Saturday Morning Superhero Binge

Each Saturday morning, I'll be posting segments of the series that aired on the History channel. This series provides a history of the superhero genre up to the time of its airing date several years ago. So much has happened since the initial air that it seems as if the comic book medium has hyper-kinetically morphed so far ahead. This past year alone has had mega-hit, mega-series books that have (as cliche as this may sound) changed the lives and landscape of the superhero universe. We've seen Marvel's beautifully illustrated but usually late, "Civil War". One of the repercussions of the war were the deaths of superheroes. Everyone expects the B and C league vigilantes to bite the dust, but no one expected anyone as iconic as Captain America to be assassinated in cold blood.

Not to be outdone, DC Comics produced a year-long, weekly production entitled "52". 52 chronicled the exploits of several characters and their experiences a year later. If you were to pick up a regular monthly DC mag, you'd notice significant changes in the characters. Where have Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman disappeared to? When readers opened up the regular Superman/Action Comics books, they'd see Clark and Lois lounging around with Clark enjoying his newfound life. He simply didn't want to be Superman anymore! However, regular followers of the book didn't know how this happened. Apparently, the storylines take place a year later and 52 was supposed to fill in the blanks. Confused?

However, 52 didn't complete what it set out to do...at least, not entirely. We never found out why Clark wanted to take a break from Superman. We did find out why Batman was gone, though. A year later, the series ends only to spawn a new weekly event (yup, I'm locked in for another year), Countdown. Paul Dini is the head writer, and the series has started out not as introspectively as 52. This series looks to be more entertaining, action-packed and frenetic than 52 and hopefully it'll fill in the blanks that 52 was supposed to fill.

Fanboy.TV Winner!

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Men's Health - The Complete 300 Workout

Spider Man 3: Quick Thoughts

I just finished watching the third installment of Marvel's blockbuster triumvirate of Spidey movies with friends and family. There were 3 or 4 theaters showing Spider Man 3. The initial time we chose was sold out but we finagled our way in regardless. We were in the fifth row and risked suffering neck pain and eye strain but it was worth it.

It was great seeing how successfully transmitted comics to movies bring out the whole family. The lines were long but moved fast. One of the highlights was seeing the coolest movie display of a forthcoming movie ever. There was a life-sized, Silver Surfer bursting through the grey, white and blue backdrop of the second installment of the Fantastic Four. The reflective sheen of both Surfer and his board was a fantastic site to behold. It even got the bad taste left in my mouth from the first movie's jaded and deeply disappointed expectations to dissipate a bit. I'd venture to say that these life-sized mannequin's surfing the cosmos into your favorite movie lobby will be stolen across the nation. (Remember the Sponge Bob thefts from atop the Burger King franchises years ago?)

The first 10-15 minutes of the SM3 movie served as a great recapping vehicle for seasoned and knowledgeable vets and newbies alike. The world loves Spidey and MJ has landed the lead in a small Broadway musical. Even the press, which initially vilified our red and blue arachnoid, were heaping praises...with the exception of, The Daily Bugle, of course.

There were some well-acted, tender moments with Aunt May sharing with Peter how Uncle Ben had proposed to her almost 50 years ago. There were other heart-tugging moments that got me a little choked up such as the time MJ (in an attempt to save Peter's life from a villain) tells Peter that their relationship is over. Sam Raimi's deft artistry and direction shows in these deeply-heart felt scenes and can easily turn 180 degrees with other-worldly villains and special effect that dazzle the senses. It is also a testament to the actors in the movie who capture the soul of their characters and have the talent to pull in the audience and convincingly have audiences live vicariously through them. There were some great comedic scenes with Bruce Campbell as the maître d' at the French restaurant. I also loved Peter's obnoxious strut down New York and everybody's repulsive reaction to him. It is a credit to the creative teams who contributed to the movie to tell a full and dramatic story which can grab audiences from all generations and simplify the complexities of the movie into an entertaining (if not somewhat bloated) movie.

When I first heard of that Venom, Sandman and the new Goblin were in the movie, I really didn't think Raimi and company could pull it off. My disbelief became further rooted when I heard that Spidey would don the black garb (from the Shooter-based comic book series, "The Secret War"...remember that one kiddies?). Add to the mix that Harry believes Peter killed his father; MJ's career takes a dive; Peter gets shown up by a new recruit to the Bugle and the revelation that the dude in the first movie did not kill Uncle Ben and that the killer is still on the loose...this makes for one action-filled, emotional rollercoaster not easily navigated by the faint of heart. (My son is now a big Venom fan...sigh!)

The special effects, as we've come to expect over the years from this iconic franchise, were absolutely fantastic. The creators paid a reported $250 million to capture those effects and every penny put in was worth it.

My favorite part of the movie was when both Venom and Sandy team-up to bust up Spider Man. Hey, folks! It's Marvel Super Villain Team-Up Time! Overall the movie is an enjoyable conclusion to the trinity of movies. Great acting and even better special effects make this a ride worth taking. However, I don't' think I'd watch it again in the theaters. When the DVD comes out, I'll buy it as I have the previous two. This film could've used a little editing with the movie weighing in at almost 2 1/2 hours. I guess with that many characters which inherently demand a lot of screen time, it was destined to go a bit long. Maybe they should have trimmed down the villains gallery a bit and saved them for later installments of the series.

I'd quietly recommend the movie to everyone interested with some reservations. If you are going to watch the movie, I'd recommend that you watch the movie on the big screen to capture the grandeur of the special effects. This is a movie "built" for that type of viewing.

One More Day Left...Here's 7 minutes from the movie...

Iron Man Armor Revealed

Let's Give Them Something To Drink

300-Lay Down Your Weapons

300- Then We'll Fight in the Shade

300: You Must Be Xerxes

In commemoration of the upcoming opening in March, each day I'll post scenes from what I believe will be one of the greatest comic book to movie adaptations.

Tony Loco #2

The second issue of Tony Loco takes us deeper into the mind, psyche and the mental institution that houses Tony and other patients of the mentally unstable.

Layer upon layer of Tony’s past is slowly revealed. We catch glimpses of what perhaps will the unveiling of the reasons for his catharsis. Most of the officials and workers have no genuine concern for its patients run the mental institution. The only staff member that cares for the patients is Janice Evans.

This issue was definitely a trip. Most journeys into the mental psyche of a character can be difficult to follow. Throughout the book, there are glimpses to events from Tony’s childhood that, while possibly meaningful to creators who know their characters intimately, may be portrayed in a manner that unintentionally leaves readers a bit in the dark. The danger with dealing surreal elements at times, is that there can be a disconnect of sorts where the audience can get lost and be left more puzzled about a character rather than knowing more about him...(Read the rest on TheComicsReview.com)

Purity #2

Purity #2 picks up where the first issue’s cliffhanger left us. The Four Horsemen have come to Earth looking for an item of the utmost purity that can grant untold and unimaginable power to its owner.

I love a good battle of biblical proportions…especially when characters that pre-date creation settles upon our planet to duke it out. The artistic line-work of Andres Guinaldo is an absolute gem to behold. His artwork draws out from readers a mixed bag of emotions. One minute you’re marveling at the delicate line-work and detailing involved in creating each panel. The next minute, you’re raising your eyebrows at the very same aforementioned details that delineate death, destruction and depravity on such a grand scale. This is a comic book done in widescreen without the double page spreads. I’m amazed at how much mayhem can be portrayed in one page much less the entire book! Make no bones about it: this is high-octane violence depicted with broad and grandiose strokes that the story seems to burst from its pages!

Keep in mind, folks…the artwork is in black and white. Can you imagine how horribly beautiful these pages would be when in the hands of a gifted colorist? I think my head would explode!

Little by little, writer Shawn Lewis reveals more and more of the reasons behind the fantastical war between light and darkness with a good measure of gray in-between. I’m still a bit wary about hell’s agent, Abigor… you just never know if she could turncoat so easily.

I love (writer’s) re-imagining of biblical characters and elements and transforming into the 21st century. From heaven and hell’s agents to the desperately sought-after relic, his unique ability of pulling fascinating lore from between the chapters of the Bible is refreshing and bold.

This book easily ranks 10/10!!!

300 Video Journal #5

This behind-the-scenes look is a follow up of sorts to my previous posting of video journal #3 which delineates the training each actor submitted themselves to in order to capture the spirit of Sparta for this movie. Given that there are no known records of the Spartans' combative fighting styles, the fight choreographers took an amalgam of Far Eastern martial arts (including the Filipino fighting styles)and came up with some of the most ferocious battle scenes ever caught on film.

Preview of WWIII, DC's upcoming new series?

From Newsarama:
DC has released what appears to be a teaser image with no information attached other than the subject line of an e-mail: "Let the battle cry be heard in the land, a shout of great destruction..."

Which obviously accounts for the weepy Superman, but not really someone wearing the Red Robin costume from Kingdom Come, or the dashing, pantsuit Batman (from an Elseworlds, perhaps, or freshly back from a relaxing desert trip where he found himself?)

Oh - and bodies, bodies, bodies...Max Lord, Beetle, Jade, and The Question...?

Click for a larger version.



This is only conjecture on my part but, the rumored and fairly "hush-hush" series, WWIII my actually see fruition immediately after the close of the monumental series which is nearing its close, 52.

However, the pic is pretty intriguing for comic aficionados since one would be hard-pressed to explain the aforementioned costume variations. I don't recognize that version of Green Lantern. Although, the black hair suggests that it'd be Kyle Rayner instead of good 'ol Hal Jordan (albeit the current version is much younger than the '60's one and doesn't sport the grayed sides). Also, Max Lord and Beetle bought the farm a while ago, so chronologically the pic doesn't make sense especially if it's going to take place after 52.

Given that there is no obvious "Perez" sig on the pic, my guess would've been him at first glance. However, I'd have to say it's Phil Jimenez based on the illustrated features and his penchant for delineating Perez-type of panels on a grand scale. Interesting...

My other guess is based on the sunken Statue of Liberty. The current Busiek/Pacheco storyline where Superman gets a lifelike glimpse into the future courtesy of the newly-arrogant and regal, Arion. I'd have to dig up the issues but if memory serves me right, the future was portrayed in a rather dystopian landscape where the earth was ruled by Khyber and Luthor rose up to be the hero in Superman's absence.

300 Journal #3

Based on the epic graphic novel by Frank Miller, 300 is a ferocious retelling of the ancient Battle of Thermopylae in which King Leonidas (Gerard Butler) and 300 Spartans fought to the death against Xerxes and his massive Persian army. Facing insurmountable odds, their valor and sacrifice inspire all of Greece to unite against their Persian enemy, drawing a line in the sand for democracy. The film brings Miller’s (Sin City) acclaimed graphic novel to life by combining live action with virtual backgrounds that capture his distinct vision of this ancient historic tale. This is the third installment of the video journal. This episode details the workouts the actors had to undergo in order to look and fight like true Spartans. The actors put their blood, sweat and tears for this movie as you'll see.

Whedon and Cassaday's Astonishing X-Men

Over the years the X-Men had seen its fan-base grow exponentially. With the spark created by the team's uber-character, Wolverine, there have since been countless offshoots from the original series over two decades ago. However, while its popularity had garnered such an ever-increasing support, the quality of stories put out month after month eventually stagnated and petered out.

A recent resurgence in the team attributed to the 3 movies and the Grant Morrison-inspired run helped the mutant juggernaut forcefully move forward. The current run from Joss Whedon and John Cassaday is the best incarnation of stories...ever. Whedon has the unique ability to entertain both newbies and veterans to the X-men. Sadly, their run is coming to an end and another team will take up the creative mantle. Who will succeed the today's artistic team and will they set an even higher bar? Who knows? In the meantime, enjoy the trailer for the final storyline.

300 Trailer #2

This is going to be another great year for movies based on comic books. Most notably for 2007, SpiderMan 3 and Frank Miller's 300. It has taken many years for this story to reach the Silver Screen...it should be worth the wait. In the meantime, those of us lucky enough to have purchased the original series or to have bought the hardcover version collecting the entire series should quench our Spartan thirsts. From its inception, it seems as if Miller had this movie going to film. If memory serves correctly, 300 was the first comic to tell an entire story mostly by using "splash pages". Miller was the first to use this cinematic, wide screen effect for an entire series. Given the scope and grandeur of the story, the format perfectly suited the subject matter.