Who would win in a fight between Batman and Kenny Omega? How about a showdown between Wonder Woman and “Timeless” Toni Storm? Can the acrobatic Nightwing match the aerial arsenal of Will Ospreay? These questions could be answered when the heroes and villains of All Elite Wrestling (AEW) and DC Comics unite for a groundbreaking collaboration. The main event of this partnership will be a 48-page, two-part comic book saga.
Continue reading “DC Comics and AEW Team Up for Epic Crossover”
It’s time to gear up for another Scooby-Doo adventure with Mystery Inc. as they join forces with Krypto, the Superdog, to investigate the mysterious disappearance of the Justice League.
Scooby-Doo! and Krypto, Too! is the latest collaboration between Hanna-Barbera and DC Comics.
It’s part spiritual successor and another part straight-up sequel to the famed ensemble cartoon of the 70s and 80s, Superfriends.
There’s plenty of Easter eggs to gawk at for old-school fans.
Continue reading “Scooby-Doo! and Krypto, Too! (Review)”
Pro Wrestling is often described as a live-action comic book. Both mediums are prime destinations for bombastic storytelling with larger-than-life characters. It’s not a surprise that the two genres often intersect.
Batista and John Cena have earned critical acclaim for their big-screen superhero roles as Drax and Peacemaker, respectively.
Marvel and DC Comics use wrestling as a vehicle to produce the next great issue, with a cover providing a peek of the body slaming goodness within its pages.
Get out your long boxes and search those spin racks. It’s time to look at 15 pro wrestling comic book covers.
Continue reading “15 Wrestling Comic Book Covers”
Event Leviathan #6 | Written by Brian Michael Bendis | Art by Alex Maleev | DC Comics
The biggest mystery plaguing the DC Universe reaches its conclusion. Who is Leviathan? We finally get our answer.
“I’m sorry, I don’t recognize you,” unfortunately, encapsulates the magnitude of the reveal when Superman used his x-way vision to peek under the hood.
Unmasking the villain needs to be a shocking experience.
Instead, Bendis used the moment to bring an obscure character to prominence.
That could have worked.
However, we never saw Leviathan actually do anything. Explosions, weird energy fields, and the collapse of the intelligence community wielded massive results.
Yet, Leviathan is never seen pulling the trigger himself or getting his hands dirty. He talked a big game and had people do his bidding. If Leviathan was going to roll up his sleeves finally, this was the time to do it. Instead, he retreats once he realized Superman would never join his cause.
I’m sorry, but how many times has Superman been fed the “Tear down the world to make it better” speech?
A lot would be the answer.
Its as if the characters in the book failed to realize something the reader has known about Earth’s greatest hero. I thought something different would have presented itself. Perhaps an argument that was fresh and compelling. Something to make Superman waver, even for a few fleeting seconds, would have given readers something to chew on.
Leviathan was portrayed as someone who is always five steps; however, he put all of his eggs in one red and blue basket. That doesn’t sound very smart al all.
The leaks that appeared online last month regarding Leviathan’s identity were correct.
I hoped they were wrong; however, it seemed too apparent after really thinking about it. The ending of the book is the beginning, as there is more to come from Leviathan. That would have been cool if I actually cared about the person in question. Leviathan peaced out once Superman turned him down.
Why would I be intrigued about any threat he could pose to Supes or the Justice League going forward?
Bendis is in the Leviathan business for the long haul. I hope he can bring something that will have an impact because, unfortunately, this wasn’t it.
Divisive is the name of the game when it comes to DC Comics’ films. Man of Steel, Batman v. Superman, and Suicide Squad all received mixed reviews. Wonder Woman was a bonafide hit with everyone, but now it’s back to the status quo with the latest film in the series, Justice League.
Digital mustache removal, crappy CGI, inept story, and a botched Superman resurrection led to a massive critical lambasting of the film. Bad reviews don’t scare me out of seeing a movie because I need to see it for myself before casting judgment.
Is Justice League another step down for the DCEU? Is Justice League worth your time and hard-earned money? I’m here to report that Justice League is freaking amazing despite any minor problems, and these issues do not distract from an enjoyable movie. Continue reading “Justice League: Review”
With Doctor Strange bringing the Marvel Cinematic Universe into the realm of sorcery and magic, Warner Bros. Animation does the same with their latest direct to home video offering through DC Comics, Justice League Dark.
DC animated films have been able to hit a lot of notes that their live action counterparts have missed. Of course, the bigger the budget, the larger the amount of creative red tape that will wrap itself around a project such as David Ayer’s Suicide Squad.
Justice League Dark makes great use of its sixty-minute run time in setting up the story, introducing the characters, and establishing their motivations to get the viewer invested in when the team finally comes together in the climactic showdown. It’s a formulaic approach to storytelling with the key elements executed to their desired result as the film opens with random acts of murder that end up being not so random. The mystical element to these atrocities calls for a different solution outside of Superman and company.
Enter John Constantine, who is quickly sought out by Batman, Zatanna, and Deadman to investigate the mystic anomalies occurring around the globe. When you think of Constantine, Matt Ryan immediately comes to mind. His portrayal of the supernatural detective has earned a great deal of praise, which has brought him back to the role through multiple platforms. Ryan’s voice acting served the story well here and carried a gravitas in the same vein as Mark Hamill’s Joker or Kevin Conroy’s Batman.
Speaking of Batman, his inclusion in this film has been met with a lot of eye-rolling from those who cherish the source material. The Dark Knight wasn’t a member of the Justice League Dark in the comics. And why would you need a non-powered detective when you already have a magical one in Constantine? It’s obvious that Batman is a promotional vehicle used, which is why he’s front and center on the Blu-ray cover.
I’m happy to report that Batman is a marketing version of a Trojan horse this time around. Batman serves as the bridge to the characters that mainstream audiences might not be familiar with. Once the mission is established, Batman hangs back, helps when needed, and cracks a joke or two while serving as a reminder that this is not a job for “capes and tights.” This prevents his inclusion from being a bait and switch, which benefits the film as Constantine, Zatanna, and Deadman are given plenty of room to work.
Jay Oliva, who has directed several DC animated films, delivers some exciting action and an entertaining narrative with intriguing twists and turns. Blood, guts, and curse words are all wrapped up in a violence-filled package that is worthy of the R-rating that the film is marketed with. There are no sexually suggestive themes or bloodbaths for the sake of shock and awe. All of the gory moments fit the context of the story. There are a lot of moving pieces that are not hard to follow, but still, there is much to absorb.
Besides the story, there were some fun moments such as Deadman sarcastically pointing out the obvious, Batman using a defibrillator to take out a shit-demon, a poker game where both parties cheated, and Swamp Thing. Man, I wanted more Swamp Thing. He looked glorious with great attention to detail, with his towering leafy green presence.
Aesthetically, the animation doesn’t stand out. It’s not bad, but despite the enjoyable action set pieces, there were no moments that would make you stand up and marvel over the imagery on-screen. There were also a few background blunders with one, in particular, showing Superman standing behind Constantine, only to see that the Man of Steel is nowhere in sight once the shot goes wide. It was annoying because it made me feel as if I missed something.
Gods, Spellcasting, magical stones, a bit of Merlin, and some Batarangs make for an animated DC Comics adventure that is fun to watch but not necessarily worth rushing out to see or buy on release day.
Those who came to see Batman save the day might be disappointed if they are not intrigued by the likes of Constantine and Zatanna. Justice League Dark does offer a better-than-average viewing experience that entertains on many levels while providing a worthwhile introduction to the House of Mystery and its residents.
I’ve lost confidence in my writing as of late. I second guess every word and rewrite every sentence more times than I would like to admit. My friends tell me not to worry and that I’m my own worst critic. Last weekend, I learned that a critically acclaimed writer goes through something similar.
I covered a panel at Boston Comic Con, where Batman writer Scott Snyder and artist Gregg Capullo shared their experience crafting such an iconic superhero. Snyder is arguably the definitive narrative voice of the caped crusader and the love and admiration he has for the character is clear with every turn of the page.
Snyder was extremely open with some of the trials and tribulations he’s endured since he took on Batman’s ongoing series in 2011. “That sentence sucks” is a constant voice of creative doubt that is interlined in his thoughts.
In many respects, Scott Snyder’s work is the perfect example of everything I aspire to be as a writer. It was refreshingly honest to hear that he has fears, doubts and anxiety when he writes, just like me.
I wrote a review of Scott Snyder’s panel, and to avoid getting paralysis by analysis, I focused, found my direction, typed it up, and stayed the course in spite of the urge to highlight, right-click, and press delete.
Click here for my review of the panel at Forces of Geek.com
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice needs to be a great film, not a good film because good isn’t good enough. While this movie will establish the shared DC Films Universe, planting the seeds for future flicks with an Easter egg here and a cameo there is ancillary.
I want a movie that is worthy of the titular characters on the marquee while awakening my eight-year-old self. This film needs to finally settle every “who would win in a fight between Batman and Superman” argument I’ve ever had without dis-serving the iconic reputation of either hero. Continue reading “My Declaration for Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice”
The final trailer Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice dropped yesterday, and it’s perfect in every way! Not only does it show that the marketing is now clearly on the fight we’re paying to see, it also primarily focuses on Batman. Sounds kind of unfair considering he shares the marquee with Superman. Nope, and I’ll tell you why.
We’ve already seen what Superman brings to the table as a character in Man of Steel. This trailer gave us our first real peak at what kind of Batman we can expect. He was the supreme fighting machine in every way imaginable, and it was awesome!
Batman blocking Superman’s punch is the money shot of the trailer. The look of disbelief on Henry Cavill’s face absolutely sells this moment to the highest magnitude. It tells us that %$#@ is about to go down and that March 25th can’t get here fast enough!
Click here for my special look at Frank Miller’s Batman: The Dark Knight Returns at Forces of Geek.com
I love 80’s toys because they contain my first real memory of using my imagination to adventure in a galaxy far, far away. When I was four years old, my family and I lived in a tiny one-room apartment known around town as the “roach motel.”
Thanks to my mother, who didn’t want her son to comprehend the gravity of our impoverished situation, I was introduced to a strange visitor from another planet who could make tall leaps in a single bound. His name was Superman, courtesy of Kenner’s Super Powers. Continue reading “My Childhood Super Powers”
RingsideLogic.com 