3 Razors

Kick-Ass 2 #1 (of 6)

/ / Comics

The sequel to Mark Millar and John Romita, Jr.’s comic about a geeky teen turned super-hero begins here.

In a questionable choice, Millar plays with events just enough that both those who came in from either reading the first series or seeing the feature film adaptation will both be up to speed. Mark isn’t with Katie, but Mindy is living with Marcus (as the film suggested) and not with her mother (as told at the end of the first mini-series).

If the first series was about solitary heroes, this new story arc seems to be about teams. Here Mark meets new heroes who have formed their own kind of league (and we get flashes of a promised big epic super-team good vs. evil throwdown in Times Square).

It’s a solid first issue and the look and voice of the characters remain, but… For a comic called Kick-Ass this one doesn’t really. I’m sure there’s plenty of that to come, but this first issue is far more introspection than action, and those wanting to get to the good stuff will have to wait at least one more issue.

[Marvel $2.99]

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Chuck vs. the Aisle of Terror

/ / Television Reviews
  • Title: Chuck – Chuck Versus the Aisle of Terror
  • tv.com: link

This episode reunites Chuck (Zachary Levi) with his long lost mother (Linda Hamilton), who claims to be a deepcover double-agent. Frost proposes to help the CIA recover a terror-inducing nerve toxin to prove her loyalty. The result? Chuck gets shot in the heart (literally). And that’s just the beginning.

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Batman Beyond #5

/ / Comics
  • Title: Batman Beyond #5 (of 6)
  • Comic Vine: link
  • Writer: Adam Beechen
  • Artist: Ryan Benjamin

The latest issue is a bit of a mess, but it does have its moments. On the plus side the final panel of the last issue painting Dick Grayson and the new Hush is quickly swept away. It’s not Dick, it’s his clone. Clone? That’s right! More clones! (Maybe he should call himself the Scarlet Dark Knight?)

It seems, in an effort to keep a Batman around, Amanda Waller and Cadmus (with the help of Thomas Elliot’s granddaughter) cloned Grayson and,as things are want to do in monster stories, something went wrong.

My favorite moment of the story is the short conversation between Dick and Barbara Gordon after both have learned the truth about Cadmus and the clone. I really hope the series finds a way to keep Dick around and bring him back into the fold.

We also lean the new Catwoman’s identity and Bruce and Terry have a nice bonding moment. It’s not a great issue, and some of the clone’s super-villain banter is way too forced, but for all-encompassing Bat-fans it might still be worth a look. Hit-and-Miss.

[DC $2.99]

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Bruce Wayne: The Road Home – Batman and Robin

/ / Comics
  • Title: Bruce Wayne: The Road Home – Batman and Robin (One-shot)
  • Comic Vine: link

Even if The Return of Bruce Wayne mini-series isn’t finished yet, it seems like the original Batman is back in action…sort of. In the first of a series of one-shots Bruce Wayne sticks to the shadows as the mysterious “Insider,” checking in on various members of the Bat-family to gauge the readiness and test their abilities.

This issue finds Bruce offering some high praise to Dick Grayson (in narration) for not only taking on the mantle of Batman and wearing it with such confidence, but also making it his own. He also gives Dick high marks for how well Damian is performing as Robin.

As with the other one-shots the thread of Vicki Vale‘s search for proof of Batman’s real identity continues as she has dinner with Thomas Elliot and realizes for the first time the man parading himself around Gotham as Bruce Wayne is anything but.

The most interesting thing about these one-shots is who Bruce decides to tell he is back. He doesn’t let on to either Dick or Damian, but does reveal himself to Tim Drake (here) and a few select others.

Even if the issue jumps the timeline of Bruce Wayne/Batman’s return up faster than the rest of the DCU seems ready for, it’s still a good read, and worth a look.

[DC $2.99]

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It’s Kind of a Funny Story

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: It’s Kind of a Funny Story
  • IMDB: link

If you’ve ever thought what was really missing from One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest was a teen’s perspective then It’s Kind of a Funny Story might be what you’re looking for. Although not in the same class with Cuckoo’s Nest, this film adapted from Ned Vizzini’s novel of the same name by writers/directors Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck may speak to the current generation dealing with the stress and pressure parents and society seem to heap on them with from birth.

Depressed, stressed-out, and contemplating suicide, early on a Sunday morning troubled teen Craig (Keir Gilchrist) decides to check himself into a psychic ward for observation – a decision he almost immediately regrets. For five days Craig spends time in the loony bin learning about himself and the other patients.

The residents of the ward are about what you’d expect. Those Craig gets to learn best are the funny yet troubled Bobby (Zach Galifianakis), the lovely but suicidal Noelle (Emma Roberts), and his roommate Muqtada (Bernard White) who refuses to leave his bed, let alone the room.

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