COMIC REVIEW: FF #7

FF #7

I have very weird dreams. 

I have one dream which I have dreamed multiple times over the years.  Now, I don’t know how common reoccurring dreams are, and I’m pretty damn not sure what THIS particular dream even means.  I could go see a psycho analyst, dream interpreter.  But, that would totally take the fun and mystery out of my own dream.

At any rate, every now and then I dream I’m stuck in space in this cosmic epic battle between David Bowie and Ziggy Stardust.  Yep.  You can tell from that sentence right there, I’ve got some epic, deep rooted issues that will be coming to the forefront. 

COMIC REVIEW: Detective Comics #880

Detective Comics #880

A Comic Review by David Gordon

Sometimes in life, it is VERY good to get kicked squarely in between the legs.  It’s been two week. TWO!  Almost not enough time to recover from the ball smashing, ass kicking I received from Detective Comics #879 (reviewed here!).  But, here I am again, writing a review for Detective Comics #880.

Scott Snyder has hands down jumped to the forefront of my favorite writers.  And I was honest with you two weeks ago, I haven’t really even read much from him.  I believe this is just the fourth book and I’m amazed to no end.  There are athletes out there, who have a Pete Rose syndrome and go all out for every game.  Guy Lafleur (that’s a hockey player for the unknowing) once said “play every game as if it is your last” and to me Scott Snyder puts as much character and story into each book as if it is his last book.  I love that.

EPISODE 8 - "What's his name? That pedophile in me..."

TO STREAM: Click the Link

TO DOWNLOAD: Right Click and Save As...

CLICK HERE FOR THE SHOW

THIS WEEK'S TOPICS:

·         Amy Winehouse

·         Tragedy in Norway

·         Movie Trailers

o    The Amazing Spiderman

o    The Dark Knight Rises

o    Rise of the Planet of the Apes

o    Cowboys and Aliens

·         A brief return of “The All Knowing” Earl the Magnificent”

NOTES:

Continue to Send in votes for Gordo’s new name to bewareofpodcast@gmail.com

CREDITS:

“Rockout!” by Brothermaniac (Brothermaniac.net) 

"Huka Blues" by Harry Slash & the Slashtones from ECW: Extreme Music

MOVIE REVIEW: Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)

Captain America: The First Avenger

Captain America: The First Avenger

A Film Review by David Gordon

Time.

Time is one of the most wonderful concepts that, as man, we have and can use at our leisurely expense.  There is thought that things get better with time, like wine.  Or, responding to an email immediately after you have been fueled with any kind of emotion like telling your boss to kiss off after she tells you, you need to be more mature and remember that there is a time and a place to say things.  See, if you just wait till the next day, you won’t send that emotionally fueled email.  You will have time to reflect.  Time to save your job.

Wait, where was I?  Oh yes, time.  And time is exactly what I needed to write this review after watching Captain America: The First Avenger.  Because, if you were reading this, this Saturday afternoon, you probably would have been reading a gushing review calling this movie the best comic book movie of all time.  It hit on all the sweet spots of what makes a great superhero movie.  Comedy, action, suspense, romance, wait… I’m getting off track.  This is what I was trying to avoid using time…

Don’t get me wrong.  Cap does all that and then some.  It was indeed a good movie.  But, with a little reflection, I can see the faults the movie has.  Maybe faults are too harsh of a word, but things I’m definitely nit picking on.

COMIC REVIEW: Herc # 5 *****

Herc #5

“Oh my god.  I’m going to die with nerds.” 

And with one line, I giggled way too much and knew that Herc #5  was my favorite book of the week.  

Fear itself has actually turned into a fun little event series running through the Marvel Universe.  I always fear that universe spanning story lines will fall flat on its face, but when you have the right creators on books, they can take anything and spin it into a wonderfully woven tale of awesome sauce. 

EPISODE 7 - Learn Magic Gordo

TO STREAM: Click the Link

TO DOWNLOAD: Right Click and Save As...

CLICK HERE FOR THE SHOW

THIS WEEK'S TOPICS:

· Introductions
· Special Guest Jeff Hart, Editor and Chief of Cultureblues.com
· What are we drinking?
· The guys discuss the final results of Cultureblues.com 90's Movies BadAss tournament
· Netflix price hike
· Google+
· Harry Potter Mania 
· And oh, so much more!

NOTES:

· Continue to Send in votes for Gordo’s new name to bewareofpodcast@gmail.com

CREDITS:

· "Rockout!" by Brothermaniac (Brothermaniac.net)· "Huka Blues" by Harry Slash & the Slashtones from ECW: Extreme Music

Thanks for listening!

COMIC REVIEW: Detective Comics #879

I like to think I like comics.  Sometimes, however, I forget to try new things and new writers from time to time.  As a regular Joe, I do not have an unlimited source of income that I can just buy everything and hope I like it.  I have to be picky.  I have to be deliberate.  I have to make sure, that I don’t go over my budget each week.  So, when creators move onto other titles, I tend to follow them.  I’m a BIG fan of the Greg Pak/Fred Van Lente duo.  I’m also a gigantic nerd for Dan Abnett/Andy Lanning duo.  So, I will follow them around everywhere they go.  I like them for different reasons.  I think Pak/Van Lente duo deliver on action and comedy like it’s nobody’s business.  And Abnett/Lanning delivers on Sci-Fi goodness that gives me a nerdgasm every time I read them.

ARTICLE: How Netflix lost its soul

To say I was disappointed when I heard news of what Netflix was intending to do with their pricing would be a grave understatement.  I was on the verge of anger issues that haven’t been seen since God flooded the earth and killed all of us heathens in one fell swoop.

Okay, that may be hyperbole, but the fact of the matter is I’m still pretty peeved.  So, if you haven’t heard, Netflix is essentially raising their prices to double their bank accounts each month.  They’ve decided to split their streaming service and their DVD/Blu-ray service into two different paying accounts.  Beginning September 1^st, Netflix will charge $7.99 a month for their streaming service and $7.99 a month for just 1 DVD rental at a time (with a $2 additional charge for Blu-ray).

EPISODE 6 - That Was My Balls, Dude!

TO STREAM: Click the Link
TO DOWNLOAD: Right Click and Save As...

CLICK HERE FOR THE SHOW

THIS WEEK'S TOPICS:

· Introductions
· What’s up : The Amazing Gordo’s poor explanation of his disappearance
· Junior and KC talk movies
· What are we drinking?
· Culture Blues 90s Bad Ass tournament continued
· What’s the best Rocky movie?
· What did we learn? (We learned nothing this week)
· What will the Amazing Gordo’s new name will be?

NOTES:

· Send in votes for Gordo’s new name to bewareofpodcast@gmail.com

CREDITS:

· "Rockout!" by Brothermaniac (Brothermaniac.net)
· "Huka Blues" by Harry Slash & the Slashtones from ECW: Extreme Music

Thanks for listening!

COMIC REVIEW: Batman: Knight of Vengeance #2

I’m going to say this with all sincerity and not an ounce of snark or sarcasm. This comic is the reason why I read comics.


For the first time, in the Flash Point mini (minis) did I really read a story that felt like all bets were off and anything could go on this world. The whole point of Flashpoint is the butterfly effect of going back in time and see what would happen if… and of all the issues that has been published thus far, this one truly exemplifies what can be done with the perfect “What if” scenario. Even in the main Flashpoint series, nothing has made me go “OH SHIT!” and could not have been told in the modern DCU.

COMIC REVIEW: Quick Hit List Week June 15

Wonder Woman and the Furies #1

This was a really good book for what it is. Unlike the Legion of Doom, Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning did a wonderful job of making this story feel like it was set in a different universe and set a mood/setting that I am eagerly awaiting in the second issue. I completely understood the story and the doom and gloom of Arthur’s and Diana’s subjects. Again, my only complaint is that because this is a limited series, they had to rush the story, but did a spot on job explaining everything and giving the story life.

(Side note: I did have to do a double take when I saw the title… For a moment I thought it said WW and the Furries and thought for sure this book was going somewhere very not mainstream)

Verdict: Liked It

Deadman and the Flying Graysons #1

I know J.T. Krul gets a lot of hate in the fan boy realm, but this particular part of the Flashpoint Universe was marvelous! It did a good job showing the different characterization between Dick Grayson (not quite Robin or Nightwing yet) and Boston Brand (Deadman). Boston thinks that Dick can be even a greater entertainer but is being held back by his parents. Dick disagrees and thinks he is as good as he is because of his parents love.

The story also shows that even circus folk, trying to make a living in this world war between the Amazons and the Atlanteans and being stuck in Europe, can be entertaining. To round out the cast of characters, the Freak Show consists of Dr. Fate, King Shark (is a shark), and Rag Doll couple. I can only imagine what the all out battle be like with the Amazons.

Verdict: Liked It

Sonic Universe #29

This is a cute and quirky book for kids. There is nothing original or mind blowing about the story, but it does enough to entertain. It reads a lot like a Saturday morning cartoon, and with all the other doom and gloom books I read, a nice distraction every now and then.

Verdict: Meh

Alpha Flight #1

This book is pretty damn good. Fred Van Lente and Greg Pak are right at the top of my favorite comic book writers. On some level, I think I share the same sense of humor because I’ve never once been disappointed by any of the books. Alpha Flight is picking up right where they left off on the other books they write together. The story is knee deep in the Fear Itself miniseries going on right now in Marvel, but these two do such a well job constructing and telling this story, it doesn’t feel like they are stuck with telling an EVENT story but telling a story they want to tell. I really love how they are setting it up for all of Canada. Go out and buy this book. It’s funny, action pack and it makes you think. It hits just right on all the parts of what makes a book GOOD.

Verdict: LOVED IT

COMIC REVIEW: Legion of Doom #1

So, I can’t begin to tell you my disappointment when I opened up the miniseries Legion of Doom and discovered that Road Warrior Hawk and Animal were NOT within the pages. In my yearning for another Warrior (that is the Ultimate Warrior) like crazy comic, I was more than disappointed.

Okay, that may be hyperbole because I knew damn well this was not a wrestling comic book, but that still doesn’t change my thoughts that this was a not so good comic. I’m actually struggling sitting here trying to come up with anything worthwhile to type. Instead of a play by play and reliving more boredom and *snore*…..

Sorry about that. At any rate, the story (as told by Adam Glass) doesn’t make a lot of sense and as part of the Flashpoint Universe; it fails to add anything of worth to this new world. This story could have very well taken place in the current DCU.

The story starts off showing how inept Heatwave really is, yet by the end of the comic, we’re supposed to be convinced that he is worthy of a three issue miniseries? Sorry, not buying it. The dialogue was a mess and really hokey at times and mostly filler. We didn’t learn anything, and the entire middle part of the story could have been scrapped and a cooler idea brought to the table.

The art by Rodney Buchemi was really lack lust er. Well, it was adequate. I’m guessing with all these miniseries and getting the book out on time with the big September news, it’s bound to happen. But the artist definitely seemed to be going through the motions with this story. I know I’d be bored drawing this script if it was handed to me.

The only thing that saved this comic happened on the last two pages was really bad ass. I guess a decent enough hook to have the old David (who was a victim of being a completionist) to buy issue two. But, in this day and age, I have learned better and I’ll spend that money elsewhere.

Lastly, is it sad to say I had more fun reading the B. Clay Moore Justice League/Subway commercial comic inside starring Michael Strahan, Justin Tuck and Ndamukong Suh? Not to mention that I was a victim of perfect advertising by the sweetness of the DC characters on Chuck Taylor Converses.

Verdict: Hated It

COMIC REVIEW: Frankenstein and the Creatures of the Unknown #1

I only need to tell you this one line from Frankenstein and the Creatures of the Unknown to explain exactly how bad ass this comic is. “These ‘men’ will soon feel the sweet kiss of the archangel Michael’s cold blade across their rodent necks.”

With the recent news that DC is re-launching their entire line up in September, one of the titles that has piqued my interest is Frankenstein, Agent of SHADE, a book being written by none other than Sweet Tooth scribe, Jeff Lemire. I’m going to sadly admit that I have not read Sweet Tooth. I have however, have heard a lot of good things about it. So, when I saw that Jeff Lemire was writing the Frankenstein Flash Point story, I jumped on it to see if I would like the new book come September.

And boy, am I glad I did.

Jeff Lemire masterfully weaves a tale in twenty pages that has Frankenstein being revived (there is evil in the world) and then being recruited by the Americans to help kill Nazis. He then becomes part of the , Creatures of the Unknown. In the span of twenty pages Frankenstein leads the creatures into Germany, kicks more ass than any one man should and falls victim to a horrible twist. And despite all that action, Jeff still had enough time to flesh out enough characterization for me to actually care about them and left me desperately wanting to see what happens in issue two.
Creature Commandos, Challengers of the Unknown

The artist, Ibraim Roberson, does a fantastic job on this book. Considering that the book is based on a rag tag group of monsters (werewolf, creature of the lagoon, bat like vampire and of course, Frankenstein) Ibraim does a great job of showing human emotion on their faces. I fell so instantly in love with his art on this book that it is somewhat disappointing that he won’t be on the ongoing title come September. So, I’ll be enjoying the rest of his run on this mini series.

My only complaint on the book was because the story is set in an alternate reality, we’re not going to get the ‘full’ story. This is a universe that I’d love to see more of, but I know it’s going to end. So, the pacing is going to be fast. I’d love to see a fully fleshed out world, but they have a story to tell. Again, this is a very minor complaint.

Verdict: LOVED IT!