December 2007

This Week in Foreign Film

TV writer/director Andrew Piddington brings to life a dramatization of the death of John Lennon through the eyes of his killer Mark David Chapman (Jonas Bell).  Sofia Dubrawsky, Krisha Fairchild, Robert C. Kirk, and Thomas A. McMahon also star.  Check out the official site.  The film opens exclusively in New York and Los Angeles on Friday.  Larger trailer available in the Full Diagnosis.

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This Week in Independent Film

Frank Langella stars as a reclusive writer who is convinced by a young graduate student (Lauren Ambrose) to end his seclusion and resurrect his career.  Karl Bury, Anitha Gandhi, Jessica Hecht, Adrian Lester, and Lili Taylor also star.  Check out the official site.  The film opens wide on Friday.  Larger trailer available in the Full Diagnosis.

Starting Out in the Evening
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This Week – Year in Review

2007, the year that was.  As we bring you more of the features and reviews you’ve come to crave from you RazorFine pals, this week we’ll also take a gander back at the year which was 2007.  Tomorrow you’ll get your regular dose of DVD news and notes.  Once again comics, thanks to the holiday shipping schedule, are pushed back (come back on Thursday for our comic and anime madness!), but don’t worry becuase on Wednesday we’ll be bringing you our lists of the worst films from 2007!  And on Friday we’ll give you our lists for our favorite films of 2007!  Thanks for ending the year, and beginning the new one, with us!  Check inside the Full Diagnois for end of the year links.

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Alan’s Top 25 Films of 2007

Ian’s Top 10 Films of 2007

December’s Top 5 Films of 2007

Alan Bashes the Worst Films of 2007

Ian Bemoans the Worst Films of 2007

December Belittles the Worst Films of the 2007

In Memoriam

3rd Annual Razorblade Awards

Fresh Ink – Best Graphic Novels of 2007

Marvel Comics Top Heroes and Villains of 2007

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Behold the Devil

Whether you’ve never picked up a Grendel comic, or you’ve stashed away countless issues of Matt Wagner’s creation, this series is for you.  Wagner returns to his creation for the first time in ten years to give us a never-told tale of the first Grendel, Hunter Rose.  Take a peek inside the Full Diagnosis as we review the first two issues of the eight-issue mini-series Grendel: Behold the Devil.

Grendel: Behold the Devil #1 & 2
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What’s interesting about this first issue, aside from the fact it’s the first Grendel issue Matt Wagner has penned himself in a decade, are the alternative perspectives and looks back mixed in with the linear never-before-told tale of Hunter Rose.

We begin with an excerpt from “Devil by the Deed” which in one page introduces both the character of Hunter Rose, the accomplished novelist, and his alter-ego Grendel, a costumed assassin and crime boss.  These carefully chosen words contrast sharply with the next six bloody pages which follow showing us the outcome of Grendel’s latest killing spree.  From here we move through the perspectives of Grendel/Hunter Rose, Detective Lucas Ottoman and Detective Elizabeth Sparks as the story continues on many separate points.

This first issue easily sets up the world and is a good primer for those unfamiliar with the characters.  And although filled with blood there’s no killing here, as the reader arrives seconds too late and is only allowed to glimpse the aftermath of Hunter Rose’s work.

By the end of the issue we also see Rose’s growing paranoia and learn that something yet unseen is waiting for Grendel in the shadows, and is hunting the hunter.

 

 

The second issue gives us more blood, more sex, and, in the issue’s final frame, the first shot of who is hunting Hunter Rose, the creature who is destined to end Grendel’s life – Argent the Wolf.

Wagner’s b&w art (with splashes of red) is classic and brilliant.  There’s a grace to the character that Wagner brings to the surface (and seriously, how totally freakin’ awesome is it to see a comic character that doesn’t look his steroid enlarged pecks are about to burst through his spandex top?).  It’s great to see him writing and drawing this character again.

Once again the story includes perspectives and insights from other sources including interviews, excerpts from “Devil by the Deed” and more.  We also see the effect of the uneasiness and feeling of being watched slowly begin to crack the emotionless exterior of Grendel.  And by the time Argent shows up we’re more than ready to plunk down another $3.50 for the next issue.

After two issues I’m hooked.  New and old fans of Grendel should pick up this series and enjoy a great storyteller slowly unfold a new exciting tale featuring his prized creation.

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Comic Rack

Hmm, we’re about to talk about comics so it must be Wednesday Friday?  (Hey, blame Santa not me!!)  Welcome to the RazorFine Comic Rack boys and girls.  Pull up a bean bag and take a seat at feet of the master as we look at the new comics set to hit comic shops and bookstores today from DC, Marvel, Dark Horse, WildStorm, Vertigo, Dynamite Entertainment, IDW Publishing, and Image Comics.

This week includes Amazing Spider-Man, The Authority: Prime, Batman, Green Lantern, Invincible Presents: Atom Eve, Jack of Fables, Sorrow, Thor, Usagi Yojimbo, and the first issue of Pax Romana.  Also don’t forget the truckload of new graphic novels including Daredevil: Battlin’ Jack Murdock, Fantastic Five: The Final Doom, The Flash: The Fastest Man Alive – Full Throttle, Superman: Kryptonite, Uncanny X-Men: Extremists, Will Eisner’s The Spirit Archives Vol. 23,, and much, much more.

Enjoy issue #53

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