Shakefire.com - dc

Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox

Lee Roberts — Sun, 18 Aug 2013 04:40:44 +0000

Special Features

Includes 4 animated episodes featuring the Flash, sneak peek at Justice League War, and more. Also includes DVD and Ultraviolet copies.

PLOT:
As a child, Berry Allen's world was shattered when he discovers his mom had been killed on her birthday. As an adult Berry become the hero known as the Flash, the fastest man alive, but when he uses his speed to go back in time to change one event, the world pays the price. Everything has changed, heroes are killing innocents, a war between Wonder Woman and Aquaman is on the verge of destroying the world, and Batman uses guns to put an end to any criminal. Now the Flash must team up with Batman in order to figure out a way to return to his own time line before the world comes to an end but with the Reverse Flash there, Berry just might die in a world he created by trying to do a good deed.

VOICE-ACTING:
Alright, with this being an animated film the acting centers on the voice talents of Justin Chambers as the Flash, Kevin McKidd as Thomas Wayne, Michael B. Jordan as Cyborg, C. Thomas Howell as Reverse Flash, Nathan Fillion as Green Lantern, Kevin Conroy as Bruce Wayne, and many other talents. I want to first say I always enjoy Nathan Fillion being Hal Jordan/Green Lantern. There are some people that have certain characters that become that character and for Nathan Fillion it's Hal Jordan/Green Lantern. Though he's not along, Kevin Conroy is Batman and there is no other voice that should be doing this character. For me, a fan of these characters and actors being them, getting them again in this new animation was a true treat. All these actors are great with their voices in making these characters alive as well as sounding like what I think they would sound like.

ORIGINALITY:
Not original at all, especially for a movie that is from a comic series that has done many stories about time travel. The Flashpoint Paradox is just that, a movie about time travel and it's one that DC Comics has used before. Not that it matters, this movie is excellent. It does have some new things going on in it, well maybe not new, more different than anything else but it's a different that made me still be stunned even though I knew it was happening. It's an alternate world so anything goes and this simple fact is used to it's full extent as I watched heroes kill and a world that is being destroyed by those same heroes.

TONE:
Here is a warning that should be told to any adult that might get this for their kids that are under 13, The Flashpoint Paradox is a very violent movie. There is all sorts of killing, deaths, stabbings, and some blood being shown. It's not gory, it's not graphic, but it's also more violent than most any other DC animation I've seen before. This is the tone of this movie, death and despair, which is used to show how one event can change so much with the world. If you are looking for a movie that is all happy and good, this is not that movie. If you are wanting to watch a movie that shows what would happen if heroes where no longer heroes, watch this.

STORY:
I love this story for multiple reasons, one is that it is a new animated DC feature film, two it has the Justice League in it, three it has the Justice League in it being evil, four it features time travel, and five it is from another recent story that happened in the comics. There are no other comic based movies that can compete with DC animations. I read the comics that this movie is based from and I got to say it's one really fun movie to watch. It is a dark movie with a lot of death in it but it's still very entertaining to watch, it's well formatted, but the best feature are the characters. We get to see the Justice League as we know it with Superman being the boyscout, Batman the dark detective, but then when the alternate versions of them are used we see them doing acts that make them criminals.

BLU RAY:
Blu Ray is best when it's an animated film and it shows on this movie. It has some wonderful looking colors being used that make the picture quality vibrant. It looks really good, the picture is sharp, it's clear, the audio is clear, everything just looks good and sounds good. The art work is clean, it has sharp edges to it, making the detail stand out. This whole movie stands out with the level of picture quality it has but it is lacking one thing that the DC Blu Rays usually have, a ton of special features. The features that are included are awesome, a sneak peek at the next animated film, two featurettes about the Flash, and four episodes from other animated shows that have the Flash in them. I would have liked a feature explaining more about the Flashpoint Paradox and how this is leading to the New 52 that DC has going on in the comics. Though I do like having the combo pack of Blu Ray, DVD, and Ultraviolet copy of the movie.

Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox

Review:

Blu-Ray

Exclusive?:

Grade:

4.03

Tags:

comics

Nathan Fillion

Ron Perlman

Cary Elwes

C. Thomas Howell

Kevin McKidd

Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox

Lee Roberts — Sun, 18 Aug 2013 04:27:02 +0000

Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox

On DVD:

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

On Blu-Ray:

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Starring:

Studio(s):

Director(s):

Genre:

Running Time:

75 minutes

Based on Book:

Comic Story Flashpoint in DC Comics

As a child, Berry Allen's world was shattered when he discovers his mom had been killed on her birthday. As an adult Berry become the hero known as the Flash, the fastest man alive, but when he uses his speed to go back in time to change one event, the world pays the price. Everything has changed, heroes are killing innocents, a war between Wonder Woman and Aquaman is on the verge of destroying the world, and Batman uses guns to put an end to any criminal. Now the Flash must team up with Batman in order to figure out a way to return to his own time line before the world comes to an end but with the Reverse Flash there, Berry just might die in a world he created by trying to do a good deed.

Tags:

dc,

comics,

Infinity Has Begun

Lee Roberts — Sat, 17 Aug 2013 06:07:40 +0000

IN THE COMICS:
Well, Infinity has begun with a 5 buck cover price. Not sure how this story will go because I have yet to read the first issue. One thing I do know is that a coworker who knows some about comics because he read a few many years ago saw the cover to issue #1 and said "I'm going to get this". So I guess it's already doing something by having Thanos on the cover, which is one of the reasons I'm really interested in it. But another reason is that I do want a good cosmic story.

Marvel has a lot of cosmic characters but it seems like they are underused. My favorite is Silver Surfer and then Nova (Richard Rider not Sam Alexander though I do like him), both of which I have always wanted more of. With the Guardians of Galaxy back on the shelves I'm now getting some of my cosmic fix but it's not enough. Now that Infinity is out I'm hoping that it will spark more interest in the space adventures for the Marvel U. I do recall a few years ago it was said that Marvel had plans to bring more cosmic stories into the books where the heroes of Earth would be more involved in them. That's actually kind of true since there have been more space books or characters popping up. Nova for one, Guardians of the Galaxy, the Fantastic Four is out in space, and even Iron Man has been doing some space travels/battles. That leaves the door open for Infinity to bring on some good old fashion space battles, which I will like, I hope, but would love if Silver Surfer gets involved.

A LITTLE BIT ON THE BIG SCREEN:
Looking forward to watching the new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie? Yeah, the one that features Megan Fox in it as April O'Neil. Well, you will have to wait longer than you first expected but not by much. The ninjas in a halfshell will now be coming out on August 8, 2014, about 2 months after the original release date of June 6. Though I don't know what this will do for the movie or why exactly it's getting moved but I don't think it will help it much. Reason being is that Marvel's movie Guardians of the Galaxy is being released August 1, 2014, one week before. Guardians might not be as well known as the Avengers but by the time the movie is released there will be a lot of people that know about it, which means by the second weekend (as long as the movie is not horrible), it will still be dominating the box office. I think TMNT would have been best released either before or more than one week after Guardians but who knows it might take the box office.

Another tweet from Bryan Singer has me even more excited to see X-Men Days of Future Past. This time he has posted a photo of some items on display. I'm thinking this must be set during the future part where these could be items taken from vanquished mutants but the tweet only said "artifacts" so it could be any reason for them being there. But lets look at the pic.

Is that a coin in the first block? The second is Havoks messed up flight suit, third Magnetos helmet, and not sure whose wing that is. If this is the future there are so many characters with wings that it could be anyone.
TITLES TO CHECK OUT:
X-Files Season 10 #3
Publisher: IDW
Release Date: August 14, 2013
Cover Price: $3.99
Writer: Joe Harris
Artist: Michael Walsh
Plot: Smoking Man is back and Scully is still on the run.

Deathmatch #8
Publisher: BOOM! Studios
Release Date: August 14, 2013
Cover Price: $3.99
Writer: Paul Jenkins
Artist: Carlos Magno
Plot: Another fight and this time it's with the most powerful hero going up against himself.

Tags:

marvel

comics

Infinity

Wrath of the First Lantern is Over So I Talk About It

Lee Roberts — Sat, 10 Aug 2013 02:28:07 +0000

COMIC TALK:

Alright, I know I'm a bit behind on this but by this point it should already be safe enough to talk about it but for anyone that hasn't finished reading "Wrath of the First Lantern" in the Green Lantern titles than you might want to skip over this section. But as an added note.

SPOILERS !!!!

SPOILERS!!!

SPOILERS!!

SPOILERS!

So I just finished reading the storyline "Wrath of the First Lantern", that ran through the titles, Green Lanter, Green Lantern Corps, Green Lantern New Guardians, and Red Lanterns (wondering when they will put out a title that features other corps, oh wait Larfleeze is out, only a few left). The story as the title says, tells the tale of the first Lantern who is now not so happy with things so he is hurting a lot of people to get what he wants. What does he want? To change reality to his liking, of course.

Once again we get another story that the character wants to change reality, so yeah that's not new but I did like the idea of seeing the first person that was a Lantern, who was a human, and of course he's supposed to be so powerful that if he's not stopped he will change reality.

Ok, I get it the part where they had to have him amass the power from all the different Lantern Corps before he could gain all his power but here's the thing, even in his weakened state he was able to easily take down the indivduel Lanterns so with each one he fought he supposedly got stronger, right? That means that if he's strong enough to defeat Hal Jordan to get power from him that would mean when he fought Larfleeze he was now stronger than he was when going against Jordan. Which means during the first fight he had just a 1 power level but in the second fight he had a 2 while the opponant was still a 1, now keep going, in the third fight he would be a 3 while the opponant a 1, and so on until he had all his powers back. Which he got.

He should have been unstoppable at this point or at least that's what I would think. When he was able to defeat them with little power having all his power should mean that even with all the Lantern Corps fighting him he would be able to defeat them as well.

He don't.

After all those issues I read where Volthoom (that's the first Lantern) gains his powers back from the crazy Guardians, it's over. I'm not saying that to mean that I'm sad that it's over, I'm saying that it built up like it was going to be this huge fight that would take out Lanterns, would change the way things are in the Lantern universe, and just not be an easy fight. But after paying a whopping $7.99 for the oversized ending to the story and what do I get instead of a full oversized 8 dollar book fight? Too many pages leading to the end fight, then Jordan coming back from the dead to defeat Volthoom like it was nothing, and then a story at the end that teases some stories that might be the ending of the Green Lanterns of Earth.

Yeah, I was not pleased with this ending, it was expensive, it was a lot of build up, and then it just got a quick ending that seemed cheap (thought money was it wasn't), but at least I got to have many pages of people saying goodbye to Geoff Johns.

TITLES TO CHECK OUT:

Trillium #1

Publisher: Vertigo

Cover Price:$2.99

Release Date: August 7, 2013

Writer: Jeff Lemire

Artist: Jeff Lemire

Plot: It's 3797 where Botanist Nika Temsmith is researching a strange species in colonized space. It's also the year 1921 where William Pike, an explorer, is looking for the "Lost Temple of the Incas" that is said to have healing powers. Somehow, these two people will fall in love and thousands of years and millions of miles of seperation won't stop them.

Collider #1

Publisher: Vertigo

Cover Price: $2.99

Release Date: July 31, 2013

Writer: Simon Oliver

Artists: Robbi Rodriguez and Nathan Fox

Plot: Gravity is not what it used to be but why is it not working like it used to? It's up to the FBP (Federal Bureau of Physics) to find the reason before matters get worse.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1 (100 Penny Press)

Publisher: IDW Publishing

Cover Price: $1.00 (That's right folks only one dollar, a whole buck)

Writers: Kevin Eastman and Tom Waltz

Artist: Dan Duncan

Plot: Come on really, after all these years you need a plot description to the first issue of TMNT? Ok, here it is, Master Splinter is a rat that teaches 4 turtles, Leonardo, Donatello, Michaelangelo, and Raphael to become ninjas, they are the ninjas in a half shell.

Tags:

Variants Variants Oh The Variants and Singer Sentinel

Lee Roberts — Sat, 03 Aug 2013 05:19:11 +0000

COMIC NEWS:
Anyone out there a Walking Dead fan? I don't mean the show, though it's great, I love it, got my season 3 preordered already, but I mean the comic book. Coming out in October issue #115 of the Walking Dead will be released and it will have some variant covers. 12 of them to be exact. Now I've talked about variant covers before, I like them, I buy them when I can, but having more than 3 variants is too many. Especially when the cover price is $2.99 and yeah I know that 3 bucks is not that much to pay but if this is the first comic variant you've ever bought then you know that there will be the retail cover that's 3 bucks, maybe one or two others, but 99% of the time there are only 1 that's cover price while the others will range from double cover price up into the hundreds of dollars.
Which means if you are like me (buying up to 20 titles a week or even 10) then seeing a comic come out with 12 variants that could cost into 3 figures to get before you get your weekly titles, that's just too much. I would like to have them all, it sucks that I can't, but to make it worse is that for anyone that has a Previews order form you can put in for all 12 covers at cover price. Yeah that don't sound like a worse part but it is, at least for me because I can't get all 12 I can at least get 2 of them but I don't know which 2 I would want because I can't find what the 12 variants look like. So here's my point, publishers, when you have this many variants and you know people are putting in orders 2 months in advance, show what they all look like so we as the buyer know what we are getting. Just a simple little bit I would like to have, the knowledge of what I'm buying.
By the way, issue #115 will start a new story arc.

MOVIE NEWS:
Here's a new pic from Singer for X-Men Days of Future Past. I got to say I'm liking the look of the Sentinels.

I was wondering if the purple would be done right and with this look I think it can be pulled off as being cool. However, I'm wondering what the big vent is in the chest. I'm also wondering how much this thing cost to make and what they will do with it once filming is done.
Speaking of the X-Men movie, did anyone see this site? It's a viral site (not a virus so don't worry) for the Trask Industries? It's very, very, very cool with all kinds of fanboy/fangirl goodness. If you are an X-Men fan and haven't seen this site yet you have to check it out.
http://www.trask-industries.com/#/home

TITLES TO CHECK OUT:
Batman Incorporated #13
Publisher: DC Comics
Release Date: July 31, 2013 (man we are already in August of 2013 where did the year go)
Cover Price: $2.99 (depending on variant cover)
Writer: Grant Morrison
Artist: Chris Burnham
Plot: It's the final issue of this title and it's the conclusion of the story that has been a life changing even for Batman/Bruce Wayne. Also, the cover is just cool.

Guardians of the Galaxy #5
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Release Date: July 31, 2013
Cover Price: $3.99 (depending on varian cover)
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis and Neil Gaiman
Artist: Sara Pichelli
Plot: Come on really, you don't know? All right, Angela makes her appearance in Marvel cannon and Neil Gaiman writes it, so pick it up.

Kick Ass 3 #2
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Release Date: August 7, 2013
Cover Price $2.99
Writer: Mark Miller
Artist: John Romita Jr.
Plot: Kick Ass man, it's Kick Ass!

Tags:

Batman Is Zero Wolverine Has Origins Deadpool VS and Other SDCC Stuff

Lee Roberts — Sat, 27 Jul 2013 04:30:11 +0000

NEWS HAPPENING IN THE COMIC BOOK WORLD:
As I write this blog it's only Saturday July 20 and San Diego Comic-Con is still going on. I'm making this weeks blog all about the news I'm trying to keep up with as it's being released from all over the web coming out of SDCC.
It's a lot of good news being released though I wish I was there to hear it first hand but at least we have the net to keep us lacking the means to be there informed. So let me begin.

BATMAN ZERO YEAR:
Zero Year was talked about by Scott Snyder where issue #24 will be 50 pages and will feature Batman with a new costume. Let me first talk about that bit of news before going on into the rest of it. So Scott Snyder is going to be giving Batman a new costume, is that supposed to be a shock or surprise? I'm sure they are making it out to be and I'm sure the fans at the con was all ooohhhsss and aaaahhhsss but give it a little thought. Over the years, the many years, Batman has had many different costumes. There's the blue and gray with the small ears and yellow bat symbol on chest in the circle, same style but with tall pointy ears, gray and black bat symbol that's only a bat, black custome with black bat that's been small, big, wide, and a combo, and the different sizes in the ears have always been changing.

For Batman his suit is part of his arsenal of weapons/tools opposed to other heroes like Superman, Spider-Man, Wonder Wonder and so on. He is not wearing the suit just for the image it gives but because it is used to protect him and to help him. It's something I expect to change on a continuing basis because the fight on crime is always different so Batman will always have to adapt, in which case means his suit will have to be adapted. He's the one character I expect to actually have a different look and change his costume to keep himself safe. I'm sure Scott Snyder has thought that this so if he is changing the costume I have to wonder how? Batman is Batman because he uses the look of the bat to strike fear in criminals so that has to stay to the same so beyond that I don't see how a change of costume is really big news.

Now on to the other parts of news for Bats is that there will be repercussions from “Death Of Family” that left the Bat family broken and distrusting each other. I'm looking forward to seeing where that goes. The Riddler, Two-Face and Hush will be making their appearances as well, which I'm back and forth on Two-Face and Hush but I do like the idea of the Riddler actually being someone that's smart enough to be a threat. The Batmobile will also get it's make over but again, this is something that changes just as much as the suit but it's always cool to see the new look.

WOLVERINE ORIGINS II:
This is one of those comics that you love to read but also kind of takes away from what made you love the character in the first place. From the moment Wolverine entered the comic world he was the most mysterious characters ever. No one knew anything about him other than he was short, hairy, had the claws that go snikt, and he is always in a bad mood. Over the years we got more questions as to who he is but no real answers of his past, only the present. Which for a man who is basically immortal having his past be known could be a long story. Then back 2006 a series came out called Origins that told, guess it, the origins of Wolverine. James Howlett was born into the world of comics and for the first time we learned that Logan/Wolverine/Patch was really James.

That was huge when it came to the character and with knowing that we went from a guy who we only guessed at his past to a guy who we now know his past. At least a small bit of it. Coming out in November Kieron Gillen and Adam Kubert will be bringing out the sequel to Origins with Origins II. This will be a further telling of Wolverine or I should say James Howletts' origin. In the first series he ended up killing the girl he loved then swearing off humanity because of it. From what I've read, this sequel will pick up not too long after where he has to deal with a lot of things like his healing factor while also allowing feelings back in his life after living with the wolves. I think this might be a really fun story to read but like I said, not knowing his past has been a great appeal for the character but once I know it, sure it's fun but now what?

DEADPOOL VS CARNAGE:
Ok I don't know anything about this but I'm already pretty stoked by the idea. All I saw was this pic that I found on twitter and it's one story I think will be very interesting. Deadpool can't be killed, he can take any damage and he keeps coming back. Add in that he's completely wacko and loves to kill and pit him against someone who (aside from the unkillable part) is also just as crazy and in love with killing as Carnage and that that gives us a story that can lead to trouble.

COMICS IN THE MOVIES AND TELEVISION:
The comics aren't the only news to be told at SDCC. Movies are getting their fair share of teases being dealt out. Avengers 2 is had it's title release, Avengers: Age of Ultron, the sequel to Man of Steel is going to be Batman/Superman, Black Canary is cast for Arrow, Ultimate Spider-Man gets a season 3, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. reveals some spoilers, season 4 of the Walking Dead has its trailer shown, and the Guardians of the Galaxy has some concept art shown.

TITLES TO CHECK OUT:
Guardians of the Galaxy #5
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Release Date: July 31, 2013
Cover Price: $3.99
Written by: Brain Michael Bendis and Neil Gaiman
Drawn by: Sara Pichelli
Plot: This is the issue everyone that read Age of Ultron is waiting for. Angela makes her appearance in this issue and I tell you now, if you want it be at the shop early on the day it's released or you will have a hard time finding it at cover price.

Batman Incorporated #13
Publisher: DC Comics
Release Date: July 31, 2013
Cover Price: $2.99
Written by: Grant Morrison
Drawn by: Chris Burnham
Plot: It's the last issue.

Tags:

Peter Parker a Knight Avengers Assemble? What a Sentinel Looks Like

Lee Roberts — Sat, 20 Jul 2013 20:23:23 +0000

NEWS HAPPENING IN THE COMIC BOOK WORLD:
It should be known by now that I don't like the new direction that Marvel has went with Spider-Man. With Peter Parker no longer being around the only way I can get my fix for the real Spider-Man is to read past books but I have learned of some new ways. Peter Parker will be making another short come back in a 5 issue series being wrote by Matt Kindt and drawn by Marco Rudy titled, Marvel Knights: Spider-Man. That's rights fanboys and fangirls, our favorite Neighborhood Spider-Man will be in a new Marvel Knights book starting this October. What I've learned is that Arcade has pitted 99 (that's right 99) villains to fight Spider-Man. Right now that's all I know but knowing that it's going to be a Spider-Man that's Peter Parker was all that I needed to know. But I am wondering who will the 99 villains be? The cover to issue #1 kind of gives away a few of them, there's Warewolf by Night (Jack Russell also known as the Warewolf, Electro, Moribus, and then the eye I'm thinking is the Lizard and the smiling one could be Arcarde, but the top left corner I'm unsure of, right now I'm thinking Vulture.

COMICS IN THE MOVIES AND TELEVISION:
Some things are just not to be, especially when it comes to being put in movies even though that idea would bring in billions of dollars for the companies producing them. Though when you talk about having multiple companies making one movie with different rights being used under all of them to produce one movie with other characters, well it just becomes near impossible that it will ever happen. I say this first because I just read the news that Hugh Jackman would like to see Wolverine in a future Avengers movie. He wants his character, along with Spider-Man, to be in a future Avengers movie but that's not going to happen because both characters and Avengers are owned by different companies, at least when it comes to the movie rights. Even if they do split the profits there's just so many details that will bog it down that it will make it impossible to see it made. Who would get the toy rights, why should one company get a equal profit if all they do is is say yes to using one character whereas another company has furnished everything else from equipment, crew, and all the other characters? There's too many obstacles in the way for this kind of movie to be made but let me tell you now that I'm all for it. It would be so very cool to see a movie with Wolverine and Spider-Man working together alongside Captain America, just freaking awesome but what team would it be?
The basic?

OR...

One that's different with a big change in line up?

OR...

What about one that didn't even feature any of the original core characters?

Another bit of movie news I found out involves the fastest mutant in the Marvel Universe. Quicksilver will be making an appearance in the upcoming movie X-Men Days of Future Past. The character will be played by Evan Peters, which if you check out the blog I posted on 7/6/13 then you will see the photo I posted that relates to this. But that news of Pietro being in Days of Future Past is already known so what makes me talk about it again? Well, the fact that Joss Whedon has said that he wants to have Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch in the Avengers 2. So it looks like the fastest mutant in the Marvel Universe will be using his speed to get around 2 different movies. Now to wait to find out who plays the second version of Quicksilver.

With San Diego International Comic-Con happening right now there's all sorts of news coming out for us fanboys/fangirls. Namely another bit of X-Men Days of Future Past teasers. In this instance it's with one it's a big deal that's been talked about since the release of X-Men Last Stand, well before that actually, I dare say all the way back to the first X-Men movie, the Senitels. Here is what the head of them will look like in DoFP and I got to say that I am liking the look. Though I'm a little surprised that it seems so small. Unless this is just them showing us what they will look like while in the movie they will be the towering machines of death? Can't wait for more to come on this movie.

UPCOMING TITLE THAT LOOKS PROMISING:
Batman/Superman #2
Publisher: DC Comics
Release Date: July 24, 2013
Cover Price: $3.99
Written by: Greg Pak
Drawn by: Jae Lee
Plot: When Batman and Superman go to Earth 2 they get a unfriendly welcome from some heroes.

BOOK TO READ THIS WEEK:
Scarlet #7
Publisher: Icon (Marvel really)
Release Date: July 17, 2013
Cover Price: $3.95 (that's right that's a 5 not a 9 so I'm thinking either Icon (Marvel really) has angered a lot of comic shops by making them change up that 4 cents or they have given a lot of comic shops an extra 4 cents on this sale)
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Drawn by: Alex Maleev
Plot: Hmm, plot, what is the plot? Oh I know, it's Scarlet #7!

Tags:

Marvel Cancels A X Book Brings In A Legend While A Force Might Be A Movie

Lee Roberts — Sat, 13 Jul 2013 05:52:45 +0000

COMIC NEWS:
Yet another X book that I like is coming to an end. October will be the month that brings the end of Astonishing X-Men with issue #68. This book has been one of my most liked of the X-Men books in the recent years because it actually pushed the boundries of not only the characters but with some of the stories that are being published. From having Kitty Pryde sent out in space trapped in a giant bullet to having Northstar marry Kyle, this book has had some great stories. Why it's being canceled is something that I don't get. Maybe the sales numbers are down, which I find hard to believe just for the simple fact that it's a X book that features some very cool characters such as Warbird and Wolverine. Not that don't mean that people aren't buying the book, but for whatever reason Marvel has for ending this title, I'm not happy about losing another good book.

With an ending there's always a new beginning, and no I don't mean with Astonishing X-Men (though Marvel has done it many times, ending a title and then restarting it with a new team and starting it with #1). This new beginning will come in the pages of the new title Captain America: Living Legend. Not sure what stories this title will tackle with the star spangled hero but I'm wondering if it will set during the days of WWII or current? I'm guessing it will be current with a title of "Living Legend". That title seems to set up the fact that he is the legendary fighter from WWII thus him being the Living Legend. Even though he was famous during the war I don't think he would have been called a living legend. Maybe something close to having a same feeling of that title but not quite a living legend. I would actually like to see a book out that deals with his days during WWII and not like some of the one shots where they have him going in to save the day all by himself. Rather I want to see him in stories like he has today where he fights the villains while having to deal with every day types of problems. Basically I want stories that we get today but set in the war. Anyways, I'll check out the first 5 issues to see what it's about before I decide to either keep going with it or ending it.

COMICS IN THE MOVIES:
Looks like the trend continues of turning a comic book into a movie. Or I should say the rumor of the trend still continues with the talk coming out about X-Force becoming a movie. Created by Rob Liefeld back in the 90's where they first appeared in New Mutants #100, that's the last issue so if this movie actually does happen you might want to get that issue now while it's still cheap and easy to find. Since the first issue there have been a ton of characters used for the team, just like all the other X-Men books and teams. So, my question is this, who would be in the movie if it's made? If they use the original team, Boom Boom, Cable, Cannonball, Domino, Feral, Shatterstar and Warpath would the movie go over well for any non comic fan considering that none of these characters are even known to the general public? Lets say that Cable is introduced in X-Men Days of Future Past movie, that's only 1 out of the 7 members. Or will they use a more modern team that features Wolverine in it just so they can draw in the millions of fans both from the comics and general public? Maybe the biggest question of all, can a movie that's got X in the title that's not followed by Men that features a team of unknown characters withstand the scrutiny of fans and the public?

Also, don't forget that starting Saturday July 13, 2013 at 10/9c (that's in the AM) on the Cartoon Network a new Batman series will begin. Beware the Batman will pit Batman against new foes with the help of Alfred Pennyworth and CIA agent Tatsu Yamashiro. Alfred is going to be a retired MI-6 agent and Tatsu is also known as Katana, so it looks like there won't be a Robin in this series. Which I'm fine with but I'm wondering how they will portray Alfred. I'm guessing he will still be Bruce Wayne's butler that was once the agent, but how old will he be? I can't say too much about this series because I haven't looked into it that much beyond that I know that those are going to be the supporting characters for Batman and the day that it starts. I've been trying to keep away from getting too many spoilers these days of new shows, movies, and comics but by doing so I've made it a little tougher for me to write in my blog about them.

TITLES THIS WEEK:
Batman #22
Publisher: DC Comics
Release Date: July 10, 2013
Cover Price: $3.99
Written by: Scott Snyder
Drawn by: Greg Capullo
Plot: It's the second part of "Zero Year" that will get into the history that Batman has with the Red Hood Gang.

Green Lantern Corps #22
Publisher: DC Comics
Release Date: July 10, 2013
Cover Price: $2.99
Written by: Robert Venditti and Van Jensen
Drawn by: Bernard Chang
Plot: John Stewart has to reach Oa to warn the new Latern Corps of a new threat that could be very dangerous.

Superman Unchained: #2
Publisher: DC Comics
Release Date: July 10, 2013
Cover Price: $3.99
Written by: Scott Snyder
Drawn by: Jim Lee
Plot: Ascension are attacking more and the only way that Superman can hope to stop them is with the help of Batman.

Hawkeye #12
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Release Date: July 10, 2013
Cover Price: $2.99
Written by: Matt Fraction
Drawn by: Francesco Francavilla
Plot: With all the problems Clint has on his table, what will happen when his brother Barney enters the picture?

NEXT WEEKS TITLES:
X-Files Season 10 #2
Publisher: IDW
Release Date: July 17, 2013
Cover Price: $3.99 (Depending on the variant cover)
Written by: Joe Harris
Drawn by: Michael Walsh and Carlos Valenzuela
Plot: Part 2 of a 5 part story where Scully is being chased down for her baby.

Harbinger Wars #4
Publisher: Valiant
Release Date: July 17, 2013
Cover Price: $3.99
Written by: Duane Swierczynski and Joshua Dysart
Drawn by: Clayton Henry and Patrick Zircher
Plot: The war is coming to a end and it's going to be an all out battle.

SPIDER-OCK CONTINUES:
Yes I still hate what is being done in the Superior Spider-Ock book and yes I'm still reading it but as I explained to a friend, I read it only because it being Spider-Man (even though it's not the one I like). If this were any other character I would have dropped the book and stopped reading it. So even though I know the stories will suck, that I will not like them, I still keep an eye out for what's to come in hopes that one day I will be reading that news that says Peter Parker is coming back and Ock is going away. Sadly today is still not that day, Ock is still in control and it looks like he might be hooking up with Black Cat in issue #20 of Superior. So what will Felicia Hardy think of this new Spider-Man that has already killed, beats people near to death, and treats people like trash? Will she notice a difference or even care that there is a difference?

Tags:

Count Down to Comic Con & Damian Wayne Again

Lee Roberts — Sat, 06 Jul 2013 04:40:25 +0000

NEWS HAPPENING IN THE COMIC BOOK WORLD:
If you are a fanboy/fangirl/geek/nerd or whatever you might call yourself then you know about the San Diego International Comic-Con that will be taking place July 18-21. It's been another year and shortly it will be another month to two months of me being tortured because I wasn't able to go to yet another one. Which I suppose me checking out everything that I can is not a good way to make myself feel any better from missing out but it's just something that I can't stop myself from doing.

Now, I won't list everything that's going on that's been posted but I will strike on some key events that will be happening at the con. One that I would really love to be at is happening on the first day of the con Thursday July 18 is the X-Files 20th Anniversary panel. It happens at 3:30-4:30 in Ballroom 20 and just check out the guests that will be there, Gillian Anderson, David Duchovny, series creator Chris Carter, writers/producers David Amann, Vince Gilligan, Howard Gordon, John Shiban, and Jim Wong. This would be so awesome to be at because not only is it a big anniversary for the show but there's the very recent release of the comic X-Files Season 10. So hearing what the creators and the stars of the show have to say would be interesting to say the least, plus there's Gillian Anderson.

At 10am in Room 9 is the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles panel that will have the creator Kevin Eastman. If you want to know about the Turtles this would be the place to learn it but I'd bet that you should get in line early because I remember when he was at Dragon Con and the line for his autograph was insanely long.
Over in room 6BCF at 1PM is the Batman Arkham Origins panel and well I'm guessing they are going to talk about the game, show trailers, and probably some game play and who knows what else.

The name of this one also says it all, DC All Access. It's in room 6DE at 11:30am with a lineup of Brain Buccellato (Flash), Mark Buckingham (Fables), Derek Fridolfs (Batman: Arkham Unhinged, Li'l Gotham), Adam Hughes (Before Watchmen: Dr. Manhattan), Geoff Johns (Aquaman, Justice League, Justice League of America), Jeff Lemire (Green Arrow, Justice League Dark), Gail Simone (Batgirl, The Movement), Tom Taylor (Injustice: Gods Among Us). Yep, that's going to be a fun one.
Marvel and Dark Horse have panels at 1PM so if you are a fan of either it will be a tough choice. Well, I don't know Dark Horse does a larger panel of guests in room 23ABC with 9 people while Marvel over in room 7AB only has 3 guests.
The Walking Dead (comic not show but they might talk the show some I'm sure there will be at least one person to ask a question about the show unless they say not to), will be having a 10th anniversary panel with creator Robert Kirkman. It is a Q&A so think of something good to ask, don't be that guy that asks the same question that's been asked before. Really give it some thought, ask something that would make him think about his creation not about if he thinks Rick is stepping over the line with what he does.

However, if you want to ask “What the HELL!” (ok that's a statement but either way I say go for it) to the senior editor Steve Wacker, Chris Samnee, Nick Spencer, Arune Singh what they are thinking allowing the crap that is now Spider-Man to be published in the the Superior Spider-Man panel. This one takes place at 4:30 in room 6DE and just ask them why take away the one hero that stood for being what comics are to turn him into a stunt for money to sell comics?
Alright, I just can't list all that's going on, if you want to find out just go here.

http://www.comic-con.org/cci

Do you think that the Comic-Con is the only thing that I have to talk about when it comes to comics? Nope, that's just one of the big events that's going to be happening soon, there is more news that I have to talk about. Have you heard that Bruce Wayne has a son? Duh, that's Damian Wayne. Well, if you're saying that then you would be right and you would also be right when you say that he's dead, cause he is. But just because he's dead don't mean he can't still have his own 4 issue mini-series that will be coming out in October. In this series will we get to see Damian as an adult rather then the kid and it's a story we've had a somewhat of a tease to with Batman #666 when we saw Damian in the future as Batman. I got to say I out of the other people that have been Batman, this version is the best. Not only does Damian have one really cool suit but he is Batman. From what I could find out about this mini-series, it will deal with Damian becoming Batman of a possible future. Note “possible future”! This takes care of the questions of him being dead so how can we have an adult Damian? Well, one answer is that this is a comic book after all so that means anything goes but there's also those two words, “possible future” that means well anything can go. By the way the title of the book is called, Damian Wayne: Son of Batman.

COMICS IN THE MOVIES AND TELEVISION:
People make fun of social media, I'm one of them on occasion, but I do have to admit it has it's huge benefits as well. Like this picture posted by Bryan Singer for his little movie X-Men Days of Future Past.

Nuff Said!

UPCOMING TITLE THAT LOOKS PROMISING:
Batgirl #22
Publisher: DC Comics
Release Date: Julay 10, 2013
Writer: Gail Simone
Artist: Jonathan Glapion
Plot: Batgirl has had a major trauma in her life, one that will take her away from Batgirl.

Batman: Li'l Gotham #4
Publisher: DC Comics
Release Date: July 10, 2013
Writer: Dustin Nguyen and Derek Fridolfs
Artist: Dustin Nguyen
Plot: It's Saint Patrick's Day for the little folk of Gotham, it should be a hoot and a holla. (by the way, I love the way Li'l Harley Quin looks)

BOOK TO READ THIS WEEK:
Deadpool Kills Deadpool #1
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Release Date: July 3, 2013
Cover Price: $2.99
Writer: Cullen Bunn
Artist: Salva Espin
Plot: It's the end of the end for a series that has seen some odd plot twists. One of them being that Deadpool is going to kill himself. So does that make this suicide even if it's killing himself from another universe?

Guardians of the Galaxy: Tomorrow's Avengers #1
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Release Date: July 3, 2013
Cover Price: $4.99
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Artist: Michael Avon Oeming
Plot: Who are the Guardians? Find out here and if you are wondering if it's worth the $4.99 price tag, just think of it this way, Brian Michael Bendis is the writer and Michael Avon Oeming is the artist.

Tags:

Ultron Has an Age and Batman Superman Are Back

Lee Roberts — Sat, 29 Jun 2013 05:45:39 +0000

MARVEL COMICS:
Marvel just wrapped up (not completely just the miniseries) Age of Ultron with the issue Age of Ultron #10 AI. If I could go back in time to talk to myself about comics, I would tell myself not to buy the individuel issues of Age of Ultron. Sure the comic was semi entertaining, it had some really nice artwork, but the story itself was not worth the amount of money I spent on it. Even though the numbering only goes to 10 there is a few more issues than just 10. Marvel also put out the #10 AI that came out this week and the one shot Ultron. Granted both could have been skipped but both do contain a bit of information that could come into play in the future.

My main complaint about this series is that it should have been told in 3-5 issues and going to 5 would have been pushing it. Instead we get 10 issues where the story in the middle issues was thin and drawn out. Nothing really happens in this story, nothing that deserved to be 10 issues. One issue deals with the world being at an end and showing that the heroes are broken. Then it showed the broken heroes at each other throats because they didn't know what to do. Next we get them trying to work out a plan and doing it. When the story starts to get interesting they throw in the time travel with Wolverine and Sue Storm that just got on my nerves. While doing the time travel story the main story about Ultron seemed to be dropped. Before I realized what was going on they had ended the story, there was some time travel involved, time is now broken, and I never got to see Ultron.

Going beyond the time travel, the fact that they didn't even show Ultron fighting the heroes or the world, and even past the fact that a 10 issue series that was really 12 should have been about 3 issues, there's the continuity problem. Here's the thing, Age of Ultron was wrote over a year ago and was ready to publish but Marvel held it cause it wasn't the right time to release it. Well, since then we've been given Marvel Now, new looks to the heroes, and Spider-Ock. Where does this fit into the true Marvel timeline? Right now there's Carol Danvers as Captain Marvel sporting a new suit and a different hair style. In AoU she still looks her Ms. Marvel style so is this before or after Marvel Now? What about Spider-Man? He seems to be Peter Parker in the main books of AoU but in the Superior Spider-Man tie in issue he is Ock and not Peter. So again, before or after Marvel Now? Also in the first issue when Hawkeye and Spider-Man(?) go into the bunker of heroes there are some bunks with heroes that could be dead, injured, or just sleeping but on one the Thing's head is showing as if he was one of the sleeping. Now granted they could be dead, it's never specified that they are living or dead, but in the next issue a comment is made about the fallen heroes and Sue Storm says "Benjamin" meaning that the Thing is dead. So is that a dead Thing in the issue before, is it a living Thing but another person being the Thing (Miss Thing is currently taking up the role of Thing while in the FF but that's the Marvel Now timeline and she is wearing a suit with her own human head (ain't that kind of stupid though to have your head in the open when you have no powers) but she could have either taken something to become a full Thing or has put on a helmet/mask)? Just who is this Thing?
Then there is the whole time travel thing, the breaking of time, Galactus in Ultimate Universe (kind of like that actually) and Angela making her appearance. This Age of Ultron should have been brought out a year ago before Marvel Now so that when the whole breaking of time happened they could have used this as a gateway into the Marvel Now. Doing it that way would have been a good excuse as to why the Marvel Now is happening. And the last of this little Marvel rant is that Wolverine was killed by Wolverine that were both from the future of the same future but one was one with more time in his life from going back in time (see headache). Exactly how did he kill himself? How long has he known that he can kill himself? And how did he learn that is the way?

DC Comics:
The release of Batman/Superman was this week and I'm already hooked. This story takes place at the beginning of their careers being heroes and both don't know each other. Well they kind of do or don't, there's a time thing going on here or dream thing. There's a new villain that has put the whammy of Batman and Superman. This comic is extremely awesome. Mainly due to the gorgeous art work by Jae Lee. When I see his work like this I love it and I start wishing I could draw like that. It's beautiful, it's gritty, and it's dark, exactly how I want Batman to look but then he also puts a glow about Superman that I expect to see. No not like the expectant mother glow but the because he's Superman he has a brightness to him where light is brighter just because he's there.

This book should last, I'm hoping it does especially with the work of Jae Lee, but if it does get canceled I will be upset. Seems a little premature to say that with only 1 issue being released but this book was that good. I love the way Bruce Wayne is shown to have this calculating way while watching Clark Kent and Clark is basically judging Bruce. Better still was how Batman was prepared and that's what makes him Batman.

UPCOMING TITLES TO READ:
The Emerald City of Oz #1
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Rlease Date: July 3, 2013
Cover Price: $3.99
Written by: Eric Shanower
Drawn by: Skottie Young
Plot: Bad news for Dorothy comes when Uncle Henry can't pay for his mortage and has to sell their farm. Now they are homeless and there's only one place for Uncle Henry, Aunt Em, and Dorothy to go and it's a wonderous place in deed.

Green Lantern #22
Publisher: DC Comics
Release Date: July 3, 2013
Cover Price: $2.99
Written by: Robert Venditi
Drawn by: Richard Friend
Plot: Larfleeze has made his way to OA and he wants it all.

Victories #3
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Release Date: July 3, 2013
Cover Price: $3.99
Written by: Michael Avon Oeming
Plot: Aliens, flesh eating diseases, and death are taking over this issue, should be interesting.

Tags: