October 2008

Pride and Glory

  • Title: Pride and Glory
  • IMDB: link

Over the top acting, typical story line and a complete lack of moral high ground makes Pride and Glory absolutely painful to watch. You don’t give a shit about any one single character, not a one; the most enduring character is a wife dying of cancer. That’s right, a dying wife and interesting enough women were only window dressing in Pride and Glory. Chics don’t carry guns, they are not in the force and they certainly don’t have a brain, just drones that are completely clueless to the peril and damage their husbands are pressing on the poor elements of society.  Pride and Glory is way too long and exaggerates every stereotype from unlawful cops to the criminal element, way too much in one film.  It’s certainly nothing we haven’t seen before, not a single original thought or character.

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The Amazing Stephen Colbert

  • Title: The Amazing Spider-Man #573
  • Comic Vine: link

“Hey, aren’t you TV’s Stephen Colbert?  You look more liberal in person.”

Marvel has screwed the pooch so utterly on Spidey’s continuity it’s hard for me to get a bearing in this issue.  The story begins with Spidey and Anti-Venom breaking into Norman Osborn‘s base to take down some baddies.

The story includes appearances by Norman Osborn as the Green Goblin, Harry Osborn, a Venom-ized Scorpion, Songbird, Radioactive Man, Aunt May, and Harry’s new squeeze Lily (who seems to have a thing for Peter – that should turn out well).

Let’s start with the fact that Norman, Harry, and, to a lesser extent May, all play important roles in this issue and all are supposed to be dead.  In the old Marvel Universe when someone died they stayed dead, now it’s filled with the resurrected.  There’s less walking dead in an Evil Dead flick!  What’s next, you gonna’ dig up Uncle Ben?

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Zorro #8

  • Title: Zorro #8
  • Comic Vine: link

“In time, even his enemies came to believe in the legend of El Zorro!”

In this eighth issue Matt Wagner wraps up his Zorro “Year One” storyline with the fox confronting Sgt. Gonzalez over his brutality and rescuing the imprisoned Padre Mendoza and other captives.

Unlike the previous issues here the story stays completely in the present without flashbacks to Diego’s childhood or apprenticeship overseas.  Instead we get a strong opening with Diego donning the Zorro costume and plenty of action, sword fights, and a big escape scene showcasing the stealth, brains, and skill of our hero.

With each issue we’ve seen more of Zorro on the page, and here the character dominates, beautifully rendered by Francesco Francavilla.  In terms of both story and style this series has done right to the name and legacy of Zorro.

Those who haven’t been keeping up with this series should peruse the back issues in your local comic shop, or look for the hardcover volume of these first eight issues which is scheduled to hit stores next month.  Zorro rides again, and you don’t want to miss the fun!

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Who Ya Gonna Call?

  • Title: Ghostbusters: The Other Side #1
  • Comic Vine: link

“We’re here to see a man about a ghost!”

The issue begins with the Ghostbusters breaking up a meeting by a gathering of gangsters, make that ghosts of gangsters.  The team goes straight into Ghosbustin’ mode, but is stymied when one of the ghosts takes possession of Peter Vinkman‘s body, forcing out his soul to the netherrealms of Purgatory.

The situation only gets worse as the possessed Vinkman lays a trap for his teammates which leads the Ghostbusters to their, gulp, deaths!

As an introductory issue the comic is nothing more than okay.  The art by Tom Nguyen is kinda iffy.  I’m not impressed with the renderings of the Ghostbusters themselves, but the look of the ghosts is passable.

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Guardians of the Galaxy #6

  • Title: Guardians of the Galazy #6
  • Comic Vine: link

“Drax has ideas of his own.  He reasons that as Skrulls return to their native form after death, the only sure way to dtect them is to kill them… and that means killing everyone aboard.”

We begin the issue with the deaths of all the Guardians of the Galaxy, but only for a few seconds.  In order to find the Skrull infiltrators Drax, never the smartest blade in the drawer, rendered everyone aboard the ship braindead for a few seconds, thus forcing the Skrulls to revert to their true forms.

Elsewhere on the ship however Cosmo has discovered a startling truth about Knowhere’s uninvited passengers, although they are Skrulls they aren’t looking for a fight.  This group is made of pacifists who are attempting to escape the Skrull “schemes of conquest.”

During the craziness, conflict, and aftermath, the truth about Star-Lord‘s forming of the team by using Manits to bend the wills of everyone just enough to join comes to light.  Let’s just say the news doesn’t sit too well with the team who voice their displeasure before exiting stage left.

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