Secret Wars #0 Review

This was the most anticipated release of Free Comic Book Day, as Marvel kicks off its big event of 2015. Secret Wars looks to change the Marvel Universe as we know it, and it will include over 55 books between tie-in issues and special one-shots.

Jonathan Hickman has been the maestro wielding the creative force that has led to this moment, with almost two years of backstory in the pages of his run on Avengers and New Avengers.

Most of the story here shows Valeria Richards telling the Future Foundation about the world incursions the Illuminati tried to prevent. Hickman makes the book new reader-friendly while giving current readers some nice reminders. I loved the artwork in this issue. It was just right and conveyed a sense of world-ending calamity.

There was also a bonus, which included the Marvel Universe heroes battling the gigantic humanoids of Attack on Titan. Manga really isn’t my cup of tea, but the show gets recommended to me daily. Three episodes in on Netflix, and I’m hooked, gave me a greater appreciation for what I had read earlier. The artwork and color were the stars of this particular show and were well-realized.

If you’re a Marvel fan or have been out of the loop for some time, this is the book you need to read. The primer for Secret Wars more than did its job, and you just might find yourself enamored with a completely new franchise.

Meeting the Excellence of Execution: Bret Hart

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Bret Hart is my all-time favorite wrestler and he was my inspiration for trying my hand at professional wrestling. The “Hitman” appeared at a pop culture convention last weekend and I was offered press credentials to cover the event.

I really wanted to meet him. So for the sake of professionalism, I declined the offer. I didn’t know when I’d have another chance to rub shoulders with the “excellence of execution” so in the words of Mike Pono “Dude, be a fanboy for once.”

The thing is, I know so much about his career, I was concerned that I wouldn’t have anything to say or ask. On the drive to the convention center, my wife assuredly stated “Its Bret Hart, I’m sure you’ll think of something.” Continue reading “Meeting the Excellence of Execution: Bret Hart” →

Star Wars #4 Review

Star Wars #4 serves as the beginning of a new story arc dealing with the fallout of the Empire’s weapons factory on Cymoon 1 being destroyed.

The majority of the book takes place on Tatooine as Darth Vader arrogantly keeps Jabba the Hutt in check while maintaining the assurance of Imperial supplies provided by the mammoth gangster.

Jason Aaron was able to keep the dialogue between the two villains interesting. Vader was steadfast in his demands while Hutt surgically picked his spots to rub salt on the wound of recent Imperial damages. It reminded me of how one would book a match/story in professional wrestling with the idea being one person wins without the loser taking any damage to their credibility or character. Continue reading “Star Wars #4 Review” →

Run Love Kill #1 Review

My initial thoughts after reading this book were, “Holy @$%&! This is really good.”

This creator-owned series follows an assassin on the run named Rain Oshiro who is trying to escape a barricaded city called the Prygat.

There is a pronounced cinematic quality that shines in the opening pages with interchanging scenes of song and sorrow. Continue reading “Run Love Kill #1 Review” →

Calling The Shots: Paige VanZant vs. Felice Herrig

The opening bout of this Saturday’s UFC on Fox 15 main card features a women’s strawweight showdown between the experienced veteran in Felice Herrig and divisional prospect Paige VanZant. While I used the word prospect in regards to VanZant, she is being promoted as anything, but a prospect as the UFC machine along with a Reebok endorsement deal are promoting her as the belle of the octagonal ball. Continue reading “Calling The Shots: Paige VanZant vs. Felice Herrig” →

Darth Vader #4 Review

To say that Darth Vader has fallen out of favor with Emperor Palpatine would be an understatement. The old wrinkly Lord of the Sith talks down to his apprentice in a manner that would get most people Force choked into oblivion. However, Vader is playing it cool for now, and he needs to. Continue reading “Darth Vader #4 Review” →

Daredevil on Netflix: A Must-Watch Marvel Series

Marvel made its maiden voyage into streaming television this past Friday as the red-hooded vigilante of Hell’s Kitchen, Daredevil, invaded Netflix. Like a lot of people, I spent the weekend binge-watching all 13 episodes of the inaugural season. The journey of attorney/crime fighter Matt Murdock carries the flavor of Frank Miller’s The Man Without Fear, while EP’s Drew Goddard and Steven De Knight very much made this their own.

Daredevil is very much grounded in the street-level aspect of things like the dark side of humanity paints a pretty grim picture. The series focuses on New York City, years after the invasion from The Avengers film. There are references to events in the Marvel cinematic universe; however, they are subtle and well-placed without hitting the viewer over the head ad nauseam. This show will appeal to Marvel fans and those who have never heard of the character.

Continue reading →

WWE Does Right By Hideo Itami

Last week’s episode of NXT flipped the script as Hideo Itami was made to look like a big deal. He won three highly competitive tournament matches at WrestleMania Axxess to earn a spot in the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal. As good as that was, the video segment highlighting Itami’s WrestleMania experience was amazing. Continue reading “WWE Does Right By Hideo Itami” →

Taking Artistic License On A Local Comic-Con

I’m late to the party with this one, but I wanted to write about my experience at Beverly Comic Con 2. Some of you might be thinking, what and where is Beverly? Well, Beverly is a city in Massachusetts. It’s about 30 minutes outside of Boston, boasts a population of approximately 39,000, and if you ask its citizens, she is the birthplace of the U.S. Navy.

This sounds like a weird place to hold such an event since most comic book conventions occur in major metropolitan areas such as Los Angeles, Chicago, Baltimore, Boston, and San Diego. Also, I grew up in Beverly, and for a long time, it was a place that, in my opinion, was allergic to fun. However, over the last five years, there has been a social revitalization that has been inspired by and celebrates art, music, and culture. Continue reading “Taking Artistic License On A Local Comic-Con” →

The Hulkamania Workout Set Explains Everything

I consider myself someone who knows a lot about wrestling and the various forms of merchandise that have been released over the years. However, this gem completely escaped me. It’s the Hulkamania Workout Set made by the LJN toy company.

I’m sad that I missed the opportunity to run around the house and yell “What’chu gonna do” while wearing the Hulkster wristbands and headbands that came with the set. I guess I would have used the workout equipment at some point. Continue reading “The Hulkamania Workout Set Explains Everything” →