October 2011
17 posts
“Fear plays an interesting role in our lives. How DARE we let it motivate us. How dare we let it into our decision making, into our livelihoods, into our relationships. It’s funny isn’t it? We take a day a year to dress up in costume and celebrate fear?”
—Robert California on “The Office.” His character is growing on me, and I LOVE his end-of-episode monologues. They always bring everybody together and make a great point.
"Werewolf or Vampire?" convo with my lady.
- Me: Would you rather be a werewolf or a vampire?
- Amanda: I'd rather be a werewolf.
- Me: Yeah, me too, because you could go out during the day.
- Amanda: Yeah, but I wouldn't like killing people.
- Me: But if you were a werewolf like in "True Blood," you could control that.
- Amanda: Yeah, but if you were a werewolf like in all the OTHER movies, you couldn't.
- Me: Because you would black out and kill people. Once a month you wouldn't know what you were doing.
- Amanda: Well. IF I were a werewolf, I guess I wouldn't mind killing people.
- Me: Good point.
Billy Madison - "More Gum"
I sing in the shower sometimes (nice visual, eh?). Today, this popped into my head for some reason. Bought this movie on the last day of seventh grade and watched it once a day for a week straight until I let my buddy Rob borrow it for the summer. Classic.
Comic Book Wednesdays: Justice League #2 & Supergirl #2
YO! What up everybody? It was a busy week for me at the comic shop this week, where I picked up FOUR books from my subscription list this morning. For today, I picked up the #2’s of Justice League, Batman, Nightwing, and Supergirl. I also got lucky and snagged a VARIANT COVER of JLA #2 (nerd hands rubbing together “wash yer hands, turn tha page!”).
I’ve already read all four for the week, and this time around, I was happy with each story. Keeping along with my regular Superman storyline reviews, I’m gonna bring you my thoughts on JLA and Supergirl. Here we go:
Review of JUSTICE LEAGUE #2:
This month’s JLA starts off with Green Lantern and Batman TRYING to fight SUPERMAN (HA…they WISH they could take the Man of Steel). Supes is PISSED because he thinks the two heroes attacked him, when all they really wanted was to ask him a question about an alien box they found.
The opening pages show how much of a BADASS Superman really is, and also are perfect for rubbing in the faces of all my friends who claim that Batman is the better hero. Come ON, Superman is more powerful than a locomotive and can leap tall buildings in a single bound. Batman is just a dude with cool equipment. See the following clip from the issue for PROOF:
Told yah.
Anyway, Green Lantern calls on the Flash for help to slow Superman down, which he DOES, only to be FLICKED across an alley by the Man of Steel. They eventually calm him down and discuss the alien box, while Flash and Green Lantern have a side discussion about how crazy Batman and Superman are. As they talk, the box activates and several aliens charge out, screaming “DARKSEID!”
MEANWHILE, another box is activated deep inside S.T.A.R. labs, where Victor Stone has gone to find his father. Stone gets blasted by the technology, and we see our first glimpse of the creation of Cyborg.
The issue ends with us wondering what will happen next.
THOUGHTS:
LOVED everything about this issue! The art was amazing, and the story was great, continuing with the idea that there is no JLA yet, and that the heroes are still figuring each other out. The banter between characters was also funny but not over-the-top, and their interactions where great. So far, they’ve all asked Batman “What can [he] do?” Of course, he’s proved that he can keep UP.
I also like how they’re introducing one character at a time. This month we saw more of Superman, and we also met the Flash. Looks like Wonder Woman will be next. I’m definitely looking forward to seeing how they get along with her, and how long they’ll draw it out before they form the Justice League.
SIDE NOTE: There was an interesting “transcript” of an interview talking about the existence of Wonder Woman and Aquaman at the end of the issue. Don’t skip it because it gives some cryptic answers of what’s coming!
Review of SUPERGIRL #2:
This month starts with a flashback of Kara on Krypton, holding a young Kal-El and claiming that this was only “three days ago.”
The story then cuts back to the PRESENT, where Superman has flown down to see Kara. They both ask why each is wearing the “S,” and can’t figure out how each person got to where they are.
Kara introduces herself, and Superman says that he’s her cousin. She knows this can’t be “true” because the last saw him as a baby the other day, so she attacks him, calling him a “liar.” A major fight ensues as they throw each other across the country and into the sky. As they fight, Kara continues to discover her powers, like X-Ray vision, and eventually FLIGHT. She’s confused, scared, and she has no idea what’s going on.
After nearly attacking a group of innocents, Superman gets her to calm down, and explains that he has the answers for her. He tells her about the yellow sun, and how it gives them powers, but he can’t figure out how hers have developed so quickly. He also tells her that Krypton has been destroyed, which is news to Kara.
The issue ends with them flying away together, and cuts to a lab, where a faceless scientist holds a red Kryptonian crystal that has “all the answers.”
THOUGHTS:
I never really read Supergirl before the reboot, so I’m not sure where the story used to hang, but I like where they’re taking her character so far. Not knowing how or when she got to Earth makes me want to keep reading, and I loved the fight she had with Superman. It was cool how she thought she was JUST on Krypton when it’s really been gone for years. There’s a HUGE gap in her story, and I’m excited to see how she learns about what’s missing from her memory as well as how Superman will help her remember. After seeing her whoop up on the Man of Steel, I’m hoping to see them fight TOGETHER soon.
OVERALL:
Overall, I was happy with all four books I picked up this week. I know I didn’t review Batman or Nightwing, but they tie together and are both VERY worth the read, so be sure to pick them up too! Remember, I’m a Superman guy, so if I tell you to pick up a Batman story, DO IT!
And come back next week for reviews of Superman and The Flash!
Drew.
Comic Book Wednesdays: Superboy #2 & Green Lantern #2
What up, my fellow DC fans? Hope this past week brought you lots of good football and comic action. I was slow getting to the comic store today, because I started the morning off waiting to have my car serviced for three hours. Chugged a lotta free coffee, though, so it wasn’t so bad.
Anyway, I got there about an hour before closing and picked up my subscription for this week, which was only “Superboy,” an of course, left with several more. I also officially added “Green Lantern” to my list, and after this month’s issue, I’m glad I did. Check out this week’s stash, sitting in a “Circle of Awesome,” surrounding a delicious PBR. Mmm, mmm, ladies and gents. Mmm, mmm.
As you can see, I left with a stack. I’m gonna give “Swamp Thing” another read after picking up the reprint of the first issue, and I’m also gonna see if “Batgirl” is all it’s cracked up to be based on what I’ve heard.
For my REVIEWS this week, I’ll start off with “Superboy” #2.
First off, I liked the intro issue to the series. He’s in a lab, and he’s figuring out his powers, but he obviously doesn’t have the MORAL FIBER that Superman has. His suit is BADASS, and he’s strong, but I have to say, I wasn’t too impressed with this issue.
It’s funny, because I’ve been a pretty light critic with everything I’ve read so far, as I often am with movies and TV shows, but Superboy 2 didn’t cut it the way I thought it would after the first issue. It picks up where the last one left off, but doesn’t really accomplish anything. SPOILER: Yes, they let him out of the lab, and yes, he’s crazy strong and can’t control his abilities, but other than that, we’re left hanging with an unconscious hero and a disintegrated building. BUT, I’m still interested to see where they take his character. The IDEA of the series is good, and there’s still a lot of explaining to do, so I’m not worried.
Review of “Green Lantern” #2:
I never read Green Lantern as a kid. All I knew of him came from the “Death of Superman” series from the early nineties, and I didn’t pick back up until the movie came out this past summer. Obviously, the film answered several questions, and I liked it while it got bad reviews from the critics.
That being said, I wanted to give his book a read when they rebooted the DC titles, and I’m glad I did. The first issue ended with the cliffhanger of Sinestro offering Hal Jordan a ring. If you read the books or you’ve seen the movie, this is CRAZY. If not, go Google “Green Lantern” and read the Wikipedia. There’s too much to explain.
Anyway, GL 2 starts off with Sinestro GIVING Jordan a ring, only for Jordan [SPOILER] to realize that it’s not the same as before. Sinestro needs his help to fight the Yellow Lanterns, and HE controls Jordan’s ring.
The irony here is that Jordan now has to play SERVANT to his archenemy. BUT, Sinestro is looking at the bigger picture and trying to save his home while proving to Jordan that a lot more could be done to help Earth. It’s freaking awesome. Go pick it up!
I still have to read “Batgirl” 1 and 2, as well as “Swamp Thing” 2, so we’ll see what happens there. Otherwise, check back next week for “Justice League” #2!
PEACE.
Comic Book Wednesday: Action Comics #2 & Detective Comics #2
Hey guys! So, I started Comic Book Wednesdays last week with a photo of my “nerd stash,” but instead of just posting my purchases of the day, I want to expand and give a review of the main books I buy each week. I haven’t been into comics in YEARS, but the DC Reboot has gotten me hooked again, and each week leaves me hanging, wishing I didn’t have to wait a MONTH for the next issue.
This week, I’m sharing my thoughts on the second issues of Action and Detective Comics, and from here on out, I’ll give you a review every Wednesday. Enjoy, and pick ‘em up for yourself!
Review of Action Comics #2
AC2 starts off where the first issue of the reboot ended: with Superman chained up by Lex Luthor and the American government. He’s tied up and they’re doing all kinds of tests on him with no result, because as we know, NOTHING other than Kryptonite hurts him.
However, no one else knows this yet. SUPERMAN might not even know it yet. It’s a completely different take on the Man of Steel. He’s younger and his powers aren’t completely developed yet, and he’s not as strong as he is in previous comics. As seen in the first issue, he’s also dressed differently, and doesn’t seem to know where he’s from yet.
Obviously I don’t want to get into spoilers in case you want to go pick up a copy for yourself, but so far, I LIKE where they’re going with the Action Comics storyline. Superman is seen as a potential threat. The people love him, but the government is scared of him. He doesn’t KNOW Lex Luthor yet, but they’re already on opposite sides. Instead of bullets bouncing off of his chest, they leave marks, and instead of flying, he “leaps tall buildings in a single bound.” It’s a cool take on the story, because the world doesn’t know him as the symbol of “Truth, Justice, and the American Way” yet. He’s just a dude from another planet trying to figure out what he’s doing here and trying to decide what’s next with his like. He’s definitely relatable to anybody who’s in the same position right now…(cough. I feel it. Cough)
It’ll be interesting to see how he gets the SUIT, and to hear about his history in this new re-telling of the legend we all know. An interesting side note to the story is that the Superman comics already have him as an established hero, but leave us wondering where he’s been for a while.
Still a lot of questions for what they’re gonna do with the Man of Steel, and I’m psyched to see what’s coming next.
Review of Detective Comics #2
SO. I’ve ALWAYS been a Superman guy, but I respect Batman and all of the Batman people of the world. When the reboot started, I decided to jump over to the other side for a bit and give his story a chance (if only our GOVERNMENT worked this way…hmm). Let me tell you. I’m glad I did.
The first issue of Detective was CRAZY, leaving us with the cliffhanger of the Gotham PD finding the Joker’s FACE cut off and hanging on a nail. His body was M.I.A., so they assume he’s out and on the prowl as always.
This issue picked off from there, with Batman worried about where the Joker was hiding and what he was planning. He meets up with Commissioner Gordon to discuss the situation, which leads to the discovery of a new villain: (SPOILER) The Dollmaker.
This dude is CRAZY, and he came out of nowhere. He’s obsessed with cutting people’s faces off and sewing other pieces of faces back in place. Pretty gross. And he’s got a band of teammates who all have replaced faces and seem to love what he does. Definitely creepy.
Batman gets jumped by Dollmaker and his crew, and we’re left with ANOTHER cliffhanger, but I won’t spoil it for you. Check it out for yourself! You won’t expect it…
Anyway, be sure to pick up Action Comics #2 and Detective Comics #2, and if you give ‘em a read, let me know what you think!
And check back next week for a review of Superboy #2.
PEACE.
“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma, which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of other’s opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition; they somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is SECONDARY.”
—Steve Jobs, 2005. R.I.P.
