Justice (Graphic Novel)

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Recently, I received the trade paperback of Justice from a close friend as a Christmas gift.  I wanted to read this book as soon as I was aware of it being out.  I am a big fan of Kingdom Come and Marvels and wanted the next work of Alex Ross to fill out my bookshelf.  I couldn't get a hold of this epic soon enough.

Justice is 12 part story set in the DC universe written by Alex Ross and Jim Krueger, with Ross also doing the amazing art.  The story begins when many classic super villains are dreaming the same dream, seeing the Justice League fall short and the world ending from some unknown threat.  Convinced the Justice League will fail, the Legion of Doom comes together to save the world.  Sensing there is more to this plot besides a prophetic vision, the Justice League bands together, along with some unexpected allies, to find the truth and save the world from doom.

The Rouges Gallery

Like - First and foremost, the art is exemplary.  This was the main reason I wanted to read this.  Knowing Alex Ross was doing the art was enough reason for me to take the time to read this story.  After reading Kingdom Come and Marvels, I wanted to get my next fix.  Ross's art is on point here and I especially loved some of the characters armors and teaks that were made here and there.  Really just amazing stuff with great attention to detail.

The heroes, suited up for an unprecedented threat.

The next big thing I liked was the story itself.  Not caught up in continuity or trying to make things fit in the bigger picture, Ross and Krueger were able to really create a realistic and challenging story.  Having the villains band together for the greater good and doing a better job of pushing mankind forward then the Justice League ever did really shows not only how capable the villains are but also that the lines drawn between factions are drawn in sand, not stone. It was a very compelling experience, one where I found myself reading the whole book in one sitting.  The final chapter was a strong and fitting climax to a well written plot.

Green Lantern, Hal Jordon

Dislike - My only dislike was when I finished reading it.  I wanted more!!

Overall - I loved this book.  I felt that this story really took it's time and created a new universe on the back of the well known DC Universe that we are familiar with.  It was a challenging read, examining who really is the good guy and who is the bad guy.  The art is unparalleled.  I highly recommend reading this.  5 out to 5.  Thanks for this great book Megan!

Similar to: Kingdom Come, Marvels, Earth X trilogy

The Adventures of Tintin (Film)

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So, it was late at night and I was in the mood to watch a movie before bed.  A common ritual that helps me slowly clear out my Netflix queue and helps get me relaxed before bed.  While trying to find a suitable title, I saw The Adventures of Tintin had become an instant play option.  Feeling in the mood for something light, I went for this one.  I figured I would watch half now and half later.  I ended up staying up and losing sleep so I could watch this surprisingly fun action romp!

Tintin and Haddock trying to think of their next move

The Adventures of Tintin follows well known journalist Tintin and his resourceful dog Snowy as they are haphazardly involved in an unexpected adventure.  An innocent purchase of a vintage model ship leads Tintin to have his flat ransacked and his life threatened.  Being the investigating reporter he is, Tintin had to get to the truth of the matter.  This leads him to the the trail of a man named Sakharine.  Sakharine is out trying to find clues to a kings ransom in treasure.  While in pursuit of both Sakharine and the truth, Tintin makes a new friend in the drunkard named Haddock.  Together, they try to outwit and outrun Sakharine whenever they can.

Likes - I wasn't entirely sure what to expect with this film.  I knew it had a long history in the comic world but I had no clue what Tintin was about.  When I began this movie, the very first thing that struck me was the animation.  I had never seen anything so lifelike and fluid. It took sometime to get past the sheer depth of realness of this film.  The way bodies moved, cars rolled by, and fog settled on the streets, it was all done so realistically.  Tintin, if nothing else will amaze you on how gorgeous it is.

Once the shine and glen has worn off the animation, you will see Steven Spielberg has crafted a fun, humorous, and action packed adventure.  The scenes on the boat where Tintin and Haddock first meet are great. The scene later on in Begghar was superb.  The pacing and density of the action scenes amazed me how they transitioned so well from one character to another.  It left me throughly impressed. The dialog is great as well.  There is a slickness that you usually get with a Bond film. 

Look it up on Wikipedia

Dislikes - There were no dislikes with this film.  None at all.

Overall - I was blown away how good this movie was.  As I stated earlier, I stayed up to watch this film.  I was so invested and excited with it I had  to see it all the way through.  For adventure fans, Indiana Jones fans, Comic or animation fans...really anyone. you will really enjoy this great movie.  I give it 5 out of 5 stars folks!
And even better news! The sequel looks like it's coming sooner then expected. Score!

Similar To - Any Indiana Jones film

Review: Marvels (GN)

After reading Kingdom Come,  I was very eager to read the Marvel equivalent.  Marvels was the answer to that.  I had originally bought this for my friend as a Christmas gift.  He finally let me borrow it and it as worth the wait.
Marvels follows Phil Sheldon, a young man in the beginning his life and career as a photographer.  He is faced with the choice of leaving to cover WWII.  Unexpectedly, he decides to stay in NYC, following a hunch that greater things are to be seen in his home town.  Soon he finds himself witnessing the Torch escaping the cement prison he is entombed in.  Later on, a battle engulfs the city between the Torch and Namor, the Sub-Mariner. Phil begins to see how quickly the public can turn its opinion so quickly.  The books goes on as Phil is there to witness first hand the rise of the mutant menace, the attack of Galactus, and the new era of heroes.
Likes - First off, the art is done by Alex Ross.  If you aren't excited, read more comics!
The story was really fascinating.  For once, we see the world  of Marvel through the eyes of a man, an everyday man, Phil Sheldon.  We see him as we see everyone else at the beginning.  During the unveiling of the Torch, he falls into wonder, awe, and fear.  Later on, the Torch proves himself to be a champion of justice and a creature of virtue.  Soon, mutants begin coming to light.  This was the best part of the story.  Phil plays into the fear of mutants, the normal reaction at the time.  In the same day, events both professional and personal persuade Phil to see things in a different light.  Phil is us, showing us how easy it is to follow the mob and showing us the logic that we all need to follow.  Following Phil is as exciting as seeing Spider-Man foil any caper.  Phil grows so much, you can't help root for him.

Dislikes - I can't really point anything out that I didn't dislike.  This was a solid piece of work.

Overall - This was an amazing introspection into the Marvel Universe. A great read, especially for long time Marvel fans.  You see first hand what life would be like living in a world of "Marvels".  More so, we see Phil grow as a person.  From overcoming his fear of the Marvels, to understanding the reality of mutants, to recognizing that failure even comes to a super hero.  Marvels not only provides a slice of life in an amazing era, it also shows us a man becoming the person he needs to be.  That is the biggest thing you can take away from reading this graphic novel.

Review: Joe the Barbarian (graphic novel)

Joe the Barbarian is a Vertigo title from 2010.  In a list I read for best comics in 2010, this one was mentioned as being one of the top 10.   After getting some recommendations on Amazon, I decided to try this one out.

Joe the Barbarian is about Joe, a young boy with Type 1 Diabetes.  While at home during a storm, Joe's blood sugar gets dangerously low.  At this point ,Joe begins to hallucinate and falls into a fantasy world populated by familiar characters - his toys and his drawings.  As he arrives in this new world, he is believed to be "the Dying Boy", the one prophesied to save the world from Lord Death.  He blindly moves forward on a quest, whose consequences spill over into the real world.

Likes - At first, I wasn't really getting enticed reading this one.  I felt forced to get reading it.  By about half way though, on chapter 4, is when I felt compelled to move forward.  I'm not sure if I was getting to know the characters or the story but I wanted to know what was going to happen next.  The story was fun as well as tried and true.   The most fun was seeing how the hallucinations would match up with the real world, seeing Joe go back and forth constantly trying to figure out was happening.
There was a very big cast in this one.  I felt that there was just enough space and time to let each one develop in their own way  Not only did Joe eventually figure his way out, but so did the Dwarf Prince and Jack the Juggler.  I'm sure with extra issues, more time could have been spent on these guys. Still, the current length was enough to feel like a good pay off.
Lastly, I enjoyed the happy ending.  I wasn't too surprised but it tied things up nicely and left a big smile on my face
Also, my edition came in a nice neat hardcover.  Score!

Dislikes - There wasn't anything in particular that I didn't enjoy about this book.  I thought it was a fun quick read.  I am glad I did buy the collected edition and not the single issues.  I might not have thought the waiting between releases was worth it.

Overall - I think it is a very good comic.  I enjoyed it.  I am left rather blank on how to convey my thoughts though.  It was a good read for what it was, but I think there may be better books out there to spend your money.  For fans of The Lord of the Rings and the like, this is a great novel to snatch.  For others, you may not miss out on not reading this one.  Overall 3 out of 5 stars.

Review: Batman: The Man Who Laughs (graphic novel)

Batman: The Man Who Laughs is a story written by Ed Brubaker, a writer whose work I've been constantly happy with.  I figured this would be an easy graphic novel to review as my second entry. 

B:TMWL is actually two stories, something that surprised me.  The first story is about Batman's first encounter with the Joker.  In Batman's then short career, he had never seen anything as dangerous or confusing as the Joker.  Nor did he ever plan to meet such a manic.  We find Batman trying to make sense of a man who is lost in madness.  The second story is a classic detective tale.  It is a good read because we see Batman team up with the Golden Age Green Lantern.  The contrast between the two is very revealing.

Likes - I was enthralled reading this book.  Both stories are great.  In fact, the back-up story was even better then the main one.

The Man Who Laughs - This story was really fun to read for a longtime Batman like myself.  You see Batman's first take on the Joker, who didn't even have his moniker until middle of the story.  This story let's you see the basic, classic elements of the Joker.  The mass murder, the dark humor, the twisted brilliance.  For as much as I love Batman, I love the Joker so much more.  He is why Batman is so amazing to follow.  Trying to keep your sanity fighting a guy like that time and again is an amazing feat. 

Made of Wood - The back up story really threw me for a loop.  A man is killed with the words "Made of Wood" carved onto his chest.  This murder recalls a series of deaths that occurred during the time of Golden Age Green Lantern Alan Scott's heyday as a hero.  This was one case he never solved and has haunted him for decades.  Along comes Gotham's current crusader, Batman, has he tries to uncover the truth.  The story does an amazing job of what it means to be a hero versus simply doing the right thing.  Another interesting plot point was what it meant to be a detective.  Batman explains to Scott how to think and act like a detective, something Scott confesses he never mastered.  Made of Wood is a interesting and nuanced story about the different kinds of heroes that exist and the fact these men are simply trying to do whats right in their eyes. 

Dislikes - There is only one thing I disliked about this book.  The overall art for TMWL wasn't that consistent.  There are panels and pages where the madness and paranoia are palpable.  Other parts though show a almost cartoonish version of the Joker.  Since the story was so good I didn't notice it much.  After a second skim though, I picked up on it.  Still, the art is good overall and doesn't hurt the story in any way. 

Overall - I think this book is a steal.  For the $10ish that it was on Amazon, you get two great, unique stories.  I am really happy that I got this when I did.  It has all my favorite elements of Batman in a nice little package!  This is a great buy and should be picked up ASAP.

Review: Batman: Year One

BATMAN! Do you even need to ask why I watched this? If you do, shut up and read my review.

Batman: Yea One follows Bruce Wayne, returning to Gotham after years away, secretly training for a mission that was unclear to him. Upon his arrival, he sees the city he left behind fallen more into corruption and depravity.  Concisely - Gotham is fallen victim to crime.  At the same time, Lieutenant James Gorden has come to Gotham as well.  He feels his coming to Gotham is an appropriate punishment for his past misconduct, He grieves though over bringing his wife, and eventually, his son, to such a immoral place.  The film follows both men as they come to terms with their home and how best to fight for it.

Likes - This was a very good adaptation for Frank Miller's masterpiece.  The filmmakers faithfully brought to life those pages drawn so long ago.   Some instances, its understandable to try and provide a new spin on an old story.  This approach wouldn't work here though.  Batman: Year One is both hallowed ground and a solid story.  Making any changes would ruin it.
Similarly to Batman Begins, we see the original inspiration for Batman.  Not the costumed likes of the Joker or the Riddler.  No, crime, both organized and petty, were what made Bruce Wayne begin his endless, unrelenting crusade.  We see Batman doing more 'mundane' tasks like saving old ladies from runaway trucks.  We also see him using his dectivie skills to weed out the information he needs.  We also see Batman get theatrical.  Keep in mind most people do not even believe he exists.  He needs to strike fear into the criminal underworld, even if it means putting on a show. Also, we see Batman make mistakes, criticize himself, and even act unsure of his his next move.  All this is a very refreshing side of the classic character.

Dislikes - For one, I wanted more! The animation seemed too crisp and clean for such a gritty story.  I think it might have hurt the story some.  Also, the voice actors were different from the usual talents associated to these films.  This isn't bad so much as it's disarming a bit.  Still, they did a very good job.

Overall - I think any fan of Batman, diehard to luke warm, should watch this.  It was a very good, mature take on the caped crusader.  Overall 5 out of 5.