Alan Rapp

Star Wars: Jedi – The Dark Side #1

/ / Comics

star-wars-jedi-dark-side-1-coverFifty-three years before the Battle of Yavin, and twenty-one years before the events of Episode I: The Phantom Menace, the Jedi Council uncovers dark rumblings in the Outer Rim Territories.

Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn and his padawan Xantos (a noble of Telos IV) will be sent, along with Jedi Master Tahl and her padawan Orykan, to Xantos’ home planet to stop a political assassination and a conspiracy which threatens the lives of everyone on the planet.

This new series from writer Scott Allie and artist Mahmud Asrar will focus on Qui-Gon Jinn’s years working on the Outer Rim long before he would take on a padawan named Obi-Wan Kenobi. The first issue sets up the characters and situations which will play an integral part in the first five-issue story arc, but it doesn’t do much more than that. I also found Asrar’s art a bit sloppy in places. The close-ups of each character are very detailed and you can tell why he was chosen for the project, but the larger shots seem rushed and a little blurry. Hit-and-Miss.

[Dark Horse, $2.99]

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Covert Affairs – The Complete First Season

/ / Home Video
  • Title: Covert Affairs The Complete First Season
  • tv.com: link

Most people remember Piper Perabo for her starring role in 2000’s Coyote Ugly, but my crush on her started with the first movie I saw her in where she played newbie FBI Agent Karen Sympathy. Covert Affairs is a return to form (of sorts) as Perabo stars as a young woman in her first days as an agent for the CIA.

The First Season follows Annie Walker (Perabo) going to work for the Domestic Protection Division of the CIA under the command of Joan Campbell (Kari Matchett), the wife of the Director of the National Clandestine Service (Peter Gallagher). Throughout the first season Annie will learn much about trust, spycraft, and the new shade of gray her life has become as she lies to her sister (Anne Dudek) about what her new job entails. She will also begin to unravel the mystery of a short-term love affair (Eion Bailey) from her past which has much more to do with the CIA than she could have possibly imagined.

…

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“Green with Envy” Muppet trailer

/ / Film News & Trailers
  • Title: The Muppets
  • IMDB: link

The first trailer for The Muppets is finally out. Yeah, it’s a little cheesy trying to disguise it as a romantic comedy, but it’s the Muppets so I’m willing to forgive quite a bit. Aside from the wacky regulars (Kermit, Piggy, et al.) the film also stars Jason Segel, Amy Adams, Zach Galifianakis, Emily Blunt, Neil Patrick Harris, Jack Black, Rashida Jones, Ricky Gervais, and Selena Gomez. The craziness begins in theaters everywhere on Thanksgiving.

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Power Girl #24

/ / Comics

power-girl-24-coverAfter two months of Power Girl fighting rampaging magical dinosaurs with Superman writer Judd Winick give us a much more personal story this time around. What would it be like if you had powers, but because of your ethnicity were afraid to use them? In a crisis, with no other choice you saved a plane full of people, only to be held responsible for the accident instead of being seen as a hero.

That’s the crux of this issue’s tale as an Arab-American is held for months without bail, trial, the right to an attorney, or any contact with the outside world. We’re given the tale from Rayhan’s point of view and watch as his patience and attempts to follow the rules only allow him to be painted the villain and given no real chance to prove his innocence.

The B-story of the issue deals with Power Girl ranting to Batman about the troubles with her new public identity of Karen Starr. Although not nearly as engaging, these scenes help lighten the mood a bit and continue to move that storyline forward. Must-read.

[DC, $2.99]

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Coming Soon

/ / Film News & Trailers
  • Real Steel
  • IMDB: link

What happens when you mix Hugh Jackman, boxing, a father/son tale, and Rock ”Em Sock ‘Em Robots? You get something that looks a little like the trailer for Real Steel. Jackman stars as a title contender who loses his shot when robots replace humans in the ring. With the help of his son (Dakota Goyo) he gets a new shot by building his own fighting robot. The film is based on a short story by Richard Matheson and also stars Kevin Durand, Anthony Mackie, Phil LaMarr, Hope Davis and Evangeline Lilly. The opening bell will ring when it hits theaters everywhere this October.

Coming Soon Read More »