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At the end of my review for “Final Crisis” #6, I said that I wasn’t going to pick up the last issue of the series. However, since I write for Comix 411 in my spare time and I’m always looking for something to write about and I decided to bit the bullet and buy it so I can give my review. So what can I say about “Final Crisis” #7? Well…I didn’t like this one either. I just don’t get why some people think this has been a good story.
I consider myself to be a fairly intelligent person. I graduated from college with a degree in English; I received a masters degree in library science; I can follow along when something is a little bit deep, but I don’t think this story was at all deep or even just over my head. I just think this was a bad story.
As with my previous review, I will be talking about some details within this issue. If you don’t wish to be spoiled, do not read any further.
Click to continue reading DC Comics Review: Final Crisis #7
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Q&A: MARC BERNARDIN on Monster Attack Network and Genius
Posted by Tom Mason Categories: Interviews,
MARC BERNARDIN is a Senior Editor at Entertainment Weekly. He edits the Galleries that you find on EW.com, so he says, “whenever you see ‘25 Best Action Movies Starring Danes’ or ‘13 Peruvian Documentaries’ that’s my fault.” By his own admission, he’s also their Resident Geek. “I get called into every meeting that involves comic book, sci-fi, videogames, or general nerd subject matter.” Despite the turmoil in magazine publishing Marc admits he’s “survived the bloodlettings that have been sweeping the publishing business for the last six months or so. I guess there’s still some value in having a geek-in-residence…” That’s his day job. By night he, mostly with writing partner Adam Freeman, is a comic book writer who’s already squeezed some very nice books into the marketplace: The Highwaymen (Wildstorm), Monster Attack Network (AiT/Planet Lar) and Push (Wildstorm, and on sale now). Their upcoming series, Genius, was one of two winners in 2008’s Pilot Season contest from Top Cow.
TOM: First off, congrats on winning Top Cow’s 2008 Pilot Season. How long is the upcoming series going to be and when can we anxious voters expect to see the first issue?
Click to continue reading Q&A: MARC BERNARDIN on Monster Attack Network and Genius
He’s the ageless boy reporter who lives in a world of disguises, breathless escapes, and miraculous coincidences who’s forever getting bonked on the head by villains who are notoriously bad shots. Also, his best friend is a little white dog. He’s Tintin, created by the Belgian artist Herge (really, Georges Remi, 1907-1983) way back in 1929 and first published as a book (i.e. graphic album) in 1930. A total of 24 books were published over the years, taking Tintin everywhere from Egypt to America and to the Moon.
After years of yes/no/maybe, Tintin’s finally been greenlit by a movie team-up of Paramount and Sony and an army of producers including Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson. Principal photography on the motion-capture 3-D Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn (based on the graphic album originally published in 1943) has begun with Jamie Bell (Billy Elliot) as Tintin and Daniel Craig (Mr. James Bond to most of us) as the infamous pirate Red Rackham. It’s due to arrive in 2011 and the cast also includes Andy Serkis (Hey! Look! Gollum!) and Simon Pegg (Shaun of the Dead). The screenplay is by Steven Moffat (Dr. Who; Coupling), Edgar Wright (Hot Fuzz; Shaun of the Dead) and Joe Cornish (The Adam and Joe Show). No word yet on who will play Milou (aka Snowy for American readers). My money’s on Frank Welker.
If you’re not familiar with the adventures of Tintin, you don’t have to learn a foreign language to bring yourself up to speed. You can get a lot of info about him at the Tintinlogist and you can score some books over at Amazon’s Herge Store.
Here we are again. The Tuesday Preview has hit three in a row. Couldn’t do it without you.
Some interesting books this week. In Batman 685 I am sure we will learn everything we have to know about Bats. Again, I recommend anyone trying to follow this continuity to read Bubba’s comment for a clear viewpoint on our caped hero. Justice Society of America 23 should either wrap up the Gog storyline or start another. And the biggies, Final Crisis 7 and Revelations 5 - all will be cleared up. Grant Morrison reveals all. Comic readers head for tall buildings.
On the Marvel side we start with the always great Captain America. My best book of the year soldiers on. One of my new favorites is Hercules. Here is a hero that chases every woman in every story that he appears in, but with a grin on his face. And yet he seems to succeed and, as a spill over, the 7th (or 8th) smartest man in the world seems to be getting something out of his palling around with Herc. New Avengers 19 debuts and should contain the Dark Reign Saga. The only worry is that we are going to have too many Avengers teams, but I am sure we’ll never get to 50. Wow, 50 Avengers Initiative teams and 52 DC Universes. Lots of characters huh? And In Ultimate Spider-Man 130 we may continue killing off characters from Ultimatum. Or not.
Thunderbolts 128: A Great Moment in Comics History
Posted by Todd Matthy Categories: Reviews, Marvel Comics,
This week’s Thunderbolts was a gem. It features an appearance by President Barack Obama, but unlike his appearance in Amazing Spider-Man, he actually does something. Instead of punching out the Chameleon, President Obama actually has to do something, evaluate Norman Osborn. Doc Sampson is out to prove to the President that Norman Osborn is what we all know he is, a blithering psychopath called the Green Goblin. Unfortunately, good ole Normie has a back up plan to deceive our brand new President, and it involves his all new, covert, and off the books version of the Thunderbolts.
But that’s not the “great moment in comics history” (as my friend Joel likes to call it). The “great moment in comics history” is the blonde Black Widow’s clever transportation method for Ant-Man. Let’s just say he’s “sandwiched between two pillows”. I’ll say no more, needless to say it’s a great moment in comics history that makes fanboys want to be Ant Man. I’ll say no more.
After months of waiting, the second installment of Superman Beyond has arrived. For those that don’t read the series or forgot what happened in the previous issue, during “Final Crisis” Lois Lane was caught in an explosion and is dying. The only way Superman can save her is by embarking on an epic quest to obtain an elixir of bleed (think: elixir of life). On his fantastic voyage through the multiverse Superman encounters alternate versions of himself - the Earth-S Captain Marvel, A Nazi Superman, Captain Adam (Doctor Manhattan), and Ultraman - saves “Comic Book Limbo”, and does battle with Mandrakk the Dark Monitor. Whew, did I miss anything?
Anyway, this issue begins with Comic Book Limbo under siege and Superman rallying forgotten heroes like Merryman to its defense. Once that is finished it’s time for Superman to enter the world of the Monitors and defeat Mandrakk to obtain the elixir.
Click to continue reading Superman Beyond
SNEAK PREVIEW: Pixar’s CARS and The Origin of Lightning McQueen
Posted by Tom Mason Categories: Editorials,
Rev it up for the origin of Lightning McQueen! Pixar’s CARS was such a huge hit for the studio that it’s spawned a sequel, due in 2012. If you and your kids don’t want to wait that long, BOOM! Studios has something to satisfy fans of the Dinoco 400 until then. In conjunction with Disney Worldwide Publishing, BOOM! is launching a brand new licensed CARS comic book. Written by Alan J. Porter and illustrated by Albert Carreres, the first issue of CARS: THE ROOKIE will debut in March 2009. In the debut issue, CARS Star Lightning McQueen gets interviewed by Darrel Cartrip and reveals his less-than-humble origins as “Bulldozer” McQueen, “a local short track racer who dreams of the big time.” If you’re looking for something your kids can hook into, this is the comic to seek out. You can order it from your local comic book store (the BOOM! folks have a handy order form you can hand to your retailer), and you can also order it from the BOOM! website.
BOOM! is also releasing THE INCREDIBLES: FAMILY MATTERS #1 (by Mark Waid and Marcio Takara) and THE MUPPET SHOW #1 (by Roger Langridge) in March as well. Don’t let this opportunity slip by to get kids into reading comics.
WEEKEND READING: Hexed, Steve Gerber, Jason Lutes and Dave Stevens
Posted by Tom Mason Categories: Editorials,
There’s nothing like curling up with the internets for a lazy weekend. Here are some fun things to keep you happy:
HEXED #1: The good folks at BOOM! Studios have done it again. You can download the entire first issue of Hexed free, as a PDF, and read it. Sample it and I’m convinced you’ll not only rush out to buy the printed copy, but you’ll also want the next three on your pull list. Good stuff. Writer Mark Alan Nelson (Fall of Cthulhu) and artist Emma Rios have crafted a macabre tale of a female thief who operates in the occult underground. Read it and picture Eliza Dushku (Tru Calling, Dollhouse) in the starring role. Rios is definitely an artist to watch and you can check out some of her portfolio pieces here.
Click to continue reading WEEKEND READING: Hexed, Steve Gerber, Jason Lutes and Dave Stevens
IDW Review: Star Trek: Countdown #1
Posted by David Torres Categories: Reviews, IDW Publishing,
The new Star Trek film will be hitting theaters May 8, 2009. As I’ve stated in previous blogs here on Comix 411, I’m very excited about this and the trailer looks good. IDW Publishing is the current comic book company which owns the rights to publish Star Trek comic books. I’ve never really been one to read Star Trek novels or comics. I primarily stick to the television shows and the movies. However, I decided to take a chance on “Star Trek: Countdown” because it was being presented as prequel to the upcoming film.
This first issue of this mini-series was pretty good. If you are a big time Trekker, I would pick it up, but if you are a big time Trekker, you probably already have. The story revolves around Spock in the “present” world of Star Trek: The Next Generation (TNG) continuity. Spock has been living on Romulus and has been working towards the unification of the Romulan home world and Vulcan. This mission of Spock’s was first introduced in the classic TNG episode “Unification”.
In that episode, the movement towards unification was an underground movement. In this issue, we find out that the movement is now out and in the open and Spock is now a legal resident of the Romulus. Spock addresses the Romulan Senate and informs them of a supernova that that is occurring in a near by star system which could spread and destroy Romulus if they do not act immediately. The Senate does not believe Spock and some believe that this some sort of Vulcan trick.
Click to continue reading IDW Review: Star Trek: Countdown #1
Friday Follies
Posted by Joel Rosenberg Categories: Editorials, Television, DC Comics, Marvel Comics,
We are two episodes into Smallville, so a few comments are in order. Saturn Girl looks a lot better on TV than she did in the Wizard photos. I guess you don’t have to be telepathic to figure out what’s on the mind of every guy that meets her. Plus there were quite a few inside references. No flights, no tights for one. And why is Clark so uptight about even trying to fly? Tess, or as I prefer to call her MISS TESSMACKER, is talking merger with Ollie. Wink, wink, nudge, nudge. With Lana back are they doing the deed? Saw the photo of Serinda Swan who will be playing Zatanna. Have they grabbed every good looking girl in Vancouver? Clark talking about teaming up more with Ollie and John Jones? How about teaming with guys who actually have super powers? You know, Flash, Cyborg, Aquaman who have already been introduced? And Martians lose their powers under a yellow sun? Since when? Jones is played by Phil Morris, who is the son of original Mission Impossible star, Greg Morris. And Chloe calling John ” My favorite Martian”? Where’s the antenna?
If you want the best explanation for Batman that I have seen click on the comment Bubba made about my Deaths of Batman posting. It is far better than anything I or my DC rep could come up with.
Whoa… I just got it, Faces of Evil is Foe’s. F O E. Took me awhile.
When I went to reorder the second printing variant of Amazing Spider-Man, I was told by Diamond that I already missed the third printing variant, but I could get the 4th printing in early February. How did I miss the third?
Over on Battlestar Galactica we now know the 12th cylon is the XO’s slightly dead wife. Of course she would have been resurrected had not the humans and renegade cylons not blown up the resurrection ship. Mind you, he killed her for betraying her people,which, of course, she isn’t and neither is he. And why, if you are making human looking cylons, would you make them susceptible to alcohol? No wonder he drinks so much. And where are they getting all this not home brewed liquor anyway? Assuming that there are only the 12 human looking cylons that they have told us about, that makes Starbuck not a cylon. People who remember the original Galactica remember the Lords of the Light who rescued the almost dead Apollo instead of Starbuck and sent him/her/it back in a brand new white viper. Well,they have borrowed quite a few plot devices from the original so why not one more?
Toon in Tuesday for the famous Tuesday Preview.
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