Trailer Time: Inhumanity

Do you think they were like, "give me a scene of Hulk wearing those fancy pants and lifting things up and down"? Also they really need a new voice over guy. Its the same dude for all of these and if he's a terrible hype man. Also I didn't even know this series was out until this trailer!

WTF Cover: The Amazing Spider Man 700.5

Amazing Spider-Man 700.5 cover Well, let’s get the obvious out-of-the-way. How is MJ holding on to Peter? Are her thighs that strong? Is she using her female part as a suction device? A little lick and stick if you will.  With the way that she’s leaning back, you’d think she was riding a Sybian on its highest setting (I learned that was from Howard Stern show). Then there’s Peter’s leg, holy crap they look like sausages that are busting through the skin. Oh and put that fucking mask on! You’re Spider-Man for fucks sake!

Hey Nerd! Get A Custom Tungsten Nerd Ring!

These are great and I don't mean that in a complimentary way. I mean that I laughed my fucking ass off at some of the options they're selling on Art Fire which specializes in engraving tungsten rings with nerd shit. You will literally lose interest before making it through all 91 pages of their products. I tapped out around page nineteen but mostly because I couldn't stop laughing. Here are some choices you have.

Let's start with a classic! You can't go wrong with Wonder Woman...

 

7mm_gold_dome_tungsten_carbide_wonder_woman_ring_sizes_5-15_b0acd777

But don't forget about the Man of Steel!

9mm_tungsten_carbide_pipe_multiple_superman_design_ring_sizes_5-15_8a9f5297

Rounding off the DC trio is of course Batman! 10mm_tungsten_carbide_batman_laser_design_ring_sizes_5-17_fb1cf851

But why settle for normal Batman logo when you can have the shitty Batman and Robin logo?8mm_beveled_tungsten_carbide_batman_and_robin_laser_ring_sizes_4-17_8e3b8942

Or Batman/Superman? There's a movie coming!8mm_tungsten_carbide_domed_batman_superman_design_ring_sizes_5-15_5ae21eb5

Or my personal favorite of Wonder Woman and Captain America? What the fuck?8mm_black_dome_tungsten_carbide_captain_america_and_wonder_woman_ring_b54c4fdb

Or how about Green Lantern and Yellow Lantern... I mean I guess it makes sense10mm_dome_tungsten_carbide_all_lanterns_design_ring_sizes_4-17_8c0c74cd

But maybe you'd prefer something classic like Punisher?10mm_bevel_tungsten_carbide_punisher_laser_design_ring_sizes_4-17_e65cd2a0

Or Spawn!?! Fuck yeahmens_tungsten_carbide_10mm_dome_spawn_design_ring_sizes_5-17_546784a3

Or just remember who's the baddest Mother Fucker in the galaxy is with Vader... 10mm_beveled_tungsten_carbide_darth_vader_laser_design_ring_sizes_5-17_bfa06d05

Remember when this Harry Potter logo was cool? Before it was tattooed on everyone's calf 8mm_beveled_tungsten_carbide_deathly_hallows_design_ring_sizes_5-17_d59ad17f

You could get your Zelda on... 8mm_tungsten_carbide_legend_of_zelda_skyward_sword_crest_and_8_bit_hea_cf6035e9

Or fucking Bubble Bobble? mens_tungsten_ring_10mm_nintendo_dragon_design_ring_sizes_5-17_db955d01

This Time Lord language one is actually cool...8mm_black_dome_tungsten_carbide_doctor_who_design_sizes_5-15_fcd05960

And so is this Jedi one.tungsten_band_8mm_pipe_star_wars_jedi_design_ring_sizes_5-17__5af12406

But nothing would beat a daily reminder of the king of sodas! 12mm_pipe_tungsten_carbide_laser_mountain_dew_design_ring_sizes_5-15_2c8cd7a4

Or if nerd stuff isn't your thing, how about a post 9/11 New York sky line?8mm_tungsten_carbide_pipe_band_chicago_skyline_ring_satin_finish_sizes_24456238

That being said I'm going to send them my wedding ring so they can add the Time Lord lingo and Green Lantern with the Harry Potter symbol on the inside.

Source

Extended Trailer Time: Doctor Who Christmas Special

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlN-SPx1zAg The thing about this Christmas special is that you want it because it's more Doctor Who, but then it's also Matt Smith's departure which is a bummer. David Tennant is still my personal favorite, but there is no denying that Smith had some excellent stories. I would love to have seen Tennant with Smith's budget because it may have been even more incredible. As it stands though... Smith was wonderful and so this last episode is going to be great, but sad.

Review: Ten Grand #6

If you’ll excuse the early pun, Ten Grand is one hell of an interesting story, and I’m not just talking about its plot. However, perhaps its most infamous meta-development - losing its original artist early on due to strange circumstances - may have been the best thing to happen to this series. As much as I loves me some Ben Templesmith, C.P. Smith has really stepped up to the podium here, and is helping writer J. Michael Straczynski transform this book into its own otherworldly entity, and issue six is the perfect example of why.

Being trapped in an amnesiac state in a hell dimension, ex-mob enforcer and current arcane private detective Joe Fitzgerald is in a bit of a pickle. Ten Grand #6 follows along as he does battle with demons, both inner and actual, so that he can save “Heaven” (where the deceased love of his life exists) from being overrun by an incursion from “Hell.”

I often have a problem with the way dreams or dreamscapes are represented in conventional media; they never quite get it right, but thanks to its equally intangible yet somehow solid visual style and the engaging way it’s written, this issue pulls it off nicely. There is real collusion in this book’s collision, and it works well in establishing a real presence and place in a place without any real presence.

tengrand06_coverStraczynski does a great job in issue six of presenting two very different stories: one set in the echo of a grounded, gritty real world of thugs and hitmen, and the other alight with angelic fire and Revelations-style biblical conflict. It’s a strange mix, I’ll grant you, but here presented as diametrically opposed sides of the same story, it stands as a successful treatment. Because of that, too, this book further distances itself from early comparisons with Hellblazer and much like Joe, it flits between two worlds in its own unique way.

As I mentioned earlier, Smith’s art has really made its mark here after his second issue, not least because his use of color is ethereal and fantastic; a perfect way to bruise his Pixar-esque style to fit inside a story set in hell. When the shift in Stracynski’s story does come, it does so with suitable flare (hey look, another pun), mixing holy fire with infernal, sometimes crystalline viscera that allows this book to live up to the its titular use of the word grand.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed Ten Grand #6 as an affirming turn for the series’ new-ish yet well-matched creative team, and I think it’s a stronger title than it has been throughout its run thus far.

At times hazy and at others piercing with tragic clarity, this story benefits from penetrative dialogue and character-building backstory as much as it does cosmic-level angel vs. demon throw-downs. It also ends with an honestly sweet and humorous take on the relationship between man and perceived divinity that I absolutely loved.

I can’t wait to see where this story leads next; whether it’s heaven, hell or someplace in between, I’m betting it’ll continue to be a fun ride.

Score: 5/5

Writer: J. Michael Straczynski Artist: C.P. Smith Publisher: Image/Joe’s Comics Price: $2.99 Release Date: 12/18/13

Review: Scam #4

Well the double-sized series finale of Scam arrived this week and it does a decent job of closing out the mini-series that originally began as five issues and was later shortened to four. I say shortened, but really you’re given both the fourth and fifth issue here and it’s honestly for the better. Joe Mulvey and Publisher Tyler James joked about the fourth issue typically doing the worst in a five issue series and it’s actually pretty true. If you give the fourth issue too much payoff no one will show up for the fifth and so most of the time you’re reading an entire issue that’s just hanging out waiting for the ending. Overall I’ve liked this series, but it hasn’t been without its problems. The first and most glaring is that the cast of characters is too large. Even with a breakdown of characters in the beginning of the issue we’re still introduced to numerous supporting cast members ranging from ex-lovers to secretaries; the Russian mob, a branch of the Japanese Yakuza operating in Vegas and even a cameo from the Pietasters. In total there are about seventeen characters that have pretty strong roles in this final arc of the story.

Then there’s the happy ending business. I’m going to venture into [SPOILER] territory because the last issue left off with a big cliffhanger that instantly gets addressed in this issue. So no one dies. I mean no one. Remember Doc? He was hanging from his neck out of a window after Crosswords got done with him… not dead. Not even injured. Everyone is confused by this because as we saw for two issues Doc has been tortured by Crosswords and it was pretty hardcore stuff. This scene with him alive and well is deflating because it means that every death that follows must also be questioned. For me it played into the more typical superhero structure which was something it hadn’t done until this.

Without droning on too much about the story we basically learn what the crew’s revenge score actually is and it’s not money believe it or not… well not only money. We also see them fully embrace their powers and see the dawn of what I can only describe as an X-Men inspired world. We’re given plenty of mystery about how everyone got their powers and a set up for more stories involving the Crew and the Wildcards. That part I enjoyed. I actually like them having powers and using them as needed rather than their overly cautious usage previously. I also like that there’s another group out there that might be responsible for the powers and in general there’s a lot more going on in this world.

Scam #18-2There was an overall feeling of danger and suspense attached to this series that didn’t pay off for me. Crosswords reveal was pretty disappointing and while there have been worse villain reveals this year, this one still didn’t score very high. The schemes also didn’t pay off. Like I said there seemed to be a lot of danger involved with everyone’s plans, but in the end it felt like “hey let’s all team up for a minute to screw this one guy and then get back to fighting.” I appreciate the layers of complexity, but at some point I think that there were too many layers involved and so the payoff of one was dampened by another.

An aspect I did like of the series and this story was that it was hard to tell the good guys apart from the bad guys. Everyone functions in a grey area, even our main characters dubbed “The Crew.” Sure there doing something noble, but they get the job done by doing anything necessary. The addition of their powers helps for sure, but again they dance in the grey the entire issue.

Creator Joe Mulvey’s art is still an incredible fit for this series. I still think that he needs to trust himself more as an artist to convey the story instead of relying on dialog. Something I’ve said from the beginning of this series is that it’s chatty. Everyone talks and a lot of the time I felt that the characters expressions did as much of the works at the dialog. For instance the scene on the roof when Tru is negotiating a fee for their services, there was so much that could have been trimmed and said with just a stern look. It’s a great scene, but the talk bubbles cover a lot of the art during the buildup.

Mulvey really has an eye for action though. Whether it’s fist-a-cuffs or gun play he makes it look natural and easy to follow. It’s also very epic feeling. A punch to the mouth looks like it causes the character receiving the hit, real pain. The level of details throughout the series has been great and that doesn’t quit here. Colorist Chris Sotomayor continues making the art look pretty. The coloring has definitely stood out to me with this series. I enjoy the look it has and have nothing to compare it too. In a way it looks like 2-D animation which is something most comic readers can appreciate.

If you enjoyed or even just stuck around through the first three issues then you’ll definitely want to see how it ends. I can’t say that you’ll be pleased with every outcome, but for the most part it’s a rewarding conclusion that sets the stage for future stories. I don’t know if Mulvey is going to jump right back in the fray with a follow up, but when the time is right I’m sure we’ll see more of Scam.

Score: 3/5

Writer/Artist/Creator: Joe Mulvey Colorist: Chris Sotomayor Publisher: ComixTribe Price: $3.99 Release Date: 12/18/13

Review: Sledgehammer 44 – Lightning War #2 (of 3)

It’s only been in recent years that I’ve gotten in to Mignola’s line of books at Dark Horse. It has to be the largest shared universe created by one created and organized on a small publisher scale. Sure Scott Allie manages editorial on the line of books, but Mignola hasn’t just handed over the keys to the castle. He’s involved in every story which includes B.P.R.D., Lobster Johnson, Baltimore, Hellboy in Hell and of course the newest addition to the line Sledgehammer 44. Not to mention any one-off mini-series like B.P.R.D. Vampire and the likes. It’s impressive to say the least. The first issue in this mini answered some great questions that were left over from Sledge’s debut. This issue doesn’t so much answer or ask questions as it begins to craft the type of man or spirit that resides in the shell of armor known as Sledgehammer 44.

The issue actually begins with our captured pilot being tortured for information on how to fly the stealth bomber looking jet that the Nazi’s have captured. Meanwhile the plane that Sledge was on is blown up, but instead of hitting the ground our black skull guy swoops him up in the air and begins talking to him. He calls him a turtle and tells him he’s going to kill him inside of his shell. Here’s the interesting thing though, we know that Sledge is technically dead so in a way it makes him invulnerable to these attacks. Sledge uses his lightning blast to make the black skull dude shut up… at least for a minute. Back with our tortured pilot, he manages to free himself from his shackles and turns on a distress signal from inside the plane. He’s captured again unfortunately and they change his torture, no longer wanting the information pulled from his mouth… but from his brain.

Sledgehammer 44 - Lightning War #2 CoverIn the scheme of things the story in this issue moves a half step forward. It’s not much, but then it doesn’t need to cover a lot of ground to be good. The little things that are set in place for the plot are very interesting and while not huge, they offer a payoff to the story. We also see the type of character that Sledge is becoming, a fearless hero that knows when to put himself on the line. For me this story is about Sledge accepting who he’s become, that he’s not the man who was originally in the suit nor is he the man he was before he entered the suit. It’s interesting and again he’s a great addition to the line of books.

John Arcudi and Mignola continue to work in perfect tandem on this series. Really a lot of credit is owed to Arcudi who has now co-written and plotted countless issues with Mignola. They really have one of if not the best writing partnerships in comics. I would personally love to see how they write or plot together. The dialogue is sharp in this issue making Sledge and the exposed Skull dude that goes by “Death” all the more interesting.

With a lot of the Mignolaverse titles there’s one artist or a rotation of artists on a particular series. I’m hoping that Laurence Campbell becomes the regular artist for this series because his artwork is fantastic. The scene in the sky with Sledge and Skull facing off was amazing looking. There really is a sense of awe when looking at this scene. The charm of the Mignolaverse to me is that it is very real feeling. There’s so many true or close to true historical facts that the setting is very believable; so when you see two men fighting in the sky you can’t help but feel tiny. It’s fantastic artwork and Campbell is the perfect fit for this tale.

The only people I’ve meet that didn’t like a Mignola book were people who focused too much on what they didn’t know about the universe rather than the bounty of information each issue provides you. I’ve watched as several writers on the site have become more and more invested in the Mignolaverse and they’re not the first nor will they be the last. This shared universe is incredible and only grows with time. This issue is no better or worse than all the other Mignola titles, but each Mignola title is so incredible that it’s in a league above most other comic books.

Score: 4/5

Writers: Mike Mignola and John Arcudi Artist: Laurence Campbell Colorist: Dave Stewart Publisher: Dark Horse Comics Price: $3.50 Release Date: 12/18/13

Review: B.P.R.D. #114

Written by Guest Contributor: Jordan North B.P.R.D #114 chronicles the redemption of Liz Sherman who, consequently, has become one of my favorite ladies in comics.

B.P.R.D has a tendency to jump around, but in this issue the team stays rooted on one subject in Liz, who needs it to tell such a full story as it does here. In the wake of helping local PD with the mutant outside of the hospital last issue Lis Sherman has found her courage and watching her lead these men through the zombified staff and patients there and picking up more and more of the defiant kick-ass she used to be along the way, is really satisfying in a human way. A person battling their demons literally and figuratively and coming out on top. It’s a great story. And so of course is toppling of Bond-esqe villain Dr. Clyburn who meets a beautifully brutal end this issue. All of this feels possible thanks to a synergy between writer and artist that makes every moment that should splash, splash.

BPRD #114 CoverSeeing Liz rejoin the B.P.R.D again and seeing the near reverence of her by the new recruits is great too, reminding us of just how far she had fallen in the issues prior to this one. It’s great to see.

A Mignola team monster and man story is a good monster and man story. Period.

Score: 5/5

Writer: Mike Mignola & John Arcudi Artist: Tyler Crook Publisher: Dark Horse Comics Price: $3.50 Release Date: 12/18/13

Review: Hawken: Melee #2

We’re in part two now of a five-part series. The thing about this series is that each issue is a standalone story. Kinda cool. Last month we got to see twenty seconds of a pilot’s firefight while waiting for backup. This month we get to see the repercussions of being a hothead and forgetting that you’re part of a team, where survival is based on trust and selflessness. I didn’t know what to expect when I opened this. I guess that I was kind of surprised when I found out that it wasn’t about combat, but instead was about your actions outside of the battlefield. Kinda made me think a little. I didn’t relate to the main character of this story or anything, he’s a jerk, but it definitely made me appreciate the fact that I’ve never been a glory hog. So yes, there’s a moral at the end. Actually, the moral is kind of peppered throughout. Jim Mahfood writes and illustrates this issue of Hawken: Melee. Since everyone’s initial thought when opening a comic is “hmm, I like the look of this”, or “this is interesting”, or “you know what, I don’t like this”, I’ll admit that I was instantly attracted to the art. Since that is, in fact, the first thing that I saw, that’s a good thing. Unless you want to count the cover that was drawn by Jock (which is awesome). But that isn’t why I read it. Mahfood’s art style definitely matches the script of this issue. I got the impression that I was watching an even more poorly dressed Vanilla Ice walking around spouting some of the dumbest nonsense ever spoken. This guy makes every mistake that you can possibly make. He’s found a way to make his entire team dislike him. Honestly, I don’t think that it would be hard to dislike anybody that has his bad habits.

HawkenMelee_2_rev_Page_1I enjoyed this issue for what it was, but I don’t think that it was anything groundbreaking. It was cool to look at, but I would have preferred that it, in some way follow in the same direction that the other Hawken books have gone. I’m not saying that it needed to be more violent, God forbid that I sound like some kind of warmonger, but I definitely wanted to see some more action. Or maybe I just wanted to see a little more action that didn’t involve some fast-talking super-douche that didn’t know when to shut up. The message was definitely important, and I get the reasoning why someone would need to see the negatives of being a jerk, but I just don’t think that this was the right format to get that point across. So this issue was interesting. I hope that that is enough incentive to get you to go pick this up, because it’s definitely worth a read. But if I were doing a group review on this, I think that I’d slap a “Borrow” on it.

Score: 3/5 

Writer/Artist: Jim Mahfood Publisher: Boom/Archaia Entertainment Price: $2.99 Release Date: 12/18/13

Review: Sex #9

What can you say about this title? Sex is the tale of a super hero. What we discover is that the super hero is a man. A man who has needs and urges, but who has denied those needs and urges in order to serve the public. In a sense, he substituted his needs to fight bad guys and uphold justice. Now he is retired and has no outlet to address those needs except through one way… you guessed it, sex. Reviews have been very mixed on this title during its first eight issues with some being good, some bad, and some indifferent. All apparently agree however that it is a little bit on the dirty side and definitely and an adult oriented comic. It is not quite hentai, but it does have its moments throughout the run. It’s not for the kiddies.  That is for sure.

As for me, I think the concept is interesting enough, I know throughout history, comic book people have girlfriends and some even are portrayed here and there, but I can’t remember any comic addressing the feelings that all fanboys have asked at different times in our lives… Do super heroes get laid? Not straight up monogamous sex, but weird and wild freaky sex. I think that this title does try to answer that question. Through the study of their hero, Simon Cooke, they have a character that is rich, formerly a super freak of the crime fighting sect, but a very repressed and awkward person around the bedroom. It’s as if he took all of his freaky feelings and bottled them up so he could fight crime. Now that he is retired as the Armored Saint, his “fix” is gone and he has to address those repressed feelings but he is not quite sure how. Oh yeah, crime is still alive and well too and he has had run ins with past foes.

SEX-09In this issue, it mostly plays in a flashback mode with most of the action happening during the Armored Saint days a couple of years earlier. We witness a crime and pursuit and get to see it from both sides of the coin. Events do not quite go as planned for either party, good or bad, but both deal with the circumstances very differently. It is in those differences that we see how our characters are and it almost shows that it might be those on the wrong side of things who are much more “enlightened” as they are the ones that are in tune to who they are and what they are. Where the heroes are extremely repressed and focused on their shortcomings rather than their strengths. They are trying to impress.

It really is a rigid view that is portrayed very well through the writing of Joe Casey. He does a fine job and I think he taps into an area that is rarely given light in the comic world. That is that many heroes do have insecurities which is what made them heroes in the first place. They must continually prove themselves to themselves. They also must hide behind masks to do it, where the bad guys do what they want, how they want, and don’t really care what others think about them. It is a study in contrasts that is deep and though Sex is the title and focus of this story, I think that Casey is beginning to fall into much loftier ideas than the cellar dwelling that the title would suggest.

Pioter Kowalski is still around doing his thing but we have a guest artist in Morgan Jeske at work here also. He does an ample job in hitting the current action and the flashbacks well. The art is easy to look at and not just the naked bodies. I do think the art does do a good job to hammer in the point of contrasts as “The Old Man” (baddie) is drawn as decrepit and putrefying, yet he has confidence, joy, and apparently lots of sex with pretty women, whereas Simon is attractive, stoic, and emotionally a wreck as a person who gets bent out of shape if things do not go exactly as they should. The art displays this well and I give high marks for this.

Though this has been my first dive into the world of Sex, I found it interesting with the potential to rise well above its base emotions. I think we have a winner here and I am interested to see what is in store for our hero as things progress. I did mention that crime is still happening and potentially some big things too.  Should be interesting as Simon comes face to face with those things that he has run from for some time.

Score: 4/5

Writer: Joe Casey Artists: Morgan Jeske, Piotr Kowalski Publisher: Image Comics Price: $2.99 Release Date: 12/18/13