Are you humming the Jurassic Park theme right now? That’s right, the iconic Michael Crichton adaptation is finally getting its very-own line of Funko Vinyl POP!s, just in time for the film’s 25th Anniversary, as it was released on June 11, 1993.
The set will feature a number of main characters from the film, including Dr. Alan Grant, played by Sam Neill, park owner John Hammond (Richard Attenborough – RIP), Dr. Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum) and Seinfeld alum, Wayne Knight, who plays Dennis Nedry. This line also includes three dinosaur vinyls (Tyrannosaurus Rex, Velociraptor and Dilophosaurus) and a few exclusives, one of which is an extremely popular meme on that Internet thing.
You will be able to snag a ‘Dennis Nedry and Dilophosaurus’ two-pack as an exclusive via Entertainment Earth, while the Dilophosaurus, itself, will have a 1-in-6 chase figure where its neck frill is retracted. The figure in this set that is bound to sell fast will be the famous Goldblum pose from the film, ‘Wounded Dr. Malcolm’, which will be exclusive to Target.
Noticeably missing from the line were a few key characters in: Laura Dern (Dr. Ellie Sattler), Bob Peck (Muldoon), Hammond’s grandchildren, Tim (Joseph Mazzello) and Lex (Ariana Richards), the ‘blood-sucking lawyer’, Martin Ferrero’s Gennaro and Samuel L. Jackson (Arnold), whom we just recently found out was supposed to die on screen in a much more gruesome way in the original cut of the film (story).
We’d love to see Funko deliver maybe three Movie Moment POP!s from this film. One being the ‘clever girl’ scene with Muldoon and the Raptor, the kids, Tim and Lex, in the kitchen with the Raptors and Gennaro on the toilet, facing down the T-Rex.
Dr. Sattler will be coming soon in the form of a Funko POP! Rides vinyl, but all figures should be on shelves at some point in February.
Click HERE for the official Funko preview to see all POP!s included.
Some movies are meant to merely entertain. Some are intended to push our perception of societal norms. Then there are a select few releases which are designed to honor someone or some act of historical significance. Such is the case with director Nicolai Fuglsig’s first feature film, 12 Strong. Rather than setting out to make one of the more compelling tales hallow, Fuglsig demonstrates a remarkable amount of restraint. Instead of glorifying the death and havoc that comes with being at war, 12 Strong focuses on the extraordinary sacrifices made by Task Force Dagger. While to some that may seem like a misstep, in reality, it’s the proper approach.
In the interest of being transparent, I went into the screening not knowing a single detail about this film. How crazy is it that in this day and age, a band of military men on horses were able to fight off the Taliban. It was this operation which resulted in the Northern Alliance regaining control of Mazar-i-Sharif (an enemy stronghold). Chris Hemsworth plays Mitch Nelson, the commander of Task Force Dagger. Micheal Shannon, Trevante Rhodes, Micheal Pena, William Fichtner, and Rob Riggle round out the supporting cast.
The relationship which stood out most to me was the one between Nelson and General Dostum of the North Alliance. Nelson and Dostum are both extremely prideful men, and each one point has to put that aside for the good of the mission. Nelson just wants to blow the Taliban back to the stone ages, but Dostum reminds him of the difficulties surrounding this. The reality facing the Americans is no army has ever achieved a sustained victory in Afghanistan, a fact which remains true even to this day.
Cinematographer Rasmus Videbaek provided shots which were brisk and bold keeping the eyes on the action unfolding in each battle sequence. Videbaek also knew when to allow the camera to pan slightly in each direction allowing the audience to see the vast emptiness of their surroundings. The attention to details stood out as well. If nothing else this film comes off as more of a celebration of these men and the odds which they overcame. The film also tapped into the conundrum which has plagued the United States from the very moment they’ve stepped foot into Afganistan. If the Americans were to leave their country, they would be viewed as cowards by the Afghani people and if they stayed in the country, the citizens would revolt. The film doesn’t seek to solve this issue and give frontline perspective.
Overall, the film is simply constructed, but the reverence shown in the performance of the cast makes 12 Strong well worth the price of admission.
It’s been a crazy time to be a teenage DC hero. After a future version of Tim Drake, calling himself Savior, appears to kill Jon Kent, the Teen Titans end up being divided over the matter. The reason for Savior’s appearance is because, in the future, an older Jon will explode, killing millions. While Raven and Beast Boy want to help The Future ‘hero’ take down the boy of Steel, the rest of the Titans feel like Savior has to be sent away. While they come together with future heroes to save Superboy, the rift the situation created still lurks underneath the victory. What do these events mean for the Super Sons and the Teen Titans’ futures?
**Some Spoilers Below**
Story:
Minutes after the encounter with Savior, the heroes of today speak with the Titans of Tomorrow. The future heroes believe that Savior is still out there, lost in the time stream. They promise to find him and prevent him from returning to the present. As the Titans of Tomorrow leave, the heroes of today look at one another and begin to contemplate what they have to do next.
Despite my distaste for the crossover’s ending, there is something to be admired here. Both super sons, while a little shaken by what has happened to them, stand side-by-side with one another as friends. In the past, it felt more like Damian wanted his own super person so he latched onto Jon. In the face of the Man of Steel telling them they can’t work together, Damian stands by Jon as a friend and an equal. Along with that, Jon uses his own lessons from his father as points for the case to stay together. Both Super Sons are shown to have grown from these events. Not just as heroes, but as friends.
The Problem:
While I thought the Super Sons reconciling was nice, there was still one major facet that drags the issue down hard. The Titans have a vote to decide if Jon will be a Titan when he comes of age. They vote against it, for the reason that they want to settle their differences after two of them joined Savior. While that is commendable, there should be a more important vote instead. The vote on Damian Wayne’s position as a Titan.
In the second part of the crossover, the Titans saw that it was a future Damian that caused future Jon to explode. Add that to how he acted in this crossover and the Teen Titans series as a whole, why hasn’t the team kicked him? The kidnapping to create the team in the Rebirth issue, the attack on the young Wally West in The Lazarus Contract, the firing of the misguided Kid Flash, and now this. It’s clear at this point most of the team’s problems are derived from Damian and his attitude.
The logical story choice would be to remove Damian, albeit temporarily. Have Damian work with Jon and grow more while the Titans try and settle their differences under a less volatile leader. We would get interesting character development from both teams and a chance to see a Robinless Teen Titans. It would be an interesting opportunity to see, even if it’s a risk for Teen Titan series with one its staple characters.
Art:
This is the best the arc has looked since the first chapter. Jorge Jimenez and Tyler Kirkham team up in penciling a beautiful epilogue. It is able to collect the cartoonish lighthearted style from the Teen Titans and Super Sons and mix it with the more mature Superman title. Tomeu Morey and Alejandro Sanchez also work together masterfully coloring this issue. Both teams come together to create a beautiful looking epilogue to this story.
Conclusion:
While beautiful to look at, the epilogue of this story has a major break in logic in the aftermath. While it is nice to see Damian and Jon grow as characters, the lack of problem-solving from the Titans drag the issue down hard. If you stayed with this arc up to this point, I would say pick it up. If not, take a pass on it.
The Women’s Division of the WWE may have gotten a little more competitive with the possible signing of Ronda Rousey.
Rumors have been swirling for several years about the WWE debut of former UFC bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey. The wheels have been spinning on this since Rousey appeared at Wrestlemania 31 alongside Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson where she grabbed hold of Stephanie McMahon, Chief Brand Officer of the WWE, and forced her out of the ring.
The signs all seem to point to a possible agreement, as the rumor mill has been churning away a lot more lately. Could the reason for this be the upcoming Royal Rumble where the women will have their chance at a battle royal match themselves? Perhaps.
The women of the WWE rosters will make history with the first ever Women’s Royal Rumble match at the pay per view event on Sunday, January 28. The match will consist of 30 entrants, but the current WWE RAW and Smackdown rosters don’t add up to 30. Not even close. So, who else will enter the ring? Former superstars? NXT up-and-comers? Secret signings?
Here’s what we know about Rousey and WWE’s relationship so far:
Womens MMA Rankings is reporting that a deal is signed, however they’re getting their information from Twitter via @PWStream. However, this isn’t the first time that a signing has been reported.
She’s been spotted training that the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida, and has been for a while. She was also in attendance for WWE’s Mae Young Classic, a tournament that featured women wrestlers from NXT and the independent circuits.
Paul “Triple H” Levesque, WWE Executive Vice President of Talent, Live Events, and Creative, is known to be at every WWE TV event. TMZ Sports reported that he missed the Smackdown show on January 9 to have a business dinner with Rousey. Levesque then issued a statement to the Associated Press, saying, “We are talking to Ronda, as we’ve been for a while. She has a lot of things going on. We have a lot of things going on. But we have a great relationship with her, a very friendly standpoint for a long period of time now. It was great to catch up with her.”
To be clear, the WWE has not issued an official statement regarding Rousey’s signing. Then again, closely guarded secrets are to be expected with a major pay per view event just around the corner.
Would you like to see Rousey join the WWE Women’s Revolution? Who would be a great opponent to face “Rowdy” Ronda Rousey?
When Wally West first appeared on CW’s The Flash in Season 2 fans rejoiced. It wasn’t long before Wally became a full-on speedster and took on his iconic role as Kid Flash. Since then the character has struggled to find his footing, even being written off the show to an extent this season. That is all over now as Wally West actor Keiynan Lonsdale has joined CW’sLegends of Tomorrow as a series regular.
The news comes via Entertainment Weekly who had a statement from the show producers Phil Klemmer regarding the move:
“We loved working with Keiynan in our series premiere — the episode in which we learned that in between seasons 2 and 3 he had been fighting crime in Central City with Nick Zano’s Nate Heywood. So when his character stepped away from Flash to go on walkabout, after being dumped and feeling somewhat estranged from his family and team, we knew that Wally West would fit in perfectly on Legends,” said executive producer Phil Klemmer in a statement. “After all, our show is about a collection of unlikely heroes who all began their journeys questioning who they are and where they belong — only to find those answers while traveling through time and having wacky adventures. So now, Wally West is not only back in the company of old friends from the Arrowverse, he’s fighting alongside a former enemy and career arsonist Mick Rory/Dom Purcell. By the end of this season, Wally will learn that the Legends have a different definition of what it means to be a hero.”
Lonsdale will make his first appearance in Episode 11 of this season and will join the team permanently in Episode 13. Rumors that the character may be show jumping began to ramp up when Firestorm actors Victor Garber and Franz Drameh exited the show and it was more or less confirmed by Brandon Routh during the DC in DC event last week.
Are you excited to see Kid Flash aboard the Waverider? Let us know in the comments below!
Mary and the Witch’s Flower is a well made, entertaining film that has an assortment of great aspects, including its wonderful animation, entertaining story and charming main character. Unfortunately, however, the Studio Ponoc picture lacks the emotional depth and elements of moral ambiguity I had hoped it would subject audiences to, which in turn leaves it as more of a popcorn flick than anything else.
It’s impossible to not compare Mary and the Witch’s Flower to Studio Ghibli’s catalog of films, as this is essentially the closest thing we’re getting to a new Ghibli movie. This works against the movie, because it’s obviously trying to replicate the legendary Japanese studio, but it just simply can’t hold up to well renowned films like Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro, and a slew of others. It felt as though director Hiromasa Yonebayashi took the structure of all those legendary flicks, but instead of writing in brilliant characters with a story which raises questions to the audience and entertains us thoroughly at the same time, he instead injected incredibly bland, cliche characters that lack proper depth. The only character that actually was handled properly is the movie’s titular main hero, Mary. She got the most screen time by far, and the story was largely revolving around her, which in turn helped develop the character far more than any supporting roles.
In terms of animation, Mary and the Witch’s Flower truly shines. The story takes audiences to a variety of wacky locations that were incredibly fun to look at. Animation and art style is truly one of the most important aspect to a film in my eyes, and when a movie presents art that seems cheap or just downright poorly done, it takes me out of the movie. Japanese animation is often right up my alley, and includes Mary and the Witch’s Flower.
The film’s score is so enchanting and wonderfully put together. It’s a soothing soundtrack overall that also strikes elements of conflict and peril; each song encapsulates an element tackled in the film. My favorite song is the second on the OST, called Night Flight. It’s such a mystical sounding piece, and instantly takes me into the world of Mary and the Witch’s Flower.
My biggest problem with Mary and the Witch’s Flower is its lack of emotional depth. I can tell that it was made with the intention of bringing emotional stakes to the table, but just didn’t click with me. As much as I wanted to fall in love with this movie, I simply couldn’t because of its slew of cookie-cutter characters and overall bland execution.
Mary and the Witch’s Flower is a solid attempt at recreating Studio Ghibli. Though it lacks the magic of Hayao Miyazaki’s studio in many ways, it presents fantastic animation, a beautifully created soundtrack, and a wonderfully heroic main character. If anything, this film gives me hope in the future of Studio Ponic. They’re an extremely talented studio made up of Studio Ghibli’s past employees.
Mary and the Witch’s Flower was presented by Fathom Events.
The darkness continued this week with Star Trek: Discovery’s second foray into the Mirror Universe, The Wolf Inside. With no plan yet for how to get back to their reality — what Trek fans call the prime reality — the crew of the U.S.S. Discovery, posing as the crew of the Terran Empire’s I.S.S. Discovery, are doing what they can to get home while Michael Burnham, captaining the I.S.S. Shenzhou, works to minimize collateral damage while simultaneously pretending to be a bloodthirsty psychopath. Sure it’s a difficult part to play, but if anyone can do it, it’s the woman who, when in a previous command position, knocked out her captain so that she could fire unprovoked on an unfamiliar alien ship.
Strangely, though, Burnham’s attempts to minimize the collateral damage caused by her newfound captaincy only seem to apply to non-Terrans. The disregard Burnham showed for Connor Danby’s life in “Despite Yourself” compared to the almost maternal regard she showed for the rebel forces in this episode highlighted that Burnham is doing her best to hide in plain sight in a pit of vipers but also drew focus to how single-minded the character apparently is.
Star Trek: Discovery – The Wolf Inside – Suus Mahna Mahna
Burnham’s reasoning, honed on Vulcan don’t cha know, seems to admit a pretty shabby philosophy concerning life in the Mirror Universe: oppressed aliens are good, but Terrans, who are also oppressed by the Terran Empire, are evil and may be disposed of if necessary. For those who say that Burnham was forced to kill Connor Danby in self defense, I refer you to her adeptness in the Vulcan martial art of Suus Mahna and entreat you, couldn’t she have neck-pinched him instead? Or at the very least, to give Enterprise fans a thrill she could have evaded Danby’s blade by employing the time-honoured navorkot move.
Star Trek: Discovery – The Wolf Inside – Lt. Voqler
I am sad to admit that my pet theory, that Lt. Tyler is a surgically altered T’Kuvma were proven false. Instead, the far more likely rumour, that Lt. Tyler is a surgically altered Voq proved true. I probably should have known, but I had hoped that L’Rell’s promise to Voq that she would introduce him to powers beyond his imagining might be a foreshadowing of an introduction of a Guardian of Forever or some other such cosmic and semi-mystical piece of Star Trek franchise history. Either way, I’m glad the targ is out of the bag and we can get on to exploring more interesting ideas.
Star Trek: Discovery – The Wolf Inside – Facial Hair Runs in the Family
One favourite among many fans, and a serious nod to Star Trek franchise history was Mirror-Sarek’s goatee. For the few viewers not in the know, Mirror-Spock, who appeared in the first Mirror Universe episode “Mirror, Mirror” in the original Star Trek, also sported a goatee. Like revolutionary father, like revolutionary son, I suppose.
For me, though, the most interesting part of Burnham’s introduction to the rebel forces wasn’t Sarek’s goatee or Tyler’s outburst at Mirror-Voq. Instead, what piqued my interest, albeit negatively, was Burnham’s implication that the logic necessary to bring Andorians, Klingons, and Vulcans together somehow mystified her. When describing this unlikely truce between alien races to Loraca, Burnahm made it sound as if she expected Mirror-Voq or Mirror-Sarek to tell her a secret code word or teach her a magic spell that would convince disparate alien races to work together toward a common purpose. Maybe she’s never heard of the IDIC?
Star Trek: Discovery – The Wolf Inside – Andorians are hotheaded, Vulcans are logical, Klingons are traditional, Humans are … racist?
Time and again, Discovery falls back into the familiar racism by analogy that makes Star Trek’s original series, and even Star Trek: The Next Generation at times, seem outdated. There’s no reason to paint all Andorians, Klingons, or Vulcans with the same brush. Writers who do so ignore the juiciest philosophy the Star Trek franchise has to offer, that from diversity comes strength and unity, in favour of showing Burnham as a kind of space crusader, blindly adhering to her traditional and prejudiced point of view by defining every alien she meets only as a caricature-like depiction of the culture that alien represents. Shouldn’t a human raised on Vulcan by mixed-race adoptive parents know that you can’t judge a book by it’s cover?
Star Trek: Discovery – The Wolf Inside – Paradox City
Still no definite indication that the Lorca we’ve seen since the first episode is or isn’t originally from the Mirror Universe. And, as others have pointed out, if the U.S.S Discovery is in the Mirror Universe posing as the I.S.S. Discovery, then wouldn’t the actual I.S.S.Discovery be in the prime reality posing as the U.S.S Discovery? Captained by the bloodthirsty Captain Tilly, one wonders what they’ve been up to. Viewers have yet to get a glimpse at any members of the I.S.S Discovery’s crew except for Mirror-Stamets, seen by Stamets while he was in some kind of death-like trance state.
Viewers were also treated to the triumphant return of Michelle Yeoh, this time as Empress Georgiou. Unless Georgiou turns out to be a descendant of Star Trek: Enterprise’s Hoshi Sato, it appears that the Sato dynasty, which gained supremacy over the Terran Empire at the beginning of 2155 (Star Trek: Enterprise “In a Mirror, Darkly Part II”), was eventually toppled in favour of the Georgiou dynasty. This might upset some fans of the Enterprise novels, one of which describes the Sato dynasty spanning 122 years, finally being toppled by the revolutionary Mirror-Spock in 2277.
Star Trek: Discovery – The Wolf Inside – Canon Ready
Although Discovery’s creative team have been playing a bit fast and loose with Star Trek canon in previous episodes, their attention to Mirror Universe plot details established in Enterprise seems more or less on point. In fact, the data that Burnham extracted from the U.S.S. Defiant was a double reference to both Star Trek’s “The Tholian Web” and Enterprise’s “In a Mirror, Darkly” parts I and II. So, if the creative team is interested in preserving the part of that narrative that involves the U.S.S Defiant, it seems possible that they’ll also preserve the idea of the Sato dynasty.
One final thought, with The Wolf Inside, Discovery has now surpassed Star Trek, Star Trek: The Next Generation, and Star Trek: Voyager in number of episodes involving the Mirror Universe. And based on the fact that the crew of the Discovery is still stranded in the home of the Terran Empire after two episodes, it seems that Discovery will similarly surpass Star Trek: Enterprise. But, with five episodes concerning the dark and violent timeline, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine will be difficult for Discovery to catch. Then again, with four episodes left in this season, Discovery has an opportunity to surpass DS9 in only one season.
The Daily Planet has its headline for tomorrow’s paper. DC Comics released the cover to Action Comics #1000 featuring artwork by Jim Lee, Friday afternoon.
The internet shattered when the cover featured Superman in his red trunks, they were removed for NEW 52, but apparently, Clark Kent found them.
Lee gave more details on the cover and new look for Superman.
“ACTION COMICS #1000 represents a watershed moment in the history of not just comic books, but entertainment, literature, and pop culture. There’s no better way to celebrate Superman’s enduring popularity than to give him a look that combines some new accents with the most iconic feature of his classic design,” said Lee in a release by DC Comics.
DC Comics also announced Brian Michael Bendis would make his debut in issue 1000 with art by Lee. Other creative teams were announced too; Richard Donner and Geoff Johns; with art by Olivier Coipel; Paul Dini with José Luis García-López; Tom King with Clay Mann and Jordie Bellaire; Brad Meltzer with John Cassaday and Laura Martin; Louise Simonson with Jerry Ordway; and Scott Snyder with Tim Sale. More names could be added to the list.
Action Comics #1000 hits your local comic book store on April 18.
The “Super Sons Of Tomorrow” story reaches its finale. This future asshole Tim Drake has been getting a lot of work recently. He showed up in a recent Detective Comics arc as well.
***SPOILERS LIE AHEAD***
DC has been hitting it hard with the crossovers and lite-events recently. They haven’t all been home runs, but this one has been well worth your time.
Damian and Jon’s friendship is one of the most enjoyable new elements of DC Rebirth. This title has been one of the best surprise hits across their entire line of comics.
This issue is mostly about addressing the fallout and how to move on from future Drake. The moment where the two boys promise to protect each other to Superman is a heart-warming scene.
The biggest takeaway from this issue is the Teen Titans voting against Superboy becoming a member. This gives us another touching moment between the two boys. Damian is a big softy in this issue, it seems Jon is the only person on Earth that exposes his heart.
This story, by Peter J. Tomasi & Patrick Gleason, was short and sweet. These crossovers have been so much easier to digest with the rapid, weekly pace DC has been releasing them.
Tyler Kirkham’s art isn’t bad by any means, it’s just more cookie-cutter than we’re accustomed to on Super Sons. Much of the youthful essence is drained by replacing the bright and doe-eyed cartooning with DC’s brand of superhero standard.
The more emotional beats from this issue still strike a chord, just in a different light. It also doesn’t do anything for those reading Super Sons for the first time. If the point of crossover stories is to get new people to follow a story into a book they aren’t reading, this doesn’t do the series any justice.
It’s still effective and a joy to look at, just not in the same way this series is known for. I blame all these adults being involved in the story.
In the aftermath of future Tim Drake’s sacrifice, Damian and Jon are closer than ever. The Teen Titans might be a mess, but our two favorite young heroes take a step forward.
Super Sons #12 is a nice, quiet wrap-up for the crossover story. It doesn’t have the youthful glow and spirit that makes this book lovable and unique, but it’s a solid effort.
As we find ourselves in a new era of Marvel Comics, I’ll be providing a weekly report on all Legacy titles. Your one-stop guide to what’s going on in the 616 universe from MFR’s resident Marvel fanatic. Below, we’ll dive into each book from this week and then a Marvel Legacy report card. Let’s dig in!
Also, check out our coverage from the previous weeks!
There’s nothing wrong with the contents of this issue but, other than a moment of clarity for Kitty, it’s mostly an unnecessary extension to this Negative Zone story. It’s a quick read where the only thing you really need to take with you afterwards is the final page.
Storm is a badass, with or without her powers, and Ink is a mutant I wouldn’t mind seeing more of. This is the second time Nightcrawler has brushed off being impaled in a three issue span.
Marc Guggenheim has set a standard with the preceding nineteen issues that was not met here. This felt cheap, but certainly wasn’t any cheaper to purchase. This issue was clearly tacked on late as a poor transition into the next story. Everything that needed to be said in the Negative Zone was already said, other than Kitty accepting Peter’s proposal.
There isn’t much to take away from the art either. Storm’s powerless fight against an aggressive indigenous creature is exciting, but that’s about it. There’s no sense of urgency or weight anywhere else, even Kitty’s emotional breakdown.
X-Men: Gold #20 is a very forgetful and unnecessary epilogue outside of the final page. Guggenheim is better than this, hopefully well back on track with the next arc.
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Weapon X #13 “Nuke-Clear War” Part Two
Maybe this book benefits from the Legacy bump after all, this was easily the best issue of the series. Greg Pak doesn’t waste time trying to beef up this drug-addict GI JOE story with over-justification. It’s a run-and-gun story, which is a drastic improvement.
The less time we spend diving into anyone’s motivations, the better. That’s what plagued the clunky and mind-numbing WMD story from the beginning. It serves the characters much better when this comic isn’t trying to be something it’s not.
This is a notable step-up for the art. Duke is an absolute maniac, Yildiray Cinar uses every panel to push those insane eyes of his into your brain. Frank D’Armata makes good use of the red, white, and blue that clearly comes with a Duke story.
This issue is mostly action, and it goes down smooth. It’s not overly bloody or macho, it’s dumb comic book violence and fun.
Duke may be the perfect adversary for the Weapon X team, given how much better this issue was than the previous twelve. Being honest with itself makes this Weapon X pill easier to swallow than the ones Duke takes.
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Spirits Of Vengeance #4 “War At The Gates Of Hell” Part Four
Of all the Marvel Legacy titles counting down to their final issue, SOF is the one that shows it the least. Victor Gischler doesn’t take his foot off the gas even slightly.
We visit a lot of different settings and people in this one issue, yet it never gets confusing or convoluted. Gischler juggled his cast well without diminishing anyone’s role. So much has happened in just four issues, it’s a shame there’s only one left.
The dreadful and dark, lesser seen side of the 616 universe is full of diverse and interesting characters. There’s a wonderful balance of sarcasm and conflict, nothing in this ridiculous spectrum takes itself too seriously but is still effective and threatening.
David Baldeón and Andres Mossa further that sentiment with beautiful layouts and exaggerated character work. The world these characters conduct themselves in is one of dark wonder illuminated only by the glow of neon signs and flames. It’s a unique brand of cartooning that has tons to offer.
There’s clearly much more for this creative team to say than what we’ll ultimately get after the next issue. Spirits Of Vengeance is a strong example of Marvel wasting potential. This is a side of the 616 that needs more exploration.
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Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man #299 “Most Wanted” Part Three
The Investigative Journalist Adventures of JJJ are currently the best thing about all of Spidey comics. Having most of the Superior Foes gang together made me realize Zdarsky would be the perfect person to continue Nick Spencer’s vision if it were ever on the table.
Zdarsky’s enthusiasm and wit have progressed since the beginning of this run. He does a lot less with a lot more now.
Instead of spending the whole issue trying to convince you it’s funny, he can get big laughs out of small moments and deliver absurd comic book twists, like the cliffhanger of this issue.
Adam Kubert’s “Achille’s Heal” seems to be hands, there are some really ugly mits in here. Other than a few worm-thumbs, this is another solid effort by Kubert & Juan Frigeri. They’re capable of using a lot of lines in costume design without going overboard like every New 52 design.
Spectacular Spidey has really come into its own now that the tone is more realized and cemented. We approach the big #300 with plenty of momentum.
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The Mighty Thor #703 “The Death Of The Mighty Thor” Part Four
No matter how long we’ve known of the impending death of Jane Foster, it doesn’t make it any less devastating. That’s the sign of how brilliant Jason Aaron’s writing is. His deep connection to these characters overcomes any amount of spoiler you’re exposed to.
The sequence where Strange is breaking down Jane’s cancer progression. Her slow walk towards the hammer causing her death. It’s all a cinematic, slow-motion gut-wrencher.
This highly detailed and large scale art gives us these massive tapestries of Asgardian action. It even dips its toe in the abstract when Mangog destroys the Bifrost. Russell Dauterman and Matt Wilson channel Black Bolt‘s Christian Ward for a moment and shatter the visual spectrum along with that trusty rainbow bridge.
Joe Sabino also does phenomenal work with lettering and production. There are so many letter styles on display, each one with a bone-crunching or teeth-grinding effect that gives these pages an extra layer of life.
This is an emotional milestone for the title, characters, and creative team. No other “Big 2” comic book is this effective on such a grand scale.
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Generation-X #86 “Survival Of The Fittest” Part Two
Can you imagine if The Office (US) was only given the first season to work itself out? Same thing with Parks and Recreation. Those shows needed to figure themselves out a bit before blossoming into crucial cornerstones of television.
If Marvel ran NBC back then, those shows would’ve been cancelled after their middling first ten episodes (I understand there are major differences between the television and comic book industries).
Generation-X is starting to blossom into a fully-formed series ready to find a larger audience. Unfortunately, it’s already been cancelled.
This is still a weird book, and probably not for everyone, but there’s an undeniable charm to this quirky team of mutant teens and their teacher.
Gen-X is very much an updated X-Men comic from the 90s, but with more heart. The fact that this wasn’t a bigger hit could be (I’m no expert) a combination of stumbling a bit out of the gate and no attempt being made to sell this to a new audience.
Marvel made an effort to include LGBTQ characters in their comics but made no effort to get the books into the hands of new people. The last couple years of comic book fandom has revealed a large portion of it to be close-minded people unwilling to accept change.
Those people don’t want Iceman to be gay or Captain America to be black, so find an audience elsewhere for new ideas. Look for hungry new readers in places outside of the comic book shop and movie theater.
This rash of Marvel Legacy cancellations is more than just poor sales numbers, it’s refusing to commit fully to the supposed mission statement. It’s giving up at the first sign of trouble. Throwing in the towel over the first obstacle. How does a company that has made comics for this long not anticipate these things? Why are these books set up for failure?
All of that aside, Christina Strain put on a real show with this issue. The Jubilee stunt was handled with precision and care. This wasn’t a simple, stupid retcon. It was well orchestrated.
Strain, Pinna, and Sobreiro have all trimmed the fat and hit their stride together. Gen-X has matured and evolved into the unique coming-of-age mutant book it was destined to be.
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Doctor Strange #384 “Loki: Sorcerer Supreme” Part Four
The best thing to happen to Doctor Strange comics in a long time was when Jason Aaron introduced “the cost of magic.” The toll it takes on a person who wields the tool of sorcery. It’s added so much to Stephen Strange’s world.
Donny Cates continues to further that idea and explore the limits. Replacing the Disciples of Strange with The Sentry was a brilliant move by Cates. This is perfect utilization and repurposing of a character that draws mixed reactions from fans.
From the beginning of Aaron’s run to where Cates takes us in the future could end up being one of the strongest eras for Doctor Strange comics. Stephen has been going through real development and harsh growing pains and the reader has grown with him.
Gabriel Hernandez Walta and Jordie Bellaire paint Strange’s world with a darker thicker brush. It serves the narrative perfectly as these are some of the darkest days for Stephen since he became a sorcerer. The range of environments and emotions we effortlessly touch on give this book unlimited potential.
It’s an amazing time for Doctor Strange fandom. Donny Cates’ bag of tricks and ideas is clearly very deep. Walta and Bellaire build even more on the major artistic accomplishment that was Vision.
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Avengers #676 “No Surrender” Part Two
This reads like an event but without the weight of tie-ins and Marvel’s overhype and promise of “shaking the universe to its core.” It’s an extremely effective approach to take a story this big and let it fly relatively under the radar. Let the community build the hype because the story is worth standing by on its own.
The history lesson on Voyager’s role with the Avengers is short and sweet. Not a great deal of noise is made about her return amongst the other Avengers. In this weekly series format, we’ve got to let things play out before casting a judgement. It’s a different game.
The atmosphere of this book is big within the pages, not in the real world. It’s so much easier to dive in and enjoy this story without the pressure, for both creator and reader, that every issue is supposed to be life altering and worth $6.99.
Rogue’s hair is distracting, it’s a good look but distracting nonetheless as it seemingly has a sentient mind of its own. Pepe Larraz and David Curiel do a fantastic job inserting Voyager into historical Avengers panels.
“No Surrender” is a big deal on its own merit, not because Marvel wants you to think so. The weekly format and lack of marketing pressure makes it really easy to enjoy this massive Avengers story.
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All-New Wolverine #29 “Orphans Of X” Part Five
Every location Tom Taylor and Juan Cabal take us to in this story is vastly different and serves a purpose. This time Laura utilizes a metal to combat the weapons the Orphans of X are using against them.
Throughout this arc we’ve changed location more times than a Fast & Furious movie but they’ve all played a role in the narrative. This creative team doesn’t waste anything or go anywhere without reason.
All-New Wolverine is a comic you can be super critical of, only to find more reasons to love it. It’s like a Queens Of The Stone Age song, the more you listen to it, the more you start to realize the multiple layers working together to give you this satisfying final piece. Both are endless vaults of detail and satisfaction.
That wipe across the panel to show Laura picking up a scent was absolutely brilliant. The contrast of the white snow landscape littered with bright red hand ninjas and Laura’s blue armor is a visual to behold. The framing and motion of every sequence is a work of art by Juan Cabal and Nolan Woodard.
All-New Wolverine is one of the most crucial staples in modern Marvel comics. The creative team of Taylor, Cabal, and Woodard is on another level.
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Champions #16 “Champion For A Day” Part One
The Vision family tree keeps getting more and more complicated. Mark Waid is really having fun with the groundwork laid by Tom King, and it’s a joy to read.
Also, thank you Mr. Waid for reuniting Lunella with Devil Dinosaur. They’ve been split up recently in her other appearances.
Moon Girl, and a handful of teenaged heroes, expand the ranks of the Champions. This is a strong move, the team could be like the extended Justice League ranks. Using certain heroes for certain scenarios. It’s also great to get all the kids in one place.
As much as I hated that Spider-Man/Spider Gwen romance crossover (that seemingly lasted a lifetime), it was worth it for the “she goes to a different school” moment here.
Humberto Ramos is responsible a lot of the youthful energy this book emits. This should be the measuring stick for every Marvel artist when attempting to draw these characters as their appropriate age. Especially with teenage Cyclops, too many artists are drawing him as a grown-ass man rather than a teen.
Champions is shaping up to be one of the stronger Marvel Legacy offerings. The mixture of carefree youth and intriguing comic book drama makes this an important title. This offers plenty to the reader no matter what age.
