Alan Rapp

The Sword

/ / Comics

At more than 600 pages, and weighing-in over seven pounds, the Complete Deluxe Hardcover (complete a slipcase cover and all 24 issues and covers from the series) isn’t for the casual fan. But that doesn’t mean it’s not a must-read.

The Luna Brother’s tale of Dara Brighton and her quest for vengeance against the immortal beings who murdered her family over a mystical sword is a great read. This hardcover oversized edition captures all the gore, pain, and triumph of the series in the way only these oversized editions (similar to DC’s Absolute Editions) can.

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True Grit (2010)

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: True Grit
  • IMDB: link

More than four decades ago John Wayne won an Academy Award for his performance in True Grit as the drunken U.S. Marshall hired by a young woman to track down the man responsible for killing her father. It would be the first, and only, time the actor would take home an Oscar.

Deciding to remake the film, the Coen brothers went back to the original novel by Charles Portis to give us their reinterpretation of the story. The result is the brothers most mainstream film to date: a traditional western filled with strong performances and splashes of the filmmakers’ trademark wit.

The film begins and ends with the narration (provided by Elizabeth Marvel, who plays the character in later scenes) of Mattie Ross (Hailee Steinfeld), who at the age of 14 travels to collect the body of her recently deceased father and hire a bounty hunter to track down his murderer (Josh Brolin).

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Supergirl #59

/ / Comics

I’ve found I usually prefer the character of Supergirl outside of her own comic as a guest-star in something like Batgirl, or part of a the Justice League of America. Most of this issue reinforces that opinion, but there are strides to making the character more accessible in her own title.

Part Two of the Dollmaker storyline is largely forgettable as our heroine rescues Cat Grant from a bad Toyman wannabe. Kara’s inner monologue is pretty good. It may not be as good as that of Stephanie Brown, but it’s a start.

The issue also ends on a high note with the Kent family gathering together for the holidays and writer Sterling Gates giving Supergirl a much-needed moment of happiness.

Also included here is another appearance of Superwoman (hopefully the last we’ll see for a long time) and a humorous frame of Supergirl knocking out the inexplicable Composite Bat-Santa (which isn’t explained or referred to in the rest of the issue) as part of her nightly patrol. Hit-and-Miss.

[DC $2.99]

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Green Lantern #60

/ / Comics

You’d think a comic showcasing two of my favorite DC heroes would be the kind of thing I’d enjoy. You’d be wrong.

Writer Geoff Johns continues the Brightest Day story arc by having Parallax find a new host in Barry Allen. What follows is a rather boring battle between the Flash and Green Lantern as he tries to convince Parallax to leave his best friend.

The only point of any interest here is the final reveal of the man tracking down the entities for his own ends, Krona – the Oan scientist responsible for the creation of the Multiverse and the Antimatter Universe.

I’m not sure whether anything can save the supremely disappointing Brightest Day, but the involvement of Krona is at least something new that I don’t hate about the the event. However, even Krona’s involement doesn’t make this badly thought-out issue any easier to swallow.

[DC $2.99]

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