Star Wars #4 Review

Personally, this is one of my most anticipated titles of the month. Brian Wood has done something very special here. He expands on the mythos that make this franchise so amazing while keeping its familiar and celebrated voice firmly intact.

In the Shadow of Yavin, the Rebels are looking for a new base location, but the Empire shows up at every turn and every scouting mission. This leads Leia to conclude that a spy is among their ranks.

Wood’s script shows a perilous sense of danger for the rebellion because no matter how many secret protocols are created, a fleet of Star Destroyers appears in the blink of an eye. Leia runs out of options, and you start to feel that she may never find a new home base.

That is a testament to how well this book is constructed because you know they eventually find the planet Hoth, yet it completely sucks you in. Han and Chewie’s escape from an imperial garrison on Coruscant while flying through the planet’s lower levels. Everything about the chase, from the dialogue to the art direction, made me feel that I was watching this unfold in a movie.

I’ve said it for the last three issues, and I’m going to say it again. If you are not reading this series, you are doing yourself a huge disservice as a comic book or Star Wars fan. Read it now!!!

Grade: A-

Action Comics #19 Review

Now, this is what I’m talking about!

Smashing giant robots and some great interactions between Lois and Clark make this the Superman book we should have gotten when the New 52 began. The ongoing Superman series is a cluster&%#$@, Grant Morrison’s run on Action Comics had its hits and misses, and he borders on being an arrogant frat boy in Justice League.

The brass at DC Comics can’t agree on the Man of Steel’s character portrayal. This is evident by this being the first and only issue written Andy Diggle since he left the company due to “professional differences.” Furthermore, Tony S. Daniel will finish scripting the arc using Diggle’s plot and will leave the series after.

That is a real shame because this is the first time Superman has felt like Superman. This story takes place one year before the New 52 began, and Lex Luthor is up to his alien-hating ways. His portrayal thus far has been disappointing, but Diggle changes that.

Luthor hatches a plot that will tear Superman apart from the inside out. We’ve seen this kind of thing happen to Superman in the past. However, he has had Batman and others to help him. He doesn’t have that this time, so he is alone.

Tony S. Daniel is always money in the art department; this issue is no exception. His depiction of Lois is spectacular and the perfect complement to Diggle’s interpretation of the character. Of course, his work shined most during the battle scene where Superman unloads on some bad guys after being blasted out of the sky and charges at them after saying, “ Didn’t throw the first punch. I’ll throw the last.”

There was no Sholly Fisch backup story, which was usually the best part of the book. Honestly, as much as it might be missed, it was not required, as everything is straightforward. While I worry about future installments due to the creative shakeup, this issue is something Superman fans can be proud of.

Grade: A-

Things I forgot about WrestleMania 2

With WrestleMania 29 upon us, I got the sudden urge last week to dig into my DVD collection and watch WrestleMania 2. It’s not the most popular Mania of all time, but it was a big deal back in 1986.

The first time I watched this event was in the early 90’s when I rented it from a mom and pop video store that had a massive wrestling collection. I believe this was the first time I had watched it since and boy, did I forget a lot about this event! In fact, I forgot so much of what happened that I almost turned in my wrestling fan card.

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Batman Incorporated #9 Review

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.

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G.I. Joe: Retaliation Movie Review

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: Submit or Perish

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+

Pendulum of Destiny: Georges St. Pierre vs. Nick Diaz

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.

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Fairy Quest: Outlaws #2 Review and Insights

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 Review: The Fall of Damian Wayne

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.

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It’s Official, John Cena is a Good Wrestler

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