February 2011

Supergirl #61

/ / Comics

supergirl-61-coverBetter watch out Damian, you wouldn’t want Red Robin to find out you got saved by Supergirl. Although I’m still on the fence with Bernard Chang’s art, I’m always glad to see a team-up with Supergirl and Robin. I can hardly wait until Batgirl gets brought in to this story arc and the fun can really begin.

After fighting off her own gang of super-villains, who appear and disappear without a trace, Kara travels to Gotham to save Robin from the same fate. And if that’s not enough for you there’s a touching (if slightly forced) moment between Lois Lane and Supergirl that goes further in validating Kara than any super-villain knockdown ever could.

There are a couple of nagging issues here (the most obvious being the continuity issue surrounding Blue Beetle‘s involvement in this story), but it is FUN and a far cry from the dreary story arcs the character was stuck in just a few months ago. Definitely worth a look.

[DC $2.99]

Supergirl #61 Read More »

Darkwing Duck #9

/ / Comics

After a brief meeting with an image consultant in an attempt to clean up his image after the army of Darkwings helped demolish large sections of St. Canard. Next up for our hero: an unlikely team-up with an agent of F.O.W.L.

Things must really be bleak if Steelbeak is willing to turn on his own criminal organization and befriend the duck who has thwarted his criminal enterprises for years. So what could be so awful, so unthinkable? F.O.W.L. has decided to use dark magic to bring forth… Duckthulhu!

Okay, I’ll grant you that this isn’t a great idea for a story, but I actually enjoyed Darkwing Duck and Steelbeak together on the same side, and the plot for this story arc (even if it makes me groan) does allow this to happen. It also gives us a chance for a harebrained scheme and the pair behind overwhelmed by an army of Eggmen.

Throw in the funny opening with the Duck Draper (which goes over as badly as you’d expect) as well as the reactions of both Gosalyn and Morgana Macawber to being taken for granted, and there’s more than enough here that’s worth a look.

[BOOM $3.99]

Darkwing Duck #9 Read More »

The Devaluation of a Hero

/ / Comics

The Silver Surfer is one of my favorite Marvel characters. Sometimes I lement that he goes long stretches without a monthly comic on his own, but then I take solace in the understanding that not everyone can write a good Silver Surfer story. And when the character is done poorly it’s excruciating to read. Take this comic as an example.

Writer Greg Pak’s “Devolution’ strips Marvel’s most noble hero of his adamantium skin and then shoots him several times in the chest. Honestly, I can’t imagine a worse Silver Surfer story, and I’ve read Ron Marz‘s take on the character. And we’ve got four more issues!

Pak’s writing comes off like someone who has read Silver Surfer stories in the past but didn’t understand them. In essence what he’s done here is given the Surfer the Michael Bay Transformers treatment. (And if you find a way to take that as a positive I hate you.)

…

The Devaluation of a HeroRead More »

The Devaluation of a Hero Read More »

Green Lantern #62

/ / Comics

green-lantern-62-coverI will be so glad when Brightest Day is over. Hal Jordan and the rainbow corps come face-to-face with Krona (and get their asses handed to them in short order). Krona escapes with the entities and Hal wakes up hours later back on th JLA Satelitte with a concussion and broken ribs just in time for a scolding from Batman.

Needing all the help he can get Hal immediately turns down Superman, Batman, and the Flash (who all agree to help), and promptly disappears with the rainbow corps back into space.

There’s so much wrong with this issue I don’t know where to begin. The story is just gawdaful. Hal’s refusal of help makes no sense for a guy who’s known to use whatever advantage and leverage he can get over the years. Nor does his protection of Atrocitus given his most recent murderous offenses on Earth. I’ve also got to complain about the inconsistency of Doug Mahnke’s artwork over the issue – he can’t even get Batman’s costume right (he puts Bruce into Dick Grayson‘s costume).

[$2.99]

Green Lantern #62 Read More »

Get Low

/ / Home Video
  • Title: Get Low
  • IMDB: link

get-low-dvdRobert Duvall stars as a grumpy old hermit nearing the end of a lonely life who decides to hire a local funeral director (Bill Murray) and his assistant (Lucas Black) to plan a living funeral – something never seen before in Tennessee during the 1930’s.

Duvall is given a meaty role, and Murray has some fun moments, but eventually the film simply runs out of gas. The hermit’s deep dark secret, once exposed, is… kind of lame, and far less interesting than I hoped. And the promise of others gathering at his funeral to tell tales of this mean old hermit’s violent outbursts (which have become legend in the small town) is never fulfilled, at least on-camera.

Get Low gives you exactly what you’d expect (complete with a big bright bow wrapped around the ending) and nothing more. It’s ike so many uninspired films that play it safe and don’t cash-in on the chances offered them.

…

Get LowRead More »

Get Low Read More »