Cool Powers Bro!: A Review of the Film "Chronicle"

Chronicle, directed by Josh Trank and written by Max Landis, seeks to wow audiences this weekend by crossing super powered characters in to the increasingly popular realm of the found footage genre (films that want you to believe the characters in it are the ones wielding the camera) but does it end up flying above such a gimmick or merely beat the audience to death with it? Personally, I think more of the latter.

The film chronicles - sorry, had to do it - three high school teens (played by Dane DeHaan, Alex Russell, and Michael B. Jordan) who all acquire telekinetic powers (ability to manipulate objects with one's mind) after discovering a strange, alien presence underground. A simple concept in and off itself, but one that is weighed down heavily by trite character backgrounds. Andrew (DeHaan) is school's social outcast who also happens to have a crappy home life, Matt (Russell) is his good-natured cousin but also the smartest guy in the room, and Steve (Jordan) is the popular kid good at every thing. Granted, when they are thrown together through the chance encounter of getting these powers, it makes for a few honest moments of teenage life; like using the powers for practical jokes and lifting girl's skirts. For the most part though, these characters never get past the stereotypes they were written as in the screenplay, despite the best efforts of the actors playing them (especially Michael B. Jordan whose proven talents, showcased in The Wire and Friday Night Lights, are woefully underused.)

Moody Mind SMASH!

Okay, but at the end of the day the film's not really about the story right? After all this is something of a spectacle film, with kids flying around and tossing cars in the air. Putting one's hopes in that to be the saving grace of the movie would be a mistake, as most thing done here we've seen done better already. Also, by the time any real or interesting action happens most viewers will already care to little for it to be enjoyable. While the film only runs just over 80 minutes so much time is wasted on quiet moments, such as Andrew levitating the camera above him just before sleeping on multiple occasions, that one would wish the film closer to 60 minutes.

Now all these problems aside, the film does have a few redeeming qualities. The previously mentioned "honest" character moments are refreshing to a film about high school teens, even when they are practically drowned out by the cliched character-types. Trank's choice not to limit the "found footage" to the protagonist's camera also proves interesting as it opens up the film a bit. The addition of security cameras and cell phone cameras of bystanders, helps to bring a little life back into the film by the third act and help navigate the action scenes for maximum enjoyment. Outside of these though, the film's attempted telekinesis on the viewer's feelings is quite transparent and makes it that much harder enjoy and easier to resist.

Ultimately, I give Chronicle 2 stars out of 5, as it has a few positives but definitely not enough for me to like the film. If your still tempted to check it out, save your cash and wait to rent the film as this theatrical experience certainly doesn't give you any more bang for your buck this time and it is less acceptable to try telekinesis there waiting for the film to pick up.

Wednesday Pickups 1/11/12

Lots of good books this week (so many that I left off of the usuals like Unwritten), so let's get right to it:

First up this week comes from Image and is one of their newer titles, The Last of the Greats #4. The Last - A super alien whose siblings were all killed by humanity - deals with the starling realization from last issue that there is a "daughter" of The Greats and that he is now a father/mother while our protagonist Beaumont suffers for his oh so human choices. It's hard to talk too much about this issue without giving away it's ending, suffice to say it something I really didn't see coming but isn't exactly out of left field either when you think about the book's themes. Joshua Hale Fialkov continues to write a interesting story about power and instincts, while Brent Peeples; Nick Nix; and Eddy Swan (Penciler; Inker; and Colorist, respectively) present gentle artwork that isn't afraid to switch to violent on a moment's notice. Definitely recommend checking this out if you are looking for a book that deviates from the normal super-hero fare.

Moving over to Dark Horse Comics, we have Orchid #4. Lord Wolfe, self designated ruler of civilization, tells the tale of his beast-controlling general who he is about to sic on Simon and Orchid. While I liked the first issue, since then the book has been going down hill and this will be the last one I pick up. The world Tom Morello created for the book is interesting and has potential, but I just think the story he is telling with it is getting shallow and boring. This coupled with Scott Hepburn's art leaves me more disappointed that satisfied after reading it, so probably a book your going to want to pass on.

Going back to Image, we have the debut issue of Joshua Luna's new book, Whispers #1. Sam Webber is a man who spends a bit too much time in his own head, but that is about to change as he's just discovered he can leave his body while sleeping and effect the lives of people he knows. I was a little skeptical about how Joshua's work would be solo - most of his previous work has been collaborations with his brother Jonathan - but I have to say I really liked this first issue. Josh's art has a distinctly rougher feel, that works for the title and his story feels human with just a dash of weirdness to keep it interesting. If you've enjoyed the brothers' previous works - Ultra, The Girls, The Sword - I recommend giving this a shot.

Heading over to Marvel, we have X-Men Legacy #260.1 kicking off an east coast X-Men triple feature. Rouge's group settles into their new role at the Jean Grey School For Higher Learning with a friendly game of football and some unexpected grounds-keeping. Christos Gage and David Baldeon (writer and penciler) turn in a perfect .1 issue, that not only manages to introduce us to the regular cast (both new and old) but tell a self-contained story that establishes the book's tone. If only Marvel would make sure every .1 were held to this standard, I would get behind this initiative. Definitely check this one out, even if your not an X-Men fan it's worth a read.

Venturing off the school grounds, we catch up with Madrox and crew in X-Factor #230. The group continues to mourn for Jamie - who unbeknownst to them is bouncing around alternate dimensions - as Wolverine shows up to help them in more ways that one. Only my second issue back reading X-Factor, but it's already commanding a regular spot on my pull list with Peter David's comedic writing and the cohesive art of Emanuela Lupacchino, Guillermo Ortego, and Matt Milla (penciler, inker, and colorist.)  Looking forward to more great times from this crew, especially with their newly added characters - aka my main reason for returning to the title. A must buy if you want more than a few laughs from you funny books.

Heading back to Westchester County, and surprising even me as pick of the week, is Wolverine and the X-Men #4. The school gets a couple new students, straight over from Uncanny X-Force, and receives a guest lecture from Deathlok. While I stayed away from the book for the first few issues, based on the art and the bad taste the writer's last X-Men tale (Schism) left in my mouth, I decided to give this a shot with the new characters additions, and man am I glad I did. Feeling like a blend between Morrison's New X-Men and Kyle & Yost's New X-Men, Jason Aaron has written something in this book for every one. Mutants both young and old struggling to deal with their powers and the world in general may be the oldest synopsis for any X-Men book but why fix what isn't broken. While it could be viewed as a step backward from the previous years, the book setting it's self up as something so similar to books from almost ten years ago, I now see it more as giving readers an option for their mainstream X-Men consumption. You can follow the heavy hitters and action packed adventures of Team Cyclops in Uncanny X-Men, get back to the roots of young mutants learning to deal with the world in this title, or pick up both if your like me and can never seem to get enough X-Men. So check this one out if your craving that mutant education of yesteryear, as it also makes for a great introductory issue.

That's it for this week and since I "may" already be working on next week's reviews, I'll just leave it at that.

Killing by Numbers: A Review of Suzanne Collins' "The Hunger Games"

12 colonies; 1 capitol; 24 tributes; 1 survivor; 0 trust; 0 safety; Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games is a simple story that adds up to more enjoyment than one would expect from it's parts. Told from the point of view of tough, young heroine Katniss Everdeen; the book follows her as she becomes the latest sacrifice to the upper echelon of society and is forced to compete in it's dark, deadly battle-royal for teenagers, The Hunger Games.

While one might immediately think these are themes (and maybe even a plot if you've read Battle Royale) I've seen done over and over again; the old, rich and powerful persecuting the young, poor and working class; the real question becomes does Collins' book bring anything new to the table? The answer is not much, but those new elements do make the book quite a compelling read.

The first component that helps to set the book apart is the gender of it's protagonist. Yes while a girl as the lead character isn't exactly new, it is quite under used in  futuristic-adventure reads such as this one. Further more, it's rare for such a character to read as an actual girl not just a bro with boobs, of course that maybe a healthy by-product of the writer's gender. The other aspect that separates this book in the vast field of dystopian futures, is it's effective and deliberate pacing. From the slow, introspective chapters waiting for the games to begin; to the fast, action packed ones in the arena, Collins' has a great command of timing that keeps the reader thoroughly invested. There are many books that will have the reader suffer through long segments or try to condense interesting sequences into minor footnotes, but The Hunger Games manages to navigate those waters successfully and comes out as quite a more enjoyable read for it. Of course, along with these positives the book does has some draw backs.

The worst trait (or perhaps best trait when looking for commercial success) of the book is the plainness of Collins' writing style. When reading I like to find some formative challenge to embrace, whether it has an interesting narrative structure or unique vocabulary choices, but nothing of the sort appears in The Hunger Games. While this is not a horrendous or unforgivable flaw, and some might not see it as one at all, it does leave me wanting something more from a writer. Perhaps the more important problem to most readers, is a one-dimensional cast outside the major players and the world not being fully realized as a result. While this is certainly a headache in a lot of stories, and I do think it at least warrants mentioning, I found it quite easy to dismiss while reading. With the novel all being told from a single character's point of view it is seems a little more feasible for other characters to become one-note asides giving us some knowledge about the world rather main characters in their own stories. Since this is a series though, it's definitely a problem that I hope fades out in future books.

All in all, I found The Hunger Games a gratifying read and definitely recommend giving it a shot if you were intrigued by the trailer for the upcoming film adaptation (like I was) or enjoy a darkened world with young protagonists (like the later Harry Potter books.) Can't wait to see how this series continues, which has propelled the other two books in the trilogy straight to my "to read" pile, and how it performs on the big screen later this year.

Wednesday Pickups 1/4/12

New year, new comics, new posting schedule (as in a little more often then every four months); so without further ado let's get right into the first batch of comics from 2012!

First up, Team Cyclops is making the world love and fear them in Uncanny X-Men #4. In a one-off tale, spinning out of Mr. Sinister's return, The Phalanx are back and still having problems "making friends." Not a ground breaking comic by any means, but it is always nice to get a one'n'done in sea of trade formatted titles.   Keiron Gillen weaves an interesting and humanizing story of a solitary phalanx (phalani?), which accompanied by Brandon Perterson's art and Justin Ponsor's thematic colors makes for an enjoyable read. I would love to see more of this kind of thing from the book, but the arc starting next issue doesn't sound too bad either as it is spinning out of the previous events from the next title here.

We once again head to the Age of Apocalypse with Uncanny X-Force #19.1. Phoenix and Sabretooth return to their home-world after helping out X-Force, and are immediately thrown back into the fire. Another solid writing effort from Remender, who has been knocking it out of the park lately, this time paired up with Billy Tan's softer and more dramatic art making for a compelling read. My only real complaint with this one is that it should have been Age of Apocalypse #0, as it leads directly into #1 of that series and offers no introduction to the current X-Force (the original goal of these .1 issues.) Still, I'm looking forward to more of this story and these characters when their title starts in March.

From the horrors of a post-apocalyptic world, we head to the horrors (and whores) of the werewolf world in Ferals #1. It seems strange beasts have descended upon the small Minnesota town of Cypress and they aren't too fond of it's human inhabitants. In true Avatar Press (and writer David Lapham) fashion, this book features blood and guts galore but also harbors some psychological under-currents that will keep readers coming back. Maybe not their best first issue, when compared to the likes of the Crossed minis and Caligula, but still definitely worth a look, if only to check out the various ways Gabriel Andrade decides to layout corpses in his art.

We continue this horror spree over into DC with Animal Man #5. Buddy Baker confronts the third hunter to save his family, but he might have just put them into more danger. Another fantastic issue from Jeff Lemire (writer) and Travel Foreman (primary artist) that not only raises the stakes in the series but sticks some beautifully grotesque art in ones mind that won't soon be forgotten. Definitely looking forward to more from this creative team in the coming months, especially when it starts officially crossing over with the next book here.

Concluding DC's horror, double feature for the week is Swamp Thing #5. Alec and Abby continue chasing her half brother, the soon to be avatar of The Rot, with disastrous results. As the similarities between this and Animal Man continue to grow, so does the quality in each of them. Scott Snyder is quickly becoming the top man in horror comics and Yanick Paquette's art (especially the fluid panel layering) makes almost every page worthy of a wall frame.  Hard to deny this the top spot of the week, but a well know noir team has snatched it out from under them.

My favorite comic of the week is Fatale #1 from Image Comics. The famous Criminal team of Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips reunite to tell the tale of the fictional novel 'The Losing Side of Eternity' and the trouble it brings it's new owner. Interestingly enough, this is my foray into the teamed efforts of Brubaker and Phillips and I really enjoyed it. The former's knack for interesting yet mysterious dialogue and the latter's expressive and shadowy artwork work well in tandem, creating a murky world of beautiful women and troubled men. Looking forward to more as the first issue only gave the reader barest taste of the mythology, murder, and magic it advertises but sometimes a little goes along way.

That's all folks! Next week looks to be shaping up nicely with lots of Image titles and X-books to get to, so make sure you swing by your local comic shop and grab a few.

Wednesday Pickups 9/14/11

Fresh September continues with four new titles this week, as well four regular favorites. So let's get right to it:

We start in the X-world, with Uncanny X-Force #15. The Dark Angel Saga blazes on as Fantomex, Deadpool, and Deathlok may be all that stand in the way of global genocide; God help us all. Another spectacular issue from my favorite on-going title, Rememder's characters remain well written, while Opena's art never ceases to amaze. Only a few issues left in this storyline, and while I can't wait to see how it all shakes out at the same time, I really don't want it to end.

Heading off world, we catch up with X-Men Legacy #255. Magneto, Frenzy, Gambit, and Rogue continue their search for Havok and Polaris, but they might be getting in over their heads. While I do enjoy Mike Carey's story here, and not just because it is the gateway for some of my favorite X-ers to return regularly to X-books, Steve Kurth's pencils aren't exactly my cup of tea. I generally find myself not a fan of artist's whose face drawings come out strange or misshapen, and Kurth is no exception. That said, his action sequences are alright and do make the downsides tolerable. Overall, I am looking forward to where this title is heading and hopefully an artist change in the near future.

From Marvel, we head over to DC's Vertigo line with The Unwritten #29. Tommy and Lizzie get closer to unraveling the mystery of his father's journal with neither of them liking what they find. This great and original series continues with another solid issue. While I don't want to get into too many specifics and give anything away, one of the final scenes in this issue gets into some Marshall McLuhan ideology and offers a brilliant critique on the way the comic book industry has been run at times. A must read for long-time comics fans as well as those just getting into the medium.

Last up from Vertigo this week is, the penultimate issue of American Vampire: Survival of the Fittest #4 of 5. Cash and Felicia's covers are blown, so let the slaughter of Nazi vampires begin. Really enjoying this mini from Scott Snyder (writer) and Sean Murphy (artist), but that should come as no surprise since I love both of their work. While I was worried from last issue that this mini would end up trying to explain too much of this vampire world, Snyder has succeed in telling just enough to not get to far away from the main series roots and leave some question unanswered. In addition to that, Murphy's art really shines this issue as he gets to draw a lot more action that we've seen so far. Looking forward to the final issue, as the end of this one sets it up for a bloody conclusion.

Kicking off the new titles is Pigs #1 from Image Comics. Mischief and murder have forced a second generation KGB sleeper cell based in Cuba into action, and America authorities are left trying to figure out what the hell is going on. Superb story concept and execution by Nate Cosby and Ben McCool on this first issue. They paced the action and drama quite well in addition to ending with a cliffhanger that makes the wait for the next issue unbearable. My only complaint so far is Breno Tamura's art is a little rough for my taste, but I could see myself warming up to it as the book goes on. Always happy to support something that tries to tell an interesting story, and this title is no exception.

Going back to Marvel, for the third installment in their relaunched Ultimate line, we have Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #1. In this first issue we meet Miles Morales, an average kid in New York, whose life is about to change forever in multiple ways. Stupendous start for Brian Michael Bendis (writer) and Sara Pichelli (artist)! This issue seems to have that perfect balance of being something original, with a new protagonist, and having the classic feel of a super hero origin story. I've been enjoying all the new titles from the Ultimate Comics line but so far this one is my favorite, although the last one to come in the one I'm most looking forward to.

Finishing out the week we have two of DC's new 52, and the first of those is Superboy #1. Scientists at a secret facility have combined the DNA of Superman and that of human to produce a clone with amazing abilities, but only time will tell if Superboy inherited his "father's" penchant for doing good. While I wasn't amazed by this first issue, I was surprised that I did like it and how well it was done. Written by Scott Lobdell and drawn by R. B. Silva, this first issue does a solid job of introducing the character and showing where he is coming from. One particular inclusion I liked, was that of Rose Wilson (aka Ravager pre-DC Reboot) who was beginning to be a romantic interest for him at the end of Teen Titans and might end up being one here, a nice nod to the readers that creator's haven't thrown everything out in the DCnU. I think the next issue will weight a little more on whether I will be picking this series up regularly, so I'm hoping for it to grab me a little more.

Last up, and barley edging out the new Spider-Man for pick of the week, is Red Lanterns #1 from DC Comics. Atrocitus and his blood thirsty red lanterns are back, but it seems their leader made have lost his taste for rage. Extremely impressive first issue from Peter Milligan and Ed Benes! While I was a little worried these characters wouldn't be able to hold their own title, Milligan has erased all doubt and Benes great art is just blood-red icing on the cake. I can't wait to see future issues getting to the core of these lantern's rage as is done for Atrocitus here and any additions Milligan makes the core. If you've grown a little tired of the event-centric Green Lantern books over the last few years, as I have, I think this book might be just what your looking for in the new DCU.

Another solid week of floppys in the books, and next week looks to continue the trend with a whole lot of appetising X-titles. See you back here in 7 days for some X-Men, X-Women, and maybe if we're lucky something X-rated.

Wednesday Pickups 9/7/11

This week, I get my first taste of the new DC universe and a few regulars make an appearance. Lots of good things to say about this group, so let's get right to it:

Kicking things off this week, from Image Comics, is Hack/Slash #7. The Fame Monster story arc continues as Cassie discovers the identity of the slasher while Vlad has to return to his "Meat Man" roots to deal with a few of the slasher's lackeys. I have been enjoying most of this series so far, Daniel Leister's art was good as usual, but this particular issue felt a little dry. The humor-action combo I've come to expect on the book seemed pushed to the side for the old cliché of the villain revealing his master plan for multiple panels, which one could find appropriate in this book but to me just seemed boring. I'm hoping Tim Seeley rights the ship in the next few issues.

Moving over to Dark Horse Comics, we have Star Wars: Dark Times #2. Former Jedi Dass Jennir continues to traverse the desert moon of Prine, looking for civilization, while the crew of the Uhumele continue searching for him while getting acquainted with their new Jedi companion, Beyghor Sahdett. Admittedly, I was kind of hoping for more from Dark Times when it returned to store shelves. While Douglas Wheatley's art is stellar, and great for a Star Wars book, Randy Stradley's story feels predictable, slow, and just doesn't have that same galactic thrill of the former series. I will be giving it a few more issues to see if he turns it around, as for now though I wouldn't recommend anyone jumping on it.

A returning character that has retained his luster is Casanova, from ICON, who is back this week in Casanova: Avaritia #1. Everyone knows the the truth about Cass and his father (well, the guy who would be his father if he was from this dimension) has put him to the arduous task of cleaning up all the time-dimension anomalies caused by Newman Xeno kidnapping him in the first place. As I already mentioned, I am still in love with this series. Matt Fraction (writer), Gabriel Ba (current artist), and Fabio Moon (former and future artist) have created a world quite unlike anything else in comics today. The craziness of the art and story blend into a perfect storm that causes one to either love or hate the book, with not surprisingly many readers choosing the former. Usually I would suggest grabbing the first collection of the series to get a good grasp of the happenings, but I think this issue is actually a great jumping on point being a little more straightforward with the story than the book has been in the past. Get on this book one way or another and start having some nonsensical fun with your science fiction.

Filling out the second half of my comic stack this week is DC with four of their new/relaunched titles, first up is Action Comics #1. Sporting blue jeans and an arrogant attitude, this rebooted Superman has his sights set on the corporate fat-cats, who exploit the working man and operate outside the law but he soon finds this also puts him at odds with law enforcement. While I am digging the art in this first issue, penciled by Rags Morales, I'm not yet sure how I feel about the direction of this book. Instead of something new it feels like Grant Morrison (the writer) is just turning Superman into more of a public menace/vigilante ala Spider-Man or Batman. Going to pick up a few more issues to get a better grasp of it, and to get more of Luthor who was great in this first issue, but I hope it isn't just more of the same.

From Metropolis, we go global with Justice League International #1. The United Nations has decided it's time to get a few superheroes in their pocket, a group that can handle large threats but also answers to them. Lead by Booster Gold and composed of heroes from various nations, this team looks to save the world while having the authority to do so, that is if they figure out how to work together. Overall, I liked this first issue but not really as much as I was hoping to. The art is great, with pencils by Aaron Lopresti and inks by Matt Ryan, but the writing leaves something to be desired. A lot of Dan Jurgen's (the writer) dialogue feels forced or just out of place, some of them talk like they've known each other forever when this is supposed to be the first time they're meeting. I did enjoy some of the book though, especially Godiva and Booster Gold, so I'm hoping the writing evens out as we go along.

Bringing things back in a bit, we head to Louisiana to check in on Swamp Thing #1. Mysterious events occur in simultaneously throughout the planet and no one has any idea why. Superman decides to track down Dr. Alec Holland, the only man who might be able to understand these occurrences due to having the memories of the titular force of nature, and while Superman gets no answers Dr. Holland hasn't been totally truthful with him. Great first issue from Scott Snyder (writer) and Yanick Paquette (artist)! No real back story is required to get what is happening, and the natural/horror elements leave you wanting more. Can't wait to see where Snyder and Paquette take this book.

Animal trumps nature for pick of the week, as Animal Man #1 nabs the top spot. Buddy Baker has been out of the tights more and more these days. With having a family that is growing up, being an active animal activist, and enjoying some success as a Hollywood stunt-man turned actor, he rarely goes out on patrol, but that doesn't mean when a guy takes a hospital hostage he is going to sit on the side lines. I loved this first issue from Jeff Lemire (writer) and Travel Foreman (artist)! Instead of making Animal Man more like every other hero book on the stands, they focus on what makes him unique and base the entire book around it. Foreman's art excels equally in the domestic interior of Buddy's house and the trippy, exotic locales of his nightmare, leaving me salivating for whatever he draws up next. Easily my favorite book of the new DC Universe, so far, and I can only hope there is more coming that is just as excellent.

That is it for this week, next week should have a few more regular titles but I am sure some of the DC newness will slip in as well. Until then ponder what you would serve at a meal where both Animal Man and Swamp Things are in attendance, my guess is Spam.

Wednesday Pickups 8/31/11

While I skipped out on most of August, I figured this small, final week would be a good place to get back on track. So without further ado, here are two new titles (neither the main topic of this week for most, JL#1) and a usual suspect as pick of the week.

First up is The Rinse #1, the latest title from Boom Studios. Jeff Sinclair is a cleaner, of sorts, who instead of working with water and soap, prefers burners and as little paper trail as possible. It has worked out pretty well so far, but his newest client might be biting off more than both of them can chew. I enjoyed this first issue, especially being a deal you can't pass up at $1. Marc Laming's art carries the right amount of grit and grim for a crime tale, while Darrin Moore's varied colors keep it from being just another noir-wannabe on the shelves. Gary Phillips story didn't grab me quite as much as I would have liked it to, but I think others will find it right up their alley. All in all, I won't be picking it up regularly but I could see myself grabbing a collection of it somewhere down the line.

Moving over to Marvel, we have Ultimate Comics Hawkeye #1 of 4. Continuing straight out of last week's Ultimate Comics The Ultimates #1, we see what is happening with every one's favorite archer on his "business" trip to Bangkok. While this first issue eats up a lot of it's space with exposition, I still found it a fun read and think it will end up being a good mini-series. Hickman has found a nice balance for this mini (at least based on the first issue of each title) that doesn't make it mandatory to read The Ultimates to know what is going on and vice versa. My only complaint so far with his story is any character could be exchanged for Hawkeye, I am hoping in future issues his character becomes more relevant than just being the action star of the book. Pencils are done by Rafa Sandoval, whose character faces aren't the greatest but are made up for with everything else. Not a must read, by any means, but if you are a fan of the character and the political world The Ultimates sometimes touches on, you will probably enjoy it.

Saving the best for last, we have Uncanny X-Force #14. The Dark Angel saga heats up, as the titular character is awaiting his former teammates return from the Age of Apocalypse with his own horsemen, and is about to usher in the Age of Archangel. I've written many times on how great this book is and how well Remender writes these characters (which still remain true in this, it's 14th issue) but far too often I have just glossed over Jerome Opena's art. Yeah, I've said "it's great and I love it" but I don't usually get into specifics. The special attribute the makes a lot of Opena's art on this book, and the issue specifically, amazing is that it doesn't need the dialogue. Don't get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoy Rememder's writing (as mentioned just sentences ago) but this book could be enjoyed just looking at the pictures. The characters faces and movements are so precise and articulate, conveying exactly what their feeling or thinking, that they give credence to that old saying "a picture is worth a thousand words", even if in this case that picture is a drawing. So now that I have successfully geekgasmed over this book for the 14th time, you need to do yourself a favor and pick it up so you can do the same.

That is it for this short week, but next week looks to be quite a full one as I dig into some of the DCnU books. Be on the look out for that as well as my attempt to catch up with my stack of Oscilloscope Labs films.

Wednesday Pickups 7/20/11 & 7/27/11

I'm bundling the last two weeks together since I got caught up in some other thing. So, lets get right to it with the comics from the 20th.

Kicking things off, we have Uncanny X-Men #541. Tieing in with Marvel's summer event, Fear Itself, the X-Men are trying to stop the possessed Juggernaut who is working a scorched-earth path towards San Fransisco. While it's a scenario that's been done a dozen times before, Greg Land's art and Kieron Gillen's strategic take on the matter keep it interesting. It is also worth mention that this tie-in hasn't distracted from the direction the book has been going, as so often happens with these major events. Not a ground-breaking issue by any means, but sill a fun read.

From there, we cut out the adjective with X-Men #15. Wrapping up the "First to Last" arc, this issue features the final showdown between the X-Men and the Evolutionaries, who are trying to "save" them. A pretty good issue and arc, Christopher Yost's story has a classic feel while still managing to show how a lot of these characters have changed over the years. The combined artistic talents of Paco Medina and Dalibor Talajic, the former handling the current happenings with the latter covering the flashbacks, also work in a nice harmony to flush out the comic. I'm not sure what is happening with this book after the X-Men: Schism event, but if the same creator's stick around I will as well.

Departing Marvel and getting into Image, we have Hack/Slash #6. Starting the new arc, "Fame Monster", this issue features a slasher going after pop culture "celebrities", all the while treating Cassie to his vicious slayings by showing them in her dreams. Another great issue from Tim Seeley and Daniel Leister, with it's patented comedic-horror plots, fan service, and gory moments. If you've ever wanted to see some tan guys from Jersey get into a real situation, this one's for you.

The pick of the week this time is a special book you won't find on your local shop's shelf, Matinee Eclectica a special publication put out by Dirty Third Comics. I first heard of Matinee Eclectica through a wonderful crowd-funding site called Kickstarter, and have been looking forward to reading it ever since. The basis of the anthology is that all the stories are written by relative new-comer Ryan Schrodt, who partners with a different artist for each mini-tale. Generally when it comes to Anthology books, I find a lot to like and at least some parts that are dreadful. Matinee Eclectica breaks that pattern though, as I like every story and love quite a few of them. Schrodt really shows some writing chops in expertly handling all the major genres from super-heroes and sc-fi to western and horror tales. Just as impressive, is the combined talent of the artists assembled here. I don't want to start listing them all, as I would inevitably forget someone, but they are certainly creators I will be looking for more of in the future. Now, I'm not sure where you can get the book right now outside of con appearances, but I would start with contacting Mr. Schrodt through his completed Kickstarter campaign or the email given there. I, for one, can not wait to read more of his stuff in the future.

Let's keep rolling right into the books from the 27th.

First up this week is the lone DC universe book, Teen Titans #98. Begining the last story before the DC reboot, this issue features the return of Superboy Prime to the regular DCU, who is looking for revenge on Conner and the Titans. I'm kind of torn on this issue. It presents some interesting ideas but on the other hand they are all ones that I can't see being wrapped up in the two remaining issues of this title. The art however is pretty well done, with grittier pencils by Eduardo Pansica that fit the story's darker mood. Either way I'll be picking up the last couple issues and I'm crossing my fingers that they don't disappoint.

Next, we continue to catch up with the Inhumans in FF #7. Black Bolt returns to his people but he certainly doesn't come to bring them peace. Still not really enjoying this mini/fill-in story that has taken us away from what is happening with the Future Foundation. Hickman's writing is ok but Greg Tocchini's rougher art really does nothing for me. Next issue looks to be back on earth and hopefully Epting will be handling the art once again.

Rounding out my Marvel/non-X pickups, we have Venom #5. In this issue, Flash deals with his oldest foe, his father. At first I thought I wasn't going to like this one as it has starts off having an "after school special" kind of vibe to it, but by the end Remender makes it all worth while as he dives deeper into the mind of Flash Thompson. The kind of command he has over characters in his writing is unparalleled in the industry, and he makes each title more appealing than the last (something we will get back to with Uncanny X-Force later in this post.) Tony Moore and Tom Fowler, the two artists handling the issue, also contribute quite a bit as their touching panels hit just as hard as Remender's plots. This book is quickly becoming one of my favorite Marvel titles every month.

Heading over to Vertigo, we have American Vampire #17. Henry, Skinner, and the rest of their outfit escaped the cells, but it's straight from the frying pan and into the vampires running around on fire. Another fantastic issue from Scott Snyder and Rafael Albuquerque, filled with vampires (American and otherwise) and World War II action! This penultimate chapter of the "Ghost War" arc wraps up the perfect amount, leaving the most anticipated showdown for the final issue. Still really digging this book after a year and a half, and can't wait for more.

Going from buckets of blood to kegs of it, we have Crossed: Psychopath #4. Amanda and Rick see what "The Crossed" did to Darwin and Claire last issue, while Harold let's us see what happened to his first "love", Lori. David Lapham and Raulo Caceres continue to put out the sickest comic on the shelves, but its also one of the best done. The free reign Avatar Press gives Lapham constantly challenges his creativity for crazy story-telling, while Caceres art does wonders bringing the stories to life with fluid panel structure and mesmerizing, full-page spreads. Certainly not a title for everyone, but if you are a horror or gore fan you need to be reading it.

Closing out the week we have four X-books, starting with X-Men: Schism #2 of 5. The X-Men are on damage control, as the numerous countries that have activated Sentinels are falling victim to the robots. Meanwhile, the new Black King of the Hellfire club continues moving pieces into place before he overtly strikes as his mutant foes. This issue brought the mini-series down quite a bit, as the slow pace seems out of place in an event story and Frank Cho's art is not looking it's best. Additionally, Jason Aaron seems to be over-stating character's personalities and feelings to justify a predictable end that readers can see coming a mile away. There are still some things I like about the book, such as the new Hellfire Club direction, but I am really hoping the third issue brings some needed improvements.

From the X-Men as a collective, we head into the smaller groups starting with X-Men Legacy #252. The group begins searching Paris for Styx, Legion's most dangerous personality that got loose, but it doesn't go as well as they'd hoped. I am enjoying this story from Mike Carey, as he subtly makes these characters deal with their personal demons and left over feelings from "Age of X". The pencils by Khoi Pham don't really strike me strongly one way or another, but they do have their moments. Probably not a good point for some looking to get into the X-world but an enjoyable book anyways.

Taking second place this week is my favorite covert X-team in Uncanny X-Force #12. The Dark Angel Saga continues as X-Force teams up with the remaining Age of Apocalypse X-Men, while their individual leaders (Wolverine and Jean Grey respectively) ponder more than a friendly alliance. As I mentioned earlier with Venom, Remender has a flair for character development and this issue is no exception. That in addition to his over the top story and Mark Brooks pencils make this another fantastic comic. My sole complaint is the limited amount of panel time Dark Angel has been given, but that is more of the Angel fan in me speaking than a critique.

The top spot this week goes to Abnett and Lanning's New Mutants #28. Moonstar brings in a therapist to help her team deal with the personal problems their each going through. While this approach has been done before in comics, it hasn't been done with the speedy, no-punches pulled attitude this issue brings. Instead of having the characters confess all their problems in monolouges or thought bubbles, Abnett and Lanning choose to hit these not so merry mutants right in the face with them. Presenting a great pay off for those that have been reading for years, and a nice summary for those just joining in, this issue is a great read for any comic book fan and I definitely recommend checking it out.

That's it for this week, so go read some comics or at the very least complain on the interent about ones you don't like.

Wednesday Pickups 7/13/11

Comics Blog RISE!

Kicking things off this week we have Marvel's merry mutants in New Mutants #27. Concluding the new creative team's (Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning on writing duties partnered up with Leandro Fernandez's art) first arc, this issue sees Moonstar's crew in an all out brawl with Sugar Man and his mutated henchmen. So far I am reallying digging the new direction Abnett & Lanning are taking the New Mutants, making them the clean up crew for all the threats to mutantkind the X-Men have let escape in the past. They have a strong sense of where the characters are coming from, which was a major concern for me due to my love of the first two years of this title, and are laying some interesting ground work for the future. Fernandez art, on the other hand, is not a strong selling point of the title. It lacks a certain amount of definition and complexity for my taste, leaving the book looking a bit cartoonish in heavy contrast to the threats their tackling. So if your looking for a good Mutant story and can tolerate sub-par art, check it out. If art comes first in your mind, you might want to take a pass.

NeXt up is the premiere mutant event of the summer, X-Men: Schism #1 of 5. Cyclops and Wolverine travel to an international arms control conference to petition a global ban on the mutant-hunting sentinels, but an old acquaintance shows up to give a different mutant perspective. Pretty good first issue, in my opinion, as Jason Aaron's story has got me hooked and waiting to see where he takes it.In contrast to that though, Carlos Pacheco's art isn't exactly my favorite, but it still proves to be serviceable and entertaining. While I'm not the biggest fan of one story having so many artists (each issue being done by a different one), I think Aaron's story is going to worth putting up with it.

Finishing up the Marvel books this week is FF #6. Departing from the friendly confines of Earth, this issue gives us a history lesson on the Kree and Inhumans, tellling us how their destinies have become intertwined. Staying with the trend of other Marvel books this week,  I liked the story but not so much the art. Hickman has been weaving an interesting tale going back to his time on Fantastic Four, and while this breaks from the current happenings of the Future Foundation figuring out how to defeat the alternate Reeds, it is enjoyable none the less. New (or possibly fill in) artist Greg Tocchini's art is alright, but feels a little rough and out of place in the sci-fi/spacey locales of this issue. Hopefully Steve Epting's pencils return soon, as their a much better fit.

Heading over to DC, we have Red Robin #25. Tim enlists an old ally in the final stages of the assassination tournament, but will she help him or claim victory herself? Another great issue from Fabian Nicieza and Marcus To, which just makes it that much sadder that this book won't be continuing in the DCnU. Hopefully Red Robin will make an appearance in there some where, but I will miss Nicieza and To behind the creative forces behind him.

Checking in with Flashpoint, we have Booster Gold #46. Booster's battle with Doomsday rages on and what chance does he have with no help coming? Another comic I am going to miss when DCnU rears it's ugly head, Booster Gold has been pretty stellar over it's run, and Dan Jurgens (the current writer) will be missed on the character. While this is a Flashpoint tie-in it can really just be read on it's own like another Booster story, so don't let that stop you from checking it out before its gone.

Rounding out the DC books is Teen Titans #97. The titans battle with Rankor concludes, leaving a few lasting effects on the team. While J.T. Krul and Nicola Scott's run hasn't been the worst, it has been dragging a bit as of late. The action and character moments have begun to feel more like filler than worthwhile entertainment. Interestingly enough, this is one of the few DC books I am reading that will be relaunched in the DCnU and I am interested to see what a new team can do with a different cast.

Just barley getting beat out by another Vertigo book, this week's runner up is The Unwritten #27. Tom Taylor, now with his father's journals in tow, begins looking into an early super hero comic that might be more powerful than it's Supermanesque protagonist. Continuing their awesome series, Mike Carey and Peter Gross keep this comic fresh and unique never letting it slide to just another book in one's pull list. I'm know most comic fans I talk to are already as hooked into this series as I am, but if your not this issue also makes for a good jumping on point.

Last up, and taking the top spot is American Vampire: Survival of the Fittest #2 of 5. Our two vampire hunting protagonists experience a rough landing, thankfully there are plenty of Nazis on hand to make them feel quite welcome. I love Sean Murphy's art on pretty much anything, and it works so well in Scott Synder's world of blood suckers! Can't wait for the next issue, and all I have to say to get you to read it is "Nazi Vampires".

That's it for this week. Next week there won't be too many comics I'm picking up but maybe I will get around to reviewing a book without pictures, or my back log of Oscilloscope films. Until then, try to keep your jealousy of people going to San Diego Comic Con in check by reminding yourself those people are probably packed wall to wall and are lying about how much fun it is.

New Mutants, New Era, New Take: A review of X-Men: First Class

Coming to theaters everywhere today, with it's fifth film in the comic-adapted franchise, is X-Men: First Class. After the last two installments, X-Men: The Last Stand and X-Men Origins: Wolverine, being met with jeers from fanboys and critics alike, director Matthew Vaughn and producer Bryan Signer look to right this sinking ship with a tale of the X-Men's not so humble beginings.

Going back to the early 1960s, we are introduced to the idealist and womanizing Charles Xavier (played by James McAvoy) and the revenge-driven Erik Lehnsherr (the man who would become Magneto; played by Michael Fassbender); both looking to leave different marks on a world that is oblivious to their existence. This soon changes, however, as the United States government discovers the plans of Sebastian Shaw and his mutant group, The Hellfire Club, who are attempting to ignite the Cold War for personal gain. Looking to fight fire with fire, Charles and Erik are recruited by the U.S. government, along a group of younger of mutants, to prevent such a disaster.

Melding the mutants, fantastical powers, and themes of the X-Men comic books with the aesthetics and plots of an early James Bond film breathes new life into this dying franchise and possibly comic book films in general. Walking a tight line between globe-trotting, special effects thriller and campy, outcast-empowering feature, the film represents the general tone of the X-Men pretty well. Yes, their troubled kids that are ostracized by "normal" people, but at the same time they also get to experience awesome powers and events that those same "normal" people would love to get in on. Most fans will get hung up on this character looking different or that character's nationality not being "right" (as I often find myself doing), but one has to remember these films are more about capturing the mood of an X-Men comic, not the details. It is in this aspect that this film succeeds where most of the others really have not, but that isn't to say this is the only thing the film does right.

Besides the aforementioned look and feel the film gets right, it has a number of other positives going for it. The dynamic relationship between McAvoy and Fassbender is at the forefront of these, as it supremely enriches the film. Not only do both deliver very good performances, but those performances come together and play off each other in the impending clash of ideology brilliantly. Also turning in a wonderful performance is Kevin Bacon, as Sebastian Shaw, presenting himself in a much more controlled manner than I'm used to seeing. Lastly, a good majority of the make-up and special effects also help the film succeed, as seeing Banshee fly or Mystique transform looks better than ever. Fully examining the film though, it does also have it's fair share of flaws.

The most prominent of these flaws is the special effects used for Emma Frost, January Jones' character. One could say that I just don't like how it is done, which is true, but the real problem is that this single effect keeps the audience from being fully captivated. Also holding the film back, are the some of the dry, female performances. As was expected, January Jones is the most guilty in this area but surprisingly, Jennifer Lawrence is not to far behind her. Since I've seen the kind of performance Lawrence can give, check out Winter's Bone if you haven't already, I'm betting the script and direction play a large part in this problem. Speaking of the script, it is also the last major problem of the film. While a motto like "Mutant and Proud" may draw a nice parallel to real-world equality issues, in the film it feels like a bad catchphrase the scriptwriters' would not let go.

All in all though, I really enjoyed X-Men: First Class and give it 4 out of 5 stars. While it may not have all the details or continuity one is looking for in the X-Men franchise, it does offer a great adaptation of it from comic to film. So if the last two films scared you off, consider coming back and giving this one a chance. It's a fun, summer blockbuster that captures the heart of the X-Men universe even though it chooses to fudge some of the "numbers."