Justice League #15

/ / Comics

justice-league-new-52-15-coverBecause no one, anywhere, was demanding it, DC begins its Aquaman-centric crossover “Thrones of Atlantis” beginning here with the accidental attack on Atlantis by a U.S. air craft carrier (don’t you hate it when that happens?).

On other fronts, Superman and Wonder Woman are still dating and the Man of Steel takes the opportunity to explain his ingenious disguise as Clark Kent, Hal Jordan is still missing (and it seems no one is looking for him anymore), and the back-up story of the New 52‘s douchebag version of Captain Marvel continues as Billy selfishly turns on Freddy Freeman and is confronted with Black Adam for the first time.

Unless you’re a huge Aquaman fan anxiously anticipating this new event (i.e. your name is Geoff Johns) there’s almost nothing here for you. No Flash. No Green Lantern. Batman saved by Aquaman. The art’s not bad, and we get a little more of Superman and Wonder Woman together on a date, but that’s about it. Pass.

[DC, $3.99]

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Super Dinosaur #16

/ / Comics

super-dinosaur-16-coverI have four words for you: Super Dinosaur in space! If that isn’t enough to pique your interest than I don’t know what else to say.

When trouble arises on the moon Derek Dynamo and Super Dinosaur are sent to the secret “Inner-Moon” colony of the Kalish who include two races, the Krill and the Sloon, whose differences have led to an all-out civil war inside the heart of the moon.

Finally getting the two sides to stop fighting, Derek uncovers the reason for the recent heating up of the long-dormant feud. The son and daughter of both leaders have vanished, secretly traveling to Earth, sparking the renewal of the hostilities. To keep the delicate temporary truce, Derek and SD will have to return to Earth and find the pair and bring them home.

Fun stuff. I especially like seeing Super Dinosaur in his own space suit. The comic seems to foreshadow a Romeo and Juliet tale between the offspring of the warring tribes, but we’ll have to wait until next month to see if that’s case. Worth a look.

[Image, $2.99]

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Doctor Zhivago

/ / Home Video
  • Title: Doctor Zhivago
  • IMDB: link

doctor-vhivago-dvdSet against the Russian Revolution of 1905 and the Second World War, this four-hour mini-series adaptation of the Nobel Prize winner Doctor Zhivago tells the tale of doctor and poet Yuri Zhivago (Hans Matheson) whose duty and honor keep him from the woman (Keira Knightley) he truly loves and engenders no love from the new Communist state.

A more faithful adaptation than David Lean’s 1965 film, this less grand version still has to make concessions to fit the near 600-page novel into its four-hour running-time. The result is very good version of the story strengthened by the performances of Knightley, Matheson, Sam Neill, and Alexandra Maria Lara.

Re-released yesterday on DVD, the two-disc set include information about author Boris Pasternak, a photo gallery, filmographies, and cast and crew interviews from Knightley, Matheson, Neill, Kris Marshall, director Giacomo Campiotti, writer Andrew Davies, and producers Anne Pivcevic and Andy Harries.

[Acorn Media, DVD $29.99]

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Amazing Spider-Man #700

/ / Comics

amazing-spider-man-700-coverI certainly can’t condone the actions (going as far as death threats), but after reading Amazing Spider-Man #700 I can see why writer Dan Slott is facing the wrath of Spider-Man fans everywhere. In this final issue Slott and Marvel Comics take a seismic shift in the Spider-Man mythos, something that even the Clone Saga never deemed do. Caution, true believers, spoilers ahead!

We begin with the fallout of Spider-Man’s recent battle with the Sinister Six in which Doctor Octopus has successfully swapped his mind with that of Spider-Man. For Doc Ock that means he’s now Spider-Man. For Peter Parker, however, that means he’s trapped in a dying body.

In the final issue of the series Slott allows Peter Parker to be beaten, and killed, by a super-villain who will go on to usurp his life. Slott doesn’t allow Doc Ock to get off completely as, before his death, Peter forces the new Spider-Man to experience all the memories of the old one, perhaps (slightly) changing his perspective on life.

…

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