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?

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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

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.

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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

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.

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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

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.

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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

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.

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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

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.

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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

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!

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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