Indiana Jones and Dial of Destiny

Barring a surprise announcement from Stephen Spielberg, George Lucas, Disney or Harrison Ford, the Indiana Jones franchise comes to a close with the Dial of Destiny. I for one was okay with how it ended, bringing some things full circle with Archaeologist Dr. Henry Jones Jr. Indiana to his friends. 

At 2 hours and 34 minutes, the film is long. But I didn't really feel like any scenes were extraneous. There were a few characters that just didn't need to be in the film, like a couple of bumbling CIA agents whose roles in the movie do nothing to progress the action. But overall, I enjoyed the film. 

Everybody knows that the best Indy movies involve the hero taking on the Nazis. But part of that charm is in how Indy has to save religious artifacts with God imbued powers from falling into Adolph Hitler's hands. Fans will not want the Fuhrer to obtain the spear that pierced Christ's side which is shown as the item Indy and Shaw are trying to retrieve from the Third Reich at the beginning of this film. I'd say 75% of American audiences know nothing about the Dial of Archimedes nor do they really care why Hitler wants it so bad, despite it being a good rule of thumb being anything that Hitler wants, Hitler shouldn't get.

The Dial of Archimedes was found in a Greek shipwreck in 1901. An ancient early computer, the device, while obviously far from intact, could take amazingly precise measurements of the phases of the moon, along with numbers that coincide with the orbits of Saturn and Venus. While we don't know a lot about the device other than speculation, many experts agree that Archimedes or a member of his school of thought developed what is commonly called the Antikythera mechanism. Though for that sake of this film, the evil Jurgen Voller believes that the device is a time machine that will help him go back in time and help the Nazis win the war with his advanced rocket knowledge earned through his assistance with NASA's Apollo project. 

To help defeat Voller's Neo-Nazis, Phoebe Waller-Bridge joins the franchise as Indy's goddaughter Helena Shaw. A lot was made to how she would be the female Indiana Jones in early press about her casting. A ton of fuss was made over the announcement. It's not like Indy was turning into a woman or anything like that. One thing the actress had that Harrison Ford didn't was that she was younger. A lot of the action and stunts were done by her instead of the 80 something Ford. It's kinda like how the character of Harry was added to the first year of the Fourth Doctor's run on Doctor Who. Initially, the producers weren't sure if Tom Baker would be up to all those stunts and so the younger Ian Marter was brought on board just in case. Hence, the addition of the much younger and not as ethical Helena to the film.

This isn't to say that Harrison Ford's older Indiana Jones doesn't get involved in fisticuffs against Nazis during World War II and 1969. CGI deaged Harrison Ford in an action packed opening scene that explains why Mads Mikkelsen's Jurgen Voller spends nearly 25 years searching for an ancient artifact that the average modern moviegoer knows nothing about. That scene set during the last days of Hitler's Germany also introduces Helena's father, Dr. Shaw, played by Toby Jones. It shows how Indy and Shaw developed a closeness to each other and stumbled upon part of the fabled Dial of Archimedes. Plus, fans are now introduced to Helena Shaw who wasn't even hinted about in any of the 4 previous movies.

A knowledge of the franchise is sorely needed. Especially if you are to believe that Indiana Jones can survive all these explosions and close calls. One has to remember that Indy once drank from the Holy Grail. Though Indy had to stay with the grail to become 100% immortal, his drinking from the cup bestows him not just longer life, but it also makes him a lot more durable than the average 70 year old (Indiana Jones' canon birth date is July 1, 1899). However, instead of Helena Shaw, couldn't we have gotten Key Hu Quan to return as Indy's Temple of Doom sidekick, Short Round? Or at least have him helping along with Shaw?

I think there was a lot of speculation that Phoebe Waller-Bridge would continue the Indiana Jones franchise as Helena Shaw. It definitely felt like this movie was a pilot to set her up as the heir apparent. While this 2023 film earned over $380 million, in this day and age, those numbers ranks Dial of Destiny as being a flop. I for one would like to see the franchise continue. Disney seems all about streaming right now. I'd be in Heaven with a series starring Short Round all grown up as an archaeologist in the 1970s. Maybe make it a team-up with Helena Shaw and her sidekick, the teen pickpocket Teddy. Key Hu Quan is a hot property once again thanks to winning that Oscar last year and I know for a fact my wife and I would watch it!

A lot to consider. 

This is the first Indiana Jones film to be made without Spielberg or Lucas being directly involved. Stephen Spielberg didn't even direct. Indy 5 was helmed by James Mangold. While Mangold tries to pepper in a ton of Easter eggs from the previous 4 films, the Young Indiana Jones Chronicles TV series and even some of the comics, Dial of Destiny lacks that magic of a Spielberg picture. This is probably why we never get Short Round in this movie. It's also why the film didn't have that staying buzz in the theaters after the first week. I think it needs to be a law: Only Spielberg can direct Indiana Jones movies.

For those of you who held off on going to the theaters for Dial of Destiny and aren't willing to subscribe to Disney+ in order to view it, this film is currently streaming on a few platforms, including YoutubeTV where I saw it.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

The Spirit Archives, Vol. 3

I could have finished this book in September. Only there was a Halloween story. So, I took a break until the week before All Hallow's. I read that seasonal tale and progressed until I hit the Thanksgiving story. Hitting the breaks again, this was my last Turkey Day read for 2023. I then kept reading until there came a Christmas caper! So I waited until I got a little bit closer to Santa's arrival. And then I forgot all about this book. 

I had picked up a collection of all of Will Eisner's Christmas Spirit stories. I think after I did the review, I probably got all mixed up in my head and combined that book with this one and just moved on. Thankfully, working on my comic book inventory and filing, I realized that I still had this book to finish. To my delight, I didn't mind all the delays because I really, really love The Spirit. 

This collection is early Will Eisner Spirit. At book's start, the Spirit has only been running in syndicated Sunday newspapers for a year. This edition marks the beginning of year 2 of the Spirit. Eisner's genius is showing through. However, many of those iconic villains have yet to be introduced yet. Arch-enemy, The Octopus and femme fatale P'Gell are about 5 years away from becoming a part of the Spirit's Rogue's Gallery. Childhood love turned law breaker Sand Sarif won't come back into the former Denny Colt's life for another decade. Despite some of these notable absences, there are still some memorable characters to be found inside.

The pint-sized P.S. Smith causes trouble for the Spirit and baddies alike for at least 2 hilarious stories. Spirit sidekick Ebony White has a number of misadventures with his cousin and other family members. And we can't forget Commissioner Dolan's daughter Ellen, who is madly in love with the Spirit. She works so freaking well as the Gal Friday and Kate Hepburn to the Spirit's Cary Grant/Spencer Tracy. But she's also great on her own; especially in a romp where Ellen joins an all-women's football team that's playing a team that is nothing but tough guys in drag attempting to beat the point spread!

By the start of break #1 in my reading of this book, I took to Amazon to buy up a couple more volumes. I knew that my wife wasn't going to get me these for my birthday or Christmas, so I was clear in buying up a couple of books. Thanks to remembering that I needed to review this collection, I went back to Amazon to snag a couple more. These Archive editions are not cheap. They retail for $49.99 and many are either out of print and that means whatever copies of those I manage to find are not cheap. But hopefully, I wind up with all 26 volumes and the complete run of original Will Eisner Spirit stories in my possession.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Deadpool: Black, White & Blood

Over the years, several superheroes have explored their noir sides with black & white miniseries in the style of Frank Miller's Sin City. Not wanting to be outdone, Deadpool adds a bright shade of scarlet (and a few shades of gray) to this minimally colored 4-issue mini-series from 2021. 

As each issue consists of 3 short stories, there are exactly a dozen segments to Deadpool: Black, White & Blood. Several are very bloody. A few feature the Merc with a Mouth teaming up with other characters in the Marvel Universe. All are extremely insane. 

Roughly a team of a dozen talents from comics, Hollywood and Manga offer unique takes on Wade Wilson. All 12 stories were rather good. But some stood out among the rest as being of superior quality. Deadpool's cross-town team-up with Wolverine clone, X-23, was a laugh riot and yet unusual. I didn't know the pair were actually that good of friends as they appear to be in the opening story. In another story that utilizes a disgusting eggplant hue, Deadpool has fallen under the thrall of the Daredevil villain, the Purple Man. Fans who hate what the David Tenant portrayed Purple Man did to Netflix's Jessica Jones, will delight in how even under mind-control, Deadpool still manages to keep the villain on his toes!

The story in which Deadpool visits Omega Red's gentrified Soviet Era town in middle of the the Canadian Rockies, was the zaniest one of them all. Fellow Russian super-villain Ursa Major wants to become the ruler of the makeshift community, igniting an arms race with Omega Red. For once, it's up to Wade Wilson to play referee in between two aging Cold Warriors. 

The story I was most disappointed with guest stars the X-Man, Doop. It was by Mike Allred, who is in my top 5 list of all-time favorite artists. The artwork was impressive as always. But story-wise, things were trippy at best. I read it twice and I still don't think I understand everything that was happening. 

This was a near-perfect anthology of Deadpool stories. The only thing missing was a time travelling epic by one of the definitive Deadpool writers of the past 20 years- Gerry Duggan. Oh! And something by Deadpool creator, Rob Liefeld. As much as I am not a fan of the guy's work, a variant cover by Liefeld would have been nice at least. 

This book comes in 2 formats- your basic trade paperback and a tabloid sized treasury edition. Honestly, I don't see a need for this book to be in the larger size even though that's the format I read it in. Save yourself the $8 and go small!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

The Official Jungle Jim by Alex Raymond Collection (Vol. 1)

Before creating his most popular character, the swashbuckling spaceman Flash Gordon, cartoonist Alex Raymond took readers to the deepest, darkest jungles of the Malay Peninsula. It is there that Jungle Jim Bradley took on poachers, pirates and deadly dames with the help of his trusty servant, Kolu. Jungle Jim wasn't just stuck to the rain forests of Asia. At least one story in this book is set in a British controlled Afghanistan. 

For some reason, I really thought Jungle Jim took place in Africa. With Kolu being black and some of the pirates in the very first story also being black, I would have lost money if you bet me that this series took place in South East Asia. Adding to the confusion is that the series of live-action films that starred Johnny Weissmuller (Tarzan) as Jungle Jim were all set in Africa. Heck, I would be willing to bet money that I've seen at least 1 Jungle Jim flick and mistakenly thought it was a Tarzan feature.

Alex Raymond's artwork is so distinctive. There's a Roman influence on the way the male characters appear. Strong noses. Thin eyes and even thinner hairlines. And chiseled physiques. As for the women, I get the strong sense that Dorothy Lamour was the inspiration to at least one of the female characters in this book.

The Official Jungle Jim by Alex Raymond Collection was Pioneer's only graphic novel sized collection of strips. The action stops in the middle of a story with nothing like a 'To be Continued' or any other claim to finding out more in the pages of another volume. This also happened with the Official Prince Valiant Collection Pioneer published at around the same time as this. Pioneer did release 17 comic book sized issues of strips, along with 1 annual. From what I can tell, this trade paperback collects at least the first 3 issues of the floppies series that ran from 1988-89. But as to whether that multi-year series managed to collect the entire story is another unknown to me.

That all being said, if I was to run across a nice collection of Alex Raymond Jungle Jim strips (for a nice price, mind you), I would definitely add it to my collection. The artwork was amazing. The stories were pretty good, despite being a tad dated and bearing norms and action that by 2020's standards are archaic. On at least 2 occasions, Jim slaps a female for getting too emotional. I see these books as historic documents of the 1930s time period full of artistic genius and flawed ideals of masculinity and Anglo-American Imperialism. But above all, I enjoy these books as they take me to corners of the world I've never visited; let alone knew existed.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Comics Presents #164

3 all-new segments either start or appear in this issue. 

The ever-lovin' Blue Eyed Thing, Ben Grimm, gets in an altercation on the streets of the Big Apple. One of the victims is a young boy's rabbit that escapes its cage and flees into the NYC subway system. Leave it to the founding member of the Fantastic Four to begrudgingly track the little fella all the way through many a rat infested tunnel...

Then for the first time since a one-shot appearance in MCP #29 and the first time headlining a multiparter since all the way back in issues 1-12, Man-Thing returns. The first segment isn't really action-packed. It also stars Ted Sallis' former lover Ellen Brandt and is more of a refresher of the Man-Thing's origin story than anything else.

Rounding things out on the debut front is another Vengeance story. This one involves two blasts from Michael Badilino's past. First is the energy-absorbing mutant, Psiphon. Next is the former special forces member and demon hunter/hater, Samson Buchanan who now possesses a more deadlier version of the famed Exorcist gun from some previous MCP story that I can't quite recall. I think it was during the Midnight Sons story line...

The only continuing segment involves the sometime Avenger, Tigra. She's gone on the hunt for some slavers who have captured members of an indigenous Australian tribe that Tigra has taken refuge with. Needless to say, she's pissed.

The Thing's story was sweet and enduring. Another reason to love the members of Marvel's First Family. The Man-Thing story is an origin story. If you kinda know the story, then things are mostly yesterday's news. If anything has been rebooted, I'm not that familiar with the character to have picked through the changes. The Vengeabnce story promises to be another exciting tale that wisely focuses on Badilino's police force career as much as his time as a Ghost Rider. As for the Tigra story, the level of excitement is getting higher as this is the penultimate chapter. But the real winner here again is John Czop's amazing artwork.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Actionlogy #1

Empire Comics Lab has a new anthology series for fans of rough and tumble action. Let's take a look at the first issue of Actionology!

Actionology #1
Written by Eric Bowen, Alexter Albury, David Noe, Dave Hearn
Art by Eric Bowen, Alexter Albury, Stan Timmons, Gary O'Donnell
Inks and Letters by Andy 'Shaggy' Korty
Published by
Price: $4.00

Do the following movies hold significance to you in any way? Die Hard. They Live. Manimal.  Then Actionology is the comic book you've been looking for all your life.

The debut issue of Actionology is comprised of a quartet of stories. The first story titled 'The Butcher and the Hound' appears to be a feature that will continue throughout further issues of this comic. The cover image story involves an athletic woman who is more than meets the eye. When a mysterious hit-man who can shape-shift attacks our heroine, she morphs into a canine-like creature. The level of action goes to 11. Unfortunately, the story ends with readers still without answers as to the main characters origins. I guess we'll just have to wait for issue #2.

The second story is a horror tale of vengeance. There's elements of DC's Batman: Red Rain, Marvel's Sleepwalker and Dark Horse's The Mask, as a man bound to a cursed face covering must feed on the souls of the evil in order to survive. Finally thinking that he has achieved a way to stop his ghoulish urges, the curse is unleashed once again. Ultimately, the choice between salvation of a loved-one and the eternal damnation of one's own soul is what awaits he who disturbed the slumber of vengeance.

The last two stories were my ultimate favorites. '30:00' pits a young woman against a horde of killers. It's twist ending kinda screams of the perils of some of our essential workers who must earn a living in the age of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Then there's 'Barry Baxion: Man of Action'. The story by Dave Hearn had a telegraphed ending. But that story was rather funny. I loved it's almost absurdist take to it. It felt like a yarn that could have taken place in the same universe of The Tick and Arthur!

The first issue of Actionology is a mixed bag of genres. As with any anthology series, there are some stories that have great art but not so good storytelling. Maybe the beginning of one story was rough. But that ending was one that will stick to a man's conscious til the day he dies. That's how I felt about this first issue. There were elements that I didn't enjoy. But I can say truly that every story in this comic had parts that I greatly enjoyed.

I have a rule when it comes to watching a new TV series. I always give it 3 episodes. The pilot often gets retooled thanks to producers. And the second episode is often a pilot of the pilot. But by the third episode, if something is worth consuming, the brilliance will have shined through. That's how I fell about Actionology. It's a diamond in the rough. You can see the radiant glow shining through. But there's still some rough spots to smooth out.

Remember, both Lobo and Wolverine where a heck of a lot different when they made their debuts as opposed to the iconic characters that fans now idolize! Be sure to give this impressive new series a chance today!

Actionlogy #1 is currently available for sale online at the Empire Comics Lab website.

If your LCS doesn’t carry Cemetery Plots, do like Stan Lee told us to do in the old days, and demand they start carrying this spooky new anthology today! And if your really good (and nearby), I hear that some of the talents might even arrange a book signing while they're at it!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

GR-8 (Family Comic Friday)

We might all be stuck indoors right now. But thanks to the crew of the GR-8, prepare to blast off beyond the stars in this week’s Family Comic Friday!

GR-8 
Written by Stephen Tramontana
Art by David Pentecost
Colors by Juan M. Rodriguez
Published by Red Rhino Comics

GR-8 is a thrilling sci-fi digital comic from Red Rhino Comics. The first two issues have already debuted on Comixiology with more chapters expected monthly. Young human Cal and his rhino-looking alien friend Red have stumbled upon a conspiracy aboard their home ship, the GR-8.

Now fugitives along with GR-8’s head of security Commander Aziva, Cal and Red must find a way to clear their names and rescue Cal’s parents. Doing so will put the trio in peril both in space and throughout the numerous uncharted planets that they encounter along the way. Let’s not forget about the eclectic crew of the GR-8 and the wild characters that occupy this vast Red Rhino universe! I am a big fan of David Pentecost’s creative artwork on these amazing creatures.

I really enjoyed how this series is changing locales in each issue. The first issue was in the cold hard void of outer space. It’s perfect for introducing us to Cal as he longs for some adventure. The second issue becomes a western as Cal and friends crash land on a frontier planet. Be sure to appreciate the ambiance while on these visits as the varying color schemes make each setting seem that much more alive.

I can’t wait to see what’s in store next for Cal, Red and Aziva. I am hoping that each further issue will continue to change not only locations but themes as the trio attempt to vindicate themselves. With the introduction of the roguish Captain Roark, I feel like the level of action is going to hit into warp speeds!

GR-8 has elements of Star Wars and Star Trek. But I am glad that while writer and co-creator Stephen Tramontana uses those franchises as inspiration, this new comic series doesn’t feel like a repeat of either.

I am especially glad that the writer doesn’t fall down the same rabbit hole Star Trek: The Next Generation did it’s first couple of seasons on air. When TNG first debuted, it seemed like wunderkind Wesley Crusher was always saving the day aboard a whole starship full of so-called expert adults who couldn’t fight their way out of a wet paper sack. In GR-8, Cal and Red seem like real kids. They save the day from time to time. But it’s often by accident. And the way they bicker and fight- Cal and Red sound like real kids whereas Wesley always sounded like nebbish brat.

GR-8 is a fun adventure for the whole family. Issue 2 definitely excels over issues #1. Most of that is due to the need to establish the characters. But once the adventurous aspects of the story kicks in- POW! You won’t know what hit you!

While I am disappointed that I’ll have to wait for issue #3, I can’t recommend this series enough. GR-8 is a perfect series for families to enjoy while stuck inside 4 walls during a time of social distancing. As you read over these 2 issues, you’ll forget (if only for a brief while) that you are in a quarantine situation.

Ideal for readers 6-10. However, this is an all-ages family friend read that offers something for everyone to enjoy! GR-8 starts off as a sci-fi adventure that evolves into an epic undefined by genre! It’s an adventure of a lifetime as experienced through the pages of digital comics!

Become a part of this great assortment of thrills today!

GR-8 issues #1 and 2 are currently available on Comixology.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

This review was concurrently published on Outrightgeekery.com. 

James Bond: Solstice

Writer/Artist: Ibrahim Moustafa
Colorist: Jordan Boyd
Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment
Price: $4.99

Dynamite Entertainment presents the first ever James Bond Christmas Special!

007 is sent on a clandestine mission. An ousted Kremlin operative is seeking a chance to worm his way back into Russia’s good graces. The spies plan is to woo the daughter of a very high-up official in MI6 over the holidays and then return to London with a mole in British Intelligence. It’s Bond’s unofficial job to see that this Russian baddie never makes it to Christmas morning. For you see, the father of this young girl is none other than that of James’ superior, the mysterious M!

This very special holiday special was a success! For a property like 007, it would be quite risky to do a holiday special as those can be quite sappy. But Solstice is in the vein of Die Hard in that with Christmas as the time of year this story is set, you could argue that it’s not really a holiday special. James Bond is not visited by Santa Claus or Ghosts of Christmases Past, Present or Future. By the end of this 32-pager, 007’s heart doesn’t grow 3-sizes too large. And just because he carries a gun, at no point does this MI6 man shoot his eye out!

Writer and Artist Ibrahim Moustafa (Doctor Fate) did an amazing double-duty job. His story was rather clean cut. There wasn’t an element of conspiracy or implied buried secrets that has dogged some previous Dynamite Entertainment takes on the Ian Fleming character. His art was quite simple and very sleek like a James Bond film. I felt like I was reading an adaptation of the next James Bond movie!

A lot of this praise is also due to the dynamic color palette of Evolution’s Jordan Boyd. He incorporates holiday colors into a rather bleak Paris winter landscape without making you think an elf vomited all over the page. And man, are those explosive yellows and oranges eye searing!

Solstice is not one of James Bond’s typical adventures. Yes, there’s lots of action and adventure. A great story as well. But when it comes to the ladies, there’s no love interest to distract from the story, aside from the required flirting session with Moneypenny.
If you are looking for a comic to get into the holiday spirit that’s not a typical Christmas special, then may I recommend this book? It’s a very quick read but overall worth every cent.

James Bond: Solstice debuted in comic shops nationwide on November 22nd.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

The Woods, Volume 3: New London

In the first volume, a handful of students from Bay Point Prep decided to explore their new surroundings in hopes of finding a way of returning back to earth. Now those students find themselves guests of earlier inhabitants.

Residing in a township called New London, some of these citizens can trace their lineage back hundreds of years. With over 400 young people newly arrived on this mysterious planet, the ruler of New London, The Duke, sees new recruits to conscript in the town's dwindling army used to defend his lands from a malicious force. Now it's a race back to Bay Point in hopes of warning the students of the coming army of conscriptors. But a new player has taken a leadership role at Bay Point and the stakes have never been more deadlier!

James Tynion IV continues to take this amazing series into new realms. I don't feel like the Woods ever gets stale. Tynion isn't afraid to kill off beloved characters or place them in impossible situations. The author also puts as much of himself into the flashback sequences as the action packed scenes on the forbidden planet. So much that I feel like the Woods is one of the most perfectly balanced comics ever.

The art of Michael Dialynas is also very well crafted. He creates some wondrous alien creatures that are whimsical, terrifying, or both at the same time. I don't give it as much praises as I should because of the amazing story. But Dialynas’ art is just as vital to this series as Tynion’s writing.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Kid Savage, Volume 1 (Family Comic Friday)

     A top-of-the-line space ship crashes onto an alien world. Light years from home, dad Gerard and his children Alina and Ethan are not only lost; they're stranded. If the family can stay on the wreckage until help comes, they might just survive. But when a giant alien mistakes the ship for food, the survivors will have to rely on their skills alone. Unfortunately, Gerard and his family don't have any skills that don't involve technology.

      Likely to not survive the night, the dysfunctional family meet a young inhabitant of the planet. With his savage skills in hunting and war as well as knowledge of the local flora and fauna, Gerard's family just might have a chance. But is their new ally up to the task of survival expert? For on his own home planet, he is an outcast. For this Kid Savage is considered by his former tribe to be as unskilled as his new friends really are.

     Kid Savage is the first volume in a proposed series of graphic novels by Deadpool's Joe Kelly and British illustrator Iyla. There's definitely a dynamic of the Space Family Robinson (AKA Lost In Space) with this book. But with Kid Savage added to the mix, I was reminded of the 1971 film Walkabout.

    For you who may not know this movie, it's from Australia. In the film, a pair of civilized children lost in the Outback meet with an Aborigine boy. The boy shows them survival skills in order to get them back home. That's really what Kid Savage is in a nutshell and I loved it.

    The artwork was really good. It's a stunning mix of sleek hi-tech and paleo folk art. The panels don't quite go in traditional sequential fashion. So it gets a little tricky to read as you have to got it a sort of pinwheel fashion with every splash page to follow the action. 

      Another thing that I was not a fan of was the annoying banter of the brother and sister. When they interact with Dad Gerard, I can tolerate them. But together, I just want to bash their heads together and leave them unconscious while Gerard and Kid Savage try to find help. Maybe in volume 2, Alina and Ethan will get a little more civilized...

     This 2017 graphic novel by Image was an exciting read. Lots of creative thrills and chills. Kid Savage's story of redemption is equally as interesting as Gerard's family's quest of endurance. In fact, it might even be just a little bit more compelling to read as those scenes have real heart to them. This book wasn't perfect but then again no family or situation is. As long as the next chapter continues to grow the characters of the human kids in a more positive direction, I expect to be on this journey until the end.

     Some scenes can be a little intense for younger readers. So, I recommend it for fans of action and adventure ages 12 and up.

    Worth Consuming!

     Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Captain Marvel, Volume 3: Alis Volat Propriis (Marvel NOW!)

   Carol Danver’s sabbatical in space is about to come to an end. But before it does, Captain Marvel must rescue her beloved cat, Chewie from a band of space pirates. But her mission won't be easy as her ship has been sabotaged and Chewie’s captors have a commanding lead over the cosmic powered Avenger. Good thing she's located a wormhole that should beat the catnappers to their destination. Too bad Carol didn't get the message to 'avoid the space envelope’ from her extraterrestrial friends.

  Then the series of Captain Marvel comes to a close when friends of Carol's pay a fond farewell to a fallen friend. Is the dearly departed Captain Marvel or someone close to her? I won't spoil it, folks. You'll just have to read this for yourself to find out.

   This volume contains the last issues of the 2014-15 series before the continuity skewing events of last year's Secret Wars. This volume was a fun read, but it lacked a little of the charm of the previous volumes. I think that's mostly because the only characters in this book are Marvel and her sarcastic spaceship, Harrison. They have some classic moments of banter but most of their interactions involve really horrible puns. 

( Hmmm… Harrison… Chewie… I think someone's got a thing for a certain scruffy- looking Nerf Herder…)

 The final chapter, however, was something special. It had that little spark of heart and humanity missing from the rest of the book. Plus, it cleared up several questions that I had from the 2012 series that contains events just prior to Danver's mission of self-discovery in the furthest reaches of outer space.

   Though this series is through it is not the end of my doings with the Carol Danvers Captain Marvel. I happened to get my hands on her Secret Wars miniseries but don't worry, I haven't spoiled the ending of this series by revealing my reading list as Secret Wars is an amalgamation of different Marvel stories and timelines.

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Deadpool (2016 Film)

 Wade Wilson is a mercenary with a heart, that's trying to do some good in the world while making a little dough. He's got a super hot girlfriend and he just earned enough tickets to win that Voltron Defender ring he's been wanting for so long. Things are just starting to look up for the guy when he's diagnosed with really, really bad cancer.

    Hoping to spare his girl with the effects of the disease, Wade accepts an offer to enter a program that will cure his cancer along with blessing him with super powers and finally become the hero he's always dreamed of being. But he's actually being trapped into a medical program that seeks to turn him into the ultimate killing machine through enslavement, torture, and disfigurement. 

   When his lab jail is destroyed, Wade Wilson dies and the merc with a mouth, Deadpool arises like a phoenix from the ashes. Now cancer-free, nearly immortal, and just as indestructible,  the assassin seeks to find the man who turned him into a real-life Frankenstein- first to restore his 'good looks' and then kick his ass. But when the villain kidnaps his former girlfriend, Mrs. Wilson's baby boy is going to have to call in the big guns of X-Man Colossus to save the day.

    Deadpool is the superhero movie fans have been promised for so long and finally deserved. But it's not for kids. The film is rated R and it's a hard R at that. There's tons of sex, lots of nudity, decapitations and other general dismemberments galore, and more language than legally allowed by Captain America. But the film's also funny as hell.

    Ryan Reynolds is perfect as the Merc With a Mouth. And Gotham's Morena Baccarin is the perfect romantic foil to the leading man's smart-assed look at life. The villains of Ajax and Angel Dust played respectively by Game of Thrones' Ed Skrein and MMA superstar Gina Carino are excellent baddies that deserve what's coming to them. But the characters that steal the movie are of Colossus and his mutant apprentice, Negasonic Teenage Warhead played by newcomer Brianna Hildebrand.

   But while Colossus's fractured mastery of the English language was one of the highlights of the film, his appearance was a major detractor. The character, one of my all-time favorite X-Men behind only Nightcrawler, is voice by German actor Stefan Kapicic. But on screen, the mutant big man is 100% CGI. Sadly, the metal on the Tin Man from the Wizard of Oz looked more realistic than the chrome on Colossus. 

    One thing this film got right was how they set up the story. First of all, it doesn't start off as an origin film. Most superhero movies begin with a build up that takes a good 45-minutes before the superhero main character finally appears. Not so here. You first glimpse Deadpool opening a can of whoop-ass on some baddies and then the film flip-flops from the past to the present, giving the viewer a good origin story but not without some outstanding action scenes in between. 

    Another thing one must understand is that this film is in no way a reboot of X-Men Origins: Wolverine. That Deadpool is as true as the one in this film. Events that occurred in X-Men: Days of Future Past created a tangent universe and this Deadpool is very cognizant of the change in continuity. 

   In the comics, Deadpool breaks the fourth wall and is very aware that he exists inside a comic book. That's the same case here as Reynolds' character makes allusions to his Wolverine movie existence as well as once being a certain Emerald Guardian in the DC Universe. But many of these jokes are subtle easter eggs and if you trek to the bathroom during the film, you'll miss tons...

   This is the beginning of a Deadpool movie franchise and with Reynolds as the star, I don't think it can fail. But as I said earlier, this is not a movie for kids. Last night, a single mom brought her son who couldn't have been older than 7 and she stormed out a half hour into the movie. It's a nearly NC-17 rated film folks, don't take your kids to see this, folks! 

   But for you, the dedicated mature super-hero fan, don't you go skipping this movie to go see Zootopia! This is the movie you've been asking for for decades. Enjoy it (and shower afterward...) Disney didn't get their hands on this character and for once, I am glad they didn't. But your favorite mutants, while often screwed over by Marvel in the comics now, thanks to mean ol' Mickey Mouse, can only truly be themselves under the leadership of FOX. So don't let them slip back into the fold of the House of Mouse! Go see this movie!!!

   Support Your Local Mutants! Wade Wilson might personally thank you- I know I will!!!

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Silverblade #4

    In the last issue, a seance gone horribly wrong resulted in the death of a family in the Hollywood hills. Used in the ceremony was an old costume of deceased actor Brian Vane's. During the late 60s, Vane was a crimefighter called the Winged Avenger. Like TV's Batman, the show was hokey but it was a camp classic. It was also the last series Vane worked on when he killed himself so it's the perfect conductor to summon the actor's spirit. Only, the man leading the seance, an elderly Native American named Blackfeather had other intentions and used the costume to become the vessel for a malevolent entity called the Executioner. 

    Now, the Executioner in the guise of the Winged Avenger is wreaking havoc over the skyline of Hollywood. Thankfully, there's Jonathan Lord to the rescue. In the form of his most famous character, the Silver Blade, Lord is currently a fierce gargoyle with the ability to flying. Which is perfect, since the Winged Avenger can fly too! 

   Another really good chapter in a maxi-series that I think is finally going somewhere. Obviously, the Executioner is an enemy of the Falcon spirit and the Falcon sensing that someone was about to unleash it, bestowed special powers on Jonathan Lord in hopes he'll combat it. But only when the Winged Avengers tries to kill friends of the former actor, does Jonathan finally take action. 

   Speaking of action, this issue was jammed packed with it. The aerial scenes between the two flying combatants were some of the most visually stunning this side of Spidey taking on the Green Goblin or even the Vulture. Gene Colan shows that he truly is a master in those pages.

    Another neat feature starting to pop up in the issues are bits of articles, selected filmographies, and important documents that shed a little light on the characters in this story. Those extras help to make this story seem like it was plucked right from the Hollywood tabloids and I suspect that Alan Moore borrowed this concept in his numerous 'League of Extraordinary Gentlemen' series. (He was working at DC at the time of this book's publication, so it is possible. But if I have offended Mr. Moore for this suggestion, I do apologize.)

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Silverblade #2

   Jonathan Lord just received a slew of new super powers. He's got the ability to become any of the characters he played in his lengthy acting career. He also gains their abilities, too! And he just got younger by about 40 years. But instead of becoming a superhero, Jonathan does what most of us would do- he uses his powers for himself.

    First on his list is to arrive at a high-profile movie premiere and announce to the world that Jonthan Lord, Jr is gunning for the lead role in the Silver Blade remake! Along with becoming the envy of the Hollywood elite and scoring with a hot babe reporter, J Lord, Jr. has also become a target of the same villain who tried to kill him in the first issue. And he's using a man dressed as the sam duck-faced killer in the movie premiere to do they job left unfinished at Lord's Shangri-la compound.

   Having Lord be more selfish than trying to help his fellow man was kinda refreshing. Instead of the typical superhero fodder, the act of having the main character be more interested in reviving his career and sow some oats means that I, the reader, am in for an unexpected wild ride.

   I can't wait for what happens next. But I do hope it gets somewhere understandable quick.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Silverblade #1

  Jonathan Lord had it all- good looks, a lucrative movie career, ladies, fame, and fortune. Bad decisions, vices, and age have caused Jonathan to loose just about everything except his mansion Shangri-la and a modest nest egg, thanks to his most famous role the Silver Blade, which is due to be a blockbuster at movie theatres next summer. Now, a virtual recluse, Lord stays in his private screening room, watching his younger self on screen over and over.

    Jonathan's butler Bobby Milestone, is a former child actor who starred in the Silver Blade with Jonathan. Unable to find work, Milestone ended up becoming Jonathan's butler. As a hobby, Milestone collects replicas of the Maltese Falcon which he finds at memorabilia shops around Hollywood. Looking to rob Shangri-la for a big pay day and possible snuff out Lord on the side, Milstone's collection is destroyed by a pair of thugs. 

   Yet, when one of his newest acquisitions that winds up being the actual Maltese Falcon, breaks on impact, the former movie legend is blessed with magical powers of a all-consuming flame that bathes Jonathan. Now with the ability to become any of the characters he portrayed on screen and suddenly 40 years younger, what will Jonathan Lord do with his new lease on life?

    I had seen ads for this maxi-series from 1987-88 since I started collecting comics again in 2007. But it wasn't until a year ago that I finally found several of these issues at a comic book store in Asheville. It took a few more months but I finally completed this collection and was ready to read it and then I got busy reading other stuff. That was until I came across an ad in an old issue of something from DC and it sparked my interest to give this series a go.

    The first chapter starts off slow. But I assume that will 11 more issues, the build-up in introducing the major players was sorely needed. Once the robbers attack Lord's compound, the story, written by Cary Bates (Justice League of America, Superman), really took off. Next thing I know it, the story says 'to be continued' and I've reached the back cover. 

   The art team behind this series is an all-star group of some of the best talents in DC Comics history. Gene Colan, Joe Orlando, Anthony Tollin, and Klaus Johnson are just a handful of the talented artists that worked on this series. Oh, if only this was the 90s and I could've gotten this issue signed. Man, that would've been a treasure.

   Not bad for an opening chapter. It shows promise. I just expect a lot more in issue #2.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

San Andreas

 

So, yesterday, I didn't get much of a chance to type up a review and that's for good reason. I spent my Saturday with my beautiful wife at the movies. The film we choose to see was the disaster film, San Andreas. Starring the Rock, Carla Gugino, and Paul Giamatti, I almost expected this film to be a disaster unto itself, but I was pleasantly surprised.

    The premise of the film is simple: California which is long overdue for a giant earthquake, experiences the biggest earth shaker in recorded history. The Rock (Dwayne Johnson) is a chopper pilot for the LA Fire Department and must rescue his estranged wife and daughter from a pair of quakes in the City of Angels and San Francisco. Meanwhile, a professor at Cal Tech played by the always great Paul Giamatti, has developed  a new system for predicting earthquakes and uses the new found knowledge to alert the general public thanks to an intrepid reporter played by Archie Panjabi of the Good Wife. 

   It's pretty standard disaster movie fare as everything that the expert warns about at the beginning of the film must occur (and does) before the end of the film. Throw it a handful of helpful survival tips, some incredible bad luck and even more unbelievable good luck and you have San Andreas. Oh, and don't forget the cliches such as the highrise door that plummets to nowhere, scientists yelling 'nobody is listening to me" and at least one super-heroic adrenaline filled toss of a child and/ or girl from impending doom!

   Now here's what surprised me: The Rock actually wasn't that bad of an actor in this movie. He was intelligent enough for me to believe that he could actually save the day. However, there was a couple of scenes, like one where a guy tries to carjack him that I was ready for the former wrestler to lift his trademark eyebrow and give the gunman a flying elbow. 

  Another thing that surprised me was that despite a recent commercial giving away the ending, mostly in particular who lives and who dies, I actually did not feel like that trailer ruined the entire movie. Plus the stunning visual effects were realistic enough for me to forget that blasted commercial and enjoy myself. Sadly, whoever was in charge of photoshop didn't do such a great job as old photos of the Rock's family looked like superimposed heads on a 1980s nuclear family.

    I had mentioned earlier that the Rock's acting wasn't so bad and it wasn't but who stole the film for me were the duo of Hugo Johnstone-Burt and Art Parkinson who play English brothers in San Francisco on holiday (that's British for vacation) and end up befriending the daughter of the Rock's character during the melee. I expect to see much more of them in the future, especially younger Parkinson whose already gained some fame as Rickon Stark from Game of Thrones.

   More of a feast for the eyes and that part of the brain that enjoys guilty pleasures. If Jurassic World is sold out, this isn't a bad alternative to turning around and going back home. 

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Legends of the DC Universe #38

  The Traitor Trilogy ends with what might not have been the most well written or most well-drawn issue- but it sure was one of the most action packed issues ever! The Traitor is looking for revenge at the hands of the Green Lanterns of the past who have bested him over the past 150 years. Happy to oblige, Kyle Raynor, freed from exile on a barren asteroid, uses his power ring to resurrect Hal Jordan, Abin Sur, and Sur's predecessor in titanic fashion.

    The ending was both shocking and awesome. It ends the story on a high note all while paying tribute to previous chapters of this trilogy. But hopefully, this really is the end of the traitor because I think he was at his pinnacle in terms of obsession, powers, and brute strength. To continue on would start to make his appearances in Legends of the DC Universe a little tedious and then he'd start to wear out his welcome. Though I wouldn't mind seeing more of the Kyle Raynor GL in not only this book but his own title as well.

   Am I starting to become interested in reading and/ or collecting the books that chronicle his run as the Lantern? Only time will tell, but if this review was a magic 8-ball, it would have to say "outlook good."

   Worth Consuming

    Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Avengers: Age of Ultron

 It's getting to be a Free Comic Book Day Tradition for Marvel to issue a new live-action feature film during that same weekend. It started with the first Thor movie in 2011 and has continued ever since. The media was making a big deal that this week was the biggest week in sports history what with the Red Sox and Yankees playing, NBA and NHL playoffs, the NFL draft, a NASCAR race, and the Mayweather fight. But I argue that with the release of Avengers: Age of Ultron, along with FCBD, this is the biggest weekend in geekdom!

    Age of Ultron was fantastic. It's the Empire Strikes Back of Marvel sequels as it was 10 times better than the first Avengers movie. Why it's even set to break all of the records the first film did in 2012. So if you have yet to see it, you are in for a treat, just be sure to get to it early as even on a Sunday afternoon, it was pretty crowded. 

    Age of Ultron starts off with the team attacking a Hydra base in Central Europe in hopes of retrieving Loki's staff, stolen during Winter Soldier. When the Avengers finally take the base, Tony Stark is ambushed by the Hydra influenced Maximoff Twins, Pietro and Wanda, who show Stark a vision of the future in which Iron Man's failures resulted in the end of life on earth. 

    Determined to not let this happen, Tony and Bruce Banner work to design an Artificial Intelligence that would cover the earth in a defensive shell and hopefully put the super hero in retirement. But when the programming takes a life of its own in the form of Ultron, the Avengers find themselves on the run of their lives. 

    This film has everything- action, adventure, a budding romance between two Avengers, great banter and running jokes galore. It also has a ton of superhero cameos, along with the occasional villain. But with the numerous interweaving plots and threads in this film, it's getting to the point where if you aren't watching all of the films, you're going to get lost quickly and that includes the supposedly unconnected Guardians of the Galaxy. When it comes to comic books, I hate it when you have to read a different title for the story to continue but since Marvel films come out at a rate of about once every few months, I actually like the interlocking storylines of the movies.

   The film as I mentioned before was heavy on action. While the opening attack on Hydra had some sequences that looked a little fake, the majority of the special effects were stunning. Speaking of stunning, the Iron Monger suit that's been popping up in the films as an easter egg since the end of the Edward Norton Hulk film finally gets some use. Thanks to some nasty tricks of the Scarlett Witch, the Hulk goes on a rampage that only Tony Stark's mighty armor can stop and holy cow! (And established fans, be ready to be overwhelmed by a scene at the end of the film in which all of the Avengers battle a legion of Ultrons. It was like that moment was taken from the dreams of George Perez, as there's so much happening in such a confined space.)

   I must warn you that some of the action in that scene is too intense for a very young child. I know this from personal experience as no less than 3 kids under the age of 5 went into simultaneous fits because if the violence during the showing I went too.

    As for whether this is a film for the whole family, I'm going to say no. The are some violent scenes that might be too much for those under the age of 10. There's also a little bit of language though that's not too much of an issue as there aren't any biggies. But this is a PG-13 movie for goodness sakes and the character of Ultron did seem to scare some kids in the theater.

    Speaking of Ultron, he was voiced by the always amazing James Spader. He gave the terrifying robot a very scary vibe balanced with some great one-liners that help prevent the character from being a total 'monster.' As for monsters, Mark Ruffalo's troubled Bruce Banner and his quest to balance the beast within was very well done and he should be nominated for a Golden Globe for his dual role of man and monster/ Hulk.

   The film had a ton of easter eggs. Most of them hint as the next chapter in the series; Infinity Gauntlet, parts one and two. But the seeds of descension planted by the mind games of the Scarlett Witch, played by a very goth Elizabeth Olsen, I think will play heavily into the next Captain America film based on the epic Civil War storyline. The line for that 2016 film starts right here, behind me!

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Amazing Spider-Man 2

              

   After missing it in theaters and then somehow passing it on HBO and OnDemand, I finally got my hands on a copy of Amazing Spider-Man 2. This action romp through the Big Apple on the web-swinging back of your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man pits the hero against the armored Rhino, the electrifying Electro, and the creepy Green Goblin all the while balancing love and job in his civilian life as Peter Parker. On paper, this should be a slam dunk. But at almost two and a half hours long the film's momentum is paced sporadically as the plot gets really dragged out and then all of a sudden it gets jammed pack with a dizzying array action and adventure.

   Amazing Spider-Man left me pleasantly disappointed. It has some very good acting. With the exception of Heath Ledger's Joker, that's not really what superhero films are known for. There were some very fun scenes that succeed thanks to the great acting. But overall the film feel flat in areas that comic based films are praised for, especially plot and SFX.

Andrew Garfield's timing and poise as Spider-Man/ Peter Parker is excellent. The way he makes Spider-Man a thriving part of New York and his scenes with everyday people and the real heroes of the city, the NYPD and NYFD, while in costume were perfect.
 
   Then you got Jamie Fox who played a nerdy uberfan of Spidey's named Max Dillon, who is turned into the misunderstood Electro was fantastic as well. There was a real character progression to Dillon that made him a sympathetic foe. Plus there was great chemistry between Garfield and Fox in their few scenes together.

   Speaking of chemistry, Andrew Garfield's Peter and Emma Stone's Gwen Stacy got it! Maybe it;s because the two are lovers in real life, but they made ASM2 a kind of romantic comedy in the vein of Tracy and Hepburn. Even Paul Giamatti as Rhino was good though I think his Russian accent needed work because I couldn't understand a word he was saying. (OKAY- maybe it was too good!)

    If this was the only dynamic of Amazing Spider-Man 2 then the film would be an instant classic. But the writers, producers, and director decided to add Norman and Harry Osborn into the mix. Norman, played by Chris Cooper, has some sort of terrible auto-immune disease. His search for a cure is what leads to OsCorp conducting its research with spiders that ultimately bite Parker and give him his powers. With Norman's death, his company is handed over to his son, Harry. When Peter tries to reach out to his old friend, the film spirals into about 45 minutes of Harry trying to find a cure for the genetic condition he inherited from his father. It may be important to understanding Harry's character and motivation, but it really slows the film to a snails pace.

   Harry's search for a cure winds up taking on the mystery behind the death of Peter's folks. Peter finds a satchel that belonged to his father and that spins the film off into yet another tangent. Sure, Peter's search does provide some much needed scientific jargon as to why that spider's bite gave him special powers but that's about all it does to benefit the film.

   Ideally with all of the tangents and sprawling plotlines, this film should have been cut into two movies and Amazing Spider-Man turned into a trilogy. But with a major deal struck between Marvel Studios and Sony to add Spidey to the official Marvel movie universe,  I think the plans to make this film series into a trilogy were scrapped in order to get Spider-Man into 'Captain America: Civil War' as soon as possible. (It's rumored that this is the movie in which Spidey will be introduced to the MMU.)

   Sadly, Andrew Garfield will not be portraying the wall-crawler in the forthcoming Captain America flick. In fact the Peter Parker Spider-Man might not even be featured in the forthcoming Spider-Man cinematic reboot scheduled for release around 2019. ( In an effort for a more diverse Marvel film universe, rumor has it that the half black, half Latino Miles Morales Spider-Man will appear in Civil War.)

  Yes- the Spider-Man franchise is going to get a second reboot in less than 5 years time! And for that reason alone, I feel that that this film tries to do too much because there won't be an Amazing Spider-Man 3 to round out the unanswered questions of the first film. One such question is still unanswered- just who is the guy in the shadows at the prison for bad guys? He pops up again in this film and I still don't know who the heck he is.

   Amazing Spider-Man 2 is a rare type of superhero film. It's acting was far better than the story and don't get me started on the special effects. Maybe it's because I watched this film on DVD but the action scenes involving Spidey were so fake looking. But during Stan Lee's tenure are the mastermind behind the Marvel Age of Comics, his stories were known for being heavy on character and drama and that's what happens here. I just hope Marvel Studios allows Andrew Garfield a much-needed swan song before the pass on the mantle of Spider-Man to whoever is cast as the Miles Morales Spidey.

   Rating: 5 out of 10 stars.

Fairest, Volume 4: Of Men and Mice

   When a mysterious group of assassins attempt to kill Snow White, the Sheriff of Fabletown calls on his secret weapon to get to the bottom of things- Cinderella. But when those same assassins destroy Cinder's shoe store, it's clear that she's also a target. But why and who's behind it? Cinder believes that her fairy godmother is behind these attacks but when a sniper's bullet leaves the loopy godmother in a coma; the list of culprits gets longer. The search for answers will have Cinderella crisscrossing the globe in an adventure that introduces some never before revealed Indian fables as well pitting the one-time princess against a murderous stepsister.

   This volume is an exciting journey that reveals the secrets behind Cinderella's magic night at Prince Charming's castle. But I'm not  sure why Cinderella is featured in this series. The glass slippered beauty has been the subject of two miniseries titled 'Cinderella' so why was this action-packed origin story published in the pages of Fairest?

    I understand that Fairest is a series devoted to the mighty ladies of Fabletown and yes Cinderella is both A) a lady and B) a resident of Fabletown. But I would think that since Cinderella is the star of her own titles then the six issues published in this volume should have been devoted to another fair lady of the Fables series who's yet to have her season in the sun. That's not to say that this volume of Fairest is not essential reading for any fan of Fables.

    The actions in this storyline have ramifications that are currently affecting that epic series as it nears its final 150th issue. The foreshadowed return of Bigby Wolf and the escalating civil war between Rose Red and Snow White plays important components in this book. Because of those tie-ins, this volume is actually a very good starting point for fans of Fables who've yet to give Fairest a chance. If you love the mystery, action,  magic, and sex appeal of Fables then you need to try on Fairest.

   Trust me, it will fit.

     Worth Consuming

    Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.