August 30, 2010 · 5:37 am

Review: DV8 (Part 5 of 8)

I love this trend of having awesome writers take lost and forgotten titles from yesteryear and hotwiring them into today’s new hotrods. For example, Andy Diggle did just that recently with “The Losers” without any reverential care to the title’s back story. Too much respect can get tedious. The same here with Brian Wood’s take on “DV8,” published by Wildstorm. This is far from a retread. It is a whole new ball game.

It’s enough to know that Wood found the original interesting. No need for him to canonize it. Instead, he draws inspiration for his story from one of John Huston’s greatest films, “The Man Who Would Be King.” If you haven’t seen it, do yourself a favor and grab it. Michael Caine and Sean Connery, in their prime, are two rogue British Victorian soldiers who decide that, between the two of them, they can exploit all the tribes of Afghanistan. A finer cautionary tale, for individuals and superpowers alike, is hard to come by.

And so a somewhat similar tale unfolds with a band of rogue young punks with superpowers. Sean Connery’s character, Daniel, explains to a bewildered clan of natives who have just witnessed his use of a firearm, that he is a god that has fallen from the sky. The DV8 team literally falls from the sky and crash land onto an alien planet. They sort of take it in stride as part of their latest mission until the full implications of what has happened have some terrified and others excited. Just like the Michael Caine character, Peachy, is left to tell the tale, so too one of the DV8 crew, Gem, takes on the role of narrator as part of her debriefing from some unseen authority.

For Issue Five, Rachel is at the height of her powers as a “god” ruling over a settlement. So drunk with power is she that her comeuppance can not be too far behind. It certainly doesn’t help that she’s been running ragged one of her DV8 mates who she has reduced to the role of a pet.

The collected trade of “DV8” will be a thing of beauty. It is quite a beautiful collaboration between writer Brian Wood and artist Rebekah Isaacs.

This eight issue limited run is so sweet that I highly recommend picking up the remaining issues if you are still new to this. It is quite a stylish treat down to the last page. Huge props too for Fiona Staples’s cover and such sublime colors by Carrie Strachan and spot on lettering by Jared K. Fletcher. If you’re just discovering “DV8,” then consider yourself lucky to what awaits you and congratulate yourself on your good taste.

Leave a comment

Filed under DC Comics, Wildstorm

August 30, 2010 · 4:05 am

Wonder Woman vs. Captain America

Just for fun: if Wonder Woman and Captain America suddenly had to fight, who would win? And I’m talking about what is currently running: the JMS Wonder Woman and the Ed Brubaker Captain America. My point? Well, I respectfully say here that poor Wondy is really drifting away from us. But it’s not too late. I really feel the story needs to pick up and maybe that means a rewrite and a shifting of course. Is that possible? Anything is possible.

The Correctness Superhero Smackdown is onto to something with their match-up of Cap and Wondy and they give it to Wondy. But, between the current runs, it’s gotta go to Cap. But I would be more than pleased to see Wondy give Cap a run for his money.

Leave a comment

Filed under Captain America, comic books, Comics, DC Comics, Marvel Comics, Wonder Woman

August 29, 2010 · 6:01 pm

Review: Captain America #609

In a smack down with Wonder Woman, these days, Captain America wins big. Comparing Captain America #609 to Wonder Woman #602 is not a pretty sight. Maybe it shouldn’t be done but, then again, these are comics, your money, and you need to pick and choose. I know some collectors barely even read what they buy. There is such a thing as comics addiction: people who will simply buy every issue of a Batman or Spider-Man or Superman, etc. But, if you’re really in this to read and enjoy worthwhile comics, then you can’t go wrong with Captain America.

Ed Brubaker does not keep winning Eisner Awards for nothing. The fact is, a lot of people do read their comics and they’re discriminating readers. The thing with Mr. Brubaker is that he is a very talented and dedicated writer. He has been around the block a number of times. He can now speak for and interpret Captain America like it is part of his DNA. One important point, he understands the huge difference between padding and pacing. J. Michael Stracyznski’s Wonder Woman run is turning out to be a prime example in padding. Ed Brubaker, on the other hand, has a great feel for what is going to keep the story moving along at a natural pace that keeps you turning the page.

Now, I wasn’t sure if I would take to a Captain America story arc under the banner of “The Heroic Age” but Brubaker has managed to not get bogged down by any heavy Marvel history. I don’t always feel like slogging back to look up the continuity and, thankfully, this story is so smooth, that I can jump right in. Maybe you’re even better off just accepting events as they unfold. There’s just a touch of the Red Skull in this story to resonate throughout. Mostly, you’ve got Zemo, some freak who won’t let Bucky Barnes have a life. No, this psycho is bent on smearing Bucky’s face in his Winter Soldier past. He stalks Bucky. He taunts Bucky. And he finally lures Bucky into his trap. That’s all you really need to concern yourself about. This is a lean and mean story that holds up well because it knows where it’s going.

As I say, this stuff is smooth as butter. Art-wise too, I have no complaints. Usually, when I see a mass of artists involved in an issue, that will raise concerns. I, like you, would prefer one artistic vision by one really cool artist. But, if the styles don’t take you out of the story, then I’m more than okay with it. The styles can even cause a little tension between each other, and that can work too. You know, it’s always good to feel that human beings are out there creating this. You never want to have a “house style” dominate the comic. At least I don’t. Anyway, I find, and you should find, that the action scenes, the procedural scenes, all the scenes, work well in this issue.

Captain America #609 does not daddle in back story. There’s no need for it. Instead, the action takes center stage. Things move fast in this issue but with a purpose. Always remember, if the action is purposeful, then it is serving the story and the reader! Zemo, and his henchmen, have come for Bucky and Bucky is not ready for it! That’s what you need to know. Now, go out and read it.

Leave a comment

Filed under Captain America, comic books, Comics, Marvel Comics

Tagged as

August 29, 2010 · 1:55 am

Review: Wonder Woman #602

With all the ruckus over J. Michael Straczynski taking on the writing of both “Superman” and “Wonder Woman,” the best bet here is keep the quality up and remain consistently good, not just in the writing but it in the artwork too. The art in Wonder Woman #602 falls short way too many times that it is distracting and pulls you out of the story. Don Kramer takes the lead in #601 and it shows. But he shares art duties with a number of artists in this issue and it just feels like a busy mess. It’s certainly not the first time that this has happened in a comic. Not too long ago, Wonder Woman #44 suffered a bit from a clash in styles, although the art was superb throughout.

With #602, the problem might be chalked up to a rushed work schedule for the artists. Some of these compositions are simply ill-conceived. Only four pages in, and we get a filler montage of Wonder Woman taking on a army. Arms outstretched in a big portrait, apparently she’s using her bracelets to fend off bullets. Three smaller portraits have her running into the melee. One small portrait seems to be emerging from Wondy’s crotch. Is there deep meaning behind this? Wonder Woman giving birth to Wonder Woman? No, probably not.

As for the story, again, it’s not as intriguing as Wonder Woman giving birth to Wonder Woman. No, basically, you have it plodding along with the theme of WW, lost and trying to find her way. A fragment from WW’s Amazon past has lodged itself on Earth. It doesn’t belong on Earth and so it quickly becomes the target of military gunfire. Numerous fight scenes ensue, most of which find Wonder Woman plunging into the fray, arms outstretched. It feels more like a video game than a comic. There’s a drawn out scene of Wondy arguing with a huge bust of a fallen god that smells like filler. It is useless. It does not advance the story. It is filler. It does more to convince me that superhero stories daddle in back story at their own peril.

Leave a comment

Filed under comic books, Comics, DC Comics, Wonder Woman

Tagged as

August 23, 2010 · 4:50 pm

Review: Rotten #7 The Evolution of a Cult Hit

In the zombie wars of comics, and even movies, “Rotten” keeps rising to the top. This comic book, published by Moonstone Books, written by Mark Rahner (creator) and Robert Horton and illustrated by Dan Dougherty, is most assuredly a cult hit you need to be reading.

Issue 7 brings us a whole new story with what feels like a renewed energy for an already excellent comic. All you really need to know is that secret agents J.J. Flynn and William Wade are on a mission for Pres. Hayes, circa 1877, and are up to their necks in zombies. For Flynn, it is all research at the University of Chicago. For Wade, he’s face to face with the ghouls in the Pacific Northwest territory.

Cinematic. Smooth. Sexy. Horor done right. All this applies to “Rotten.”

“Revival of the Fittest,” the new arc, comes out of the gate kicking zombie ass: Wade, outfitted with zombie resistant leather and brass knuckles with spears, shoots down his first zombie just as he rides in on a horse into northwestern territory. Try as he might, he finds himself only a few steps ahead and not really getting a better understanding of the undead outside of refining the way he thrashes them. He seems to destroy them most of the time. There’s  no way to know for sure. It’s not an exact science, as far as he knows. However, if there is a science to zombies, agent Flynn, back at the University of Chicago, does his best to uncover it with the help of Professor Chandler.

Dan Dougherty’s artwork, already impressive, seems even smoother with this story. I’ve always admired Dougherty’s angular lines. There is a distinctive precision to what he does. This far into the comic, you expect some tweaks. I think Rahner and Horton are digging deeper into the feelings of their main characters, Wade and Flynn, and Dougherty is portraying that feeling. It looks like very crisp pencil work. And he is opening up the space more to allow the characters to breathe. I always thought that “Rotten” could benefit from more of a human touch to balance out the zombies. So, it is good that Flynn gets laid, and by a vibrant pretty woman, without a hint of the undead funk.

The style of “Rotten” is coming more into its own too. It has always been a superior comic to a lot of what is out there. Sharp observers are already hip to that and I count myself among them! I’m just saying that what works for “Rotten” appears to be working even better, like its overall look. By now, regular readers are accustomed to the biting social commentary of “Rotten.” Politics can be a very prickly subject that this comic has not shied away from and I think that is evolving in a smoother fashion. It is not necessarily tilted in one direction or another. In the spirit of George Romero, it just is. Whatever your politics, having Charles Darwin within reach to discuss the potential evolution of the undead is hilarious and a stroke of genius.

And then there’s the cliff hanger ending to this issue which may linger for awhile. Flynn may or may not have been ground up into sausage! All signs point to it being the end of agent J.J. Flynn but, like any good cliff hanger, it really leaves you wondering. What this latest issue does it make us care even more about our main characters. Agent Wade, for his part, is feeling the wrath of a bunch of very freaked out zombies. He is looking fierce, determined and dangerous, to zombies. We can only hope some of the same for Flynn. This issue is clearly another “Rotten” success.

Bonus track: There was a contest recently inviting fans of this comic to win a chance at appearing in Issue 9.  It was put on in connection with a very cool group of zombie and horror fans who happen to run ZomBcon. If you are in Seattle, you should definitely check out this convention devoted to all things zombie. It is October 29, 30 and 31 at Seattle Center.

Leave a comment

Filed under comic books, Comics, Moonstone Books

Tagged as

August 23, 2010 · 3:27 pm

Movie: One Hundred Mornings

When was the last time you saw a movie about a post-apocalyptic Ireland? Like, never? After you read the latest issue of “Rotten,” and you happen to be in the LA area, go check out, “One Hundred Mornings.”

There is a special screening of the movie all thanks to this really rad creative collective, the Work Book Project. They are a growing community of artists, designers, filmmakers and creatives and the founders of the web series, RADAR that you should also check out.

Here is where you can see the movie in LA in September:

What: One Hundred Mornings screening

Where: Downtown Independent Theatre, 251 South Main St., Los Angeles, CA 90012

Screenings: Opening night is Thursday September 16th at 8:00PM

Subsequent screenings:

Friday Sep 17th: 7:30, 9:30

Sat Sep 18th: 5:30, 7:30, 9:30

Sun Sep 19th: 5:30, 7:30, 9:30

Mon Sep 20th: 7:30, 9:30

Tues Sep 21st: : 7:30, 9:30

Wed Sep 22nd: 7:30, 9:30

More info that you can use anytime:

About One Hundred Mornings

www.onehundredmornings.com

(85 mins, Ireland, written and directed by Conor Horgan)

Awards include: Slamdance Special Mention, IFTA for Best Cinematography

Set in a world upended by a complete breakdown of society, two couples hide out in a lakeside cabin hoping to survive the crisis. As resources run low and external threats increase, each of them faces a critical decision they never thought they’d have to make.

About The Workbook Project Discovery and Distribution Award

The WorkBook Project Discovery and Distribution Award is part of an expanded WBP initiative to provide tangible options for those working in film, music, games, design and software to fund, create, distribute and sustain.  The award opens new channels and modes of distribution currently unavailable in the traditional system and established festival circuit. Pooling distribution channels, making them accessible, and spotlighting a featured filmmaker with theatrical run and packaged PR through secured resources, the WBP Award displaces a limited bottleneck system with an open-source, sustainability model. In addition to the winner, The WBP awarded another 20 selected filmmakers with an exclusive digital distribution access package provided by WBP Award partner IndieFlix that will place them on Hulu, iTunes, Netfilx, and variety of other outlets.


Leave a comment

Filed under movies

Tagged as

August 19, 2010 · 8:22 pm

Batman Beyond: Complete Series out on DVD November 23

There was a lot of buzz at Comic-Con over this collection of the animated series, BATMAN BEYOND. It is the latest awesome Warner Home Video to catch my eye. Warner Home Video will distribute this limited edition DVD set of all 52 episodes of the series on November 23. All things considered, this would make an excellent gift for the holidays.

The series provides an intriguing new wrinkle into the Batman mythos. The setup is that Bruce Wayne is now an old man, retired and done with crime-fighting. Enter Terry McGinnis. He is just a regular teen boy until one day his father is murdered. This echoes Bruce Wayne’s own family tragedy. To make it worse, the murder mystery leads back to Wayne/Powers Corporation.

This DVD set is loaded with extras, including a movie celebrating the 75th anniversary of DC Comics. There’s also tons of stuff about Batman and his gear. Lots of amazing voice talent, which includes Henry Rollins, from the legendary punk bank, Black Flag; Dan Castellaneta (The Simpsons) and George Takei (Star Trek). The production team, the writing team, everybody on board this one is providing you with quality product.

Press release follows:

BATMAN BEYOND: THE COMPLETE SERIES

LIMITED EDITION COMPILATION SET! INCLUDES ALL 52 ACTION-PACKED EPISODES

PLUS THREE NEW BONUS FEATURETTES

WARNER HOME VIDEO TO DISTRIBUTE DVD SET NOV. 23

BURBANK, CA (August 18, 2010) – Warner Bros. Animation’s breakthrough

series Batman Beyond comes to DVD for the first time in its entirety.

Featuring DC Comics’ iconic hero, Batman, Batman Beyond: The Complete

Series presents nearly 20 hours of animated action spread over 52

episodes, as well as all-new bonus featurettes and a 24-page, 8”x 12”

collectible booklet. Batman Beyond: The Complete Series will be

distributed by Warner Home Video on November 23, 2010 as a nine-disc

limited edition DVD set for $99.98 (SRP).

Batman Beyond: The Complete Series centers on Terry McGinnis, an

ordinary teenager … until his father is mysteriously murdered.

Suspecting foul play at his father’s company, Wayne/Powers

Corporation, Terry meets Bruce Wayne and learns of a secret identity

hidden for decades. Now too old to don the cape and cowl as Batman,

Wayne refuses to help – so Terry does what any brash young kid would

do: steal the Bat-suit and take matters into his own hands! Vowing to

avenge his father’s death, Terry dons the high-tech suit tricked out

with jetpacks, a supersensitive microphone and even camouflage

capabilities in search of his father’s assassin. It’s 52 action-packed

episodes following the adventures of the partnership between an

ex-crimefighter and his apprentice, starring Will Friedle (Boy Meets

World) as Terry McGinnis and, reprising his seminal role, Kevin Conroy

(Batman: The Animated Series) as Bruce Wayne.

Casting throughout the series’ 52 episodes featured award winners from

feature films, primetime television and the Broadway stage – from Paul

Winfield, Stockard Channing and Seth Green to

William H. Macy, Wayne Brady and Teri Garr – not to mention George

Lazenby (On Her Majesty’s Secret Service), Dan Castellaneta (The

Simpsons), Jodi Benson (The Little Mermaid), George Takei (Star Trek)

and Henry Rollins (the front man for the rock band, Black Flag).

An all-star production team was headed by executive producer Jean

MacCurdy and producers Bruce Timm, Alan Burnett, Glen Murakami and

Paul Dini. Writers on the series included Burnett and Dini, as well as

Stan Berkowitz, Bob Goodman, Rich Fogel, Hilary Bader and John McCann.

Included in the beautifully custom designed package is a 24-page, 8”x

12” collectible booklet with the inside perspective and artwork from

the vaults especially compiled by DC Comics for this release.

Three new bonus features created specifically for the Batman Beyond:

The Complete Series are:

TOMORROW KNIGHT: THE BATMAN REBORN

The “Batman Beyond” creative team gives you a peek into the character

of Terry McGinnis, and what made him worthy to become the new Caped Crusader.

GOTHAM: CITY OF THE FUTURE

A look at Gotham City, circa 2039, and how the team built a realistic

vision of the near future while remaining true to the city they

created in Batman: The Animated Series.

THE HIGH TECH HERO

Explore the technology behind the Bat-suit, its amazing powers and the real world science that inspired it.

The collection will also contain the DC 75th anniversary documentary,

Secret Origin:  The Story of DC Comics.

“Batman Beyond was a landmark series as it created altogether new

directions for the iconic character, and added dimensions for fans

both old and new to the Batman mythology,” said Amit Desai, WHV Vice

President of Family, Animation & Sports Marketing. “Warner Home Video

is proud to release this important series in an all-encompassing box

set, just in time to make a perfect holiday gift for the ultimate

fan.”

About Warner Home Video:

With operations in 90 international territories Warner Home Video, a

Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, commands the largest distribution

infrastructure in the global video marketplace.  Warner Home Video’s

film library is the largest of any studio, offering top quality new

and vintage titles from the repertoires of Warner Bros. Pictures,

Turner Entertainment, Castle Rock Entertainment, HBO Home Video and New Line Home Entertainment.

About DC Entertainment:

DC Entertainment, home to such iconic DC Comics properties as

Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, The Flash, MAD

Magazine, and Fables, is the creative division charged with

strategically integrating across Warner Bros. and Time Warner.  DC

Entertainment works in concert with many key Warner Bros. divisions to

unleash its superheroic characters across all media, including but not

limited to film, television, consumer products, home entertainment,

and interactive games. Publishing over 1,000 comic books, graphic

novels and magazines each year, DC Comics is the largest

English-language publisher of comics in the world.

DC SUPER HEROES and all related characters and elements are trademarks of and © DC Comics.

About Warner Bros. Animation:

Warner Bros. Animation (WBA) has been producing award-winning original

animation since 1930, when it released its first cartoon, “Sinkin’ in

the Bathtub.” Since then, WBA’s characters have set the standard for

innovative, quality animation. Producing for network and cable

television, online, home entertainment and feature films both

domestically and internationally, WBA is highly respected for its

creative and technical excellence, as well as for maintaining the

studio’s rich cartoon heritage. WBA also oversees the creative use and

production of animated programming based on classic cartoon characters

from the Hanna-Barbera and DC Comics libraries. WBA is one of the

most-honored animation studios in history.

Leave a comment

Filed under animation, Batman, Comic-Con 2010, Comic-Con International, Comics, DC Comics, movies

August 15, 2010 · 10:02 pm

Movie: Scott Pilgrim: #5 at the Box Office is not so bad.

This from Reuters:

A third newcomer, the comic-book adaptation “Scott Pilgrim vs. The World,” bombed at No. 5 with $10.5 million. It marks the second disappointment this month for General Electric Co-owned distributor Universal Pictures, following “Charlie St. Cloud.”

Well, when was the last time you laid your hands on $10.5 million? Not great in the movie world but nice enough all things considered. You can’t blame the content or the fact it comes from a comic book. This movie will continue to make money. So, no tears please.

Leave a comment

Filed under movies

Tagged as

August 15, 2010 · 2:42 pm

Movie: The Other Guys: Eva Mendes

One reason to see “The Other Guys” is definitley Eva Mendes. She is a very smart, funny and talented person. And she also happens to be hot. Here she is holding her own with the amazing Will Ferrell, director Adam McKay and Mark Wahlberg. And here is a close-up of her in that very cool metallic dress by Vivienne Westwood.

Leave a comment

Filed under movies

Tagged as ,

August 13, 2010 · 7:15 am

Preview: Rat Catcher by Andy Diggle

I must confess that I totally missed the boat on “The Losers.” It’s been a very busy year outside of comics. That said, just as I’m getting caught up on the masterpiece by Andy Diggle and Jock, I have another Diggle book to look forward to in November. This is really the sort of stuff I like, offbeat, gritty, quality goods.

From the Vertigo blog:

According to underworld legend, the Rat Catcher is a peerless assassin who specializes in silencing mob snitches. There’s just one problem—he doesn’t exist. At least, not according to the U.S. Marshals who oversee the Witness Protection Program….

Now, there’s a pile of dead bodies in a burning safe house outside El Paso. The Rat Catcher has finally slipped up, and a washed up FBI agent has one last chance to hunt him down before he disappears forever. But as the two master manhunters spiral in towards each other in a deadly game of cat and mouse, each of them hides a secret from the other—secrets that could destroy them both.

New York Times best-selling author Andy Diggle (THE LOSERS) partners with future superstar Victor Ibanez in a tense Vertigo Crime thriller that’s unrelenting to the very last twist.

2 Comments

Filed under comic books, Comics, DC Comics, graphic novels, Vertigo