This is the first post in a while that's going to contain NEWS besides reviews. Aren't you just overly thrilled? All 10 of you?
First on the cards today, I would like to draw your attention to something that looks quite intriguing to me.
This is the first original graphic novel in the series called D.C: Earth One. It's D.C.'s equivilant to Marvel's Ultimate universe, really. I think it's a great idea, even if I don't read much from either companies alternative universes. It allows great writers to take on characters free of continuity, and I think that's good.
So, this graphic novel is intended to reintroduce Superman to a current generation. Some people don't like the idea, some do. J. Michael Straczynski is writing it, so I don't have any reason to feel like it'll suck. I just sincerely hope that they don't give him the sweepy bangs and make him a scene kid. I really, really fucking hope that's not the case.
The cover is fucking madness. I love it. I just hope he's not gonna be this brooding, dark loner. It's been done.
I guess the intent is to humanise Superman, and this is where the debate comes in. I don't buy Superman when he's humanised. He is what he is, you know? He's a god-like super alien. I understand that love and emotions affect us all, I'm not asking the dude to be a robot. However, when he's upset about Lois Lane, that's ALL he really has to worry about. It's not like he has to worry about staying alive when he stops any of his villains. If Spider-Man gets distracted, he could get killed. I just think that for all Superman has going for him, he should be able to suck it up.
I like him when he is what he is meant to be. Case in point: The Death of Superman. He was the last line of defense and he was the ultimate hero, doing what no other being could. That's what he needs to be. He's TOO good. That's the thing. I just...I don't know where the balance would be, or if there is one when writing Superman, though. Still, if you're curious about Superman's mythos and don't wanna dive into the existing, mainstream continuity, go for Superman: Earth One. If you get it before me, let me know how it is!
Iron Man 3 has been given the release date of May 13th, 2013. Iron Man will be the first one, it seems, to get a post-The Avengers movie, movie. I can't say I'm surprised, I'm actually quite pleased! With all this interlocking continuity, you're never really short of stories.
Secondly, we have this:
That is the first official press picture of Captain America. I didn't expect spandex, but why couldn't they have figured the red stripes in? I mean, the dude has a the white, the blue and the star. Why not give him the red stripes? I guess they figured they'd mix the practical with the actual and give him some red braces (Suspenders as they're known Stateside). I don't have any issues with it, but I am curious as to how they'll depict him being so agile in what appears to be a sort of armoured costume.
Also, would it have KILLED you to dye the dude's hair? They can create an Iron Man suit from a suitcase, seamlessly bonding itself to Robert Downey Jr., but they can't make Steve blonde?
I guess the other issue I have is one that will come in time. Cap is young in this movie, and sure, he gets frozen in ice (I guess. That's what happened in comics) with the serum preserving his body. I've just always seen Steve as an older, mature man. He looks too young. Chris Hemsworth looks kinda young as Thor, but he pulls it off.
I know they're giving him a helmet and it has painted wing details, so I guess I'll wait and see. This IS meant to be his revised World War 2 outfit, so I'm guessing he'll get an updated one for The Avengers. My concern is how he acts, like Hemsworth as Thor. I just...as soon as I saw Hemsworth as Thor, I immediately said, "Yep." I don't get that vibe from Evans.
Anyway, COMICS!
Thursday's Comics.
Secret Avengers #6.
This book was losing direction and I'm glad they found it again with this issue. There are pros and cons, as always.
Deodato's art is always fantastic. One thing I've noticed is that he always works so well with dimly lit rooms. There's a scene where Captain Rogers and Sharon Carter on a bed, half naked, and it looks so good. The way the light floats over them and such is really good.
The story is...it's confusing in intention. Things started off with a very clear, exciting, espionage-based purpose. Then they went to space, then there as all this shit with Nick Fury's clone brother and I was sitting here wondering what the fuck was going on. Now, Brubaker has just decided there needs to be a new story that has enough connection to the one they started in the beginning, all so that it doesn't look crowbarred. That's what I feel.
Luckily, it is a good story. The story revolves around The Shadow Empire trying to require The Eyes of the Serpent. They do this using Shang-Chi's thought-dead father's clan of ninja. Thus, boom. Shang-Chi teams up with Rogers and Co. to get to the bottom of things and steal the gems before The Shadow Empire can.
The part where they infiltrate the museum, the part before it where they're planning the infiltration, it's all SO very well done. It reminds me of the first issue. The actual infiltration scenes are cut with Steve telling Shang how they're gonna do it. It's like a really cool spy movie.
Shang Chi's old man is back and up to no good, but we'll see where this all leads. I'm not entirely sold.
The Avengers #6.
THIS, however, is a gsme-changer.
Bendis pulls out all the stops on this issue. He packs this issue full of little easter eggs of information that could be important in the future and...yes, it works. All the threads of the time/space plot start to come together as The Avengers finally confront the future Ultron and speak to him of what's gone wrong, Kang's part in it and what needs to be done to change it.
The dialogue is plentiful and it's GREAT. Bendis, known for heavy dialogue, hadn't been using as much recently. This issue packs it in.
John Romita Jr.'s art is, sadly, immensely divisive. People either love or hate it. In this issue, one epic scene in particular, he NAILS it. At other times, it's completely distracting and messy. He never seems to do shading, leaving characters looking blocky and flat, on top of the already washed colours.
Maestro Hulk's dialogue with the future children of The Avengers is MADDENINGLY exciting, especially what he says about Bucky Barnes, considering Bucky is on trial right now. There's lots of things the future folk seem to know that's gonna have a huge impact in the present's future stories. The end of the issue is really epic and it really was an, "OHHH! I SEE!" moment.
I definitely think that this is a trade series right now. It's definitely gonna work better in trade for the first six issues. Next, Red Hulk joins the team! Yeah...no comment. We'll see.
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That's about all I've got for today. Not much came out worth reviewing besides those two!
Thanks for reading, thanks for taking the time to indulge my blog. I appreciate it.
Until next time, peace.
-The Mast
