The Shadow/Green Hornet: Dark Knights Vol 1 TPB Review

Team-ups in comics are nothing new. However, the way Michael Uslan does it brings style and guile to a great premise featuring two classic pulp heroes.

The Shadow and Green Hornet are no strangers to deep-rooted conspiracies and it’s their similar personality that makes them a perfect combination to foil a history altering plot.

Speaking of history, actual events tied into the main plot serves the story in dynamic fashion. What might have been weaved with what could have been paints the antagonist, Shiwan Khan, in a treacherous light.

As the reader, we know the outcome of events like World War II, but the thought that there was such a potent influence behind it all makes the stakes that much higher.

Keith Burns produces some masterful layouts throughout the book. The flair exhibited when an alligator breaks through walls and chews up folks, only for Kato to take it out with some Karate chopping action is a guilty pleasure worth experiencing.

Come to think of it, I might make it my screen saver. Dark Knights is a fantastic read that works because of how the adventure unfolds. The volume one in the title of the book makes me up this isn’t the last we’ve seen of this intriguing pairing.

Score 8/10

The Battle for the Vacated Belt

ufc belt — Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Weirdly, we live in a world where Georges St. Pierre isn’t the UFC welterweight champion. Personal issues outside of the octagon altered the one constant that seemed like a sure thing. Robbie Lawler and Johnny Hendricks will go to war for the vacated title, and a victory for both fighters would make a remarkable story. A win for Hendricks gives him what many feel is rightfully his, while a Lawler victory would be the perfect bookend to a bitter-sweet journey.

Bouts that promise a slugfest to fail to live up to the billing. I believe UFC 171 will deliver everything a fight fan can ask for. I can’t even begin to tell you how excited I’m about this fight. However, you can read about it at Camel Clutch Blog.com

Breath of Bones: A Tale of the Golem HC Review

Breath of Bones: A Tale of the Golem HC | Writer: Steve Niles & Matt Santoro | Artist: Dave Wachter| Publisher: Dark Horse Comics | Release Date: February 26, 2014

When it comes to horror in comics, Steve Niles is truly in a league of his own. The way he brings fear to the forefront without blood and guts is simply remarkable. Breath of Bones tells the tale of a British pilot who crashes in a Jewish village which prompts a Nazi invasion.

Seeing the villagers’ heart and compassion before and as they aid the pilot gives the reader a certain anxiety when plight and slaughter become a possibility, which shows the real horror of the story.

Of course, a giant supernatural clay monster conjured up to destroy invading bigotry kind of makes you wish it would happen more often. Fear is used as a way to instill terror in a person or situation. However, using it as a catalyst to inspire courage in these characters proves to be just as thrilling as its actual intent.

Dave Wachter’s detailed visuals are a privilege to examine, and they truly inject life into the pages. Reading the four single issues was great, but enjoying this as one collected work serves the story even better because you’re not waiting a month or longer between releases.

As a result, you will appreciate and feel the emotional punch even more. A monster fighting monsters make Breath of Bones a wonderful example of why comic books are a preferred medium used to escape reality.

Score 9/10

Everything is Awesome with The Lego Movie

I hated Legos growing up because my creativity laid dormant at the sight of those colorful interlocking bricks. Those around me could build wondrous worlds in the blink of an eye. I hid behind the notion that He-Man and Transformers were much cooler, which helped to justify my disdain. I recently watched a movie starring these same toys, and while I didn’t expect much, I took away so much from this movie. Continue reading “Everything is Awesome with The Lego Movie” →

WWE Elimination Chamber 2014: Shield/Wyatts Steal the Show

The Elimination Chamber was the last major stop on the road to WrestleMania and it left a mixed bag of results with the good heavily outweighing the mediocre. This also marks the end of the traditional PPV era as future shows will air on the WWE Network. I think it’s fitting that it went out with a good main event and great hope for the future. Continue reading “WWE Elimination Chamber 2014: Shield/Wyatts Steal the Show” →

Ten Greatest WWE Champions of All Time

The WWE Championship is the holy grail of professional wrestling. It’s the belt that every aspiring and current wrestler dreams of holding. Having this honor bestowed upon you means you are the best that this business has to offer.

Today, I will rank the top ten WWE Champions of all time.

To say this list was hard to compile would be a colossal understatement—42 wrestlers over 50 years made for several list changes. The thing to remember is that all lists of this type are subjective. You do the best you can with criteria that make sense to you.

For example, Money is extremely important, but being a big draw doesn’t define a wrestler. Iron Man 3 made over four hundred million at the box office, but it’s not winning Best Picture at the Oscars.

Without further ado, let’s get started.

Continue reading “Ten Greatest WWE Champions of All Time” →

Thoughts on the Guardians of the Galaxy Trailer

I stayed up late to watch the Guardians of the Galaxy trailer on Jimmy Kimmel Live, and I’m not sure if I like what I saw? I’ve watched it seven more times since I just can’t get a lock on how I feel about it. Visually, it looks amazing, but I question if the subject matter has the juice to a sustainable film franchise. Continue reading “Thoughts on the Guardians of the Galaxy Trailer” →

Review: The Mocking Dead Volume 1

I have watched many a role playing game in my day.

Notice that I said “watched” and not “played”.

I’m the guy at the table with his head buried in the rule book, delaying the game while highlighting my apparent lack of skill.

Continue reading “Review: The Mocking Dead Volume 1” →

Calling the Shots of Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi

It seemed like only yesterday when Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi was the definitive dream fight being wished-for among die-hard MMA fans. However, fate had other ideas. Within a three-week time span, an out-of-shape Mousasi lost the Strikeforce light heavyweight title to King Mo, and Machida had the UFC light heavyweight title unconsciously taken from him by Shogun Rua. A new weight class and four years later, we have the combative chess match we’ve been waiting for. Continue reading “Calling the Shots of Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi” →

RoboCop Saves Sting From The Four Horsemen

In honor of the RoboCop reboot hitting movie theaters today, I feel it’s only appropriate to reminisce about one of wrestling’s greatest moments. Ok, I’m joking. People hated it and its widely considered the most preposterous publicity stunt in the history of wrestling. As a nine-year-old kid who thought wrestling was real, I loved it. My imagination ran wild with possibilities as the cybernetic law enforcement officer found a new partner in a man called Sting. Continue reading “RoboCop Saves Sting From The Four Horsemen” →