Alan Rapp

Rocket Raccoon #5

/ / Comics

Rocket Raccoon #5Set around a campfire where Rocket Raccoon has been telling young children tales of his exploits, Rocket Raccoon #5 showcases Groot telling a story Rocket doesn’t want to share. Although limited in his exposition, we witness the events unfold through a series of panels which inform us of why Groot thinks so highly of the adventure but also why Rocket would rather forget the entire disappointing enterprise.

With every piece of dialogue, signage, and narration all being the same three words writer/artist Skootie Young delivers an unexpected adveture involving a treasure map, robot army, space adventure, high-stakes gambling, the retrieval of a mystical sword, a floating castle, mermaids, giant monsters, and a prize which is far from what Rocket expected. Simply put, it’s amazing.

Forced into telling a story nearly all through its art, Young delivers a campfire story that may bewilder (most) of the young campers but turns out to be the series’ best issue so far. Must-read.

[Marvel, $3.99]

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How to Train Your Dragon 2

/ / Home Video
  • Title: How to Train Your Dragon 2
  • IMDb: link

How to Train Your Dragon 2Set a few years after the events of the first film, How to Train Your Dragon 2 continues the hero’s journey of Hiccup (Jay Baruchel) and Toothless and the rest of the dragon riders of Birk as Hiccup finds his long-lost mother Valka (Cate Blanchett) and squares off against a dragon army led by the villainous Drago Bludvist (Djimon Hounsou).

How to Train Your Dragon 2 works as well for me on Blu-ray as it did in theaters (and some of the emotional beats even work better a second time). Given the quality of the first two films, I hope we see this series continue for a long time. For more on the movie, check out my original review.

The Blu-ray includes DVD and UV digital copies of the film along with a half-hour short explaining the creation of Birk’s dragon races, deleted scenes, trailers, and short featurettes on Hiccup’s inventions, Drago’s weapons, the various dragons in the film, and Birk.

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Stalker – Fanatic

/ / Television Reviews
  • Title: Stalker – Fanatic
  • wiki: link

Stalker - Fanatic

While Perry (Erik Stocklin) continues playing games by using his relationship with Tracy (Tara Summers) to begin attacking Beth (Maggie Q) through her past, and even invading her home, only to watch the results with glee, the Threat Assessment Unit is called in to protect actress Nina Preston (AnnaLynne McCord) whose latest stalker seems fixated on both her character and the violent scenes of her TV-show which he begins recreating in her honor.

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Scooby-Doo! Team-Up #7

/ / Comics

Scooby-Doo! Team-Up #7Moving away from the super-hero team-ups (which I’ve very much enjoyed), the latest issue of Scooby-Doo! Team-Up sends the Mystery, Inc. gang back in time to Bedrock where they meet Fred Flinstone and his family.

Even for a Scooby-Doo comic this one’s a bit goofy, especially when the team jumps into action to solve the mystery of the Phantom of the Operrock who ruins a night out for Fred, Wilma, Barney, and Betty. It’s hard not to see the latest issue as a slight disappointment given how terrific it has been up until this point. Thankfully it’s still entertaining and does upon up new avenues for some very unexpected team-ups in the future.

Although not as strong as the rest of the series, Scooby-Doo! Team-Up #7 does have fun with having the Scooby Gang comment on the ridiculousness of caveman advancements. Other than a single scene not much is done with Dino meaning Scooby is left out of getting his own prehistoric pal. For fans.

[DC, $2.99]

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