It’s Sunday everyone! Get your laundry done, watch shows on Netflix, read a good book or graphic novel and relax before heading back into work tomorrow! It’s almost noon here in Colorado and I’m enjoying the comics that came out on Wednesday. Sometimes it’s hard to read stuff as soon as it comes out…but that’s what weekends are for!
But don’t forget that this day has a bit of irony to it as well. We typically talk about Mr. King as a landmark figure within America’s history, yet we tend to forget about his plagiaristic (made up a word, I know) and womanizing lifestyle. I know this is a blog about comics and movies generally, but the title of this blog is called “Heretical Jargon,” a place where I can occasionally talk about things which frustrate me and are generally left unsaid due to its lack of popularity by the general public.
Being a student of sociology and history, it’s difficult for me to get past the facts when it comes to our nations “heroes.” I put that in quotations because, even though I completely agree that MLK is, without a doubt, a hero of the nation, there are aspects of the pastor that people tend to neglect because of it’s unfavorable nature. And it’s hard for me to get past this when it’s so blatantly obvious and right there in front of us, his acts of womanizing and stealing other people’s work without crediting it.
Should I care about this? So many men in the political spotlight have done the same thing, and it’s said that we should remember people for their good works and not their faults. But if history is there for us to use as a means of not repeating the mistakes of THEN, then why AREN’T we talking about this? Is it important to only talk about honorable things a man did and forget that he did, in fact, do things that aren’t becoming of a pastor?
He was a great man and did so much for this country and I’ll never try to diminish that. But there are others out there who did just as much as MLK but do not get the same amount of recognition they deserve. Malcolm X, for example, was just as influential and significant, yet there’s nothing put in place where the entire country remembers his contributions to how America changed. It’s a constant frustration to me, and maybe I’m over reacting to the whole situation, but there seems to be some inconsistencies in how we remember someone. We pick and choose what we want to remember, and it dictates the overall outlook, negative or positive, of our historical perspective.
Enough negativity though. This is a good day that SHOULD be remembered by all. Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day!
Say hello to my brand new Christmas suit! It’s amazing how JC Penny’s has fun stuff every once in a while. Just call me “the Doctor.”
I’m blogging from my phone right now to let everyone know I’m on the road and won’t be blogging for about a week so I can focus my time on family and friends. HOWEVER, look for reviews on Hitchcock and Les Miserables. Hitchcock was amazing and I’m looking for great stuff coming from Les Miserables.
I might have a Christmas picture parade coming at you all in two days…with a Wonder Woman theme too! Enjoy the holidays, stuff your bellies, enjoy the gifts, and have a great holiday season!
Jimmy (The Heretic)
Written by: Grant MorrisonUm……What????
Yes, it’s gotten to that point. Grant Morrison has written the incomprehensible, giving it center stage in one of his stories. But this is what happens when you take a story involving the distortion of memory and time, making anything possible. I’ve never been an huge fan of Mr. Mxyzptlk, but I’ve always found the stories he’s apart of quite interesting, and what Morrison is doing here is just that. I just have to get past the headache of comprehending it all.
In a nut shell, Supes has a conversation with his landlady, Mrs. Nyxly, explaining that her lover, Mxy, is at the center of a tale involving jealousy hatred, and love. Wizard gone bad, Vyndyktvx is baffled by how Mxyzptlk wins over the heart of the king in their own 5th dimensional world. It seems like a no brainier as the famous imp can pull an entire universe out of his hat. Doing so results in Mxy winning the hand of the King’s Daughter, Princess Gsptlnz, and also resulting in the destruction of hundreds of worlds and an ongoing war. Mxy is exiled to Earth in a slumbering state, and Superman is clueless as to what’s going on, but is somehow aware of an oncoming evil.
That’s it in a nutshell, and it took me a few times going back through the story and multiple double takes to figure that much out. There’s still a lot left unsaid about the story however, and unless you’re in tune with Morrison’s insanity, you’ll be just as confused as I was. There’s a group of K-Men out searching for a depowered Superman due to the effects of a red sun while the present Superman is wondering what’s ahead with memories of a fight that hasn’t happened yet. And don’t forget about the random squid and monsters roaming about with thoughts of Kryptonian death. It’s all one big mess crammed into a 40 paged book.
I DO get it despite the confusion, however. The basic gist of the story is there to understand and enjoy, but it’s painfully hard to get to the point of it all and comprehend what’s going on. My fingers are crossed on a worthwhile resolution to this arc. It doesn’t help that the little dialog boxes that state if something’s happening in the future or “a few days ago,” are non existent. I understand why too – because the future fight between Superman and the K-Men is actually happening in the present…even though it’s not. It makes for a confusing read as everything past, present, and future are all jumbled together with no sign of sanity in sight.
I will admit that Morrison does tie-in a lot of the build up starting from Action #1 to now very well. He’s definitely a planner who knows exactly what he wants to plot out. He also knows how to create a sense of mistrust within characters that are seemingly trustworthy. Rags Morales is also great at displaying fowl play, and the writer and artist work very well at creating that deceitful image.
Maybe it’s nothing and I’m reading into things where they don’t exist, but I feel this image here is a precursor to a much bigger plot that Nyxly is involved in. I love Superman, but boy is he a little too trusting of people he doesn’t really know. Angst is a-comin’ boys and girls, and it’ll be the saving grace of this story arc.
In classic storybook form, the backup tale of Mxy and his dealing within the fifth dimension are extraordinary. Morales certainly brought me back to my childhood with memories of stories like Peter Pan and other other-worldly tales of adventures, magic, and excitement, both in the main story and the back-up. It’s an appeal that kept me reading.
Overall, it’s a good book. It’ll rack your brain a lot, but it’s still worth picking up. Enjoy!
7 out of 10 stars
Now this was a nerdtastic moment if there ever was one. Carbonite chocolate ain’t too bad!
I think the biggest story in the online film world this week, outside of the forthcoming release of The Dark Knight Rises, was probably the vitriolic response that a number of critics got from Rotten Tomatoes users to their less than 100% positive reviews of that film. There's been plenty of writing on the subject of Batman fans' reactions to those reviews, and the whole story is wrapped up nicely by Matt Singer over at…
It’s an ongoing debate that will linger in time in a state of never ending…Is George Lucas responsible for staying true to a story he’s made, or can he simply do whatever he wants?
There are many people so DEAD SET against him for creating episodes 1, 2, and 3 in addition to the “edits” made in the original trilogy – they claim it “ruined their childhood.” But on the other side of the spectrum there exists a group of loyal fans who’ll never say anything negative about the director. And, as with most nerdy cases, there exists a middle group who sees the validity in both sides of the argument – trying to remain neutral while staying true to their likes and dislikes.
My perspective is taken from an interesting angle as I sit amongst thousands of like-minded fans that grew up watching the original trilogy on the TV - commercials and all! But I also have the experience of having seen the old films re-released on the big screen for generation #2 to enjoy in remastered awesomeness. Not too long after that, Episodes 1 – 3 took center stage. One high school diploma, college degree, a marriage and a move from Iowa to Colorado later, I find myself in the midst of a third theatrical release of Star Wars in the shape of a three dimensional Episode 1.
I hate the new additions and edits George Lucas implemented into his original series – and I hate the episodes 1 – 3 even more! However, I understand that, despite these frustrations, my childhood isn’t tarnished by these changes. I can always go back and watch the Star Wars I grew up loving and pay no attention to, or skip over the “crap” that came with it. (If only I had kept my original Star Wars VHS tapes, I would be a happy man!)
The question still remains, even after 13 years of the release of Episode 1 – What is George Lucas after? What is he trying to do? Why take this kind of approach to a beloved saga? And the answers to these questions are internally answered by each fan, by way of saying “George Lucas is nothing more than a money maker who cares very little for the desires of fans” or “This is George Lucas’ story and he can do what he wants.” Which is the right answer?
Apprentice A presents a solid response to all of the heat fans of blowing at Lucas. He keeps an open mind while subtly expressing his own opinions…
The truth of the matter is, no matter what George Lucas does, he will always have loyal fans and haters…like most creators right? Enjoy what you want, but Apprentice A is right, George Lucas is paying a price.
This was WAY to good not to post here. Hilarious and Amazing!
DON’T WORRY, I’M NOT SHOUTING AT YOU, IT’S JUST INTERNATIONAL CAPS LOCK DAY! UNLEASH THE FURY!
I love the avengers, but there’s definitely some things within the movie, that this video brings up, that’ll make shake your head up and down in agreement. Enjoy!
The Avengers
It’s a shame I can’t post ALL of Mike Male’s work on my blog as it would be stealing. Never-the-less, to not post some of his work here, as a way of promoting how amazing Male’s art is, would be denying you all the pleasure of seeing a few samples of what he does.
I didn’t even know what Vector Art was until stumbling onto Mike’s Deviant Art page. Now I’m hooked, and I have Mr. Male to thank for that.
From gazing at his gallery, I’ve found he’s a big fan of creating posters for his favorite superheroes and Film Noir genres; creating gothically sexy pin ups with beautiful women and devishly handsome men, dressed to kill! It’s a shame I never found him sooner, he just might have turned me onto Marvel Comics…in which case my pocket book would have no money in it at all.
His other talents include very classy nudes, the type of nudes I like. It strays away from bring overly pornographic and takes time to truly appreciate the human form as a gorgeous work of art. But, then again, most of his women are the traditional skinny, curvaceous type that no woman in the world looks like. That’s in no way a negative point, just something familiar.
Lucky Couch…
And, of course, I couldn’t go without posting this little Marvel spectacle due to the film coming out this weekend. Mahle definitely has a knack for drawing the popular Marvel heroes with such a unique and interesting flare. His appropriate use of color and line definition are perfect for the genre.
Likewise, his cartoony style is definitely fun to look at, but it doesn’t stray away from the seriousness of his work. There’s a definite dark side to all of his characters, yet there’s room for his retro style to give it the Mahle signature which I’m sure he’s going for.
If you like what you see here, go to Mike Mahle’s Deviant Art page and check out more of his stuff!
Are you going to see it this weekend?
Not sure what this is for, but it’s awesome!
I do like ice cream…
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.
10 out of 10 stars
Written by: JP Roth
Penciled by: Mike Krome
Pencil Assistant: Dawn McTeigue
Inks: Dawn McTeigue
Colors: Sabine Rich
Cover: Peter Steigerwald & Dawn McTeigue
Lettered by: Stefan Merour
Business Manager: Clare Bendandi
Production Manager: James Perfilio
Only the press release??? DARN YOU JP ROTH!!!
Having the privilege of being an acquaintance of the mythological author on facebook, I was able to coerce her into sending me her newly finish comic to read and review. (I just like writers for their ability to send me stuff before anyone else!) Much to my dismay, however, I opened the email and found only a press release. This left me in a state of absolute uncertainty! I want to know what’s going to happen! I want to find out where the story goes! But (sigh) alas, I will have to wait a little while longer.
Of course, this little unexpected irritation (curse you Roth!!!) does not deter me from the excitement brewing within my loins. The combination of exceptionally poetic dialog and gorgeous artwork had my creative juices salivating, wanting to eat up the content on every page.
It’s an exceptionally gothic tale, filled with mythological elements and seemingly space-age fantasy, all centered around one protagonist, Cara Wynter. Unable to determine the meaning of her dreams, she strolls into taverns of moonshine in an attempt to drown her confusion with a pint. But nothing seems to work as she continually falls into a dream state (awake or not) visiting royalty and deities, all hell bent on destroying one another…and somehow she’s been caught in the middle of it all with a very important role to play.
If you know me, then you know I have the biggest man crush on Neil Gaiman. From what I have read thus far of the Ancient Dreams release, there are elements of Neil Gaiman running all throughout this book. I don’t mean to imply Ms. Roth isn’t original in her writing, but everything rings of Gaimanized elements which I love. The combination of the real world and the mythological world are quite exciting, as well as adding ancient Spartan mentalities and ideals along with a mystery that made my imagination run wild! Of course, it ends with a cliff hanger so good that I can’t decide if I want to strangle Roth for making me wait, or give her a huge hug for writing something with THIS MUCH potential!
While it’s only a press release, it’s enough to make you want to pick the book up right away. The writing is so poetic and descriptive, and the art is just as great! The artistic trifecta of Krome, McTeigue, and Rich created a flawless visual spread that I could only dream of doing. Clearly Roth spared no expense in this comic venture of hers, and it’s going to pay off!
I can’t wait to get the entire finished book; it’s right up my alley and ensnares my senses. But while I love this precursor to the finished product, I’m going to remain angry with JP Roth for making me wait. Again I say “CURSE YOU JP ROTH!!!”
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!
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?
I just found one of the weirdest, awesomest shows ever! take a gander and enjoy!
Yes, the film everyone is waiting for is on the horizon. I wonder if it will be better than Iron Man was?….
This morning, Dan Didio (Co-Publisher for DC Comics) responded to the numerous inquisitions fans had about the recent news about wiping the slate clean of the DC Universe…which includes all of the crisis’ in DC’s Past.
From Didio…
For those in crisis over Crisis, let me clarify. The topic of Crisis was much discussed among the editors and talent working on The New 52. With so many characters and histories restarting, major events like Crisis are harder to place when they work for some and not for others. (that was one of the problems coming out of the original Crisis). While we are starting aprx five years into our heroes’ lives, we are focused on the characters present and future, and past histories will be revealed as the stories dictate. Yes, there have been “crisis” in our characters lives, but they aren’t exactly the Crisis you read before, they can’t be. Now, what this means for characters seen and unseen…… well, that’s the fun of The New 52, infinite stories, infinite possibilities, with the best yet to come.
Thanks, as always for your interest and enthusiasm in The New 52. DD
P.S. that’s the last time I try and answer a Facebook question before rushing out for dinner.
To be honest, I’ve gotten over the shock of the reboot, and no news fazes me anymore. It’s like Jimmy Palmiotti said in his interview over at the Listen To Jimmy broadcast…it’s comics and things are always changing, just go with it.
To be honest, I’m enjoying the reboot thus far. If you haven’t noticed, I’ve given most of the #1′s I’ve picked up a 10 out of 10 star rating. Clearly, I’m happy with what they’re doing because the stories have been stellar and are starting off on the right foot.
I say we follow Jimmy Palmiotti’s advice and just go along with the reboot and have fun with it. For those of you who, like me, were born in the early 80′s but are still tussling around with the reboot, it’s fine, you don’t have to like it. You can simply consider the DC Comics YOU grew up with the REAL DC Comics, and the reboot something you can just sit back and have fun with and let the younger generations bitch about it. The stress is off you 80′s babies!
Definitely my feelings about the teaser trailer for Dark Knight Rises. The only difference here is…I trust Chris Nolan and am fully confident that he’ll deliver a quality film. Anyways, enjoy!
Written By: Jonathan Vankin
Art By: Marco Castiello
Coloring By: Barb Ciardo
Inked By: Vincenzo Acunzo
Lettering By: Sal Cipriano
Edited By: Rex Ogle
Associate Editor: Eddie Berganza
Cover By: Ardian Syaf
The Plot
The search begins! And helming this man hunt for Swamp Thing is the British, wise-cracking detective, John Constantine. But as good as John is, he’ll still need some help along the way. Can the Dark Knight detective and our fish net stocking wearer of hotness find Swamp Thing before more chaos is inflicted on society?
My Awe Inspiring Opinion
I love Jon Constantine, always have, which has peaked my interests as DC Comics ventures forward with Swampy into the DCnU. But my time living overseas for two years halted my reading of the said character and kept me out of touch with DC’s hero or horror for some time. So now, to help prepare me for what I’ve missed, the search for Swamp Thing will allow me to dive deeper into the world of Alan Moore even more than I already am. This Brightest Day Aftermath has my blood pumping for the start of the Swamp Thing series.
With DC announcing its new line of horror comics, a different writing mentality should be adopted by fans of DC and its heroes. Swamp Thing has always been a terrifying character and now has been given a chance to reclaim his throne of scares, but first DC needs to reestablish Swamp Thing into the DC Universe with….drum role please….A NEW ORIGIN STORY!!! (Sarcasm mode initiated)
DC is attempting to merge both origin stories from Len Wein and Alan Moore by Bringing Alec Holland back from the dead, causing a Swamp Thing who thinks it actually is the said scientist to have a major identity crisis in the future. As terrible as Brightest Day was, it certainly set up the rise of Alec Holland perfectly.
My apologies as I’m allowing my love for Swamp Thing to take over this review of a comic focused on John Constantine. When I read through this issue the first time, I was a little jolted by some of the dialogue and character interactions…It didn’t feel enough like Constantine. However, a second read through allowed me to process the character’s depth within this first issue. Vankin allows readers the chance to become acquainted with Constantine while developing the plot at the same time. We especially get a double dose of his arrogance as he dared to set foot in the Batmobile with a cigarette in hand, something Batman wasn’t too happy about.
The story has undergone some major changes in the last few months with characters dropping in and out of the plot’s grasp. Originally, Hawkman was to be in the place where Zatanna now stands. But going even further back shows multiple characters being toggled back and forth in that exact position, ranging from Martian Manhunter to the Blue Beatle, to shadowy unknown figures of questionable loyalty. But without a doubt, the inclusion of Zatanna was a smart move as her and Constantine share a history together that I’m sure she would rather forget.
Marco Castiello does some fairly amazing work with his jagged and rough-edged style. Some of the action scenes felt a little anti-climactic, but there was very little else to complain about artistically.
My Majestically Climactic Conclusion
So overall, this is a quality first issue. I’m looking forward to seeing how this miniseries establishes what is to be once Swamp Thing #1 pops up on stands in two months. But of course, who knows what’s going to happen with the reboot.
8 out of 10 Stars
