April 2011

Super Dinosaur #1

super-dinosaur-1-coverOkay, it’s a comic book entitled Super Dinosaur about a super-smart kid and his best pal who just so happens to be a smallish nine-foot tall Tyrannosaurus Rex in robot armor who helps save the world. What’s not to like?

The comic centers around Derek Dynamo, the son of struggling uber inventor and discoverer of “Inner Earth’ (a hidden world in the center of the Earth where dinosaurs still exist) – Doctor Dynamo. Making modifications to his father’s work Derek and Super Dinosaur work together to to the legion of dinosaurs under the control of evil scientist Max Maximus from grabbing control of the powerful, and dangerous, DynOre.

Okay, so it’s not Shakespeare. What it is, however, is fun! This series regathers the team of writer Robert Kirkman and artist Jason Howard who gave us The Astounding Wolf-Man. This comic has much the same feel (including the possibility of the fun being weighed down at times by somewhat shaky storylines). If you liked Astounding Wolf-Man, which I did, then this one should be right up your alley.

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The Spirit #13

the-spirit-13-coverThe three-part storyline featuring “The Professor” (a villain who uses toys, robots, and automotons to kill – think the Toyman only creepier) concludes. Once again it’s Ellen Dolan who steps up to save the The Spirit by destroying a robot created in her likeness.

This issue has all kinds of creepy sexual undertones (as to how the Professor planned to use this copy of Ellen Dolan), but it’s also balanced with tension, mystery, and fun which makes sure it never becomes too unseemly.

Although the epilogue makes sure we’ll never see the character of the Professor again, which I’m a little sad about, it’s the right choice. Writer David Hine foreshadowed the tragic end of the character over the course of the last couple of issues and presents us with a moral to the story: Never scorn a woman, even a robotic one.

The Professor may have been defeated, but the man who hired him, New York gang boss Shonder Zeev, is still out there. We’ll have to see how this larger storyline plays out over the next few issues. Worth a look.

[DC, $2.99]

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Coming Soon

  • Title: Another Earth
  • IMDB: link

Written and directed by Mike Cahill, Another Earth earned a standing ovation at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. In the film, the discovery of an alternate planet Earth will effect the lives of a young astrophysics student (Brit Marling) and a composer (William Mapother) who are linked by one tragic night. Jordan BakerFlint Beverage, and Robin Taylor also star. Start looking for this one when it hits theaters on July 20th.

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Avengers #12

avengers-12-coverThe final issue of the Infinity Gauntlet story arc begins and ends with a little slight of hand. Personally, I would have liked the Thanos storyline to play out in a different way, but what we get here certainly works (even if it is slightly disappointing).

We also get all the Infinity Gems joined together for the first time in years and under the control of a single master – Iron Man. Once all the gems are assembled together Stark faces the same dilemma of everyone who has worn the gauntlet – do I use this power to fix the world? Although not that surprising, his conclusion is dramatically well told and does line up with Stark’s personality. There’s no question, this is the choice he would make.

In the end the Hood goes back to jail, the Red Hulk becomes a permanent member of the Avengers, and we see Steve Rogers making a compromise he wouldn’t have made three or four years ago. It may not be as good as the last issue, but it’s still worth a look.

[Marvel, $3.99]

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Coming Soon

  • Title: 30 Minutes or Less
  • IMDB: link

Jesse Eisenberg reteams with Zombieland director Ruben Fleischer in this dark comedy about a pizza boy (Eisenberg) and his best friend (Aziz Ansari)  who are forced to rob a bank by a pair of criminals (Danny McBrideNick Swardson) who strap a bomb to the pizza boy’s chest. Bianca KajlichMichael PeñaFred Ward, and Dilshad Vadsaria also star.  The insanity begins on August 12th in theaters everywhere. NOTE: This is the red band trailer, so be warned it is NSFW.

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