X-Men: Apocalyspe: Will It be Good?

X-Men: Apocalypse Official synopsis:

Worshiped as a god since the dawn of civilization, the immortal Apocalypse becomes the first and most powerful mutant. Awakening after thousands of years, he recruits the disheartened Magneto and other mutants to create a new world order. As the fate of the Earth hangs in the balance, Professor X and Raven lead a team of young X-Men to stop their seemingly invincible nemesis from destroying mankind.

Age of Apocalypse is one of the most popular comic book crossover storylines and fans have been itching to see the big blue baddie on-screen for quite some time. While we’re finally getting this long waited moment, perhaps it’s too little too late when X-Men: Apocalyspe hits theaters on May 27.

The last film, Day of Futures Past reset the timeline thus erasing the events of the Brett Ratner helmed Last Stand. However, we also saw far into the future with all of our heroes safe and alive. Continue reading “X-Men: Apocalyspe: Will It be Good?” →

Spider-Man in Captain America: Civil War

Captain America: Civil War, hits theaters next week and excitement is at an all-time high due to the film’s positive reviews and the appearance of a certain wall crawler. While Iron Man and Captain America have significantly raised Marvel’s profile over the last eight years, Spider-Man is the crown jewel of their character collective. If Batman and Superman are the two most iconic superheroes of all-time, then Spidey is number three on that list. Continue reading “Spider-Man in Captain America: Civil War” →

Secret Wars #2 Review

Enter Battleworld, a new plane of existence somehow created in the wake of the Marvel universe being destroyed. It’s a crazy dark place where the characters we know have new lives and have taken on radically different roles. A seemingly medieval symmetry encapsulates the motif and lifeblood of this realm.

Various families and houses squabble, politic, and plot to expand their dominion under the watchful eye of one supreme monarch. While there are certainly no songs of fire and ice, I got the impression that winter is coming. Continue reading “Secret Wars #2 Review” →

Avengers: Age of Ultron Review

My wife and I took in some superhero action as Avengers: Age of Ultron kicks off another summer movie season. The film under Joss Whedon’s direction showcased a lot of style and substance, although it lacks in some areas. Some of the diluted elements were easy to ignore, while others were kind of a head-scratcher. Continue reading “Avengers: Age of Ultron Review” →

Secret Wars #1 Review

Time has officially run out. Only two worlds remain.

This is the story that Jonathan Hickman has been building towards since Avengers #1, and New Avengers #1 kicked off the Marvel NOW initiative back in December 2012 and January 2013. Hickman has done something special here as he’s weaved a story that is easy to appreciate regardless of whether you’ve been keeping up with his Avengers’ books or jumped right into the deep end without knowing how to navigate the waters of this universe ending event.

Secret Wars is a name that has been synonymous with Marvel comics since the inaugural series carrying that name occurred in 1984 with the Mattel action figures based on the story coincided with the release of the famed limited series. There have been other limited runs using the name, but this 2015 edition promises to change everything……and it does! Continue reading “Secret Wars #1 Review” →

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” →

X-Men and Guardians of The Galaxy Enter The Black Vortex

The Black Vortex is the current big event going on in Marvel Comics with the Guardians of the Galaxy and the X-Men teaming up to stop an ancient artifact that is imbued with immeasurable power from destroying billions of lives across the universe.
This event will be a three month trek with four books that were released in February, five installments to be released in March with the final four chapters hitting shelves in April.

Here we’re going to examine the first four books while looking at story progression, character depth, and things that look to be shaping up. If you haven’t started reading this event yet, consider this your Cliff’s Notes on The Black Vortex.

There is one question that needs to be asked and that is, “why should we care about this event when Secret Wars is right around the corner?”

The Marvel Universe as we know it will be melded into one single cohesive alignment called Battleworld where continuity could be changed, altered, or remained untouched. While crossover events should deliver some high stakes excitement that augments the overall scope of the universe in some way, shape, or form.

However, sometimes, it’s all about providing a sense of wonderment while seeing your favorite characters in uncommon situations. If you’re a Guardians and or X-Men devotee, seeing them interact is half the fun.

Check out my review of the first four installments of The Black Vortex at Forces of Geek.com

Darth Vader #1 Review

When it was first announced that Marvel obtained the comic book rights for Star Wars, everyone wondered what kind of stories we would get. Instead of looking towards the Expanded Universe, the publisher revisits the familiarity with the franchise’s most infamous character in Darth Vader. Dark Horse Comics produced several limited-run Vader books over the years.

Most of them did a great job of highlighting the dark lord’s ruthless aggression. Still, Kieron Gillen goes into uncharted waters by exploring Vader’s psychology at a time where he has lost favor with Emperor Palatine. Continue reading “Darth Vader #1 Review” →

Spider-Man Swings Into The Marvel Cinematic Universe!

FINALLY, after months of negotiations and years of audience demand, Spider-Man is now a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Marvel has never been able to use the iconic wall-crawler in their films because Sony purchased the movie rights in 1999.

The deal was announced late Monday night as a partnership between Marvel Studios and Sony where Spider-Man will appear in a Marvel Studios film, which will see him rub shoulders with The Avengers. Also, four of Marvel’s Phase 3 films have been pushed back as a new Spider-Man movie opens in theaters on July 28, 2017.

Sony has fumbled the ball with this franchise since 2007, with The Amazing Spider-Man 2 being the last straw. An e-mail from the “Sony Hack” revealed that Marvel president Alan Fine was highly critical of Sony’s script two years before the movie’s release. Continue reading “Spider-Man Swings Into The Marvel Cinematic Universe!” →

Star Wars #1 Review

I was barely five years old when my father came home with a VHS tape that said Star Wars on the cover.

This unfamiliar title sparked a resounding sense of curiosity because there was no explanation or synopsis as to what I about to witness or how it would change my life.

Five minutes before my bedtime, I was told to sit down, stare at the TV, press play and prepare to be transported into a galaxy far, far away. Continue reading “Star Wars #1 Review” →