August 2011

Daredevil #2

/ / Comics

daredevil-2-coverIssue #2 of the latest relaunch of Daredevil certainly has its moments, most notably the fight between Captain America and Daredevil which kicks off the issue. While the fight itself, involving the pair switching weapons, is actually pretty cool, I’m with Daredevil in my confusion of how quickly the battle starts and ends. Some may say Cap is simply taking his grief over Bucky on Daredevil, but that doesn’t sound too much like Captain America (who, as America’s top cop, would by now have access to all of the Shadowland data proving Murdock wasn’t in control of his actions) to me.

The issue also includes a fun conversation between Foggy Nelson and Kirsten McDuffie and Daredevil trying to hunt down who is behind the railroading of Ahmed Jobrani. Sadly, I’m less impressed with the issue’s reveal of the first big bad of the series. I’ve never been a fan of Klaw. Sure, a “master of sound” makes for an intriguing villain for Daredevil, but I’ve always found him fairly ridiculous. The second issue isn’t without a misstep or two, but it does have its moments. Worth a look.

[Marvel, $3.99]

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Batman #713

/ / Comics

batman-713-coverAfter more than 70 years and 700 issues another one of DC Comics longest running monthly titles comes to an end. This final issue of Batman gives us a look back at Batman’s history through the narration of his adventures to a young audience. I won’t spoil who the narrator is, but there are plenty of clues if you watch for them.

Rather than a solo adventure, of some kind of final tip of the hat to Dick and Damian adventure as the Batman and Robin this issue focuses on putting the entire history of Batman to rest with an underlying story that actually plays out over the course of Batman’s history.

Some might find it a little schmaltzy, but I thought this story worked well as a Coda for the series and a nice send off for this version of Batman and Robin. I also enjoyed art recreating the various looks of Batman over the years and the outline of the big moments in Batman’s history. There’s also a nice splash page of the Bat-Family. It may not have been my first choice for the Caped Crusader’s final issue, but it’s a solid one. Worth a look.

[DC, $2.99]

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Darkwing Duck #15

/ / Comics

darkwing-duck-15-coverWhat can I say? Darkwing Duck can even make politics fun! The battle for Mayor of St. Canard heats up as both Darkwing Duck and Launchpad McQuack stave off negative campaigning (who they blame each other for, although neither is responsible). As the comic nears its final issue this one is jampacked with cameos including Launchpad’s new campaign manager, Spike, and Darkwing and Launchpad putting aside their issues to battle The League of Barely Remembered Supervillains!

The League is made up entirely of lesser known criminals from the Darkwing Duck cartoon including Lilliput, Professor Moliarty, the Bugmaster, Jambalaya Jake (and his pet gator Gumbo), and Tuskernini. Victory of the also-rans is shortlived as Suff-Rage pulls out all the stops by mysmerizing the audience to attack all three candidates.

Once again writer Ian Brill and artist James Silvani outdo themselves in creating an insanely fun read (with extra insanity). If you aren’t reading Darkwing Duck you’re missing out. Worth a look.

[Boom, $3.99]

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Priest

/ / Home Video
  • Title: Priest
  • IMDB: link

priest-blurayIn the dystopian future ruled by the Church most of the world is a wasteland after centuries of battle between humans and vampires. The film opens with the last of these battles as the Church’s best warriors, known simply as Priests, set out to destroy the last hive of vampires. They are victorious, but only at the cost of losing one of their own (Karl Urban).

The film skips an undetermined amount of time into the future when the Priests have been disbanded and all vampires are believed dead. An attack on his brother’s home on the edge of the wasteland sends one Priest (Paul Bettany), against the Church’s orders on a hunt to rescue his niece (Lily Collins).

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Coming Soon

/ / Film News & Trailers
  • Title: Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance
  • IMDB: link

Next February returns Nicolas Cage as Johnny Blaze in the sequel to 2007’s Ghost Rider. Gone are Eva Mendes, Wes Bentley, Peter Fonda, and writer/director Mark Steven Johnson. The sequel is helmed by the the men behind Crank 2: High Voltage and stars Idris Elba, Ciarán Hinds, Violante Placido, and Christopher Lambert. I’m not sure about the change in the look of Ghost Rider (one of the few things that worked in the original), and it’s February release date isn’t a good sign either, but I have to admit the trailer’s final joke is funny.

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