The year of the dog is upon us and it will bring highly anticipated anime titles with it (New Full Metal Panic!!!) Before the year wraps up, its time to look at the best anime to come out this year. This was an intense year for anime and 2017 produced a lot of titles which turned out to be real gems. Here are the best shows to be released this year.
1Ancient Magus’ Bride
With a deep sense of pain, showcasing real emotion, and gorgeous artwork, The Ancient Magus Bride takes the number one spot of 2017’s best anime of the year. Watching as Chise, a damaged girl who feels like she has no worth in the world be taken in by the strange looking but kind hearted Magus Elias is captivating experience. It helps to reminds all who watch it of the power anime has as a media. Though only halfway through its run, the show’s elements allowed it to steal the title of “essential viewing” with ease. A round of applause for the best anime of 2017, which helped the year finish on a very high note.
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What was your favorite anime of 2017? Leave a comment below and let us know.
As the new year approaches, it’s time to turn the page and look ahead at what 2018 has to offer. With reboots and revivals on the horizon, it’s easy to look forward and expect that particular pop culture events break our way. However, there are certain things we can hope for more than others. Here are five wishes that I have for film and television in 2018.
5. Bring Back The Show Happy Endings
Happy Endings was perhaps a show ahead of its time. The show originally premiered on April 11, 2011, as a midseason replacement and it quickly developed a cult following. However, during the show’s third season, ABC displayed an unwillingness to give the show a permanent time slot, and that contributed to a decline in viewership. The show was canceled in May of 2013. To this day, fans are lobbying places like Hulu and Netflix to bring the show back. Check out this tweet.
With all of the tv show revivals coming out, now including Mad About You, can we please bring back Happy Endings? That show was the best! Taken from us too soon.
Why not, in this current climate of negativity, bring back something that was positive like the show Happy Endings? If anyone is looking to see what the show is about, the whole series can be found on Hulu.
4. Fans Of The Marvel And DC Cinematic Universe Need To Take A Step Back
Both Marvel and DC have major releases coming out in 2018. Rather than sit around and gripe about whether or not Aquaman is going to be superior to Black Panther, we should celebrate that we live in a world where these movies are being created for the fans. James Wan and Ryan Coogler are fantastic directors which should bode well for both franchises.
3. Fans Should Not Prejudge Solo: A Star Wars Story
While it’s easy to assume that Solo: A Star Wars Story will be a train wreck based on the production changing directors right in the middle of the shoot, I would caution everyone to stop and think. Ron Howard isn’t just any director and certainly has the talent to pull everything together. If I’m wrong then my review will reflect this, but rather than sound the alarm, give this release the same shot as anything else.
2. Avengers: Infinity War And A Wrinkle In Time Have To Live Up To Their Lofty Expectations
Joe and Anthony Russo have the weight of Marvel’s Cinematic Universe resting on their shoulders. Avengers: Infinity War is the moment fans have been waiting for the last ten years. We’ve all known that it was going to lead to this and nothing positive will come with the Russo’s next two projects being disasters. The same could be said about A Wrinkle In Time. This adaptation of one of the most popular young adult novels ever is directed by Ava DuVernay and has an all-star cast. The fans of this story are rabid, and it will take a fantastic effort to please them.
1. Aquaman Needs To Recieve The Same Type Of Acclaim As Wonder Woman
After The Justice League received lukewarm reviews, Aquaman needs to score well with fans and critics as well. Jason Momoa’s performance was one of the highlights in the film and knowing that he’s in the great hands of James Wan makes me excited for this release. If Aquaman does well, it will set up the rest of the DC universe for years to come.
Do you agree with my pop culture wishes for the new year? Be sure to leave a comment below.
As we prepare to put another year of comic books behind us, we look back at some of the creators and contributors to the medium we favor the most. Here are ten crucial comic book talents from the year 2017.
Rick Remender
Rick Remender had one hell of a year in 2017. Black Science continues to be one of the strongest sci-fi comics in the industry, ramping things up this year heading towards the finale. Seven To Eternity emerged as another powerhouse as well as Low. Not only did Deadly Class see major changes and deliver some of the strongest issues, but Rick also found himself busy on-set for the Deadly Class TV pilot for SyFy.
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Donny Cates
This was the year of Donny, he burst onto the scene in a major way. First, he hand cranked our hearts in God Country. Then, he put his personal spin on horror comics with Redneck and Babyteeth. He finished out the year making his Marvel debut in spectacular fashion with both Doctor Strange and Thanos. Cates is one of the most exciting names heading into 2018.
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Jordie Bellaire
Jordie is one of the top colorists in comic books, she’s always one of the hardest working women in the industry. She drove our imaginations on such titles as Batman, All-Star Batman, Hawkeye, Moon Knight, Punisher MAX: The Platoon, Spectacular Spider-Man, Head Lopper, and tons more. She also flexed her writing muscle in a major way with her series Redlands, which was one of the best books of the year.
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Charles Soule
The Soule-Man had another year as a top talent for Marvel. He’s consistently delivered on big Marvel titles such as Daredevil, Astonishing X-Men, and Uncanny Inhumans. He’s also one of the Star Wars torch-bearers, writing Darth Vader and Star Wars: Poe Dameron. His Image series, Curse Words, was one of the best new series this year.
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Scott Snyder
Scott Snyder was nowhere near done with Batman after his historic New 52 run ended. All-Star Batman was a Bat-Book truly worthy of the title. He also hammered out Batman/The Shadow and the monumental A.D.: After Death outside of DC Comics. Dark Knights: Metal is easily the best comic book event of 2017, which Snyder wrote and orchestrated.
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Kelly Thompson
One of the most predominant women in comics this year flew under the radar a bit. Kelly Thompson turned Kate Bishop into one of the most lovable and charismatic Marvel heroes in Hawkeye. She took women of the 80s to new places in Jem and the Holograms and Jem: The Misfits. Kelly also delivered the best Star Wars mini-series of the year with Journey To Star Wars: The Last Jedi – Captain Phasma.
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Tom King
What hasn’t been said about the year Tom King had? His Batman series dominated the news cycle seemingly every month (in a good way). He and Mitch Gerads delivered one of the best books of the year with Mister Miracle. We also can’t forget about the Batman/Elmer Fudd Special one-shot that caught everybody off-guard.
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Gail Simone
Gail finished up her monumental horror comic book, Clean Room, this year. She also debuted her Image series, Crosswind, which is one of the most highly rated books for the publisher in 2017. Her Wonder Woman/Conan mini-series finishes out a strong year for the creator.
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Jeff Lemire
Jeff Lemire ended his comic book tenure at Marvel, ending his brilliant runs on Moon Knight and Old Man Logan. He continued to captivate readers elsewhere with Royal City, Descender, A.D.: After Death, Bloodshot Salvation, Black Hammer, and it’s spin-off, Sherlock Frankenstein and the Legion of Evil. With another spin-off planned for 2018, Lemire has struck gold with the universe of Black Hammer.
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Daniel Warren Johnson
DWJ is the creator, writer, and artist of Extremity. This was one of the best new series of the year, an iconic and brutal masterpiece. You may also have noticed his name attached to some of the best variant covers of the year. Daniel Warren Johnson is a creator to keep your eye on going forward. There’s only three issues of Extremity left, hopefully we get to see him again more often in 2018.
2017 will be remembered in the history books as the year women had enough, and we found out how genuinely disgusting some men can get. Harvey Weinstein led the way as one of the worst people in 2017, but W Maginze wins the award for the worst story of the year.
How did Hirschberg and Stefano Tonchi the Editor In Chief of the magazine not have a problem with this? Six months later and after outrage by ‘Stranger Things’ fans, the article is now titled ‘Nicole Kidman, Milo Ventimiglia and 11 More Actors Who Prove that Television Has Never Been Hotter.’ Eight of the photos of the actors involved are going for sex appeal. Alasdair McLellan, the photographer, got Keri Russell to crawl around on all fours.
The photos below are the one before and after Brown’s picture.
There was no thought put into the article by Hirschberg or anyone else involved at W. The article is a lazy listicle with only quotes and substance, everyone involved should feel ashamed.
Sexualizing a 13-year-old is never okay! It is astonishing that I even have to write this article.
Hirschberg has worked in the industry for a very long time, and she probably heard stories about Weinstein and others, which makes her story the worst of 2017.
We have reached the end of the year AND the end of the most recent Suicide Squad arc, The Secret History of Task Force X. After a robot from space attacks Amanda Waller, the Squad is sent to an old space station. There they meet the original Task Force X, who were tasked to destroy an alien known as the Red Wave. Before they get the chance, the monster gains control of most of the Squad through telepathy. The only free member, Harley Quinn, ends up causing a device in the Red Wave’s cell to open a portal to the Phantom Zone. This allows Rick Flag Jr. to make a dramatic return and retake control of the Squad. Will Rick be able to even the odds against the dinosaur from space or is it already too late to stop it?
**Spoilers Below**
Story:
With Rick Flag’s return, the Squad is forced to fall in as they have one last mission in space. They need to save Karin Grace. The problem, however, is that she is on a crash course with the sun, the Red Wave Monster in tow. When the rest of the team agree that it’s a lost cause, Rick forces them out, causing a rift between him and his team. The Squad fights the giant alien dinosaur and wins, but at several unforeseen costs.
I think my biggest problem with this conclusion is that this arc has led to restarting the whole series. Almost every form of character development made over the course of the series thus far has been tossed. Harley’s attraction to Flag that changed her personality–gone! Killer Croc’s more human side–removed! Flag’s promise to try and get everyone home–thrown out with his morals, apparently. It’s as if Rob Williams had to make the Squad as miserable as those in the Suicide Squad movie. If that is the case, it has been executed perfectly, at the cost of the comic’s uniqueness. I have no problem with a reset when it is a change of creative teams, but when it’s unannounced and the same writer, it only leaves me with asking “why?”
Even the plot points for this arc became almost entirely pointless. For example, a big deal was made about the unstable Phantom Zone portal in the last issue. The portal’s instability threatened to swallow the universe like a black hole. At the start of this issue, they seal it behind a door… And that’s it. You mean to tell me that a giant safe from the late 50’s is strong enough to hold back a black hole? I know there has to be a suspension of disbelief but this is ridiculous!
Art:
While the story began to falter at the midway point of the arc, the art team changed and improved. The penciling team did amazing work here, alongside the inkers. The characters are drawn fantastically, and with the colors of Adriano Lucas, they pop off the page. The Red Wave Monster attacking the Space Station looks amazing in particular. The colors make the monster pop, the shadows make it look menacing, and the design is just fantastic overall. It’s good to see that an arc that started with subpar art can finish so strong.
Conclusion:
This was a very lackluster arc to end the year with. What started as a fantastic way to honor the past of the Suicide Squad ended up being a big reset for the characters. While the issue looks amazing, the story has too many faults to overlook. The Secret History of Task Force X probablyshould have stayed a secret.
2017 was an incredible year for cinema in general, but particularly the comic book side of things. There were a total of seven comic book films released in the calendar year, all of which aren’t terrible. Though some were better than others, none of the superhero movies seen in 2017 are necessarily bad. With that said, however, let’s get to my top 5.
5. Justice League
Though many were underwhelmed with Justice League, it was honestly everything I expected from the blockbuster. Zack Snyder has repeatedly shown his inability to handle putting an emphasis on multiple characters, so why would Justice League be any different than something as atrocious as Batman v Superman? Thankfully, though, Warner Bros. seemed to find their footing, slightly, and deliver a decent product. The film as a whole is somewhat of a mess, but works on multiple levels. Superman was incredibly well done, despite the awful CGI-removed mustache. Henry Cavill does his best to salvage the character, and actually does a spectacular job. The bulk of this movie, however, is made up of Batman, Cyborg, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, and The Flash – our heroes learning about each other, and working with one another, is why I genuinely enjoyed Justice League. This is the most known and popular team of comic book heroes ever, and seeing them unite on the big screen was glorious.
4. Thor: Ragnarok
Thor: Ragnarok was a blast, but its direction is what hindered me from loving it. While the story, characters, and writing is all well done, it is not taken seriously enough. Taika Waititi tackled two of Marvel’s biggest storylines ever, only to make a minor joke out of both. I’m satisfied with what happened to Asgard and its people at the end of the film, but I just can’t get over how great Thor: Ragnarok could’ve been if it had that same edge, but was simply taken a bit more seriously.
3. Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman is the second best DCEU film, and for good reason. While Man of Steel is still my favorite movie in the universe, as it told a story of Superman in a gritty and realistic way, Wonder Woman is another shining light in Warner Bros.’ series of films. Gal Gadot kicks ass as Diana Prince, equipped with adequate writing, fantastic scenes, and a spectacular story arc. This is essentially DC’s answer to Captain America: The First Avenger done better. Set in WWI, the plot truly takes you back to a time of mass doubt, led by Chris Pine’s character, Steve Trevor. The love-story between the two doesn’t overshadow the overall plot, yet it adds a new, convincing layer that only enhanced the film as a whole. Wonder Woman may be 3rd on my list, but don’t mistake its place for being anything but amazing.
2. Spider-Man: Homecoming
Spider-Man: Homecoming is what I’ve been waiting for. Peter Parker has been such an icon and a role model for me throughout my life, and seeing the character perfectly portrayed by Tom Holland brought me utmost joy. Homecoming also boasts an impressive array of side and supporting characters, along with a menacing villain that ranks near Marvel’s best. Overall, the movie is a John Hughes-esque story with stakes huge to that of a teenager, but not so much the world – this is one of the reasons I appreciate the latest Spider-Man installment so much. It’s not your typical end of the world-scenario; yes, it may get bigger than it should’ve been at the end with Vulture, Spidey, and Tony Stark’s side-plot, but it’s inherently about a kid finding out who he is in the world, which is exactly what the movie was trying convey.
1. Logan
Logan is something we’ve never seen before. A gritty, heartbreaking, R-rated comic book film about how truly precious life is. I’ve never been to attached to the Wolverine character, but seeing this in the cinema had tears running down my face due to the sheer impact of it all. Hugh Jackman, arguably the greatest performer in any comic book film ever, had just given his final performance as Logan. It was a conflicting moment for me, but in the end I was happy with his decision to leave the role. However, with all this said, it’s important to remember why Logan is #1 on this list. Yes, its real-life implications may have changed comic book cinema as a whole, but the self-contained film, Logan, is what made this list. The characters, plot, and direction by James Mangold is truly something special. Jackman gives arguably his greatest role ever, and the introduction of Dafne Keen is a welcome addition. It’s heartbreaking, emotional, and easily the best comic book movie of 2017.
What does your list look like? Chime in down below, in our comments section.
It took 28 years of collecting over 15,000 individual pieces, but Eric Jaskolka, of Des Moines, Iowa, now holds the record for ‘Largest Collection of X-Men Memorabilia’.
The incredible and ‘Uncanny’ collection includes comics, action figures, toys, statues, video games, candy, fashion accessories, backpacks and much, much more. He recognizes his most-prized possessions in his X-Men chamber, the entire original run of 1991 Toy Biz action figures. Plainly put, his X-Men room puts all of our fanhood to shame.
He started collecting in 1989, a great time to be a mutant-loving fanboy and fangal, as 1991 saw X-Men #1 become the best-selling first issue of all time and, in 1992, the X-Men Animated Series launched. We all remember sitting in front of the TV on Saturday mornings for that one!
The collection means so much for Jaskolka as his love for the X-Men Universe consists of how diverse it is. He finds inspiration in how the characters seek hope as they fight to find their place in society and, despite all their adversity, all continue to battle and persevere.
What’s more impressive, he claims all items featured in the video made up roughly just 80% of his entire collection and that he had about 40 more boxes of memorabilia in reserve.
“It’s great to be recognized,” Jaskolka said. “I like to share my accomplishments with others. Actually, I think my kids enjoy it more, because they like to show their friends my collection.”
With Disney having purchased much of 21st Century Fox, including mutants and the Fantastic Four, his collection will no doubt continue to grow. Surely, Marvel, Hasbro and Funko, among others, will all celebrate with some great new items as the MCU gets bigger.
As we enter 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 your resident Marvel fanatic. Above you’ll see Marvel Legacy’s report card for the week, then below we’ll dive into each book. Let’s dig in!
Also, check out our coverage from the previous weeks!
The days of Venom being a legitimately scary Spidey villain are long gone. At least this ASM/Venom crossover is already on chapter four and we can get back to Pete soon.
It doesn’t help having the fabulous “Gwenom” story happening at the same time. Spider-Gwen‘s venom story is a fresh, exciting take. “Venom Inc.” is a boring, ugly mess. We’re not going anywhere new, not looking at Venom from a different angle, it’s just more of the same.
The one main issue that’s plagued this story from the very start is Lee Price. A throwaway character that nobody asked to be repurposed. Him being the center of this story made it a steep, uphill battle to start. Why couldn’t this just be a story for the Venom series? Why does this need to halt Slott’s Spidey? It’s a step down in every way.
There are a couple of positives to take away, although not worth the price of admission. Having Flash Thompson back in a symbiote is great, he’s the only host that makes Venom fun anymore. His Anti-Venom suit looks as cool as Eddie’s did. Ryan Stegman did a nice job, even if it’s really just a color swap.
“Venom Inc.” is a chore to get through. Symbiotes don’t really move the needle anymore, especially not when centered Lee Price. This story makes me miss Mac Gargan.
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Thanos #14 “Thanos Wins” Part Two
Thanos versus King Thanos, with a history lesson and revelations along the way. Donny Cates is sculpting the Thanos mythos in an epic and worthy way.
Taking a peek at baby Thanos and his mother could’ve easily been in unnecessary cringe territory, like trying to expand the Joker’s origin. Cates makes sure it’s tastefully evil and we get a big payoff as it’s what unites the two Mad Titans later.
Geoff Shaw is making sure Cates’ grand, heavy metal ideas land as they’re intended to. There are distinct differences between the young and old Thanos, and not just in attitude, complete with a bit of a belly to go along with that sweet old man beard.
The scale of everything illustrates how powerful Thanos is. He’s a big guy next to the average person, but not next to Celestials and some of these structures. No matter how much bigger anything in his way may be, they all burn the same in his wake.
Antonio Fabela colors the cosmos and destruction beautifully. Cosmic Ghost Rider’s flame stands out in contrast to all the purple and blue. That historical splash page is magnificent and poster-worthy.
Thanos keeps taking us new and exciting places we didn’t know we needed to explore. This ongoing series, through two creative teams, is one of the best surprises of 2017. COSMIC MARVEL IS ALIVE.
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X-Men: Blue #18 “Cross Time Capers” Part Three
There’s been a recent boom in X-Men nostalgia. This is a great time for someone looking to finally dive into the X-Men to hop onto new continuity while revisiting and celebrating the history. For those of us who’ve been onboard for the long haul, who loves a comic book history lesson more than X-Men fans?
The X-Men corner of Marvel has been taking the sentiment of Legacy very seriously with “Mojo Worldwide,” this Blue story, and Grand Design.
Cullen Bunn let’s this history do a lot of the legwork, his fantastic character interactions make up a lot of the script. These time jumps keep the story and setting moving forward. While the time stream has been fun, there hasn’t actually been a ton of substance to the actual tale being told.
There are some rough spots to Silva’s pencils, like Jimmy’s nose during the pool table stare down, but the art hits otherwise. R. B. Silva, and Adriano Di Benedetto’s ink, convey a lot of their character’s emotions and thoughts through their eyes effectively.
I can’t gush enough, seemingly every week about, about how colorful these issues are. Not even just the explosive splash pages and action sequences, even the decor of Massachusetts Academy is lively. Every opportunity for Rain Beredo to inject life by way of color is taken full advantage of.
X-Men: Blue #18 is a beautiful comic, bursting at every seam with a tsunami of color. What Cullen Bunn’s script lacks in actual story progression, it makes up for in character interaction and development.
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Spider-Man/Deadpool #25 “Arms Race” Part Three
Robbie Thompson writes Deadpool well, but surrounding him with a cast as zany and over-the-top as he is makes it easy to avoid overdoing any of the Deadpool bits.
This book is loaded with comedy from every angle, not solely relying on Wade. The editor’s note about seed planting paying off, if they’re not cancelled, rings clear and true given the rash of recent Marvel cancellations.
Branch is somebody I wouldn’t mind seeing more of. Especially with Bachalo, he’s a character that’s seemingly created just for Bachalo to draw.
For two characters that are basically just two big eyes, when wearing their masks, Bachalo gets a lot of humor out of them. The way their eyes enlarge and shrink together combined with how shots are framed, makes this reluctant pair a nice coupling, visually.
With all the different artists and inkers on this book (Chris Bachalo, Scott Hepburn, Victor Olazaba, Wayne Faucher, Al Vey, Livesay, and Chris O’Halloran) the smooth transition from one style to the other (page 11-12) is impressive.
Spider-Man/Deadpool reaches the twenty-five issue milestone in a much better place than it began. The supporting cast is delightful and lessens the load our web-slinger and mouthy merc’ would have to carry otherwise.
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Secret Warriors #11 “Vs. Mister Sinister!” Part Four
This Cartoon Network incarnation of Mister Sinister serves the story well and fits the tone of this book. He’s not as severe or imposing as any X-Men fan has grown to expect, but effective nonetheless.
With the series meeting an untimely end, this arc (and the upcoming animated movie) made me realize how well this comic would work as an animated series. In the same vein as Teen Titans, this would make for a great Cartoon Network show. Maybe not so much as a Disney XD property similar to the Ultimate Spider-Man or GOTG shows.
A lot of the cartoon appeal stems from Javier Garrón and Will Robson’s art, portraying the lighthearted heroism that Matthew Rosenberg is scripting. Israel Silva also makes sure these pages are bright and memorable.
After the Sinister plot wraps up, rather quickly, the issue gets a little heavy and starts setting these characters off on the paths they’ll take after the final issue next month. For a book so light and full of heart, there were some major consequences doled out here.
With only one issue left, one of the best under-the-radar comics for Marvel approaches it’s finale. I sincerely hope this team gets another shot if the animated movie is successful.
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Moon Knight #190 “Crazy Runs In The Family” Part Three
Max Bemis’ approach to Marc Spector’s crowded headspace provides yet another interesting look. As Marc mediates peacefully in a public park on the surface, there’s a fight breaking out inside between his multiple personalities.
This particular approach also allows Jacen Burrows to get creative with visualizing what being inside Spector’s head is like. This is a full “embracing the crazy” for both the creative team and reader.
Marc’s personalities are more diverse than ever before. Where Lemire made them different characters almost entirely, Bemis makes them different shades of the same troubled man, all given the wheel when appropriate.
The mantle legacy throughout history trope can be a bore in superhero comics, but not here. With Moon Knight being Khonshu’s warrior servant of sorts, these other versions are justified. It helps they’re also nice on the eyes.
Every riled up member of Bushman’s army is unique. There’s no shortage of detail from Jacen Burrows. The wide-shot page of them all being addressed warrants more than a quick glance to absorb all the different men hungry for the destruction of Marc Spector.
Mat Lopes throws a striking, bold orange behind our deceitful antagonist as he unleashes Ra on an unsuspecting Marlene. That orange gets even bolder when it appears behind Bushman shooting his craziest eyes at her, and again at the dinner table.
Lopes does a ton with solid background color throughout, including a stunning display during Marc’s fight with the disabled men. The shot of Moon Knight fleeing in his Moon-Wing, in front of a city/bridge backdrop, is gorgeous.
Without giving anything away, the end of this issue is masterful tension building that leaves you high and dry with a bombshell revelation you didn’t see coming.
Moon Knight is a comic that delivers on every front. Whether you’re a longtime fan or new to the character, this kind of craftsmanship is impossible to deny.
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Moon Girl & Devil Dinosaur #26 “Fantastic Three” Part Two
Lunella is an infectious character, charming and adorable to no end. Her stare down with Galactus, and how unintimidated she is, is a top Moon Girl moment for me. She’s the smartest there is and doesn’t have time to waste on inconveniences like a universe-eating cosmic entity.
Brandon Montclaire keeps things as light as possible while still telling a story centered around a being more powerful than Galactus who eats universes.
Martinez and Bonvillain’s beautifully fluffy and colorful art would have you assume this is a book for kids. However, the subject matter, and continuity thread, would suggest otherwise.
The Thing subplot, with adoring fan and temporary partner Eduardo, is heartwarming. Ben Grimm is the reluctant bleeding heart of Marvel fans while the FF is no more.
Moon Girl (And No Devil Dinosaur) is one of the FF torch bearers. Lunella is one of the most important and likable characters for Marvel. Montclaire and the art team keep things light but never fully drift into children’s book territory.
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Jessica Jones #15 “Return Of The Purple Man” Part Three
Killgrave’s twisted outlook on how he effects people’s lives is top-notch creepy villain perspective. Bendis does a fantastic job seeing through his Purple eyes and trying to act like a “normal human person.”
Jessica Jones is usually the Bendis book where his word balloon pollution happens most. There’s a ton of dialogue in this issue, but it works. Purple Man’s rambling on calls for a ton of a dialogue, the extra bits of fat actually add to the scene and tone.
After Jessica’s assassination attempt, at the hands of Kraven The Hunter, the horror side of Killgrave comes out in full force. Chris Gaydos and Matt Hollingsworth really hammer home the point of how quickly Purple Man can overwhelm when commandeering a situation. The collage of regular faces suddenly becoming his avatars is spectacular.
The fading black eye Jessica has is a nice touch. No other hero in the 616 universe wears their battle scars and bruises better or more often than JJ.
With a heavy dose of Purple, this was the best issue of this arc. Jessica dropped the ball, big time. We should expect Bendis to go big in his final farewell to one of his most beloved characters.
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Invincible Iron Man #595 “The Search For Tony Stark” Part Three
With the combination of artists, this feels like a celebration of not only Bendis’ Iron Man work, but his Marvel collaborations in general. That combination of artists also contributes a gloriously detailed issue once again.
The Stefano Caselli and Marte Gracia pages have a smooth, shiny seal to them (like Tony’s head right now). Alex Maleev’s pages have a rough edge and pastel look to them, which is perfect for illustrating the Victor Von Doom subplot.
Doom is clearly losing his grip on why he’s playing hero. No matter what he accomplishes in the Iron Man armor, he’ll never shake his past. We should see Victor in his better fitting armor soon enough.
This issue marks two back-to-back appearances of The Hood in Bendis books. He shows up here after appearing in Defenders last week. Bendis is apparently going on tour through his old characters and bringing them back as parting gifts (check out the end of Spider-Men II for a big one).
This story hasn’t been much of a search, more so closing up Bendis’ threads while Tony lays in an armor somewhere. It’s entertaining regardless.
As divided as fans seem to be on Riri Williams, the landscape of Iron Man comics is better now than it was before Bendis first handled an arc reactor. It’ll be interesting to see where these characters go with a new writer behind the wheel.
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Despicable Deadpool #291 “Deadpool Kills Cable” Part Five
Cable versus Stryfe with a drunk Deadpool caught in the middle. Duggan wraps up this arc with double-crosses and contingency plans galore.
Despicable Deadpool is still vulnerable in his “soft under belly,” but maintains his edge of insanity. We get to see Deadpool’s Hydra pal Bob, which is always a joy. Next up w’ell see Wade go after the “bizarro Steve Rogers,” which should be fun.
Scott Koblish and Nick Filardi do a fine job illustrating a wacky cartoon story with some major rough edges. It never gets confusing deciphering who is Cable and who is Stryfe, which is major. The issue is mostly the big fight, but afterwards there’s a really quiet and beautiful page with Deadpool laying in some gross water looking up at the stars.
Cable and Stryfe both have their time travel back-up plans that get them out of everything as this story wraps up. Duggan and the art team keep delivering a more despicable Deadpool again without overdoing it.
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Captain Marvel #127 “Dark Origins” Part Three
With how healthy and populated Marvel’s cosmic landscape has been recently, to have Carol adventuring through a “dark universe” feels unnecessary. Captain Marvel and Alpha Flight were one of the only cosmic torch bearers not so long ago. This book now feels so far behind the others like Thanos, GOTG, Black Bolt, Royals, etc.
The Civil War II character assassination of Carol is apparently unshakable. It’s either that or Margaret Stohl can’t figure out how to extract anything from Carol’s support and settings. Even a “dark” Peter Quill couldn’t inject much life into this story.
There are bright spots, the unveiling of Root and the rest of the Ravagers is stupendous. Carol learning who her nemesis is warrants a slight chuckle.
Michele Bandini and Erick Arciniega carry a heavy load, the art is the biggest source of life in this comic. Bandini draws a heck of a spaceship and galactic setting. Arciniega keeps the tone lively with his color.
It’s not a horrible comic book, it’s just very bland. I don’t understand why nobody can fix Carol after CWII, but the pieces are clearly here. With a movie on the horizon and cosmic Marvel healthier and healthier each week, a Captain Marvel book worthy of the character should become a priority.
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Black Panther #168 “Klaw Stands Supreme” Part Three
Ta-Nehisi Coates flirted with a standard comic book story briefly. The Black Panther/Klaw showdown isn’t going to just come and go with one issue of punching. Wakanda, and its enemies, is a complicated nation.
Klaw isn’t just coming back to twirl his mustache and attempt to kill T’Challa, there’s more at play. Klaw’s plans are much more grand. This issue drags a bit in the middle but not for long. There are a lot of gears spinning, all leading towards a bloody mess with Black Panther in the middle of it all
It’s probably frustrating to jump into this series at the start of Legacy. The slow burning build and dense political landscape isn’t easy to dive into halfway through a run.
Artist Chris Sprouse never really bothers playing with depth or filling these panels up. Only exactly what you need is shown, nothing extra. It pairs well with a comic that’s narrative is usually pretty dense. This way the reader will find it harder to get overwhelmed or lost.
The second half of this issue is a fast paced sequence gearing up for major battle. Any reason to actively root for a member of The Wrecking Crew is worth celebrating. Thunderball will probably end up being a scene-stealer when all is said and done. It’s also wonderful to see Manifold getting regular use again.
Coates is leading us towards a massive showdown while keeping the intricate web of subplots moving along. This must be a chore for anyone jumping on late, but those following from chapter one are getting payoffs, ever so slightly, each issue.
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Ben Reilly: The Scarlet Spider #12 “The Slingers Return” Part Three
Ben Reilly and Kaine try to out-anti-hero each other in a race to save a young girl to gain an advantage over her mother. Having the two Scarlet clone brothers together in any sort of hero role is enjoyable.
This story is crafted almost entirely for 90s fans, anyone else is going to have visit Marvel Wiki each issue. This isn’t as strong as Peter David’s Spider-Man 2099 series, but Scarlet Spider is way more fun that it was at the start.
There’s a couple weird body proportion issues and bland faces, but this is another solid effort by Will Sliney overall. The fight sequences and choreography is done well, with a handful of different assault styles. Rachelle Rosenberg colors the hell out of everything she touches.
Of all the non-Peter Parker Spider-Man comics that have come out since Spider-Verse, this is one of the most entertaining stories. Scarlet Spidey may have gotten off to a real rough start but hopefully this arc straightens out its trajectory.
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ASM: Renew Your Vows #14 “8 Years Later…” Part Two
The all-superhero family dynamic is quickly losing it’s appeal. Perhaps it’s just how Spidey and his powers work, giving the same abilities to three family members makes it boring. We haven’t gotten any of the father-daughter moments that make Superman and Jon Kent’s relationship so important.
I get that we’re all still angry about “One More Day,” but this isn’t the comic we wanted back then. This isn’t the drama of marrying a superhero, or having a kid with one. It’s just tree superheroes fighting bad guys and then sharing a bowl of popcorn afterwards.
MJ isn’t nearly as compelling as a superhero mom as Spider Woman or even Jubilee at this point. It’s not about a mom dealing with supernatural obstacles, it’s about a superhero that has to do her kids laundry sometimes.
There are way better comics than this being cancelled. With Slott leaving ASM and Zdarsky hitting his stride on Spectacular, why do we even need this series?
Renew Your Vows has worn out its welcome. I’m pretty sure the people still swearing by this series think Parker Industries still stands and Secret Empire is still going on.
As we approach the end of the year, it’s time to rank the top movies of 2017. Although 2017 has lacked one title that has been considered the runaway favorite by most critics; the quality and diversity of titles have been outstanding. In the interest of full disclosure, we have yet to screen Phantom Thread, and I reserve the right to adjust the list down the road.
15. Girls Trip
One of the most surprising movie-going experiences of the year. Went in with the lowest expectations and was treated to a hilarious film that focuses on empowering woman. The thing the still stands out is the performance of Tiffany Haddish. Check out our review.
14. Brigsby Bear
A movie that was underrated by most and praised by who saw it. This heartwarming tale of childhood and the perils of growing up should be near the top of everyone’s must-watch list. Check out my review.
13. Logan
Logan ends up being ranked higher because the quality of the ensemble outweighs the individual performances found in Brigsby Bear and Girls Trip. Hugh Jackman gives his character the sendoff it deserves while leaving superfans begging for a comeback now that Disney has acquired the rights to the X-Men universe. Check out my review.
12. Wonder Woman
Logan and Wonder Woman were seriously neck and neck in my final rankings. While Logan has a better ensemble, Wonder Woman saved DC from a cinematic implosion. If you are one of the tens of people who have yet to see Gal Gadot as Diana Prince, then please rectify that soon. Here’s my review.
11. Baby Driver
Edgar Wright’s latest film hits it out of the park with this high octane thriller. Baby Driver isimpeccably edited and full of pulse-pounding action. Had the acting been any better this release would have cracked the top ten. Here’s my review.
10. The Big Sick
Where is the love for The Big Sick during awards season? The film is well written and is incredibly heartwarming as well. Holly Hunter and Ray Romano are fantastic in this movie. Check out our review.
9. The Post
Streep and Hanks are fantastic in this timely look at the power of journalism. This film will end up nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars and stands a good chance at winning. Check out my review.
8. All The Money In The World
With all the drama surrounding this release, it was easy to assume that All The Money In The World would have been average at best. However, Ridley Scott defied expectations by recasting Kevin Spacey with Christopher Plummer and reshooting all of Spacey’s scenes in 9 days. The outcome is a fantastic film which will likely garner a nomination for Christopher Plummer. Here’s my review.
7. Dunkirk
It may seem baffling to everyone that Dunkirk is only ranked 7th at the end of the year, but it makes sense. All of the movies that are ahead of it on this list have fantastic performances combined with elements of technical/directorial merit. Dunkirk cracks the top ten based on how superior this film was technically. This maybe Christopher Nolan’s most exceptional effort in the director’s chair. Check out my review.
6. The Disaster Artist
James and Dave Franco capture the essence of two gentlemen who defied Hollywood and accomplished their dream of making a movie. Mind you The Room is widely considered one of the worst movies ever made, but at least they achieved their goal. This film is well worth seeking out just to watch James Franco alone. Check out my review.
5. Get Out
It feels like an eternity since Get Out was released, yet this film still resonates with critic groups around the country. The OFCS (Online Film Critic Society) and SEFCA (South Eastern Film Critics Association) named it the best picture of the year in recent weeks, and it received multiple SAG (Screen Actor Guild) awards as well. Above all else, the film resonates socially. Check out my review.
4. I, Tonya
The top four on this list aren’t separated by much. I, Tonya could have easily been the #1 film on this list. Margot Robbie and Allison Janney are truly fantastic and deserve all the awards season praise they are currently receiving. The strength of the ensemble in this film on top of the writing was enough to place this movie in the top 4. My full review of I, Tonya will post soon.
3. Lady Bird
What separates I, Tonya and Lady Bird is the strength of the writing and direction. Greta Gerwig’s words are able to capture the angst of growing up so beautifully. Saoirse Ronan and Laurie Metcalf give compelling performances that indeed will be recognized during awards season. The opening sequence alone is well worth the price of admission. Check out my review.
2. Call Me By Your Name
Call Me By Your Name is a soaring tale of discovery and the pain of lost love. Timothée Chalamet’s performance is just one of the many reasons audiences should give this release a shot. Sony Picture Classics is rolling this release out slowly and expanding the number of theaters the deeper we get into awards season (like A24 did with Moonlight). My advice is when this film makes it to your town go see it ASAP. Check out my review.
1. The Shape Of Water
The Shape Of Water is my best film of 2017 and with good reason. While Call Me By Your Name is a powerful film, Del Toro’s latest film is just superior. The cinematography is outstanding, the writing is magnificent, the technical aspects of the film are impeccable, and the performances (especially Sally Hawkins) are jaw-dropping. Check out my review
Overall, the quality of releases in 2017 has either been fantastic or painful to watch. Here’s hoping that the movies in 2018 are far more balanced and provide audiences with even more options.
What do you think of my rankings? Do you agree with them? Be sure and leave a comment below.
2017 was a fantastic year for comics. It seemed like every week New Comic Book Day had something awesome to offer. We had exciting big events, awesome new titles, talented and vocal creators and new and old characters being brought into the spotlight. In short, abundant and overwhelming.
It was also a busy year for me, so instead of taking the usual ‘Top 10’ approach, I am doing something different. What you have here are five things I LOVED about comics in 2017. I broke it up into six categories (it still HAS to be some kind of a list): Writer, Artist, Character, Title, Publisher, and New Title. Feel free to comment, agree, disagree, or what have you. Enjoy!
6New Title: Royal City
Royal City from writer/artist Jeff Lemire hits very close to home. A story about family, loss, the past, and identity, it’s the kind of book that really does elevate this medium we all love to new heights. Lemire is a hell of a writer, but when you add his delicate yet emotionally affecting pencils, it creates a true auteur package that will go down as a classic in comics. The book also has one of the best afterward sections where Lemire not only details the emotional origins of this personal story but also gives us awesome stuff like music playlists, variant covers based on classic 90s albums, and ‘bonus feature’ type material. It’s truly a fantastic comic.
