Marvel Wanted To Do Something New With ‘Thor: Ragnarok’

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October 11, 2017

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is a well-oiled machine as it churns out two to three films a year, but are not very deep and could be considered cookie-cutter. Apparently, Marvel Studios President, Kevin Feige took all those ‘cookie-cutter’ comments personal and wanted do things differently with ‘Thor: Ragnarok.’

“I think we all really wanted to break all the rules with this movie but still, follow the tradition. (…) I know Chris wanted to do something new. I wanted to do something new. He wanted something new. Marvel wanted to do something new, so we did it. I think it’s a really fun movie for this moment in time,” said Mark Ruffalo at the ‘Thor: Ragnarok’ world premiere.

The film has a different tone, color pallet, and sound; and that is all credit to filmmaker Taika Waititi. Feige made a great decision having Waititi direct the third film. Every MCU fans can feel the fresh air.

Waititi dances to a different beat but has an excellent understanding of cinema. The MCU too a fault is overloaded with jokes; this might be the first time they have a comedic genius mapping out the appropriate time to use them.

Where is your excitement level with ‘Thor: Ragnarok’ and director Taika Waititi? Comment below.

About ‘Thor: Ragnarok’:

Thor’s world is about to explode in Marvel’s Thor: Ragnarok. His devious brother, Loki, has taken over Asgard, the powerful Hela has emerged to steal the throne for herself and Thor is imprisoned on the other side of the universe. To escape captivity and save his home from imminent destruction, Thor must first win a deadly alien contest by defeating his former ally and fellow Avengers… The Incredible Hulk!

‘Thor: Ragnarok’ stars Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Idris Elba, Cate Blanchett, Jeff Goldblum, Tessa Thompson, Karl Urban, Mark Ruffalo, and Sir Anthony Hopkins. Taika Waititi directs with Kevin Feige producing the film.

‘Thor: Ragnarok’ will destroy the universe on November 3, 2017.

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Review: ‘Ragman’ #1 Resurrects A Cult Character With Power And Relevance

By

Manuel Gomez

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Rory Regan is back in his hometown of Gotham City trying to readjust to a normal life after serving in the special forces. Like many soldiers, Rory has brought back painful memories and feelings from the horrors that he saw. But something else is going on and Rory is about to find out it’s more than memories and PTSD that he is suffering from. There are very real and literal monsters coming for him and his loved ones; Rory is about to inherit a heroic destiny that will ultimately turn him into the hero known as the Ragman.

Ragman #1
Written by: Ray Fawkes
Art by: Inaki Miranda
Colored by: Eva De La Cruz
Lettered by: Josh Reed
Published by: DC Comics

Writing

Ragman as a character is not well known (most folks probably need a little background), and his exposure has been limited, with the biggest being the character’s reoccurring role on the fifth season of Arrow. So it’s interesting to see DC try and bring him back in his own series amid so much going on in the DCU. I’m happy to say it works, and this is a very engaging first issue.

Writer Ray Fawkes has updated the origin of the character, making him some kind of special forces member. The issue’s narrative jumps back and forth between the present day, where Rory is back in Gotham City dealing with rejoining society, and the recent past, where we see the mission/raid that started him on the path to becoming Ragman. Fawkes uses this technique not only to set up how Rory get’s the rags that will ultimately turn him into a hero but to also establish what kind of a person Rory is. In reading Rory’s interactions with his squad, we get a perfect sense of his personality. He seems to be the ‘kid’ in the team, the one everyone wants to protect. This works great because it makes Rory’s eventual role as a protector that much more powerful and also a bit ironic as well.

We also get to know Rory’s friends and team members, which is great because…SPOILER ALERT…one he has the rag suit on, Rory finds that one of his abilities is he now has the minds (souls?) of his friends speaking to him. This is a great detail that opens up all sorts of possibilities and situations. After all, hints show us that maybe not all of them could be trusted and these ‘voices’ do seem to know much more about what is going on than Rory does.

Ragman has also always had strong ties Jewish myths and culture (specifically the Golem), and this has also been brought back. Rory’s dad runs a shop that seems to be filled with cultural artifacts, and we can see things in Rory’s room that ie him to the culture as well. I’m glad this is being made a key factor in the book, as it was always one of the fascinating aspects of this character.

The PTSD themes work very strongly and are handled with maturity and seriousness. It’s great to see such an important and timely topic being dealt with well in a comic. It’s not overly preachy either. It’s blended well into the overall nature of the book.

The story itself is a fast-moving tale that is equal parts military action and horror, with the right amount of ‘origin tale’ details that don’t make it a complete piece of exposition. It’s lean and efficient writing that sets everything up perfectly by the issue’s end.

Art

Inaki Miranda and Eva De La Cruz have created some stylistic and moody art. Being a Gotham City set story, a certain kind of atmosphere is expected, and that is absolutely present. It’s a lot of shadows and dark hues.

There is some great detail at work here also. Check out the featured image at the top of this review for an example; the window pane shadows falling across Rory are the kind of thing that makes comics cinematic and not static.

The page layouts are also pretty dynamic, creating a brisk pace that pushes the narrative forward but also knows when to slow down a bit and focus on the quieter, character moments.

The new Ragman design is also pretty awesome, sleeker and more horror-tinged than the previous ‘cape and hood’ look. There’s seems to be a Venom vibe in both appearance and power set, which works and goes along with the vibe the book is trying to capture.

Conclusion

This is a solid book that re-introduces a character perfectly. It has the right amount of set up, cast development and story intrigue to get a reader invested and wanting to continue on with the rest of this six-issue miniseries. Consider me officially waiting for the next chapter.

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‘Thoroughbreds’ Trailer: Anton Yelchin, Anya Taylor-Joy Star in Pitch-Black Comedy/Thriller

By

Larry Taylor - Managing Editor

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October 11, 2017

It’s still odd to realize Anton Yelchin is gone, thanks to a horrific and unfortunate accident last year. The guy was ready to break out, and if you need any more proof of that check out the trailer for Thoroughbreds, one of his posthumous starring roles (he has a few).

The film was a hit at Sundance, and it looks like a pitch-black comedy/thriller hybrid about rich girls who need a drug-dealing hitman to take care of a bothersome stepdad. Check out the trailer:

Childhood friends Lily and Amanda reconnect in suburban Connecticut after years of growing apart. Lily has turned into a polished, upper-class teenager, with a fancy boarding school on her transcript and a coveted internship on her resume; Amanda has developed a sharp wit and her own particular attitude, but all in the process of becoming a social outcast. Though they initially seem completely at odds, the pair bond over Lily’s contempt for her oppressive stepfather, Mark, and as their friendship grows, they begin to bring out one another’s most destructive tendencies. Their ambitions lead them to hire a local hustler, Tim, and take matters into their own hands to set their lives straight.

This looks like a blast for fans of the super uncomfortable violent comedy thriller genre. Soak up these Yelchin roles while you can, because the list is finite. The third star here is Olivia Cooke, most recently from Bates Motel and Me, Earl and The Dying Girl.

Thoroughbreds opens March 9, 2018.

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Apple Getting Into Content Game, Resurrecting Steven Spielberg’s ‘Amazing Stories’

By

Larry Taylor - Managing Editor

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October 11, 2017

Apple is finally throwing their hat into the original content ring with a reboot of Steven Spielberg’s short-lived anthology series, Amazing Stories.

For all the kids out there, Amazing Stories was a Twilight Zone-style show tackling science-fiction, fantasy, and sometimes horror episodes. Spielberg directed a handful of the episodes. Other lauded directors and actors stepped up to helm a few episodes, including Peter Hyams, Bob Balaban, Burt Reynolds (!), Clint Eastwood, Joe Dante, and Martin Scorsese.

Amazing Stories only ran for two seasons from 1985 to early 1987. Apple is looking to resurrect the series, and it’s unclear if they want to get heavy hitters to come back and direct one-off episodes, but that would be pretty sweet. Imagine a one-hour fantasy or sci-fi show from Denis Villeneuve, Ana Lily Arimpour, or Christopher Nolan.

There’s no information regarding the release date for Amazing Stories, a schedule, or any actors who may join the first season. Stay tuned for updates.

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‘Mech Cadet Yu’ #3 Prepares For War

By

Anthony Wendel

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The cadets are undergoing their most intense training yet when Park’s mech starts to malfunction with dangerous consequences.

Writing/Story

War! What is it good for? In this case, it’s good for ramping up the stakes of this series. The invaders who caused humanity to team up with the alien robots are back. This means Yu and his team have to train even harder and prepare themselves for the looming invasion which is on the horizon.

The story really builds to the ending where the aliens, the Sharg are revealed for the first time. Writer Greg Pak spends a perfect amount of time building to this reveal by showcasing all the drama on the human side of the war. From last meals, to constant training, and repairing the mecha which comes from the front line, the world building is spot on and to the point. One can only hope the intensity will continue with future issues.

Artwork

The design of the Sharg is the real show stopper of this issue. Once it’s on screen you can see where Takeshi Miyazawa’s inks and pencils mixed with Triona Farrell’s color work is truly a delight. The colossal creature is intimidating and ominous in a way which only could be accomplished by powerful art.

The lettering by Simon Bowland really helps to distinguish who is talking over the intercoms thanks to colored letters. There is also a lot of emphasis on bolding words of importance to the plot.

Conclusion

Next issue will feature a smackdown between the Cadets and a gigantic Sharg. What will happen? Will Mech Cadet Yu make it out alive? Is this really the end of the series? Don’t do this to us, Greg Pak! This series is far too entertaining to end after only four issues! The readers demand more, and so does the entire comic writing staff of this website!

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Episode 16: Top Horror Comics To Read For Halloween

By

Anthony Composto - EIC

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October 11, 2017

Welcome to the sixteenth episode of the Comic Show by Monkeys Fighting Robots! Halloween is right around the corner, so we’re talking Top Horror Comics of all-time! That means we’re talking Locke & Key, Swamp Thing, Walking Dead, and so much more. Then we take a trip back to the 90’s in Jeff Lemire’s Royal City #6 and review the start of a new story arc.

Buckle up, True Believers! Episode 16 of the COMIC SHOW by Monkeys Fighting Robots is here.

EPISODE BREAKDOWN:

03:55 – Top Horror Comics To Read For Halloween

46:10 – Royal City #6 Review
Anthony – 4.76 Monkeys
Matt – 4.25 Robots

Thank you for listening!

Do you want to be our FAN of the week? All you have to do is comment on this podcast to be eligible.

Do you have a question that you would like answered during the show? Email your questions to matt@popaxiom.com.

Reviews are greatly appreciated – How to Rate and Review a Podcast in iTunes

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Meet Taika Waititi As Korg In This Hilarious ‘Thor: Ragnarok’ Clip

By

Kieran McLean

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October 11, 2017

While appearing on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Chris Hemsworth revealed an amazing first clip for his upcoming Marvel film, Thor: Ragnarok. The hilarious clip, which takes place on Sakaar, see’s Hemsworth’s Thor have a hilarious first interaction with Korg, a CGI character who is portrayed by director Taika Waititi.

More – ‘Thor: Ragnarok’ Is The Beginning Of A Hulk Trilogy Says Mark Ruffalo

Thor: Ragnarok is the next instalment of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and according to early reactions, the film is one of the funniest Marvel movies yet. If the below clip is any indication, critics are correct and this will be a hilarious adventure for Thor.

Watch the clip below:

Imprisoned on the other side of the universe, the mighty Thor finds himself in a deadly gladiatorial contest that pits him against the Hulk, his former ally and fellow Avenger. Thor’s quest for survival leads him in a race against time to prevent the all-powerful Hela from destroying his home world and the Asgardian civilization.

Thor: Ragnarok will land in theatres on October 24!

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Life And Limb: The Importance Of Disabled Comic Book Characters

By

Nick Battaglia

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October 11, 2017

As someone who was born with one arm, I do not view myself as disabled. Instead, I view myself as an X-Men who is in the Danger Room that is life with an unknown timer. Every hurdle is like a Sentinel forcing me to adapt to my surroundings and situations. After all, it was the X-Men who got me into comics when I was younger.

Reading stories about people who had unique abilities, and also caught the ire of the public because of their appearance resonated with me. Simply because each issue taught me a lesson about life. They taught me why being tolerant of others is important. The team also assured me that I wasn’t alone in the world when it came to my situation and that I was unique and not a freak.

Stories like Alan Moore‘s The Killing Joke and John Semper, Jr.‘s Cyborg: Rebirth showcased both the horrific causes of disabilities and the mental impact they have on people. Seeing Victor Stone (Cyborg) go on a date with a woman and feel like he has to conceal his true appearance, is how I used to feel in the same situation. Out of fear that the woman I was with would be uncomfortable as people stared at us. Barbara Gordon lying in bed realizing her paralysis and learning how to overcome it serves as a great teaching tool.

The dialogue that shows the most pain is writing that holds the most truth. Having disabled characters in comics is important, as they can give people someone to identify with and teach them how to overcome the hurdles that come with being disabled. But when it comes to most disabled characters nowadays, it seems as if creative teams do not expand their roles. Instead, they assign them to positions that have become very niche.

If a character is in a wheelchair, they are automatically assigned to a computer/desk job. Why not field work? It is a comic book, you can give them a way to modify a Hoveround. Same goes for prosthetic limbs.

Why is it every arm has to have a hand at the end of it? There are prosthetics in real life that have multiple attachments including knives. By giving someone a hand, the writer/editor is taking away something unique about the character. Plus I have owned mechanical hands.

They were heavy, got dirty really easily and if I accidentally hit a button, they would eject like the heads on a Voltron figure. They were terrible. But in all seriousness when it comes to disabilities in comics, my biggest hope is creative teams and publishers look more outside of the box when it comes to creating and marketing disabled characters. People remember the person with a hammer attached to their stub.

If you give a person a robotic hand, what is the point of taking the limb at all? Also by doing something unique with the prosthesis, you are making it its own character. More creative teams and publishers should reach out to people like myself and have more creative consultations about these characters. There are so many avenues and questions that can be asked and answered.

Questions pertaining to disabled people’s feelings towards others touching their stubs, their range of motion, etc. Not every missing a limb is the same shape and length. Some stubs (like mine) require(d) surgery in order to be fitted for a prosthesis.

To people like me, I say this. Just because you have lost your limb(s) does not mean you have lost your life. There will be trials, but the sooner you embrace what you still have, the quicker you will overcome them. How can we ask for more various types of representation if we are not willing to open up and discuss our lives and situations with those who are interested in giving us these characters?

Charles Xavier said in X-Men: Days Of Future Past, “Countless choices define our fate. Each choice, each moment, a moment in the ripple of time. Enough ripple and you change the tide. For the future is never truly set”.

Let us use today to cause a ripple and change the tide! Comment below on what kinds of disabled characters and stories about them you would like to see created below!

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‘Suicide Squad #27’ Gets A Blast From The Past!

By

Jose "Jody" Cardona

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The Squad Enters The Space Race!

The Suicide Squad comic has had its highs and lows during Rebirth. While I enjoyed the first two volumes, I put the book aside during it’s Burning Down The House story. It had less to do with the quality of writing, but rather it began to feel repetitive. The repetition continued into the Earthlings On Fire, and with the departure of one of the major plot points first created for the series, I was worried it would spiral towards poor quality. However, after the recent arc, which I did enjoy, it ended with a pair of characters we haven’t seen in decades: Rick Flag and Karin Grace, the original Suicide Squad.

**SOME SPOILERS BELOW**

Story:

This issue serves two purposes: returning to the status quo and to set up the next story.

During the night, a robot breaks into Belle Reve Penitentiary in an attempt to kill Amanda Waller. While the quick action of Deadshot stops the assassination, this leaves the questions: who sent the robot and where did it come from? By calculating its trajectory, the Squad learned that it had come from a space station with a database linked to an abandoned airfield in Nevada. This leads Amanda to split the team in two to investigate both fronts.

What I love about this issue is how Rob Williams has found a way to bring back the original Task Force X. Ever since the start of the New 52, the focus shifted towards the more popular villain team that causes mass chaos. Since the relaunch, Williams has been shifting back towards what the team first started as: a task force to help America. With the reintroduction of the original team, Williams has brought the vibe and team that made them popular, to begin with. I can’t wait to follow the compare and contrast between how the two teams operate as we move forward.

There is one downside to this issue that’s going to bring down fans of the series: a lack of action. This shouldn’t be too big of a surprise considering this issue was setting up the story, but it’s just that the Suicide Squad is explosive when it comes to action. Only time will tell if they return to that formula, but as of right now, be prepared for a quieter story.

Art:

While the story may be fantastic, the same cannot be said about the art. While I enjoyed Barnaby Bagenda’s work on The Omega Men series, I did not enjoy it here. The weakest part of the pencil work has to be the faces of nearly every character in the book. The clearest example of this would be Captain Boomerang. He may not be the most attractive character on the Squad, but there are times where he looks like an alien.

Grievances aside, there are parts of the art that really stand out. I love the design of the robots that the original Task Force X uses, as well as their pet alien. They have a classic Sci-Fi design that fits the environment that the issue takes place. The colors follow this style as well. Unlike previous storylines, the colors here are more subtle than vibrant, fitting more in line with the more subtle Task Force X stories.

Conclusion:

While I believe this next story is going to be fantastic, there will be some who might not enjoy it. It’s a quieter issue that promises a few things as we move forward. Hopefully, the art improves as the story progresses as well. If you are a person who is willing to wait for the action and insanity of the Suicide Squad, I say pick this up and prepare for the coming storm.

Issue Description:“THE SECRET HISTORY OF TASK FORCE X” part one! The next major storyline of SUICIDE SQUAD begins when Amanda Waller receives a mysterious communique confirming her worst fears: someone knows all her secrets. Task Force X. Maxwell Lord. General Zod. Everything. And the message came from…outer space?! Determined to identify and neutralize this unprecedented threat, Harley Quinn and the Suicide Squad boldly go where no sociopath has gone before!

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Diana Learns About Family in ‘Wonder Woman #32’

By

Jose "Jody" Cardona

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Brother, Where art thou

The last issue of Wonder Woman’s series started an all-new storyline(Review for that issue here). This story will introduce readers to Diana’s long lost twin brother while combatting Grail, the daughter of Darkseid. While the first issue was not as spectacular as I first hoped, I’m still confident that this storyline will blow readers away.

So how does the second chapter hold up? Does it do something amazing or bore us to tears?

**SOME SPOILERS AHEAD**

Story:

This issue was a massive step up from the last.

After being approached by the lawyer of Hercules, Wonder Woman and Steve Trevor go to A.R.G.U.S. to look at the body. They learn that Hercules wasn’t the only child of Zeus to have died. A.R.G.U.S. has found out that each of the murder sites have residual Apokolipian energy coming from it. Diana deduces that Grail is the cause of these attacks and after getting coordinates from Hercules will, goes off to find her brother.

This issue was able to pick up the pace that the last issue lacked. With Diana now on the case of Hercules’ death, the issue feels more in line with the Wonder Woman stories that came before. We see her go through emotional turmoil, regretting she never had a chance to meet Hercules, as well as gain hope when she learns of her twin’s whereabouts. This makes the story more personal, and by extension, enjoyable.

Not only is this issue emotion-filled, but still has time for some sweet action. While it’s fun to watch two demigods take each other on, watching the Amazon princess take on a dozen parademons is even better. The writer even added a fun nod to the Wonder Woman movie with Steve Trevor’s team.

The only complaint I have with the story is that the pace goes a bit quick at times. For example, when Wonder Woman finds her brother, he instantly calls her his sister. No one would ever act like this unless he was told ahead of time. If he did know she was his sister, why did he not seek her out? This is more nitpicking than anything, but it’s something that bugs me even after finishing the issue.

Art:

The art was also a leap from the last issue. There are no inconsistencies and the pencil work of Sergio Davila makes the characters look amazing. I think the best example of it is when Wonder Woman is embroiled in a battle with Parademons. The details of the creatures’ faces are incredible, as well as the design of Wonder Woman’s uniform.

The coloring by Romulo Fajardo Jr. was also quite impressive this issue. The mixture of colors on the characters made their outfits pop and their faces more realistic.

Conclusion:

Overall, this issue was not only a massive step up from the last, but has reaffirmed my excitement for the arc. The story has grown to become something more emotionally driven while picking up the pace. The art is phenomenal, with expert pencil and color work dominating the pages. This is a fantastic chapter to this story and I can’t wait for the next installment.

Issue Description:“CHILDREN OF THE GODS” part two! Wonder Woman must find out who is targeting Zeus’ children before their sights are set on her! What kind of monster has the power to murder a demigod?!

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