Alan Rapp

Spider-Gwen: Ghost-Spider #1

/ / Comics

Spider-Gwen: Ghost-Spider #1 comic reviewAlthough exists as a tie-in to Marvel’s new Spidey event Spider-Geddon, Spider-Gwen: Ghost-Spider #1 is largely disconnected from its events (other than an appearance by Spider-Ham, which I’m always on-board with). Instead, the comic centers around the recently paroled Gwen Stacy who is just starting to get back into the swing of things before taking a large detour through Spider-Geddon (summed up on a single page) before being dropped back onto a different Earth.

The writing from Seanan McGuire, especially Gwen’s internal monologue, is fun and breezy and reminds me of old school Spider-Man. Rosi Kämpe’s art matches the writing and the spirit of the character. Although it starts out by acknowledging recent events and troubles for Gwen, dropping her off on a new Earth gives the comic (and character) a fresh start here that should work well for new readers not interesting in diving in too deep to her backstory.

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Legends of Tomorrow – The Virgin Gary

/ / Television Reviews
  • Title: Legends of Tomorrow – The Virgin Gary
  • wiki: link

Legends of Tomorrow - The Virgin Gary television review

Despite Constantine‘s (Matt Ryan) warning at the end of last season, the Legends successfully complete their task of fixing the last of the anachronisms, earning the appreciation of the Time Bureau, and some time off for the team. While this means a trip home for Nate (Nick Zano) and some short-lived domestic bliss for Sara (Caity Lotz), new trouble in the timeline sends the team back to Woodstock where an unicorn is goring its way through hippies at an alarming rate turning the celebration of peace into a historical tragedy. Oh, and it ejaculates hallucinogenic sparks from its horn, making its victims more controllable. Its good to have the time traveling screw-ups back.

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Bohemian Rhapsody

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: Bohemian Rhapsody
  • IMDb: link

Bohemian Rhapsody movie reviewWhile Bohemian Rhapsody had a troubled road to make its way to the big screen (including firing director Bryan Singer halfway through production), the biopic centered around the lead singer of British rock band Queen satisfies largely due to a terrific lead performance from Rami Malek as Freddie Mercury and the band’s extensive discography that fills the film with music without needing to repeat itself.

One of the most interesting choices of the film is using the music of Queen not just to underline specific events and themes but foreshadow, and even explore, them. Staying true to the biopic formula, Singer and his cast deliver a film that builds slowly, focused primarily on Mercury (to the detriment of the other band members) and climaxes in Queen’s performance at Live Aid which provides true movie magic.

While not as inventive as the Queen themselves, the film is a fitting tribute to the band’s legacy, a humorous response to those who wrote the band off early on, and a nod to the band working to include the audience in their music, particularly the live performance. It also proves to be an intriguing character study of Mercury himself.

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Arrow – Longbow Hunters

/ / Television Reviews
  • Title: Arrow – Longbow Hunters
  • wiki: link

Arrow - Longbow Hunters television review

While Diaz (Kirk Acevedo) has gone back to ground, his minions (assassins known as the Longbow Hunters armed with high-tech weapons) rob an A.R.G.U.S. facility of a super-battery. Not willing to leave it to A.R.G.U.S. to find Diaz, Felicity (Emily Bett Rickards) enlists the help of Curtis (Echo Kellum) and Rene (Rick Gonzalez) to track the missing tech. Diggle (David Ramsey) will get a closer look at Kodiak (Michael Jonsson) and Red Dart (Holly Elissa) when the assassins attack a train in search of a WMD which the battery can power. While protecting the train, Diggle will also get his shot at Diaz, although his choices only further strain a friendship. If Felicity wants helping hunting Diaz, she needs to look in a different direction.

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