ANT-MAN AND THE WASP Review – Scott & Nadia’s Excellent Adventure

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Lost and Found is out November 7th in trade paperback, and it’s a light, fun adventure through the microverse with Marvel’s biggest little heroes.

The paperback includes issues 1-5 of Ant-Man and the Wasp. It’s written by Mark Waid, drawn by Javier Garrón, colored by Israel Silva, and lettered by Joe Caramagna. Kathleen Wisneski, Nick Lowe, and Jordan D. White edited the series.

After being off in space with the Guardians of the Galaxy, Ant-Man (Scott Lang) needs a quick trip home to make his daughter’s birthday. He turns to the new Wasp, Nadia van Dyne, for help. But, Scott being Scott, he misses his mark and is hurled into the microverse. Nadia goes to rescue him, and the two embark on an adventure to get home.

First off, this miniseries is very accessible to new readers. So if you’re unfamiliar with Nadia, or even Scott for that matter, Waid takes his time to introduce you to them both and give you a sense of who they are. There are even a few pages in issue two that recap their respective origins. If you’re coming here after seeing the Ant-Man and the Wasp movie, no worries, you’ll be fine.

However, in terms of writing and story, Lost and Found does feel a bit unbalanced. This is a light, fun adventure story. It’s about Scott and Nadia getting to know each other and becoming allies. Waid’s witty dialogue is on-point, there are laughs to be had, and there are a bunch of great character moments. There’s actually one very sweet, emotional one in issue four that in itself makes this story worth reading. Plus this is all happening in the microverse where rules don’t apply, so anything goes.

But it feels like every other page Nadia is explaining the (fake) science behind what they’re doing. Obviously Scott doesn’t know what she’s talking about, so it’s funny the first time, but after that it becomes tired. Her science monologues take you out of the fun adventure story. Sometimes they are necessary for context, and we need to know what’s going on obviously, but it seems like they could have been more succinct. Waid could have done this lengthy bit once, had Scott say something like “I don’t understand what you’re saying, and I don’t care,” and focused on having fun. Again, it doesn’t make for a bad story, it just slows down the pacing and throws the comic off-balance.

Doing an Ant-Man and Wasp story in the microverse allows Garrón and Silva to have a lot of fun themselves with their art. They go wild, and their designs for these different worlds and characters are truly creative and original. Garrón also delivers much of the book’s comedy through facial expressions and body movements. Plus, that one sweet, emotional moment I mentioned earlier relies heavily on his ability to convey Scott’s thoughts and feelings just through a facial expression, and he nails it.

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Lost and Found is a fun romp through the microverse, and you’ll have a good time reading it. Sometimes you just need a light adventure story to cleanse your palette, and this is perfect for that.

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INTERVIEW: Director Chris Blake Talks ALL LIGHT WILL END, Horror, And More

Ruben Diaz

October 26, 2018

All Light Will End is an upcoming psychological horror film from director Chris Blake starring Andy Buckley (Jurassic World) and Sarah Butler (I Spit On Your Grave).

Monkeys Fighting Robots talked with Chris who’s in Nashville working on a new project because the show never stops! We discuss influences, All Light Will End, and a 100-million-dollar fantasy question of epic proportions. Don’t believe me? Read on, readers.

Before Filmmaking

Like everyone, Chris began life as a baby and then became a child. Soon he met a thing called movies, and a passion was born “It [filmmaking] started when I was a kid. It was something I always wanted to do. I have notebooks from when I was six or seven with screenplays I would write. But I didn’t think it was possible. Where I’m from, making movies wasn’t something people really talked about.”

Persistence paid off “I grabbed a camera, made a terrible short film, and kept going from there. Eventually, I convinced people to let me make a feature.”

About All Light Will End

In his own words, Chris describes All Light Will End “A young author is struggling to figure out her way in life. She’s found success in her writing, but things don’t feel right. She goes back to her small hometown for her brother’s graduation, and there happen to be a string of murders that have taken place. And everything unravels.”

How did making this movie take shape? “Originally, when we set out to make the feature … it was a completely different script.”

Inspiration knocked “I had this opening scene in my head. I wasn’t sure where it was going at the time. The scene was great, and I sat down to write it.”

A gut instinct took over “The film had some stars attached … and then, I don’t know, I started writing this scene in my head and got this feeling that we were going to shoot the wrong film.”

Blake’s process might sound familiar to some writers and alien to others, but whatever works, right? “I don’t really outline … doing that I get bored with the story and I want to move on to something else. I like to write, and once I have a draft, I go back through it over and over, tweaking things, making connections.”

Blake’s biggest influences that come to mind “For this film specifically it would probably be The Shining or Knife in the Water.”

Pre-Order All Light Will End!

Other Influences

Growing up wanting to be a filmmaker, who impacted Blake along the way? “Of course, generally speaking, Spielberg. He knows how to tell a story … how to tell the story visually.”

Blake begins to expand the list, and it’s an eclectic one “I also love Cameron Crowe … I love the humanistic aspect of his films. Love David Fincher, Paul Thomas Anderson, JJ Abrams … I know that sounds a bit all over the place, but they all have qualities as writers and directors that I admire.”

100 Million Dollar Question

Chris has written, directed, and produced films. So, I present a super-fantasy scenario: If a studio offers Chris 100 million dollars for a project, but he could only write, direct, or produce, which would he choose? “Oh, man, wow.” A grin grows on my face.

The answer continues “You know, of course, I love writing. Creating characters and a world with whatever I decide. I enjoy playing God,” we laugh.

The next part of the answer “Directing is another passion. I love working with actors and collaborating with other filmmakers on set. Telling the story visually. It’s definitely something that I wish everyone had the opportunity to experience.”

And part three “I like producing too. It’s such a unique set of challenges. I enjoy looking at a story and being more of a creative producer. But producing can also mean being the ‘go-between’ the creative side and the investors. So, I definitely enjoy the creative side more.”

So, the final verdict? “I would say, I probably prefer to direct assuming it’s a story I can easily immerse myself in; something with a message. I think … I THINK I would choose to direct.”

Final Word

All Light Will End comes out November 2nd, 2018. Chris is a big horror fan and says about the genre “I like elegant horror. I love to take the genre seriously and try to find new ways to raise the stakes.”

Thanks to Chris Blake and Impact24 PR for making this interview possible.

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Review: DETECTIVE COMICS #991 Reveals Karl Twist’s True Killer

David DeCorte

Detective Comics #991 is not an action-packed issue. Despite the impression the cover gives, Batman, Gordon, and Two-Face aren’t tearing through the streets of Gotham with guns-blazing. In fact, contained within these pages is a somber, more meditative exploration of one of Batman’s greatest foes.

Two-Face is suffering from a crisis of identity (go figure). The villain claims that, despite the evidence at the crime scene, he’s not the man who murdered Karl Twist. The true culprit is someone Gotham City believes to be long-gone.

The Writing

While our last issue was packed with more shootouts than The Raid, Detective Comics #991 builds slowly. In fact, most of the issue is occupied by a quiet, extended conversation among the trio of figures mentioned above. However, we cover a lot of ground in that one talk.

The issue walks us through the psyche of Two-Face, one of the most deranged members of Batman’s rogues’ gallery. Twist’s murder shakes who Two-Face believes himself to be. Writer James Robinson manages to drive home the emotional impact of the situation well. We’re walking a very delicate line between pathos and out-of-character melodrama here. In less capable hands, this story could have been a disaster, but Robinson makes it work.

The last page promises that we’ll be heading back into the thick of the fight against Kobra in number 992. Before that, though, Detective Comics #991 is a nice break in the action from the last several fast-paced issues, giving us a chance to catch our breath before the story arc climaxes.

The Art

Carmine Di Giandomenico’s artwork shines in this issue. Because the story is slower-paced, we have a chance to really soak in the noir vibe that is a trademark of the series.

One element that stuck out as especially interesting is the clever use of panels in framing the two sides of Two-Face. We see his face split across multiple panels and centerfolds, or blocked by profiles and shadows, subtly reinforcing the theme of Two-Face’s own internal crisis.

Ivan Plascencia’s color work is strong as well. Lots of purple hues drip on every page, especially in the scars and crevices of Two-Face’s mug. Other figures are allowed to hang in the shadows, underscoring the intensity of the conversation as it plays out.

Final Verdict

Detective Comics #991 is a slower, quieter entry in the series. But sometimes, a quiet conversation is exactly what the story needs.

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TONY GILROY Talks STAR WARS Exposing Potential Nerve In Franchise

Daniel Forster

October 26, 2018

Director and screenwriter Tony Gilroy sat before a large group of Montclair State University students discussing his career, as they rightfully soaked up his every word. Mostly he talked about his career path and rejection as a screenwriter. He didn’t reveal any magical paths towards success within the film industry, however, Gilroy did touch on the controversial topic of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.

Tony Gilroy On Rogue One And Star Wars

Rouge One shot of Chirrut and Baze, reshoots by Tony Gilroy — Image via Disney Studios, Lucasfilm, and TheVerge

Nominated for an Academy Award (Michael Clayton) and most notably known as the Bourne franchise screenplay writer, Tony Gilroy teamed up with Disney and Lucasfilm to help rewrite the script for Rogue One, while also directing reshoots. The film had already undergone a series of internal “creative differences” battles and was a hot topic within the film industry. Gilroy accepted a challenge many might have steered away from, simply because of the potential fallout he’d face if the film didn’t do well at the box office.

Needless to say, Rogue One brought in over a billion worldwide — and yet, many still question Tony Gilroy as to “what went wrong?” Upon receiving this question during the Montclair State University interview by Susan Skoog, Gilroy responded in a delicate way.

“When things pass through many hands and there’s a great deal of confusion … and there are all kinds of accessories and jewelry and bootstraps and zippers, and all the rest of the stuff. The purity for the characters, if it’s not there, to begin with, it deteriorates and just turns into an absolute mush.”

Perhaps it was a subconscious move on Gilroy’s part, but the statement of “purity of characters,” describes a deep-rooted issue within Star Wars franchise — going beyond the discussion of a single film.

A Purity Of Characters

Return of the Jedi Star Wars Celebration Scene on Endor — Image via Lucasfilm and Disney Studios

Gilroy’s statement can be taken a couple different ways. The first and most often thought of meaning is that of purity in an association with a character’s personality trait. In screenplay writing, characters are often falsely given these traits to represent everything which is good and pure. However, it’s nearly impossible for a character to have no negative traits (even gods have flaws).

The other meaning behind Gilroy’s statement is likely regarding the foundation of a character. As the Star Wars franchise moved past the original trilogy and continued to expand, George Lucas ran into problems (balancing the purity of his characters with continuity) — especially from other published works (Star Wars Holiday Special, along with dozens of comics and books). The result was one of divisiveness amongst those in fandom, due to his choices regarding certain characters. And of course, the poor dialog too.

Upon Disney’s purchase of Lucasfilm, “purity” became an even bigger issue, which is why the Disney Canon (as we now know it) became the new reality and all other materials became Legends. Making money off Legends material once introduced into the new Canon, ironically, just happened to coincide with this move.

But it was only a Band-Aid. As the franchise continued to expand at a rapid rate, the purity towards characters continually got thinner and thinner. This is what happened in The Last Jedi and in Solo: A Star Wars Story. It’s even taking place outside of the films, carrying over into the books, comics, and the animated television shows.

Is Purity In Star Wars Possible?

Trilogy of Twin Sun Images in Star Wars Skywalker Saga Films — Image via Lucasfilm, Disney Studios, formatted by Reddit user u/kemalpasha

Whether intentional or not, Tony Gilroy touched a nerve when he mentioned “purity for characters” in the association of what went wrong during the production of Rogue One. Every critic, host, and writer has an opinion on the Star Wars franchise and how to make it better while reclaiming the glory days. But, is it possible to reclaim or recreate the “purity” of characters found in the original trilogy?

The Clone Wars are returning! Get caught up with these must-see episodes.

As a franchise continues to expand and grow, Easter eggs and details associated with the story are bound to overtake the purity of the characters themselves. One could say, it’s almost a natural chain of events. The only way to correct this path is to start fresh with a whole new batch of characters, and yet, the “accessories, jewelry, bootstraps, and zippers” (as mention by Gilroy) will always be there as an obstacle to overcome.

Much has happened in the Star Wars universe since the 70s when A New Hope first blew audiences minds away. Times change and glory days can only be remembered for what they were, never truly duplicated (only adapted). Each generation, however, has their own “glory days,” as seen during Orlando’s 2017 Star Wars Celebration.

An outpouring of love regarding the Prequels, especially towards Hayden Christensen, from millennials, was a surprise to older fans. For those who grew up on the Prequels, it’s their favorite set of movies in the Star Wars franchise — forever changing the landscape of what is considered “pure” in Star Wars lore.

Future Of Purity In Star Wars

Breaking Star Wars news withFirst Look Of Favreau's The Mandalorian — Image via Starwars.com, Lucasfilm, and Disney Studios

The Star Wars franchise is likely to remain a pop-culture phenomenon for many generations to come. Nobody is doubting this. But as it continues to grow and expand, its important for Disney and Lucasfilm to maintain a “purity for their characters.” Easter eggs, weapons, and costumes are fun to talk about and explore. But the franchise isn’t worth anything if there’s no heart and soul attached to the characters donning those costumes and weapons.

Jade Raymond departs from EA and Star Wars game.

What are your thoughts on based on the statement made by Tony Gilmore? Is there a lack of “purity” in the present trilogy? Let us know in the comments below. “May the Force be with you, always.”

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Star Wars THE MANDALORIAN Set Attacked By Thieves

Daniel Forster

October 25, 2018

Typically, on a Star Wars set, the last thing anyone needs to worry about is thieves stealing valuable information due to the massive amounts of security. The Mandalorian set, however, became the most recent target while filming in Manhattan Beach.

According to The Blast (who first broke the story), pieces of gear were stolen out of the studio overnight. Within said gear, could potentially be data cards containing footage from The Mandalorian. If a data card was stolen, the information on those cards could potentially be worth big bucks.

First Look Of Star Wars: The Mandalorian — Image via Starwars.com, Lucasfilm, and Disney Studios

The stolen items were taken from the camera department at the Manhattan Beach studio, meaning the primary goal behind the theft could have been a data card. Jon Favreau and crew alerted the police around 11 am EST of the theft and an investigation is currently underway. Upon hearing of the break-in, George Lucas stopped by the studio to check in on Favreau.

Much like HBO was hacked before Game of Thrones aired, it seems there’s a new breed of thieves seeking out raw unpublished data from high-profile television shows. In an age where leaked shots could equal millions of views (15-minutes of fame and revenue), studio companies will have to take extra measures regarding all materials.

What many fail to consider, however, is how that will affect budgets for these productions and clearance for those working on set. As if things weren’t already high-clearance and secret enough.

The Mandalorian, written and produced by Jon Favreau, is the premier Star Wars television series for the new Disney streaming service launching in late 2019.

How will this type of thievery effect the industry, and will The Mandalorian suffer if a data card was stolen? Let us know in the comments below. “May the Force be with you, always.”

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Ash and Elvis Partner in Dynamite’s ARMY OF DARKNESS/BUBBA HO-TEP

Michael Stagno

October 25, 2018

Brace yourselves, because two of Bruce Campbell‘s most-iconic characters are about to meet in the upcoming Army of Darkness/Bubba Ho-Tep series from Dynamite Entertainment.

You read that correctly. Thanks to the creative team of Scott Duvall and Vincenzo Federici, Ash Williams and Elvis Presley are going to serve as tag team partners against the dead!

By chance you are one of the unfortunate souls that has yet to partake in the awesome that is a Campbell flick, here’s a brief synopsis of each of his films. Army of Darkness is the third installment in the Evil Dead franchise and, again, tells the story of Ash, a grocery store employee and part-time undead slayer, that is transported back to 1300 A.D., where he must lead the charge against an army of the dead and retrieve the Necronomicon (Book of the Dead), so he can return home to his own time. In Bubba Ho-Tep, the ‘true’ story of what really happened to Elvis Presley is told as an elderly resident who resides in Texas, who switched identities with an imposter. He had the intention of switching back his identity, but missed the chance. He teams up with a neighbor, who thinks that he is actually President John F. Kennedy, to take on an evil Egyptian entity, which has chosen their care facility as its hunting ground.

That is where Army of Darkness/Bubba Ho-Tep picks up. Ash embarks on a soul-searching road trip to Texas under the assumption that Elvis is alive (and supposedly also vanquished a mummy). What ensues is a series of universe-spanning events that include an Elvis jumpsuit with time-traveling capabilities, a trip to Vegas in the 1970s and an all-new Book of the Dead, called, The Necronomicon Ho-Tep!

“Often viewing them in close succession, I knew the Ash and Elvis team-up would go together like peanut butter and banana,” Said Duvall. “These two worlds already fit so well together in tone, it made it totally plausible that they could co-exist on the same plane. Wanting to see what it would be like if Ash and Elvis interact is a big part of what sparked this, and so I’m thrilled we’ll get to finally see that in these pages.”

Dynamite first published Army of Darkness back in 2004 and has continued its canon for over 14 years. Bubba Ho-Tep and the Cosmic-Blood Suckers was released this year, in May, via IDW Publishing, from the mind of the creator of the character, Joe R. Lansdale.

“This crossover is definitely a no-brainer, especially with Ash involved, Dynamite CEO and Publisher Nick Barrucci said. “Seriously though, when this idea was discussed with our friends at IDW, we all agreed that this would be one of the grooviest crossovers that we could do together! This is a cult classic comic in the making and fans of both franchises are going to love where this story goes.”

Army of Darkness/Bubba Ho-Tep #1 will deliver a bevy of variant covers, giving fans and retailers the opportunity to collect an entire set. The series is set to debut in February of 2019, but look for the first issue to be solicited in the December 2018 previews catalog by Diamond Comic Distributors.

Army of Darkness/Bubba Ho-Tep #1 will be solicited in Diamond Comic Distributors’ December 2018 Previews catalog, the premier source of merchandise for the comic book specialty market, and slated for release in February 2019. Comic book fans are encouraged to reserve copies of Army of Darkness/Bubba Ho-Tep with their local comic book retailers in advance of release, so they can be sure to get one.

You might have also heard that Army of Darkness is also getting a tabletop board game. If not, more information about that HERE.

Do you hate the fact that there won’t be an Ash vs Evil Dead Season 4? Are you excited to see these two legendary Campbell characters collide in the comic pages? Let us know in the comments section below.

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DOMINO: KILLER INSTINCT Review – Perfect For Fans New and Old

Anthony Composto - EIC

Domino: Killer Instinct is a very fun, very accessible entry point for people who saw Deadpool 2 and want to start reading Marvel’s good luck mutant.

The trade paperback is out November 7th and collects Domino volume 3, issues 1-6. The story is written by Gail Simon, drawn by David Baldeón & Michael Shelfer (with Anthony Piper), colored by Jesus Aburtov, and lettered by Clayton Cowles. Greg Land, Frank D’armata, and Jay Leisten did the covers. Chris Robinson edits the series.

In Killer Instinct, Domino crosses paths with a villain who can turn off her good luck powers. Along with her friends Outback and Diamondback, Neena has to get a handle on her powers and come to terms with who she is.

I saw Simone speak at MegaCon within the last few years, and she said the worst thing a story can be is boring. Her Domino is most certainly not boring. It’s a fun, action-packed, romp. It’s got laughs, explosions, and martial arts fights, plus it’s an interesting character study with heart and tragedy. There are some character-defining moments for Domino in here that cut straight to your heart. The tragedy extends to Neena’s new foes as well. They’re the best kind of villains – the kind who aren’t just evil for evil’s sake. They’re actually victims themselves who you can almost feel bad for. Almost.

The story works for fans new and old. If you’ve never read a Domino comic before, Killer Instinct is a solid overview of who she is. It shows her personality, her abilities, and it even digs into her origin. But by taking away her powers, deconstructing her, and actually adding to her origin, Simone provides a fresh experience for even the most hardcore X-fans. This will go down as one of the “must-read” Domino stories.

However, will all respect to Gail Simone, David Baldeón’s art elevates this story to the next level. His action sequences are full of motion and power; they’re a joy to read. But his real talent is in facial expressions. His ability to convey emotion or make you laugh through faces is reminiscent of Kevin Maguire’s. Aburtov’s colors in turn elevate the work yet another level. They’re bright and vibrant, and add an extra punch of power when needed.

Domino: Killer Instinct is about finding yourself and learning that you don’t have to go through life alone. It’s also a kick-ass action comic that you’ll want to revisit. The X-Men books are in a renaissance right now, and this book has been a big part of that. If you missed out on the single issues, don’t make the same mistake for the trade.

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TRAILER #2: THE FRONT RUNNER Is A Juicy Role For Hugh Jackman

Ruben Diaz

October 25, 2018

Hugh Jackman is politician Gary Hart in The Front Runner, a film about Hart’s failed attempt to become United States president in 1988. Unsurprisingly, Jackman’s performance is receiving a lot of praise. The Front Runner is set to premiere November 6, 2018.

About The Front Runner

Official Description: American Senator Gary Hart’s presidential campaign in 1988 is derailed when he’s caught in a scandalous love affair.

The story of Hart’s political rise and fall is a fantastic one for political junkies. As a film, it could be even more spectacular. Director Jason Reitman, who also helped write the screenplay, has a lot of juicy drama to play with; the media’s influence; crumbling political momentum; powerful men falling from grace; extramarital affairs. The trailer for The Front Runner packs a lot of that potential drama into a high-energy two and a half minutes. The cast is also phenomenal, including JK Simmons, Alfred Molina, Vera Farmiga, and a rare appearance in a film by comedian Bill Burr.

The Front Runner features a cast that includes …

Hugh Jackman as Gary Hart
Vera Farmiga as Oletha “Lee” Hart
J. K. Simmons as Bill Dixon
Alfred Molina as Ben Bradlee
Sara Paxton as Donna Rice
Mamoudou Athie as A.J. Parker
John Bedford Lloyd as David S. Broder
Bill Burr as a Miami Herald reporter
Kaitlyn Dever as Andrea Hart
Molly Ephraim as Irene Kelly

The early buzz is all about Hugh Jackman’s performance. It appears the Aussie actor has another nomination coming his way. Playing Gary Hart will no doubt give him a lot to do. Hart was a force of nature in the political scene up until the scandal shredded all hope in a matter of days. Jackman gets to go from a hero and beloved leader to being shamed, effectively, off the face of the Earth.

Did this trailer get you excited for The Front Runner?
Leave your comments below!

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RETURN OF WOLVERINE #2 Debuts The “Hot Claws”

Brandon J. Griffin

Writer Charles Soule continues his epic story bringing our classic Logan back into the scheme of things with Return Of Wolverine #2. This issue really heats up in the claw department, but not there’s not much else going on.

SPOILERS LIE AHEAD

The first issue of this series was a brutal, bloody masterpiece that turned the hype up on Logan’s return in a major way. Artist Steve McNiven checked all the boxes needed to get readers even more excited than we already were. Return Of Wolverine #2 is a different story.

Wolverine and Ana are in hot pursuit, via boat, of the bad guy squad who took her son. The entire issue takes place on a speedboat and Wolverine is accidentally wearing a Bond-girl’s outfit. The gang of villains unleashes two thugs on their pursuers, one being Omega Red and the other ends up being Wolverine’s son Daken.

Ana quickly disposes of Omega Red with a harpoon gun and Wolverine throws down some adamantium with his son that he doesn’t remember. We get our first look at Logan’s new “hot claws” ability as he sprays his son with gasoline and ignites the fuel with his claws.

The reveal of these new spicy claws was met with understandable divide. Does Wolverine really need a need power after all these years of him being perfect? Is the story in which we finally get him back in our lives the best time to introduce said power? It doesn’t matter, they’re here and this first scene with them is actually effective and exciting.

Logan explains that this new ability not only drains him of a lot of his energy, but also that it only effects his popped hand-claws. We’re even treated to a nice shot of them burning hot underneath his skin before he pops them to burn his son to death. I respect that Soule wasted no time establishing some rules up front about this probably unnecessary new addition.

Ana and Logan keep getting closer and she shows her gratitude for his heroics by laying an awkward smooch on him. Charles Soule is an extremely talented writer who usually delivers believable relationships and dialogue, but this issue has none of that. No offense to Ana, but Logan doesn’t have time to be smooching a new lady when he doesn’t even remember his son that he just burnt to a crisp.

My biggest issue with Return Of Wolverine‘s second chapter is that it abandons the crucial tone established in chapter one. There was a weight and urgency to issue #1 that is nowhere to be found in this one-note boat chase. It’s probably going to be really problematic for those who read this in trade form as these two issues have completely different tones.

A lot of the tonal shift falls on the shoulders of artist Declan Shalvey. Sometimes a brilliant artist gets put on the wrong title, that’s the case with Shalvey. He’s a spectacular comic book artist but the unpolished cartoon style we’re exposed to here just doesn’t stack up to what McNiven established in Return Of Wolverine #1.

There’s enough doofy facial expressions on both Wolverine and Ana early on that it almost immediately takes the reader out of the story. Shalvey and colorist Laura Martin both deserve credit for delivering our first taste of “hot claws” that effectively keeps them from being lame right out of the gate.

Return Of Wolverine #2 is a clear step down from the first installment in pretty much every single way. Soule and Shalvey disappoint with this skippable issue following what was an absolutely perfect kick-off in chapter one. Outside of a surprisingly interesting debut for Logan’s “hot claws,” there’s nothing of note or much craft to even digest.

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Review: HUNTER KILLER Sinks And Drowns

Sean Boelman

Hunter Killer is the new film for which Gerard Butler was invited to speak at the Pentagon in honor of the Navy’s birthday. Does being in a movie really give him the experience to do that? In most cases, probably not — but certainly not with this film.

In the movie, Butler plays an untested submarine captain who must partner with a group of U.S. Navy SEALs for a rescue mission when a rogue Russian general stages a coup and kidnaps the Russian President, threatening to start a global war.

This film’s biggest issue is that it is simply boring. The genre is very worn, and the script doesn’t do anything to break outside of the formula. The plot is generic, and the characters archetypal. The story can be broken down into three parts: break in, rescue the hostage, and escape. Because these things have been done in movies so many times before, they just aren’t exciting anymore.

Furthermore, the film has issues with pacing. It really could have spared to be twenty to thirty minutes shorter overall, as there is a lot of dead weight, especially towards the beginning. The whole first act, in which Butler’s team investigates the missing submarine, could have been shortened into a ten minute sequence or even been introduced as a briefing. This would have made the story tighter and perhaps more interesting.

The movie also has a hard time developing its characters. The film is literally named after a type of submarine, so it’s a shame that the story of the submarine crew is outshone by the story of the Navy SEALs. The only truly compelling character is Martinelli (Zane Holtz), one of the SEALs and the only character that is given a backstory that is interesting. The protagonist has a few decent moments of characterization, but these are few and far between.

Additionally, the movie’s execution is very lackluster. The production values make it seem almost as if it was going to be released straight-to-video, but the studio decided to release it in theaters to make a quick buck off of the cast. The CGI and cinematography are both quite bad. Much of the film looks like it was shot on a green screen.

Worst of all, though, the film feels like a waste of talented actors. It’s less surprising for Gerard Butler — he’s been in his fair share of B-grade action flicks. It is more surprising for actors like Gary Oldman and Michael Nyqvist, who are quite talented. Even though this was filmed before Oldman’s award-winning turn in Darkest Hour, it is nonetheless shocking to see the vast differences between the two performances.

Overall, Hunter Killer is a generic, boring action-thriller. That being said, some people in the audience seemed to enjoy it, so if this type of movie is in your wheelhouse, it is worth a shot.

Hunter Killer opens in theaters October 26.

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Before Filmmaking

About All Light Will End

Other Influences

100 Million Dollar Question

Final Word

The Writing

The Art

Final Verdict

Tony Gilroy On Rogue One And Star Wars

A Purity Of Characters

Is Purity In Star Wars Possible?

Future Of Purity In Star Wars

About The Front Runner

The Front Runner features a cast that includes …

***SPOILERS LIE AHEAD***

SPOILERS LIE AHEAD