Comic To Read This Week: Secret Avengers #1

We’ve seen the world according to Nick Fury, Tony Stark, and even Norman Osborn. Now the Marvel Universe has a new visionary: Steve Rogers. The original Captain America is back from the dead and shaping up The House of Ideas like nobody can. After a final showdown with Osborn’s Dark Avengers at the end of Siege, Rogers has put together his own team of Avengers to be public heroes. However Steve has also formed another team that nobody knows about. A team consisting of some of the best the world has to offer. They stop disasters before they happen. They are the Secret Avengers.

Issue #1 starts off with Black Widow and Valkyrie posing as hookers to steal the mystical Serpent Crown. We’re not told what the big deal about the Serpent Crown is, but we just know that what Roger’s and Co. stole isn’t it. At least not all of it. The team soon finds themselves in space trying to look for their fallen teammate, Nova. This leaves Roger’s lover, and the person who shot him dead, Sharon Carter, back on Earth to hold down the fort. That is until a secret group that has been following the team knocks her out and looks to foil Roger’s A-Team. Did I mention these bad guys are lead by Nick Fury?

Steve Rogers may have picked Spider-Man, Wolverine, Iron Man, and a bunch of superstars to be The Avengers, but his roster for his secret team is much more interesting. Beast has left X-Men to be the smart guy of the group, and War Machine is the pilot and bad ass. Ant-Man is the resident funny man, while the dark loner Moon Knight rounds out the group. This is a team full of characters you never thought would work together, and I love it. You’ve never seen Nova or Moon Knight on a team, and never in the same situations as Steve Rogers and War Machine. I’m very interested to see how the group dynamic will unfold, and who will bump heads; maybe even bump uglies.

I love Ed Brubaker’s writing, from Uncanny X-Men to Daredevil, so naturally anything that seems interesting I’m going to check out. I feel like he has plans for this oddball group and I can’t wait to see what comes next. Mike Dedato’s art is pretty straightforward, and I’m used to it after his run on Uncanny X-Men. He doesn’t have any special style to his work, but that just means he gets criticized less, but I’m sure praised less as well.

Let Bendis have the popular kids in The Avengers. If I know Brubaker, he has a few twists in store for Roger’s covert team. I’m sure by the end of his run another team member is bound to put on the Nova helmet, and I’ll be there gitty with excitement.

Graphic Novel Review: Batman Reborn

I know it’s been a while since I’ve posted anything. For a few weeks there I got caught up in my life I forgot about all the little people that depend on me to tell them what is good and bad in the world of entertainment. Well fear not my minions because today I bring you a tale of great significance. A hero has fallen, and now a new hero must rise to fill the shadow of the bat.

Grant Morrison has always been known for telling a great Batman story, even though I’m not a big Batman fan, and even less of Morrison. Batman Reborn follows the three-part miniseries Battle for the Cowl, in which former Robin and Nightwing, Dick Grayson, steps in to become Batman after Bruce Wayne’s supposed passing. Filling in for Tim Drake as Robin, who has gone on to become Red Robin, is Bruce Wayne’s illegitimate son, Damien. Damien is smart, cocky, and kind of little prick. But when you grow up in The League of Assassins you’re bound to have some issues. So Dick has taken it upon himself to look after not only Damien, but Gotham as well. He’s got a new batmobile, a new hideout, and a whole new set of villains.

Professor Pym is a man who likes to mutilate people while wearing a pig mask. The Flamingo is a bad-ass boss with a flair for pink, and he uses that on his opponents who underestimate him. But the main villain in the novel is the return of the Red Hood. When last we saw Jason Todd, Dick had beaten him for the right to wear the mantle of the Batman. Now Jason is back with his own kid sidekick and hopes to make the people of Gotham believe Batman is outdated, mainly by going on a killing spree.

Batman and Robin take down The Flamingo and the Red Hood, but not before Jason tries to convince Dick to put Bruce’s body in the Lazarus Pit and bring him back to life. Along the way their are a few scenes where Dick teaches Damien that he doesn't know everything, and I fully enjoyed seeing that little smartass get schooled by one of my all-time favorite DC characters. At the end of the novel a shocking panel reveals that Dick has a corpse stashed somewhere; one we are led to believe is Bruce Wayne. Is Dick going to try and bring Batman back to life?

I’ve gone on record several time in stating that I love the current state of the Batman Family. The once son, Dick, has become the father, and now is the head of the family, but some like Damien and Jason Todd challenge him to see if he deserves it. Dick became Nightwing to step out if Bruce’s shadow and now has become exactly what he didn’t want to be, mainly because he had too. He’s trying to be Batman. Everyone is looking for him to answers while others think he’s only kidding himself; Dick sometimes being the first person to think so.  This adds a great character depth to our hero Bruce Wayne could never have.

Meanwhile Damien is a very rebellious Robin, much like how Jason Todd was. So much that it makes me wonder if Damien could share his same fate.  However, Damien comes up with the idea to help make the batmobile fly, which makes him very smart, but he also knows that Dick doubts himself as Batman, and he uses that to taunt him. It seems as though Alfred is the only person behind Dick in all of Gotham City.

Even though I prefer Tony Daniels Batman stories, Grant Morrison can add a depth to Batman that makes it seem bigger than just a detective story. However, the first issue of The Return of Bruce Wayne I feel is an example of him going a little overboard and ridiculous. Frank Quitely’s art is either hit or miss for me. I liked him in New X- Men, but wasn’t a fan of All-Star Superman. His drawing seems kind of marshmallow to me. But I think in Batman & Robin his art helps Morrison introduce different characters that we’re not used to seeing in Batman. His drawing goes good with mutants, flying batmobiles, and pink motorcycles.

I’m a big fan of character development and personal dilemma’s to help move a story along. This graphic novel has those traits.  Batman tries to teach Robin the ropes, but he’s arrogant. The Red Hood tests a Batman he knows is reluctant to be the head of the family. The bits help make the story enjoyable, but without them I think this graphic novel wouldn’t have meant as much to Batman readers.  With the return of Bruce Wayne nearing I dread the return to the Batman status quo, but maybe DC will surprise me.  Captain America certainly did; kudos on that one Marvel!

Recommendation: Wait for the paperback

The Star Wars Legacy Ends

It was the kind of day that makes me happy.  I went out to breakfast, came back home, put on my sweat pants, and watched the Star Wars trilogy on my LCD television.  Like any purest, I only watch the original versions and not the special editions that have tainted “The Trilogy.”  Having watched all three films about a billion times I can’t help but mimic each line while I cruise the web for Star Wars products, downloads, and etc.  What I came across was news that the only Star Wars comic book I deem worthy of spending money on is targeted for Order 66. 

Star Wars: Legacy was released in 2006, and is set 125 years after Return of the Jedi.  After The Yuuzhan Vong War, the New Republic that Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia helped build has become an Empire.  Civil war was upon the galaxy once again and the Jedi Order had to choose a side.  Unfortunately the Sith re-appeared siding with the Empire first.  The rule of two was longer in play so the Sith has become a small army.  Together with the Empire they all but destroyed the Jedi.  Kol Skywalker, Luke’s descendent, sacrificed his life to save his son, Cade.  As Cade escaped his ship was hit and was thought dead. 

Years later the galaxy finds out Cade was picked up by bounty hunters, raised to be one of them, and tried to forget he was ever a Jedi.  Now everyone is after the heir to the Skywalker legacy.  The Jedi hope he can save them, the Sith wish to bring him to the dark side, and the Empire wants to use him against the Sith.  But all Cade want to do is be left alone.  Ever since this series started Cade has been trying to escape his destiny.  Now, in the final issue, #50, Cade is tired of running and hopes to be the one man that can destroy the Sith for good.

 I was shocked to hear this series was ending.  Star Wars: Legacy is Dark Horse Comics best selling title behind Buffy the Vampire Slayer.  Why is it being cancelled?  I hit the web to see if I could figure out why the best Star Wars series ever was joining with the Force, but I couldn’t find anything conclusive.  Series creator, John Ostrander, said that the comic looks like it’s ending, “from a certain point of view.”  Could this mean the series will continue under a new name?  Dark Horse editor Randy Stradley used the company’s website messaging board to assure Legacy fans that their loyalty will be rewarded.  Will there be further adventures with Cade Skywalker, or further adventures into a future past ROTJ? 

In February another Star Wars comic book, Knight of the Old Republic was cancelled.  I don’t know what is going to happen to Star Wars comics now since the only remaining titles (Dark Times, Invasion, and The Clone Wars) are in my professional opinion, crap.  Not one of them has the complexity of characters and storytelling Legacy has. It’s hard to find a good Star Wars book, let alone comic series. 

When the series does end in July I hope it goes out with an ending worthy of Ewok guest appearances.  In four years Cade has hallucinated his ancestors while being hooked on death sticks, tried to fool the Sith by pretending to succumb to the dark side, and gotten his childhood sweetheart turned into the next General Grievous.  As I look back at the series it reads very much like an epic Star Wars trilogy, but can it finish strong with the Force?

In the first part, issues #1-19, the galaxy finds out that Cade is alive and working as a bounty hunter.  He owns a ship called the Mynock and his friends, Jariah and Deliah, have no idea he was ever a Jedi.  But when everyone comes looking for him Cade finds himself in the Sith’s clutches as Darth Krayt needs Cade’s powers to heal himself.  Along the way we meet Cade’s mom, who is a double-faced assassin, and see Cade try to take down the Sith from the inside; but not before getting some nookie from a red-skinned dark lord.  Eat your heart out Han Solo.

The saga continues in issues #20-35 as Cade has escaped the Sith and is looking to rally the remaining Jedi to take down their enemies.  Jariah finds himself face-to-face with the Jedi that killed his father, and Deliah finds herself jealous after Cade hooks up with his old friend, Azlyn.  When the ending battle goes wrong Azlyn is on the brink of death and wishes to join the Force, but Cade won’t let her.  This decision turns her into a half woman-half droid walking disaster. 

The trilogy ends with issues #37-50.  Cade has retreated to Tatooine for solitude, but ends up finding his mother and half sister looking to set him straight.  Cade must clean up a mess his father left before going to kick some Sith ass!  I’m anxious to see how these episodes turn out.  

Needless to say I’ve enjoyed watching this Skywalker make a mess of his life, as opposed to Anakin and Luke’s whining.  Two Star Wars comics are now cancelled with only a few to face off against the imperial walkers of time.  Whatever the future holds for Star Wars comics Legacy will be a treasure for fans as long as Star Wars last.

Movie Review: Iron Man 2

In 2008, while movie goers were anxiously waiting for the release of the The Dark Knight a character practically nobody had heard of, outside of comic book readers, made his film debut.  Iron Man was the first of a chain of films Marvel Studios was planning to make, ending with all the characters woven into one film; The Avengers.  Starring Robert Downey Jr. and Gwyneth Paltrow, Iron Man was a huge success, and now Iron Man 2 has hit theaters.  Marvel Studios hopes their sequel does well enough so audiences will keep watching the Marvel universe up on the big screen.

It’s been 6 months since the events of Iron Man and Tony Stark as become a huge star by helping make the world safer.  So much in fact that every corporation is trying to copy his Iron Man suit, and the government is trying to force Stark to hand it over.  A mysterious Russian named Ivan Vanko soon teams up with one of Starks rivals, Justin Hammer, and they’re looking to take everything Tony has.

However, Tony doesn’t need Vanko and Hammer’s help to lose everything since he is slowly dying and living like there is no tomorrow.  Can the agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. help Tony before it’s too late?  Of course the real question of the film is what is going to kill Tony first; death or Vanko? 

To satisfy both of my passions I’m going to have to dissect this film two ways; first as a film sequel, and then as a comic book film.  Iron Man 2 seemed to be lacking some of the heart the first film was filled with.  Everyone seemed to be stepping on each other’s lines, so you couldn’t really get all the great one liners I’m sure were being said. This could be a way to get people to watch the film a second time; each time getting something new out of it.  Unfortunately I’m only grading it by the first impression.

Robert Downey Jr. and Gwyneth Paltrow stepped back into their roles with ease and showed that their characters have grown since we last saw them.  Don Cheadle takes over for Terrance Howard as Colonel James Rhodes.  Cheadle pulls off Rhodes evolution in this film nicely and gave fans a little more in this film.  Scarlett Johansson and Samuel L. Jackson round-out the good guys with some small, but distinct performances.  Samuel L. Jackson is always, well, Samuel L. Jackson, and Scarlett Johansson earned her first name by making each scene a little hotter just by being in it.  She didn’t have too many speaking parts, but I didn’t mind.  Mrs. Reynolds does in this film what she’s good at; kicking ass and looking hot.

In this film the show stealers, like most superhero films, were the bad guys.  Mickey Rourke played Vanko as a creepy tough guy, but something tells me it’s not hard for Rourke since he always plays that kind of guy.  But I was surprised at how much I liked Sam Rockwell as Justin Hammer.  He played a rich weasel very well, and I hope to see him in further Marvel films.  As a sequel I enjoyed watching the next chapter in these characters lives.  It wasn’t as fun as the first, and I feel like they tried to be a little much to be better, but not enjoyable.  Most franchises drop the ball on the third film, so we’ll see what director Jon Favreau has in store for this trilogy.

Now I will present a view of the film from my nastier side.  As a comic book film Iron Man 2 was still enjoyable.  It was no The Dark Knight, but it wasn’t Batman & Robin either.  It had some good action, a little humor, and some cool villains.  The returning cast did a great job portraying their characters, and I was also happy to see Happy Hogan get a bigger role, even if it was the film’s director who played him.  The only two characters I was disappointed with were the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents Nick Fury and The Black Widow.

Ultimate Nick Fury was based on Samuel L. Jackson so to see him play this part on screen is awesome.  However there were a few spots where Fury seemed a little too happy or comical.  That’s not Fury.  Nick Fury is always level-headed, serious, and only yells in the heat of battle.  Jackson better brush up on his own character before taking on The Avengers. 

The Black Widow is a red-headed-Russian-spy who works for Fury, and even though she is supposed to be undercover, I didn’t hear a Russian accent once.  I was worried about Johansson from the beginning, but luckily she didn’t act as much as she jumped around.  I don’t care if I did get to see her in a black bra, Johansson better start drinking some vodka and see if that helps her accent.  I want to hear The Black Widow tongue I hear in my head when I read Captain America.

So there you have two sides to Iron Man 2.  I look forward to not only the next Iron Man film, but the next Marvel Studio film as well.  If you go and see just remember what every geek knows; Marvel films aren’t over until a few minutes after the credits role.  Trust me true believers. 

RATING:  B

Comic To Read This Week: Red Robin #12

  Two years ago Bruce Wayne was declared dead, but only one person didn’t believe it.  Tim Drake has been traveling the world trying to find any trace that Bruce is still alive, and he has been making a mess along the way.  In Mark Waid’s dystopian epic, Kingdom Come, he introduced a hero known as Red Robin.  In the future, Dick Grayson had taken up this mantle to become is own hero outside of Batman.  Years later in the comic series 52, Jason Todd also took on this identity.  To separate his current actions from Batman Tim dropped his identity of Robin and has taken up the costume of Red Robin. 

For twelve issues Tim has been walking a fine line, even as far as to team up with Ra’s Al Ghul to try and find what really happened to Bruce.  In the process Tim has made a dent into Ra’s League of Assassins, which something Ra’s is taking personally.  After finding the proof he needed Tim has returned to Gotham City, but so as Ra’s, and he’s looking to kill anyone related Tim and Batman.

Issue #12 has Red Robin confronting Ra’s about trying to kill his loved ones, but things don’t go according to plan.  Ra’s almost beats Tim to a pulp, but Tim has an ace in the hole.  Ra’s thinks he can use the villain Hush to take control of Wayne Industries because Hush currently looks like Bruce.  However, before he disappeared, Bruce left his controlling interest of Wayne Industries to his adopted son; Tim Drake.  In his anger, Ra’s pushes Tim out the window, but luckily Batman is there to catch him.  Ra’s now believes he has found someone who is a worthy heir to his throne aside from Bruce.

Ever since 2004’s Identity Crisis Tim Drake has been a great character to watch.  Within a few years he lost his dad, his two best friends, and then his surrogate father.  In between it all he also hooked up with is dead best friend’s girlfriend.  Tim has been through a lot lately, and being the only person in the DC universe that believed Bruce wasn’t dead only made him that much more of a bold character.  Writer Chris Yost ended two years of Tim Drake in a great place.  The twist at the end of this issue puts Tim right up front in the Batman comics, and has me wondering what plans Ra’s has for young Timothy.

Everyone knows I favor Superman more Batman, so I have no interest in the upcoming The Return of Bruce Wayne comic coming out.  But the last two years I’ve loved reading about Dick Grayson as the unsure Batman, Damien Wayne as the defiant Robin, and Tim Drake and the loner Red Robin.   If I had it my way Bruce Wayne would not return for a very long time.