3 Razors

Captain America

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: Captain America
  • IMDB: link

“To the rest of the world he’s Codename: Captain America. He may not be Superman, but he’ll be a living symbol of what this country stands for.”

Captain America posterCaptain America: The First Avenger is set to hit theaters this Friday but it isn’t the first attempt by Marvel Comics to translate their iconic hero to the big screen. While DC was churning out Batman and Superman flicks at will in the 80’s and early 90’s, Marvel was lagging behind. For the Captain America’s 50th Anniversary Marvel Comics put together a feature film centered around the hero.

Financing issues (which the production ran into after it had moved overseas for shooting in Europe) and the addition of stunt sequences, further re-shoots, and editing bogged the film down. Captain America went unreleased for two years. Although it did see the inside of theaters internationally, in the country of his origin poor Captain America was limited to a unheralded straight-to-video release.

The film begins neither in America nor in Germany, but in Mussolini’s Italy. A young boy is brutally ripped from his family and taken to a secret government laboratory where a reluctant scientist, Dr. Vaselli (Carla Cassola), will attempt to create the world’s first Super Soldier.

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Fear Itself #4 (of 7)

/ / Comics

Fear Itself #4One month later here’s what we know: Bucky Barnes is still dead, the world is still going to Hell, Thor is back, and so far no one actually has a plan on how to stop an evil God of Fear from playing Hammertime all over the Marvel Universe. Oh yeah, and Steve Rogers is Captain America, again.

I’ve felt indifferent to most of Fear Itself, and although I certanly didn’t love this issue it has a couple of points of interest besides Steve Rogers becoming Captain America and the reuniting of the Avengers big three.

Bucky’s death scene, though short (and nowhere near as lovingly told as the Red Hulk’s) works quite well. It’s also telling that Steve Rogers can’t be in the same room with Bucky’s body or, even though he manages to don the costume, still can’t bring himself to put on Captain America’s mask.

We also learn that Thor is destined to die (or, die as much as a God actually can in the Marvel Universe), and are witness to Tony Stark debasing himself in front of Odin by draining a bottle of booze (as plans go, not the brightest he’s ever had). Worth a look.

[Marvel, $3.99]

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Batman and Robin #25

/ / Comics

batman-and-robin-25-coverThe most recent Red Hood storyline comes to a (somewhat disappointing) close in this issue. Whether events were cut short to make room for DC’s new reboot, or not, that’s certainly how things feel here.

Batman and Robin’s team-up with Jason Todd to save his former partner Scarlet runs into early snags as former hero turned crime boss turned… whatever the hell he is now repeatedly doublecrosses the Dynamic Duo.

The issue isn’t bad by any means, but it does have a rushed feel and is stuck with an anticlimactic ending that, given the looming reboot, will never truly be resolved.

That said, there are a couple of nice scenes where we’re given a look into Todd’s view of Dick Grayson, and vice-versa. This storyline, even when it has struggled at times has done a good job focusing on the differences between the first two Robins. Personally, I would have liked more of Damian‘s thoughts on Todd whose outlook is far similar to the Son of Batman than his current boss. With a look.

[DC, $2.99]

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Leverage – The 10 Lil’l Grifters Job

/ / Television Reviews
  • Title: Leverage – The 10 Lil’l Grifters Job
  • tv.com: link

leverage-10-lil-grifters-job

The team infiltrates the mystery murder gala of their latest mark (William Russ), only to have the man killed in the middle of the party. When the storm momentarily knocks out the light someone attacks and throws the businessman from the balcony. As Nate (Timothy Hutton) is a prime suspect (he was the only one on the balcony when the lights came back on) the team not only has to complete the con by breaking into the man’s safe, but convince the entire gathering the “murder” is all part of the show and enlist their help in discovering the identity of the murderer.

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Kung Fu Panda #2

/ / Comics

kung-fu-panda-2-coverWhen all the town’s mail is stolen by crows, Po sets out to investigate by hiding out in a mail cart. Once it too is stolen the Dragon Warrior finds himself on Mount Peglai where the city is at the mercy of a despot obsessed with turning the former peaceful village into a paradise for himself. His crows are stealing the mail in attempt of find the key to the city so he might close the gates and lock out the town’s citizens.

Of course, Po comes to the rescue and help the townsfolk take control of their home again. Like the first issue, it’s fun tale that includes much of the humor and action of the movies on which it’s based.

The (very short) back-up story involves a young apprentice who is Po’s biggest fan, and is even more annoying to him than Po was the Furious Five when he met. Neither the art nor writing is as strong here, but it’s a cute story kids might like.

Once again, the comic’s biggest issue is the the $4 cover price for a book specifically aimed at young readers. Way too expensive, but worth a look.

[Ape Entertainment, $3.95]

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