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.

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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

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.

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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

The Mast's 30 Days of Comicdom (Day 1): Who Is Your Favourite Character?

Pass me the anti-shark bat-spray!

It feels weird actually updating for someone that isn't many things, and I don't know what I mean by that exactly.

Regardless, I really think this is going to be very fun and I hope to have one of these up, in order, for the next 30 days. Barring special circumstances, I will do just that. This is my 85th post now and I have some ideas for my fast-approaching 100th post, but I haven't decided yet.

Anyway, let the games begin! As Alex from Comicana would say (Seriously, if you're in there longer than an hour, he'll come out with it).

The Mast's 30 Days of Comicdom (Day 1): Who Is Your Favourite Character?

If you don't know by now, you are a stoopit! My favourite character is, of course...


Daredevil.

I did a whole post/month dedicated to this guy and why he has a very special place in the comic-inked section of my heart, namely the #1 spot. Still, it can't hurt to tell anyone again.

I was drawn in at Daredevil #187, I was 6 and that's how this whole comic thing began.

Never before had I seen such a simplistically drawn character with such inimitable grace. He wasn't as colourful or awkward as Peter Parker, even Spider-Man, but he moved with the majesty of someone much greater. The way he fought, the way he looked, it was just like watching ballet on a page to me. Then, I find out the dude is BLIND?! John Romita Jr. pretty much nailed it when HE described why he loves Daredevil so much.

So deep is my attachment to this character that I refer to him on first name purposes as much as I call him Daredevil. To me, he's Matt Murdock. A Frank Miller showed, Matt Murdock is the undeniable hero. Daredevil is who he is when he puts on the suit, but Matt Murdock is the hero. The outfit dresses up the hero, that's all.

No matter what befalls him, he never gives up on anything or anyone. He is just like his dad. He is his father's son in that respect, at the very least. I don't go into comics to relate to anything, but Daredevil forced me to. Seeing someone as void of fear and apprehension as Daredevil/Matt Murdock gives you something to aspire to. Seeing this stonewall, morally and emotionally strong guy brought to his knees by the love of a woman or the loss of one, however, is something that I defy anyone to nod their head and feel for.

It doesn't matter how many punches he can take from The Kingpin, because when Karen Page was murdered or when Elektra first re-appeared as an assassin and he knew it was her from the smell of her, he might as well have been in a wheelchair. It's his totally human weaknesses that we all have, in contradiction with his otherwise fearless nature, that make him as admirable as he is.

The fact that he does what he does while being able to disarmed by some of the same things we are, it's what I love. Spider-Man is the same in many ways, totally self-less. It doesn't matter if he dies, because he sees his role as a responsibility, and the same goes for Matt Murdock and Daredevil. He's come back from being destitute and from emotional wreckage. He's dealt with moral uncertainty and lives with the knowledge that he and his most implaccable foe, The Kingpin, know each other's identities, causing a perpetual stalemate of nail-biting proportions. He has overcome loss, psychological turmoil and back-breaking guilt that would've caused a lesser man to crumble.



Despite deadly enemies, trials and tribulations, he does this because he is a hero, however flawed. He does all this for the sake of innocent people, his friends, his loved ones and most notably, Hell's Kitchen. That's his neighbourhood. He's there if heroes need him, but he doesn't try to do more than he can, he does what is sensible. He protects the one neighbourhood and helps elsewhere when he can.

The contradiction of him being a lawyer by day and law-disregarding vigilante (Because what these heroes do strictly isn't legal, or wasn't until Captain Rogers got at the helm of S.H.I.E.L.D.) at night is one that nobody else really embodies. These elements, coupled with the fact that he is a wavering Catholic who dresses as a devil, make my love for him what it is. It makes for amazing stories in the right hands and, truly, I recommend him to everybody.

He has gone from a B-grade character and the poor man's Spider-Man with potential, to someone who has become an amazing character in his own right, even if he's not an A-lister. Marvel have embarked upon a marketing campaign that said there will be a new character becoming The Man without Fear post-Shadowland, as I've said. This makes me nervous, but even if it's bad, I stick by him through thick and thin. One can only hope he pulls himself out of the darkest hole he's ever been in, before it pulls him in for good.

He is my absolute favourite overall character of all time, consistently. While Deadpool is always hot on his heels, Matt Murdock/Daredevil is always there ahead of everyone else. It's for the reasons I've stated that I've named him my favourite character.

He should be popping up in some of the other 29 days, but how? Wait and see!

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Thanks to everyone for reading this, I really appreciate it.

If you want to know more about Daredevil, browse through my posts to find my posts on Daredevil and all things related that I did during Daredevil Month. That or toss me a comment with your questions.

Take care and tune in to my blog every day from today, for the next 30 days, for a new installment!

Until next time, peace.

-The Mast

The Mast Reviews: Thursday's Comics (5/8/2010).

As far as I'm concerned, you're BOTH potential murderers!

Greetings and welcome to Welcome to the Mast! Yes, name of blog and also a greeting! I am The Mast, I am back to talk your rotten faces off with some words arranged in order. When read in order, my opinions will be revealed!

I don't think I have much to blog about today. There is a teaser to The Avengers online, somewhere. It's just Nick Fury's voiceover saying that there comes a day when Earth's mightiest heroes have to unite to fight a force they cannot defeat alone, and on that day, The Avengers were born.

It's pretty nice, but the movie hasn't even begun shooting yet so...people need to chill. It's nice that it all feels very, very real, though.

I bought nine comics today, but I will be reviewing just four. It saves time and after all, this blog IS about what comics I enjoyed most and think you should get. Shadowland: Bullseye is a pretty fun, yet inconsequential and non-essential one-shot about how he's haunting some kid from beyond the grave. I hope his death sticks, but we'll see.

Let's get this cracking.


S.H.I.E.L.D. #3.

Once again, I really cannot say much of this series because hardly ANYTHING is being revealed!

So far, Leonardo Da Vinci has travelled forward in time (Though still in the past) to apparently re-write a wrong that the original Brotherhood of the Shield has committed, or will commit. He is passing his role on to young Leonid, who doesn't feature in this issue. Don't feel bad for not having a clue what's going on, because it's not clear yet.

One thing I will say is that if you are not versed in history, science or even very dense vocabulary, then you will find this series confusing or boring. It has the potential to be one of the greatest series' of all time, to me. It combines so many great, well written elements.

This issue is told from the narrative stance of Sir Isaac Newton. Taken under the wing of Galileo, he has been seeking answers to things he cannot find anywhere he has been looking. Galileo sends him off to find said knowledge in the kingdom of The Deviants, an alien race. He mates with one of their females, is accepted into their culture and absorbs their secret knowledge for the purposes of The Brotherhood of the Shield. It is implied, I believe, that Newton is a mutant. I cannot confirm this, but the leader of the aliens says he is very unique.

Don't get me wrong, Hickman's writing is stellar and he clearly is the guy to be writing these characters in these settings, with this subject matter. I do strongly feel that this story will read immeasurably better as a trade, though. It has such a dense plot that reveals nothing much, and it's going at one issue every two months. I'm gonna stick with it because I've started, but if you haven't and you ARE interested, wait for the trades.

The art...well. I would dare say it's among the best in any comic as of this time. Dustin Weaver is absolutely FLAWLESS. Majestic. Any superlative I could use is applicable. I appreciate it more so because I also have the sketch variant of #1, but the colours and inking all come together to prove what is essentially amazing pieces of art in a comic book.

My favourite part was Galileo confronting Galactus with a being of unknown energy advising him. A younger Galileo, mind you, back in Rome circa the 1500s. Instead of letting Galactus destroy Earth, they devise a contraption that can create an entirely new world. A new world that would serve as home should Earth ever be destroyed. Now...I think that instead of doing this...they just use the energy to satiate Galactus directly.

It really is all very clandestine, especially considering I last read this series when S.H.I.E.L.D. #2 came out back on June 2nd!

I can't recommend it, I can't. Trades? For sure. I'm not avoiding recommendation due to quality, just the subject matter and the fact that this series is on a delayed schedule.


Deadpool: Wade Wilson's War #3 of 4.

With the end to this mini-series fast approaching, I cry. Where will Duane Swierczynski, arguably Deadpool's greatest writer since Kelly's run, go? Probably nowhere near Deadpool.

Such a fucking brilliant series. It's packed with violence, gore, hilarious quips by Deadpool and the fourth wall-breaking everyone loved him for.

Still on trial, we just get Deadpool continuing to tell the Senate of his exploits as a member of a U.S. government secretly sanctioned team. It involves lots of killing, his team mates (Bullseye, Silver Sable and Domino) getting killed and him conveniently escaping. A satellite, the Senator reveals, proves he is lying about how events transpired, but Deadpool insists.

Domino is proven to be alive, to Deadpool's shock, and shoots him upon being brought into the courtroom.

This is packed full of tremendous dialogue and very Tarantino-esque artwork courtesy of Pearson. Deadpool even references Robert Rodriguez, the soon-to-be Deadpool movie director (We hope!). He even goes so far as to use the first issue of this series as proof of what he is saying.

It's just so self-aware and so brilliant. Definitely a trade that any Deadpool-curious person should be picking up and looking out for.


The Avengers: Prime #2 of 5.

Another mini-series that suffers delays, but nonetheless, one I've been waiting for.

The team of Bendis and Davis works real well in many areas, not so good in others. That is to mean that Bendis seems to be losing his touch in certain areas, where as the art of Alan Davis is fucking beautifully classic on every page.

The Trinity (The unofficial name for Iron Man, Thor and Steve Rogers) have been split up, each ending up in one of the nine realms; Thor is trapped by The Enchantress in one, Captain Rogers is caught in another and Iron Man is in what I believe could be Svartalfheim or Vaneheim. The general gist of this story is how each man must overcome their respective pickles to end up back on Earth/Midgard. So with that said, let me tell you what I LOVE and dislike.

Bendis writes a badass Thor, he really does. The sections where Thor and The Enchantress go at it verbally and physically are extremely well drawn and scripted. The Captain Rogers stuff seems pretty bland, but it's the Iron Man parts that bug me. I don't know if it's the influence of the movies, but he's being portrayed in many different ways. Bendis tends to portray him as an arrogant douche with too much immaturity, where as Fraction is portraying him as a semi-repentant hero who has forgot what it means to be a hero.

Some of the things that Stark says in this issue just smack of Robert Downey Jr. It's not as good when it's read as it is when he's saying it. Granted, it's not as bad as Bendis' diabolical Iron Man dialogue in The Avengers, but it's still a bit uncharacteristic. Also, why does Captain Rogers say that he speaks a little Italian? Sure, the comment was made in jest, but as someone who has been through what he has, does what he does and knows what he knows, surely he'd speak more languages. I'm pretty sure it's a known fac that he speaks German and Russian. Additionally, why does he seem surprised that Earth is called Midgard? He knows that. It's not like Bendis, in my opinion, to be so sloppy.

The Enchantress reveals to Thor that his moving of Asgard to Earth has caused tremendous unsettlement in all other of the nine realms. Realms are bleeding into each other and, she says, it's Thor's doing. Hela, to cap it all off, has reclaimed the area Thor is in as her new Hel. Naturally, Thor and Hela get into violence over it and the effects of the battle bleed into the realm Stark is in.

I'm totally excited to see where this goes and how it resolves. Thhis takes place immediately after Siege. Like, right after the battle has ended. So everything else is happening after they presumably get home. How do they? How do they resolve their differences? That's what everyone's waiting to find out. I personally have a harder time agreeing that a Bendis-written Iron Man would regain a friendship with Thor, as opposed to the more humble Fraction-written Iron Man. There are multiple continuity/character errors as it stands, but Bendis claims it will all make sense in the end.

Check it out. With the delays, you should easily be able to get the first issue, too.


Shadowland #2 of 5.

People seem to have issues with this mini-series, so let me tell you what I think about that.

Those consistently criticising Daredevil and Shadowland seem to have no regular interest nor overall connection to his character. This is a brilliant Daredevil story and Diggle/Johnston totally get the character. People who don't really need to stop talking like they do.

Anyway, Shadowland #2...

Matt's going far. Too far. The Kingpin approaches Luke Cage and Iron Fist in a sly attempt to reclaim New York, specifically Hell's Kitchen, from The Hand's clutches. He has a point, really. Like it or not, Daredevil needs to be stopped. How? That's what the big question is. Luke Cage, Iron Fist and a few others trick their way into Shadowland to have words. It appears, thankfully, that Daredevil DOES have some reasoning skills, but ultimately he chooses to adopt the with-or-against mentality that he is fond of recently. Interestingly, Misty Knight informs Daredevil that mob bosses are getting assassinated, to which he says The Hand has a no-kill policy. So either he's lying, or there's a rogue cell...

Diggle really nails some good Spider-Man dialogue, also showing up at this time, when he says something about the black suit thing never ending well. It gave me a real chuckle.

The Kingpin makes his big move when he summons none other than Ghost Rider, who is revealed at the end to be tearing his way into Shadowland's basement and working his way up. This is where things WILL pick up, and the art on those last couple of splash pages is PHENOMENAL. Billy Tan nails that shit. Ghost Rider won't mess around, at all. He'll go in and he'll do damage.

I'm so excited to see how shit all unfolds. Elektra's involvement is to be revealed, on top of it all.

It's all heading to a car crash finale, and with Marvel already advertising that there'll be a new character that becomes The Man without Fear (Don't...get...me...started), I'm riveted.

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Thank you SO much for reading, I appreciate it greatly.

To the people who have been commenting more frequenly, thank you! I really do appreciate your words and your comments. Sincerely.

Don't forget to drop me a comment if you're interested in getting into comics, or tell me if my blog has spurred you to do just that. What are YOU reading? What do you think of it? What do you think of what I'M reading if you read it too? Let's talk!

Tune in on Saturday for my 85th post and the 1st day of The Mast's 30 Days of Comicdom!

Until next time, peace.

-The Mast

The Mast Blogs: Thor Comic Con Footage Reviewed & The Mast's 30 Days of Comicdom.

Today's Headline: The Mast Refreshed After Three Days on Cross.

This post won't be especially chock full of goodness, but the goodness it contains will hopefully satiate your stomachs and cause salivation profuse enough to drown a horse. I do have a link to it that is currently working, but I cannot guarantee for how long, nor can I post it. Drop me a contact email and I may be able to help you.

The title is ACCURATE. I have indeed seen the Thor Comic Con preview. I don't class it as a trailer because it's five minutes long, but what did I think of it?



It didn't reveal much for a five minute piece of footage, but it revealed enough for me to gather an opinion of the feel of the footage. I doubt I'll watch any more trailers for this movie, though. They reveal so much nowadays.

The footage contains shots of Asgard and what I THINK was Jotunheim (Seeming more likely by Colm Feore having been cast as Loki's father, Frost Giant Laufey). I'm sure there is a lot more post-production to be done, but what we were treated to looked quite tantalising.

After being initially hesitant that Chris Hemsworth didn't look like someone who could play Thor, I am forced to retract said statement. I didn't think he was as tall and buff as he is, for one thing. Having seen him in live footage I can safely say he has given me every confidence that he will do well.

Loki didn't get a large appearance, but he appears during Odin's lambasting of Thor and it made me very happy. It looks as if he really is going to be every inch the manipulative and devious conspirator that he is in the comics. Odin himself looks...not too bad. I'm still not entirely sold, but it's growing on me. Hopkins really does deliver his lines with fire, though. I totally support that side of his casting.

The Warriors Three look REALLY good, Fandral especially. Hogun isn't featured much, but Volstagg looks acceptable. I wish he was more fat, as his character is, but you can't have it all I suppose. My one worry is Sif, to be sure. I'm convinced she'll be portrayed as the badass warrior chick, which she is, but without the side of her that they show in the comics. Think Velasquez in Aliens.

It definitely looks like they won't explicitly call the Asgardians gods. That cheeses me off, but as long as they don't deny it either...it can pass as something to be assumed. I like the idea that Thor says something like, "Your ancestors call it magic. You call it science. I come from a place where they're one and the same." It suggests that the unexplained phenomena of the world could be considered scientific to higher beings who know how it all works. The line between superstition, religion and science is the fact that things can be explained and proven.

To put in in a nutshell, would the otherworldly and speculative nature of spirituality remain so to someone equally as otherworldly who was capable of logically explaining why certain things happen? Show a baby a magnet and you can convince them it's magic. Show it to a scientist and they'll explain how it works.

I'm actually really liking that idea.

It all looks very exciting and, of course, The Destroyer's little scene at the end left my jaw on the ground.

What matters most is how it all plays out and how it all fits together as a movie. For that conclusion, we must wait until May.

Either way...



I'm psyched.

The Mast's 30 Days of Comicdom.

Yeah, I also decided to separate subjects with a mini-header. All neat and tidy!

You're probably asking yourself, "The Mast, what exactly is 30 Days of Comicdom and why does it matter? Why, in Christ's name, why?" I'll tell you.

It's very simple. I stole a 30 question survey regarding comics and decided I would answer a question a day! It will open people up to short, sharp bursts of comic opinion and recommendation, and will hopefully let people know more about the tastes of yours truly.

Here are the questions, in order:

Day 1: Who Is Your Favourite Character?
Day 2: Who Is Your Favourite Villain?
Day 3: Who Is Your Favourite Female Character?
Day 4: Who Is Your Favourite Royal?
Day 5: What Is Your Favourite Team?
Day 6: What Is Your Favourite Organisation?
Day 7: Who Is Your Favourite Creature?
Day 8: What Is Your Favourite Movie?
Day 9: Who Is Your Favourite Classic Character?
Day 10: What Is Your Favourite Costume?
Day 11: What Is Your Favourite Power?
Day 12: What Is Your Favourite Weapon?
Day 13: Who Is Your Least Favourite Character?
Day 14: What Is Your Favourite Romance?
Day 15: What Is the Best Rivalry?
Day 16: Who Is the Most Powerful Character?
Day 17: Who Is Your Favourite God?
Day 18: What Is Your Favourite Comic-to-Screen Character Adaptation?
Day 19: What Is Your Least Favourite Comic-to-Screen Character Adaptation?
Day 20: What Is Your Best Casting of a Character (If You Were Casting)?
Day 21: What Is the Most Memorable Death?
Day 22: What Is Your Favourite Universe/Dimension?
Day 23: What Is the Best Form of Transportation?
Day 24: What Is Your Favourite Cartoon Adaptation?
Day 25: What Is Your Favourite Video Game?
Day 26: Who Is the Most Underrated Character?
Day 27: What Is Your Favourite Non-Human Race?
Day 28: Who Is the Most Overrated Character?
Day 29: What Is Your Favourite Comics Event?
Day 30: What Is Your Favourite Series You Would Suggest to Read?

So, if you're at all interested in knowing the answers to those questions, be sure to keep glued to my blog from this Saturday!

Thanks so much for reading and take care.

Until next time, peace.

-The Mast

The Mast Blogs/Reviews: Tired of Comic Con Talk? Tough! & Thursday's Comics (29/7/2010).

You can't fight in here! This is The War Room!

It's crazy to me that it's July 29th already, man. Where did the time go? Last I checked it was New Year's Eve 2009! We're half way through a year already. Insanity!

My blog is being used more and more like a blog nowadays. In a way, I'm glad for Comic Con because it gives me a chance to flesh my posts out with more than just my opinions about the comics I buy. I'm not a blogger who reviews whatever comes out, I review what I read.

With that said, here's some more Comic Con goodness. There's a Thor movie coming out, not too sure if you heard about that. Well, here's an amazing image of a certain Asgardian armour that will be showing up in the movie:



That is the aptly titled Asgardian Destroyer. Also known as The Destroyer. It's a mystical, sentient armour that can be worn or operate on its own. How will it fit into the movie? I know not. Am I excited to see? Yes. Very excited.

It looks so simplistic and brutal. Unf, I love it.

There was something else, too. An announcement that caused all kinds of, for lack of a more eloquent term, nerd-gasms. Marvel revealed this:



That is The Infinity Gauntlet. If you don't know what it is, go to THIS LINK for a heads-up.

Now, upon reading that, you'll know precisely why I'm wilding out over it. How will they incorporate it? When? Why?! Also, this is made all the more interesting by knowing that, in the Captain America teaser they showed, the Red Skull is seen discovering what seems to be the Cosmic Cube, referred to as one of Odin's treasures. For every bit of continuity Marvel lose with an actor change, they regain it by pulling something like this.

Could The Avengers be a cosmic affair of epic proportions? I don't know if Marvel's ambition should worry me or excite me. At the very least I am indeed curious. Speaking of The Avengers, Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner? A capable actor, but not Edward Norton. Marvel dropped the ball there. I think Marvel should go the Mortal Kombat route of putting Ruffalo in a short film so we can get used to him and feel him as the character.

More exciting is that Jeremy Renner will be playing none other than Clint Barton, Hawkeye. I think this could be as perfect a casting choice as R.D.J. was for Iron Man and I BELIEVE Tom Hiddleston was for Loki. We shall see. All of this considered, I maintain that if this movie is no longer than two and a half hours, it's going to be a clusterfuck. It's exciting to see how it'll all unfold.

One last piece of news, but by no means least exciting, is that Frank fucking Castle, The Punisher, is back under the legal rights of Marvel Studios! Does this mean we can finally get an R-rated Punisher movie, or would it be overkill having produced two attempts at a reboot (Three Punisher movies if you count the Dolph Lundgren one)? What do you think?



I think The Punisher needs an R-rated movie and anything else is stupid. He's not Spider-Man, he's not meant to be someone younger people can relate to. If anything, he's one of the very few solely adult properties Marvel has and deserves to be represented as such.

Look at that! I almost forgot about the most important thing!

The comics!


Uncanny X-Men #526,

Shining brightly out of dark recesses of The X-Men's history comes The Five Lights. As always, it's penned by Matt Fraction, but features pencils by Whilce Portacio.

Hope embarks on her trip to Alaska as promised, accompanied by Dr. Nemesis, Rogue and Cypher. The conversations she has with Cypher on the ride over there are quite funny. Cypher, detached as always, non-chalantly informs her of all the relatives he's discovered that have passed on, even offering to search for dead pets when Dr. Nemesis sarcastically suggests he do so.

Turns out her birth name is Spalding, quite shit really. Hope Spalding. She meets with her grandmother, without her grandmother knowing who she is, and asks questions about her mother. Never revealing who she truly is. Her mother has passed away, and we get to see her visit her grave before all this, which is where she meets her grandmother, ironically.

It's kind of nice, I suppose, but it feels like it was all for nothing. It's well written, but kind of unnecessary. It all culminates in Hope noticing how her mother was a firefighter, choosing to be in harm's way to save lives, and this settles her decision to be an X-chick. Surely she could've picked up the whole, "Sometimes putting yourself in harm's way to protect others." from...I dunno, CABLE DOING IT FOR HER ALL THIS TIME. Ehh.

Anyway, the issue consists of various groupings of X-Men looking for these newly manifested mutants. One of them is intercepted by Hope and the like on their way home. About to commit suicide, Hope dives off the building and saves her.

Instantly, this girl, revealed to be called Laurie, fully transforms into what looks like Nocturne. Clearly she's not Nocturne, I'm just noting the resemblance. I think it's implied that Hope is capable of bringing forth these mutations in a painless way. Laurie flies Hope back to the rooftop, no longer distraught, and requests to go with them. The issue ends with Hope optimistically asking Rogue who's next.

It's a fairly decent jumping on point, but it felt a little disjointed to me. Also, there was a little side part that I loved, but didn't love. Emma Frost informs Cyclops that she's going off to have dinner with a rich, handsome man. That would be Tony Stark. Now, Cyclops is her man...and Emma Frost is a chick who turns heads without trying to, but does so anyway. If you're Cyclops and you know your woman used to be fuck buddies with the guy she's having dinner with...do you not protest the fucking meeting?!

Seriously, Cyke. SERIOUSLY. Maybe I'm just an untrusting guy, but I'd have at least made a comment. She doesn't even dress conservatively, either. When she meets him, for whatever reason (I assume there is one), she looks NICE. I mean, ravishing. I assume there's a plot thread there, but I just wanted to add my thoughts on that.

I loved it because I really miss the corrosive, snobbish, "Yeah, Jean. I'm having a psychic affair with your man, bitch." style of Emma Frost. Oppositely, I would feel bad for Cyke if she started messing around behind his back.

I'll keep buying this series until it convinces me otherwise. Considering my history with X-Men on-goings, this won't be long. I dropped out of it for two issues, because that whole Nation X thing made me sick, and then Second Coming dragged me back in.

I'd recommend Second Coming before this, but if you've read my reviews then jump on with me. Let's see where this heads.


Secret Avengers #3.

Interesting. Very interesting.

Brubaker is an amazing writer and so I'm not gonna spend time harping on that point. The same goes for Deodato's art, which is SO suited to these characters.

So, where do we stand? Nova's donned one of three Serpent Crowns and has gone quite mental, with the Secret Avengers there to retrieve their teammate and Ant-Man got blasted by some kind of energy and has ended up in the base of The Shadow Empire.

It sounds like not a lot happens and, to be fair, not much really does. What does happen is fairly interesting and does well to lure you into what seems like a story with plenty of revelations.

Brubaker kicks the issue off with a tale of Western travellers who encounter something known as The Abyss, when looking for someone they were pursuing. One of these men, Aloysius Thorndrake, is revealed to be the present day leader of The Shadow Empire, already possessing one of the crowns and Nick Fury as his second-in-command. He wants the crown and gives Fury orders to send their men on a one-way trip to Mars in order to retrieve it or something of that sot. Deodato draws him very well, he strikes you as an ageless leader who knows way more than he's letting on.

Indeed, as with all Brubaker series' I've read, this does have a heavy crime and espionage feel about it. Through the character dialogue and the story that's been revealed so far, the spy and mental combat element that's common in so many espionage tales is very much a presense.

After confronting the guardian of the temple in the last issue, Archon, Steve Rogers and co. explain that they are not a threat, that they share a common goal. It was very subtle, but Archon's immediate agreement to pursue Nova and the crown really did give the whole ordeal a sense of urgency. It felt like, as a true guardian would, he had no time to be messing around and if they were going to help him find what he needs, he'd be up for it.

Eventually War Machine brings Valkyrie back to Steve, where as Black Widow and Moon Knight are unconscious from the fight. I'm not entirely sure if they get brought back, though.

The big exposition comes from Archon, revealing that Nova seaks to break the seal that will release The Darkest Child and The Nameless Father, an evil so dense that it's almost unimaginable. Archon fights Nova, they find him naturally, and is swiftly defeated, citing something usually strong about his power as the reason, leaving everyone to wonder just what comes next as Nova breaks the seal.

Oh, I should mention that Nova dropped his helmet, which contains the Xandarian Worldmind. Steve picks it up earlier in the issue and I assume this will have some relevance.

In all, it's a well-written story with some gorgeous, delicious artwork. I must admit, I thought that the cool black-ops team would be doing a lot more than fleshing out a story like this. It feels like we've got stories similar to it going on in The Avengers AND The Thanos Imperative. That is my only criticism, really.

This doesn't read like a story that is necessary for Moon Knight, Valkyrie and War Machine to be involved in. Still, what can you do but wait and see?

You should be able to get the first two issues, but I'm not sure I entirely recommend this series for the uninitiated. Give it a shot if you feel inclined, though!


Haunt #8.

This is one of those titles that gets delayed SO often, in between everything else I read, that I end up losing where the story left off.

Boy, does this pick up! Oh, be sure to read my Haunt reviews or look it up online if you don't know what the story is, because I'm not explainng it again!

Daniel Kilgore is now a full member of The Agency, working with his deceased brother's ghost to form Haunt. Think Spawn mixed with Spider-Man and The X-Files. They've got Daniel working up a major sweat to get him ready for the missions he'll be undertaking, and everyone is aware, if not comfortable, with Kurt's ghost being there at all times.

It does lead to some funny dialogue, though. There's a part where this massively over-eager assistant is hassling Daniel, who politely accepts his help. Kurt is all the while dissing him in his other ear. As the assistant says he and Kurt were buds, Kurt says they weren't. It's darkly funny to me.

I'm not sold on Greg Capullo doing the art yet. It's nice, but after Ryan Ottley...it'll take a bit of getting used to.

Elsewhere in the world, Cobra tells Mr. Hurg he's leaving to go trash Haunt. Haunt, of course, being the guy that caved Cobra's face in earlier on in the series. Hurg says he'll leave when he says he can, and walks off. Cobra Vs Haunt 2 is surely coming...and I'm excited. The art IS amazing on this part, I will say. The way the window cracks and smears with Cobra's blood as Hurg jams his face into it...ugh. Brilliant.

Daniel decides to go for a little exercise as Haunt (Who I refer to as "They", not "Him") and Kurt warns him not to push too far. Obviously, Daniel wants to know what it feels like to approach the limit so that he can stop when he does. Inevitably, he drains them both and falls ever so painfully to the ground below, smashing his head on a wall in the process. Nevertheless, he recovers.

The issue wraps up with immense promise, which pleased me. The last thing I wanted was for this ever-delayed series to feel like it wasn't going anywhere. Back at The Agency, Director Tosh (She's hot) receives a distress call from one of her soldiers in the field, telling of their entire team being slaughtered by something.

She ends the issue with the hair-raising line:

"Get me Agent Kilgore. We're sending in Haunt."

There is a trade out of the first...six or seven issues, so BUY IT. I guarantee you won't regret it. It's not entirely original, but it's violent, sexy and very nasty. All accompanied by a rather intriguing plot that keeps getting better. Robert Kirkman, my hat is off.

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That's about it for now!

As always, thanks so much for reading and be sure to keep your eyes open for this week's episode of Direct Edition! I'm not on it, but I am on last week's episode AND last Monday's news episode, which I don't think I stated. I will in all likelihood be guesting next week, so keep your eyes open!

We both upload new comic delicacies every Thursday, so if you're reading this...be sure to also be watching the show! Vice versa.

Until next time, peace.

-The Mast

The Mast Blogs: A Crushing Cresendo of Comic Con Concerns, Shiny Helmets & Other Business.

Good news! You are not the father!

Anyway, as many of you will be aware, San Diego Comic Con is happening right now. It's a place where many people gather to see what's cool in an industry they generally couldn't give a shit about most of the time. To see what I mean, check out It'sJustSomeRandomGuy's rather hilarious take on Comic Con, by way of Deadpool parody, over at HIS CHANNEL OF COURSE.

Check Random Guy's other videos, too. They're really well done and very funny. I say HIS, but he does them with his partner, known as Random Gal.

Where was I? Oh yes, Comic Con!



San Diego Comic Con is, to those who are unaware, a convention of massive proportions. It deals with comics, video games and other elements of cult culture, as well as serving as a preview board for all kinds of movies coming out. It used to be way more comic-centric, but has slowly become more and more mainstream and all-inclusive over the years. That's fine, I guess. There'll always be more cons everywhere to take its place.

Even so, Comic Con affords fans the chance to meet a lot of their favourite mainstream and independent comic workers under one roof. Stan Lee, for example, is a regular attendee.

One announcement that has got everyone fairly excited is the 2011 series, The Flash: Speed Force. Now, I am not ENTIRELY sure if Geoff Johns is penning this, but it involves Wally West AND Bart Allen. I'm looking forward to it, even though The Flash: Rebirth wasn't brilliant.

There are rumours of Nathan Fillion being cast as Ant-Man in The Avengers, which would be pretty amazing. I say they're rumours, but Joss Whedon DID announce it. The problem everyone's having is that we don't know if he was joking or not.

For me, the biggest shocker was that Marvel's controversial Red Hulk is going to join The Avengers. Red Hulk, or Rulk, has totally divided opinion. Many fans hate the character and how Jeph Loeb has portrayed him, as well as the drawn out storyline of what his identity was (Thunderbolt Ross, by the way. Like we didn't see it coming).



On the other hand, it was a tremendously well-selling series. I personally do not like that Rulk is joining. I WILL give Bendis the chance to sway me, but it's not looking good by any means. I love Bendis' work, but if The Avengers doesn't pick itself off the train tracks, I won't be able to justify it as a continual purchase.

Additionally, I was handed another dose of worrying news. I don't like to be one of those guys who imagines what might happen and then assumes that it will. The following news item does not mean anything until anything happens. I'm just more negatively suspicious than excited.

Post-Shadowland, it has been revealed that there will be a NEW "Man without Fear", whatever that means. I don't understand that, because being The Man without Fear is not a title. It's not like being a Black Panther or a Green Lantern. You don't get it handed down to you. During Civil War, I quite liked the intricate way that Danny Rand (Iron Fist) became Daredevil to help Matt out.



If it's a temporary measure or whatever, I may enjoy it. Nobody knows what it means, so I won't assume.

There have been teaser posters, yet to be seen online, of various heroes with the tagline asking, "Is *Insert Name* the new Man without Fear?". Something like that. One was Nova, which is totally ridiculous, and the other was Gambit. I don't think I need to express my opinions on Gambit being anywhere near a Daredevil comic...but I shall. He needs to be NOWHERE NEAR a Daredevil comic. Why? Because fuck Gambit. That's why.

Like I said, I dunno what the deal is. I'll wait and see. I know what I HOPE won't happen. I just really hope that Marvel do not start messing with a title like Daredevil. It may not be the biggest seller, but it has a rabidly dedicated fanbase, sells well enough and has a consistently tight set of storylines. It is NOT a comic series that is in dire need of tinkering or tweaking. It's not broken, so please, don't try to fix it. Ok, Marvel? Greaaat.

The Rocket Raccoon & Groot mini-series sounds pretty funny, and the proposed Cosmic Avengers on-going seems to be all but officially confirmed now. In general, the panels I kept up with just raised more questions than they gave answers. Usually, I steer clear of Comic Con announcements for precisely this reason. I learned my lesson.

What announcements or revelations did you like, dislike, or find interesting for whatever reason?

Something that pleased a lot of people is the announcement and presentation of one small, but simultaneously major detail regarding the Thor movie. He will have a helmet!



They also had Loki's and Odin's, but you've seen those by now. Honestly, picturing Chris Hemsworth wearing that helmet as Thor is very, VERY exciting to me. Of course, what counts is how it all looks next May, the day we all go in to see the movie.

---

Well, that's about all I've got in me today.

Furthermore, do remember to check out Direct Edition on YouTube! Yours truly guests on the latest review episode, which is already up, and the news episode, which'll air on Monday!

Before I leave, I want to talk aloud for a second. To anyone who reads this, feel free to leave comments and opinions, constructively negative or positive. I've noticed that, for whatever reason, I am getting a bit more attention on here. I do not particularly care if you find my blog to be a total bore and my writing to be sleep-inducing. If you have any negative criticism that I can consider, maybe to make my posts and writing more enjoyable, PLEASE, feel free to send it my way!

If all you plan to do is yell abuse then I simply won't dignify your comment with publishing. Calling me a twat and such really isn't going to help anyone. If your problem is how I do things, be constructive and I might be able to take it into consideration. Who knows? Maybe I may end up altering things so you no longer hold your negative opinions. Rabbiting on about how stupid I am isn't helpful to anyone, and it's a waste of energy. Your comment won't get published and it'll be deleted almost as soon as I see it.

I just wanted to address that once and once only. No longer will I dignify such idiocy with a response.

Until next time, peace.

-The Mast