March 2013

A+X #6

A+X #6Poker is the name of the game in this latest issue of A+X. We’re given two stories, each involving an Avenger and X-Man sitting down for a friendly game of cards.

The first story features Wolverine and Captain Marvel and is primarily of interest for the side conversation (inspired by Joss Whedon‘s Angel TV-series) concerning who would win in a fight between astronauts and cavemen. The fight, intermixed with other topics between the two, goes on through the entire story and doesn’t even stop when a super-villain bursts through the wall looking for a fight. My only real complaint with this first story is the art from Italian artists Giuseppe Camuncoli and Michele Benevento which is passable, but not great.

The second story, although not nearly as entertaining, also features two heroes winding up at a poker game as the Yancy Street friends of Ben Grimm invite Gambit, over for the weekly poker game. There’s some okay back-and-forth between the characters and late twist, but it’s the less interesting of the two stories. Worth a look.

[Marvel, $3.99]

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Fables #127

Fables #127With Bigby and Stinky still off on their dimensional road trip, Fables #127 continues the bizarre situation involving Prince Brandish‘s return and his kidnapping and sequestering of Snow White who, under Fable law, is his wife. As Snow’s friends are kept at bay by the intricate magical protections which transfer any harm done to him to his wife, Snow tries futilely to escape.

Although Snow White’s predicament isn’t really humorous, the sheer nature of it allows for some offbeat jokes (including Snow White doing potty humor?). By the issue’s end Bigby, being finally made aware of what has been transpiring in his absence, returns home to save Snow White and put things right.

Sadly, once again Snow White is cast as the victim of the piece at the complete mercy of the man who wishes to bend her to his will. Not only does the spell cause Snow to give herself a nasty gash on her cheek, but Brandish goes so far as to break his wife’s arm to teach the woman her place. Yeesh.

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G.I. JOE: Special Missions #1

G.I. JOE: Special Missions #1With G.I. JOE going public in IDW’s recent relaunch of the main title, there’s still plenty of quieter jobs for a covert force to do around the globe. Written by Chuck Dixon, G.I. JOE: Special Missions focuses on Scarlett and her team dropped into the middle of the action in southern Libya while around the globe an old enemy is making plans of her own.

Discovering the location of Cobra’s sunken $40 billion treasure (the one Snake Eyes scuttled while working with the Arashikage) Cobra’s former lieutenant has gone into the salvage business. To retrieve the gold she’ll need the help of some capable sailors (the ones she doesn’t cripple in a bar fight), and to stay one step ahead of Serpentor‘s Coil soldiers (who have been dispatched to kill the traitor) as well as Scarlett’s team who heads after the treasure as well after an unorthodox extraction by Wild Bill.

I’m glad to see Dixon getting another G.I. JOE title, although the covert team is sorely missing the most covert JOE of all – Snake Eyes. We’ll have to wait and see if the still presumed dead JOE turns up or if Dixon has any plans for the masked man’s protege Helix in the coming months. Worth a look.

[IDW, $3.99]

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Psych – 100 Clues

  • Title: Psych – Psych – 100 Clues
  • tv.com: link

Psych - 100 Clues

For the show’s 100th episode, Psych reunites several members of the cast of Clue in a whodunit that goes back to Shawn (James Roday) and Gus’ (Dulé Hill) third case with the Santa Barbara Police involving aging rock star Billy Lips (Steve Valentine) convicted of manslaughter. A little more than five years later, Shawn is invited to a super-secret party at a Santa Barbara mansion originally owned by a famous chocolatier. With Juliet (Maggie Lawson) unable to attend, Shawn and Gus are greeted by the mysterious benefactor’s butler (Garrett Morris) who offers no clues at his employer’s identity.

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On the Road

  • Title: On the Road
  • IMDB: link

On the RoadAdapted from Jack Kerouac‘s semi-autobiographical novel of the same name, On the Road follows the misadventures of young writer Sal Paradise (Sam Riley) who takes up with the charismatic Dean Moriarty (Garrett Hedlund) for a hedonistic journey across the country that involves sex, drugs, the defining music and philosophy of the Beat Generation, and both Dean’s girlfriend Marylou (Kristen Stewart) and wife Camille (Kirsten Dunst).

Francis Ford Coppola purchased the movie rights in 1979, but spent decades unable to get the meandering period piece centered around a group of self-important characters off the ground. In late 2010 his patience was rewarded by director Walter Salles and screenwriter Jose Rivera who were finally able to bring the project to fruition.

On the Road is, at best, a mixed success. The relationship between Riley and Hedlund succeeds while Salles sprinkles in solid small supporting performances from recognizable actors such as Viggo MortensenAmy Adams, and Alice Braga.

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