Category: Comic review

Guardians of the Galaxy: Guardians Disassembled

gotg

Some time we have to go back to our roots and chill. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) is one of my favorite MCU films and years before the movie, they were a big reason why I started reading Marvel comics. So to start the new year, let’s start with some GOTG badassery…

The Guardians of the Galaxy have always been trouble-makers in the universe, and while the down trotted have seen them as heroes, there’s some powerful forces that call them enemies. Helping the time displaced X-Men retrieve Jean Grey in Guardians of the Galaxy/ All New X Men: The Trial of Jean Grey was a final straw for these forces. Tony Stark, fresh from his time with them, asks Flash Thompson, better known as Agent Venom, to hang with them as a representative of Earth. They accept this new misfit with open arms. While Quill sleeps, Drax takes Venom shopping for new weapons for his cosmic adventures, and Gamora is on her own leave, they are captured and divided. J-son of the Spartax captures Quill with his ultimatum; Gamora is sent to the Badoon who want to know where Thanos is; Drax is taken by the Shi’ar empire and faces off against Gladiator; the Skrull take Venom; The Brood take Groot while the Kree experiment on Rocket.  While things look grim, help comes in the form of Angela, the rogue Asgardian bounty hunter who aids Gamora and Captain Marvell who frees Quill and helps Star Lord bring down J-son once and for all. It’s hard to keep good Guardians down…

This is a damn quick book but it’s action packed. From page one until the end there is plenty of action that’s easy to follow. While it’s volume 3 of the line( Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Avengers being the first) it’s really easy to pick up with a helpful summary and a fluid introduction to the characters. Besides a good story, the book includes a Captain Marvell solo, Venom solo, and future Guardians tale so you get a nice bang for you’re buck. I’d definitely check this book for a Marvel or Guardians new comer. May the gaming gods bring you glory and Happy New Year.

Superman: Red Son

red son comic

I have to admit, my timing couldn’t have been better, getting this book the day before Superman: Red Son trailer dropped. Red Son is one of DC’s most famous multiverse stories. We all know the tale of the last son of Krypton landing in the backyard of the Kents in Smallville who would grow up to be the legendary Man of Steel, Superman. But what if he didn’t land in Smallville?

Red Son follows the life of “The Superman” who became Joseph Stalin’s right hand and nuclear deterrent during the Cold War. Born to a small, poor, Ukrainian family, this Superman fights to protect his people and country and uphold the ideals of communism. The US asks genius mind Lex Luthor to trump the seemingly invincible Superman but he can never seem to stop him, whether its the villainous creations, allying himself with the Russian anarchist known as “The Batman”, or creating a corp of fighters wielding alien Green Lantern tech. Stalin is assassinated, leaving Superman as the President of the growing USSR, a omnipresent godlike figure of security and fear but can he keep being the hero he desires to be when everyone wants to see him get brought down?

Red Son is perhaps my favorite Superman story I’ve read. I love the depth and complexity of Red Son Superman as well as that world’s versions of Wonder Woman, Lex Luthor, Brainiac,  Batman, and the Green Lanterns. The artwork is great, and I love the era Communist era Superman posters that do feel pretty realistic. I do like the twist villain at the end but the very end didn’t work for me. Nevertheless it’s an amazing book I’d highly recommend. May the gaming gods bring you glory.

Wonder Woman 1984 trailer 1

I have to admit, while a far cry in tone from the first Wonder Woman I’m still pretty interested to see where it goes. I know Cheetah plays a role in this movie, and I’m glad they don’t show her. Gal Gadot is still a knockout as Diana and I’m sure she’ll steal the show. I’m curious how it’ll turn out. May the gaming gods bring you glory.

Black Adam poster and release announced

black adam poster

If you watched Shazam and know you’re DC lore, you picked up on the Black Adam references but surprising revealed Mr Mind instead of him in the after credit scene. I’ve heard whispers that Black Adam is set to face his nemesis in Shazam 3 but I haven’t seen anything concrete to substantiate this. Anyhow, Adam is getting his own movie without Shazam;  Dwayne Johnson is playing Adam the movie, as the poster depicts is coming  out 12-22-21. Honestly I love his look and I like the grim god-like presence he has in the poster. I’m a bit worried Adam’s story may come off too humorous or they may try making him too much of a hero instead of the tragic, badass villain/ antihero he is. Time will tell. May the gaming gods bring you glory.

Bloodshot trailer 1

Bloodshot is the latest in a long, endless line of comic book movies that I have to admit looks pretty badass. The effects are pretty awesome and the plot looks fairly interesting. The only thing that makes me nervous is that Sony is doing it, but after Venom and Dark Tower it’s a fair enough concern. May the gaming gods bring you glory.

Day 30, Mermaids

wake mermaids  How many people grew up with Disney’s Little Mermaid? Remember feeling warm and captivated by the movie’s whimsical charm? Well, writer Scott Snyder brought us a dark, creepy version of the fabled underwater creatures he and Sean Murphy’s graphic novel The Wake. I loved the design of mermaids and how they are a ancient evil reawakened that will rule the waters of the world again. May the gaming gods bring you glory.

Day 20, Man-Bat

manbat

So what’s more frightening than a werewolf? How about a man sized vampire bat. Kirk Langstrom was a scientist whose failed experiment turned him into this viscous creature of the night, imbued with super strength, flight, durability, sonar hearing, and a glue like spit as well as a craving for blood. Man-Bat is a underappreciated Batman villain in my opinion and a pretty terrifying, yet simple threat to the denizens of Gotham. May the gaming gods bring you glory.

Batman: The Killing Joke

killing joke

With Joker hitting theaters today, I thought it would be appropriate to cover Joker’s most diabolical plan, to make sure Batman has one really bad day as well as one of comic’s most controversial graphic novels written by the writer of the Watchmen, V for Vendetta, and League of Extraordinary Gentlemen.

For years, Batman and Joker have fought across Gotham, with Batman knowing the day would come when someone would kill the other. The sad truth is neither really know each other, but the hate they garnish for each other. Joker sets off to break Batman and those he cares for the most. In a single night he breaks into the Gordon residence, paralyzing Barbara with a shot through the spine and taking naked pictures of his immobile body to later torture her father the Commissioner with as he is stripped and sent on a macabre ride while Joker recalls his really bad day. Things are personal as Batman finds his nemesis, but has the Dark Knight finally broken after a really bad day?

I must admit, I was pretty shocked how far this book went, especially for such a quick read. If you played Batman: Arkham Knight you might be familiar with some of this material, but the book is far more disturbing. It is written really well and Joker is shown in a different light and is actually pretty sympathetic in his origin. The artwork is great and the colors really pop. This is the perfect book with a haunting ending for any Bat fan and I highly recommend it. May the gaming gods bring you glory.

 

Birds of Prey full trailer

This caught me through a loop; I seriously thought the other teasers were the actual trailers? Anyway, here’s the first real look at Birds of Prey and all I can think of is that it’s pretty much a Harley Quinn movie. I’m ok with that because Margot Robbie was great as Joker’s other half; my fear is that this is looking to be a all female Suicide Squad in regards to tone and a really misplaced villain. I’m hoping for the best but I ain’t impressed. May the gaming gods bring you glory.