Morbius

I'm not sure why 2022's Morbius got so much hate. The film isn't very long, clocking in at about 1 hour and 40 minutes. An origin story, it doesn't drag things out too badly. The plot is pretty cut and dry.  Jared Leto's acting is way better than his Joker from Suicide Squad. Matt Smith is fantastic. The visual effects are pretty good. With exception of just 1 fight scene, the dreaded slo-mo effects are virtually non-existent in the movie. In fact, it's a pretty fast paced action horror movie that seems more on par to star Wesley Snipe's hybrid vampire hunter, Blade than being a Sony Pictures film set in the Spidey-verse. 

So why am I not singing it's praises? Mainly, because I was so bored with this movie.

I DVR'd Morbius last Thanksgiving. I had passed on going to see it in theaters because of how much hate the movie was getting in the reviews as well as my social media feeds. Going to the movies has gotten so expensive, if it's not something I'm thrilled to watch, I'm not going to suggest my godson and I go out to see it. I tried watching it during the holiday break. Then again at Christmas until finally finishing it yesterday. I just couldn't get into it.

The story of Morbius is fairly simple. Guy with a rare and crippling blood disorder becomes a doctor in hopes of curing himself. Using vampire bat DNA, Dr. Michael Morbius develops a cure. Only, it turns him into a living vampire. One who must consume blood in order to live; with all of the powers and none of the weaknesses of the traditional vampire. 

It all sounds a lot like the story of the Batman nemesis Man-Bat. It also sounds very similar to the origin story of another Spider-Man villain, the Lizard, who's work with iguana DNA in hopes of restoring his missing arm instead transforms the scientist into a rampaging reptile! While all 3 of these characters are certainly tragic figures, what separates Morbius from the others is that as far as I know, he's never been cured of his secondary affliction. To this day, Morbius struggles with the endless blood lust that boils inside of him, preventing him from becoming full vampire. 

If I had my choice to be able to affordably own the first comic book appearance of the Lizard, Man-Bat or Morbius, I'd choose Morbius every time. His role in the Legion of Monsters and Midnight Sons has made him such a bad ass character. Plus, he's got such a freaking awesome appearance and super cool looking costume design by legendary Gil Kane. For some reason, that level of excitement just didn't transfer very well onto the screen for me.

There's 2 extra scenes. I had to search for them on YouTube as the channel I recorded the movie from omitted them. Those 2 scenes piqued my interest into the potential of a Secret Six movie finally coming to fruition. However, I'm starting to think that if you can't use your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man in the film, there's really no point for these movies. A good villain can sell tickets. But if he doesn't have a greater hero to battle, it won't be entertaining. 

In other words, despite being a fan favorite character, not every Marvel based friend or foe deserves their own movie. Maybe it's time for Sony to let Spider-Man remain at the House of Mouse along with all his amazing friends...

Rating: 5 out of 10 stars.

Garlic and the Vampire (Family Comic Friday)

Garlic and the Vampire is an adorable graphic novel that families will delight in kicking off their Halloween reading season with. Garlic is just one of a group of magical vegetable folk who grow and sell fresh produce for the humans in their village. One day, the enchanted edibles notice smoke coming from the nearby castle overlooking the town. It's supposed to be abandoned. It's also fabled to house a vampire!

As garlic is known to ward off a Vampire, the vegetable people elect little Garlic to scout out just who is living in the scary old fortress. Armed with an assortment of items known to fight off a nosferatu, brave Garlic makes it to the castle and comes face to face with the Count! Only, he's not such a bad guy. In fact he's nice and he's been trying to cut himself off from his regular diet of Type A-negative. 

Can Garlic trust the word of the Vampire? If not, does she have what it takes to save her village from the Count?

This book was a delight! Garlic and the Vampire was the solo first work of writer and illustrator Bree Paulsen. Every page was magical. The water-colored effects of the art. The enchanted dialogue. The warmth of every character. I didn't just want to read this book. I wanted to live in it. 

Amazon suggests that Garlic and the Vampire is appropriate for readers age 8-12. I think the only reason some aged 6 might not be able to read this book is because some of the words are rather advanced. There's a slight creepiness to the book as the vegetable people speculate as to whether a vampire does reside in that old castle upon the hill. But I don't think there's really anything parents and guardians should object to. There is a vampire in the story. And there is a witch. How else do you think those walking vegetables turned into people? If monsters on the level of what you might see on Sesame Street or an old-fashioned Disney cartoon, then this book is sure to become a classic for the whole family!

Garlic and the Vampire came out in 2021. Not sure why my local library just picked this up as a new book, but I am sure glad they did. Thankfully, the story of Garlic and her magical friends is far from over. Last year Bree Paulsen released a sequel, Garlic and the Witch! I'm hoping my library has this book as well. If not, I'll be ordering myself of copy of it for sure!

A fantastic read full of magic and wonder!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.