Review: The Dark Knight Rises

Warner Bros./2012
Available on Blu-ray/DVD

     When Warner Brothers rebooted the Batman franchise in 2005 with Christopher Nolan’s Batman Begins, critics and fans alike were skeptical of whether or not the character could be revived on the big screen after 1997’s ill-received Batman & Robin. After Tim Burton’s blockbuster 1989 film, Batman, and his sequel, Batman Returns, the series seemed to lose its dark, moody edge and move toward a campier approach reminiscent of the 1960’s Batman television show. Batman Begins gave us a dark, serious superhero movie deeply rooted in reality; a psychological rollercoaster of a film that served as a cinematic statement on fear, justice, loyalty, and vengeance. The film won over critics and audiences, re-validated the Batman character as a viable cinematic hero, and launched a new Batman film franchise. Nolan’s 2008 follow-up, The Dark Knight, was a massive critical success and a pop-culture phenomenon.

      The director’s third and final entry in his Batman saga, The Dark Knight Rises, was perhaps the most highly-anticipated movie of summer 2012. After all, the last film, The Dark Knight, was a game-changer for superhero movies, transcending the genre and setting a new standard for all similar films to follow. Expectations for Christopher Nolan and company to deliver were high, to say the least.

 

     The Dark Knight Rises is set eight years after the events of The Dark Knight, with Gotham City enjoying an unprecedented period of peace. Organized crime is all but non-existent, Harvey Dent (the character who became the villainous Two-Face in The Dark Knight) is hailed as a martyred hero, and a tranquility and peace of mind has settled over the city and its residents. The Batman, who took the blame for Dent’s crimes at the end of the last film, has disappeared from Gotham, and is believed by all but a select, knowing few to be Harvey Dent’s murderer. Gotham City’s newfound peacetime, as anyone who saw The Dark Knight knows, is based upon lies. The truth starts to reveal itself, though, as a new terrorist calling himself Bane surfaces in Gotham, intent on bringing the corrupt and deceptive city to an end. He claims to be a liberator, a savior whose actions are meant to give Gotham back to its people, but his motives are soon revealed to be much more sinister.

     Bruce Wayne, meanwhile, has spent the last eight years in isolation; a hermit who’s body and psyche have been battered by his encounter with The Joker and Two-Face in The Dark Knight. He is soon brought out of solitude to once again protect Gotham City from Bane and his army of mercenaries as Batman. Not only must he deal with the threat of Bane, an opponent who is in every way a match for the Caped Crusader, but the Gotham City Police Department is also hunting Batman, believing him to be the killer of the man who had saved their city. Add the seductive and mischievous Selina Kyle into this mix, and it would seem the grizzled and battle-weary Batman has his work cut out for him.

 

 

     An intense, stylish superhero action movie, The Dark Knight Rises also has a lot going on underneath the obvious. In a post-9-11 world, it makes a bold statement on the effects of terrorism and the willingness of society to surrender to authority. It is also about the relentless struggle of heroes, who sometimes have to give everything, including their lives, to uphold their ideals in the face of adversity. Christopher Nolan isn’t known for making light films. This is the same guy who made Inception and The Prestige. His films manage to be subversive and have multiple layers, all the while being both heady and entertaining. He is undoubtedly a talented director, and anyone chosen to helm the next reboot of the Batman legend will have some rather large shoes to fill.

     The Dark Knight Rises benefits from having a fine cast of both newcomers and returning players. Christian Bale reprises his dual role as Bruce Wayne/Batman, playing the character as a war veteran returning to face his final and most challenging adversary yet. He does a fine job of portraying the Dark Knight, only this time a little older and a little more haggard.

     Gary Oldman also returns as Police Commissioner Jim Gordon, an aging law enforcement veteran who struggles to keep secret the lies he knows hold the city together. Oldman is a fine character actor, and he uses his skills effectively to convey a sense of believability to Gordon.

     Tom Hardy, perhaps best known for his work in Nolan’s own Inception, plays the terrorist Bane, the lead villain with his own ties to Bruce Wayne’s past. Hardy makes the role his own, and although he wears a half-mask throughout the film, emotes well and acts superbly despite the obvious restrictions.

     Anne Hathaway plays Selina Kyle, the high-tech thief that has ties to both Bane and Bruce Wayne. Although the actress is best known for sweet and likeable roles, she plays against type here, being both dangerous and seductive. Also on hand is Marion Cotillard as Miranda Tate, a business partner of Wayne’s helping him to develop a clean energy generator to benefit Gotham City.

     Joseph Gordon-Levitt portrays Detective John Blake, a young Gotham cop who Commissioner Gordon takes under his wing. A gifted actor, he brings honesty to the role, as one of the few cops who still believe in doing the right thing against unspeakable odds. Michael Caine returns as Alfred Pennyworth, Bruce Wayne’s trusted butler and surrogate father figure. Also returning is Morgan Freeman as Fox, Wayne’s close friend and R&D developer. Liam Neeson and Cillian Murphy also make brief appearances, reprising their roles from Batman Begins.

 

     The writing team of director Christopher Nolan and his brother, Jonathan Nolan, along with David S. Goyer, have crafted an amazing story and a well-developed script. Every character, especially ones that we’ve been with since the first film, feel fully fleshed out and each have a distinctive story arc. The story itself is strong enough to stand on its own, with a definitive beginning, middle, and end.

    With distinct ties to Batman Begins, The Dark Knight Rises is a satisfying conclusion to Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy. Tragic, yet hopeful, it is an emotional final act that has resonated with audiences and, of course, divided the millions of Bat-fans around the world. When Warner Brothers and DC Comics decide to reboot the franchise again, which is inevitable, they will have a very high standard to live up to indeed.
 

 

 

 Reviewed by Shawn Strawbridge

Review: Nightbreed

Morgan Creek-Warner Bros./1990/Directed by Clive Barker

Available on DVD

            There’s a lot one can say about this little gem of a fantasy/horror film. Often overlooked by horror fans and critics alike, Clive Barker’s Nightbreed has managed to garner quite a cult following over the twenty-three years since its initial release. Dark, twisted, imaginative, and visually stunning, the film transcends the horror genre in many ways. For fans of monsters and practical make-up FX, Nightbreed is stocked with creatures the likes of which have never graced the screen before, as the film depicts a whole city full of fantastical nightstalkers!

            The film’s story centers around Boone, a troubled young man plagued by nightmares of a place called Midian and the monsters that dwell there. His shrink, Dr. Decker (who has quite a dark side himself), convinces Boone that he may be responsible for a recent string of brutal murders and prescribes him some dubious medication, urging him to turn himself in to the authorities. Some major plot twists ensue, and it’s not long before Boone realizes his connection to the mythical city of Midian, and the reasons for his recurring dreams of the place and the creatures that dwell there. He discovers that Midian is real, as are the monsters that call the hidden city home, and Boone inadvertently threatens to bring destruction upon them all as Mankind wages all-out war with the Nightbreed.

Clive Barker, both as a writer and filmmaker, is known to weave layers upon layers of meaning and symbolism into his work, and Nightbreed is no different. Based on his short novella, Cabal, it’s a film that fell victim to censorship and poor marketing in its day. Neither fully fantasy nor horror, the story melds the two genres, making Nightbreed a very unique film during the slasher sequel-heavy era of the late 1980’s and early 1990’s. Growing up during the eighties, I had begun to get bored with the countless sequels to fare like Friday The 13^th, Halloween, and A Nightmare On Elm Street. As good as some of those films were, it started to seem like these franchises were nothing more than cash cows for their respective studios. Films like Barker’s Nightbreed and the original Hellraiser (which he also wrote and directed) seemed like breaths of fresh air in an increasingly stale genre.

            While some of the computer-generated effects seem a little dated, Nightbreed’s impressive menagerie of monster make-up effects are as striking today as they were in 1990. Anyone who is familiar with Clive Barker’s novels and paintings knows he creates creatures that are, well, weird, and the FX team working on Nightbreed (a great many of whom also served to create FX for the first two Hellraiser films) did a fantastic job of bringing these horrors of Midian to life. The film is a visual feast for any monster fan.

Craig Sheffer portrays Boone, and does a great job at playing the human-turned-monster. The real treat of the cast, though, is horror director David Cronenberg, who in a rare turn plays the evil Dr. Decker with such cool, creepy charm that it’s no surprise the character has become a fan favorite. Doug Bradley (“Pinhead” himself, from the Hellraiser franchise) turns in a fine performance as Lylesberg, the ill-fated leader of the Nightbreed. Danny Elfman’s score to the film is chilling and evocative, and perfectly fitting to bring Barker’s vision to life.

            The story and script remain strong and valid, and at the heart of this deluxe monster film we find a great morality tale that examines our fear of people and cultures that are different from us. Midian’s creatures turn out to be the heroes of this story, and the real monsters turn out to be… us. Nightbreed speaks to the outsider in all of us, and by the end of the film, you may find yourself wanting to pack your bags and move in with the Tribes Of The Moon.

It’s worth mentioning that there were huge segments of footage omitted from Nightbreed, and that fans have been clamoring for a Director’s Cut of the film for years. A few years ago, at a HorrorHound Weekend convention, a full version of the film was screened for a packed house (with Clive Barker, Doug Bradley, and numerous other Nightbreed luminaries in attendance) and to rave reviews. This "Cabal Cut" of the film has been making the rounds lately, with screenings held all over the world, and fans can only hope for a Blu-ray or restored DVD soon. 

British extreme heavy metal band Cradle Of Filth managed to write and record a whole album based off of Nightbreed (“Midian”, released on Halloween, 2000) with Doug Bradley doing narration for the opus. Bradley has gone on to collaborate with the band on nearly every release since then.

            If you’re a horror fan and you’ve never seen Nightbreed, you’re certainly missing out. If you haven’t seen it in quite some time, then it’s a film worth revisiting. The 'Breed beckon you to return with them to Midian...

Reviewed by Shawn Strawbridge

Review: The Superior Spider-Man #13

Marvel Comics/$3.99

Marvel Now’s The Superior Spider-Man has been a mixed bag for me. On one hand, I love that writer Dan Slott and company have taken many risks with the character. Killing Peter Parker, having Otto Octavius take his place, and giving birth to a darker, more violent Spider-Man was a huge gamble. It has made for some interesting stories and twists on familiar characters that have kept me reading the title to see what the creative team has up their proverbial sleeves. On the other hand, I love the character of Peter Parker and miss the more traditional tales of the Amazing Spider-Man and am unsure if the decision to switch gears was a wise one. To say that this title has divided Spider-Fans is an understatement. Some love it, some hate it, but most are sticking with the book to see where these interesting twists and turns are leading them.

The Superior Spider-Man #13 is the conclusion of the “No Escape” storyline, where Alistair Smythe, the Spider-Slayer, has attempted to break out of the floating prison designed to hold super villains called The Raft. Smythe has managed to escape his scheduled execution, free himself and fellow villains Scorpion, Boomerang, and the Vulture, and hold the rest of the Raft (including Mayor J. Jonah Jameson and a group of civilians) hostage while playing a cat-and-mouse game of chase with the superior Spider-Man. The confrontation comes to a close in this issue, which also features an appearance by the Lizard, as Spidey and the Spider-Slayer have their final battle- to the death! The conclusion of the book wraps up with Spider-Man having a new headquarters, a new costume and some minions on the way, and a little something to blackmail Mayor Jameson with.

Love or hate the new direction that Spider-Man has taken, it’s hard to argue that Dan Slott is an excellent writer, weaving Spider-tales that are highly entertaining and full of action and twists. While Slott plotted this issue, Christos Gage actually wrote the script, with pencils provided by the excellent Giuseppe Camuncoli. Inks were done by John Dell and Terry Pallot, with Chris Eliopoulos doing the lettering. The art pops off of the page and makes the story really come alive. All in all, a satisfying conclusion to the “No Escape” arc and a fun read. Superior? The verdict’s still out on that one. A fun thrill ride of a comic? Absolutely!

Review: Batgirl #22

DC Comics/$2.99

Simply put, writer Gail Simone’s Batgirl run has been an awesome read. While Scott Snyder has been putting his dark stamp on the core Batman title, Simone has been expertly crafting a superhero epic with a distinct feminist edge- simultaneously reminding us of why the character of Batgirl is cool while breaking new ground and creating new adversaries for Barbara Gordon. Simone’s writing on the Batgirl book won me over with the first issue and has made me fall in love with the character again and again on a monthly basis.

Following the death of her brother, James, Barbara Gordon begins to fall back into a pattern of normalcy (as much as a member of the Bat-Family can, anyway) by actually going on a date with a young man named Ricky. Their night of opera-going is interrupted, however, by an attack on Ricky by some gang members. Needless to say, Barbara can handle herself in such a situation, but she is surprised to discover that her date can, as well.  She and Ricky briefly brawl with the gang members, dispatching them quickly and send them whimpering away. Their date continues, and the pair finds themselves at Ricky’s apartment, having dinner and chatting with his family. Barbara is reminded of the family experience that she may never have again due to recent events. (I don’t wish to ruin some of the shocking moments that have come before this story for those of you who have not been following Batgirl, and shame on you for not reading such a fine comic. Go to your nearest retailer, buy the first two collections and a few back issues and get caught up!) After her date with Ricky, Barbara is summoned to a meeting with her father, Jim Gordon, and the two have a heart-to-heart discussion that is a tear-jerking moment of the issue, leading Barbara to make a drastic decision about her future as her father commits to a quest to bring Batgirl to justice for what she did to his son. The last four pages made my jaw drop open in surprise! Batgirl #22 is a fine read, and, as always, the book leaves me wanting more. The immediate future of the title will no doubt be filled with twists, shocks, and heart-wrenching moments. One of the things I like most about Gail Simone’s Batgirl is the inner dialogue of Barbara Gordon. As an audience, we’re invited to share in her insecurities, heartaches, triumphs, losses, fears, and joys. It strengthens the narrative, improving on an already well-crafted story, and makes this book an absolute pleasure to read. Please keep it coming, Gail, because Batgirl is one of the most refreshing, solid books in DC’s mainstream stable of monthly titles!

Simone’s excellent script is ably brought to life by penciller Fernando Pasarin and inker Jonathan Glapion, with expressive colors by Blond and sharp lettering by Dezi Sienty. Alex Garner’s beautiful cover is extremely eye-catching and collectible in and of itself (I wish DC would start making posters of some of these covers!) and all together, this is an incredible book and well worth spending a few bucks of your hard-earned cash on each month. Way to go, DC!

Review: Batman #22

DC Comics/$3.99

When DC Comics re-launched their line with The New 52! reboot, fans were both excited and skeptical about what changes would be made to the DCU and their favorite characters. The goal was to excise seventy-plus years of continuity and draw in new readers with a fresh, modern approach to their characters and the DC Universe. Now that we’re almost two years into The New 52!, it’s safe to say that their plan has, for the most part, worked. Sure, comic book fans have been divided over some of the changes made to the core titles, but speaking as a relative newcomer to the wider DCU, I’ve rather enjoyed this new universe. While I read Batman, Green Lantern, and the occasional Superman book growing up, I was pretty much a hardcore Marvel Comics reader. When I started picking up titles from The New 52! I found that I liked this reboot more and more, and the stories reminded me of my heyday of comics reading back in the mid-to-late 1980’s. Some good, solid superhero stories are coming out of DC these days, and for the first time ever I’m finding myself buying more DC comics than Marvel books.

The head of the pack when it comes to consistent quality, Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo’s Batman delivers the goods month after month. So far we’ve seen three amazing story arcs played out, and their fourth has just begun. Zero Year, which began in Batman #21, gives us an extended origin story of the New 52 Batman. The origin of the Batcave, the construction of the Batsuit, and the early days of many of Bruce Wayne’s major villains are being revealed in this new arc. I typically dislike origin retellings, but this one keeps me turning the pages. The writing is very strong and the art is amazing, and one can only hope that Snyder and Capullo remain the creative team on this book for at least a few years longer. I feel that Zero Year, along with Night Of The Owls, The Court Of Owls, and Death Of The Family are some of the strongest Batman stories to come out since Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee’s Hush!

Batman #22 tells of one of Bruce Wayne’s run-ins with the Red Hood gang, who have stolen some of Wayne Enterprises high-tech weaponry and have started their plan to seize Gotham City in a grip of terror. We also see Bruce use his skills as a master of disguise to impersonate Oswald Cobblepot in an attempt to foil the Red Hood gang leader. It’s nice to be reminded of the detective side of Batman, as that’s what the character originally started out as- a costumed detective with unmatched skills in disguise and stealth. In this issue, Bruce Wayne’s uncle tries to convince him to come back to Wayne Enterprises and help run the company, as Bruce has been away from Gotham for years and only just returned to the city that took his parents from him. Zero Year does a great job at building up to the point where Bruce dons the cape and cowl and becomes the Batman, introducing major characters and villains early on and portraying them as they were before their alter-egos took center stage. As a whole, I think this story will be fantastic, and I can hardly wait a month until issue #23 hits stores!

As usual, Scott Snyder’s script is superb and doesn’t skip a beat, and Greg Capullo’s incredible pencil work creates a very dark and cinematic feel to the book. The art team is nicely rounded out by Danny Miki (inks), Fco Plascencia (colors), and Nick Napolitano (letters). Like I said earlier, this book consistently delivers on a monthly basis, and if you only read one DC title every month, you should be reading Batman!

Review: Trinity Of Sin: Pandora #1

DC Comics/$2.99

DC Comics’ Summer crossover event, Trinity War, kicks off this month with Trinity Of Sin: Pandora #1! This story has been brewing in the back pages of Justice League for some time, and the outcome of this crossover will have an impact on the entire DCU as it unfolds across all the various JL titles throughout the Summer of 2013. Writer Ray Fawkes and a host of artists bring this first installment to life and shed some light on the mysterious Pandora.

The first issue of this series tells the backstory of Pandora, the Mother of Sins. An accident of fate causes a young woman to unleash the twelve deadly sins upon the world, cursed to eternally be their “mother” and watch helplessly as they ravage the Earth. Although she is cursed with immortality, Pandora hatches a plan to free herself of her burden and to rid the world of sin. Trained in a variety of physical, mental, and magical disciplines, she travels the world foiling the twelve deadly sins, but she finds herself in need of aid from the purest hearts and begins to seek out the heroes of the DC Universe.

Written ably enough by Fawkes and drawn by Zander Cannon, Daniel Sempere, Patrick Zircher, and Vicente Cifuentes, Trinity Of Sin: Pandora #1 is not to be missed by anyone wanting to read every installment of Trinity War and serves as a great introduction to a mysterious and darkly cool new heroine. I can’t wait for Justice League #22, the first “chapter” in this massive Summer event!

Review: The Amazing Spider-Man

Sony/Columbia Pictures, 2012

Available On Blu-ray/Blu-Ray 3D/DVD

 

            It’s only been ten years since Sony first brought the Marvel Comics web-slinger to the screen, and some would argue that it’s a bit too soon to reboot the franchise, but in that amount of time we’ve seen the superhero film genre become much more layered and sophisticated. Films like Christopher Nolan’s current Batman trilogy and Marvel Studios’ own efforts have raised the bar considerably and redefined what these movies could, and should, be. Sony/Columbia’s newest entry in the tights-and-spandex ring, The Amazing Spider-Man, seeks to restart and redeem the franchise that many felt had run its course.

            A retelling of Spider-Man’s origin story, the film follows the young Peter Parker as he struggles to find his place, both in his high school and in the world at large. He’s a bit of a loner, an outcast who lives with his kindly aunt and uncle after his parents disappear under mysterious circumstances. After stumbling across evidence of his father's scientific research, Peter seeks out his father's former partner, Dr. Curt Connors, a reptile specialist working for OSCORP who is obsessed with ridding humanity of genetic imperfections. It is there at OSCORP that young Parker encounters the spider that bites him and transforms him into the titular wall-crawler. Using DNA samples of a lizard, Peter works with Connors to figure out the missing piece of the formula needed to make his regenerative cure a reality.  OSCORP executives, however, have an agenda of their own for the miracle formula. While the serum does succeed, it brings with it some horrible side-effects, and Dr. Connors is transformed into the villainous Lizard, a giant, super-strong reptile with some serious delusions of grandeur.  A superhero-versus-monster battle royale ensues, with humanity’s future at stake. Woven throughout the superheroic mayhem is a touching love story between Peter and his high-school sweetheart Gwen Stacy and the tragedy of his Uncle Ben’s death, the event that ultimately causes Peter to become Spider-Man.

 

     The cast of The Amazing Spider-Man delivers with such earnestness that it’s hard to find much fault with the performances. The characters are well-developed, with each allowed to grow and have a realistic arc.  Andrew Garfield, as Peter Parker/Spider-Man, shines. His portrayal reminds us that the best Spidey stories aren’t really about Spider-Man at all, but rather the guy under the mask. He plays the geeky outcast well. Peter’s not very well-off with the fairer sex, gets bullied by school jocks, and has had a young life littered with tragedy. Many viewers can relate to that, and Garfield’s performance bristles with empathy, charm, and earnest goodness. He has a few scenes where there is very little dialogue, but the expression in his eyes and face speak volumes for him. He brings an emotionally-charged energy to Peter Parker, making viewers identify with him and care about him as a character.

 Emma Stone is terrific as Peter’s love interest, Gwen Stacy. She looks as though she stepped out of the classic-era Spider-Man comic books and onto the screen. Stone brings a humor and warmth to the role that transcends typical characters of this kind. She makes us fall in love with Gwen along with Peter. Smart, funny, strong, and articulate, Gwen Stacy is more than just eye candy for the fanboys in this film. It’s worth mentioning that the onscreen chemistry between Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone is fantastic, making the characters’ relationship seem very realistic and reminding us of what it was like to be awkward teenagers in love.

Rhys Ifans plays Dr. Curt Connors/The Lizard with a Jekyll and Hyde-type duality, causing the audience to simultaneously like and hate him. As Peter’s pseudo-mentor, and later his nemesis, Ifans creates a convincing villain for our friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. Misguided and driven mad by his miracle serum, Dr. Connors becomes a wholly different character when transformed into the Lizard, but at his core remains the well-meaning doctor. After all, the best villains never think that they’re villains, and Rhys Ifans plays this up rather well.

The supporting cast is impressive as well, with Denis Leary as Gwen’s father, police Captain Stacy, whose quest to bring to justice the masked vigilante known as Spider-Man takes an unexpected turn. Martin Sheen and Sally Field portray Peter’s surrogate parents, Uncle Ben and Aunt May, with sincerity and realism. Also appearing in small roles are Campbell Scott, C. Thomas Howell, and, of course, Stan “The Man” Lee.

Screenwriters James Vanderbilt, Alvin Sargent, and Steve Kloves have crafted an excellent script, updating the Spider-Man origin and presenting the audience with a contemporary cast of characters, all the while keeping intact the core elements of what make the original story so great. There are deviances from the comic book source material, sure, but certainly less than the last cycle of Spider-Man movies.

The Amazing Spider-Man delivers on multiple levels; part character-driven indie film, part old-fashioned monster movie, and part Hollywood spectacle. Director Marc Webb balances these radically different sensibilities near-perfectly, switching between insane action and quiet character moments without jarring the audience or making one feel as though they’re watching two different movies. He’s created a high-octane superhero movie with an emotionally-driven core.

 

The action and CGI scenes work remarkably well with the practical effects and live-action, creating a convincing and exciting viewing experience. There are a few instances where the CG animation for the Lizard character seems a bit wonky, and the newly-designed Spider-Man costume takes a little getting used to, but these factors never detract from the overall experience.

 While comparisons to Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy are inevitable and expected, The Amazing Spider-Man spins its own web and stands on its own as the first installment of an intended trilogy. With passing mentions of other note-worthy characters from the Spider-Man mythology, most notably Norman Osborn, one can only hope that the next film will build on this foundation and be as fine of a film as this one.

The transfer on both the Blu-ray and the DVD look and sound terrific, but the special features are standard for a movie of this budget. The video nerd in me suspects that Sony's holding back some extra material to include in a future re-release, most likely before the forthcoming sequel hits theaters. Special Features include a fairly impressive featurette selection and a decent commentary track featuring director Marc Webb and super-Marvel producer Avi Arad. There's also an art gallery, and deleted scenes. Are you getting your money's worth by purchasing it? If you're a fan of Spidey, I'd say yes. Not as good as The Avengers, but by far one of the best on-screen versions of Spider-Man to come from any medium. I give it five thwipps!

 

Reviewed by Shawn Strawbridge

Review: Deadpool Kills Deadpool #1

Marvel Comics/$2.99

 

Marvel’s Deadpool books are known for being crazy, hilarious, and super-violent, making the character a favorite of both the die-hard Marvel Zombie crowd and the casual reader. The attention that Deadpool receives is not unwarranted though, as his ongoing title and spin-off books have been some of the most enjoyable reads in mainstream comics. Deadpool Kills Deadpool is no exception.

Issue #1 (of 4), written by Cullen Bunn and drawn by Salva Espin, is one of the best single-issue releases of the week! Non-stop action and violence peppered with Deadpool’s trademark gags, the setup goes something like this- A Deadpool from an alternate reality is hunting other Deadpools from all the other realities in an attempt to rid the multiverse of all the possible Deadpools in existence. Sound confusing? It’s not, really. It actually makes sense when read in context. The Deadpool Corps come into our Marvel Universe looking to find Wade Wilson (our Deadpool, in case you were in the dark) and enlist his help in ensuring all of the Deadpools’ survival, but as they do, the alternate Deadpool hunting them all shows up and a battle of the ‘Pools ensues. Some live, some die, and the ending of the issue kicks off what is sure to be a classic limited series.  Highlights of this issue for me were seeing Headpool cooked in a microwave, a Motley Crue reference, and the appearance of Deadpool’s biggest fan, The Watcher!

If you’re a fan of the character, his regular, ongoing monthly title, or are just looking for something hilarious and twisted to read, then you simply must check this book out! The writing is great, the art is awesome, and… it’s Deadpool! ‘Nuff said, True Believers!

Review: Batman, Incorporated #12

DC Comics/$2.99

Grant Morrison sure knows how to write page-turners. His run on Batman and Robin was dark and twisted, giving us tales of the Dark Knight like none before it, while his All-Star Superman limited series broke boundaries and redefined the Man of Steel, all the time reminding us of the virtues that make both iconic heroes great. Morrison’s Batman, Incorporated is a mixed bag for me, while being consistently solid, it teeters back and forth between merely good and truly great. This newest issue, though, is a must-read for anyone who’s been following the Death of the Family and Requiem story arcs that have been carrying over into the entire Bat-Family of titles from The New 52.

Damian Wayne is dead, Batman is on the edge of sanity (more so than usual), and war is being waged on Gotham and the Bat-Family. Talia Al Ghul has unleashed an army of genetically created warriors upon Gotham, with plans on killing the entire city and utterly destroying Bruce Wayne and his legacy. This issue has some great cinematic storytelling, with plenty of Bat-action and some truly disturbing moments. There is a lot of violence and bloodshed in this single issue, showcasing Talia’s brutality and coldness, with an ending that promises the battle to end all battles. This tale is not for the meek of heart.  As good as Batman, Incorporated #12 was, I foresee #13 being even better!

As usual, Grant Morrison’s writing is great, and it’s illustrated very nicely by Chris Burnham, whose pencils tend to remind me of Frank Quitely at times (not a bad thing). They make a great creative team, and this issue’s colorist, Nathan Fairbairn, does a wonderful job in setting the tone for this violent story. It was also nice to see the use of a traditional letterer, Dave Sharpe, as that adds an old-school, if subtle, touch to the overall experience. All in all, a great job by everyone involved, and well worth a few bucks of your hard-earned money. Once you read this issue, I’m sure you’ll be back next month for more. I know I will be.

CONCERT REVIEW: Michale Graves

4/18/2013 at Musichead in Medford, OR

 

I’ve been a Michale Graves fan since the singer first surfaced fronting horror punk legends The Misfits during their comeback era starting in 1996. Graves took over vocal duties from Glenn Danzig, adding a flair and precision that complimented the revamped bands’ style and, along with his songwriting abilities, helped to elevate them to a new level. The Misfits became an “anthem” band with Michale Graves, separating them from the many other 1970’s punk rock acts also resurfacing at the time. After two records with the band (1997’s “American Psycho” and 1999’s “Famous Monsters”) Graves was released from vocal duties with The Misfits, and wasted no time in putting his own project together. The phenomenal “Web Of Dharma” album was released on his own label in 2002, showcasing Michale’s songwriting with now-classic songs like “Casket”, “Shoestring”, and “Ophelia”, and garnering him a whole new legion of fans. Michale Graves hasn’t stopped making music since, and every release has been full of great songs, terror-ific guitar hooks, and infectious melodies. His work with the band Gotham Road yielded the excellent “Seasons Of The Witch” album, and releases with his own band, “Punk Rock Is Dead” and “Return To Earth” have shown fans that he has no shortage of great punk songs waiting to be unleashed on the unsuspecting world.  In 2006 Graves released an acoustic album in collaboration with Damien Echols (one of the infamous West Memphis Three) called “Illusions” that was a haunting and different musical turn for the artist. A tour followed, which spawned the live CD “Illusions Live/Viretta Park” in 2008. After a break, during which time he worked with Marky Ramone’s band Blitzkrieg, Michale Graves has returned with a new album, “Vagabond”, marking a new musical milestone in his career. Not quite a punk rock album and not just a rock record, the new material lies somewhere in-between, and shows a new evolution in Michale’s songwriting skills.

            On April 18^th, 2013, Michale Graves’ Vagabond Tour stopped in Medford, OR to rock the rather small audience with a fantastic, if unexpected, set list. The only Oregon stop on the tour, it was a special night for fans of Graves and his material from all stages of his career. As he and his band (Johnny B. Morbid on bass and Tony Baptist on drums) hit the stage, they treated us to several new tracks from the “Vagabond” album. Opening their set with “All The Hallways”, the first track off of the new release, the band rollicked through such songs as “Hold Onto Yesterday” and “Break Me Out” before playing some older classics like “Shoestring”, “Blackbird” and “Iridescent White Light”. While Baptist and Morbid took a break, Michale broke out his acoustic guitar and treated us to stripped-down versions of “Dig Up Her Bones” and “Cryin’ On A Saturday Night”. Soon the other members returned to the stage and the new Michale Graves Band line-up tore through a set consisting of mostly his Misfits-era material, including “Scream!”, “The Shining”, “Descending Angel”, “Lost In Space”, “Crawling Eye”, “Fiend Club” and “Scarecrow Man”. Michale and his band gave the performance so much energy it was uncanny, treating the smaller audience and venue as though they were playing their last show ever. It was a close substitute for actually being at a Misfits show in the mid-nineties, and the crowd went wild. Moshing, screaming, and singing along to every song, the local punks tore up the floor. It was a diverse and amazing show, with Graves playing songs from every segment of his career. Surely it was enough to satisfy both fans of his Misfits work and his solo career.

            On a personal note, I would have preferred him to play more material from the new “Vagabond” CD as well as a few of my favorites from the “Punk Rock Is Dead” and “Return To Earth” albums in exchange for some of the Misfits tracks. I had seen The Misfits four times while Michale was with the band, so I feel as though I’ve seen those songs performed enough already. A minor gripe, though, as I had a blast at the show and loved every minute of it!

            After the show, Michale and band hung around to meet fans and sign autographs. I had him sign a slew of stuff, and he was nice enough to take a picture with me and chat for a few minutes. This was the third time he’s played Musichead in Medford, and the crowd seems to grow larger each time, so we can only hope that he’ll be returning soon to play his unique breed of soulful horror-themed anthems for us. Until then, We Are The Fiend Club!

Review: The Superior Foes Of Spider-Man #1

 

Marvel Comics/$2.99

 

            Spider-Man’s adversaries have always had it rough, especially the second-string ones. Getting your ass handed to you time and time again by a wisecracking dude in tights who sticks to walls and shoots webs from his wrists is bound to get old after a while, but you have to hand it to guys like Shocker and Boomerang. They’re still at it and still out to get the upper hand on Ol’ Webhead. Or in this case, Otto Octavius in Spidey’s body.

            To kick off “Superior Spider-Month”, Marvel released The Superior Foes Of Spider-Man #1 on July 3^rd, 2013, and I must admit that it’s way better than I expected it to be. I haven’t been a big fan of The Superior Spider-Man, although it has been an interesting story arc so far, it’s had too many low moments for me. The whole tone of the book has changed since Doctor Octopus’ mind possessed Peter Parker’s body, which of course was the whole point. I just find the title less enjoyable, but still worth reading to see where Dan Slott’s story is going. That being said, The Superior Spider-Man has not turned me off to the character, and I’m really looking forward to seeing what Marvel has up their sleeves for the Spider-books in the near future.

            The Superior Foes Of Spider-Man’s first issue was a thoroughly enjoyable read. The writing by Nick Spencer was full of humor and illustrated life as a villain with such humanity and wit that it’s hard not to feel sorry for those who occasionally go toe-to-toe with everyone’s favorite wallcrawler. The story centers around the new Sinister Six (well, five, but who’s really counting?), in particular Boomerang, who’s ended up in jail due to a run-in with Spidey and counting on his villainous pals to bail him out. Beetle, Shocker, Overdrive, and Speed Demon all have moments to shine in this hilarious book, and I’d say that this series is off to a promising start. The art by Steve Lieber is awesome and serves the story well, while Rachelle Rosenberg’s colors make the art pop and compliment Lieber’s line art well, giving the book a light-hearted tone. While not on the same level of absurdity as, say, Deadpool, The Superior Foes Of Spider-Man has plenty of laughs and is a very fun ride. I can’t wait until issue #2! Well, done, Marvel!

Becoming a Con-Man - Wizard World Portland 2013

As most fans of comics, gaming, movies, and other pop culture phenomenon already know, conventions are awesome gatherings of epic proportions. Uniting nerds of every persuasion under one roof for a weekend of escape from the mundane world, conventions (or “cons”, as the cool kids say) allow fans to meet celebrities, participate in panels, costume contests, gaming tournaments, attend screenings of movies and TV shows, and of course, buy loads of merchandise. From comic books, DVDs, t-shirts, toys and statues to posters, art prints, autographed memorabilia, and costumes, the convention circuit has it all for the geeky fanboy or fangirl looking to add to their collections. For nerds, cons are the ultimate celebration of life.

            Almost every major American city has a convention at least once a year, with comic cons being the most widespread. San Diego and New York have the biggest cons every year, and from their very humble beginnings in the early 1970’s they have grown to become hotbeds of pop culture. San Diego Comic Con, being the biggest and most recognized pop culture expo in the world, draws in major players every year from all areas of media. Movie and television studios now use the con as a showcase for their latest stars and projects. Book publishers bring their authors there to promote their newest works and video game companies are represented in abundance. The major toy manufacturers bring their latest offerings and often have convention-exclusive toys for sale that you can only get there. The convention circuit has become vital to marketing all breeds of media and, of course, at the center of it all, remains the comic book industry. For without the wonderful writers, artists, editors, publishers and, most importantly, fans, many of whom travel halfway across the planet to attend, none of this would exist at all.

            For many years, where I live in Oregon, comic conventions were small events, focusing mainly on the comics themselves, with only a few or no creators or celebrities in attendance. In recent years, though, our local scene has been building momentum, and in February of 2013 Portland, Oregon hosted its’ first-ever Wizard World Comic Con. Guests included actors, writers, artists, publishers, and celebrity cosplayers and thanks to the thousands of fans who attended over the three-day event, it was a roaring success. Comics legend Stan Lee, Evil Dead actor Bruce Campbell, Buffy The Vampire Slayer’s James Marsters, Brent Spiner (Data on Star Trek: The Next Generation), Norman Reedus and Michael Rooker from AMC’s The Walking Dead, and many more were guests at the con, offering fans a chance for meet-and-greets, panel discussions, autograph signings and photo opportunities. Vendors had booths set up, selling everything from comics, toys, and posters to shirts, hats, pictures and other collectibles. The Artist’s Alley played host to writers and artists from every genre, offering custom prints, autographs, and sketches. Fan community groups like the 501^st Legion and the Rebel Legion were on hand to promote their excellent organizations and spread the good will of Star Wars. If you are a comics fan based in the Pacific Northwest and you didn’t go to Wizard World this year, then you simply must go when the next con hits in January 2014.

            I had gone to my first comic convention in the Summer of 1992. It was held in Portland, Oregon and was a rather small event, with the highlight being that the super-popular comic artist Todd McFarlane was the featured guest. He had just come off his enormously successful run on Marvel’s Spider-Man and, along with a handful of other talented creators, was forming Image Comics, which was releasing McFarlane’s highly-anticipated Spawn #1 in another month or two. As a die-hard Spidey fan, McFarlane was the whole reason I went to the show, although I had wanted to attend a comic book convention for pretty much my whole life. Although there weren’t any cosplayers (a word that had yet to become commonplace in America), major movie studio presence, celebrities or panels, the con was a great experience.  Bear in mind that in 1992, comic and geek culture had not yet taken its’ place at the center of the entertainment industry. Comics and video games were still fringe entertainment, animation was still viewed as a children’s medium, and there were no big blockbuster Hollywood flicks based off of comics, save for the Superman franchise and the two Batman films that had been released at the time. There was no internet to unite the fan community, the local mall didn’t stock sci-fi and comic-related merchandise, and the big bookstore chains hadn’t caught on to the money-making potential of graphic novels. Cons back in the day were just a bunch of sweaty dudes and dusty long boxes filled with funny books.

            For many reasons, I didn’t attend another comic convention until a decade later, and in May 2001, my good friend Shane and I made the journey to Portland for another con. Shane, like myself, grew up on comics. He was (and is) a massive fanboy, but had never been to a convention before. A rabid toy collector, the main focus of the con for him was to score some sweet additions to his ever-growing army of action figures.  I had an agenda all my own, and that was to meet Brian Michael Bendis, author of my favorite comic series at the time, Ultimate Spider-Man. The two of us had a great time geeking out at the con. I met and got comics signed by Bendis and artist David Mack, bought a few toys, books, and shirts, and spent a whole day rummaging through long boxes with fellow fanboys. It was another great convention experience, but still nothing nearly as large or all-inclusive as San Diego’s Con or even Seattle’s major convention, Emerald City Comic Con. I yearned to go to a larger convention, which I always intended to do, but mainly for financial reasons could never make the pilgrimage to San Diego.

            Holiday season 2012 rolled around and Wizard World announced that they would be hosting Stan Lee at their convention in Portland, along with many other guests who are luminaries in the comic book and sci-fi fields. I couldn’t pass the chance to potentially meet Stan “The Man” Lee and have him sign a book or two for me, so my fiancée and I made plans to go to the con. Dani, my fiancée, has always loved science-fiction and superheroes, but was relatively new to the world of comic fandom. She was, however, eager to get away and experience a convention filled with fellow nerds. With her having never gone to a con, and me never having attended one so large, we both were unsure of exactly what to expect. Yet Oregon finally had its’ own Comic Con, and we were going to be there, no matter what the cost!

            The Wizard World Portland Comic Con, held at the Oregon Convention Center, was an amazing convention held over three days (February 22-24, 2013) that exceeded the expectations of the many fans in attendance in almost every way. Dani and I had purchased three-day passes and arrived shortly after the convention opened on Friday afternoon. As we roamed the floor of the convention, we saw every aspect of nerdy fascination represented. Costume vendors, apparel booths, celebrity photo op and signing areas, comic book retailers, writers and artists, merchandisers, and, of course, a couple thousand geeks from all walks of life crammed into the convention center to kick off a weekend of awesomeness! And what a weekend it was, True Believers!

            On Friday night I had a chance to meet Brent Spiner, who portrayed the android Data in the TV show Star Trek: The Next Generation and in the spin-off films Generations, First Contact, Insurrection, and Nemesis. He was very funny, charming, and nice as he signed a photo for me and chatted for a couple of minutes. As a life-long Star Trek fan, it was a highlight of the whole con for me, as Data was my favorite character from The Next Generation. We attended a Creator Spotlight panel that night featuring Gail Simone, current writer of DC Comics’ hit series Batgirl. After the panel I was able to meet Simone and have her sign my hardback Batgirl collection. Also hanging out in the Artist Alley was super-scribe Kurt Busiek, who signed some Untold Tales Of Spider-Man books for me as we chatted about writing for a bit. Busiek is one of the most prolific writers in comics, and it was an honor and a pleasure to meet him. Dani and I spent the rest of the evening roaming the con floor and taking in as much as we could, but we still had two more days of the convention, so we took our time and soaked in the experience.

            As busy as the con was on Friday, it was nothing compared to the crowds that gathered on Saturday. An estimated 6,000 fans attended the event on that day alone. Even getting in line to enter the con was crazy, as the line length was close to a half mile by the time we arrived that morning, and it kept growing after we took our places to wait. It was by far the busiest day of the convention. The day was filled with panels, celebrity meet-and-greets, signings, cosplayers, costume contests, and much, much more! The benchmark for me was having the chance to meet Stan Lee, comic legend and creator of most of the major characters from the Marvel Universe. I had attended his excellent Q&A panel earlier in the day and then waited in line for a couple of hours to meet him face to face. He signed my hardcover Stan Lee Meets… collection for me, a collectible I will treasure for the rest of my life. He even gave me a fistbump, hopefully transferring some of his godlike powers to me in the process. I should note that Stan Lee and George Lucas have influenced my creative life more than any other people, so having the opportunity to bask in the presence of such a legend held a lot of gravity for me. At 90 years old, Mr. Lee still has all the wit, charm, and humor he’s most well-known for. Earlier in the day, I also had a chance to meet the legendary Chris Claremont, long-time writer of The Uncanny X-Men, along with a slew of other titles. His comics work, which includes the groundbreaking Wolverine limited series (which was drawn by the equally-legendary Frank Miller) and the X-Men story arc Days Of Future Past, have inspired the current feature films of those characters. He graciously signed some comics for me, and was kind enough to answer some of my burning questions about Mutantkind.

            Saturday was also the Day Of Panels, as they were constantly going on from morning until evening. I attended a Writing In Comics panel with Gail Simone, Scott Lobdell, and Nathan Edmondson as guests. It was a hilarious and informative study of a writer’s life in the comic book industry. Actors Michael Rooker and Norman Reedus answered questions from the fans about the hit AMC television series The Walking Dead at their own panel. Whatever your fandom or area of interest, there was a panel at Wizard World that catered to you.

            Later in the night there were a couple of different costume contests and as the con floor closed, the cosplayers descended to take over! Hundreds of superheroes, anime characters, Star Trek characters, Jedi Knights, zombies, and pop culture tokens gathered to participate in the Maquerade Ball. These were no ordinary Halloween-type costumes, mind you. Most were handmade and of movie-studio quality, as cosplayers spare no expense or labor to make the best costumes they can. Impressive. Most impressive!

            Exhausted and nearly-broke, we went back to our motel room on Saturday night to rest up and prepare for the final day of the convention. Sunday was mostly spent shopping, getting photos taken with cosplayers, and attending panels. Some great costumes were on display, as comic fans never cease to amaze me with their creativity and talent. One of my favorite examples was a homemade Galactus costume. He was even holding the Earth in his hands and had a small, true-to-scale Silver Surfer suspended from his shoulder- awesome! Many great-looking DC characters were also present, most of them being from the Batman family of comics. Lots of characters from X-Men and The Avengers were also represented, along with a few Ghostbusters and lots and lots of Star Wars characters. For those of you who love making and dressing up in crazy costumes, the level of skill that a lot of these people display will shock, amaze, and inspire you!

            The last event we attended before leaving the con and going home was Brent Spiner’s Q&A panel. He was hilarious as he answered fan questions (mostly about his time on Star Trek) and entertained us with stories and impressions. It was an awesome panel, and made me wonder what the panels at many Star Trek conventions are like, where Spiner is often joined by his former cast-mates. They must be a blast! Spiner’s panel was the highlight of Sunday for me, and if I had to leave the con, then at least I left on a high note.

            We had an absolute blast at Wizard World Portland Comic Con, and I can say without any doubt that we’ll be going back next year. If you are a comic book, movie, anime, or general pop culture fan then you owe it to yourself to attend this next year, too. It’s times like that when I’m super-proud of being a fanboy, making the criticisms and ridicule that I sometimes receive in the outside world all worth it. Being a geek can sometimes be a lonely existence. We have the internet to serve as a medium to communicate through, but it doesn’t compare to having several thousand like-minded people gathering and sharing their mutual excitement and enthusiasm for the things they love. It unites us and somehow validates our interests, making our fandom come alive, giving us a sense of belonging, and erasing some of our loneliness. Kinda like Woodstock, but for nerds.

            To everyone who attended, as either a guest or a fan, I thank you for making Wizard World Portland a success. To anyone who is thinking about going next year, you should stop thinking so hard and just go because it’s more fun than a thousand issues of Deadpool. It is, afterall, a no-brainer. Onward to Comic Con!