again, the blurred sense of protagonist and antagonist doesn’t help the film’s purpose, but even more so, the lack of an actual plot gives new meaning to the phrase “worthless film making.” The Blair Witch Project was not a good source to base the film’s visual side on, even though the physiological barrier of a video camera filming the entire story is intriguing in theory. There seemed to be more of an effort of having the characters, through their dialog, explaining to the audience why the first person video camera was important rather than simply going along with their life as is. I guess making a film for the sake of teen angst and drama is more important than producing a quality script and movie. Twilight is a prime example of that.
Now I completely understand that, if this were to REALLY happen, that if some high school boys actually did suddenly find themselves with powers, they would be so high on life that there only concern would be to get laid, showoff, and cause trouble. But within the context of a fictional story, bolstering itself to be life changing, thought provoking, and overly analytical, there needs to be some moral center which grounds the characters into a tangible and coherent storyline. Nothing like that exists here, and as an audience member, you’ll be left feeling uncertain of the film’s intentions and motivation.
While others may say they got it and understand Chronicle’s premise and intent, there really is NOTHING for you to hold onto. It’s a film unworthy of the time and money put into it, much less the hype that was pouring out from pre-release conversations. Be warned, movie goer, you may actually walk out of this movie dumber than you were walking in.
“I am the Apex Predator”….and no Niche? Come on now!
P.S. I think you all should know my disdain for Max Landis. I wonder if he’s ever truly understood a Superman story to begin with? Clearly his understanding of what makes good comics and comic book movies has seeped into Chronicle, and it really isn’t all that impressive.
It’s difficult to place this issue; while it’s definitely continuing where we left off last month, #8 seems to go into places that are somewhat strange and confusing. Clearly there is a story brewing here, but I feel as if this issue was more of a distraction until next month’s Batfamily event, Night of the owls.
The story pits us in the center of a plot that seems all to familiar an Nolanized. There’s some definite and undeniable similarities between Batman Begins and this issue, maybe a way bridge the DC continuity with the cinematic storyline. However this go ’round, someone swiped Scarecrow’s fear toxin and made plans to seep it into a mass produced anonymity to be distributed to the public. Catwoman definitely fell victim to this enigma which catapulted Batman into search and detect mode, with a little bit of agnst.
The mystery of the Joker’s scrapped off face has been set on the back burner until it becomes neccesary resurface it. The Scarecrow seems to be just as perplexed about the whole ordeal despite the fact that he leads Batman on as if it’s all part of the plan. However, an interesting development with the family of Strange occurred that threw Batman for a loop! (The Riddler is probably having kittens!) I wonder if Hugo will be kicking the bucket soon, giving Eli a chance to take up his father’s mantle. It did seem fairly clear that Eli is begging for his father’s acceptance, despite Hugo’s obvious disdain for his son’s performance. My opinion? Eli is going to be as annoying of an addition that Damian has become.
all positive potential aside, there really was no purpose with this issue other than to file away another mystery that DC can expand on when they’re in desperate need for one down the road. I wasn’t exactly sure why everything transpired the way they did nor do I comprehend the Scarecrow’s importance in the story and how it is justified. I guess Detective Comics needed to hit the bump in the road at some point.
With all it’s intent and purposes, which are very noble to say the least, Detective #8 fails to do what I’m sure it set out to do. There’s still some enjoyment to take from it, with the already mentioned interested developments and potential within certain things that happened, but also with Tony Daniel and Sandu Florea’s artwork. The Scarecrow is as terrifying as I can remember him being, if not more, and makes the overall experience of the issue much more enjoyable.
More to come next month, I’m sure. Night of the Owls is on it’s way and it’s going to boost Detective Comics up in popularity, no doubt.
Oh Lois, you’re so clever! Not only did coin Kal-El’s super powered alter-ego, you also gave birth to the Collector of World’s name as well. Perry White would be proud!
Superman goes tooth and…uh… tentacle in this final battle for the safety of Earth. But the Collector of Worlds decides to give Supes a challenge – choose to reenter Metropolis within the bottle, or save the bottled city of Kandor. Which will he choose? The answer won’t surprise you.
Grant Morrison, while not my favorite writer (as you all WELL know) has been treating Action Comics so well that it’s becoming one of my more anticipated monthly titles! He’s found a way of reintroducing many of the themes that made Superman who he is, but giving each theme a fresh twist. No doubt, Morrison puts more ideas and concepts of every page of his stories than any other writer in the field.
However, as awesome as Action has been these last seven months, #8 proves that Morrison can’t get away from making his arcs confusing. I understand what happened in the fight, but where did those darn Crystals go? Morrison did attempt to explain through the voices of the characters, but the explanation became lost in a plot progression filled with unfathomable jargon.
More shockingly was the visual presentation by Rags Morales. Forget 3D, Rags makes it look as if Superman is coming straight off the page…
It's a bird, it's a plane, it's a .....HOLY SHIT!!!!
I typically love Morales’s art, but this was a little TOO jolting. But as scary as it is, there’s also a certain amount beauty to it as well – personifying a young superhero who’s enjoying his first major victory over his first foe; The details of his costume, facial structure, and background, both in penciling and color give life to this battles end, culminated in one fantastic page!
The best parts of this issue lie within the book’s closing; the chat Clark has with Mr. Taylor, with his landlady who asks him a question of identity, and his humbling moment in front of the people of Metropolis while accepting the key to the city. Lois’s question, however, was quite an interesting one, making way for Superman’s inevitable Fortress of Solitude. Looks like there’ll no longer be a cave of ice, but rather a space dwelling domicile powered by the Brainiac computer.
I’m still confused as to how things transpired the way they did, but there’s enough good in this issue where I need not dwell on those trivial things. Here’s to another powerful story arc for Action Comics, cheers!
So if you are in the elite group of cool people that’s read the book’s and seen the films, you know about the books incredible influence beyond a simple peripheral awareness. Within the entire series comes a plethora of spells and potions, all of which, and don’t deny it, have raised the question, “Would I use that?”
Ethical behavior is one of J.K. Rowling’s most consistent themes in each book, occurring multiple times throughout. No doubt, the use of each potion and spell makes us consider our own choices in life. Were given the opportunity to use any one of these magical elements, you’d be faced with a rather ethical conundrum now wouldn’t you?
Take Veritaserum for example, I know that there are tons of lies swarming around me and among the people I hang out with and not. While I know there are a lot of lies that I would prefer to be kept as such, there are a few times where I’ve wanted to beat the truth out of certain people I know! Wouldn’t it be great to simply slip a few drops of said potion into a friends drink to decipher the truth? There’s no pain, no physical after affects, and the truth comes out with no trouble! Life would be easier wouldn’t it? But there’s that ethical question to deal with, damn it!
But let’s look at this from a different vantage point, from a militaristic point of view if you will. Say we capture a terrorist! There would be no need for these torture methods Bush was trying to enforce, and it would be a simple matter of 3 drops into his or her mouth and problem solved! We decipher the source of the terror and end the bloodshed.
Politicians and the government would be compelled to be honest and treat the people much fairer if they knew they could undergo a Veritaserum interrogation. If you’re thinking that goes too far, think about it again…no pain, no after affect, no torture, just a simple matter of drinking some potion to find out the truth. Seems tempting doesn’t it it?
Many other truths could be willed out; We could find out if gas prices REALLY need to be as high as they are, Court proceedings on murder cases would be simple, theft would be a thing of the past, and fraud could be taken out of the picture.
So, I ask again, if given the opportunity, would you use Veritaserum? Or are their too many ethical dilemmas that string along with its use? Is it good in theory, or could it actually work? People keep spouting out that lies are the most destructive force in the world, could this be the answer?
If nothing else, boys could be forced to let their true feelings show…
Mixing and matching aspects of my childhood are always awesome, but this piece of fan art takes the cake. Granted there are some fantastic pieces of fan art out there, but something always comes out of the blue that knocks me for a loop.
Get past the sexual nature of the pictures please. While I completely understand that this is almost unnecessarily sexual, it’s still good art! She paid close attention to the details that defined each individual Disney Princess, but added in the anime qualities as well, giving us a perfect mixture of the two.
Head on over to Witchy Saint’s Deviant Art page and see more of her stuff! nothing she has there looks half-assed; it’s all clean, smooth, and epic as can be. Chances are I’ve seen her work in comic books before, if only I could pin point where. Oh well, I’m sure someone will point it out to me if this is the case.
I thought I felt a slight deviation in my regular routine, livelihood, and history. WHY DID THINGS HAVE TO CHANGE???
In other news, apparently Chris Nolan is having issues with Warner Bros. wanting to have Jim Carrey make an appearance in the newest Batman film installment. Nolan is opposed to the idea and is threatening to keep the film unfinished until WB agrees to give him back the creative control.
What will this mean? You guessed it, a delay in the film’s release. Here’s what Nolan had to say…
Our client was given creative control over the making of this film in return for his agreement to work on it. Although Warner Bros. has funded the project, we are at a legal stalemate due to the details of Christopher Nolan’s contract stipulations. We are working diligently to ensure that the public gets to see this masterpiece of a film but Mr. Nolan wants the public to see it as he intended. Warner Bros. has chosen to ignore any type of settlement so it is unlikely that the public will see the film this year.
Needless to say, this could put a major damper on how the film is perceived, as well as piss off millions of fans. I’ll be keeping you updated as more develops.
Written by: Paul Jenkins
