Friday 27 August 2010

The Mast Blogs: Direct Edition's Scott Pilgrim Special.

Bang!

I'm grabbing some internet to tell you all to go check out Direct Edition's Scott Pilgrim Special!

It includes the opinions of ourselves and the fans who showed up to Bryan Lee O'Malley's signing, as well as my interview with the man himself.

I'm SO sorry for the audio on my interview, but it was on the fly and by a main road. We got the quick chance to interview him, so we took it. Not the best location, but what can you do?

Until my computer is fixed, peace.

-The Mast

Wednesday 25 August 2010

The Mast Blogs: When Technology Fails.

Greetings, human and alien alike.

This is a tiny update to let everyone know that my internet/computer has been a complete bastard and died on me.

It should be fixed soon enough and I will commense onward with The Mast's 30 Days of Comicdom.

I apologise SO much for this, but stick around and we'll be right back!

Until next time, peace.

-The Mast

Monday 23 August 2010

The Mast Blogs: Welcome to the Mast's 100th Post!

Greetings!

I really didn't mean to skip out without doing a post yesterday. The problem is that I didn't want my 100th post to go to waste, so I couldn't post anything until I had done my 100th post.

I decided that I wouldn't do anything too elaborate, but I'd say what honestly needs to be said.

The reason I started this blog was because I love comics. Pure and simply, I love comics. I love reading them, reading about them and talking about them. They've been a monumental part of my life since I was six years old. Unfortunately, I hate feeling like I'm talking to myself, as good a conversationalist as I am. On my first few posts, for a long time, I was getting NO commments or any feedback. It's hard enough getting my blog out there NOW, much less back then.

Welcome to the Mast began in November as, I suppose, part service and part vanity project. I love the knowledge I have and as arrogant as it may seem, I love reading my own posts. I guess it's like George Lucas said about Star Wars; his main aim was to make a movie everyone would copy, so that he could relax and watch the copies. It wasn't all arrogance, though, because I also started this site so that I could educate people on what I like and what comics are about.

With the current wave of comic book movies, people are gaining more and more interest in these characters, however fleeting it may be. Seemingly people lose interest once they leave the cinema, but this blog is here for the opposite reason. If people wish to know what is going on and how to get into comics, I like to think that I can provide all that info, as a fan.

The very fact that I've introduced at least a few people to comics is enough for me to know what I'm doing is good. The comments are coming in on a way more frequent basis, and I'm starting to feel as though people really are getting to know my blog (If you read this and have a blog yourself, please, shout mine out).

On top of that, Welcome to the Mast has afforded me the opportunity to promote something. It was due to me promoting my site that I met Iyare of Direct Edition fame, and as a result, I am on the regular broadcasting team for that show now.

Not only that, but I've done interviews with comic creators such as Fred Van Lente, Kieron Gillen, Bryan Lee O'Malley. I also got the opportunity to interview one of my favourite hip hop MCs of all time, and huge comics fan, Vast Aire. None of this would've occured if I didn't just make the leap of faith and start this blog.

I don't want to act like this whole situation is bigger than it is, but in November I was starting a comic blog with no idea if I'd even be continuing it into the next few months. Now, I'm sitting here having done in-person, filmed comics journalism with real comic creators. It's a big deal to ME.

To be honest, I never imagined this would be happening and I hope that it can only get bigger. Iyare and I have some legitimately large, progressive plans for both our individual and collective selves, and I will reveal them if and when they materialise. It feels like it's going somewhere, and if it doesn't, I had a blast at least.

Sometimes, due to keeping myself fairly rigid on time, I know my posts may seem rushed or phoned-in. I guess I can't help that. Sometimes you're having a bad or tiring day, busy days even, and I just can't find the time or effort to post something on time AND have it come across as totally enthusiastic. Thanks for being understanding about that, though.

All in all, that's what I've got. I don't have anything super special, just a tremendous, immense and heartfelt thank you to every single person who has viewed this blog, left a comment or commented to me elsewhere.

I really, really cannot thank any of you enough. I never expected 100 posts, but here we are.

Stick around, because I hope things will only get better.

Until next time, peace.

-The Mast

Saturday 21 August 2010

The Mast's 30 Days of Comicdom (Day 13): What Is Your Least Favourite Event?

You dumb bastard! It's not a schooner, it's a sailboat!

This is my 99th POST! Tomorrow, I am putting off The Mast's 30 Days of Comicdom in favour of doing something rather special for my 100th post. I've no idea what I'll do and such, but I want it to be special.

I have an idea, but we'll see what feels right.

The Mast's 30 Days of Comicdom (Day 13): What Is Your Least Favourite Event?

If you know me well, or if you've watched this week's episode of Direct Edition, you may guess what the winner of this category would be. I was going to pick War of the Supermen, which I was thoroughly let-down by, but there's only one winner really. My LEAST favourite event of all time is...


One More Day.

Absolute...garbage.

I think Spider-Man revealing his identity in Civil War was needed. It needed to happen for the event to gain the weight it did. They pulled this deus ex machina as a means of re-setting the consciousness of Marvel's inhabitants. It was Marvel's way of making his identity a secret again.

What happened? Well, because I know some who haven't read Civil War, I will say it like this. Something happens that makes Spider-Man desperate. In his desperation, he and Mary-Jane make a deal with Mephisto in order to rectify the desperate situation. In exchange for this, Spider-Man and Mary-Jane's marriage will be erased from history, consciousness and memory. It'll be like they've never even met.



This caused mass amounts of historical continuity errors and, among other things, a tidal wave of scathing fan backlash.

I think that such a deus ex machina was needed because Spidey couldn't go on with a public identity. My issue concerned the fact of how it was done. There are probably a million and one ways to reset the man's secret rather than the way they did it.

People, believe it or not, love Mary-Jane and Peter being together. Their wedding issue is famous for good reason, it's an excellent and memorable piece. In the chaotic world of superheroism, it was a big step for Parker to take.

So...all of that was gone and fucked out the window.

It was followed by Brand New Day, the continuation of Spidey's new status quo. That was also terrible. As it stands, there's an event occuring called One Moment in Time. It's written by Joe Quesada (Marvel's Editor in Chief and man responsible for O.M.D. and B.N.D.) and looks to reset Spidey and Mary-Jane back to how they were, I believe.

It's about time, but it smacks of Marvel giving the nod to say that they fucked up with One More Day. I don't think Quesada deserve the abuse and reactionary idiocy that has been levelled, though. He made a mistake and shit happens.



It really is just a terrible, awful story in premise and execution. The last time Marvel messed up this big was with The Clone Saga. It wasn't as bad in terms of being out of the blue or continuity ruination, but it was dire in terms of plot. It, too, was a Spider-Man story. None touch One More Day, though. That is why it's my least favourite event.

---

As I head into my centennial post, I want to say that I appreciate every one of you who has ever browsed my blog, commented or given me feedback. Constructively negative or positive, I appreciate it.

Thank you, very much.

Until next time, peace.

-The Mast

Friday 20 August 2010

The Mast's 30 Days of Comicdom (Day 12): Who Is Your Least Favourite Character?

You're afraid of noise!

Welcome! Welcome to the Mast, ladies and gentlemen. Sorry for the belatedness of this post, but I was at the movies watching The Expendables.

Today we get nasty, we get into who I dislike above all else.

Do ya wanna know who it is? DO YA, PUNK?! I've been waiting to rip this dude, and Andrew should dig this also.

The Mast's 30 Days of Comicdom (Day 12): Who Is Your Least Favourite Character?

This guy needs no introduction, but I'll give him one...


Gambit.

Where do I start? Let's make a list!

I hate his face. I hate his pathetic, stupid, not-cool-in-any-sense accent. I hate how he manages to stand out for all the wrong reasons in ANY comic book he's in.

Can you tell I don't like Gambit?

I actually think Gambit is one of the reasons I never really enjoyed The X-Men for extended periods throughout the '90s. It's hard to put my finger on, but I hear he is consistently voted as one of the very worst characters of all time.

What is there to the guy? Honestly, if you're a Gambit fan, please tell me what draws you to the character. I really don't understand it. It's not as if I haven't tried, I have! You know what really made me hate him recently? Second Coming: Hellbound.

The New Mutants went to Limbo to rescue Magik, Gambit went with them and ended up getting possessed, then trying to kill them. Why take the douchebag in the first place?!

Grrr. NO time for Gambit, at all. This is turning into a bit of a hate post! I apologise.

---

My word, these recent posts have been kind of short, huh?! I guess that's why the comments have momentarily stopped. I do apologise for that, but some of these questions are real barrel-scrapers, you know?

If you haven't done so, go check out Direct Edition on YouTube!

I'm co-hosting this week. LAST week's delayed news episode will hopefully be up this weekend, and don't you DARE forget to check back on Monday. Why? FOR THE SCOTT PILGRIM NEWS SPECIAL, OF COURSE! It's also your chance to see my very FIRST, filmed, one-on-one interview with Mr. Bryan Lee O'Malley!

Again, I truly apologise for the lack of depth to some of these, but I've scouted the list and there are definitely some incredibly nice questions to run through. It IS only Day 12 after all.

Until next time, peace.

-The Mast

Thursday 19 August 2010

The Mast Blogs/Reviews: A Rather Hefty Announcement & Thursday's Comics (19/8/2010).

BANG! I'm James Bond.

So, as promised, I have a rather chunkadelic announcement to make. Not only did I once again co-host Direct Edition this week, BUT I actually did a one-on-one mini-interview with Scott Pilgrim creator, Bryan Lee O'Malley!

Granted, the traffic was murderously loud and we snagged him on his way to a signing, but for an interview that lasted all of two or three questions, it was pretty good! Cutthroat reporting, yo.

He's a terribly nice guy and, whether the movie's good or not, you should buy the books. They're not Watchmen, but they're fun reads.

So, yes, don't forget to check out Direct Edition on YouTube. I know the review portion is up today, but the interview/Scott Pilgrim news special will be out on M-M-Monday.

Today's edition of Thursday's Comics is very Avenger-centric, so I am very sorry if you don't give a shit about them. Out of the nine comics I bought this week, I can honestly only say four were worth reviewing.

Thursday's Comics.


Shadowland: Daughters of the Shadow #1 of 3.

Here's my problem with how Shadowland is largely playing out, just to be clear.

Shadowland involves everyone, but the tie-ins are specific to certain other involved characters. That'd be totally cool with me if Daredevil's actual series was about Daredevil. My problem is that we're not seeing into his mind enough. It's why I'm not reviewing the Shadowland: Power Man or Shadowland: Blood on the Streets four-parters. I'll just fill in the gaps if anything big happens.

Aside from that, this first issue does appear to develop things a bit. Colleen Wing, former partner of Misty Knight, busts open this massage parlour to release the girls the hold there. She's taken away and the cops, presumably corrupt, tell her their hands are tied.

In her apartment, while she's sleeping, The Hand's ninjas leave her a message that counts as a veiled invitation to go to Shadowland. This is where the bulk of the interesting things happen.

I'm not the biggest fan of Colleen Wing, so this reveal was more exciting just because of how far Daredevil is going to secure the iron grip of The Hand. He reveals that her grandfather (The guy who raised/trained her in Japan) trained her mother, whom she knows next to nothing about. This backfired when her mother joined The Hand's elite group of female assassins, cheesily called The Nail.

He brings out a group of females and basically tells her that it's her destiny to be by his side and lead them like her mother did.

It's cool to see the corruption of New York, by The Hand, start to grow ever wider. I think it'd be quite a big deal for Matt to land a hero-for-hire and get her to work for him, but we'll see.

I can't recommend this to anybody who isn't already into either the arc, the characters or both. It's a tie-in in every sense of the word.


Secret Avengers #4.

This issue is one I have a problem with, as well as The New Avengers, but this one more so.

Nova is the fucking man. Let me start out by saying that. I love Nova, Nova is amazing. So, as excited as I was for him being on a team I loved, written and drawn by a writer/artist team I love, I was still a bit wary of how he'd be used. He's a powerhouse, way too powerful for this team or for Earth troubles.

I loved how this story kicked off, but I felt like Nova's role could've been anybody. Now, Brubaker has committed a crime that many can often fall for.

Captain Rogers is an out-and-out hero. He is to be respected above perhaps any other. However, his presense is no excuse to write him like that in the presense of someone way more powerful. Does Nova have the experience Rogers does? In a way, no, but in a way, kind of. Nova has been through two massive cosmic wars and is in the process of a third. Why is he being written like a starstruck kid while Rogers pulls rank on him?

What happens is this. Captain Rogers puts on Nova's helmet and Worldmind helps him defeat the evil, thorny-crowned Nova. I can swallow him being able to handle the Nova Force simply because he has handled the power of Thor before and not succumbed to warrior madness.

What I cannot swallow is Nova almost meekly asking Rogers for his helmet back afterward. What is this? Generally the dialogue is all pretty awesome and the art is bang on from Deodato, as always. Deodato has a great way, specifically, of lighting and darkening his characters.

Toward the end of the issue they're heading back to Earth and it's revealed to them that Nick Fury is a part of The Shadow Empire. What I gained from this is that Nova will no longer be a member. It's happening early on, but surely Brubaker realised that Nova had no place in this book to begin with.

I mean, they give the excuse of Nova having to fly off and deal with a cosmic emergency (The Fault War), thus them not being sure if he'll be available as a resource in future. I'm glad, but I think he could've just been left out.

Hopefully, now, we can get back to a more espionage-based feel like there was in the first two issues.

I'd still definitely recommend this series to anybody. Get on it while you can!


The New Avengers #3.

I liked this issue more than Secret Avengers #4, but I have major problems with this one too.

As most of you know, I had Bendis's back throughout Dark Reign. The way he carried that saga on his back and into Siege was amazing to me. Not only that, but he churned out multiple great titles.

Now, on both The Avengers and The New Avengers, I feel as if he's losing track of what he's doing. The way he writes Spider-Man is magical, it's so brilliant. The way he is writing everyone else, that being like Spider-Man, is not ok.

Packed with thrilling magical and practical in-your-face combat, sprawled across Central Park and New York City, this is a dangerously fun issue. Lots of characters have immense moments of badass showtime, and what can be said about Stuart Immonen that isn't being said by everyone with half a brain cell? The man's art is delicious.

I am torn between loving the banter and finding it to be over-egged. Spider-Man, Ms. Marvel and The Thing having a discussion about Ghostbusters, mid-demon battle, was hilarious. Seeing how riddled with disbelief they were at Ms. Marvel not having seen it was truly funny, especially with The Thing mentioning it again later. I just feel as though it was a bit much at times. Ms. Marvel serves as a good foil for the Spider-Man and The Thing. She's not above humour, but she IS seen to be taking care of business.

I love her and I'm glad she's in a main on-going.

My problem is that, again, I feel Wolverine and Spider-Man really need to be in one or the other, especially since Bendis is writing them both in The Avengers, too. The New Avengers spent 60+ issues being a really great series, building up certain characters. Now I feel like they're just kind of tossing that away in hopes it will sell mega issues.

I also have an issue with Bendis's grasp of magical rules, although I'll see how he plays this out.

Daimon Hellstrom is a much needed character in the midst of Dr. Strange and Dr. Voodoo (Is he even Dr. Voodoo anymore now that he lost The Aye of Agamotto?), simply because he's the non-straight man. That said, his constant bickering with Dr. Voodoo COULD get old fast.

My favourite scenes were the ones with Iron Fist. Trapped in some kind of magical limbo, he is being spoken to by the two unseen magical abstracts that are causing all this trouble. One recognises the symbol on his chest and realises he's protected. Though offering to let him go, Iron Fist pushes his luck and tries to keep the eye.

The reveal that none other than The Ancient One (Dr. Strange's former master) is partially behind all this is a very nice one, but therein lies my other issue. Surely there are so many more magical characters, with potential and underused, that they could've picked.

You can't argue that they'd be unknown, because who knows The Ancient One besides actual fans? I don't know.

The issue seems to be picking up and I enjoyed it greatly, I just have gripes about Bendis right now.

In many ways I can see this series as a good jump-on point, but in others I can't say. I guess pick the first three issues up if you want to and let me know where you stand.


Avengers Academy #3.

If you're not reading this, you're a terrible person.

The entire cast of new characters was a risk that Marvel were prepared to run. Why should we care about NEW characters? Christos Gage took this title and MADE me care. If the buzz is anything to go by, the same happened to many people. Gage does SO much right with this issue and I will tell you why.

This issue is half continuation, half origin story. To my delight, this issue is Hazmat's origin story. I've taken a liking to Hazmat, immensely so. She's such a confrontational bitch, but not in that mistaken way either. She's a genuine bitch in that she says things to hurt people. It's totally a defense mechanism, cliched, but workable.

Let me put on my movie trailer voice...

Jennifer Takeda was a normal teenager. She had everything she could want and her financially wealthy parents saw that this remained the case. At age 16, she had a platinum card with a four figure limit. A model student, she was seemingly breezing through life without a care in the world, accompanied by her boyfriend, Greg. Then, things...went...wrong!

In all seriousness, it is quite a tragic tale. Comparisons have been drawn to Rogue, being that Hazmat's powers manifested during a make-out session with her man, but I don't feel too bad about that. Mike McKone really draws this whole scene, and series, well. Greg falling to the floor and going white-eyed/foaming at the mouth is just very impactful.

Turns out that she visited various Roxxon plants/labs with her parents and was "exposed to something" that caused her powers. Again, very cliched, but she's so well developed even now that I really don't mind. This is where the tragedy gets greater for her than it did for Rogue. Jennifer gained the ability to radiate any and all kinds of radiation, but she does so constantly. Becoming Hazmat (HAZardous MATerial), she has to live the rest of her life inside a radiation suit, or others around her have to be wearing one for her to be out of hers.

They even have to train with wooden swords so that her suit can't be cut. I do think this part would be remedied by someone like Reed Richards making her a suit, though. They can't send her into battle with a tearable suit.

I wish we'd gotten a bit more of Hazmat's origins, but I liked it very much and it really whet my appetite for more development to come.

The issue itself revolves around what you should expect at this stage; various training sessions occur, with varying results and guest instructors. Iron Fist faces off against the supremely arrogant Finesse, and it ends with her in a demonstrated chokehold. I loved that.

The interaction between all of these characters really works well. If you've been through school, you'll find the humour and dynamics both relatable and funny. Mettle is establishing himself as a fan favourite due to his combination of humility and shyness, despite being a gigantic, red, skeletal looking superhero-in-training. Others like Striker and Reptil are less developed, but I guess they will come into their own.

Another great facet of this series is how the humour is placed. Seeing Valkyrie talk to Hazmat, Veil and Finesse about feminism...IN A KITCHEN...when she's meant to be teaching them combat was just brilliantly timed. It highlighted both the need for females to feel independent, and the inherent ridiculousness that comes with blind feminism. The speech itself consisted of Valk telling them than society is "phallocentric" and dominated by men, men that will let them down sexually and intellectually. She's even goes so far as telling them not to worry about the former due to "inventions" that mortals have created.

In case you're that dense, she means vibrators.

It's really just a terrifically well done scene that could've made Valkyrie look stupid, but it didn't.

The main aim of this issue is two things, which I'll break down.

The first was the students going on a field trip to The Raft (This being maximum security super-prison that The Thunderbolts operate out of) and Hazmat's desire to pay a visit to Norman Osborn (For those reading at home, he's the guy who made a lot of these kids worse) while there. Reluctantly, she seems to have dragged Mettle and Veil along for the ride.

Luke Cage shows them around and it's all very stark. Such a contrast between dark and light tones doesn't disrupt the series, it enhances it. Seeing Crossbones muzzled so that, as Cage says, "he can't use his teeth as projectiles", really does hit home what The Raft is. The teeth thing would've been nice if Bullseye hadn't done it first, but it's good.

There's a few funny parts (Reptil asking Juggernaut to say his catchphrase is a good one), but it ends with Hazmat knocking the power out, showing she can use electrical impulses, and escaping to Osborn's cell. Once there, she states her intent to kill him.

Whilst that scene brings the issue to a close, I want to draw attention to the second plot thread. Despite the constant bickering of the instructors on how to deal with the students, one such instructor is still seen as a liability. Robbie Baldwin, formerly known as Speedball and the man who became Penance during Civil War, is Speedball again.

Praiseworthy, sure, but the other teachers really aren't sure that he has any place teaching people. Some think he's perfectly placed, conversely. I'd agree with both, to be fair. He's been through shit, but he also knows, better than anyone, what it's like to have your powers misused or go out of control. His powers as Penance stemmed from his own physical pain, and he took to wearing a sado-masochistic suit that hurt him in repentance for the death of all those in Stamford (See: Civil War #1/Trade).

It's revealed in this issue that he is a cutter, not so much out of cliched angst, but because he is secretly Penance, still. This isn't entirely clear in the comic, and it does come off as angsty, but Christos Gage apologised for this on C.B.R. Forums and cleared up why he's doing it.

It's all brought out in the open by Moonstone during the visit to The Raft. She asks why he's threatening her with the blue kinetic energy he used as Penance, and I suppose that'll be dealt with next issue.

Seriously, guys, this shit is fucking amazing. It's really such a good issue, way better than Avengers: The Initiative (Which was decent). I do miss the way Dan Slott characterised Hank Pym in The Mighty Avengers, and I'm not terribly fond of how Gage writes him, but it's a small price to pay for what is CLEAAARLY the best Avengers-centric title on the market.

Join The Academy and get your education, people.

---

That's about all I've got time for right now, I'm afraid.

I'll be back again later with today's installment of The Mast's 30 Days of Comicdom, or I may save it for tomorrow, just to prevent overload and so this doesn't get pushed down the page. Actually, I'll probably do just that.

So, on that note, I'll see you tomorrow! Keep the comments coming and keep advertising my blog or shouting it out where you can.

Until next time, peace.

-The Mast

Wednesday 18 August 2010

The Mast's 30 Days of Comicdom (Day 11): What Is Your Favourite Power?

You think that because a guy reads comics that he can't start some shit?!

Before I get into this, I just want to give a very simple piece of information out to my readers, however many there may be.

Tomorrow (At latest, Friday) there will be an EPIC post. Just keep your eyes peeled.

The Mast's 30 Days of Comicdom (Day 11): What Is Your Favourite Power?

Do you think you guessed what this one is?


Total and Complete Control of...Everything.

Yes, that's right!

I didn't pick a ring that affords the wearer special powers, I didn't pick someone who is blind and can see via echolation, nor a man with the ability to shoot webbing from his hands.

My favourite power, if you can call it such, is the ability that all comic abstracts possess. You know, whether it's in D.C. or Marvel, Vertigo or wherever else, that if cosmic abstracts show up, shit is serious.

It's a hard concept to wrap your head around unless you find this kind of thing interesting, but just imagine being able to do ANYTHING. Yes, flying would be awesome, so would super strength. Imagine the ability to make your very thought come true, become real and materialise as you think of it. Just consider that you have the ability to perceive and control time itself. Trippy, huh? Past, present and future or all three at once, yours to bend and command.

The possibilities are, quite literally, endless. Such users of these abilities include most of the Marvel and D.C. abstracts, Dr. Manhattan and The Beyonder etc.

I suppose that if I had to pick a fairer power, I would go with the likes of Superman. I'd like the ability to do everything on SOME level. Either a cosmic or minor scale, really. I'm a megalomaniacal control freak at heart, what can I say?

---

Sorry that this one is a bit short, but it IS an abstract power!

What would you choose? Let me know in a comment! Thank you for reading and prepare for the epicness of post-al announcements tomorrow!

Until next time, peace.

-The Mast

Tuesday 17 August 2010

The Mast's 30 Days of Comicdom (Day 10): What Is Your Favourite Costume?

Is Pinocchio said, "My nose will not grow now!", what would happen?

Paradox aside, welcome!

Today's installment of The Mast's 30 Days of Comicdom is presented to you by me, The Mast. It probably won't be that deep or that amazing, but it's a fun question that nobody really needs to think too much about. A surprisingly hard category, though, considering I'd never really thought of it before!

The Mast's 30 Days of Comicdom (Day 10): What Is Your Favourite Costume?

Costumes, nowadays at least, seem to be significantly less extravagant than they were back in the day. How do you judge a costume? I opted to go for looks, practicality and how well it reflects the person and their intentions when wearing the suit.

I was going to go with Bullseye, simply because his outfit says it all. Then I was going to go with Ms. Marvel, simply because her outfit is a mixture of superhero and femininity. Simple, but memorable.

One costume, throughout comicdom, stands out as a total exhibition of character, though. Therefore, my favourite costume is...


Batman's Costume.

Many, MANY artists have drawn Batman and depicted him in different ways. So that's something I took into account when weighing up the ideas for what costume to pick.

The picture you see above is Jim Lee's take on Batman and one of the reasons I chose to pick The Dark Knight's attire above all others.

When you see Batman in that costume, or most of his costumes bar the extremely campy, ridiculous ones...you KNOW exactly what he is about. The way the cape flows, the colours, the symbol and the way the cowl is often moulded into a frown, all these things just exude the essense of what Batman is and what he represents.

As intimidating as it is sleek, and accompanied with Batman's infamous utility belt, known for carrying more gadgets than a lesbian slumber party, it's instantly recognisable. Not only that, but it is culturally known as being Batman's costume. The very symbol on his chest is legendary, even forgetting the man wearing it.

What's so captivating is that Batman is a good guy. Good guys, especially around the time Batman came out, AND for ages after, typically wore much lighter colours in order to inspire hope among a city's citizens. Batman doesn't care about being an inspirational dresser. He puts on the suit, goes out at night and threatens criminals into stopping their criminal ways. He's one of the first superhero vigilantes who actually started seeking the crime out as opposed to just waiting for it to happen.



That's why he's The Dark Knight. A shadowy figure protecting Gotham City, and his costume reflects that. A lot of people always ask why Batman has white eyes when he has the cowl on, and the same for many superhero outfits. I've always maintained that they were built in lenses that stopped bystanders or onlookers from recognising someone by their eyes.

You could be wearing a full face mask and someone you know could pin your identity on your eyes.

Besides, it gives Batman such a vacant look. An empty fury that, to sound cliche, really does strike terror into the hearts of most criminals.

Only in fully appreciating what a scary motherfucker Batman is (A character I do truly love when done right) can one truly appreciate The Joker. Look at Batman and tell me that this is someone who you would opt to terrorise and antagonise.

The is no more fitting costume, in my opinion, in the entire comic universe than Batman. Hence why it is my favourite costume.

---

Tomorrow's installment is where things get REALLY interesting. I predict many of you will definitely have your own take on THAT one, so I look forward to it.

Thank you very much, again, for reading.

Take care of yourselves.

Until next time, peace.

-The Mast

Monday 16 August 2010

The Mast's 30 Days of Comicdom (Day 9): Who Is Your Favourite Classic Character?

Spatial relationships!

Today's installment is one that I think many people can involve themselves in, and I think my choice is going to be shared by a lot of people for a lot of reasons.

So, with all being said, let's get to this...you scumbags!

The Mast's 30 Days of Comicdom (Day 9): Who Is Your Favourite Classic Character?

When I think of classic characters, I take that to mean those in the comic world that have become pop culture icons. Characters who appear on t-shirts, are embedded in consciousness and have transcended the medium to become household names.

You can't argue that there are some good choices, and it ultimately came down to three choices. My favourite classic character is...


Spider-Man.

Whilst comic book fans will undoubtedly know more about Spidey than the average person, many more people know about his character than any other candidates in this category, I would say. You have Batman, you've got Superman, you've got The Hulk Captain America maybe? The Flash? I'd say those are icons, but not on the same level as the others.

Superman was the FIRST and he IS the most famous. This is an undeniable fact.

However, due to the various mediums Spider-Man has been exposed in, I think people gravitate toward him a lot more. Let me tell you why I love Spider-Man.

I don't love him because he's the everyman, despite his powers. I love Spidey because I respect Spidey. I respect him the most of possibly any Marvel character or comics character ever. He is one of, if not THE, most selfless superheroes and people you could ever imagine. He never enters a situation concerned about his own well being in a cowardly way.

NEVER will you catch Spidey worried about dying if he fights a certain person, and then running away. He will, without fail, give everything he has to help and protect both the people of New York/Earth AND his loved ones. Spider-Man's comics have given us some memorable, terrific and diabolical villains.

They've given us everyone from the Green Goblin, to Venom. From The Scorpion to The Kingpin (THANK YOU). He's never had it easy.

His most impactful moment of trauma came not long after becoming a superhero! Spidey saw his girlfriend (Gwen Stacy at the time) thrown off a bridge by the Green Goblin. In an attempt to save her he desperately shot out a webline. Little did he know, he didn't have the measure of his powers or how to use them. The sudden jerk of being stopped by webbing caused her neck to snap. He pulled her up, thinking she was safe, and found her body limp, lifeless...dead.



What endeared me to Spidey was the fact that I can't imagine what it's like to be a superhero AND Peter Parker. If I've ever had a fight with a girlfriend, a loved one or someone else over something that's stuck with me, it's not unlikely that I'll have issues going about my day with full concentration. That's fine if you work in retail, or most other areas. What if you're a mortal superhero?

If Spider-Man's stressed about bills (Not so much now, he's financially decent NOW), his love-life or taking care of a perpetually ailing Aunt May, he then has to go fight crime. How do you HANDLE that shit? I used to get stressed if I had too much homework as a teenager. This dude goes and fights the Green Goblin, and does so willingly. Unlike Batman, his nudge toward superheroism came later. Upon being bitten, he did what any normal human would do! That's what I love! He hid the fact that he had powers and went to make money off himself.

The murder of his beloved Uncle Ben fell onto his shoulders, as we all know, because he ignored the robber that would eventually go on to commit that murder. The great line was birthed before this tragic event, and it IS a line that we can all learn from.

There aren't many truer statements than saying, "With great power comes great responsibility."

Civil War, I came to realise, is a major Spidey moment. He may not be the lead, but he gains so much from that whole time period, and loses a lot too. We see Spidey, for the first time in ages, crippled by indecision and doubt. The tie-ins, especially, show how hard the whole ordeal was for him and what certain actions did with his life.



I won't spoil it, but it was major. Of course, Joe Quesada then anal fucked the continuity into oblivion, but in hindsight I think the decision of what he did during the Civil War story was for the betterment of it.

The Amazing Spider-Man is fast approaching 700 issues (We're up to #640 or something), being published on a tri-monthly basis. Everyone has their favourite author, and everyone pretty much has their favourite Spider-Man moment.

My favourite moment came in The Amazing Spider-Man #33. The now famous scene where he is trapped beneath rubble and debris, fighting his way out from underneath the crushing weight as the room fills with water. It was Steve Ditko's finest hour on the title and an absolutely mind-blowing, heart-swelling tribute to the human spirit, and the spirit that Spider-Man would come to embody.

If you've not read much Spidey, do. Grab Maximum Carnage, grab Kraven's Last Hunt, grab Grim Hunt, grab Shed. So many of his stories are just brilliant. Now, he's a member of The Avengers and rightfully taken his place among the Marvel Universe's big boys for good.

He is one of the most known, loved and legendary characters in human creation. Not bad for a scrawny science geek from Queens, huh? For all of these reasons, he is my favourite classic character.

---

Really. I'm not someone who buys The Amazing Spider-Man regularly, but he's had some good recent stories and some damn fine ones over the years. Check them out.

Thanks for reading, thanks for commenting, thank you for all of that shit. I'm off to play Xbox since I just got my new one. Bullseye!

Have a good day/week and be sure to tune in tomorrow for a...fashion orientated installment?! Indeed!

Until next time, peace.

-The Mast

Sunday 15 August 2010

The Mast's 30 Days of Comicdom (Day 8): What Is Your Favourite Comic Book Movie?

Blackwatch PLAID!

You know, it's a new day. You must, therefore, blatantly be aware of what that means. It means that there's a new installment of The Mast's 30 Days of Comicdom!

Once more I want to prefix this by addressing the ambiguity of the question. It WAS entitled What Is Your Favourite Movie?, so I ASSUMED this to pertain to comic book movies, but if you wish to tell me what your favourite movie is, then by all means do.

The Mast's 30 Days of Comicdom (Day 8): What Is Your Favourite Comic Book Movie?

This was very hard to choose for, simply because I wasn't what sure to go by! I know which movie I had the most exciting fun at, the one which contained the characters to which I have the greater attachment etc. I thought that'd win, but it didn't. I decided to be a little more objective and go with this...


Batman Begins.

Right now, I suppose there are scores of people screaming, "WHAT ABOUT THE DARK KNIGHT?! WHAT ABOUT IRON MAN 2?!" Let me tell you. I had the most fun at Iron Man 2 and it contains characters I enjoy more, yes. It was between the three, but there's a reason I chose this one.

I think in terms of Iron Man 2 being the best superhero movie ever, but not the best comic book movie ever. Why? Because Iron Man 2 feels like an absolutely amazing, can't-get-better superhero flick. Batman Begins and The Dark Knight feel like they break into the area of simply being astoundingly well-crafted movies that just happen to have superheroes in.

So, why Batman Begins over The Dark Knight? I love them both equally in most term, but what I appreciate is how you take a character that's been done, done terribly, and revitalise his movie franchise in a manner that not only receives fan acclaim, but undeniable critical acclaim too.

Batman Begins is the painstakingly detailed rise of, well, Batman. I LOVE the idea of Batman. I think his mythos is truly one of the greatest, even if I only enjoy the execution of him under the pen of certain writers and in few certain stories. This is one of my favourite Batman stories ever, including the comics. We all know the story. His parents are killed and he becomes a vigilante to strike fear into the hearts of those who'd make his city a cesspool of crime and decay.

What's expertly done in this film, by Christopher Nolan, is the genesis of Batman. The way he becomes Batman is SO well done and it never feels as if they're going off pace. It feels as if it's all happening seamlessly, too. It's not a case of Nolan thinking, "Ok...story, story, ACTION, story, bit of suit-making montage, STORY!" It all just feels very organic.



My favourite part about it, besides Christian Bale doing a magnificent job, is how it shows Batman as what he is. He's a man with a vision of how things can get better, his role in that and how he can act as a catalyst for it to happen and remain that way. Grant Morrison said it best when he said that, sure, Batman started as this great citizen who had a generally good idea. As time's gone on, though, he has caused trauma to those around him and tragedy awaits him at every turn. You sort of look at his life story and timeline with the thought of, "What the fuck have you been doing, Bruce?"

It really doesn't TOTALLY express that, but Batman Begins definitely does push Batman's idea of himself and what HE wants to be. It doesn't present him as someone who would've avoided being a vigilante if he could've, and just feels obliged to do it due to his parents getting offed. It presents Bruce Wayne and Batman as someone who BECAME that choice. It was a case of coming to a crossroads and instead of walking away, he CHOSE to become what he is and embraces his choice without acting like he was cursed by fate.

Also, it tapped into the one thing I loved about Batman, but never liked about Superman. Neither of them are killers, nor will they kill directly. However, Superman doesn't scare me. If he appeared, I wouldn't fear for my life as a criminal. I'd be fairly scared, but not entirely. If Batman is dangling you from a building, it doesn't fucking matter whether or not he's no killer and you know that. You are SCARED.



I mean, that scene where he is intimidating/interrogating Detective Flass by trapping his foot in a cable and lifting him up to the top of the building...it's genius. Flass is saying things like, "I don't know anything! I swear to God!", and like an animal, Batman retorts, "SWEAR TO ME!"

Perfect.

Bale portrays Bruce Wayne and Batman differently. He's not just a great Bruce or Batman, he's great at both. No, I never found the voice ridiculous. I find it ridiculous when all someone does to disguise themselves is put on a suit and glasses and nobody recognises them...Clark Kent. When you're a superhero vigilante in a city where everyone knows you as Bruce Wayne, you'll cover up and act like someone else when you're doing the Batman thing. It's just sensible to me. Did he seem to ham it up in The Dark Knight? A bit. Did it matter to me? No.

Batman Begins winning this category does not specifically mean I like it more than The Dark Knight or Iron Man. They're all beloved for many reasons. I do think that there's just something about Batman, under Nolan's direction, that propels his movies beyond superhero classification. They're action thrillers with a superhero in. Me admitting Iron Man 2 is my more beloved for the characters, universe and excitement I had watching it, doesn't stop me admitting what I feel is a genuinely better MOVIE.

I don't even necessarily think Batman Begins is better or worse than The Dark Knight, but I had to pick and I don't know, it's not something easily explained. For all intents and purposes, though, Batman Begins is my favourite comic book movie.

---

Well, that wraps up another day for me on this marathon trek of 30 days! I hope you enjoyed it, be sure to comment and let me know what you think. Also, go read my previous one if you haven't, I didn't get to promote it much, but it IS there.

I will see you ladies and gentlemen tomorrow with another post! Stay safe.

Until next time, peace.

-The Mast

Saturday 14 August 2010

The Mast's 30 Days of Comicdom (Day 7): What/Who Is Your Favourite Creature?

Ay, there's the rub. Ha ha! Rub...

Yes! It's time for another piece of monthly comicdom in The Mast's 30 Days of Comicdom.

Now, I was scouring my brain about who I would pick for this next category, and I may have came to this conclusion based on a technicality. Nevertheless, it still counts.

The Mast's 30 Days of Comicdom (Day 7): What/Who Is Your Favourite Creature?

We're heading into the D.C. Universe for this one!

In the world of supervillains, so many have had varying degrees of success. Dr. Doom runs and owns his own nation, has handed many heroes their asses on multiple occasions and is seen as one of the world's biggest threats. Yet, people like Stilt-Man are forced to pack up due to being tired of having their asses beat by their nemeses.

It's rare that a villain will ever do what they set out to do. Tom never gets Jerry, you know? That's why this...thing...is the winner of this category. My favourite creature is, of course...


Doomsday.

Created by an alien named Bertron, he qualifies as a creature. A creature that has possibly the most apt name in the history of comic books. Before I tell you why, let's figure out where he came from. Doomsday's origins were not told with his first appearance.

His genesis came on a far distant past version of Krypton, at a time when Krypton was basically a Hell of the universe. It was the absolute worst planet possible. Think Sakaar from World War Hulk times by a billion. So heinous and forsaken was this planet's environment that the beings who survived and adapted were considered to be the universe's most threatening. This was before what we came to know as Kryptonians inhabited it.



Bertron had a baby sent to this planet, only to meet its death instantly. Each time, long story short, he would harvest whatever was left and use it to create a superior version of itself. Essentially it was the same genetics, but build from remains. To put it in an even more compact nutshell, this being eventually evolved to come back from death, immune to whatever specific instance had killed it before.

For example: if Doomsday is killed by radiation, he is resurrected incapable of being killed by radiation again.

This creature became Doomsday and eventually killed his creator (Don't they all?).

Doomsday was perfect. He was the Great White Shark. Utterly perfect with no need to evolve. Instead of swimming, eating and making babies, Doomsday just lived to extinguish any and all life that he could. No intellect or emotions to speak of, just unparalleled destructive force. He began a killing spree across several planets, ending in his "death" and being shot into space. Naturally, he evolved past his death, but remained in stasis due to crashing on Earth.

The world was none the wiser...but then he woke up, and the horror began.

Doomsday's first appearance begins here.

In what would become the most famous debut of all time and one of the most famous stories, Doomsday awoke and began a path of destruction the likes of which the comic-reading world had never seen. Taking out a majority of Earth's heroes with one arm tied behind him, he was dubbed Doomsday by Booster Gold, as that's what it felt like to the heroes.

The combined powers of Earth's heroes couldn't scratch his surface, much less put him down. Bear in mind, this was the Justice League at the time. Just to give you a feeling of how unstoppable he was. Naturally, it was a matter of time before a certain red and blue man of steel showed up to save the day.

For a review on this actual story, by the way, go read the one I did before.



The reason I picked Doomsday is because Superman DID save the day, but at a cost nobody expected, not even Superman. Superman fought Doomsday, one-on-one, to the very death. Doomsday and Superman fought for miles, and into Metropolis itself. Superman was battered and even bleeding, with Doomsday not really showing any signs of slowing down.

It was the titanic impact of simultaneous punches that caused the death (Not technically, but that's another story) of BOTH combatants. Superman, the first superhero and the most legendary of all, was dead. He had been killed by a debuting villain.



Let me tell you, if you were not around at the time this happened, you cannot imagine the impact this had on the comic world. Superman DYING was big enough, but in a fist fight with a villain who just showed up and never even said a word? It actually got news coverage around the world. It was an event in the comics world whereby people were calling each other to inform one another. Like music fans can ask, "Where were you when Michael Jackson died?", that's what it was like (Though nowhere near as big) when Superman was killed.

The speed with which he was brought "back to life" was met with heavy criticism, and Doomsday didn't stay dead either (The whole evolutionary regenerative healing factor coming into play), but we didn't know that at the time.

When you see the image of Superman's bruised and broken body, facial welts and all, being cradles by Lois Lane as she weeps over his body, you realise it's a big deal. Even today, it's a powerful image.



Doomsday did that...with brute force. Not magic, not technology either. He beat Superman by fighting him. Sadly, after a debut like this, you can go no further. Doomsday has never quite reached the heights he did in The Death of Superman, and never will again. Just as punk rock existed because it had to, and died when it was no longer necessary, so ended Doomsday's usefulness as a character.

So, if you're still wondering why he's my favourite creature, I'll end with a piece of info to consider in the grand scheme of things.

If there's ever a supervillain convention, many will be able to claim their own countries, maybe even their own planets! They may have tasted victory over their nemesis or nemeses, sure.

Only one being in history, though, will ever be able to put his hand up in the air and say he killed Superman on his first try.

Only one being can say he took The Man of Tomorrow and ended his future.

Only one can say he took The Man of Steel and bent him to breaking point, then broke him.

That being would be Doomsday, and that's why he is my favourite creature.

---

Again, as always, thank you so much for indulging me. It's always appreciated and I thank you for reading. I hope you enjoyed this installment, the ones before it and the ones to come.

I'm having fun doing this.

Tomorrow's installment is a fun one indeed! One I'm sure will be met with lots of opinion, and gladly so. Feel free to leave your opinions or comments as always, and special thanks to the massive six people following me OFFICIALLY!

Until next time, peace.

-The Mastr

Friday 13 August 2010

The Mast's 30 Days of Comicdom (Day 6): What Is Your Favourite Organisation?

Hey, you guys. Shut up, yous.

I am feeling somewhat better than yesterday, so I can return here and present you with the latest installment of The Mast's 30 Days of Comicdom!

Personally, I'm doing my level best to stop it becoming too Marvel-heavy, but you can only answer questions truthfully. If most of the answers pertain to Marvel, then that's the way the cookie crumbles, I suppose. Also, some of these questions are so specific that there aren't many answers you can give.

For example, this one and the next one too. I am tempted to re-write some of the questions because I don't want to screw my readers out of a post, but still. Oooh! Actually, I just had a tremendous and sneaky idea...but tune in tomorrow for that.

The Mast's 30 Days of Comicdom (Day 6): What Is Your Favourite Organisation?

Without trying to play it up too much, there were only a few choices for this category, simply because it's such a specific question. So, without further ado, my favourite organisation is...


S.H.I.E.L.D.

S.H.I.E.L.D. didn't win this category because I am so fond of their comic history or anything like that (Though, that is currently shaping up to be true, what with the current series). They, as an organisation, won because I love the IDEA of what they are. Not so much how they're executed in comics.

Granted, I loved the role they played in Secret War, with Nick Fury invading a foreign country in the most controversial of ways, and being forced to go into hiding. I loved the role S.H.I.E.L.D. played in Civil War under Maria Hill, too.

That's what I love so much about the current series that explores their secret origins, or previously unrevealed origins. Showing how they became an organisation dedicated to the protection and advancement of humanity, to a corrupt organisation that was focused on power and dominance. I'm HOPING that ties into the revelation that Hydra, S.H.I.E.L.D.'s villainous rival, had been the ones secretly in control of S.H.I.E.L.D. all along.

Something about this kind of story really grabs me. I love secret histories of things, true or false. I love the idea of super-secret cells or operations that go around the world, either keeping peace or creating havoc with no one the wiser.

I suppose that's where conspiracy theory was born, coming from the idea that there's way more shit going on in this world than we'll ever know about. Of course, many conspiracy theorists also tend to spiral into immense idiocy, but if it's done right, it can be very intriguing.



S.H.I.E.L.D., or the Strategic Hazard Intervention, Espionage and Logistics Directorate, have had many a famous leader. Well, "leader". The most iconic would definitely have to be Nick Fury, and he's one that many fans favour. He was a super spy and a very astute man when it came to all things clandestine. Despite leading the world's biggest policing and peacekeeping force, he never totally seemed like the straightest arrow. This came to prominence during Secret War which ended, effectively, with him being forced into hiding for his choices.



Maria Hill, is someone that totally splits opinion. For more on her you can scroll back down to Day 4, as she was the winner of that category.



Tony Stark, Iron Man himself, was given the position of Director post-Civil War. Much to Hill's behest, but she got over it eventually.

Although technically the next leader would be Norman Osborn, he disbanded S.H.I.E.L.D. and gave us H.A.M.M.E.R. (For which the acronym is still unknown). So as of right now, the leader is, of course...



Captain Steve Rogers has not technically given S.H.I.E.L.D. its name back yet, but he is Marvel's top cop, as it were. He is in charge of everything in the same manner that Fury, Hill and Stark were. Appointed by the President of the United States himself, Rogers took this post after being convinced that Bucky could handle being Captain America.

As revealed in the current series, S.H.I.E.L.D. was once run by such people as Leonardo Da Vinci. So they're definitely not short of big names.

To be perfectly honest, I've never been a big enough fan of Fury to give you the ins and outs in a manner that someone else could. Everyone has their speciality characters, you know? So I apologise if this wasn't as mega detailed as it could be. I just like S.H.I.E.L.D. as the kind of organisation that shows up as shit is going down, and that's how you know it's serious. That's why S.H.I.E.L.D. are my favourite organisation.

---

Thanks again to anyone reading and enjoying this. If you haven't read and commented on my prior installments or Thursday's Comics, please do. Let me know your opinions on the printed medium we love so much. Is there something you'd like to know my thoughts on or see a post about? Ask me in comments!

If you haven't watched Direct Edition, make sure you do that, too.

Talking about all this has made me want to play Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2 on the Xbox...but I can't because I need a new console! If you have a gamertag and wish to do battle over a certain game or play through M:U.A. 2 together (Which I need to do at some point), let me know in a comment.

I'll be back tomorrow with another slice of The Mast's 30 Days of Comicdom. So I'll see you then.

Until next time, peace.

-The Mast

Thursday 12 August 2010

The Mast Reviews/Blogs: Thursday's Comics (12/8/2010) & Direct Edition Updates.

Bert! Feed me!

Today there is a grand total of three comics that I've decided are worth reviewing. Shadowland: Blood on the Streets is good and did a good job of convincing me that The Shroud would make a good Daredevil fill-in, but besides that it didn't really do anything for me, so that is why you will find it absent.

The Invincible Iron Man #29 also came out, and I was going to do start including the series in my reviews from #30. However, I'm considering dropping it because it really does feel like it's going absolutely nowhere.

Thursday's Comics.


The Thanos Imperative #3 of 6.

After the epic reveal that The Cancerverse had an approximation of Galactus, you'd be forgiven for thinking this issue would see it play major prominence!

You'd be wrong. The Galactus Engine is absolutely NOWHERE to be seen in this issue at all, to my recollection. Besides that, this is a fairly decent issue, but it makes me realise just what the pitfalls of the past two cosmic arcs (Including this) have been.

Thanos and the Guardians of the Galaxy continue into The Cancerverse to that universe's version of Titan, Thanos's homeworld. They learn of The Cancerverse's origins via Titan's computer system, I.S.A.A.C.

What happened is this...Captain Mar-Vell did not die of cancer in this universe as he did in the regular one. They performed a ritual that involved sacrificing the avatar of Death and thus, life won and death was killed. Now, I personally took this to mean that it was The Cancerverse's version of Thanos. I don't know who it could be if not him, but it's an interesting development. Lord Mar-Vell and his lackies seek to perform this again, in the regular universe, thus they need Thanos.

The problem is that Drax the Destroyer, ever the idiot, decides to strap an anti-matter device to Thanos's chest and disintegrate him. His hatred always seems to jeopardise missions, but this raises a question: how can someone die in a universe where there's no death? Hmm!

Elsewhere, The Cancerverse's forces are busting through The Fault and really taking it to our heroes. They even manage to destroy one of the cosmic abstracts, Aegis, which causes a psionic backlash that renders Nova comatose for a bit.

The coolest development of this issue is when Nova and the others regroup on a moon to discuss battle options, and Nova requests a small strike team to head into The Fault. He wants to do this with a view to striking The Cancerverse's armies at the source and ending the war. He team he assembles is himself, Gladiator, The Silver Surfer, Quasar, Ronan the Accusor and Beta Ray Bill. It's a pretty hefty team and the team that many think will be formed into a permanent group, the focus of an upcoming Cosmic Avengers team.

If nothing else, the scene of them walking together is just...ugh. It's hype-tastic.

The issue ends with Thanos's aforementioned disintegration, leaving us all to wonder just what the Hell is going to happen now.

It's a decent issue, the art is decent, but I'd like to go back to me saying I figured out what was lacking in these cosmic events since Realm of Kings. A VILLAIN. Yes, it's all very good having this terrifying, grotesque and cancerous source of unlife from another dimension, but they're all faceless, Lovecraftian monsters. War of Kings was so excellent because it has a brilliant and despicably evil tyrant, Vulcan, at the head of the bad guys. It wasn't just the forces of good continually trying to work out what they were fighting and why.

Sure, you've got Lord Mar-Vell and The Revengers etc, but they don't have nearly enough time to make you feel like there's any equality there. Even Thanos is currently aiding the forces of good. Conflicts need to have two discernable sides in wars like this, and I feel this hasn't got that.

Still, if you're a mega cosmic fan or if Realm of Kings made you wonder how all of this will end, The Thanos Imperative is probably for you. I wouldn't recommend it to many others, and I'd definitely say that the trade would be as effective.

Don't get me wrong, I'm loving The Thanos Imperative as a concept. As a story it's tremendous and Abnett/Lanning really do know the cosmic stuff.

They've essentially given it its own personality again. They've re-established it and its heroes as a majorly important segment of the Marvel Universe. In fact, they've established that the cosmics really are the big players and that Earth is just one planet.

This series continues to do that and I feel that if you have the trades of all three sagas, four if you include Annihilation, then it'll be some of the best comic book material of the last decade.

Just be prepared to give it time.


X-Force: Sex & Violence #2 of 3.

If Craig Kyle and Chris Yost don't take over Uncanny X-Men after Matt Fraction, then I seriously question Marvel's sanity. This is a case similar to having Duane Swierczynski on a Deadpool title that is a mini and isn't even canon.

They are the main reason I loved the now finished X-Force series so much. Rick Remender really does have his work cut out for him in October when Uncanny X-Force launches.

This issue continues immediately after #1, with Wolverine being pissed that Domino didn't give him the whole story and the two of them having to fend off the on-rushing agents of The Assassin's Guild, lead by Razorfist. The tense, one-way banter from Domino to Wolverine is really well done during this scene. It really is. Dell'Otto's art is ABSOLTUELY BRILLIANT on this mini-series, truly. It has a magnifcent sense of blurry grittiness about it that almost seems watercoloured and photographed.

Case in point, the art is perfect for the aforementioned fight scene. It's mouth-wateringly violent and it shows Wolverine in a light that we really don't get to see him in much. He creatively despatches his opponents in varieties of gruesome ways, and Dell'Otto makes a point of showing every directional incision as well as the aftermath of said attacks. If Wolverine slices someone's arm in three, you see the gashes, then the separation, then the parts falling to the ground.

This is in stark contrast to Domino's distance-based gunplay, and it works tremendously.

The story is as you'd expect and it's nothing revolutionary. Domino took a job, people got screwed and Wolverine's stuck in the middle, but he's helping her because they're friends/fuck buddies-for-now. It's ok, but it really acts as nothing more than a serviceable framework from which Kyle and Yost can hang their tremendous dialogue, decorated by Dell'Otto's art.

It is, indeed, sex and violence. Sex? Oh yes.

After the fight, Domino shows Wolverine all the money she found/stole and then suggests they go to a hotel room to "work stuff out". They then have sex, and it's shown. Not explicitly in any anatomical sense, but you see them slam each other into walls and eventually onto the bed, entirely naked and covered by a blanket. I guess that's the pitfall of it being mainstream and not on the MAX label; you can't show anything graphic.

In such a heated and furious sexual encounter, why would they bother with a blanket to cover themselves up? Not a problem, but it adds a romantic feeling where there DEEEFINITELY was no romance. NONE. It says that there's explicit content on the cover, but I think that's the violence. I will never understand why it's ok to show Wolverine slicing a man into three pieces, but they can't show an aerial view of his ass while he's fucking Domino. You don't need to show penis, Marvel, but if you're gonna so ultraviolent fights, at least show softcore sex scenes in the same comic.

I realise this seems like I'm lobbying to see Wolverine's ass...I'm not. Domino's? Yes, please. I'd like that. Ass, either way, though. It's hypocritical otherwise. Sex is a natural thing that all people should experience, as is the human body. Cutting a fellow human up is not, yet that's the thing they'll show in all its glory! I don't get it.

Belladonna, leader of The Assassin's Guild hires most of the world's best assassins to track them down and bring them in. One of which, Bushwacker, attempts an assassination and is promptly relieved of his arm by Wolverine.

This mini-series is just an adrenaline-fuelled romp that showcases two of humanity's primal urges, those being sex and violence. It's done with brilliant dialogue and fantastic artwork. It doesn't try to be an intricate story for a three-parter, but it doesn't shirk responsibility either. The story is simple, but it's feasible, unlike Avatar. That movie was an example of truly dire plotline, terrible dialogue and mind-blowing visuals. X-Force: Sex & Violence is a combination of decent plot, and superb...well, everything else.

If you feel like getting your first comics, if this blog inspires you to do so, go for this mini-series. It doesn't require any knowledge you can't get from here, or any at all...arguably. You can more or less dive straight in, have a blast and be shown exactly what comics are capable of. It's three parts, so there's no sense in waiting for a trade either. Just eBay issue #1 if you can't find it!

Don't miss out on this, it's delicious.


Daredevil #509.

What is essentially a prequel issue to Shadowland #2, Daredevil #509 does nothing to aid the reader in guessing where this story might go.

I'm someone who enjoys guessing, but not too much. I won't sit there and plot out where I think things should or shouldn't go, might or might not, but I'll give my thoughts on it if asked. This issue doesn't even let you really do that. It, like Shadowland, gives us many possible reasons to believe that the ultimate conclusion could be any one of a million options.

First and most notably, I want to highlight Roberto De la Torre's art. I'll say that he definitely draws certain geographical locations better than others, but overall he just gives such an unreal feeling of contrast. He'll take a sparse location or setting and make it seem as though it is chock full of majesty. The Hand's headquarters atop a mountain, for example. You could print that image out and hang it on your wall without consideration for it being comic art.

Daredevil #509 was really enjoyable, it was my favourite comic of the week until I read the X-Force mini's latest issue, but...something juuust feels lacking. Maybe it's the lack of Daredevil, I don't quite know. At the end of Shadowland #1, trust me, I literally couldn't wait for Daredevil #508. Then, at the end of Daredevil #508, I couldn't wait until Shadowland #2. After Shadowland #2 and Daredevil #509, however, I don't find myself riveted as much. I find myself simply wanting to find out what happens rather than being on edge and dying to know what happens.

Typhoid Mary is back, and that's an interesting development. Someone who previously manipulated Matt in the past isn't someone you'd want around him at this point, but she claims to be reformed and offers to help him. Oddly, he accepts. The leaders of The Hand tell White Tiger, via magic communication, that she must begin taking out all those closest to Daredevil.

Lots of people are starting to get involved and they all appear to have endgames. My worry is that there are too many and not all of them will be resolved, or resolved with great impact. I think it may have been better to just sacrifice a few of them, if only in favour of making those that DO appear have a more relevant involvement. Elektra gets sent to New York to do what, according to Master Izo (They were spying on The Hand's leaders, got chased and he stayed behind to hold off the various ninjas), "must be done". Typhoid Mary probably has an endgame, too. Then consider that The Kingpin is involved and we've got three parts to go yet.

Dakota North and Foggy Nelson are to be the first victims of White Tiger's cleansing of Matt's social circle. Saved by Luke Cage and Iron Fist (Totally awesome moment), they hole up in a safehouse and, at the end of the issue, see an explosion erupt from Shadowland. This, obviously, would be during the events that ended Shadowland #2. Either something exploded during the fight with Daredevil or it signifies Ghost Rider's arrival.

Andy Diggle and Andrew Johnston do a good job co-writing, but it doesn't really have a distinct style of dialogue. That doesn't bother me, because I only feel certain writers have distinct dialogue. I care about how they portray Matt and such, though.

I'm really nervous that Marvel could be tinkering with a title that doesn't need it, and they are. I initially thought Shadowland was a chance for Daredevil to get an event that would just enhance his history, character and give the subsequent issues of his on-going series something fresh to go by. Naive? Perhaps so, as it now seems to be nothing more than a reason for Marvel to change Daredevil's name into a more marketable concept.

This campaign about getting someone to be a new version of The Man without Fear just smacks of money, to me anyway. Daredevil is, was and will forever be fine as Matt Murdock. If it stops selling well, try a new writer or cancel it. The readers would rather you do that than anything that could be considered bastardising or compromising. The title ran to issue #380 in Vol. 1, but ultimately it wasn't doing well. So, Kevin Smith came on and revamped it. He was followed by Bendis, and so the run of excellent stories, continuity and general enjoyment began.

All of this Shadowland story is meant to be about Daredevil's darkest downward spiral ever. Not just into self-doubt, but into actually bad practices, and I feel like it's being wasted on people who aren't Matt. There's nowhere near enough internal dialogue in these issues, or in Daredevil #509. It's a very good comic, but if you're looking to get into Daredevil as a character, I can't recommend Daredevil OR Shadowland by the looks of things. Simply because it doesn't seem to be about him. Proof? Those who dissed the prior installments of this saga are now praising Shadowland #2 and such.

I thought it would be about Matt, and it looks like it's veering away from that and into something that doesn't benefit the Daredevil mythos.

I will remain open-minded, though. I have my own opinions on how this could go amazingly, but I know it won't happen like that.

Keep your eyes peeled. For better or worse, it's a major time to be a Daredevil fan.

Direct Edition Updates.

That's right, I guested on Direct Edition again! The comic review show is up, and the news episode will be up on Monday as always. I had a blast doing it and it was my first time flying solo with Iyare, who so graciously invited me back. The better news is that he is considering naming me as an official member of the Direct Edition team! I am very honoured and want to give him a big shout-out there.

As always, you can watch Direct Edition RIGHT HERE! So go do that. Subscribe if you haven't done so already, and don't forget to pass it on if you like it or know someone who might.

If you have Twitter (No, I don't, nor will I ever), you can follow Direct Edition HERE!

---

That's all I have for you today!

I will say now that you MAY have to wait until tomorrow for the latest installment of The Mast's 30 Days of Comicdom. I've been kind of busy today, and after typing all of this out, the tiredness/eye strain is starting to take its ugly toll. Plus, I'm not feeling entirely well.

Sorry, truly, for any inconvenience this caused. I'm sure that you know I do bust my head open to try and get these posts up on time and with as much competence as they deserve, thus I would gladly sacrifice being a day late to make the posts good, rather than uploading it on time and half-assing it.

Thanks again and take care.

Until next time, peace.

-The Mast

Wednesday 11 August 2010

The Mast's 30 Days of Comicdom (Day 5): What Is Your Favourite Team?

Everyone! Get in here!

I have yet another day of comic talkery for your faces to digest.

Pressed for time, I am thankful this one is kind of simple!

The Mast's 30 Days of Comicdom (Day 5): What Is Your Favourite Team?


X-Force.

Formed by Cyclops in a clandestine move that proved to me he was a true leader I could like, THIS version of X-Force are not your Papa's X-Men.

X-Force operated as a black-ops, wetworks team that were put together to eliminate the bad guys before they eliminated THEM. A pre-emptive attack force with licence and preference to kill any and all dangerous enemies they come across. Granted, the people they killed absolutely deserved it, but that is the wonder of the dynamic.

How far can you go? Do the ends justify the means? By brutally hunting and killing people who brutally hunt mutants, age and gender all inclusively, are you as bad? That's why the debate rages on about whether Cyclops was right to form them, or if others were right to find it disturbing.

Originally it consisted of Warpath, Wolverine, X-23 and Wolfsbane. It shifted somewhat over time, but it didn't really have long enough to solidify anything. The series ran for almost 30 issues and, penned by Craig Kyle and Chris Yost, it utterly floored me. I am not a fan of X-Books, Second Coming was a revival of what must have been a decade or more of not liking them. X-Force, however, did not feel like an X-Book.

It was violent, sexy and immensely intriguing all in one. My breath remains bated for the upcoming Uncanny X-Force #1 issue in October. Wolverine and Archangel are still there, but into the fold comes Fantomex, Psylocke and Deadpool! Rick Remender has the chance to knock this out of the part and, along with Duane Swierczynski, re-establish 'Pool as a snarky, corrosive mercenary. I also dig the matching outfits.

Regardless, the volume of X-Force I'm referring to is what I hope Secret Avengers will eventually become an evolution of, with less violence.

I'm sure there will be four trades or so by the time it's all been compiled, but do yourself a favour, ok? Go pick up book one, Angels and Demons, right now. Like, now. Go to Amazon and buy that shit. Chop suey!

You are probably wondering why I didn't pick The Avengers. The reason is because The Avengers are at their best when the roster works for you. I love The Trinity, but it hasn't produced my consistently favourite team.

There's not a great deal you can say about X-Force. There wasn't a massive amount of character development due to all the characters and team members being massively developed. This series was more a showcase of the teams gory privileges and mission statements, and a stark reflection of what Cyclops, one of mutantkind's most rigid heroes, had been forced to resort to.

I enjoyed X-Force way more than ANY team book I've probably ever read save for early issues of The New Mutants. That is why they win as my favourite team!

---

Sorry if this one is a bit short, but I realised in writing it that there really isn't much more you CAN say, to be fair.

I really hope you liked it, I love doing it. Stay tuned tomorrow for TWO posts in ONE day. Thursday's Comics, accompanied by some bloggish updates and the latest installment of The Mast's 30 Days of Comicdom! I feel this'll be a short one also as it's a bit of a shit question, but hey, you do what you must, right?

Thanks for reading, following, commenting and spreading the word if you are.

Until next time, peace.

-The Mast

Tuesday 10 August 2010

The Mast's 30 Days of Comicdom (Day 4): Who Is Your Favourite Supporting Character?

This ain't no trap door, David Blaine shit!

Originally this category was called My Favourite Royal, but I really can't think of many royals I like enough to call a favourite. Thusly, it has been edited to include this category.

As a heads-up, I'm also going to be on Direct Edition again tomorrow! Don't forget to tune in, subscribe and let people know!

On with the show!

The Mast's 30 Days of Comicdom (Day 4): Who Is Your Favourite Supporting Character?

There are so many characters that I truly love in comics that are not leading characters or characters with their own books, so this was something I thought on. I also suspect it'll prove a little controversial among comic fans. My favourite supporting character is...


Maria Hill.

I've never been entirely sure that you can separate Maria Hill as a soldier-type and Maria Hill the person, because I've never been sure which one I'm reading. Similarly, I'm not entirely sure if people dislike her so much because she's done some bad things, or if they think she's a bad character.

First appearing in The New Avengers #4, Maria Hill came to immediate prominance during Civil War. She was initially brought in to replace Nick Fury as Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. due his indiscretions during Secret War and his subsequent disappearance. Nick Fury has always been somewhat of a scoundrel, but for the most part he was trusted by the heroes. All of a sudden there's this chick in the hot seat and she's telling people like Captain America and Iron Man what to do.

She came off as quite a cocky bitch, almost antagonistic. It was seen, I suppose, as a Sarah Palin-esque development. Maria Hill had never been in a comic before The New Avengers #4 and she hadn't had a huge S.H.I.E.L.D. career.

Her first big role as a supporting character came in Civil War, acting more as a main character. As Director, she was placed in the centre of the controversy that surrounded the Stamford incident. Very much forcing and promoting the Superhero Registration Act, she quickly told all heroes and villains that you either register or pay the price with detainment and jail time. Unflinching and uncompromising, I grew to have respect for her.

The scene that did it for me was when Captain America (Steve Rogers at this point) faces her down and tells her she's wrong. Hill, ever brave and resolute, told him to his face that he could either surrender or be forced to. Captain America escaped, but it was her strength that really won me over. I mean, here stands this absolute legend, this war hero and modern superhero...and you're an upstart, got-lucky S.H.I.E.L.D. Director? You've gotta have guts to do what she did.

She went along with things that ultimately have caused major negative consequence, but I think that she's very much like Stark in that sense, you know? She wouldn't apologise for doing her job or what she feels may be the right thing for all the people of America at the time.



I think the contradiction is that she's a VERY attractive woman, but they gave her very confident qualities to go with her femininity. She's not like Victoria Hand who, serving as Osborn's aide during Dark Reign, was very womanly. Maria Hill has got the short hair, the S.H.I.E.L.D. uniform and some salty language to go with it.

Maria Hill's just the kind of woman to be like, "Yeah, I wear lip gloss and mascara to work. Problem? Don't look at me funny or I'll break your nose." I kind of dig that.

After Civil War she serves as Commander of S.H.I.E.L.D. and second-in-command to Tony Stark. When everything went to shit, she went into hiding with Stark and eventually had a sexual relationship with him. I wasn't fond of this, simply because I think it added to her strength that she was the one woman he hadn't fucked. They're not dating or all lovey-dovey, but which is why I think it wasn't worth it.

During Siege, she did one very notable thing. She showed up on the battlefield in Oklahoma with a rocket launcher and started firing it at Norman Osborn, while riding in the back of a pick-up truck. It was quite epic, but some folks didn't like it...because some don't like Maria Hill! Some even see her as a war criminal.

Currently, as well as being the main supporting character in The Invincible Iron Man, she's serving as the boss of The Avengers. Not so much as a member, of course, but I'd Steve Rogers put her and Victoria Hand as his left and right hand women. Hill oversees The Avengers and Hand is overseeing The New Avengers.



As someone without powers, I think it's always going to be hard for her to ever stake a massive claim in the Marvel Universe, but she's doing a pretty good job. Love or hate the woman, she's not going anywhere. I'm glad. I would like to see her get developed more as a character, I think there's a lot that could be done. She's very entertaining and awesome to read when written well, and that's why she's my favourite supporting character.

---

Thanks so much for reading, I really do appreciate it. Thanks to all the new people commenting, too! If you dig my blog, pass the link around! Tell people! If you have a site, shout me out. It's all appreciated. I'm not doing anything a million others aren't doing, but I like to think I can offer an enjoyable read regardless.

Until next time, peace.

-The Mast

Monday 9 August 2010

The Mast's 30 Days of Comicdom (Day 3): Who Is Your Favourite Female Character?

You're entering a world of pain.

First off, thanks for the interest that you people are giving this series of posts. Really. I started this thinking it'd be this fun thing and it's turning out that I'm getting more comments than ever, as well as new readers.

Thank you for that, you bastards.

With that all said, let's get this going on.

The Mast's 30 Days of Comicdom (Day 3): Who Is Your Favourite Female Character?

I had three major candidates for this category and it drove me insane trying to chose. I thought about how I felt about them and their stories, I wrote down pros and cons, I weighed up legacy and influence. Characterisation, versatility and memorable nature all came into play when deciding the winner of this.

It's with pleasure, then, that I announce that my favourite female character is...


Emma Frost.

With the exception of My Favourite Character, things are probably going to be cut pretty fine in terms of who gets mentioned and who doesn't. This is without a doubt the tightest call I'd ever have to make on favourites. Many would expect Elektra, and for the longest time she WAS my favourite female in comics.

I had never really cared much for Emma Frost. I mean, we all knew her as The White Queen of The Hellfire Club. We all knew her as that blonde psychic chick who wore barely any clothes to speak of. So why is she my favourite female character? It wasn't until Grant Morrison brought her in and attached her to The X-Men, or New X-Men as it became known (Changing title at Uncanny X-Men #114, becoming New X-Men #114, I believe), that I really gravitated toward the character. I think it's the same for many people with her, and The X-Men in general.

How best to describe Emma Frost? Well...she has all the characteristics of someone your girlfriend would absolutely hate, but you'd have the major hots for. She's the kind of woman your eyes would pop out of your head for, but your girlfriend would stand there giving the screwface to. I don't think there has been a female in Marvel, or maybe even in comics, that walks the line of classy and trash as much as Emma Frost. In clothing, but especially attitude, she does this better than any female I've ever read. She walks that line like a model walks a runway.

Her earlier outfits very much did fall more onto the side of trashy more than classy, but the outfits she began donning during Morrison's run really reflected her attitude, or the attitude he brought out in her.

Emma Frost is extremely rich, traffic-stoppingly attractive and immensely powerful. She knows this, too. She isn't humble, she isn't fond of discretion. She has all of the qualities that, in any other woman, would make you turn away in an instant. She's a bitch to end all bitches and possibly the snobbiest woman you'll ever encounter. It's for this reason that her revival as an X-Men character is crucial. Not only did Morrison bring her back to the forefront, he had her join the team.

I found myself with a great distaste toward Emma Frost. Why? It's simple. I believe in faithfulness in dealing with the opposite/same sex, whatever your choice is. Honesty at the very least. Want something serious? Cool. Something casual? Cool. I don't dig infidelity, so it became a point of note for me when Emma Frost decided (Yes, decided) that she had taken a liking to Cyclops and wanted him, despite Jean Grey still being on the scene. Eventually, Cyke and Emma began having a psychic affair that went unnoticed by Jean.

Cyclops fell victim to this. Should he have? No. Thus is the lure of Emma Frost in all its strangeness. She's the kind of woman that will stand in front of you, look down her nose and tell you with the thickest air of snobbiness that you simply aren't good enough, and still somehow make you want to be with her for at least a night.

Emma's grooming of Cyclops was so deliciously intricate, but you didn't want it to stop because it was a train wreck waiting to happen. It was the boy scout leader actually getting himself into shit by being a bit of a, well, pussy hound. This was made all the more entertaining being that she's the hot blonde who has admitted to having brest implants. She IS the woman that Jean Grey or any other woman would have thought, "What do you see in her? She's not even that hot."

Jean eventually finds out and shit, to say the least, hits the fan.



Throughout her stint on Morrison's New X-Men and Joss Whedon's Astonishing X-Men, Emma Frost became a centrepiece of The X-Men. Over time, though maintaining an unmistakably snobby and classy/bitchy exterior, Emma did fall in love with Cyclops genuinely and, after Jean's passing/blessing, they formed a relationship which runs to this day. They learned from each other; Emma learned that she doesn't have to be a total bitch all the time, what it means to be vulnerable and accept that. Cyclops learned that he needs to man the fuck up and just be a little like Emma sometimes.

She's that woman you wish with all your morality that you could hate, but you can't. It reminds me of that quote in Fight Club about Marla being that little flap of skin, you know? It'd go away if you stopped tonguing it, but you just can't. Except you have no control over Emma. If she decides she's going to be in your life, she will be until she decides to leave.

On top of all this, consider that she's one of mutantkind's most powerful ever telepaths. She's definitely not someone people need to be pissing off.

Her confidence is not an act, but she came from beginnings that aren't unfamiliar to girls everywhere. She's been rich for most of her life, owned Frost International and was born into a fairly rich family. However, it was recently revealed (To my knowledge at least) that her school years were fraught with torment from her peers. Day in and day out she would receive hateful notes about how she was flat-chested, ugly, gross and just plain unwanted.

The rest, as they say, is history. Give or take some bad decisions and her school (The Massachusetts Academy) being shut down due to most of the students getting killed, she's made a success of herself.

Something else I always loved about Emma Frost was that she had the sharpest wit. She could say the most sexually crude things in the most elegant or classiest of ways that it seemed so sexy, instead of slutty. There's one part where Nightcrawler asks her if she prays or if she's religious, to which she replies, "These are $200, Italian cashmere, Kiki de Montparnass stockings, Kurt. I won't kneel in them unless absolutely necessary."

We quite clearly know what kind of sexual innuendo that is, but it's said it such a snarky and charming manner that you don't think she's a slut for making an oral sex joke. You find it alluring. When Wolverine and Cyclops are arguing over, I believe, Jean Grey, she churns out another amazing line. She says to Beast, "I have scintillating wit and the best body money can buy, but I STILL rate below a corpse."

There's her classic line about being her own best friend because she can turn into diamond, and who can forget her constant baiting and tormenting of Shadowcat? So brilliantly written by Whedon.

Despite being forced into being independent growing up, despite all of the teasing and the abuse, Emma Frost realised she could let it ruin her or she could do what Emma Frost was destined to do. She grew up, used her powers and skill to make money, bought the best body money could buy with that money and decided to take the world by the mind, getting exactly what she wanted out of it, when she wanted and how she wanted. You've got to admire that, really.



Sadly, she isn't being written as she deserves to be at the moment. She hasn't been for some time. At her best, under Morrison and Whedon, Emma Frost is a woman you would wish was a just a TINY bit nicer than she was, but a woman you can't fault for being the way she is.

She is someone everyone loves to hate or hates to love, peers and readers alike, and that's just the way she likes it. It's why she's my favourite female character.

---

That's another one down and I want to thank you all for reading YET AGAIN.

As stated, there's a new one every day until all 30 have been posted. Three down, 27 to go. I hope you have enjoyed this one, the others, and I hope you enjoy the rest to come.

Until next time, peace.

-The Mast

Sunday 8 August 2010

The Mast's 30 Days of Comicdom (Day 2): Who Is Your Favourite Villain?

On the second day of Comicdom...

In all seriousness, that's what this is. Welcome and thank you for reading this with your eyes, unless you are a cyclops, in which case forgive my use of plural.

Well, we all know what we're here for!

The Mast's 30 Days of Comicdom (Day 2): Who Is Your Favourite Villain?

I was tossing and turning this decision over in my head like some kind of weird pancake, and then I realised there was really only one choice. My favourite villain is of course...


Loki.

It really was such a close call between this guy and Dr. Doom. Recent events, however, just made it clear that Loki was the guy, but why?

In many ways, Loki Laufeyson is the typical cliche. The younger brother who never becomes quite the man his brother is. He develops envy and then hatred etc. You know the drill. Loki, adopted son of Odin (His real father was Laufey, a frost giant), is a very simple character...but one that has a load of depth.

The God of Mischief is definitely someone who lives up to his name, and whilst I haven't been a life-long fan of Loki, he has catapulted into my ranks over the years. Naturally, he is a liesmith, he crafts lie upon lie to achieve his own ends. You would think that, by now, those around him would be aware of his traits and never listen to a word he says. Such is the genius and diabolical skill in his craft, and why I love the guy so much. Even his language, when written well, just smacks of sarcasm and mischief.

Loki is SO good as what he does that it doesn't matter if he's lied to you 100 times before, he will plant a seed, however small, that causes that tiny element of doubt. Then, when it takes root, he will have your ear. Look no further than his plot to have Thor cast out of Asgard. Now, what are the chances that Loki, a grand liar of unfathomable proportions, could achieve such a thing? Thor, hero of Asgard and son of Odin, cast out due to the machinations of a known trickster?

Loki resurrected Bor, father of Odin, and transported him to Earth. Cast under the spell that caused him to see everything as a demon, Bor wrecked everything he saw until Thor was forced to take him down, entirely unaware of who he was. Loki, during this battle, told King Balder who Bor was and suggested they go there to stop Thor killing him, though it was too late. Loki knew this. When it was revealed that Thor had killed a royal Asgardian, he was placed on trial and Loki so charmingly and sarcastically said, pretty much, "Oh...but isn't the punishment supposed to be banishment from Asgard forever? My, my! It is!"

You could tell Thor knew something was up, and Loki knew that he knew, but that's what made his plan all the sweeter. With a smirk on his face, he had seen his half-brother exiled, and he barely lifted a finger. It was just such a brilliant moment. It doesn't matter that Loki manipulated Bor either, because the fact remained that Thor had killed a royal Asgardian, so he met exile regardless.

It doesn't stop there. In an attempt to get Asgard back under his own ruling, he even caused the entire Siege event. Getting into the ear of Osborn he said that the reason Civil War happened was due to an inciting incident with a super-powered being. Then went so far as to say that the only reason Osborn would need to invade Asgard is to do the same with an Asgardian, thus leading to Volstagg's unfortunate situation and the whole Siege event.



Diabolically clever, throughout Siege he barely lifted a finger. He appeared to empower The Hood's gang with Norn stone power, and the event did end with his uncharacteristically noble sacrifice, but do you ever know with Loki? Never. That's the beauty of his character. He must be a dream to write because you can write him as logically out of character as you want and then reveal it to be a plot.

I am so pleased that Tom Hiddleston is playing him in the movie, he looks amazing in the outfit. He gets it too. Loki IS exactly like Edmund from King Lear, just meaner and more manipulative. The dialogue between Loki and Dr. Doom in the early issues of Kieron Gillen's run on Thor was amazing. Dr. Doom didn't appear TOO unsettled by Loki, because he's just that badass, but you could tell Loki had such audacity that he was manipulating Dr. Doom without him knowing it.

What's so good about Loki is that, well, he shows us all what power lies in the lie. Telling lies is a very powerful and influential skill if you can do so and do so well. How many of us, in our lives, have told lies that we didn't need to? Lied to get what we wanted? Maybe you've lied to craft a day off school or work. As bad or wrong or mischievous as that may be, nobody can deny that feeling of victory when a crafty tale ends up working in your favour. I think that is what's so brilliant about Loki. Of course, then there was the time that he was trapped in Sif's body and thus, was effectively a woman for a while...

I really do recommend reading J. Michael Straczynski's run on Thor if you're interested in seeing some seriously awesome tinkering by the man himself. He did #1 to #12 and then they re-numbered it, from which he did #600 to the Giant-Size Finale #1, which is between #603 and #604.

Loki is someone so diabolically charming, such an enchanting ne'er-do-well that it's impossible to call him evil. He isn't evil, but he is most certainly a villain. He is my favourite villain, for all the above reasons.

---

Another day, another post.

The questions get more and more interesting as time goes on, so be sure to keep your eyes glued to this blog over the coming 30 days!

Thank you very much for reading, thanks for the comments (Keep leaving comments, they're awesome. Let me know what you're thinking) and the continued support, too. It's very much appreciated.

For now, though, I bid you adieu until tomorrow.

Until next time, peace.

-The Mast