CASTING CALL: Fantastic Four

This Christmas I had watched all my holiday movies and TV episodes so I chose to do something that kept me jolly; watch comic book movies.  I started out with the #1 movie of 2012, The Avengers.  Then I wanted to see Chris Evans in his other Marvel character role so I watched Fantastic Four.  But before I could move on to the other famous Marvel team, X-Men, I started dwelling on Marvel's first family.  For a short time in my life I collected Fantastic Four comics, mainly do to my love of The Human Torch.  But, like with most superhero books, it's all about who is writing them.  Ed Brubaker brought Daredevil to new heights and Geoff Johns made Green Lantern the longest hit comic I can remember.  With FF I just never felt like I found a writer I could enjoy, with the exception of Bryan Hitch.  But the idea is great.  They're a superhero family.  Reed and Sue are mom and dad while Johnny and Ben are the squabbling siblings.  They're scientists, explorers, and one of them just happens to be the smartest man of his generation.

20th Century Fox has decided to reboot the franchise that only had two films.  Sure Jessica Alba wasn't my first choice for Sue Storm, but the cast wasn't bad.  Chris Evans nailed The Human Torch, which is why I was so surprised when he played a great Captain America.  The two FF films had it's plus's and minus's but I don't think it would fall into the realm of such horrible adaptations like Batman & Robin or Electra.  I put them somewhere in the Green Lantern and The Punisher category; not great, but not bad.  The director of Chronicle, Josh Tank, has been tapped to lead the 2015 release date.  While I enjoyed Chronicle I don't know if Tanks can take on this franchise and bring out the greatness in it.  The least I can do is give him some help with casting. 

Benedict Cumberbatch as Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic

Cumeberbatch is used to playing a man who is too smart for his own good in the British hit TV series, Sherlock.  So it's not much of a 'strectch' to cast him as a genius scientist and leader of the Fantastic Four.  Cumerbatch even co-starred with the former Reed Richards, Ioan Gruffudd, in the 2006 film, Amazing Grace.  Maybe Gruffudd can give him some pointers. Cumberbtach is also about to become a big name in American film with his roles in the next Star Trek film and voicing Smaug the dragon in the next Hobbit film.  Better get him locked in before another franchise snags him for their lead.

Elizabeth Banks as Susan Storm/The Invisible Woman

I first saw Ms. Banks in The 40-Year-Old Virgin and then later in the TV series, Scrubs.  She had a sass and style that made me perk up in more ways than one, but she could also pull off the dramatic roles like Invincible and People Like Us.  Susan Storm is the mother of the Fantastic Four and pretty much the entire Marvel Universe in my opinion.  She has to have a very maternal and likable quality to her.  Jessica Alba was just too young and too hot to play a mom.  Banks experience as a maturing actress I think makes her ready for this role, and she as already auditioned for it once, but was beat out by Alba.  I think it's time we give her a second look.  

Joel Edgerton as Ben Grimm/The Thing

Originally for this role I thought about the classic sci-fi tough guy; Adam Baldwin.  But then I found the idea for Joel Edgerton as the FF's muscle.  He's been a boxer in Warrior, a knight in King Arthur, and a soldier in Zero Dark Thirty.  I think he's got more than enough fighting experience.  The original Ben Grimm, Michael Chiklis, was a huge fan of The Thing and convinced the studio to let him wear a suit over going with a CGI Thing.  While I like this idea he was shorter than some of his cast mates.  The Thing gives the Hulk a tough time in a fight so he has to look pretty bad-ass.  I'd go CG and just talk to Peter Jackson about how to make him look bad-ass.

Hunter Parrish as Johnny Storm/The Human Torch

Need a blonde-haired young male who can seem a little juevinile?  Well look no further than the kid from Weeds.  Parrish has had other smaller roles in movies like 17, Again and It's Complicated, but it's his eight seasons of playing Silas Botwin that makes me feel like he can turn this character from a snot-nosed punk to a true superhero in three films.  After seeing Chris Evans play Steve Rogers it's hard for me seeing him play The Human Torch, so I need someone else to step in and bring this character to life.  Enter Hunter Parrish.

Eric Bana as Namor/Sub-Mariner

I thought Bana played a pretty good Bruce Banner in 2003's Hulk, but then Edward Norton came along and looked like Banner did in the comic books.  Then of course they were both trumped by Mark Ruffalo's interpretation that closely resembled the late Bill Bixby.  In any event, Bana has a superhero knack playing Hector in Troy and even Nero in Star Trek.  He's got the look and the upper body muscle to make this arrogant king of the seas come to life.  Namor has always had a thing for Sue Storm, which has always been a pain in Reed's side.  However he could just as well be in the next X-Men film, technically being the first mutant ever.

Jonathan Rhys Meyers as Victor Von Doom/Dr. Doom

Meyers played King Henry VIII for 4 seasons on Showtime's The Tudors.  So he's used to being a ruling dictator.  He's got a great voice that can project through the metal mask, one thing Julian McMahon didn't have as the original Doom.  Doom is Reed's arch-enemy so he's got to be everything he is not, and everything he is.  Bring in Meyers and his experience with the ladies!

Christina Hendricks as Alicia Masters

Alicia Masters, a.k.a. the Puppet Masters daughter, is most famously a red-head so I'd keep her that way.  Right now Hendricks is the most famous red-head in Hollywood with her roles in Mad Men and Firefly.  Ben Grimm is a great guy who looks like a giant rock, so I say we give him a blind girlfriend who is smoking hot.  Hence with the Hendricks.

Of course my dream scenario is that Fox lets go of all it's Marvel properties like FF, X-Men, and Spider-Man so that they may join the Marvel Studio universe and maybe one day, one day, we'll get a Civil War movie.  But that is just a dream, and for now, I'll try to stay in this reality.  The same cannot be said for the Fantastic Four.

AvsX: Did Everybody Win or Did Everybody Lose?

Well, it's finally over.  It's been months of two sides blowing their horns, trying to find the best way to put the other down, and both sides knowing this one day would come and make the difference.  You see my word play?  You think I'm talking about the presidential debate, but really I'm talking about something much more important; a fictional battle in a world full of comic book characters.  For almost six months the line has been drawn between Avengers and X-Men fans.  Both sides trying to claim that they're doing what's in the best interest for the world, and bashing the other with dirty tricks and vicious scowls.  Ok, this time I really am talking about the presidential debate.

If you're reading this chances are you know me, and chances are you're seem me post something or talk about the Marvel event that has been in the making for seven years.  Since in 2005, with House of M, the mutant race has been an endangered species, and Cyclops, leader of the X-Men, has had to step-up and do whatever was necessary to keep his people alive. All of his faith has been put on Hope Summers, the first mutant born since M-Day, who was raised in the future and is now a teenager.  The cosmic power known as the Phoenix comes to Earth.  And while Captain America and the Avengers saw it has a sign of destruction Cyclops saw it as a possible rebirth for his species.  Sides were chosen, with Hope caught in the middle, and months later we have a winner, or do we?

Thanks to Tony Stark, the Phoenix was split into five pieces while he was really trying to kill it, each piece going into a different X-Men.  Cyclops, the White Queen, Namor, Colossus, and Magik all had a part of the Phoenix, and they used it to recreate the world the way they felt it should be.  This made everyone else in the Marvel U. nervous so the fighting continued, but with each Phoenix member that went down the others got stronger, absorbing their fallen comrades power, until finally Cyclops was the sole possessor of the Phoenix Force.  Now this is very ironic in so many ways since the Phoenix is responsible for so much pain and heart ache in Scott Summers life; most notably taking is wife, Jean Grey, and turning her evil.  Cyclops kept saying the Phoenix could be harnessed if he just trained Hope enough.  Well once Scott possessed all of the Phoenix he could not control it as he fought the entire Marvel U. as the new Dark Phoenix.

WARNING BEYOND THIS POINT ARE SPOILS INTO THE END OF AVENGERS VS. X-MEN!

So after month the final issue of AvsX was released today.  In the end it took the combined powers of Hope and the Scarlet Witch to take down the Phoenix.  It then possessed Hope for a brief moment to where she did control it, and used to bring back mutants into the world.  Hope re-started the mutant race.  So what was all that twelve issues of fighting for?

Everyone who truly knows me knows I'm not only an X-Men fan, but a Cyclops fan, so ever since he went full-on dark side I've been a little distraught.  But didn't what he want to happen, or said could happen, back in issue #1, happen?  Hope used the Phoenix power to jump start mutant kind.  Yes, he killed his mentor, Professor Xavier and hundreds of others in the process, but Professor X has died like four times, twice in the last four years.  So it's not that big of a deal, trust me.  All this proves is that Scott was right, Hope was the key to saving her people, she could control the Phoenix, and Scott Summers is a happy man sitting behind his patted prison cell.

On the flip side, hundreds, if not thousand of people, are dead because of this event.  The world was rocked by natural and unnatural disasters. Friendships and loyalties were tested and some broken, most notably the marriage between Storm and the Black Panther.  "You played Russian Roulette with the planet," as Captain America told Cyclops.  Mutants have survived, but at what cost?  Their greatest symbol of what good they can be, the X-Men, has been completely tarnished in the eyes of the world.  

Back in the beginning the writers of this tale said that their would be a winner and loser, but I don't see it.  To me both sides can claim that they won, and that they lost.  With Marvel NOW about to be underway a new era begins in the Marvel U.  One where superheroes and mutants will no longer be separate, but integrated to ensure the mistrust and doubt in each other will never be brought up and threaten the world again.  It truly is a new era in Marvel comics, and just typing about it makes me realize that the House of Ideas has probably a lot of good ones ahead.  

And what about Cyclops?  Some say he's now a villain in the Marvel U.  To those people I say this. Don't you know the X-Men at all?  Everyone at one point on that team has been considered a villain.  This just means Cyclops is now a true X-Man. 

DC's Downward Spiral is Marvel's Gain?

Every day I come home from work and check my sites.  I start with Facebook, then my e-mail, and then I check out what comic and entertainment news is happening.  I must say, in these last few weeks a few things, what I have read make it seem like things may be going astray at DC Comics.  Since their New 52 relaunch last year, I've been turned off by everything except Batman, Green Lantern, and Aquaman.  As a long time Superman reader the only comic featuring the Man of Steel I still remotely enjoy resembles Tom Welling.  Now, new things have come to light that makes me feel like things are rotten in the state of DC.

First off, back in June, a much respected comic writer, George Perez, stepped down as writer of Superman.  Perez is most known for his 1985 mini-series, Crisis on Infinite Earths.  He is quoted in saying, "A lot of people were now making decisions.  They were constantly going against each other, contradicting, again in mid-story. I can’t wait to get off Superman. It was not the experience I wanted it to be.”  Perez also expressed frustration with Grant Morrison's Action Comics taking place five years before Superman.  “I had no idea Grant Morrison was going to be working on another Superman title,” he said. “I had no idea I was doing it five years ahead, which means … my story, I couldn’t do certain things without knowing what he did, and Grant wasn’t telling everybody. ‘Oh, my gosh, you’re deciding all these things and you mean even you don’t know what’s going on in your own books?’ So I became very frustrated.”

This all seemed a bit peculiar, but yesterday Rob Leifeld, former co-creator of Image comics and currently writing DC's Grifter, Deathstroke, and The Savage Hawkman, gave his resignation from those titles via Twitter.  "I officially got off the DC52 treadmill this morning,” he wrote, adding, “I believe in what DC is doing, but had to preserve my sanity. I walked off all three books. Can’t wait to see any attempts to spin. I have every email.  I lasted a few months longer than I thought possible. Massive indecision, last minute and I mean LAST minute changes that alter everything. Editor pissing contests… No thanks. Last week my editor said ‘early on we had a lot of indie talent that weren’t used to re-writes and changes … made it hard.’ Uh, no, it’s you.”

Ok, so maybe it's DC Comics and the New 52 staff that are getting frustrated with re-creating these characters and making over 50 years of stories seem cool and fresh.  But let's look at the final piece of this disturbing puzzle.  On August 14, Warner Bros. announced that it was shutting down it's direct-to-dvd company, Warner Premiere.  This company has made DC animated films like Batman: Gotham Knight, Superman:Doomsday, Green Lantern: First Flight, and it's current project, The Dark Knight Returns, based on the famous Frank Miller mini-series.  Warner Bros. said all current projects will be completed, but come Fall, the company will be no more due to the downturn of the home entertainment industry.

So what does all mean?  To me it seems like DC is in trouble.  Sure, The Dark Knight Rises made lots of money, but it didn't come close to beating The Avengers.  Sure, the New 52 campaign started out selling well, but has slowly dwindled and is being out shined by Marvel's Avengers vs. X-Men mini-series.  Their last film before DKR, Green Lantern, was a flop and they put the new Superman movie in the hands of their supposed savior, Christopher Nolan, in hopes of a hail mary pass to try and catch up to the their #1 rival, Marvel Comics. But everyone knows when you make ludicrous plays when the game isn't even close you're only going to fall more behind. 

With the money Marvel Comics made off of their early hits like the Spider-Man and X-Men franchises they invested it in their own studio, and started making their own films.  This gave them financial freedom to not have to pander to corporate executives who've never read a Thor comic book.  DC is still owned by Warner Bros.  One theory behind the failure of Green Lantern was that too many people had a say as to what should be in the film.  When Joss Whedon made The Avengers he wrote his own script, shot the film his way, and it was a blockbuster hit.  The only reason Nolan's Dark Knight franchise has succeeded is because Warner Bros. trusted him enough to make them money.  Too bad they couldn't have had the same faith in Martin Campbell.

As far as the comics go that's just gone.  The New 52 relies on today's teenage BOYS to walk into a comic book shop and like their Superman like they like their Edward Cullen, except everyone except teenage GIRLS hate Edward Cullen!  DC's has alienated readers like myself who have stuck with these characters for twenty-plus years.  Their best titles are the ones they didn't change, like Batman and Green Lantern.  Marvel Comics has gone the opposite way.  Avengers vs. X-Men is rewarding readers who have been with them since 2005's House of M.  Then, after AvsX, Marvel NOW looks like it won't be a reboot, but a fresh stew that mixes up the pot and brings the X-Men into the Marvel main stream after being out of the loop for so many years.  The more I read about Marvel NOW the more I think it'll be good, which is the opposite of what I thought the more I heard about DC's New 52.   If DC wants to get back in the game they're going to have to change their tactics.  Here are a few of my suggestions. 

 

1) Lois and Clark are DC's power couple, put them back together, NOW!

2) Tim Drake should be the Red Robin he was BEFORE he had feathers!

 

3) Marvel spent 5 films building The Avengers.  Don't follow their lead.  I suggest going backwards.  Make a Justice League movie with the relative unknowns: Green Lantern, Flash, Martian Manhunter, Wonder Woman, and Aquaman.  This will introduce these characters, and the most popular ones get their own film. Then, in the second JLA film, bring in Superman and Batman to draw a bigger audience. 

 

4) Listen to your Chief Creative Officer, Geoff Johns.  He makes a great story.  Just let him do his thing and stay out of his way.

5) Keep Scott Snyder on Batman.  I haven't enjoyed Batman comics like this in years.

 

6) Don't let Grant Morrison write anymore Superman comics.  I'm still trying to figure out how all of the Batman R.I.P. titles fit together.

 

7) People got to know Green Arrow through Smallville, now let people know other DC heroes through Arrow and see what the people like.

 

8) If you want to attract teenagers make a movie about teenagers; hence Teen Titans or Young Justice.  People know who Robin is!

9) Marvel let their writers help in the film making process, not studio executives who couldn't even tell me where Superman is from.  I'm talking to you Jon Peters!

 

10) You don't have to reinvent the wheel, just make it more round.  (I really don't know what I'm trying to say, but it sounds profound, and I wanted to get ten things in here.)

 

So will DC read this blog and contact me on how to save their jobs?  Probably not.  All I know is the facts I've read and the sales numbers I see.  I've been reading comics all my life.  So what do I know?

W4W's BEHIND THE COMICS: X-Men: First Class

Today Marvel and X-Men's fans were previewed to the cover of the new Brian Michael Bendis title, All New X-Men.  As part of the Marvel NOW campaign happening after Avengers vs. X-Men, All New X-Men will be about the original five X-Men coming to the present day Marvel Universe.  Bendis has been writing Avengers titles since 2004 and saw them through Avengers: Disassembled, Civil War, and Dark Reign, but now Bendis says he's ready to step into the X-Men world and mix things up. 

I'm not sure how AvsX will leave the mutant race, but I do know the original five have come a long way since their first introduction back in 1963.  I've always had a soft spot for the fab five.  When they started out they were just teenagers trying to figure out how to protect a world that fears and hates them.  And trust me when I say the drama in their lives since then has put Greek tragedies and soap operas to shame.  They've been government recruits forming the original X-Factor, school head masters and mistresses at the Xavier Institute, Avengers, and even the world's greatest threats.  One of the members is even dead, again.  So before Cyclops and the rest of gang meet their teenage-selves I figure we'd look back and see just how messed up their younger counter parts will think they are. 

HANK MCCOY / BEAST

Hank McCoy used to be a high school quarterback until the people around him discovered he was a mutant.  Neighborhood mobs then tried to kill him so he came to Xavier's school as an escape and too be accepted for who he is.  He started hitting the books and is now considered one of the smartest people in the Marvel U.

While taking a job in a corporate lab an accident left Hank with blue fur all over his body to complete his transformation into Beast.  With this new look came heightened sense, a descent healing factor, and the ability to run on walls and ceilings; kinda like Spider-Man I guess you can say.  But in recent years these side effects are becoming worse.  Hank feral/animal instincts are growing more and more like he's De-evolving and as a brilliant scientist he has yet to find a cure.

Because of his appearance Hank has had a lot of trouble with love.  Most women seem to not like a guy who will shed in the bed.  He had a brief relationship with his lab assistant, then a long term relationship with TV reporter Trish Tilby.  But neither relationship lasted due to the not only Hank's appearance, but his life as a superhero as well.  He's currently dating S.W.O.R.D. (Sentient World Observation and Response Department) director, Abigail Brand.     

In the last few years Hank has broken away from the X-Men, due to not being happy about how is longtime friend, Cyclops has taken the X-Men.  But Hank is back in Westchester, NY at the Jean Grey School for Higher Learning, ran by Wolverine and Kitty Pryde. 

BOBBY DRAKE / ICEMAN

Robert Louis Drake was barely in his teens when his mutant power first manifested.  He was then beaten-up by a mob so the sheriff placed him in jail for his own protection.  He was found by Professor Xavier and given a place where he could let his powers grow and be accepted.  Bobby, being the youngest of the original five, was always the prankster.  Whether he was throwing snow balls at his friends or make jokes at Magneto during a fight, he always lightened the mood.

Throughout the years Bobby has turned into an Omega-Level mutant using his ice manifestation to make himself stronger, have thermal vision, and moisture conversion.  He's also been known to team-up with other young heroes like the Human Torch and Spider-Man back in the day.

When Loran Dane joined the X-Men Bobby found his first girlfriend, but the relationship did no last and Bobby ended up leaving the X-Men to go to college and eventually joining X-Factor with the original X-Men. 

During M-Day, where most mutants lost their powers, Bobby was one of the fallen, but gained them back through still unknown means.  He's tried to live a normal life on several occasions; especially when his dad was almost beaten nearly to death for defending mutants, but Bobby knows, like the rest of his friends, he's a hero at heart.

Bobby is with Wolverine and Hank at Jean Grey's school, but when the AvsX went down he joined back with Cyclops like most mutants, but then has switched back after the Phoenix has manifested itself.  And right before this started Kitty Pryde planted a big wet one on him. Watch it Bobby, her ex is part of the Phoenix Five.

  

WARREN WORTHINGTON III / ANGEL / ARCHANGEL

As heir to a billion dollar corporation Warren had all the time he needed to save people from burning buildings and muggings after he first developing his wings.  Xavier soon recruited him into the X-Men and he started dating Jean Grey, who happened to be in love with another classmate, Scott Summers.  Warren soon gets over it and has had an on-again-off-again relationship with Betsy Braddock, a.k.a. Psylocke, for quite some time.

During his time on X-Factor, Angel was attacked in the Morlock Tunnels and his wings had to be amputated off of him.  Warren makes a deal with the villain Apocalypse to get his wings back so long as he served as one of Apocalypse's four horseman.  Warren soon becomes Archangel, an-evil-to-be reckoned with.  With the help of his friends and some inner strength Warren breaks Apocalypse's hold on him and becomes one of the good guys again.

Years later Warren shed his robotic wings again to regain his natural ones, but then again turns into Archangel years after, much like a man turns into a werewolf.  Warren is now suffering from amnesia after the Dark Angel Saga that almost turned him into the next Apocalypse, but broke him of his Archangel persona.  He is currently being watched over by his long-time friend, Bobby, at the Jean Grey school.

JEAN GREY-SUMMERS / MARVEL GIRL / PHOENIX / DARK PHOENIX / REDD DAYSPRING

She's had more names then Sean "P. Diddy" Combs, but she's deserved everyone one of them.  Jean Grey was Charles Xavier's first student and after teaching her from home for a while he convinced her parents to move Jean to his school in Westchester.  There Jean learned to grow her telekinetic abilities and even develop telepathy like Xavier.  Jean became so powerful that she was a host to the Phoenix force, the most powerful being in all the universe.  However, Jean's human emotions mixed with the Phoenix became a deadly combination, turning her into the Dark Phoenix.  After destroying an entire galaxy with billions of life forms Jean is sentenced to death by the Shi'ar Empire, but kills herself rather than risk harming anyone else.

At the time Jean was dating her long time boyfriend, Scott Summer, a.k.a. Cyclops.  She had always flirted with Wolverine, but her and Scott's psychic link made her believe they were meant to be.  Jean soon rose from the dead; because the Dark Phoenix really wasn't her.  The Phoenix replicated Jean's mind and body after bonding, leaving Jean's original body safely at the bottom of the Hudson River, and found by the Fantastic Four.  

Jean woke to a world that had moved on without her, as Scott was married to another woman and had a son.  After re-joining her friends in X-Factor Jean and Scott rekindled their relationship and eventually got married.  Years later, Jean started developing Phoenix-like symptoms again, but died by the hand of Magneto before the possible return of the Dark Phoenix.

Jean's been dead since 2001, not since Barry Allen has a popular comic book character been gone that long.  With the Phoenix back into play in the Marvel U I feel like Jean Grey could make a come back, and if not I'd hate to be teenage Jean and arrive in the future only to find out you died; twice. 

SCOTT SUMMERS / CYCLOPS / SLYM DAYSPRING

Warren Ellis was quoted in Wizard magazine in saying that when X-Men is all over it'll be Cyclops story.  Scott has been with the X-Men since issue #1 and has never left.  But he's had a hell of a tragic life along the way.  His parents died when he was young, forcing him into lots of bad foster homes away from his brother, Alex.  Scott eventually wound up at Xavier's where he became field leader for the X-Men and fell in love with Jean Grey. 

After Jean's death Cyclops took a leave of absence and met a woman Madelyne Pryor who reminded him so much of Jean, physically.  Scott married Madelyne and they had a son named Nathan.  When Jean Grey returned Scott felt confused, but then news broke that Madelyne was actually a clone of Jean Grey, created by Mr. Sinister to combine their DNA to create the perfect mutant child, Nathan.  Madelyne went nuts and sacrifices herself while trying to stop Apocalypse from infecting Nathan with a techno-organic virus.  She fails and Scott's only way of saving his son is to let his future daughter, Rachel, take him into the future to be raised by himself and Jean under the aliases "the Daysprings".  Once Nathan is almost grown Scott and Jean return to the present, with an adult Nathan following shortly after.

Jean and Scott get married and are happy for a short time, until Scott sacrifices himself to stop Apocalypse.  Jean and Nathan find a way to bring Scott back, but not entirely how he was.  Scott begins having a psychic affair with Emma Frost, the same woman who once helped turn Jean into the Dark Phoenix.  After Jean's death Scott and Emma run Xavier's school together, relocate to San Francisco, and Scott is now assuming the role of leader for the entire mutant race.  I have a feeling after AvsX Scott might not end in such a good position.

And this is just him and Jean.  His daughter Rachel is also back from the future and taking her mom's name, Marvel Girl.  His father who was dead turned out to be alive, and then dead again.  His brother Alex was good, then bad, and then good again.  Finally, he has another brother he never knew about who pretty much has tried to destroy the whole galaxy.    It's not easy being Scott Summers, and that's why I love him as a character.

I'm very interested to see what young Cyclops thinks of his present-day self and where Scott will be after AvsX is over.  Ellis said Cyclops is like the Batman of the Marvel Universe.  He's been training as a superhero most his life, so somehow, I think Scott will be OK; eventually.  

  



My 5 Rules For Keeping Up With Comics On A Budget

As a man who has read comic books longer than I can remember I’ve always had the same problem; too many comics, not enough money. In this economy it can be hard to buy all the comics you actually want to read. I mean there several titles for every character/team. I myself have a budget cap each month that I try to stick too. Sometimes I go a little over, sometimes a little under.

With over half of the film blockbusters that come out now-a-days being based on comic books it’s hard not getting excited to read the material they’re based on. I know walking into a comic book store can be an overwhelming experience for some people who are not “in the game” but if you want to keep up with the titles you sort of enjoy but can’t afford to collect here a few rules that may help.

RULE #1- KNOW WHAT WRITERS YOU LIKE

Just like some people have favorite novel writers like John Grisham or Stephen King, you can follow whom you like. In 2004, Geoff Johns came onto Green Lantern and has made it DC’s biggest selling title ever since. When Johns was on Teen Titans I loved it, but once he left I dropped the book. Johns is currently writing Aquaman, which I have never read until now and I love it.

These days it’s almost better to follow a writer you like, such as Grant Morrison, Frank Miller, or Ed Brubaker because you can be 90% sure your money will be well spent based on the fact that you like the writers previous work. The only problem with this is a writer can take over a book on issue #225 and some readers feel like they need to get the first 224 issues just to understand what’s going on. In some cases this is true, but when a new writer jumps onto a title they try to keep it fresh for people who follow them and not the title. After collecting comics for 20 odd years I’m almost to this point.

RULE #2- THE PUBLIC LIBRARY IS YOUR BEST FRIEND

The other week I was watching Daredevil the director’s cut, which is way better than the theatrical version, and I decided I wanted to read more abut Daredevil. I had never really been a fan, but now I feel like at this point in my life he’s a character I can like/relate too. So I jumped online, got a list of what order Daredevil graphic novels should be read (you can find these for any character/title, trust me), and then I went to my local library’s website and reserved a bunch of Daredevil graphic novel’s starting with the first one on my list they had.

Public libraries have EVERYTHING today FOR FREE!! You can get CD’s, movies, TV series, audio books, and of course graphic novels. Every few weeks I jump on the library’s site and type in my favorite writers names, or characters I like. And when there is something I haven’t read I reserve it. Depending on how big your library is will determine their selection, and in a big city like Austin,TX that has several branches I can get quite a lot. I just have to wait for it. The library doesn’t have every Daredevil graphic novel, but enough for me to know the major events.

RULE #3- LEARN TO SKIM READ

If you want to keep up with a comic but can’t afford to buy it skim reading is my best advice. When I go to the comic book store I grab my pull list from the employee at the front and then I head back to the comics to see what I didn’t grab. I no longer collect Superman, but I want to see what’s going on. I flip through it, kind of get an idea of what is going on based on pictures, and if I see Lois and Clark/Superman talking I’ll quickly read the conversation. Not a lot of important info is said during action scenes, so know what relationships are important. But my key rule for this method is no matter how many comics I skim through I always walk out having bought something.

Once a month, I like to go to a book store chain that I know carries comic book issues. They don’t have them all, mainly DC and Marvel, but enough to where I can sit and read an issue somewhat quickly, and know what is going on. It’s not pretty, but beggers can’t be choosers.

RULE #4- THE BUDDY SYSTEM

When I was younger, my brother and I lived under one roof, and we both collected comic books. We would read each other’s comics and years later, whenever we text or got together, he would fill me in on Spider-man and Hulk while I filled him in on X-Men and Superman.

Now my brother and I live thousands of miles away and I want him to move to Austin so we can go back to the buddy system. He would collect certain books, and so would I, and the ones we both enjoyed we would swap. So if we both bought 12 comic books a month that’s really 24 comic books that we get to read a month. If only I could find someone in Austin I could trust, but like swimming, you have to be able to trust you buddy with you comic books, and your life.

RULE #5- KNOW WHEN TO LET GO OF A TITLE

The hardest part of being comic book collector in today’s world is staying faithful to a title. X-Men has been the one title that I’ve collected longer than any other. The most recent storyline of X-Men I bought the first two issues of and then dropped it because I wasn’t going to spend $3 a month for another four months on a story I didn’t like. I’ve dropped and picked up a lot of comic in my life. There are a dozen X-Men titles, but I’ve narrowed it down to two or three that I stick with. A person has to utilize the first four rules in order to make sure they’re not wasting their money.

I like Superman, but I hate the way the New 52 has gone with him. So I grabbed the first issues of Superman and Action Comics and haven’t bought another in months. Maybe one day I’ll pick it back up again, but until then my money should be spent on what I enjoy reading, not what I buy just out of habit.

I often think about going to my Emergency Comic Plan. It’s something I thought of just in case I had to stop collecting comics for economic purposes. I would no longer go to the comic book store, but instead wait for a graphic novel to come to the library, or I might skim through it at the bookstore. If I like it I would buy it. In this case I might only buy one graphic novel a month, which is about $20. But then I would be giving up the best part about collecting comics; the comic book store.

I like going to comic book store each week not only because I’m excited to read the next issue of Aquaman, but to see what else is happening in comics. I get to see what’s hot and what new t-shirts and action figures are being made. I get to talk about comics with other people, and maybe find out about a local convention or celebrity that may be coming to town. It’s the comic book culture that keeps me wanting to collect issues every week as opposed to just going to graphic novels. It’s one of the few things in this world I can say I truly love, but if I ever have to give it up there are ways to keep the love alive. One of the best pieces of advice I feel like I ever got was from Q in a James Bond movie, “always have an escape plan.” Which I took as “always have a plan B, for everything.”

My Top 12 Comics of 2011

Last week I was eager to see CBR's conclusion of their Top 100 Comic Books of 2011, and like most things in 2011 it was a major let down. Their Top 10 list had me baffeled, and the Top 25 was not that great either. Sure there were a titles I thought deserved their spot, but Action Comics should be no where near the top. I've been mostly indifferent to DC's New 52, but what they did to Superman is what Marvel did to Spider-Man in Brand New Day. They erased 20 years of history just try and draw in few new fans, and as a fan who as been reading Superman for almost 20 years they completely turned me away. He's now the emo-version of what Superman should be, like Superman: Earth One, or "the Twilight Superman" as I call it. I think DC's best titles where the ones they either tweaked a little or left completely alone; however I am enjoying Johns and Lee's Justice League, but I don't see myself collecting it long-term.

Over at Marvel they've wrapped up Fear Itself and X-Men: Schism and are preparing for this summer's X-Men vs. Avengers mini-series. I think it's safe to say everyone is looking forward to the summer blockbuster, which just happens to kick-off right when Joss Whedon's Avengers will come to theaters. While I admit that I mainly follow the titles in these two publishing companies I make sure to check out what Wildstorm, Dark Horse, IDW, and all the other comic book publishers are up too. So here are my top picks for 2011.

12) Green Lantern

Back in 2004 Geoff Johns took over has writer for Green Lantern and his first decision was to bring back the man without fear, Hal Jodan. Ever since Green Lantern has been one of DC's best selling titles and one of the hottest comics books in the industry. Even though Johns has moved up as DC's Chief Creative Officer he's still writing the ring slinger and still making it kick-ass. 2011 brought us the end of Brightest Day and brought on the War of the Green Lanterns where the four human Lanterns had to each don a different colored ring in order to stop Kronas, a former Guardian. And how was Hal Jordan rewarded for his bravery? He was cast out of the GL Corps while the Corps most hated enemy, Sinestro, was chosen to wear a green ring of willpower once again. Sinestro now seeks Hal Jordan's help in freeing his homeworld from the Yellow Lantern Corps he created.

Johns is never at his best when he writing Hal Jordan and Sinestro in the same scene. The two characters are oppositie sides of the same coin and bounce dialogue off each other like a perfect game of ping pong. Johns promises more surprises and twist to the Green Lantern mythology in 2012 and I for one can't wait to see the emerald sparks fly!

11) Uncanny X-Force

At the end of Second Coming Cyclops disbanded the secret killing squad known as X-Force, but Wolverine was never one to follow Scott’s orders. Together with Angel’s help Wolverine and his crew continued in secret the work that X-Men shouldn’t. They started off hunting the heir of Apocalypse, a mere child, and Fantomex put a bullet in that child’s head. This started a reaction inside Angel that triggered him to be the next heir of Apocalypse, so X-Force then ventured to the Age of Apocalypse to find the life seed to stop Warren’s transformation.

It’s been a wild ride this year for X-Force. Logan had to deal with seeing the AoA versions of not only Jean Grey and Nightcrawler, but also he had to see himself as AoA’s ultimate villain. After Fantomex shot the child Apocolaypse he cloned another and raised it in a simulated ‘Clark Kent” lifestyle hoping to make some good of the boy. At the same time he was trying to steal Psylocke away from Warren, the very friend they were trying to save. Wolverine doesn’t like putting kids in harm’s way like Cyclops does, but he has no problem putting the veterans threw the ringer.

10) Wolverine and the X-Men

Following the event of Schism Wolverine is looking to put Xavier’s dream back on track with Jean Grey’s School for Gifted Youngsters. Boy, that must piss-off Cyclops, Jean’s widower, really bad. In the first storyline of the year we’ve seen Logan joined by Kitty, Beast, Iceman, and Rachel Summers in their first true test when the school is attacked by the new Hellfire Club during the school’s evaluation. Through the help of the students, and a new side of Iceman we’ve never seen, Wolverine and the bunch took down their enemies by only destroying half the school; and classes haven’t even started yet.

I hope writer Jason Aaron keeps showing us the quirks of a school that is full of rebellious, super-powered, kids. With Chris Bachalo’s pencil leading the way I feel something special when I read this comic, like new territory is being explored when some comics are too afraid to shake the status quo. But Logan and the faculty have no idea what they’re getting into.

9) Aquaman

When Geoff Johns brought Arthur Curry back from the dead at the end of Blackest Night we didn’t know that he was actually bringing the character back to life on a much grander scale. In Brightest Day Aquaman was reborn as a bad-ass after being the joke of DC Universe for years. The Aqua-Family is back in the water and is picking up more momentum than a tsunami. In only a few issues Johns has had Aquaman and his wife, Mera, battle sea demons from the darkest reaches of the oceans while re-introducing Arthur’s orgins to people who are not that familiar with the character.

Johns has brought back Hal Jordan, Barry Allen, and now Arthur Curry and made them all successes. I always thought Aquaman got a bum rap due to the 1970’s cartoon, Superfriends, and I love that comic book readers everywhere are eating their words and are excited to talk about the King of Atlantis. 2012 is going to be Aquaman’s year!

8) Superior

Sometimes I can hardly believe the stuff that comes out of Mark Millar’s mind, Superior is the story about Simon, a boy with multiple sclerosis, who makes a wish to become a super hero, but it comes at the price of his soul. The same demon offers his bully the same deal, and he accepts. Now Simon must decide if his soul is worth the price of saving the world.

Millar has brought us such twisted hits like Nemesis and Kick-Ass and continues to shock the comic community like no other. Superior is just another step Millar’s ability to turn a good story. He taps into the comic geek in all of us and just lets us have our greatest dreams. Well done Mr. Millar, well done.

7) Venom

Flash Thompson spent is high school life picking on Peter Parker while idolizing Spider-Man, ironic eh? Inspired by his hero, Flash joined the army and lost his legs in the process, and now has agreed to part of a top secret government project where he joins with the same alien symbiote that turned Spider-Man dark and created some of his greatest villains like the original Venom and Carnage.

This title is about a good man trying to the right thing with the wrong tools. Flash is a great leading character with lots of tragedy, but still lots of heart.  Flash must balance his secret life with his love life, and fight the darkness the symbiote is trying to bring out in him.

6) Transformers: Chaos

Optimus Prime and the Autobots are not only blowing up the big screen these days, but also comic book stores everywhere. IDW has been publishing Transformer comics for a while now and it all has lead to their big storyline; Chaos. This comic leads to the Autobots being seriously outnumbered by the Decepticons. Galvitron is out to kill the Autobots once and for all, Megatron stands trial for millions of years of crime, and the fate of Rodimus, the Matrix, and Optimus Prime is all revealed in this massive story that is more than meets the eye.

5) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Cowabunga kids! The heroes in a half shell are back, but not like you know them. The TMNT creator, Kevin Eastman, is returning the turtles to their roots. They’ve got more attitude than their cartoon counter parts and fight a little more dirty, just like when they first premiered in comics. And just like the original title they all have red bandanas, for a while at least.  Eastman has brought the flair back to what made the turtles popular to begin with. For fans who grew up on TMNT this more adult version is right up our alley. Plus the true origins of the turtles all revealed. Turtle Power!

4) X-Men: Schism

Ever since House of M the mutant species has been dwindling, and Cyclops has stepped up as leader of his race with Wolverine has his general to enforce the law. But in Schism we saw the two men finally break their truce as Wolverine no longer liked how Scott was running the show. Cyclops believes mutants of all ages should learn to defend themselves and fight the people who are trying to kill them. Wolverine believes that kids should be kids, not killers; and wanted to restart the school in order to teach them and give them a choice when they’re older. Of course all of this was done after a slugfest between the two mutants.

House of M, Endangered Species, Messiah Complex, Second Coming, and now Schism. The X-Men have had quite the decade of trouble, and it only is going to get deep in their upcoming battle with the Avengers. Sides have been chosen and lines have been drawn, but when the World’s Greatest Heroes face the mutants who are sworn to protect a world that fears and hates them I only have one question; whose side is Wolverine and his team going to be on?

3) Batman and Robin

I’ve never been a big fan of Grant Morrison, but when this title first started I don’t think it could have been more entertaining. A rebellious Robin in the form of Damian Wayne was just the pain-in-the-ass Dick Grayson needed to keep him in line as the new Batman. Now Bruce has returned to reclaim his cowl and he has to find out how to be a father.

Peter Tomasi has taken the father/son relationship to the next level as Bruce and Damian try to find common ground. With Alfred trying to guide Bruce in the ways of raising a troubled youth the dynamic is just off the page. Greek tragedies even aren’t this good.

2) Brilliant

From the team that brought you Ultimate Spider-Man comes the first creator-owned book by Brian Michael Bendis and Mark Bagley. Brilliant is the story of a handful of college-age geniuses who challenge each other to solve the mystery of superpowers. Can the best and brightest change science fiction into science fact? And if so, how will the world at large react? Brilliant is a story of how true power can either destroy or protect the strongest of friendships. It is the story of how the world will react when our true potential is finally unlocked. The series is full of fast-talking, whip-smart, dialogue and is a fanboys delight. And it’s only just begun!

1) Marvel’s Fear Itself

Sibling rivalries are tough on a family, especially when they’re gods. The Red Skull’s daughter finds a magical hammer in Antarctica that grants her the powers of Skadi and releases the true ruler of Asgard, the god of fear; Serpent.  Formerly known as Odin’s brother and Thor’s uncle. The Serpant helps more hammers fall and chaos ensues on our heroes. Skadi kills Bucky Barnes which forces Steve to reclaim his role as the one true Captain America, and in the end Thor sacrifices his life to save Asgard and Earth.

One thing I love about Thor comics is their epic scale. The Marvel writing team, lead by Matt Fraction and Ed Brubaker, create a tale that can barely be imagined it’s so grand. Of course a personal treat was seeing Tony Stark kick-ass with some Asgardian armor. Too bad he had to give it back though.

My Avengers vs. X-Men Smack Down

This week Marvel comics announced this summer’s big event, Avengers vs. X-Men. And in that moment every fan boy soiled themselves. It’s been a while since the two teams have had any kind of throw down, and never to this level of nastiness. From what I can gather the prelude to this event will be Avengers: X-Sanction, in which Cable comes back from the dead, again, and has 24 hours to take down the Avengers. I’m not sure why but I'm pretty sure it has to do with Cable’s adoptive daughter, Hope. Whatever the outcome, it’s a precursor to the arrival of the most powerful force in the universe, The Phoenix. The last time the Phoenix inhabited a human body it almost destroyed the whole universe, and with the Phoenix flare showing up in Hope’s eyes all the way back at the end of Second Coming I’m guessing it found its new host.

But the X-Men are now divided after Schism. Wolverine is trying to keep the kiddies out of trouble with his school in Westchester, and Cyclops is leading his superhero Extinction Team to fight back the ugliness that threatens not only mutants, but the world. Let’s not forget that Wolverine, Beast, and Storm, who are X-Men, are also Avengers now. So it looks like we’ll have the Avengers vs. the X-Men for the fate of Hope Summers, mutant kind, and possibly the galaxy. Before Marvel’s most all-star writing team maps out this epic I’ve broken down what I think would make some good fights between the two teams, but I’m not saying who’ll win because I honestly don’t know. Since Hope is part of Cyclop’s Extinction Team I’m guessing they’ll be the ones trying to protect her. I’m also going to leave Wolverine and his team on the sidelines for now.

Warpath vs. Spider-Man

One likes to talk too much, and the other likes to gut things with his knife. No, it’s not a new sitcom, but a rumble in the Bronx. Spider-Man has tangled with Kraven the Hunter quite a few times, whose animal instincts aren’t too far away from James Proudstar’s killer qualities. Picture a game of cat and mouse, or cat and spider if you will. To be honest I just had no idea what other X-Man to put Spider-Man against who wouldn’t kick the crap out of him.

Psylocke vs. Hawkeye

It’s ninja’s versus assassin’s when these two go at it. They’re both well trained in hand-to-hand combat so I think the fight would be interesting. Sure Psylocke has badass telepathic abilities but I’d be guessing Hawkeye would have some way of blocking it to make it a fair fight. Plus they’ve both got a little bit of an edge to take this fight to the next level.

Hope Summers vs. the Black Widow

Natalia Romanoff may have stolen the show away from Robert Downey Jr. in Iron Man 2 just by looking like Scarlett J., but she’ll need more than that when she goes up against the so-called “mutant messiah.” Hope spent the first sixteen years of her life traveling from one apocalyptic future to another, being trained in the art of survival by her father, Nathan Summers a.k.a. Cable. The Widow has some moves and is very resourceful, but can she take the heat when Hope starts pulling out her bag of unlimited mimicking powers? I’d pay to watch that red-headed cat fight any day.

Colossus vs. Red Hulk

For years General “Thunderbolt” Ross fought against the incredible Hulk and tried so many times to beat him. And he found the best way to beat ‘em was to join ‘em. Ross became the Red Hulk, and has more control over his alter-ego than Bruce Banner ever did. But that could be a bad thing when you’re going up against Peter Rasputin, a steel-skinned mutant who just inherited the powers of the unstoppable Juggernaut. The two would shake the Earth and make cities crumble, but who would be left standing would be anyone’s guess.

X-Man vs. Thor

I had to think about who would be able to handle the God of Thunder. His strength and power rival that of Superman so who could Cyclops pull out of his dugout to face this giant? Why Nathan Summers of course. No, not Cable; the other Nathan Summers. Nathan grew up in an alternate reality known as the Age of Apocalypse. He was genetically brewed to be the ultimate mutant by Mr. Sinister, with the DNA of Cyclops and Jean Grey. Nathan found his way to our reality and ever since people from Norman Osborn to Apocalypse himself have tried to sway the boy to their side. X-Man’s powers include telepathy, telekinesis, and cross-dimensional travel. He may not have the muscle, but he has so much more. If his power were unleashed on Thor I’d be the clash of the titans.

Iron Man vs. Magneto

Tony Stark has a suit made of metal, so you’d think that would be nothing for the master of magnetism, but Mr. Stark would be too smart for that. I’m sure Tony has some plastic suit prototype he’s been dying to use for years on Magneto and now he can. Tony would shoot some missiles at Erik; Erik would throws some cars and buildings at Tony. It’d be fun for the whole family. But let’s not forget that Magneto once reversed the Earth’s magnetic pull. Your move, Iron Man.

Cyclops vs. Captain America

This would be the main event! The two captains/quarterbacks going at it. Scott Summers has been threw the ringer in his life with dead wives, best friend betrayals, and trying to lead his people out of extinction. Steve Rogers was frozen for decades and woke up in world he didn’t understand, and not sure what he was still fighting for. He just lost his best friend, again, and he’s back from the dead leading a country that wanted to see him in jail at one point.

Both of these guys have issues and a lot of tactical skills. They’re both soldiers and leaders who have been fighting since before they had chest hair. It all comes down to who is willing to get their hands dirty and make sacrifices that will win it for their team. Cyclops has already shown he’s not the professor’s protégé anymore, and Steve just brought Earth back from a war with the gods. Oh, I can’t wait till April!

Captain America Ends This Summer's Battle, But Leads Us To Next Summer's As Well

Next summer, Marvel Studios will attempt something no other studio has done. They will take four film franchises and merge them into one film under the direction of Comic-Con god, Joss Whedon. The Avengers will be a massive film, one that is highly anticipated, but before we see the team assemble we have to get to know the first Avenger, Captain America. Joe Johnston had the difficult task of not only making the all-American-hero relatable to modern audiences, but also re-creating the world of the 1940’s, but with a believable sci-fi slant.

 Chris Evans plays his sixth comic book related role as Steve Rogers. Steve is too small to be accepted into the army during World War II, but he is the perfect candidate for Project: Rebirth. Steve is to be the first in a line of super soldiers that are made to take down Hitler and the Nazis. But soon after Steve’s metamorphosis his mentor and Project: Rebirth creator, Dr. Erskine, is killed thanks to a secret Nazi science division called Hydra. Steve is left as the only one of his kind, and must decide whether he is up to the role of being Captain America. Steve has to choose fast because Hyrda’s leader, Johann Schmidt, is in possession of a cosmic cube that can turn the tide of the war, and would mean disaster for the allied forces and the world.

I was very reluctant to accept Evans in this role. He’s always played the ‘funny guy’ in most of his films, so playing the always serious Captain America didn’t seem like his cup of tea. However, it was Evans charm and humbleness that made this movie work. Captain America has a commanding presence in the comic books, but in this film he’s just starting out, so he has fears, doubts, and a personality that any decent person can relate too. This makes him accessible to the audience and makes the rest of the film a nice ride. However there are a few shots where he looks ridiculous as 'skinny Steve.'

 The Matrix and LOTR’s alumni Hugo Weaving plays Evans rival, Johann Schmidt, or the Red Skull has the world will come to know him. Weaving face spends most of the film red, and computer-generated, which makes his acting abilities limited as far as performance, but still terrify as Captain America’s polar opposite. The other major supporting cast members include Tommy Lee Jones as Colonel Chester Phillips and Hayley Atwell as Cap’s love interest, Peggy Carter. Atwell plays Carter perfectly as a woman who is tough as nails, but also has a sensitive side that woos not only Steve, but the audience as well. I don’t need to tell you that Jones does what he always does; which is be awesome. Has Colonel Phillips he is Steve’s biggest opponent, but soon becomes his biggest ally. Classic Jones.

The person in this film I was watched closely was Sebastian Stan as Buchanan ‘Bucky’ Barnes. In the comics he is Captain America’s teenage sidekick with an important future. In other interpretations, such as this, he is the guy who fights Steve’s battles before he could win his own. Stan did a perfect job for what he had to be, and possibly become in later films. Another member of Cap’s team, included Neal McDonough as the classic Marvel character, ‘Dum Dum’ Dugan.

Joe Johnston has directed such period pieces as The Rocketeer and October Sky, so I knew he was the right man to bring this 1940’s icon into the 21st Century. To me, the film seemed to go by fast, which means leaving out time for character development, but it was such a great ride it didn’t seem to matter much. Captain America isn’t anything deep or complicated, but just a simple film about a simple hero. Marvel has really hit gold creating their own film studio and the films they create.  Mainly because they listen to writers like Ed Brubaker and Mark Millar who have kept the character thriving for so long. If only other studios would do the same with their comic book properties. I, however, did find it a bit odd that Stan “The Man” Lee made an appearance in this film. Even though his is the creator of most Marvel characters like Spider-Man and the Fantastic Four he had nothing to do with Captain America except being the head of Marvel. But “The Man” is still awesome in my book so he can make an appearance in the next Batman film for all I care.

Captain America: The First Avenger closes out a summer full of superhero films, with another batch due out next summer. Johnston and co. was able to bring out why this character has lasted for over 70 years, and has continued the cinematic journey that Marvel has been taking us on for the past few years. I look forward to Whedon’s The Avengers next summer not because it’s a comic book film, but because it’s full of great characters we already know. Now let’s see how they all work together. If you’ve seen any Marvel film you know to stay after the ending credits, and this one no different. Someone get Cap Netflix so he can catch-up with the rest of the world, but don’t show him Jersey Shore!

Rating:  B