JUPITER’S MOON REVIEW: A Mind-Bending Film About A Boy Who Can Fly

By

-

From Hungary, the indie science fiction film Jupiter’s Moon follows the story of Aryan, a Syrian refugee played by Zsombor Jéger who is shot to death but doesn’t die and instead discovers he has the incredible power of flight. The indie film, also produced via France and Germany, won Best Film at STIGES and best director at Fantastic Fest and with good reason. Read on!

Jupiter’s Moon: Man or Monster

Is Aryan an angel or a demon? There’s a bit of that debate at the heart of Jupiter’s Moon, a film that starts off big, discussing the many moons of Jupiter. It slowly narrows us down to one, Europa, a celestial body thought to house the potential for life. The film focuses in even more, on a rooster; perhaps a subtle joking wink, as if asking ‘what came first?’ And then we meet Aryan, his father, and a caravan of refugees seeking asylum in Europe. The opening sequence features a Cuaron-esque extended single take of immigrants running for their lives. It’s beautiful and immediately makes you take notice of director Kornél Mundruczó’s (White Dog) technical mastery.

As the story progresses, Jupiter’s Moon reminds us over and over of Aryan’s power. It gives us glimpses into how it plays into the lives of the people who witness the gravity-defying ascent of this super-human. The FX in each case are mind-bending and flawlessly executed in much the same ways as Nolan’s Inception. Aryan’s power is represented in a swim-like rise through the air and accompanied by a lovely theme from composer Jed Kurzel.

Matters are made far worse when …

Aryan is the “super-hero” here, but Jupiter’s Moon closely follows Doctor Gabor Stern (Merab Ninidze) who oversees healthcare at a refugee camp and lets a few escape for the right price. It’s an unspoken arrangement allowed to go on by local law enforcement lead by László (György Cserhalmi). However, when the good doctor witnesses the power of Aryan, his anti-religious nature sees the light and it’s made of money. Later, László sees Aryan hovering and will stop at nothing to get the young man back.

Doctor Stern helps Aryan escape the camp, and together they begin a life of blowing people’s minds for money. The doctor sells a possibility and Aryan makes people a believer by gliding up, like an angel. The arrangement is working well, but Aryan is conflicted. Matters are made far worse when one of the men is framed in a terrorist attack.

Those visuals, man …

The film consistently dazzles with how it uses Aryan’s power to fly. There is no shortage of creativity when it comes to how they show Aryan’s gliding power. One sequence takes us down from an apartment building rooftop. Aryan’s shadow is cast on the wall as we witness the day-to-day lives of random people who are unaware of the magic happening just outside.

From a visual point of view, Jupiter’s Moon is a must-see. The special effects are flawless and used to advance the story in each and every case. It’s not spectacle for the sake of it and for cinephiles, the sheer mastery of timing for some sequences is wonderful.

Jupiter’s Moon’s major problem lies in a story that’s a little unfocused at times. It gets bogged down by its snail pace and lack of bite when it comes to the things that could be questioned here. It feigns a more profound religious argument then backs away. Neither Stern or Aryan are particularly interesting and suffer from muddled motivations. However, as things start to get dull, those visuals, man, they just do something mesmerizing.

Monkeys Fighting Robots Youtube

[Review] THE LIFE OF CAPTAIN MARVEL #5 is a Masterpiece

By

David DeCorte

-

I can’t decide whether I’m lucky or unlucky to review The Life of Captain Marvel #5. I went in with high expectations for the conclusion to Margaret Stohl’s incredible run on the series. But, simply put, I don’t know if I—or any reviewer, for that matter—can really do it justice. This book is simply amazing.

The issue focuses on Carol and her mother’s climactic showdown against the Kree Kleaner. More than that, it delves into the depths of who Carol is as a character, providing a truly touching finale.

The Writing

Margaret Stohl is a true master storyteller. Setting out with the goal of reinventing an established character’s origin is ambitious on its own. However, to do so in such an emotionally powerful and satisfying way is nothing short of brilliance.

Over the course of the series Stohl demonstrates the value of strength in vulnerability. Carol faced the anxieties that first drew her back home, bringing her on a voyage through a lot of painful emotional baggage toward self-discovery over these last four issues. Throughout the series, we’ve seen the narrative split intermittently with flashbacks to Carol’s past (the literal “life of Captain Marvel”). These flashbacks gradually merge into the present, and with The Life of Captain Marvel #5, we see the culmination.

At the crux of this issue, though, is Carol’s relationship with her mother. It’s tough to talk about without getting into spoiler territory. However, suffice to say that Mari-Ell and Carol’s moments together here are heart-wrenching, yet ultimately affirming.

Even once the main conflict is resolved, the epilogue of The Life of Captain Marvel #5 retains a true poetic sensibility. It’s equal parts tragic and hopeful, and brilliantly set the stage for Captain Marvel’s next adventure. My only concern: how can they possibly top it?

The Artwork

The artwork is handled by Carlos Pacheco and Rafael Fonteriz in the present-day sequences, with colors by Marcio Menyz and Federico Blee. Marguerite Sauvage handles all art duties for the flashbacks. While clearly different, a sense of minimalism permeates both time streams. We get intricate and gorgeously-detailed character designs set against sparse backgrounds. This helps the artwork to flow seamlessly from page to page, eventually merging triumphantly at the book’s halfway point.

I really enjoy the softer, more muted look employed by Sauvage in the flashbacks. They have a unique, timeless look, helping sell the images as flashbacks throughout The Life of Captain Marvel #5.

Of course, that doesn’t undercut the work of the present-day crew. Images are sharp, dynamic, and dominated by warm, fiery colors to underscore the intensity of the battle.

Final Thoughts

Why are you still reading a review? Get out there and buy The Life of Captain Marvel #5 now.

Monkeys Fighting Robots Youtube

Review: FREEDOM FIGHTERS #1 Reintroduces Readers to Earth X

By

Jose "Jody" Cardona

-

The Freedom Fighters Step Into the Spotlight!

The multiverse is full of possibilities for storytelling. This is seen in Grant Morrison’s Multiversity miniseries, which shows a collection of Earths. One of these Earths, Earth X, has Superman’s pod landing in Germany where he is adopted by Adolf Hitler. This leads to the Nazis winning World War II and taking over the world. While they marched on America, a team of metahuman rebels rose up to fight. The Freedom Fighters became the equivalent of the Justice League on that Earth. They now have a new maxi-series of their adventures in that world. Do the Freedom Fighters have a place in the modern world?

**Some Spoilers Below**

Story:

We open the comic in 1963, where Nazis have taken over America. The Freedom Fighters, consisting of Human Bomb, Doll Man, and Black Condor, are meeting with fellow rebels. Lead by Olympic athlete, Jesse Owens; the group prepares another attack against the regime. They are interrupted, however, by one of the Fuhrer’s meta forces, the Plasstic Men. While they put up the good fight, each of the members is quickly defeated. As Jesse is sent to a hard labor camp, the Freedom Fighters are publicly executed. Uncle Sam, the leader of the Fighters, watches this and vanishes into thin air. Decades pass, and while the Regime continues to lead, a new version of the Freedom Fighters is born.

This comic is an excellent example of how to start a maxi-series. The issue gives us the context of the world without too much exposition, cool characters, and sets up the story. It presents what happened to the original Freedom Fighters, but also gives us the ones we met in the Multiversity. It would have been easy to stick to the new team, but I do enjoy the past being included. It’s a way to keep the history of the characters connected and makes the world feel alive.

There is one major flaw in this story, however. While the characters look cool, we don’t know much about them. All we know is that they fight the Nazis to try and free America. There is still time to fix that, but it has to be in the next two issues. Any later, it could interfere with the story.

Art:

The art style can be summed up in one word: disturbing. From the creepy smiles of the Plasstic Men to the horrific public executions, each panel becomes more disturbing than the last. This does not mean that it’s a bad thing. This rule perfectly captures the themes of the Earth. There are also some creative designs for the Nazi soldiers. If this is the style we’ll be sticking with for the rest of the series, we’re in for a dark, entertaining ride.

Conclusion:

This is a solid opening for this maxi-series. It properly introduces readers to Earth X and its heroes. By the time I finished, I was hungry for the next chapter. If you haven’t heard of this team before now, I highly recommend you pick this up and join the Freedom Fighters’ fight.

Monkeys Fighting Robots Youtube

Why SHE-HULK By Soule & Pulido Is Unlike Any Other Superhero Comic

By

Anthony Composto - EIC

-

She-Hulk By Soule & Pulido: The Complete Collection is finally out, and it’s probably the best $35 you’ll spend this week.

The paperback collects She-Hulk (2014) issues #1-12, as well as Wolverines #13 and material from Gwenpool Special #1. It’s written by Charles Soule and drawn mostly by Javier Pulido, with Muntsa Vicente on colors and Clayton Cowles on letters. Ron Wimberly drew issues 5 and 6, with Rico Renzi’s colors on issue 5.

This is a much beloved run on Jennifer Walters, and for very good reason. It doesn’t feel like a typical superhero book, even though it stars a character who’s been a member of both the Avengers and the Fantastic Four. It’s something special.

In issue one, Jen leaves her job at a big law firm and opens up her own shop. The rest of the series focuses on her trying to succeed and her various cases. And, of course, there’s plenty of superhero action mixed in (one of her first cases is helping Doctor Doom’s son receive asylum in the United States!). The overall story is about Jen finding a balance between her two lives, but her law career takes center stage.

Charles Soule is a practicing attorney, in addition to being one of the most prolific comic book writers working today (at one point, the man had something like seven titles out each month). He brings his knowledge to She-Hulk, making this one of the most honest looks at our legal system in comics. He shows readers the behind-the-scenes stuff, what a lawyer’s day-to-day life is actually like, and damn is it funny – because you know it’s all true. Soule seemingly vents all of his frustrations with this book, frustrations with the system, with difficult clients, and with other lawyers. She-Hulk shows the power of lawyers, both good and bad. It’s both cynical and optimistic, making this one of the most complex and intelligent comics of the past decade, as well as one of the most fun.

“Being a lawyer is like being strong. It’s a superpower. You can do what you want with it. Some people use their power to help, and other people…well, they’re like you. Ugly. Just…poison.” – Jen Walters

She-Hulk is a story about justice, and about helping those who can’t help themselves. It’s about compassion and friendship, and doing things the right way, no matter how hard that is. That all adds up to a powerful superhero comic, but told through a real world lens, which only makes it more powerful.

Perhaps the best example of these concepts is “The Good Old Days”, a three part story told between issues 8, 9, and 10, where Jen represents Steve Rodgers, Captain America, in a wrongful death suit. This arc is the heart of Soule and Pulido’s run. It embodies everything the team is trying to say, and if you only read these three issues, it’s still worth the price of the collection.

“I think the best super hero stories are aspirational. They aren’t just thrill rides – they’re mirrors, showing us what we might be, if we become our best selves. And the best super hero stories are the ones where the heroes themselves aspire to reach that same goal too…and every once in a while, after great sacrifice and incredible effort, they get there. That’s Jennifer Walters to a T, if you ask me.” – Charles Soule, in his farewell letter to the series

Javier Pulido and Muntsa Vicente’s art is like nothing you’ll see in traditional superhero comics. It’s pop art, full of bright, vibrant, flat colors, unique panel layouts and transitions, and whimsical lettering (I’m unsure if Clayton Cowles did 100% of the lettering, or if Pulido handled some of the sound effects himself, but they’re A+ either way). Take one look at this comic and you’ll know that you’re in for something special. Fans of Rich Tommaso’s style or the tone of David Aja’s Hawkeye will find a similar experience reading She-Hulk.

Pulido’s work is nothing short of artistic sorcery. He uses such simple techniques to add a sense of motion to the action. It feels like it shouldn’t work – that these images should just look stagnant, because again, they don’t utilize the techniques we’re accustomed to seeing in superhero comics – and yet it works so well that the characters seem to literally burst off of the page with energy. The art is what’s going to have you revisiting this book time and time again.

The best part about this series is that it’s completely self-contained. You can pick up these 12 issues and enjoy them on their own, without having to worry about tie-ins, crossovers, or the scope of the Marvel Universe at large. Stories like this come too few and far between in today’s superhero comics. The landscape has become more and more concerned with events, and tying everything together. There’s something peaceful and refreshing about being able to pick up a book and read a complete story. It’s fulfilling. If you’ve become jaded with the Big Two, and maybe even sworn off superhero comics as a whole, give She-Hulk a chance. It’s probably exactly what you’ve been looking for.

She-Hulk by Soule & Pulido is a perfect storm of comic book awesomeness. The story is complex and interesting, the art is unique and powerful, and it will leave you with a smile on your face. Great stories are ones that you want to revisit instead of reading once and then letting them collect dust on your shelf. As previously stated, you’ll be re-reading She-Hulk, guaranteed.

Monkeys Fighting Robots Youtube

[Review] BATMAN #61 Sees the Waynes Avenged…Or Are They?

By

David DeCorte

-

Batman #61 retells of perhaps the most thoroughly-covered event in comics history: the murders of Thomas and Martha Wayne. Only this time, the investigation gets some help from none other than Batman himself.

Of course, DC gives away the twist ending in their solicitation for the issue. However, I like to go into a story while knowing as little as possible beforehand. So without spoiling it, I’ll say Batman #61 reintroduces a surprise villain brought in earlier in King’s run on the series. It’s the beginning of a new story arc, Knightmares, the title of which makes sense by the issue’s end.