Remembering a Friend

Over the past few weeks I've been trying to think of the best way to honor the memory of a friend who left us far too soon.  Matt Jordan was a phenomenally talented artist that I had the honor of working with on a few occasions.  I decided that the best thing I could do was to publish something he worked with me on that has never before seen by the public.  It was meant to go into an anthology that has, in the last three years, failed to come together.  I'm proud of this story because it forced me to use my ability to describe a scene to an artist without using characters to push the story along.  Enjoy..MONSTERS AMONG US!

Netflix Catch-Up: Arrow Season 1

Courtesy of CW

Arrow is a new and interesting take on the Oliver Queen - Green Arrow story.  For this iteration Queen was stranded on an island for five years after the yacht he was on with his father and others went down.  His time on the island changed him; from the vapid, partying playboy he was into a dark, vengeance seeking night stalker.

The show, in and of itself, has intriguing stories that happen along the way.  Seeing Queen leaping around, shooting arrows by the dozens with precision and accuracy is neat - those moments are like the comics come alive (without the boxing glove arrow - I know, it was my favorite too dammit!).  But the majority of the show leaves much to be desired.

My biggest issue with the show is really two issues - first: the cast; it's way too daytime soap drama acting with the pouty faces and furrowed brows.  Then there's sub-plots.  The overall story makes sense: Ollie's dad was in with some bad people who were doing to do bad things to the city - he leaves Ollie a list of names to guide him on his quest to right past wrongs.  The sub-plots with all the "romance" and "character growth" is bad, just...bad.

Courtesy of CW

I realize that it's hard to write a show that's one-hundred percent about the hero character doing hero stuff (I remember Lois and Clark) but being a CW show, Arrow goes too far in the opposite direction.  Additionally, it's like the writers oftentimes were trying to inject some "comic style writing" into the show with cheesy one-liners and bad puns but they just fall flat and make the show look like it's written for children.

Those things being said - the show is entertaining and one thing the writers are really good at is leaving you at an episode ending cliff-hanger.  The end of season one's final episode is the culmination of it all.

This isn't a show I would seek out and watch religiously on a weekly basis but as a Netflix binge-watching show it suits a lot of needs.  It's worth checking out; if only to watch Emily Bett Rickards in hot nerd glasses talking all techy.

When season two is posted I'm sure I'll watch; hopefully the acting improves with time...but I don't have the highest of hopes. For now, watch a trailer for Season One here and see for yourself:

Movie Review - Guardians of the Galaxy

Courtesy of Marvel

 Marvel has done an interesting thing in the last 15 years or so of movie making - they've gotten a lot of things right.  In the comic book movie making business; that's a rarity.  From the terrible, and I mean god-awful, made-for-tv Justice League movie with the FAT doctor from M.A.S.H. as the Martian Manhunter, to just plain awful television programs (The Incredible Hulk, Wonder Woman, The Flash) the comics industry has tried and failed on many occasions to bring their product mainstream.

There are the occasional success - mostly in the form of animation (Justice League, Teen Titans, Spiderman, X-Men) but it wasn't until the Brian Singer X-Men movies (despite the terribleness of the third installment) that the industry turned a corner.  Then Sam Raimi's Spider-man came along and everyone sat up and took notice.

It was as if everyone had forgotten after 1983 that nerdy movies could be mainstream cool.  Do you honestly think the "cool" kids didn't see the Star Wars movies?  Of course they did, EVERYONE SAW THOSE MOVIES!

But what Marvel has done so successfully is take ancillary characters (such as Blade) and make successful, interesting, money-making movies.  Thus we have: the Guardians of the Galaxy.

I've been reading comics since the early 90s and I can honestly say I've never read a single Guardians story.  I like space, Silver Surfer is my favorite character - but they didn't cross paths a lot.

The characters aren't known.  They aren't Wolverine or Professor X.  They're gritty.  They're criminals.  They use a lot of guns and they kill a lot of people.  But that's not why this movie is so good, that's not what makes it worth seeing.

It's what the characters ARE that does that: they're interesting and they stay true to who they are.  Giving yourself over to the suspension of disbelief - being an outer-space movie where a central character is a gun-toting, talking raccoon - there is a true sense of believability about these characters.  They have history.  They have emotion.  They've all felt the depths of pain that loss at a core level inflicts on a person.

Courtesy of Marvel

I could sit here and write a detailed account of the movie and the twenty-seven reasons why you should go see it (the soundtrack would EASILY make the top five of that list by the by) but that's not what this is about - this article is to help you understand why this movie is so important.

We are on the cusp of the greatest five-year stretch of this generation's movie-making history (with Avengers 2, Batman v Superman, Star Wars VII, Captain America 3, JLA "possibly", and others) and it's movies like this that will help bring in that broader audience.  Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana - these are actors people like and are willing to go outside their comfort zone to see...and that's the hook.

We are entering a golden age - look back at the late 70s early 80s with Star Trek and Star Wars enthralling audiences worldwide.  The industry has struggled, filler movies like the Matrix trilogy has tried to filled the void, but now we've survived the paltry portrayals of our beloved characters and ascended to a place where the right people (JJ Abrams) is looking out for the interest of fans - and we can all be thankful for that.

Bin Fodder: Grounded

Hello!  Welcome to another edition of Bin Fodder!  This week I review Grounded, written by Mark Sable with other original works to his credit such as Hazed and Rift Raiders.  The art is by Paul Azaceta who has a slew of credits both at Marvel and in the indie world. 

 

Courtesy of Image Comics

Grounded is set in a world where superheroes only exist in comic books.  At least, that’s what the general public is led to believe.  The story’s main character, Jonathan Shepherd, has grand aspirations of being a superhero himself; he just needs to find out what his superpower is.  He starts out thinking that he’s secretly super-fast, but that dreams ends rather quickly.  He runs through myriad other power aspirations culminating in a belief in an ability to fly causing him to jump off the roof of his house.  This ends in the inevitable failure of flight and broken bones.

Skip ahead to high school and Shepherd is still a comic book loving nerd and social outcast clinging to the belief that superheroes are real.  Turns out, they are.  And not only that, his father’s one of the most powerful ones!  He happens to find this out while his dear old dad is sleeping with another woman, a superheroine.  Yeah…pretty crappy day overall.  But it only gets worse.

Courtesy of Image Comics

For Shepherd’s protection his father takes him to the high school for super heroes where he must now attend.  So he goes from being the only kid in school who wants superpowers to being the only kid in a school full of superpowered kids not to have any.

What ensues is a somewhat strange and often times confusing storyline involving mind-control, evil teachers, strange technology and invisible skyscrapers. 

Azaceta has an uncanny ability to seamlessly flow between his modern style and the classic format used to depict flashbacks or in-story comic book tales giving the story a lot of added quality.  The writing is a little sloppy.  It seems like Sable was trying to tell too many stories at once and everything just gets jumbled.

Sadly it seems like the project was abandoned almost as quickly as it was finished, since the homepage for the site only has updates through when issue three (of six) was expected to hit shelves.  Additionally, the cover specifically calls this story Grounded Volume 1: Powerless, implying that a follow-up story was to exist but never came to fruition.

In the end, I found myself lost several times in the book because of the confusing mixture of stories and characters.  

Until next time,

This is Bin Fodder Guru Tim Blacksmith signing off!

Movie Review - Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

A long time ago, in a place called 1968 there was a revolutionary movie called Planet of the Apes staring Moses (I mean: noted gun-nut Charlton Heston) wherein the world had long ago plunged into a technological darkness and apes had taken over as the dominant intelligence on planet Earth.  Heston, an astronaut returning from a mission, lands on what he thinks is some other planet where evolution went horribly wrong...and in a stunning display of terrible acting (shirtless on a beach no less) he views a partially destroyed Statue of Liberty and realizes it was Earth all along.  This "epic" scene has been mockingly used many, many times since then.

The failed 2001 relaunch of the franchise had a similarly idiotic scene at the end - this time with the Lincoln Memorial being replaced by an ape Lincoln (like they'd still have had an ape Lincoln...) statue.  This movie was much more militaristic; showing apes as ruthless aggressors bent on the destruction of all humanity. 

Luckily, a decade later, Twentieth Century Fox revitalized the story with better acting (yes, I know it's James Franco) and better CGI work.  With forethought for a franchise they built the first movie as exactly that; a first movie.  Caesar is an ape exposed to experimental drugs meant to cure Alzheimer's but in him the affects were amazing and he became hyper intelligent for an ape; capable of understanding and solving complex problems.

Jump ahead ten years (in the POTA universe) and the Apes; with guidance from the mighty Caesar have made a community in the vast forests outside San Francisco.  Caesar has sired several offspring; the oldest and strongest - Blue Eyes - he is grooming to eventually take his place.  Teaching him to use his intelligence as a guide to being a good, kind leader.

The opening sequence of the movie shows the apes in a massive pack hunt of elk - it's amazing watching the coordination and sequences rendered of the apes swinging through the tees.  If you've watched any of the previews you have probably seen the bear attack...yeah, it's awesome.

In Dawn humanity is on its last legs in San Francisco.  They've cobbled together a meager civilization at the heart of the city but have no power source and are running low on fuel. Their solution: restart a hydro-electric dam and bring power back to the city.  Thus enter the plot.

The movie is decently well written - with few plot issues.  There are a few "too convenient" situations but they are mostly believable given the characters and situations involved.  An excellent scene occurs when Koba (one of Caesar's most trusted advisers and human-hater) "plays ape" to seem non-threatening to some humans he happens upon at a weapons depot.  Little do they know...

The ape society is built on classes with Caesar at the top as the smartest and the strongest.  But unlike most animal class systems there is no battles for supremacy because the teachings of Caesar are that "ape not kill ape".  This mantra works...right up until the point that one of the ape's decides Caesar likes humans too much and is weak because of it.

Often times with movies that should focus on non-human characters (like Alien vs. Predator) the human characters always seem to take over and overshadow/drown out they main characters.  But Dawn did a good job representing both equally and well.  Time was spent with just the apes; of them having conversations and discussing serious topics.

There are a few scenes that are very impactful; like when Caesar and the entire ape society show up at the doorstep of the human refugee camp as a show of strength with a warning not to venture into their woods before.  When Caesar speaks - the reaction of the humans in the crowd is outstanding.  And, as you've no doubt seen in the previews - seeing an ape on horseback shooting an automatic rifle is pretty amazing.

As a second installment in the movie franchise Dawn is excellent.  It's not just a plot piece, moving us to the next film - it does so much more than that.  The struggle for the planet is real and Caesar realizes this at the end.  Humanity will not be coming back - now is the time for the ape to rule; and he will lead his people to victory.

I, for one, can't wait to see where the next movie takes us.  Hail Caesar.

Thanks for reading!

Tim  

Bin Fodder: Marvel – 1602

Hello!  Welcome to this week’s edition of Bin Fodder.  Today I’m dipping back into the mainstream to talk about Marvel Comic’s 1602.  I do this for two reasons: first, because it’s Neil Gaiman, one of comics’ most celebrated indie writers with books like Sandman and Books of Magic to his credit. Gaiman, like me, has dipped his toe in the mainstream waters before having done spot-writing on Batman and Detective Comics.  He teamed with artist Andy Kubert of the famous Kubert family of artists to create Marvel 1602. And second, because I have yet to review a Marvel book and it seemed only fitting that I do so.  

The story of Marvel 1602 sets many of Marvel’s classic characters, including the Original X-Men, the Fantastic Four and Daredevil (Matt Murdoch), in early-modern Europe.  The premise for the existence of these characters is divulged by the Watcher Uatu to Dr. Steven Strange through a very Gaiman-esque style of linguistics magic.  Essentially, a hero from modern times (our present) is displaced into the past which creates a rip in the time/space continuum.  The Universe, in an effort of self-preservation, sets in motion the events which establish a force strong enough to stem the tide and fix the problem (the classic hero characters).  There’s just one problem with this: he rip in time takes place fifteen years prior to the beginning of the story and many if not all of the hero’s are far older than fifteen.  But, it’s comics, so we let that go and move on. In an effort not to give away the ending (since I am not one to have spoilers in my articles) I will simply say that working together the combined forces of the X-Men, the Fantastic Four and many others save the universe, as is to be expected.

Courtesy of Marvel Comics

Courtesy of Marvel Comics

To go along with Gaiman’s well-known and much ballyhooed style of writing, Kubert does an outstanding job of designing the characters to fit in with the motif of their surroundings.  In many ways Marvel 1602 is the company’s attempt at doing what DC Comics did back in the mid-nineties with Kingdom Come stylistically if not symbolically, which is to show very established characters in new forms and in a new light.  With Richard Isanove doing the digital illustration which, of course, pales in comparison to the paintings of Alex Ross, nonetheless is magnificent in its own right.  

 

In the world of Marvel 1602 there are two villains, the first and main is Otto von Doom (a.k.a. Dr. Doom) who is still set up as the iron-fisted ruler of Latveria.  The second, and much more minor, is Richard of Scotland, who sees fit to supplant the queen and rule all of the United Kingdom.  Doom, much like his modern counterpart, is desirous of knowledge and bent on ruling the world.  In this alternate reality he has captured the Fantastic Four and uses fear of reprisal against the others to force Richard Reed (a.k.a. Mr. Fantastic) into aiding in his scientific endeavors. 

 

Courtesy of Marvel Comics

Other characters play large roles as well, such as Sir Nicholas Fury (a.k.a. Nick Fury), Thor and Peter Parquagh (a.k.a. Spiderman), though he does not assume the role of Spiderman until volume two of the story (not covered here).  And some make very minor appearances such as Sister Wanda (a.k.a. Scarlet Witch) and her brother Petros (a.k.a. Quicksilver) as well as Vulture Fliers, who are in fact assassins who appear to be genetically engineered clones. 

Marvel 1602 does a good job of taking the reader into that period of time with colloquial terminology and staunch religious doctrines.  Where the story falls a little flat is, as stated previously, in the timeline but also in the use of the characters.  Gaiman does what I think many of us sometimes wish to see, superheroes acting super, but he shows his lack of experience in the field during this story.  Gaiman has too many characters for an eight-issue miniseries and it shows in the lack of time that the majority of them see action.  I can see where he was compelled to include the Fantastic Four in the story since it could prove somewhat more difficult to have the X-Men battle a villain they’ve not regularly, if ever, faced.  However, that’s the fun of alternate reality stories!  Go outside the norm, go beyond comfort levels!  I don’t know if I am to blame Marvel Comics or if I am to blame Gaiman for this fault, so I shall blame them both equally.  The story of Marvel 1602 could have been so much greater had he not tried to squeeze in so much.

Overall, the art and the dialogue of Marvel 1602 rate four stars, but lack of imagination and faith in the readership brings that down. 

So, my friends, go Bin Diving and find this and other gems!

Until next time,

This is Bin Fodder Guru Tim Blacksmith signing off!

Bin Fodder: Random Encounter

Welcome to this week’s edition of Bin Fodder!  In this installment I’ll be taking you into the world of Random Encounter, created by writer/illustrator Nicc Balce.  Random Encounter was produced by Viper Comics a company that is probably best known for releasing the very popular books Dead @ 17 and Middle Man.

This four-part miniseries has something for everyone.  If you’re a geeky fanboy who loves “hot” anime-style comic book ladies, if you’re a fan of RPGs (Role Playing Games for you non-true nerds out there), or if you just enjoy a quality comic with an interesting and engaging story chock full of outrageous action and humor, then this is the book for you.

Courtesy of Viper Comics

The high concept of Random Encounter is top notch.  Take three ordinary people and put them in an extraordinary situation with monsters and crazy action sequences.  Throw in a heroine who has the innate ability to fight said monsters but lacks the conscious memory of how she can or even why she’s doing it.  Mix it all together with some RPG style overtones and you get an exceptional story. 

Random Encounter has four main characters: Migo, the Kwik Mart clerk who turns out to be more than meets the eye.  Mica, who dates Migo and basically lives at the Kwik Mart, who also turns out to have powers that are not entirely known to her.  Mona, plays the role of the overbearing, controlling friend of Migo and Mica who takes photos and dreams of glory.  And Goggles Girl is the heroine who has lost her memory after landing on the roof of the Kwik Mart.

 

Courtesy of Viper Comics

The first issue starts out with Migo, Mica and Mona doing what it would seem they are always doing, hanging out at the Kwik Mart playing video games and watching television.  But a random encounter introduces Goggles Girl and an inky monster creature that attacks her, Migo, and Mona as they try and help.  Acting on what turns out to be instinct Goggles Girl fights off and eventually destroys the creature, but not before Migo is injured. 

He’s rushed to the hospital where, after coming around from his head injury, he is attacked by another inky creature.  This one ends up possessing one of the nurses in order to continue its assault but Migo is able to fight it off with the help of Gummy.  The introduction of Gummy brings along with it the detailed explanation of what is truly going on in the story. 

Gummy is a “Nede Harvester”, and once again I find the internet lacking for any kind of proper definition of what this is so I will do so here.  Nede is referred to as the “Tree of Life” and its leaves have the power to heal once allowed to properly dry.  The leaves can also be used to create “Nede Cards” which, when placed inside an item, can add special powers to said items.  Gummy explains all this to Migo along with informing him as to that the monsters are called Bindlings and that they are released by Nede trees as a defense mechanism when leaves have been stolen.  The Bindlings start out as level one monsters (the kind seen in the first two issues) but then they can latch on to another tree or combine together to upgrade themselves to become larger and more dangerous creatures (as is seen in the last two issues). 

Courtesy of Viper Comics

Courtesy of Viper Comics

Migo and Gummy return to the Kwik Mart to find Goggles Girl tangling with one of the larger creatures while Mona looks on taking photos of her skimpy outfit hoping to become rich and famous from it. After Goggles Girl gets knocked out Gummy and Migo step in to take on the monster.  It’s during this scene that the truth of Migo’s importance and ability comes out.  He has powers, he was simply unaware of them, but a kiss from Gummy brings them out.  After the kiss his right hand enlarges and his punches deal out a massive amount of damage.  In the end Migo, Gummy and Goggles Girl work together to take down the creature and then together with Mona and Mica leave town.

The story ends very open ended leaving the possibility for future adventures but as of yet none have come to fruition.

Courtesy of Viper Comics

The first issue contains interesting little notations in the form of videogame style directional-pad use and buttons to push to achieve some of the action/fight moves that occur.  But much the same as Dade Murphy’s techno-visions in Hackers, these notations just fade away, which was somewhat sad to see, because I thought it to be a very cool concept and thought it added an interesting quality to the story.  It reminded me of how Blue Monday made notations throughout of recommended music for that part of the issue.  The fact that this little part of the writing disappears is the only part of this book that I didn’t like.

Overall Random Encounter has a great story with really cool art.  It has enough of an anime/manga feel to draw in that crowd of fans but not so much as to turn off those who don’t dig on that style. 

So, my friends, go Bin Diving and find this and other gems!

Until next time,

This is Bin Fodder Guru Tim Blacksmith signing off!