The latest episode of MY HERO ACADEMIA puts the focus back on the students with great success. After several episodes that hinge on All Might, the series turns back to the heroes in training. As the students move into the dorms, we get some great bonding with solid emotional moments along the way.
It’s fun getting the gang back together and seeing all their personalities. It’s been a while since we’ve gotten an episode focused on the chemistry between Class 1-A. All the gifted students living together gives me scary DANGANRONPA flashbacks, mind you. It’s still unclear who the “mole” could be, and if a student/teacher may be a villain. But for the present, the Heights Alliance marks a great bonding moment for the students and the audience.
The Best Room contest was a great focus for showcasing the kids’ personalities. Many of the characters play to their well-known traits (particularly Mineta and his perversion). However, there are also plenty new sides we get to see from the students. Notable stand-outs include Sato’s culinary skills and Shoji’s minimalist set-up. It’s even fun when we see how far certain personalities go. Watching Tokoyami yell at everyone to get out was nothing short of hilarious.
A particularly interesting character this episode is Bakugo. “Moving into Dorms” gives us the first hint that Bakugo is starting to grow, becoming more caring. When the class is discouraged by Aizawa’s scolding, Bakugo cheers them up with Kaminari’s (unwitting) help. He also pays Kirishima back for the money he spent on the rescue mission. While we know Bakugo isn’t heartless by any means, seeing this truly kind and friendly motivation is great evolution for Bakugo.
Another great character is Tsu. MY HERO ACADEMIA hasn’t focused on much on Tsu since Season 1, aside from her internship episode. Tsu is probably one of the most capable students in the class. However, “Moving into Dorms” focuses on Tsu’s self-consciousness and feelings of failure. Tsu has felt horribly since telling Midoriya that going to save Bakugo is wrong. The conflict of when heroes should intervene has been a staple of the series, particularly with Midoriya. Getting Tsu back into the spotlight, while focusing on a compelling inner conflict, works wonderfully.
All in all, MY HERO ACADEMIA excels in its search for normalcy. The students need to stick together in order to prepare for future threats. Especially since there may be a villain in their midsts, coming together can only make them stronger. This return to formula also helps the show, as it comes back from All Might’s final battle. The episode is not only a strong return for the class, but a great sign of what’s to come.
Ever since Black Widow unleashed her full badassery in Iron Man 2 (yeah, you know the scene), Marvel fans have been clamoring for Scarlett Johansson’s superspy to headline her own movie, a project that seems to be finally moving forward. However, as the Marvel Cinematic Universe has expanded — introducing a whole ton of powerful, layered female heroes — moviegoers’ thirst for better representation onscreen has developed concurrently. With the success of Black Panther paving the way, the MCU is finally poised to feature a more diverse group of characters in forthcoming projects, including some in the LGBTQ community. So it seems to me that one worthwhile addition to Phase Four of the MCU is abundantly clear: A-Force.
For those unfamiliar with the relatively new Marvel Comics title, A-Force essentially centers on an all-female Avengers team. Although most of the roster consists of characters not currently appearing in the MCU films (including its leader, She-Hulk), the concept of a female-led ensemble piece has been steadily gaining support from both fans and the actresses who (presumably) would have a role to play in such a project. Thor: Ragnarok star Tessa Thompson has even recounted a conversation she and other MCU ladies had with Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige about the idea, and just this week, Feige projected that the majority of the MCU’s heroes will soon be female, a status quo that would make an A-Force film far more likely.
Considering that Ant-Man and the Wasp goes to great lengths to establish Hope Van Dyne’s alter-ego as a force to be reckoned with, the film is only the most recent example of the MCU’s ever-expanding embrace of its female characters. Take, for instance, the breakout stars of Black Panther (Danai Gurira and Letitia Wright) or the mini female team-up that takes place amid the climax of Avengers: Infinity War. Although Marvel Studios has gradually introduced characters like Maria Hill, Scarlet Witch and Gamora into its predominantly male narratives, the last few entries in the MCU have really accelerated the franchise’s efforts. Of course, the biggest leap forward comes next year when Brie Larson suits up for Captain Marvel, setting the stage for the Phase Three-ending Avengers 4.
By then, the MCU will be even more jam-packed with strong female characters, and the stage will be set both creatively and financially — the aforementioned Black Panther and Infinity War are the highest-grossing MCU films ever, by the way — to give audiences what they want. After all, one of the biggest reasons that studios claim to be hesitant to put women front and center is a lack of marketability and/or interest from the moviegoing public. But between the MCU’s leisurely progress and the bolder success of Wonder Woman over at DC, the days of denying that female fans want to see people who look like them onscreen is officially a thing of the past. Certainly, the MCU should continue introducing more people of color into the mix (news that Ms. Marvel is on the docket is encouraging), but if Phase Four takes any ambitious leaps forward, it should be with A-Force.
The franchise already has more than enough characters currently in play to make up a formidable team. Just sub in Captain Marvel for the absent She-Hulk, and flesh out her crew with the likes of Valkyrie, Shuri, Wasp, Gamora, Scarlet Witch, Maria Hill, Black Widow, Sharon Carter, Nebula, Okoye, Nakia, Lady Sif, Mantis or any combination therein (depending on how Avengers 4 shakes out, of course). If Ocean’s Eight can take a group of powerful women on a mission and earn $187 million worldwide (and counting), there’s no reason to think the most successful franchise of all time wouldn’t be able to transform a concept like A-Force into a record-breaking smash. The audience is ready for it, and it finally seems like Marvel Studios is too.
With every film the company releases, Marvel expertly lays groundwork that it can then exploit later down the road. So it’s hard to imagine that the apparent build-up of the female heroes of the MCU over these last several films has happened by accident. With decades of source material to draw from, Marvel Studios has plenty of opportunities to weave more diverse characters into the storytelling tapestry it has been creating for more than a decade now (see: the possible introduction of an older Cassie Lang in Avengers 4). Moreover, the MCU is in a unique position to break the boundaries that have been holding women and people of color back from leading their own stories. At this point, moviegoers the world over wait with bated breath for anything Marvel does. So it’s reassuring that Marvel Studios may use that audience goodwill to improve representation among Hollywood blockbusters and finally tell stories like A-Force that no one has heard before.
Agree or disagree with my thoughts? Comment below to let me know or chat movies with me on Twitter @crookedtable!
Marvel Two-in-One #7 written by Chip Zdarsky, art by Ramon K. Perez, colors by Federico Blee, and letters by Joe Caramagna crashes onto our shelves this week as Chip Zdarsky finally reveals the truth about Rachna and sets our heroes up for another fight for survival in Battleworld. But, you’ll never guess who runs the show on this Earth!
Oh and Major SPOILERS about Marvel Two-in-One #7 too!
Battleworld
Chip Zdarsky opens the issue by introducing the reader to the next world our Marvel Two-in-One team has landed. The reader quickly learns that this world was destroyed by a battle between Captain America and Iron Man leaving one man to take over in their absence. You may be thinking Doctor Strange. But he’s more like a Sheriff in his Battleworld.
Marvelous art?
Our Marvel Two-in-One heroes get thrown into Battleworld by their new ruler Spider-Man! The fight progressed for a couple pages but what really hurt this issue was the art. Look at the page above. The art by Ramon K. Perez, as well as the colors by Federico Blee, seemed choppy, blurry, and rushed.
For example, does Johnny have a mustache in the top left panel? Also, look at the bottom of the page at Doom’s face and suit. His face is lacking detail, and his costume is now one solid black color. Next, look at the monster on the right. I can’t tell if I’m looking at its head or its butt. After having Jim Cheung for over half the issues, as well as Valerio Schiti for the other half, Perez had big shoes to fill. I think he just fell short this issue and it impacted the tone and feel of the story.
The Truth about Rachna
Next, Zdarsky finally unveils the true reason Rachna has tagged along with our Marvel Two-in-One heroes. Turns out, her sisters mind is trapped in a body that’s not responding. So, Rachna’s goal has been to find an identical body in another world and take that back to their Earth to place her sisters mind in it. Therefore, this entire time, they haven’t been looking for the Richard’s Family at all. They’ve been looking for her sister using the multisect.
The Great Escape
While in Battleworld, Doctor Strange was able to stifle Doom’s magic. Well, Victor manages to use what little magic he has left to help the Marvel Two-in-One crew to escape. Doom took control of Jarvis’ mind and has him stab Doctor Strange is his throat killing him instantly.
This helped Victor regain his magic and teleport everyone out of the Battleworld Arena. However, Rachna uses the multisect to jump to another Earth leaving Johnny and Ben behind. Doom managed to catch up with Rachna just in time to jump with her. But, will Doom come back for Ben and Johnny?
Overall Thoughts…
I’ve loved Marvel Two-in-One since issue 1. It’s been an incredibly demiurgic series so far and I have no doubt it will continue. However, part of that feeling came because of the impressive art, whichever wasn’t there this issue.
This issue felt a bit flat. Sure, we had the Rachna reveal, Spider-Man as a dictator, and Doom killing Doctor Strange, but there was no Reed or Sue in his issue. Nothing Fantastic Four related at all. The art also seemed rushed, fuzzy, and lacking the detail; it’s had in the past. The issue was also dialogued heavy at parts making it slow-moving and wordy.
Should you pick up this issue?
Sure. It wasn’t the best issue of Marvel Two-in-One so far, but it was still better than a ton that came out this week. That said: you could skip it and get the idea in the next issue. However, I’m a big fan. I would pick it up.
Should you add this series to your pull?
Absolutely! This was just a down issue. I have no doubt it will rise back up to the awesome normal that is Marvel Two-in-One. Plus, how else will you get your Fantastic Four fix until August?
Well, what did you guys think of MARVEL TWO-IN-ONE #7? Comment below or hit me up on Twitter @dispatchdcu
Westworld can be a confusing show and the season two finale “The Passenger” has left more than a few of us feeling like this:
I’m going to do my best, with this compromised cognitive system I call a brain, to explain what’s going on throughout the episode and where (and when) the main characters are at the close of season two. There will be MASSIVE SPOILERS after this point, so if you haven’t already watched season two in it’s entirety, now is your last chance to do so (assuming that time operates in a linear fashion).
Terminology
(some of these terms are used by the show runners, some I’ve chosen to help make things more clear:
Human: I use this to refer to anyone who is presumed by the audience to be human during a scene (if you watch the show, you know there’s plenty of people we once thought were human that we now know are not)
Host: used to refer to any of the artificially-created “robots” who were made in any of the various labs. Dolores, Maeve, and Teddy are the prime examples.
gHost: anyone with an artificially-created body, but whose “mind” is modeled after a particular human being. A prime example of gHost was James Delos in “The Riddle of the Sphinx”, who was dying of cancer and wanted to “live on” in an artificial body.
The Valley Beyond (aka the Sublime): a new virtual world that the minds of hosts can make their own without human interference. The Valley Beyond was accessed through the giant door that opened in the desert.
Pearl: the digitized minds of hosts and humans, stored on those little marbled spheres
Things I Know I Know (I Think):
James Delos wanted to use Westworld’s technology achieve a form of immortality by putting his mind into a host body. William had different plans. He wanted to gather data from everyone who ever went into any of the parks and digitally recreate their minds. Remember that a trip to Westworld is exorbitantly expensive. As a result, he’s copying the minds of the world’s elite. He could use that info to manipulate, blackmail, or even possibly replicate them in gHost form.
Ford believed than human beings had minds that were so simple, they weren’t really capable of free choice. So, he put Bernard in a position to make a real choice: whether hosts would be allowed to continue to exist (at the likely cost of humanity’s continued existence). Bernard initially chose to kill Dolores (thereby allowing Charlotte and the humans of Delos to continue their dominion over the hosts). After seeing Charlotte kill Elsie, Bernard reconsiders and brings Dolores back (though now in a host body modeled after Charlotte).
Lee, Elsie, and Charlotte are dead. Lee sacrificed himself to allow Maeve and her gang to make it to the door to the Valley Beyond. Elsie was shot to death by Charlotte Hale, who was later shot to death my her host clone.
The minds/spirits of the hosts that made it through the Door are in a simulated world that they can make how they see fit. This includes Maeve’s “daughter” (though not Maeve herself), Akecheta, and several members of the Ghost Nation. Dolores initially wanted to erase this world because it isn’t “real”, but after listening to Bernard, she decided to let this new world (called the Sublime in interviews with show creators Lisa Joy and Jonathan Nolan) exist, and sent it to someplace where humans would not be able to tamper with it. She also sent her poor, dead Teddy there.
Dolores escapes the park (in a host body modeled after Charlotte Hale, after killing the real Charlotte Hale) and makes it into the real world. She is still bent on conquering the real world for hosts and destroying humans, but she realizes that she will need a balance to this goal, so she recreates Bernard. She needs Bernard and his compassion for both humans and hosts to keep her power from being unchecked.
William is a gHost, but has not always been so. In most of his scenes throughout the series he was still human. The post-credit scene takes place years after the opening of the Door at the Valley Beyond, and the human William would have been dead by then. The post-credits William is the mind of human William transferred into a gHost body and undergoing fidelity tests. Who initiated these tests is unclear.
Things I Think I Know:
Ford is gone. After he was shot by Dolores in the season one finale, I think most of us suspected he would be back in some form. We were right. In season two, his mind is still present in Westworld, most notably housed in Bernard’s pearl. Though I was skeptical last week when Bernard appeared to purge Ford’s mind from his own, this episode confirms that it did actually happen. Ford’s appearance in this episode was only Bernard’s memories of him.
Maeve will be back. This may be wishful thinking, since Maeve sacrificed herself so that her daughter could make it to the Valley Beyond. However, when we saw her body on the beach afterwards, another tech tells Felix and Sylvester to “bag the ones you think we might be able to salvage”, so I take that as a sign that we haven’t seen the last of her.
Things I Think, But Don’t Think I Know:
Stubbs is…a host? His conversation with Dolores before she leaves the park implies he probably is a host, but one loyal to Ford, put there to aid in Ford’s plan to free the hosts. Either way, he seems to know that a host is heading to the real world and that’s just fine with him.
Humans create hosts who create humans who create hosts in an endless loop. I thought the MC Escher picture “Drawing Hands”, in the house where Arnold first brought Dolores was the showrunners’s way of telling us that this is what happened, that time is cyclical even outside of the parks and the hosts’ loops. Upon second viewing, it appears that this is not quite a “snake eating its own tail” situation, just several links in a chain of events that does not loop back on itself.
Things I Don’t Know:
Who Tessa Thompson is playing in the final scenes with Dolores and Bernard. Dolores is back in a host body that looks like Evan Rachel Wood, but Tessa Thompson is in the background of the lab and seems to be working with Dolores.
How did Teddy’s body get into the flooded valley? Dolores took his pearl with her and uploaded his mind into the Valley Beyond, but that doesn’t explain how his body ended up there after he killed himself in the abandoned ranch.
Was any of this helpful to you? Are you more or less confused? What do you think I got wrong? Let’s talk about it in the comments.
VENOM #3 written by Donny Cates, pencils by Ryan Stegman, inks by JP Mayer, colors by Frank Martin, and letters by Clayton Cowles creeps onto our shelves with a horrifyingly, bloodcurdling tale that introduces us to a new symbiotic history billions of years in the making.
WARNING: BIG SPOILERS AHEAD
VENOM #3 Spoilers too!
Is there anyone more creative than Donny Cates right now in comics?
This is a legit question. With such recent Marvel titles as Doctor Strange and Thanos, Cates explored some of the craziest possibilities with those characters. Now, he’s doing the very same thing with Venom! He’s taken the idea of the symbiote that’s been a villain, an anti-hero, as well as a hero, and finally given it a backstory billions of years in the making.
Donny Cates opens the issue with Venom standing over Spider-Man (Miles Morales). It appears that the symbiote has once again lost control. Now, take a look above at how Ryan Stegman, JP Mayer, and Frank Martin depict the horror of this issue from the beginning. More specifically, take a look at Spider-Man’s eye. The art is so well done on this page that the reader can see the genuine fear in his one eye shown. That is a fantastic display of terror by this art team.
Don’t Forget the Little Things
After realizing Spider-Man (Miles Morales) has an ability that can free Venom from his crazed symbiote state, the two team up to stop the large symbiote dragon from attacking NYC. This is where Cates, Stegman, Mayer, and Martin excel. The creative team doesn’t forget about the detail. The reader gets thrown in on the ground level with the immense, ancient, symbiote beast. Martin’s dark reds and blacks paint a picture of death, destruction, and hopelessness to the characters, as well as the readers.
Notice the dialogue between Venom and Spider-Man on this page above. Cates also connects his comic to the events happening throughout Marvel currently. Spider-Man talks to Venom about Celestials falling from the sky, which is what’s happening in The Avengers book right now.
Donny Cates shows a real, accurate, and deliberate connection to other Marvel stories in continuity and that can’t be overlooked. This is just another example of the little details Cates brings to his comics that make them so awesome.
Knull-more Surprises
Venom drops Spider-Man into the belly of the beast so he can use his Venom blast at full power to blow it up. However, it doesn’t entirely work. The beast explodes open and this scary-looking Vlad the Impaler dude walks out of its mouth carrying the body of Spider-Man. Again, the horrifyingly artistic detail of this new character is truly bloodcurdling. Stegman, Mayer, and Martin depict this new nightmarish villain, who surprisingly appears out of nowhere, masterfully.
Notice the excessive detail to the symbiote surrounding the villain. The symbiote tentacles surrounding the villain are made to look like they’re moving. This is a fantastic job by this art team that has taken a Venom comic and morphed it into a frightening horror comic overnight.
Venom’s Last Stand
With Spider-Man unconscious, Venom takes one last shot out Knull, the alpha symbiote. He even lets the Venom symbiote take full control in a fit of rage. It turns out; the alpha controls all symbiotes. I feel like my “Vlad the Impaler” quip above wasn’t far off. Knull appears to have sort of a vampiric control over the symbiotes. The reader is also lead to believe that Knull was the first symbiote from billions of years ago. Needless to say, Venom never stood a chance. The issue ends with this amazing bone-chilling splash page below.
Should you pick up this issue?
There is no doubt. Be warned. This issue may cause nightmares. The artistic detail and imagination lead by Donny Cates and Ryan Stegman is truly unmatched right now. Pick up this issue and ask your Local Comic Shop to order you issue 1 & 2 while you’re at it.
Should you add this series to your pull?
Absolutely! Just don’t read it before bed. Trust me. If you enjoy out of this world surprises, adventures, fantastically horrifying art, and of course Venom, this series is for you. I haven’t read Venom since the 90’s. I jumped back in because of the amazing things Donny Cates has been doing. Sometimes the writer trumps the character. Trust me, if you like Venom or Cates, you’ll enjoy this book. If you like them both, then watch out!
Well, what did you guys think of VENOM #3? Comment below or hit me up on Twitter @dispatchdcu
THE TERRIFICS #5 storytelling by Doc Shaner &Jeff Lemire, colors by Nathan Fairbairn, and letters by Tom Napolitano bursts onto our shelves this week as Shaner and Lemire use ingenious creativity, as well as witty banter, to take our Terrific Team on what feels like a nostalgic “Elementary” adventure that’s been missing in DC comics for a long time.
Why, it’s Elementary, my dear Watson. Unless you’ve read this week’s installment of The Terrifics, or merely want to know what happens anyway, now is the time to turn back before I drop SPOILERS up in this School House.
Shaner and Lemire give the reader a terrific tale this week. The story opens with large panel pages dedicating one panel to each of our heroes. The purpose was to show the reader how the team is transitioning after the dark matter forced them to stay together.
Terrifics Team Chemistry
Shaner and Lemire do a great job moving from one panel to the next telling different stories while having the same tone continue in the next panel with a different character. This type of storytelling is difficult to weave together but Shaner and Lemire pull it off beautifully. At one point, the Terrifics are finishing each other’s sentences from one panel to the next. This truly is an amazing comic that everyone needs to read.
The Terrifics get an alert and find that Belmont Michigan has Metamorphoed literally! Just look at this splash page. There is so much going on, but Doc Shaner, Jeff Lemire, and Nathan Fairbairn do a phenomenal job keeping it clean and uncluttered. The detail of the people affected, as well as the variety of ways the elemental abilities are manifesting, is smart and creative. The drastic color choices on the page by Fairbairn help make each elemental ability pop out at the reader.
Terrific Storytelling
Take a look at this next page above. This is an example of how clever and funny a good creative team can make a comic. While telling a great story, we get fantastic art done in such a humorous way that truly mimics the abilities of both Plastic Man and Metamorpho while telling a great story. This is how a team book is done.
It turns out; there was an Ancient Elemental Man before Metamorpho. He was trapped in this Elemental Realm for millennia and needed someone capable of switching places with him. He escaped, caused all of this chaos to draw out Rex, and wants to trap Metamorpho in the realm instead of him.
Using the Orb of Ra which gave Rex Mason his Elemental abilities, the Ancient Elemental Man successfully captures Metamorpho. He takes him to his realm where he will live out the rest of his days trapped forever. Finally, the Terrifics dive into the portal after him with their new friend Muttamorpho.
The dog’s name hasn’t been stated yet, but I hope Shaner and Lemire are reading this, take the name, and make him a permanent character in this book! Maybe they’re reading this right now? No one has to know you borrowed it from me.
Should you pick up this issue?
Totally! THE TERRIFICS is a must read each month. Shaner and Lemire are a true team. Just look at how they present themselves as storytellers on the cover. These two have figured out a way to give this brand new book a classic feel.
Should you add this series to your pull?
Absolutely! Between the clever dialogue, the fun adventures, and the terrific art, this book is something I look forward to each month. This issue is truly a terrific time to jump on board.
Well, what did you guys think of THE TERRIFICS #5? Comment below or hit me up on Twitter @dispatchdcu
In an alternate reality, a Fantastic Four film could have hit the cinemas decades ago. They could have beaten X-Men and Spider-Man to be Marvel’s first heroes on the big screen.
Alas, this was not to be.
In 1994, The Fantastic Four was aiming for a theatrical release, but the movie would never see the light of day. It is the one film Roger Corman would produce but never get a release Largely made to keep the property rights, the film negatives would be burned at the behest of Avi Arad. However, bootleg copies would keep the movie alive. Soon, it would become popular at conventions and on the Internet.
The Fantastic Four starts with Reed Richards, Ben Grimm, and Victor von Doom in college. Reed and Victor are working on a science project. The plan is to harness the power of a solar energy comet called Colossus. Sure enough, the experiment goes wrong in the middle of the storm. Reed manages to survive unscathed, but Victor gets caught in the blast. At the hospital, Reed and Ben are left shaken as Victor is thought to be dead.
Ten years later, Reed is ready to fly into outer space. His plan is to study Colossus’ energy source, and Ben will be the pilot. Since they need a crew, they recruit Sue and Johnny Storm. Before the mission, a leprechaun-type imp called The Jeweller steals a gem that will harness the solar energy. It’s never explained who or what he is, but I digress.
Upon crashing to Earth, the four discover they now have powers. Reed can stretch like rubber, Sue can turn invisible, and Johnny has flame-related powers. Of them all, Ben is the most affected, as he turns into a rocky created called The Thing. The group is taken to quarantine by underlings of Doctor Doom posing as the military. After a period of confinement, they decide to make an escape.
At the Baxter Building, Reed theorizes the power of Colossus has made their character flaws into their greatest strengths. Sue designs the famous blue costumes, while Ben sulks off by himself in the underbelly of the city. A chance encounter with the Jeweller leads to a confrontation with Doom, who plans to destroy New York with a giant laser. From there, the Fantastic Four heads to Latveria for a final confrontation.
Sure, the VFX is limited. Production values are low. But the heart of the Fantastic Four can be felt. The actors give it their all, and one can tell they’re enjoying it. Another noteworthy feature is the film’s score, which has a very James Horner feel.
Alex Hyde-White depicts Reed’s intelligence and obsession, but he gets to showcase a dramatic side. Michael Bailey Smith is likeable and affable as the human Ben Grimm, while Carl Ciarfalio provides a steady, surly Thing. His first scene is one of confusion, anger and horror as he discovers the extent of his condition.
Rebecca Staab’s Sue is pretty faithful to the comics version. Finally, Jay Underwood brings a welcome comedic performance as Johnny Storm. While he might overact at times, his humorous, carefree persona is not irritating. Indeed, his take on the Human Torch is akin to what Seann William Scott would have been like as Johnny.
The one who’s really into it is Joseph Culp as Victor von Doom. During the opening scenes, he plays the college age Victor as vulnerable but driven to succeed. Yet as Doctor Doom, he becomes a more theatrical presence, and his laugh is chilling. However, the only drawback is Culp delivering his lines with a microphone inside the mask. This results in a muffled, sometimes garbled sound. Some moments are clear and audible, while others are hard to hear. As a result, he has to compensate with flourished hand gestures to accentuate his performance. Ironically, Culp’s take on Doom is pretty spot on, in comparison to future actors who would play the role.
Director Oley Sassone keeps the focus on the characters and the plot. One can tell he’s a fan of the Fantastic Four, because he includes various nods and references to the source material. The origin of Reed, Ben and Victor attending the same college is there. Kat Jennings has a supporting role as artist Alicia Masters. Despite appearing in the last act, the costumes are pretty faithful to the comics. Also, the famous Fantasticar (or “Flying bathtub”) makes a cameo.
That being said, there are a few decisions that prove frustrating. The Jeweller’s subplot feels tacked on to the story. His decision to kidnap Alicia and marry her doesn’t make sense. Nor does the inexplicable scene of the Thing briefly reverting to human form after Alicia says she loves him. Some of the dialogue can be a little silly at times, such as Ben’s “Hi, Mrs. Storm. Can Johnny and Susan go into outer space with us?” line. Due to a tight budget, we only get to see Johnny “flame on” as the Human Torch in the last ten minutes of the film. Even so, the result is one of 1980s-era computer effects.
The irony of The Fantastic Four is that it has become famous for its’ unreleased status. Furthermore, unlike later films, it holds up as being faithful to the source material. The actor does a great job embodying their characters, and the film has the feel of the Stan Lee-Jack Kirby run. While effects and production values are low, one cannot deny this is a genuine effort to capture the Fantastic Four on film.
Here’s hoping that one day The Fantastic Four will be seen for what it tries to do. All the cast and crew put their hearts into the making of this film, which makes it more than its low budget status. And that in itself is fantastic.
The sixth issue of Sonic the Hedgehog from IDW Comics features the return of Sonic’s doppelganger like opponent, Shadow The Hedgehog. Will these two enemies rip each other apart in a way which entertains the readers or one which lets them down?
Summary
Sonic vs. Shadow with the winner deciding the fate of the new Dr. Eggman.
Writing
This issue almost feels like both Sonic and Shadow are holding back. As if they weren’t fighting to their absolute limit. It’s a good fight but still feels like it could have been more intense. Considering it’s the first meeting of the characters in this new universe a future battle will hopefully allow the two characters to engage in a more knockdown and drag out skirmish.
Writer Ian Flynn does keep presenting the character behaviors and manners perfectly with each issue. Both Shadow and Rogue operate in a way which fans will say feels familiar and distinct to both of them. Also, the twist at the end helps to enforce Flynn has a definite plan for where the series is going.
Artwork
The art is serviceable but isn’t as entrancing as it has been in previous issues. The pencils by Tracy Yardley presents the characters in a very recognizable fashion but some panels feel just a bit too comical and loose considering their is a battle between rivals going on close by. Impressive work but just seems off here and there.
The ink work by Jim Amash aids in the definition of the character with the undefined panel work the issue employs. The inks help to give the art a structure it otherwise lacks.
The colors employed by Matt Herms are as vibrant and distinct as ever. Once again they cement the action and help to reinforce the concept of Sonic’s amazing speed.
The lettering by Shawn Lee results in the perfect effect of helping to nail the comedic dialogue which is presented in this issue. It also helps to deliver Sonic and his catchy wit in a very impressive manner.
Conclusion
The IDW Sonic The Hedgehog series hasn’t yet turned in a completely terrible issue. This one is less than perfect compared to the recent developments but still very entertaining. The reveal at the end showcases the ideal cliffhanger to keep the fans questioning what will happen next.
This week’s chapter of The Flash goes above and beyond to deliver a fantastic installment.
The Flash War has finally begun. Wally West had learned from Hunter Zolomon that his children, Irey and Jai, are trapped in the Speed Force. The only way to get them out is by going fast enough to break into the Speed Force and get them out. Barry, however, knows the last time he tried something like that, he caused the Flashpoint Paradox. Wally, who has had mostly losses regarding his personal life, decides to go through with it and speeds off to save his kids. Will Barry be able to stop Wally before he makes a terrible mistake?
**Some Spoilers Below**
Story:
While the two Flashes race one another across the world, they begin to cause hysteria in the universe. Their race somehow affects several different areas across the multiverse, including The Green and the forces of magic, showing how vast the Speed Force is. Sensing that this race could be life-threatening, the Justice League tries to step in to stop them. The Flashes prove too much however as they outrace Superman and shatter Green Lantern’s constructs with ease.
There are a few people I know that only see The Flash as just “the fast one.” After this issue, however, The Flash has never been more powerful. The things that are seen affected by this simple race is jaw-dropping. There is even a panel of Highfather on New Genesis comparing the effects to something outside the source wall. To the uninitiated, when Gods begin to worry about the energy output, you know it’s dangerous.
Action aside, this issue hits the mark in terms of character. There is a conversation between Wally and Barry during the race, and you just see the bond slowly break. It’s heartbreaking to see the pair fight, especially when both have good intentions. Wally just wants his kids back, and Barry wants to stop Wally from making the mistakes he made. It is scenes like this that mix with action so well that makes this series fantastic.
Art:
Howard Porter continues to illustrate the story arc and does a fantastic job this issue. The two-page spread in the opening is just perfect to show off the power of The Flash. The more a reader looks at the page, the more they would see the Speed Force at work. The only thing that makes the illustrations better is the masterful colors of Hi-Fi. The vibrant colors allow the characters to pop and the powers from all the heroes to shine. Despite the missteps from the last issue, the team goes above and beyond here.
Conclusion:
This issue is a phenomenal entry in not only The Flash War arc but the series as a whole. It has great action and plenty of emotion in terms of story to hook readers. The art team knocks it out of the park, having the fastest men alive pop right off the page. If you haven’t picked this up yet, I recommend going out now and give it a read.
Audiences were taken aback when 2016s Split was revealed to be a secret sequel to M. Night Shyamalan’s Unbreakable. A tease at the end of the James McAvoy led film showed Bruce Willis’ David Dunn reacting to the events of the movie. That, of course, was a tease for a third movie in the series that came to be titled Glass. Shyamalan has been hard at work on the film, and today he decided to reveal the first poster.
Shyamalan began by letting fans know that Glass would have a presence at San Diego Comic-Con in July. He has this to say:
I’m so excited to tell you that @GlassMovie will be at #ComicCon. I will be in Hall H on July 20th with the cast! You can expect a surprise as well…
That surprise he teased is more than likely a trailer. That wasn’t all as the director went on to tweet out the teaser poster for the film:
The poster features Willis’ Dunn, McAvoy’s The Beast, and Samuel L. Jackson’s titular character, Mr. Glass. The film will pit Dunn against his former foe and McAvoy’s newest villain.
Glass will also see the return of a few familiar faces, Ana Taylor-Joy, who starred in Split as Casey Cooke and Spencer Treat Clark as David Dunn’s son Joseph, reprising his role from Unbreakable. A notable addition to the cast includes Sarah Paulson as Dr. Ellie Staple, a psychiatrist who treats individuals who believe they are superhumans.
Are you excited to see David Dunn take on The Beast in Glass? Let us know in the comments below!
Glass hits theaters January 18, 2019, and was written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan.
Following the conclusion of Split, Glass finds Dunn pursuing Crumb’s superhuman figure of The Beast in a series of escalating encounters, while the shadowy presence of Price emerges as an orchestrator who holds secrets critical to both men.
