IRON MAN 2 [Review]

Not only are Tony Stark and Iron Man one, but Robert Downey, Jr. completes the set. This role has been the part of a lifetime for RDJ, and he plays Tony Stark with such a perfect mix of glee and determination that it even makes this lifelong die-hard Batman fan sit back and say, “Bruce who?”

IM2 is nothing but pure fun from start to finish, and the movie just flies by. The action is non-stop, the dialogue is sharp and funny, and this is the perfect movie to kick off what promises to be a really outstanding summer at the movies.

To read the rest, click on over to PopBunker.net!

Also, big thanks to everyone who came out to the PacSci IMAX to see this film with the Comic Stop Social Club. It was an great night out with everyone! Let's do it again sometime, okay?

Kick-Ass: Yes, It Did.

In every way possible, this movie lived up to its title. Kick-Ass is a really great movie and, a few cosmetic differences aside, an adaptation that stayed very loyal to its source material.

After being bullied, mugged, and since pretty girls generally ignore him, Dave Lizewski (Aaron Johnson) decides to give being a hero a try. He dons a scuba suit and mask, goes out and confronts a couple of car thieves, gets beat to a pulp, and then run over by a car. After six months in traction, he tries again. He’s still in over his head.

For the rest of the review, click on over to Pop Bunker!

Bullet Point Reviews

Going to try something new, and just do some quick reviews of the books on my pull list this week.

Amazing Spider-Man #608:

• I'm kind of enjoying this book, and loved the hilarious cold open with the liveblogging villain Screwball. I'm grateful to writer Marc Guggenheim for not using any "world-wide webslinger" jokes so I could use that one here.
• The narrative worked smoothly as it flashed back to Ben Reilly and Damon Ryder's beginnings, and Ryder/Raptor's battles with Peter in the present.
• I also like that this storyline ties into the Clone Saga, as that storyline is being revised in a current miniseries. Saves me the hassle of having to track down a trade or do online recon, since I'm a Marvel Noob.
• Elwood Says: Catch this one in your web.

Angel #26:

• Anyone who's ever been to, or worked at, a comic book/sci-fi convention will love this issue. It's funny because it's true.
• Anyone who's ever wondered if Nicolas Cage wants to play every comic book/sci-fi personality there is will laugh and cry. Nice cameo from Jorge Garcia, too.
• Issue misfires at the end. I don't think that Angel is who Spike wants to be, at least not literally.
• Elwood Says: Empty calories, but a smile-time read.

Batman and Robin #5:

• Philip Tan's art is woefully misapplied here. I know that, to avoid delays, Frank Quitely is only doing so many issues at a time, but Quitely's art matches the goofy storyline much better than the more serious art of Tan.
• Flamingo?!?
• We get confirmation that the Red Hood is who we think he his, and he's gone red under the hood as well. Also, Scarlett is one messed up little girl. Wow.
• Elwood Says: Still worth buying, but unless a steady team takes over the book I can see the novelty wearing off fast.

Batman Annual #27:

• Kicking off a storyline that is set to continue in next week's Detective Comics Annual #11, This is acting as a backdoor pilot for the new "Azrael" series that begins in two weeks. I don't see why this was necessary, since Azrael got a 3-issue mini during Battle for the Cowl.
• The "Lil Gotham" splash page was awesome!
• The back-up story (also continued next week) was sloppy, especially Kelley Jones' art. That's sad.
• Elwood Says: Blergh. You can skip this one.

Batman Confidential #34:

• I'm digging this Russian story, and the return of the KGBeast, but sales aren't great for this title. I wonder if DC is just holding on to it as a way to keep Bruce Wayne on the reader's radar.
• Andy Clarke's art is fun to look at. He does facial expressions almost as well as Keith Giffen or Amanda Connor.
• I know that the letterers want us to know that the language being spoken isn't English when they use the "" format, but I keep looking for the "" later. Stupid internets.
  
• Elwood Says: Decent reading overall. Worth a look.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer #29:

• This title has been consistently awesome since it relaunched, and this issue is no exception. The fact that not only Joss Whedon, but other writers from the show like the current arc's Jane Espenson, are involved with the book makes it a natural extension of the TV series.
• The romance brewing between Xander and Dawn I'm unsure about. I know that by now Dawn's passed the age of majority, but I can't help but wonder if his feelings for her are anything but residual Buffy-crush. Also, Xander's on the rebound after his last girlfriend was killed in the line. I'm concerned.
• The "redirecting" of the Magics has built new strengths in the team, but it takes a horrible toll on Oz near the end.
• Elwood Says: If you're not reading this book, then we can't be friends.

Final Crisis Aftermath: Run! #6:

• Thank God. It's finally over.
• Elwood Says: See the last bullet.

Ghostbusters: Displaced Aggression #2:

• After being rescued from the Old West by the new GB Rachel Unglighter, she and Peter Venkman are transported to Camelot in search of Ray Stantz. They find themselves immediately on the pointy end of King Arthur's sword. Hi-jinx ensue.
• It might come as a shock to anyone who hasn't read comics, watched TV, or ever been to the movies before but the new chick might not be on the up-and-up. I know!
• "Half-Sister." "But ALL hot!" I could hear Bill Murray right there. Good work.
• Elwood Says: IDW is doing great things with their various licenses, but this might read better when the trade comes out. Up to you.

Justice League: Cry For Justice #4:

• This miniseries has been all lead-up and no pay-off. While I'm liking Mauro Cascioli's art, the story just drags. I wish that this had been condensed into a couple of prestige format books, as it would have forced James Robinson to tighten up the narrative. I'm bored now.
• Similarly, for a team that Cries For Justice ("What do we want? JUSTICE! When do we want it? NOW!") enough to tell Superman where to stick his Kryptonite, they are not being at all expedient in their cause. Which is ironic when there's a Flash on the team.
  
• Blah blah torture yadda yadda by any means...this book is about two years late to be considered social commentary.
• Elwood Says: Whatever.

Models, Inc. #2:

• This has been a surprisingly entertaining miniseries so far. Issue #1 had Tim Gunn donning the Iron Man suit, and set up a decent murder mystery. It's been interesting to see the number of non-comic readers asking about and/or buying the first issue just because of Tim Gunn. Marvel does find clever ways to market books to new buyers, that's for sure.
• Special appearance by Johnny Storm in this issue. Where go models, so naturally goes the Human Torch, right?
• Between this book and Marvel Divas, Patsy Walker is getting lots of face time these days.
• Elwood Says: Light fun, and a book you might be able to get your girlfriend to read (if she's not already into comics).

Star Trek Romulans: Schism #2:

• I really like the way IDW is handling the Trek comics franchise, but I wish they wouldn't throw so much work at John Byrne. I don't care for his art at all anymore. This story has been decent, and ties back to Byrne's last Trek mini ("Crew").
• Byrne does capture the look and feel of Star Trek: TOS in this book, and I give props to colorist Lovern Kindzierski for that.
• Cool reveal - the first Romulan Bird of Prey!
• Elwood Says: For the die-hard Trekkies (Trekkers, if you prefer) this is right in your wheelhouse.

Superman: World of New Krypton #8:

• Am I the only one reading this book that likes to call it "WONK?"
• I have to admit, I'm unclear on the Thanagarian's motivation here. I didn't read any of the Rann-Thanagarian war miniseries, so I'm not sure what's driving them to attack the Kryptonians, aside from a long history of conflict. A quick flip through the last few issues confirms that I didn't miss a thread somewhere, and the fight is quickly dispatched, so I guess I'll roll with it.
• A new enemy emerges on a final page reveal, so more of the same next month. I don't know why this miniseries went from being almost all about the internal struggles on New Krypton to being about external threats and how Kal-El deals with it, but it has.
• Elwood Says: It was solid up until now, but there are 4 issues to go. I have faith in Greg Rucka, so I'll stick it out.

Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #3:

• This has to be one of my favorite books right now. Bendis' writing, paired with David LaFuente's art, makes this book pop. I didn't read USM before, but with the post-Ultimatum relaunch I got on board and I don't regret the decision at all.
• Very emotional interaction between Aunt May and Johnny Storm, as they talk about where Johnny's been since the wave hit, and how Johnny needs to reach out to his sister. Equally emotional argument between Peter and MJ later, and I have to say...I don't miss high school at all.
• The fight with Mysterio devolved into a Die Hard 3 rip-off, but this gets acknowledged in the dialogue, so that made it all better.
• Elwood Says: Anyone with severe arachnophobia should avoid the splash page in the middle of the book, but otherwise you should all be reading UCSM. Seriously.
  

Review: "Spider-Woman" #1

I'm not much of a Marvel Comics reader. I have always been a DC Comics guy, with "Crisis on Infinite Earths" being my gateway drug. Over the years I've dipped my toes into the Marvel pool as events, characters, writers, and/or artists have piqued my interest.

I've read "Astonishing X-Men" and "Runaways" for Joss Whedon, "She-Hulk" for Dan Slott, and I'm currently reading "Captain America: Reborn" just to see how they manage Steve's return. I'm reading "Marvel Divas" because Girl Friday told me too. "Models, Inc." for the novelty of it; "Punisher: Noir" because it's awesome.

So why did I pick up a copy of "Spider-Woman" #1?

I'm not going to lie. I thought it was a continuation of the Jessica JONES story from "Alias" and "The Pulse," both written by Bendis. I thought that Alex Maleev's art reminded me a lot of the Michael Gaydos art from "Alias" and I grabbed the book up. I really liked what I read, and despite the mistaken identity, I will continue to pull the title because now I want to see what happens.

I didn't feel like I had to go back and read through Civil War or Secret Invasion to get where the book was coming from, and that was accomplished with minimal exposition. Jessica DREW is having a hard time dealing with the fallout from the aforementioned events, we're dropped right in as Jessica is recruited by S.W.O.R.D. and attacked by a Spider-Man suit wearing Skrull. I found it to be a clean read, and a great place to jump into the outskirts of the Marvel Universe.

This is not so much to show how much I am not a Marvel Guy, that I took mistook this Jessica (Drew) for the other one (Jones), nor will this turn into a long calculated analysis about how Marvel and DC (and their respective readers) are oil and water, and cross-over on the pull lists is never 50/50. That's an essay for some other blogger, because if I wanted to write a dissertation, I'd go back to school.

In the end, I think this teaches that even when you're dead-to-rights wrong over the reasons you choose a book, don't let that discourage you from reading it, or even enjoying it. You never know what you're going to find in those 22 glossy pages.

Are there any other Marvel titles out there that a noob like me would like? Leave a comment if you think of any.

Review: "Superman: Secret Origin"

Geoff Johns. The DCU Master Storyteller who has resurrected numerous characters without expolding most of the landmines involved with retroactive continuity.

Gary Franks. One of the best artists in comics today, and one of my favorites since "Midnight Nation" almost 10 years ago.

They knocked Action Comics out of the park over the last couple of years. What could go wrong with this re-telling of the humble beginnings of the Man of Steel?

Sadly, quite a bit.

Nevermind that when I personally think of the "true" origin of Superman I go back to the John Byrne relaunch following Crisis on Infinite Earths. Nevermind the fact that Mark Waid's "Birthright" series was only 5-6 years ago. I went into the first issue of "Secret Origin" with an open mind, excited to see what these creators could do, and I finished the issue saddened.

Writing: Not only was the story unoriginal, but because of the fact that Johns is writing for the show, and all of the properties are under the same corporate umbrella, I think that DC Comics is trying to make "Smallville" canon. So much so, I honestly expected a Chloe Sullivan cameo to happen before the book ended. Guess what...it did.

Clark breaks Pete Ross' arm. Clark discovers that his heat vision is triggered by sexual arousal. Lana Lang is a whiny, self-centered twit. All "Smallville" staples.

Lex Luthor is once again somehow a resident of Smallville. After being written out of the city's history in Byrne's Man of Steel, and then being re-injected as a Clark Kent peer by Waid, Geoff Johns introduces us to a Lex Luthor who is older than Clark, a basement scientist and conspiracy theorist, and who finds a chunk of Kryptonite out in the field after running away from his drunk father. Also, Lex has a sister?

By the time the issue is over, Lex hates Clark for the dumbest reason ever, flight has been established, and Lil' Clark is suited up. We're told to expect the Legion in the next issue.

I guess settling the lawsuit over "Superboy" has opened the floodgates for these storylines to come back.

Art: I was really happy when Franks took over Action Comics and began to draw Clark Kent/Superman to resemble Christopher Reeve (pictured left). I thought that was an inspired and iconic touch and I applauded it. That trend is maintained in "Secret Origin" except that Franks seems to have caught whatever bug plagues John Byrne, and is drawing everyone that way. Also, Teenage Clark looks 35.


Overall: I give it 2 "Mehs" and a "Whatever." Why fix things that aren't broken?

The Best Comic I Read Last Week: Angel #25 (Spoilers)

One of the best things about the current "Angel" title from IDW is the willingness of the former show writers and actors to get involved with the continuing storyline after the show was - in my opinion, prematurely - cancelled after it's 5th season.

Like the "8th Season" theme Dark Horse's "Buffy" monthly, "Angel: After the Fall" is giving us what we might have seen had the show(s) continued. We're seeing the life and afterlife of every character, and the book will occasionally take a tangent to showcase a character that hasn't been seen. In the case of Issue #25 (and #24), it's our old friend and pet, Drusilla.

Written by Drusilla herself (Juliet Landau) with an assist from Brian Lynch, we are shown that Dru's been cooped up in the Cuckoo's Nest for a while, but with the entire world - or at least Los Angeles - literally going to Hell she sees her chance to re-enter society in a manner befitting her mental state.

After slaughtering most of the staff in issue #24, #25 finds us more in Drusilla's head as she revisits her origins in the convent, when she was converted by Angelus and Darla. Drusilla also begins having premonitions of what's happening outside the walls of her current housing, and all of this is captured brilliantly by Franco Urru's art.

Urru's faces here are unusually identifiable, something I'm sure the author had a say in.

The two remaining doctors in the facility attempt to analyze and dismiss Dru's visions, but when Drusilla's vision of all of those she has killed - including a cameo from Collin, The Annointed One - becomes reality (at least to her), those manifestations take over.

As the doctors run for their lives, Drusilla gives into her demons, and suddenly finds herself back in Victorian England, pre-vamp, and in her home with her dolls. Is Dru dust in the wind, or just missing in her own head? You be the judge.

The issue ends with a quote from C.S. Lewis: "Do I believe in actual Hell? One's own mind is actual enough." Drusilla didn't need to be in the literal Hell outside, when she was trapped in her own Hell already.

In the end, sometimes it's all just in our heads. I rather enjoyed this trip through the mind of Ms. Landau, and that of her muse, Drusilla.

Throw me the idol, I'll throw you the whip.

Zero Punctuation's review of "Lego: Indiana Jones"...stick around after for his review of Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.