The Wallflowers (Live on Letterman)
- Artist: The Wallflowers
Here is the complete performance of The Wallflowers from the band’s recent appearance on the Live on Letterman concert series.
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Red Hood and the Outlaws #14
- Title: Red Hood and the Outlaws #14
- Comic Vine: link
- Writer: Scott Lobdell
- Artist: Timothy Green II
The Red Hood, Arsenal, and Starfire return from their outer space adventure only to have another alien hunt them down – Superman. Despite knowing they can’t win the battle the Outlaws take on the Man of Steel until eventually exhausting themselves and hearing what Superman wants.
I’m glad to see the group back on Earth, and the appearance of Superman (and their reaction to him) works well-enough. However, the comic gets into deep trouble with Superman’s weak explanation for showing up and the comic’s 180-degree shift to move the story into a Death of the Family crossover.
Given Jason Todd’s personal experience with the Joker it should have been the easiest thing in the world to tie the comic to the ongoing Bat-title crossover. However, what we are given here is awkward beyond belief reinforcing the idea that the Joker is responsible for Todd being chosen as Robin in moves that make the impossibly complicated plans of Heath Ledger’s Joker look amateurish by comparison. Hit-and-Miss.
[DC, $2.99]
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Coming Soon
- Title: Zero Dark Thirty
- IMDB: link
Check out the latest trailer for Zero Dark Thirty, a dramatization of the decade-long hunt for al-Qaeda terrorist leader Osama bin Laden from director Kathryn Bigelow (The Hurt Locker). Jessica Chastain, Taylor Kinney, Scott Adkins, Joel Edgerton, Mark Strong, Mark Duplass, Kyle Chandler, and James Gandolfini star. The film opens in limited release in select cities on December 19th.
Captain America #1
- Title: Captain America #1
- Comic Vine: link
- Writer: Rick Remender
- Artist: John Romita Jr.
After growing disinterested in the end of Ed Brubaker‘s run on the character I was ready for a new writer to breathe life into Captain America. The first issue of the new series written by Rick Remender is a bit of a mixed blessing as Cap contemplates marriage to Sharon Carter and take on an old enemy in Armin Zola.
Yes, Remender takes the character in a new direction, but he also gives us a questionable introduction of Steve Rogers abusive father and a message (hamfistedly delivered at least three times over the course of the issue) that has been Cap’s guiding philosophy since childhood. I understand what Remender’s going for, but to start out a new series with a gross oversimplification of a character’s origins isn’t the best way to begin.
Although I don’t hate the art, I’m not sure John Romita Jr. is the right choice for the comic if, as Remender states in the afterward, the point is to take the series into the weird sci-fi stories the character enjoyed under Jack Kirby‘s run in the 1970’s. Hit-and-Miss.
[Marvel, $3.99]
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Young Justice #22
- Title: Young Justice #22
- Comic Vine: link
- Writer: Greg Weisman
- Artist: Christopher Jones
With Superman, Superboy, Captain Atom, Captain Marvel, and Wonder Woman all trapped on the moon and several other members of both Young Justice and the Justice League trapped inside an impenetrable sphere surrounding Metropolis the remaining members of the team work together with the Atom, the Flash, and the Martian Manhunter to figure out just what the hell is going on as Miss Martian and Lagoon Boy head to the moon on a rescue mission.
The story is a little more focused this time around, but we still get more more five-year flashbacks involving Dick Grayson‘s relationships with the ladies of the team. As good as these are by themselves, these flashbacks continue to be somewhat disorienting, especially as they have yet to be tied directly to the current situation our heroes find themselves in.
The issue is certainly packed with characters including several of the newer members of the Young Justice team including Batgirl, Wonder Girl, Zatanna and Blue Beetle, and even a surprise cameo by Plastic Man. Worth a look.
[DC, $2.99]