Star Wars Legacy # 4 Review

The second installment of the Legacy series has established a different kind of tone from its predecessor championed by the Skywalker clan.

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Man of Steel Review

It is hard for me not to be romantic when talking about Superman. He was the first comic book I ever read, the first action figure I ever owned, and often times, I’ve felt like a strange visitor from another planet. Superman inspires me like no other because he is the ultimate clutch player that comes through when things are at their worst. Needless to say, I had been eagerly anticipating the release of Man of Steel for over a year now, and I finally got to see it on opening night; and it is an epic film that captures who Superman needed to be in 2013.

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Superman Unchained #1 Review

Let me get this out of the way right now. Superman is my all-time favorite superhero. That being said, Action Comics has been either hit or miss, while the self-titled series has been completely uninspired since the inception of the New 52. Superman Unchained changes all of that.

I was curious about how Scott Snyder would approach things since his amazing knack for storytelling has been predominate with street-level characters.

Rest assured, Snyder, manages to put a fresh coat of paint on this 75-year-old classic. For starters, he actually made the book about Superman instead of focusing on the complexities of everything around him, such as his personal and professional life.

Those elements come into play when Lois informs Clark of an error in his news article, which prompts him to put on the cape and investigate the matter. Other characters from Superman folklore also make an appearance, and they were used for the purpose that they were intended.

Jimmy Olsen augments Clark Kent’s humanity as he receives a helping hand, including an attempt to be covered for, to avoid the wrath of his boss. The alien-hating General Sam Lane is not central to the story, but he brings about what could be Superman’s biggest threat.

Jim Lee’s legendary splash pages encompass your imagination as the action unfolds in front of your eyes. I mean it. It literally unfolds in the form of a beautiful gatefold poster with so much action that it couldn’t fit on one page.

While due to some dull moments, it is not a grand slam by any means, the newly heralded dream team Scott Snyder and Jim Lee have set the standard for what a Superman comic book should be in 2013.

Grade: B+

My Early Birthday Present: Josh Barnett vs. Frank Mir

I have wanted to see a Josh Barnett vs. Frank Mir fight since UFC 36 back in March of 2002. In the main event, Barnett defeated Randy Couture to become the youngest heavyweight champion in UFC history. Meanwhile, on the preliminary card, Mir submitted Pete Williams with a vicious shoulder lock at 0:46 in the first round, and thus a new star was born!

Eleven years, five months, and 10 days later (that’s right, I counted…I told you I was excited!), it will happen at UFC 164 on August 31^st, which is my birthday!

Shortly after the events described above, Barnett left the company since he tested positive for steroids and was stripped of the title. For a while, the match-up was often brought up in interviews. Mir was muted on the subject since he fought in the UFC, while Barnett fought in PRIDE, and inter-promotional matches were a pipe dream at best.

UFC bought PRIDE, and Barnett chose Japan, Affliction, and Strikeforce over the Zuffa brand.

I remember a Puroresu Power interview in 2005 in which Barnett said, “I look at Frank Mir, and I just can’t help but want to punch him right in the face.” He even offered him some career advice and suggested that Mir should stop trying to get people to like him and walk out to the cage doing a Ravishing Rick Rude gimmick, including a rhinestone robe and hip-swinging gyrations.

I will wait until fight week to break it all down, but I can barely contain my excitement over this bout. Two of the best grapplers in heavyweight Mixed Martial Arts will finally lock horns. Let’s hope neither of them gets injured leading up to the bout. Now, if you excuse me, I have to knock on some wood.

Miesha Tate Coaches The Ultimate Fighter against Ronda Rousey

It seems that fate has intervened, and it refuses to keep Ronda Rousey and Miesha Tate apart. Cat Zingano injured her knee and will not coach the upcoming season of The Ultimate Fighter opposite Rousey. She is also missing out on her title shot in December, which Tate will now receive. This is an interesting development for various reasons as it ties into the sport vs. spectacle argument that has always engulfed combat sports.

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Daredevil #26: The Best Book of The Year?

If the Eisner award-winning Daredevil #7 is Mark Waid’s Mona Lisa, Daredevil #26 is his David sculpture. Breathtaking ingenuity is found on every page, every panel, and every word balloon.

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Calling the Shots of Junior Dos Santos vs. Mark Hunt

UFC 160 features a rematch for the heavyweight title where Cain Velasquez defends the title against Antonio “Big Foot” Silva. One year ago, on this very day, Velasquez delivered perhaps the worst one-sided blood bath in combat sports history to Silva. Needless to say, I’m not interested in this fight, but I’m very interested in the co-main event, which pits Junior Dos Santos against Mark Hunt.

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The Khan of Star Trek Into Darkness

I thoroughly enjoyed Star Trek Into Darkness from beginning to end and left the theater wanting more. The cast did a much better job of fulfilling their roles this time around. The relationship between Kirk and Spock is the vehicle that drives the story on its plotted course. They trust each other with their lives, but they still have some kinks to work out, which is fun to watch unfold but frustrating at the same time, especially from Spock’s perspective.

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Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #23 Review

Miles Morales’s life has been altered forever. In the last issue, Venom killed his mother, and in her final moments, she learned how Miles had been spending his time after school. She was as proud as only a loving mother could be and cautioned him to never tell his mutant-hating father.

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Vitor Belfort vs. Luke Rockhold: A UFC vs. Strikeforce Tale

The Arena Jaragua in Santa Catarina, Brazil, will be treated to a middleweight clash with huge divisional ramifications. Luke Rockhold is the former Strikeforce kingpin looking to establish himself as a serious contender in the UFC. Vitor Belfort is the old lion that can still maul anyone who enters the cage.

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