Batman Incorporated #9 | Writer: Grant Morrison | Art: Chris Burnham & Jason Masters | Colors: Nathan Fairbairn & Hi-Fi | Letters: Dave Sharpe | Publisher: DC Comics | Price: $2.99 | From my column at Forces of Geek.com
It is Damian Wayne’s funeral, and the opening images show Bruce Wayne, Dick Grayson, Tim Drake, and Alfred serving as pallbearers. Obviously, everyone is sad, but Bruce is addled with a personal loss and looks as if he can barely hold the coffin.
I got to see The Rock’s new movie, G.I. Joe: Retaliation, and I have got to say it was pretty decent. If you grew up screaming “Yo Joe,” you will have your likes and dislikes about the film.
We pick up where the 2009 movie left off as the Joes, under the command of Duke, are ambushed and all but wiped out by order of the Zartan under the guise of the President of the United States. Roadblock, Lady Jaye, and Flint are the only survivors, and they put a plan in action to stop Cobra’s sinister plot as the fate of mankind hangs in the balance.
The movie was scheduled to be released in June 2012, but the studio pushed the date back to convert it to 3-D. It was also reported that the film tested poorly and that the main source of criticism stemmed from the fact that Duke, played by Channing Tatum, was killed off so quickly.
The majority of the original cast was not brought back for this film, which was designed to give the franchise a fresh coat of paint instead of going into reboot mode. Now you know, and knowing is half the battle. Several subplots were embedded throughout the film. Some work, but some don’t, as more time should have been spent on character development.
Adrianne Palicki was sensational as Lady Jaye, D.J. Controna was useless as Flint and Ray Stevenson was picture-perfect as Firefly, Cobra’s deadly saboteur. Enough about these jabronies. What you really want to know is, did the WWE Champion bring it? The answer is absolutely yes. Rock and Palicki were the only ones who felt comfortable and natural in their roles as Joes.
G.I. Joe: Retaliation is a fun enough movie that sometimes gets in its own way. While Retaliation scores higher marks than its silver screen predecessor, it lacks the gravitas that made the cartoon a pop culture staple.
Don’t go into the movie expecting a carefully crafted story. It’s an action flick that just so happens to have the name G.I Joe plastered on it. Expecting absolute greatness out of any film will never live up to such an elevated expectation. Just sit back, relax, and enjoy the explosive ride.
Age of Ultron #1 | Writer: Brian Michael Bendis | Artist: Bryan Hitch & Paul Neary | Colorist: Paul Mounts |Letters: Cory Petit | Publisher: Marvel Comics | From my column at Forces of Geek.com
Marvel’s newest mega-crossover event is here, and it feels like we just got done with Avengers vs. X-Men. This ten-issue series is the usual dystopian saga where evil has prevailed, all hope is lost, our heroes are holding on by a thread, and it’s all thanks to the technological terror created by Dr. Hank Pym.
Age of Ultron wastes no time getting to the good stuff as we join our regularly scheduled program that is already in progress. New York City is in ruins, and we know who is at fault, but we don’t know how or why it happened. As of right now, there are a few superheroes left and no villain’s insight. The world as we know it is gone. There is a Fallen Skies vibe to the whole thing, which adds a different element to the usual song and dance we’re treated to this time of the year.
If you read Matt Fraction’s Hawkeye, and you should, the grounded version of the character will not be found; the arrow-shooting badass takes the lead and is the central figure of the story.
I’m convinced that Ultron is Brian Michael Bendis in disguise. He writes so many ongoing comics a month and gets all the big events as well. Hopefully, the different elements, such as how this issue began, will keep on coming to separate themselves from past crossover events.
Earlier promotional material advertised last October was the original kick-off to this event. Good things come to those who wait, and if the rumors regarding a major universal shift change are true, we are in for one hell of a ride!
Grade: B+
Nick Diaz is the enigma of the moment. Why, you ask? Well, despite losing his last fight, coming off his second failed drug test suspension, no-showing press obligations, making an uncomfortable spectacle of the one conference call he actually decided to attend, and hurling accusations of steroid use towards his opponent, Diaz is fighting Georges St. Pierre for the welterweight championship of the world on Saturday night.
Continue reading “Pendulum of Destiny: Georges St. Pierre vs. Nick Diaz”
Fairy Quest: Outlaws #2 | Writer: Paul Jenkins | Artist: Humberto Ramos | Colorist: Leonardo Olea | Letters: Leonardo Olea | Publisher: Boom! Studios
Last year, Paul Jenkins and Humberto Ramos launched a Kickstarter campaign to publish Fairy Quest independently as a beautiful hardcover graphic novel. Over $95,000 was raised to help their passion project see the light of day.
Now, their story is being released in single issues. Fairy Quest is set in the world of Fablewood, where all of your favorite bedtime stories live together. Things aren’t all they are cracked up to be, as Mister Grimm and his “Think Police” will mind-wipe those who don’t literally stick to their story.
Red Riding Hood, aka “Red,” and the Wolf, are actually friends who no longer want to live in the same storytelling cycle. They go on a quest to find a place called “Real World” where they can live the life they desire.
The relationship between Red and Wolf strengthens the script because they know each other well and would do absolutely anything for one another. You would think it would be odd to see them getting along so well due to their storybook rivalry, but Jenkins makes it come across organically.
Humberto Ramos’ magical artwork is the perfect fit for this fabled adventure, and it shines in every panel of the book. The opening page shows the real-world implications when one deviates from the script. Despite this, you still find yourself rooting for Red and Wolf to succeed without a second thought, even though one of the most popular stories of all time will be erased from existence as a result.
Grade: A
Batman Incorporated #8 |Written by Grant Morrison | Art: Chris Burnham & Jason Masters | Colors: Nathan Fairbairn | Letters: Taylor Esposito | Publisher: DC Comics | Price: $2.99 | From my column @ Forces of Geek.com
Twenty-Four years after Jason Todd felt the cold hand of death, Damian Wayne is now a member of the dearly departed.
The New York Post, in conjunction with DC Comics, leaked the news two days before the book’s release. This caused a mad dash to the comic shop, and many are reporting that the book was sold out in minutes. Stores that requested extra copies didn’t receive enough or didn’t get any at all.
Continue reading “Batman Incorporated #8 Review: The Fall of Damian Wayne”
Guess what folks? John Cena can wrestle, and he proved it last Monday when he and CM Punk tore the house down, and arguably had the best match in the history of Monday Night Raw.
Is Cena the world’s greatest wrestler? No. Are his promos gods awful and infuriating at times? Absolutely. The fact of the matter is you can’t suck and have the kind of match that he had. CM Punk does bring the best out of him, but Cena wasn’t carried in any way, shape, or form.
“I’m serving humble pie and I hope all of my critics are hungry” were the first verbal shots fired by John Cena in his pre-match promo. He was determined to have the kind of match that fans will be talking about for years to come.
Cena is a lousy mechanic, which is what he gets such a bad rap for. However, he can tell a great story and knows how to work in the right situations. Don’t believe me? Let’s take trip down memory lane and look at the best John Cena matches.
Click here to read the rest of my column at Gerweck.net: Pro Wrestling News Since 1997
The Black Beetle #1 | Created by Francesco Francavilla | Letters by Nate Piekos | Publisher: Dark Horse Comics | Price: $3.99 | From my column @Forces of Geek.com
Comic Books are a mixed bag. Some are good while others are not so good, and then there are those that make you proud to be a fan of the genre. Besides being uber-talented, it’s hard to fathom how Created by produced such an outstanding read.
This is a crime/noir story of the past where mob bosses rule Colt City with an iron fist. Francavilla reveals some information about the Beetle’s character but we don’t know much about the man behind the mask. The sense of overall adventure captivates you from beginning to end.
Continue reading “The Black Beetle #1 & 2 Review: Francesco Francavilla is a Pulp Noir Genius”
Vince McMahon couldn’t have booked a better finish as Ronda Rousey did what many debuting fighters, with a lot of press, fail to do. She lived up to the hype. Rousey’s 7-0 record brings her tally to seven armbar finishes in the first round. Liz Carmouche deserves a ton of credit after having the champion in trouble early and has undoubtedly increased her stock in defeat. Dana White said it best “She will get her kitchen table now.”
Ronda Rousey’s armbar is officially the first finishing move of Mixed Martial Arts. Like Ric Flair’s Figure Four Leg Lock and Bret Hart’s Sharpshooter, you know it’s coming, and you can’t do anything about it. Unlike the worked nature of professional wrestling, Rousey can’t put all of her eggs in the armbar basket and will have to add new weapons to her arsenal. If not, it will be a bad day when someone eventually breaks her grip.
Continue reading “Ronda Rousey armbar’s her place in UFC History”
You probably didn’t know that two TUF winners and four former world champions are fighting at UFC 157. That’s because Ronda Rousey has captured the attention of anyone and everyone who even looks at mixed martial arts. Rousey is the fatal attraction of skill and beauty the UFC has been waiting for as she and Liz Carmouche, the first openly gay fighter in the sport, will headline Saturday’s card. Rousey’s Strikeforce title morphed into the UFC women’s Bantamweight championship when the company closed its doors.
Continue reading “It’s All About Ronda Rousey at UFC 157”
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