We start our discussion with non-spoiler reviews of the film before falling into a full-on dissection/discussion of the film with heavy SPOILERS. Enjoy!

I’ve been a Marvel fan for the past six and a half years, going all the way back to Bendis’s New Avengers #1. At the time, I never in a million years thought I could pick up a Marvel book, but hey. I got hooked and I’ve been reading your comics in mass opiate quantities ever since.

But I’m going to have to quit you.

I know times are tight and tensions are running high. I know the comics market is shrinking. Individual issue sales are down and decreasing across the board. Having giant movie blockbusters every summer doesn’t seem to be affecting monthly issue sales too much (especially in terms of people coming into the stores). Both you and DC are having a hard time, but that’s okay for you because you guys are the bigger, stronger company at the moment. Your books are dripping with talent and creativity and it’s showing in the numbers.

But I don’t know why you insist on continuing this petty rivalry even in the face of adversity.

I’m all for rivalries. Competition makes the world go round. But when your brand of competition comes out on Twitter and in interviews as jabs and digs, you guys come off sounding petty and immature. Take the September Previews catalog, for instance. You thought it best to take a swipe at DC by advertising your solicitations with tags like  “Uncanny X-Men: Still #543!” or “New Avengers: Still #16!” in some attempt to make yourselves look good in the wake of DC’s complete #1 relaunchment in September. Nevermind the fact that Uncanny X-Men is canceled and rebooting after issue #544 (October’s issue) or that New Avengers just relaunched 16 issues ago (I remember, I was there). Anything to show that you guys are the bigger guy.

And as if that’s not bad enough, you have someone like C.B. Cebulski, a talent scout and widely known, high profile, upper echelon, Senior Vice President at your company, coming out and SLAMMING DC over Twitter for its most recent Green Lantern film by saying:

“Man, DC just loves the number 52, huh? They even used it in their weekend GL movie grosses. Good thing we like bigger numbers at @Marvel!”

I can’t help but get a little offended at the sheer unprofessionalism of his comment. Granted, Cebulski later said it was a “nice little jab” and he was just “poking fun at the competition,” but that doesn’t really sound so much it’s “all in good fun” as much as it is pointing and laughing at someone and using that to brag about one’s own awesomeness. It’s petty, it’s cheap, and it’s kicking the competition when it’s down. Was Green Lantern perfect? Hell no. I’m the first to admit that. But does that mean one of your top guys has to backhand the competition on a bad day?

And fine, maybe that’s just Cebulski talking off the cuff (if Twitter could be considered off the record, which it isn’t), but I don’t really see him apologizing or thinking he did anything wrong. Nor do I see anyone at Marvel saying “the views of Mr. Cebulski are just Mr. Cebulski’s, not necessarily those of Marvel.” No. You must have heard it. Your company’s Twitter account follows him. He got plenty of @replies. He even spent some time firing back a few self-righteous responses. Surely it must be on your radar. Saying nothing tells me that either you’re ignorant of your employee’s actions in the public sector (which in the modern internet age is hard to believe, especially given his high profile) OR that you endorse this rhetoric and behavior (which is unprofessional and immature, to say the least). Given what I know about you as a company, I’m almost certain it’s the latter.

The worst part of all this? This is par for the course. This ritualistic DC bashing is the sort of thing we see from your people all the time at Con panels and on Twitter. When it’s mean-spirited and personal, that’s not you being the cute rival, it’s roasting the competition simply to be a giant dick about it. This isn’t a roast. It’s a place where I expect some modicum of decency in the public sector. Behind closed doors, misbehave, berate, and bash as much as you want, fine. I can’t stop you. But there’s no need to alienate potential fans who like both major comics companies in favor of making the die-hard Marvel Zombies go “Heh heh, yeah. Fuck those guys.”

And if that’s your goal, to make the Die-Hard Marvel Zombie happy, then fine. I guess that’s your prerogative. But I have to ask, do you actually care about the Die-Hard Marvel Zombie?

I ask because at the time of this writing I’m just hours away from finding out what happens at the end of Ultimate Spider-man #160, the purported (but not really because you’re re-launching in September with a new #1, but I’m not here to bitch about that) final (again!) issue of Ultimate Spider-man, despite the fact that the issue won’t be coming out for another couple of days. I know this because Bendis was talking it up on Twitter this afternoon, bragging about how he got off the phone with the AP and USA Today and who knows who else so your company could tout and spoil the ending for Ultimate Spider-man so you can get as many people as you possibly can into the stores come Wednesday.

Fine. That’s business, I suppose. I mean, it worked for Captain America a few years back. And in Bendis’s own words, this is about getting the fans you don’t have, not about keeping the ones you do.

And I get that. You want the sexy chick across the bar, not the one who’s in your lap. But isn’t that basically saying existing Marvel fans don’t matter as much as potential Marvel fans? Isn’t that just kicking your existing base because you know you’ll get away with it?

You’re damn right it is. Because you know as well as I do that your fans aren’t going anywhere. You have enough fans that will stick around regardless of your behavior, fans you guilt into buying more comics so you can keep the existing ones alive, fans who will stick around despite you increasing prices on your books to $3.99 “because you can.” I know, because I’m one of them. Or, I used to be.

So when I hear about you guys doing this, I get outraged. I get livid. I’ve been buying and reading Ultimate Spider-man nonstop for the past eighty issues (that’s double-dipping single issues and trades) despite going through three years of high school and four years of college. And now, on the eve of this long, long story getting to one of its fantastic turning points, you’re going to kick me (a loyal customer) in favor of the hundred or so (max) people who are going to pick up the FINAL issue of your not-in-real-continuity Spider-man and then never pick up a comic again?

And you’re going to get away with this, Marvel. I know because C.B. Cebulski is not going to apologize (nor are you going to pretend to attempt to make him). I know because the people his comments are going to enrage won’t stop reading comics. I know because people are still reading Fantastic Four (even if it’s not called that). I know because this “revealing the ending before it happens” bullshit has become “something we as comics fans just have to live with” because “this is our reality.”

But not for me. I refuse to continue to put up with your bullshit. I refuse to ignore or put up with your immaturity. I refuse to have you spoil the stories I’m reading. I refuse to stand silently by while you kick your base to make a quick buck.

And it’s because of this, Marvel, that I have to quit you. I’ve been a loyal reader for six and a half years. I’ve bled THOUSANDS of dollars into your books since then. I’ve gotten tons of my friends into comics (not just yours, but yours too). I love your properties, I love your stories, I love your comics. I’ve loved, cried, and laughed at your books since becoming a Marvel fan.

But no more. I can’t handle your attitude and I can’t handle the way you treat a fan like me. How dare I decide to support DC’s failed movie so we can get more non-Batman-or-Superman DC movies? How dare I support non-spoiled stories (Super 8 only made $40 million its first weekend. What must C.B. Cebulski think of that)? How dare I demand maturity from a company owned by Disney, who would NEVER allow such discourse from executives or VPs in “more respected media” like film or television?

I think of it differently. More like how dare I continually support your company in the face of all this? I can’t. Maybe if you guys acted with a bit more professionalism, you could help make this medium look a bit more grown up. I’m done fighting against being viewed as immature while your company perpetuates just that mentality.

But that’s okay, guys. I’m sure your massive-and-ever-expanding-and-growing comic fanbase will keep you guys afloat. There’s plenty of fans to keep kicking around while you try to bring in more so you can do just that.

I’m sure I won’t be missed at all.

Sincerely,

Matt Smith

When I first heard that Academy Award nominated director Darren Aronofsky would be directing the new Wolverine movie (now titled “The Wolverine”) I was both excited and puzzled at the same time. I didn’t understand why his next film would be a follow up to a movie that critically, was not very successful. Did he have a take on the character that no one had expressed yet? Was he a fan of the failed samurai stories? I guess we’ll never know because as of this morning Aronofsky has left the project. In a press statement he said:

“As I talked more about the film with my collaborators at Fox, who have been totally supportive throughout my work on the movie, it became clear that the production ofThe Wolverine would keep me out of the country for almost a year. I was not comfortable being away from my family for that length of time. I am sad that I won’t be able to see the project through, asit is a terrific script and I was very much looking forward to working with my friend, Hugh Jackman, again.”

Who’s your next choice for director?

-Reid Ackerman

X-MEN: FIRST CLASS

From director Matthew Vaughn, X-Men: First Class charts the epic beginning of the X-Men saga, and reveals a secret history of famous global events. Before mutants had revealed themselves to the world, and before Charles Xavier and Erik Lehnsherr took the names Professor X and Magneto, they were two young men discovering their powers for the first time. Not archenemies, they were instead at first the closest of friends, working together with other Mutants (some familiar, some new), to prevent nuclear Armageddon. In the process, a grave rift between them opened, which began the eternal war between Magneto’s Brotherhood and Professor X’s X-Men.

The story begins June 3, 2011.

DISCUSSION

Television

• Twilight screenwriter Melissa Rosenberg developing AKA Jessica Jones series for ABC, will be first Marvel TV series
• Supernatural anime is coming to DVD on February 23, 2011 in Japan, no US release date yet

Quick Hits:

• The Pee Wee Herman Show on Broadway is coming to HBO in 2011
• SyFy cancels Stargate Universe, producer is looking to have it continue in some form
• Filming for Game of Thrones season 1 has wrapped up
• Writer/Producer Phil Klemmer, best known for Veronica Mars and Chuck is returning to Chuck after leaving to work on Undercovers
• CW President Dawn Ostroff may be stepping down when her contract expires in June
• Winter Premiere Dates: Greek and Pretty Little Liars Monday Jan 3rd 8pm and 9pm of ABC-F, V Tuesday Jan 4th 9pm on ABC, Young Justice Friday Jan 7th 7pm on Cartoon Network, The Cape Sunday Jan 9th 9pm on NBC

Movies

• Heather Morris is rumored to be up for the role of Buffy in the new reboot. Whit Anderson denies, Heather Morris confirms
• The SyFy channel starts SyFy Films division

Quick Hits:

• EA developing “Madden curse” movie
• George Clooney replaces Robert Downey Jr in Gravity
• Spider-Man reboot began filming 2 weeks ago on a 90 day shoot. Locations include New York, but mostly Los Angeles
• Eric Bana is a contender for the lead role in Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows Part 2 is currently undergoing reshoots
• Release Dates: Real Steel Oct 7, 2011. I Am Number Four Feb 18th 2011. Wrath of the Titans March 30th 2012

Other

• Blockbuster kiosks no longer have new releases before Netflix and RedBox
• Spider-Man musical is delayed again. An actress leaves the production and another is seriously injured when a line holding him breaks.

Geek Jerk Reaction: Gulliver’s Travels, Little Fockers, True Grit

• Party Down is cancelled
• American Torchwood to begin filming in Janurary in either L.A. or Canada. “Epic” 7 1/2 month shoot. Captain Jack will be in all 10 episodes
• Emmy Nominations announced

• Andrew Garfield is Spider-Man, reportedly getting $500,000.
• Edward Norton won’t be playing The Hulk in The Avengers. Joaquin Phoenix offered the role?
  
• Ehren Kruger writing a new draft of Scream 4 during production, causing recasting and more.
• Trent Reznor is scoring The Social Network
• Benjamin Walker fired from X-Men: First Class, replaced by Nicholas Holt. Banshee, Havok, and Multiple Man also students.
• Kevin Bacon in talks to play First Class villain, but which one?
• Judd Apatow producing new Pee Wee Herman film
• Damon Lindelof begins writing Star Trek sequel
• ‘Meatballs’ duo reteaming for Lego movie
• Batman 3 won’t have location shooting in Chicago? UK only?
• JJ Abrams and Ryan Murphy potentially up to direct Wicked adaptation?
• Will Chris Columbus direct Superman?

• Hulu Plus rolls out console plans
• Arkham Asylum Sequel Names

Geek Jerk Reaction: Inception and The Sorcerer’s Apprentice

UPDATE: It was just reported that Marvel Studios is in final negotiations with Joss Whedon to helm The Avengers. Which means he’s essentially seconds from signing on.

Wow. I honestly didn’t think this was going to happen. I’m much more excited than I thought I’d be. What do you guys think?

Original Post:

Originally reported by IESB and then later confirmed by LA Times, Joss Whedon is Marvel Studios’ favorite pick for the director of The Avengers. Is this a geek dream come true? The only thing better (for me) would be a Whedon directed X-Men First Class, or if he got the reins of Marvel’s Runaways adaptation (which I guess he could even still do after The Avengers wrapped).

But it is important to note that the film will not be WRITTEN by Whedon, he would strictly be calling the shots behind the camera and nothing more. He’s only done this three times before to my recollection (two episodes of The Office and his upcoming episode of Glee), and never for a film. This would be an interesting experiment at the very least.

What do you think of the possibility of The Avengers being helmed by Joss Whedon? Let us know in the comments section below!

Marvel Entertainment just announced it has greenlit a new Spider-Man animated series, this time based on the mega successful Ultimate Spider-Man by Brian Michael Bendis and artists Mark Bagley, Stuart Immonen, and David Lafuente. It will premiere in fall 2011 on Disney XD.

First seeing publication in 2000, Ultimate Spider-Man was meant to make the character more “new reader friendly” by ditching the 40 years of continuity, and bringing the character back to its roots as a teenage superhero.  The animated series will “chronicle Peter Parker’s transition from a wise-cracking teen to a hero with a definite sense of responsibility who can hold his own with other Marvel superheroes who will join him in this series of animated adventures”.

Can.

Not.

Wait.

(Source: ICv2)

Battlestar Galacita Finale

Party Down

Dollhouse Update

Email

News

Marvel To Launch Writers Program

Sean Penn, Jim Carrey and Benicio Del Toro are The Three Stooges

Trailers

Where the Wild Things Are

Year One

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs

Reviews

I Love You, Man

Monsters vs. Aliens

EMAIL

What Makes a Geek a Geek?

NEWS

Natalie Portman Cast in Thor
Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow
Cap, Thor, Avengers, and SM4 Get New Release Dates
Daredevil & Fantastic Four Reboot?
Sci-Fi Channel Renamed “SyFy”
Kevin Smith and A Couple of Dicks
Star Wars TV Series Casting
Superman Batman – DC Animated Movie

VIDEO GAMES

Resident Evil 5
Street Fighter 4
NHL 09
Halo Wars

TRAILERS

Away We Go
Drag Me to Hell

REVIEWS

Wonder Woman – DVD
Last House on the Left
Watchmen 2nd Time Around

I have to say I’m mostly relieved by this. For a while It looked like it was going to take a miracle to pull of so many action-packed blockbusters on such a short string of time. Now Marvel’s got some breathing room.

Oh, they also announced that Spiderman 4 will be released on May 6th, 2o11, Cap’s old release date.

“Right now, we’re not doing Iron Man 2” Rourke told New York Magazine

Are actors really greedy or is Marvel really cheap? Who will be next in the musical chair game that is Iron Man 2? Will Gwenyth Paltrow be replaced next? Will Paul Bettany turn down the role of Jarvis after learning his pay would consist of 10 dollars, a sandwich and a free Iron Man 2 t-shirt?  Hopefully not, but at this point, who knows?

•    Dark Avengers

•    New Avengers

•    Mighty Avengers

•    Daredevil

•    Runaways

•    Fantastic Four

•    ULTIMATUM

Marvel announced at Comic Con that it would be releasing a ‘new’ medium – Motion Comics.

DC has already done this with Batman and Watchmen.

AppleInsider reports, “The series will launch with two titles from some of the art form’s biggest names. Astonishing X-Men will debut from Joss Whedon and John Cassaday, while Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev will weave readers into the new story of Spider-Woman.”

From the preview, the Marvel approach looks promising.

Welcome back to the third part of my Catching Up series. After tackling the DC Universe’s animated features and series last week, now is the time to take a longer look at the Marvel animated ‘verse in all its glory. But be warned all you Stan Lee disciples out there, you may not like everything you read.

It has come to my attention (by myself) that while singing the praise of almost everything in animated form by DC Comics, I kept taking little potshots at the Marvel productions. Upon further review for this article I realize I may have been a little unfair of some of my criticisms directed towards comics Evil Empire (sorry, while I am not a total insider I do know a little about how Marvel treats the industry and sometimes I feel they are evil – plus every story needs a villain).

So without further fanfare or ramblings by yours truly let’s take a longer look at the Marvel animated series – specifically Wolverine and the X-Men, Spectacular Spider-Man and Fantastic Four. To my shock and bewilderment I actually like 66% of the shows mentioned above.

Let’s begin with the one I do not care for, shall we? Since Marvel decided to sell the rights to Wolverine and the X-Men to Nickelodeon, which had the bright idea of sticking the show on Niktoons, I am not sure how many people actually get to view this one. And maybe they are better off for it. I gave it a chance, watching on youtube since some nice Canadian (are there really any others besides Sean Avery?) uploaded all of the episodes eh.

While the trailers for the show looked good and honestly got me excited, watching the first episode it became quite evident that this was going to be a painful addition to the Marvel animated family. I am not sure where to begin but the thing that sticks in my mind most is the 1990’s Fox version of the X-Men. I know for a lot of you out there this was your first Marvel animated experience and you remember it fondly while crediting it for getting you interested in the X-Men and comics in the first place. And to that I say, it did its job.

Yes, the stories were classics ripped from the pages, but nothing else about the series was. Wolverine and pals reminds me of the melodramaticness that was the Fox X-Men. It’s like Dawson’s Creek, if Dawson’s Creek was a cartoon. While Wolverine is so popular (which I do not get) I understand making him the lead, but he always serves the story better as part of the team. That is why the character worked (for me) in the beginning. Now its feels forced. Everything about the new series feels forced.

The animation is not that great and I love watching a scene where it’s raining, and a car has its windshield wipers on but there is not actual rain falling. What is that about? Must be the same people who did Ultimate Avengers and decided to have the background drummer just move his arms up and down for the entire scene (No, I am never going to let that one go because they should be embarrassed with themselves).

Anyway, I have wasted enough time on that show as you must know now that I say instead of watching Wolverine and the X-Men, get a root canal, you will have a better time.

Now let’s have some fun, which is what the Spectacular Spider-Man is all about. The animation is different, but good (although it took some time to get used to the big eyes). Pete is a teenager again (ala Ultimate Spidey) and the stories are geared towards the kiddies, but are capable of entertaining us big children as well.

The first season the web-head took on the Goblin, Sinister Six, Doc Ock, Venom, Vulture and more and more and more. It was literally a who’s who of Spidey’s rogue’s gallery, crammed into 13 fun episodes. There was also Gwen Stacy, MJ and Harry Osborn. I am so looking forward to the second season.

Christopher Yost and Craig Kyle capture brilliantly the guilt that Pete carries with him everyday. Remember, with great power comes yada, yada, yada … bottom line, they get it and are showing us how much they do actually get it. Wish they could translate some of that mojo over to the new X-Men show.

Last but definitely not least is the Fantastic Four. In the beginning of the 26-episode run I was a little critical. The animation was good, but severe in places (like Sue and Johnny’s pointy chins, which I still can’t get past). There was a good mix of CGI and animation that impressed me as I watched more and more shows. The thing about this series is that it continued to impress me with each episode and I could not get more fast enough (which was a problem since Cartoon Network only showed half of the episodes produced over a three-year period) – thank goodness for DVD sets.

Now I am a minority when it comes to this, but I liked the FF movies. Appreciated the lightness of the first one and was just happy to get a second one (a third anyone?). One of the things I felt the movies did well was capture who the characters were at their heart. If anything, the animated version did an even better job of showing us the real FF.

The voice work was superb, especially the changing of the Thing’s voice the rare instances he went back to being Ben Grimm because you can’t tell an FF story without making the Thing Ben again at least one time. Besides, it gave Yost and Kyle the opportunity to throw in the She-Hulk (as a member of the FF). Other guests included the Hulk (vs the Thing!), Iron Man and Ant-Man. Victor was back to his arrogant self and the Mole-Man was as creepy as he should be. All was right in the animated version of the FF.

Next time I will review the Marvel animated feature films masquerading as quality (there goes the potshots again). Until then, don’t forget to tip your cab driver – Peace!

Captain Wednesday – Your Friendly Neighborhood Comic Dude

It is a dark time in the world of comics. (I felt like old Ben Kenobi just then, except I am not talking about the Rebellion or the Empire, but then again maybe I am). Anyhow, with both the Marvel and DC comic ‘verses plunged into Dark Reign and Faces of Evil things are just plain bleak right now on some of our favorite comic pages. Thus begins my five picks of the week …

If you are not familiar with my weekly reviews, let me begin by stating that they are always spoiler free. I very rarely get into specifics on the book lest to give something away before the audience gets to read them.

By nature, I am a pretty cheerful and positive sort and all this evil that is afoot and in charge brings me down a little bit. I know for some in comicdom this is a dream come true with the villains ruling the roost. And it’s not like we have not been teased with the “Old Man Logan” storyline or Kingdom Come. That being said, there were some real good stories this week with some real nasty individuals in the middle of things.

My pick of the week is a toss up between Faces of Evil Deathstroke and Dark Avengers #1. I was not prepared to like the Deathstroke book in the least bit and to be honest the only real reason I even gave it a go was because Georges Jeanty was supplying the artwork. Mark McKenna’s inks do not do Jeanty’s pencils justice, but it was still enough to get by. David Hine meanwhile was crafting a masterpiece on old Slade, who last we saw was dying after his encounter with Geo-Force on the pages of DC Last Will and Testament. FOE was a nice follow up to a not so great first story.

For fans of Deathstroke, you will be happy because everyone’s favorite DC Assassin is back baby, and possibly more dangerous than ever when we get to the last page. Of course there are family issues to wrestle out in this one before the Terminator can move on, but honestly, when are there not issues in that family?

Meanwhile, another evil dude – storming Norman Osborn – is just getting started at the havoc he is capable of playing in the Marvel hood. Brian Michael Bendis is at it again. How does someone who writes so many titles get it so right with everything he touches? Mike Deodato’s art works perfectly with this story. To be honest I thought the issue was going to be Tony Stark getting the gang back together to go after Osborn. I could not have been more wrong on so many levels. Trust me this is one issue you don’t want to miss.

Next is another book I was not ready to like. I am not a big Dan Slott guy, just never have been. I pretty much stayed away from his entire run of Avengers Initiative and only grudgingly read his Amazing Spidey issues. This week, the Scarlet Witch was on the cover so I had to find out what’s what. And it looks like Mighty Avengers is going to be existing on its own from the other books for awhile. And from the looks of this week’s issue #21, it is going to be fun. Khoi Pham supplied the understated pencils and did his usual bang up job.

Coming in this week at number four is a shocker as well. I tagged Justice League of America #29 by Len Wein with a story on Starbreaker. The only real reason I liked this issue was because it felt like such an old school tale – might have had something to do with Wein penning the title this month. It was just good to see the old JLA back in action with orange and green uniform Aqauman, pre-married Ollie and Canary, and oh yeah the Atom Baby! But wait, there’s more. As much fun the old tale was, the last two pages and its reveal pay it off even bigger for the next issue. I can say no more.

Last but not least are two titles. That’s right I am going with a tie for fifth place. Unlike my previous occupation which frowned on ties, I am going with the tie. To stay with the theme of this article once again I was so not wanting to read this comic or expecting to like it. Although the latter is a lie but we will get to that in a second. Punisher Frank Castle Max #66 came out this week written by Duane Swiercyznski.

Not to name drop, who am I kidding let’s name drop away. Duane frequents the store I work in a bit. We got to talking and he told me about his upcoming arc on Punisher and that it was going to take place in Philly. Remember how I am not a Slott guy, well I am even less a Punisher guy. The only time in comics that I even liked the character was when Captain America was kicking his ass in Civil War. I just don’t care for the title.

But a funny thing happens to me when the name Swiercyznski is on the cover, I have to read it. I never really liked Cable, but have been enjoying the current run immensely by our aforementioned writer. Iron Fist is immortal, who cares. Well, Swiercyznski makes me care. So there we have it, the slippery slope that is the Punisher. Still don’t care for the character after reading this issue, but loved the story and where it’s going.

What title tied this week for a mention on my Top Five, well that would be Angel After the Fall #16 or Season Five of the television show. IDW has given it the old college try. This title is not as strong or good as Buffy Season Eight, but it still gives me more stories in the world of Whedon and for that I am grateful. This month’s issue sort of hits a reset button and I hope after meandering around for a year and a half that Brian Lynch will finally takes us somewhere. And please keep Franco Urru on the art or bring David Messina over, otherwise just don’t publish for that month because no one else in the IDW pen can really get the likenesses down that well.

That’s it for this week boys and girls. Don’t know if you agree or not, but hopefully they and I will keep you entertained. Don’t forget to tip your barber’s on the way out (I am so going to run out of people to tip ain’t I?) – Peace.

Captain Wednesday – Your Friendly Neighborhood Comic Dude

Frank Miller was on his game in the mid-1980s. There was his Dark Knight Returns for DC, which established Bats into what he is today and set the tone and changed the way authors write everything in comics.

And then there was Daredevil: Born Again, which Marvel has collected (once again) this week as part of its Premiere Hardcover line. Born Again is the seminal moment for “the man without fear.” Just like Gwen Stacy’s death at the hands of the Green Goblin in the 70s established Peter Parker and Spider-Man, Born Again is the blueprint for everything Matt Murdock and Daredevil.

Born Again ran over seven issues and collects all eight Daredevils (#226-233) that Miller and artist David Mazzucchelli collaborated on. This is not the first time Daredevil’s life has been changed by Miller, as it was the writer’s earlier stint that killed off Murdock’s love in Elektra at the hands of Bullseye (in the classic double-sized issue Daredevil #181).

And while Elektra’s death was stunning and heartfelt for the blind lawyer from Hell’s Kitchen, Daredevil went on about his business. His every decision afterwards was not filled with guilt over her death (like Spidey’s with Gwen Stacy). Part of the reason I believe is that Elektra knew the deal when she was putting on the costume.

Born Again is the moment in Daredevil lore when everything changes and it is the ultimate Kingpin story. There is betrayal, loss (and a lot of it) and rebirth. It has Foggy Nelson (of course), establishes Ben Ulrich and reintroduces one Karen Page (and boy have we missed what was going on her life). Why are all the best Daredevil stories with Karen Page (Yellow, Guardian Devil)?

Miller pens a terrific tale of deconstructing a character and then picking them back up. It is a shame some of that beauty can not translate into what he has done recently – i.e. The Spirit and All-Star Batman and Robin.

I have never been a huge fan of Mazzucchelli’s artwork, but in this story it works really well. He has a gritty style that combined with Miller’s hard-boiled story telling becomes the perfect complement to the letters on the page. After experiencing this story all at once (I read the original month-by-agonizing month) and taking in Mazzucchelli’s splash pages, I have to think today’s artists whether knowingly or not took a page (or two) from Mazzucchelli’s run on DD. Simon Bianchi – I ‘m talking to you.

Anyway, that’s all I have for today. Remember to tip your waitress on the way out – Peace!

Of course this could just be a negotiating tactic, so that Marvel has to pay him more to return to his role. This isn’t the first time that an actor has used an interview to garner a bigger payday.

I pretty muched loved Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury and so the any indication that this may not happen is upsetting. Jackson was used as the model for Bryan Hitch’s version of Nick Fury in the ultimate universe.

(LA Times)

These are just some of the topics that we talk about in this episode…

Marvel
•    Secret Invasion
•    Dark Reign
•    New Avengers
•    Ultimatum
•    Iron Man

DC
•    Final Crisis
•    New Krypton
•    Batman
•    Green Arrow Black Canary
•    Wonder Woman

All reports about the fim adapation of Thor seem to point to a story that is driven heavily in Norse mythology and takes place mostly in Asgard. This however begs the question of how Thor’s character will be tied into the much more realistic world of Jon Favreau’s Iron Man and Louis Leterrier’s Incredible Hulk. It is now being reported that the character of Donald Blake, or for those unfamiliar, the human form of Thor has been added to the end of the script.

This is important because up until recently the character has not been in any of the drafts of the script. This could mean that while the movie could take place entirely in Asgard, the addition of Blake could be in the connection to the real world that would allow Thor to be in an Avengers movie. Could this mean that Donald Blake could be living on earth unaware of the power of Thor until he discovers Mijoinir, Thor’s mighty hammer. This actually is an exciting and creative way of telling the Norse history of the character, and also allow him to be a part of the Avengers, so I’m sold.

Its also being reported the director Kenneth Branagh is going to have an acting role in the film, but we just don’t know as who yet.

(IESB)

SPIDER-MAN LOVES MARY JANE VOL. 1

Written by Sean McKeever

Artwork by Takeshi Miyazawa

Published by Marvel Comics

A Review by Scott Carelli

High School.

No two words can mean so many different things for so many people. For some, it was the best time of their life. A time when bills weren’t due, getting a job was an option, and the biggest problems you faced were things like passing that quiz on Friday or trying to pony up the guts to ask that girl (or guy) to the dance. For others, walking the halls each day was like walking through the gates of hell. It was the absolute epitome of misery, isolation, and heartbreak. For most of us, though, it could be either of those things depending on what the high school gods felt like throwing at you that particular day. But regardless of the feelings you may have for those four years, it’s impossible to question their significance. They help mold you into the person you will become for the rest of your life. It’s a bizarre and fascinating time in anyone’s life, which must be why I find it so interesting and tend to gravitate toward the notoriously love it or hate it genre: the High School Drama.

I’ve seen many teen-centric series come and go within my television-watching career, from Dawson’s Creek to The OC to the more recent 90210 and Gossip Girl. I’ve watched them all (and more) and while I’ve enjoyed each of them (to varying degrees) there’s always one thing that they never seem to get right: Being a teenager. It seems to me that the creators of these shows don’t trust the viewers to remember what high school was actually like, and, not wanting to cause them to be disconnected to the characters on screen, they come up with this alternate universe with something that vaguely resembles high school, but is actually far more thrilling and mature.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m all for leaving the reality out of my fiction. Some of my favorite writers (Smith, Sorkin, Paladino, Whedon) are all about creating a world where people talk in monologues, at superhuman speed, or in a style that no has ever spoken in reality (until they started emulating their favorite show of course). But it would be nice to see at least one high school series that was a little more realistic. Real high school drama is just a series of overreactions, where every little thing is the end of the world, and the big lesson to be learned is to stop sweating the small stuff.

It may never happen on television, but I finally have the high school story I’ve always wanted in the form of Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane. Of course, it’s pretty funny that the most realistic portrayal of life in high school involves a guy with spider powers who swings around the city in red and blue tights.

Gotta love irony.

Created by Sean McKeever and Takeshi Miyazawa, Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane follows Mary Jane Watson and her band of close friends as they experience high school’s exhilarating highs and devastating lows. But that’s what this book does best. Those “devastating lows” would never be considered the end of the world to anyone other than high schoolers, but McKeever excels at making even the most insignificant of problems feel like the world is caving in. So there you are, reading along, back in high school again, remembering the person you were before you escaped. It’s no small feat, and I applaud McKeever for doing it so masterfully well.

The version of Mary Jane depicted here is that of a sweet but insecure girl constantly struggling to please everyone, no matter how impossible an act it may be. This is quite a departure from the carefree party girl Stan Lee created, but the meek Mary Jane is a far more interesting one. She’s the most popular girl in school but is completely unaware of it. I just love how innocent and naïve she’s portrayed here. But of course she does grow, as any good character does. When the story begins, Mary Jane is harboring a crush on the mysterious Spider-Man, but the end she comes to realize that her dream of a relationship with the webslinger might not be a very realistic one.

Mary Jane is joined by a supporting cast of other Spider-Man alum. Her best friend is Liz Allan, an ambitious cheerleader who is every bit the yang to Mary Jane’s ying. She’s the harsh, unapologetic, and slightly overbearing friend that every sweet girl-next-door type seems to have. Liz is the definition of drama, self-interest and overreaction. She wants everything to be perfect for her, despite what anyone else may want. The guy on the receiving end of most of her self-centered rampages is her boyfriend, Flash Thompson. Flash is a thickheaded and immature jock that tends to be a pummel first, ask questions later kind of guy. He let’s his anger and frustration get the better of him, but more often than not, it comes from a place that is well meaning. Liz seems to be the only one who can take him down a peg, and he resents her for it. Mary Jane describes the couple best when she says that they’re the only two people she can imagine divorced before they’ve even gotten married.

Flash’s best friend, and MJ’s would-be suitor is Harry Osborn, a rich kid who lets his father’s desires overpower his own. He’s been friends with MJ for as long as either of them can remember, and while she’s never seen him in a romantic light, he desperately wants her to. Mary Jane ends up giving him a shot but, as Harry learns, he’ll always be second best to a certain masked crime fighter.

Finally, there’s Harry’s nerdy friend, Peter Parker. McKeever treats Peter and Spider-Man as two completely different characters, never once even hinting that they may be one in the same. Spider-Man pops in and out of the book like a celebrity cameo, with most of his exploits taking place off panel (on news reports and the like) with MJ occasionally getting caught in the middle. As the series goes on, Mary Jane slowly begins to see Peter in a new light through a progression that seems much more natural then any other depiction of their eventual romance.

The artwork by Takeshi Miyazawa is manga-influenced fused with American sensibilities in a way that shouldn’t work in a Spider-Man book, but I can’t picture this series any other way. The art actually changes later in the series, and it proves to be a jarring period of adjustment. Miyazawa’s art sums up the complex spectrum of emotions that all of us go through as teenagers. His updated character designs do a great job of modernizing Spider-Man’s classic characters in a way that makes them feel fresh but still recognizable.

So we may never get a television series about teenagers that actually act like teenagers, but at least with Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane we finally have a realistic look at what it’s like to live and love in high school…

… only with superheroes.

]]> http://www.geekshow.us/content/comic-books/comic-book-reviews/review-spider-man-loves-mary-jane-vol-1-marvel-comics/feed/ 6 http://www.geekshow.us/content/misc/other-news/evan-rachel-wood-is-mary-jane-watson/ http://www.geekshow.us/content/misc/other-news/evan-rachel-wood-is-mary-jane-watson/#comments Fri, 12 Dec 2008 05:33:02 +0000 admin http://www.geekshow.us/?p=1058 Things are moving forward for Marvel Entertainment’s Spider-Man musical…

In an interview with IESB Evan Rachel Wood confirms that she has been cast as Mary Jane Watson in the forthcoming Spider-Man musical. Wood also confirms that rehearsals are set to start in June of 2009, for an opening in mid 2010.

Now the only question is who is going to play Peter Parker. It has long been rumored that Jim Sturgess, Wood’s Across the Universe co-star, is up for the role. In the interview Wood says that they are trying to convince him.

Already announced is that the music and lyrics are being written by Julie Taymor with Bono and the Edge of U2.