2.5 Razors

DC Retroactive: Batman – The 70’s

/ / Comics

dc-retroactive-batman-70s-coverAs DC Comics looks forward to the future and it’s 52 issue reboot of the DC Universe it also takes a look back with a series of one-shots featuring writers and artists returning the characters and stories they told in the 1970’s, 1980’s, and 1990’s in an attempt to create new tales in the style of those eras.

The first of these Retoractive titles features Batman as Len Wein returns to the character. The story itself isn’t great. I wasn’t expecting a Joker story but I was hoping to get more than the Terrible Trio, but at least it gives me my favorite Batmobile and that old Batman title logo.

Tom Mandrake does a fair job in his artistic duties by given the issue the layout and feel of a 1970’s Batman title. As with all the Retroactive issues this one also includes a bonus issue from the same period (Batman #307). It’s overpriced and not nearly as good as I was hoping for (but still a damn shade better than pretty awful Flash Retroactive issue). Longtime fans of the character may want to pick this up, but others can give this one a pass (escpecially given the $5 price-tag). For Fans.

[DC, $4.99]

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Flashpoint #3 (of 5)

/ / Comics

Flashpoint 3The third issue of Flashpoint finally gives us Barry Allen as the Flash. It also gives us the Flashpoint version of Superman… which isn’t quite as impressive.

First off, I’m glad to see Barry back in costume and I like the subtle difference in the relationship between the Flash and Batman once the speedster has his powers back.

Although this issues sees the beginnings of the Justice League, and the face of the Resistance which includes Grifter (because, apparently Gen13 wasn’t available), the other big event is the appearance of Superman who it appears has been kept in captivity since birth, far away from the powerful rays of the Sun.

It’s not a bad third issue, but by the end of the #3 we should be more than halfway through Flashpoint and there seems like quite a bit yet to be decided. The appearance of Grifter also makes my original theory of Flashpoint being the catalyst the DC reboot (which Grifter and other WildStorm characters are to be a part of) look that much more likely. Hit-and-Miss.

[DC, $3.99]

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Horrible Bosses, average comedy

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: Horrible Bosses
  • IMDB: link

Horrible Bosses posterDon’t you wish you could kill your boss? Wouldn’t it be cool if you’re two best friends felt the same way and you all decided to go into it together? That’s the basic premise of Horrible Bosses, a foul-mouthed raunchy comedy that is neither as dark or as funny as it needs to be.

It isn’t that the movie is bad, I’ll admit to laughing at some of the ridiculous antics displayed on-screen. Not big laughs, but laughs none the less. The problem is it just isn’t that memorable.

One of the cardinal rules to screenwriting is to never mention or evoke memories of better movies, thereby reminding the audience of films they would rather be watching. A clever homage, maybe, but it can backfire at least as often as it succeeds. Namedropping movies the audience would rather be watching, yeah, that’s not such a great idea.

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Horrible Bosses, average comedy Read More »

Flashpoint: Green Arrow Industries

/ / Comics

flashpoint-green-arrow-industries-coverIn a world constantly at war this Oliver Queen finds a way to make a profit. Green Arrow Industries is set up to capture and weaponize super-villain technology on a massive scale. That’s good business for Oliver Queen, but not everybody is so happy with the status quo.

When Green Arrow Industries island facility is attacked by a terrorist Oliver Queen dons several of the confiscated super-villain weapons to hunt down the woman responsible. It turns out the daughter of Vixen has attacked the island only to bring attention to the evil Green Arrow Industries is causing all over the world that Queen has turned a blind eye to.

There’s quite a few problems with this issue including very inconsistent art (four different artists were used on various pages), Queen’s lack of prowess with a bow, and a level of preachiness that doesn’t come off well on the page. That said, here’s a Flashpoint character I’d like to see more of, so why is this title only a one-shot – especially when it seems to just be hitting its stride as the comic comes to a close? Hit-and-Miss.

[DC, $2.99]

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White Collar – Dentist of Detroit

/ / Television Reviews
  • Title: White Collar – Dentist of Detroit
  • wiki: link

white-collar-dentist-of-detroit

Although this episode gives us a peak into Mozzie’s (Willie Garson) past – including showing us where his nickname came from, I’ve got to say I was a little disappointed in the latest episode of White Collar. It’s not bad, but it’s also not up to the show’s usual standards.

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White Collar – Dentist of Detroit Read More »