Secret Six #1 Review

Secret Six #1 | Writer: Gail Simone | Artists: Ken Lashley, Drew Geraci | Colorist: Jason Wright | Publisher: DC Comics | Price: $2.99 | From my column at Forces of Geek.com

One of the disappointing causalities of DC Comics New 52 was the Secret Six series. Once again, the talented Gail Simone is at the helm of this clandestine awakening. Continue reading “Secret Six #1 Review”

UFC 181: Thank You

UFC 181 - Hendricks v Lawler
Past and Present Welterweight Kings

I almost hate admitting this, but I have been bored with MMA as of late. The UFC’s overwhelming slate of shows has given me little cause for excitement. While I understand their business strategy is to create new stars, appealing content extends beyond merely two people fighting in a cage.

We’ve been spoiled for so long with a plethora of intriguing personalities. Gladiators like Royce Gracie, Ken Shamrock, Dan Severn, and Tank Abbott introduced us to this combative spectacle. At the same time, warriors such as Chuck Liddell, Randy Couture, BJ Penn, and Matt Hughes ushered in the sports boom period.

The new generation of fighters have evolved quite nicely, but besides Ronda Rousey, no one else has mass appeal. People want to like Jon Jones, but his Ill-mannered and disingenuous personality is a turnoff. Cain Velasquez, Demetrious Johnson, and Chris Weidman seem like the type of athletes you’d want your kids to look up to. Unfortunately, they lack that larger-than-life persona.

UFC 181 rejuvenated my excitement for Mixed Martial Arts. The event had everything you could ask for and then some, and I wrote a column about it at What Culture.com titled 5 Things We Learned From UFC 181.

Calling The Shots Of UFC 181: Hendricks vs. Lawler II

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UFC 181 features two championship bouts to close out the promotion’s pay-per-view calendar for the year. With an unprecedented 45 events scheduled for 2015, this card will go a long way in bringing clarity at the top of the welterweight and lightweight divisions. From top to bottom, this looks to be the most intriguing and action-packed card of the year.

– Tony Ferguson vs. Abel Trujillo

This is a fight of technique versus raw aggression. Ferguson is very skilled, and Abel Trujillo made some serious noise with his win over Jamie Varner, which turned into a violent slugfest. Ferguson cannot win a firefight and has to dictate the pace with takedowns. I believe that Trujillo will land big shots, thus forcing Ferguson out of his wheelhouse.

The Pick: Abel Trujillo Continue reading “Calling The Shots Of UFC 181: Hendricks vs. Lawler II”

WWE Superstars #10 Review

WWE Superstars #10 | Writer: Mick Foley, Shane Riches | Artist: Paris Cullins | Colorist: Laurie E. Smith | Publisher: Super Genius | Price $3.99 | From my column at Forces of Geek.com

The second installment of “Legends” rolls on as this twisted, nightmarish, game show of combat seems to know no bounds. The Undertaker enters the fray and finds himself in a battle royal against virtually every giant that has ever competed in a WWE ring. Continue reading “WWE Superstars #10 Review”

X-O Manowar #30 Review

X-O Manowar #30 | Writer: Robert Vendtti | Artists: Diego Bernardo, Alisson Rodrigues | Colorist: Wil Quintana | Publisher: Valiant Entertainment | Price: $3.99 | From my column at Forces of Geek.com

In 1996, I was introduced to X-O Manowar via his crossover video game with Iron Man titled Heavy Metal. Years later, Valiant has done a marvelous job of fleshing out the character in this vast comic universe that has been created. Continue reading “X-O Manowar #30 Review”

Werdum Denies Hunt The Glass Slipper

 

Photo Credit UFC.COM

As an MMA fan, sometimes we pay for stories instead of fights. Last Saturday night, I didn’t plop down $54.95 to watch the first heavyweight title fight in thirteen months. I paid to see Mark Hunt shock the world and topple Fabricio Werdum on three weeks’ notice to become the interim champion as the UFC made their maiden voyage into the hardened fight mecca of Mexico. Unfortunately, Hunt would be denied his glass slipper.

Continue reading “Werdum Denies Hunt The Glass Slipper”

Silver Surfer #7 Review

Silver Surfer #7 | Writer: Dan Slott | Artist: Michael Allread | Colorist: Laure Allread | Publisher: Marvel Comics | Price: $3.99 | From my column at Forces of Geek.com

The childhood me would have hated everything about this book because of the cosmic friendship Dan Slott has developed between Silver Surfer and Dawn, along with random craziness such as lady bug space creatures.

However, now that I’m in my mid-thirties, married with three cats, a dog, and some amazing nieces and nephews, I find myself saying the word “cute” more than is probably socially acceptable among my comrades, but that’s the first word that comes to mind when reading this book. Continue reading “Silver Surfer #7 Review”

Superman Unchained #9 Review

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Superman Unchained #9| Writer: Scott Snyder  | Artist: Jim Lee, Dustin Nguyen, Scott Williams | Colorists: Alex Sinclair, John Kalisz | Publisher: DC Comics | Price: $4.99 | From my column at Forces of Geek.com

With several publishing delays, drastic character changes (Lex Luthor being a member of the Justice League), and the Superman ongoing series getting a new superstar creative team in the form of Geoff Johns and John Romita Jr, it was obvious that Superman Unchained wasn’t long for this world, even though it has been the quintessential telling of the Man of Steel’s exploits in the New 52. Continue reading “Superman Unchained #9 Review”

Did Ambrose vs. Rollins Deliver?

My friends and I get together to watch the big four WWE pay-per-view events and tend not to care about the other eight events, otherwise known as the B-Shows. With the WWE Network, I watch these shows even though I didn’t before. On Sunday, afternoon, I received a phone call from my friend Ryan telling me he was having a get together at his house for Hell in a Cell, again,which is a B-Show.

There was only one reason why we were getting together for a show that we would normally ignore. Dean Ambrose vs. Seth Rollin, in the main event, inside the Cell. This was the first feud that I had been legitimately excited for in a while. I mean, how could this match go wrong? Well, some feel the match delivered tenfold while others believe it left a lot to be desired.

I wrote an article breaking down the match for the Camel Clutch Blog titled “Gimmicks in a Cell”

Colder: The Bad Seed #1 Review

Colder: The Bad Seed #1 Writer: Paul Tobin | Artist: Juan Ferreyra | Cover: Juan Ferreyra | Publisher: Dark Horse Comics | Price: $3.99 | From my column at Forces of Geek.com

Paul Tobin and Juan Ferreyra’s Eisner-nominated series is back, and this time, it’s ongoing, baby! Declan Thomas and his caretaker, Reece, were almost lost in a deadly encounter with Nimble Jack in the last series. Declan prevailed, and his powers have become a conduit that can literally suck the insanity out of the insane. Continue reading “Colder: The Bad Seed #1 Review”