Tuesday, December 29, 2015

Bendis Month(and a half): Ultimate Spider-Man

A problem for comicbook writers can be the long history of the characters they write. While some writers embrace the characters past and tries to dig up moments, friends and enemies from the main character's history(Like Greg Pak and James Robinson), others can have a hard time writing the story THEY want to write and at the same time being sure not to not peeve of the fans who either knows the hero's history very well or just spends way too much time on Google just so that they can say; you made a mistake, so you suck raccoon balls!
Writers don't really have that problem anymore, since respecting continuity is apparently not that big a deal anymore... Unless you are Mark Waid.
STOP talking trash about Waid for writing Daredevil, for Christ's sake!
Anyway, back in year 2000, when retcon was not as accepted as it is today, Marvel created the Ultimate Universe. A whole new universe where writers could recreate the iconic heroes of Marvel and telling stories without worrying about forgetting Spiderman's uncle's father's brother's nephew's cousin's former roommate's middle name.
So, with the chance to give Spiderman new life, did Bendis succeed in re-creating everyone's favorite superhero?
No.
I mean, how would that be possible when he was writing everyone's second favorite superhero; Spiderman?
:P
Alright, jokes aside: Yes. I think Bendis did a great job with his 134 issue long series. Was it perfect? Heck no. How could it be when the same guy wrote ALL 134 issues? Eventually, he had to make mistakes or less than great stories(like a Clone Saga that was LESS enjoyable than the original one, if you can believe that).
Bendis makes some interesting decisions. Like making Peter's uncle and aunt old hippies and Gwen Stacy a badass punk girl. And he even creates some new ones, like Kenny “Kong” McFarlane, a stereotype dumb bully who evolves the most of all the supportive characters.
The re-creation of Spidy's bad guys is... hit and miss. Mostly miss, really. Green Goblin being a giant Hulk-thingy is weird when you consider the fact that he is called the Green GOBLIN, as in a small creature. Doc Octopus has magnetic powers instead of just robot arms seems unnecessary. And turning Kraven into a joke? Dude!
But I really like the idea of turning Rhino into a mecha. And Venom being a failed attempt to find a cure for cancer? I'm not sure if that is awesome or unintended hilarious. It's... Awearious!
Another strength of this series is it's world-building. From the beginning, Spider-Man is part of a universe of mutants, gods, and monsters. For example, Norman Osborn’s Oz formula that turns Peter Parker into Spider-Man is his attempt to re-create the superserum that produced Captain America, who later appears in "Ultimates". From one time to another, Spider-Man isn’t left alone and helpless, and gets SHIELD backup, whether he likes it or not. He and Nick Fury has a mentor/student like relationship throughout the series, even if the two of them don't always get along. As well as telling a story of it's own, Ultimate Spider-Man acts as a tour guides to the world of the Ultimate Marvel Universe.
But really, there is one reason, AND only ONE REASON you really need to read this series:

Mark FREAKING Bagley!
I would read One More Day, JLA: Cry For Justice, Black Adam And Isis, and a Emma Frost solo-series and yet STILL somehow enjoy them if they had been drawn by this human-shaped wonderful creature who decided to bless the world with his art.
Mark Bagley is the best answer to ANY question known to man.
That's all for now. I'm Waezi2, and thanks for wasting time with me.

Monday, December 28, 2015

Bendis Month(and a half): Dark Avengers.

There came a day where racers fought... And evil saved the planet Earth!
Due to his importance in the event of "Secret Invasion", Norman Osborn has been made director of SHIELD(renamed HAMMER). Osborn is in charge of... well, pretty much everything, actually.
It's the Dark Reign!
But That's not all. Osborn makes his own team of Avengers, the one the public recognize as the REAL Avengers. But these so-called Avengers aren't heroes. They are murdered and madmen, dressed up as iconic heroes. Bullseye takes the costume of Hawkeye, Moonstone dons the role as Ms Marvel, Venom becomes Spiderman, Daken steels his father's name, and Osborn leads them as the Iron Patriot. And Ares and Sentry as... well, Ares and Sentry.
The world's greatest protectors are monsters. But they are monsters who get's the job done.
... How can something that sounds so badass be SO BORING!
The two big threads they face are not that great, since they had to be killed. Sure they are POWERFUL, but being powerful is not the same as being an interesting villain. And the fights are pretty much the same: The Dark Avengers attacks, Ares is owned, the villain shows how insanely powerful he/she is, and then Sentry kills the threat, scaring everyone with how powerful and nuts he is.
And the art is really muddy. I guess the style was suppose to give the book a dark tone, but I just think it looks muddy.
I like the idea with Dark Avengers, but it could have been executed better. The book could have been one of the most provoking mainstream superhero-comics of newer time, but it didn't do enough. And that is sad.
I've said it before, but I honestly don't think that Bendis is that great with team books, or any book that has powerful heroes(such as Sentry) since he believes that power corrupts(which is a really bad theme in a SUPERHERO COMIC!). Bendis should stay away from Avengers, and write stuff like Daedevil and Ultimate Spiderman.
That's all for now. I'm Waezi2, and thanks for wasting time with me.

Saturday, November 28, 2015

Bendis Month(and a half): Mighty Avengers.

After the crossover event "Civil War", the heroes of the Marvel U had been divided by ideology. Some heroes decided to become registered superheroes, while others chose to become outlaw heroes, hunted by both the government as well as heir former friends. Therefore, there was now two teams of Avengers; the outlaw freedom fighters and the government's own version of the Earth's mightiest heroes. Today, I'm going to voice my opinion about the later. It's a series called "Mighty Avengers".
Mighty Avengers title was doomed before Bendis even started to type the story.
The problem here is that Bendis was the writer of both New Avengers and Mighty Avengers. AND that he was unable to be neutral. It's pretty clear that Bendis was siding with the heroes who were against registration. And that's okay, he is allowed to side.
What is not okay is him manipulating us into being against pro-registration heroes. When Bendis writes Mighty Avengers, he makes the team as unlikable as he can. They are jerks, wackos and b%tches. He makes sure that we won't root for these guys at all.
And he even makes Iron Man look even more like a villain by making him build satellites that can control the weather.
Satellites that controls the weather!
And don't tell me that it's something Tony would do! It's not! And it's WAY out of his area. Look, we get it, Bendis. We do! You don't like Iron Man because you think he is an arrogant rich guy who wants to be king of the world. That power corrupt. But do you really have to mash it into our face that you don't like Iron Man? Do you have to make him the villain of Civil War? Can't you understand that he is not just YOUR character, that other writers are writing comics about Iron Man and at the same time tries to respect your continuity? Couldn't you do the same for them, instead of making him the Judas Iscariot of Marvel Comics?
... Mighty Avengers DID give us one great thing, though: Ares, the god of war... AS A SUPERHERO!
Aaaand then he was killed in Siege, so...
This story doesn't feel as well constructed as the New Avengers book. We get the opening story-ark thrown into our face before we get properly introduced to the team and it's not that great, really. The artwork is actually not that bad. We get some pretty good action scenes, but only in a chaotic, loud Transformers movie kind of way.
But I will actually recommend picking up Mighty Avengers... but only if you skip the 20 first issues. Starting from issue 21, Dan Slott becomes the writer, and he makes the most Avengers-like series since Busiek's run, and even reminded us that Hank Pym is awesome.
That's all for now. I'm Waezi2, and thanks for wasting time with me.

Friday, November 27, 2015

Bendis Month(and a half): The Pulse

First page, and I'm already in love.
Not because of the story.
Not because of the characters.
Not because of the big-time writer.
But because of Mark FREAKING Bagley!
If you have followed my blogs, you probably know that...
... Na, barely no one does.
XD
But I am a big fan of the New Warriors. So besides that his artwork is great, there is also a nostalgic mechanism in my brain that activates once it sees Bagley art and yells: "LOVE IT, DON'T ASK WHY!". Seriously, I could read a Frank Miller comic and STILL love it because I adore the artwork. So being objective can be a problem. But I will try.
This comic is... different. We have seen journalists who are superheroes in comics before, but not superheroes who are journalists. You may think that they are the same thing, but they are not. Let me explain; Clark Kent is a journalist. There are many reasons to why he is a journalist, but one of them is that he needs a job where he can easily be close to situations where Superman are needed without his secret identity being threatened. It's a paycheck with benefits. But here, Jessica Jones is hired by  newspaper BECAUSE she is a superhero. She is hired because of her contacts within the hero community. I honestly don't get why no one has thought of this idea before.
And YES, I realize she is more like an analysts who assist a journalist, but you get my point.
But if you are a fan of the series "Alias"(that I gave a rather harsh review the other day, and I consider rewriting it) I'm afraid that I must disappoint you; it's not a Jones series. It's a series where Jones is a character in it. And if you enjoyed her... colorful language(I didn't) then you will be disappointing yet again, since this is NOT a Marvel MAX series, but a mainstream one. All swearing is censored.
This is not so much a superhero comic as it is a journalist series. It's about the newspaper the Daily Bugle. About Ben Urich, a reporter who has had... less than fortunate days, but now finally seem to get back in the game. About Jonah J Jameson, a man who fights a fierce battle in order to keep his beloved newspaper alive. About what it means to be a journalist in the Marvel Universe.
The series is far from perfect, sure. But the first 5 issues story-line is gold, possibly the best Bendis story I've ever read.
I highly recommend The Pulse, especially the first TPB named "Thin Air". I can't recall the last time a comic could make me feel sympathy for JJJ.
That's all for now. Next time: Mighty Avengers... kill me...
I'm Waezi2, and thanks for wasting time with me.

Thursday, November 26, 2015

Bendis Month(and a half): Alias.

....
....
....
See those dots? That's me, taping the keyboard, unsure what to say.
....
I... expected more. I really did. If there is one thing you can be sure of, it's that Bendis has a huge arsenal of stories to tell. Some great, some not so great. What seems to be his trademark flaw is his use of retcon. Some would argue that it is his greatest strength, that he doesn't get TOO tied up of continuity. Others say that he is armed with a chainsaw, cutting continuity to pieces.
Retcon is necessary in order to keep the comic-book industry going. That's just how it is, we like it or not. But it's also a tool that should not be abused and overused. And I feel that the creation of Jessica Jones is.
Was it really necessary to create a new character who we all now has to pretend was always there? Couldn't Bendis have dug up a old character who actually had been in comic-book limbo for some time now? And if not... does she really have to be one gigantic woman in refrigerator?
How many female superheroes has a past that includes being raped? Jade, Hawkeye, Black Cat, the Huntress, Ms Marvel, Black Canary... How come so many writers has this need to ad sexual assault to a character's history JUST because she is female? Rape is not a gimmick. It's a very serious issue, not something that makes us roll our eyes. Because that's what happens; the shock fades away and we just think: "Ugh! Another heroin who has been raped?! REALLY?!" And we are not suppose to do that! We are not suppose to be used to and/or become bored by rape!
There could be several reasons to why Jones was depressed. SEVERAL!!! But NO! She was a evil man's victim. Because that's what we expect. That's what we are used to.
I'm sorry, I really am... But it pisses me off!
Putting aside my anger over gender stereotypes... The comic was kinda... okay. Actually a little boring. Seriously, most of issue six is about Jones talking with Ms Marvel about their sex-life. And I'm not too keen on the art either. And the constant swearing is pretty tiring.
All in all, I would advice you to skip this one.
That's all for now. I'm Waezi2, and thanks for wasting time with me.

Bendis Month(and a half): New Avengers.

Before I start the review, I would like to point out that I'm only going to review the first 10 issues of New Avengers. Besides that it would take too long to get more that the two TPB I found at the library, I also think that you should be able to judge whatever a series is worth following after the fist ten issues.
But I do like them, actually.
One a day like no other, the Spider-Man badguy Electro causes a mass breakout at the supervillain prison known as the Raft, letting lose 87 superpowered evil/crazy/evil and crazy supervillain who starts to run amok. But six heroes, united by fate, are there to fight back the criminals, putting them back in their cells where they belong. But 43 of the empowered criminals are still on the lose, and the six heroes decides to unite in order to hunt them down, as well as facing any thread no one can face alone.
Together, they are the New Avengers.
This comic is, god be pleased, a lot more enjoyable than "Disassembled". It feels like Bendis is having more fun writing it. They really are new, since it's a completely new team with barely any ties to the former Avengers. Sure, Cap and Iron Man is there, but the new members; Spider-Man, Luke Cage, Wolverine and Spider-Woman gives new life to the Earth's Mightiest. It's not a legacy team, like the JSA or the Teen Titans, it's a whole new group, and they are more... simple compared to the old Avengers. No politician connection, no mansion, and only ONE jet.
But even though I liken the series, there is a problem...
It's a Transformers movie.
Not that there is anything wrong with Transformers movies, it's just... I have a feeling that the huge explosions and all could get a little old after a while. Not without a fare dose of drama the old Avengers had.
Bendis New Avengers seems more like an action team book than... a team book. I don't see the same kind of soap opera crises and interaction as I would see in Wolfman/Perez's Titans, or  Busiek's Avengers. And without that soap-o element in the book, I think it could get a bit... trivial.
I enjoyed the Sentry story-line that made him part of he group, but knowing what Bendis had planned for him... it's difficult enjoying a story when you know know that he is going to be turned crazy-evil and then be annihilated for the sake of a crossover event.
If you can ignore that Sentry is going to be butchered in Siege, then I would say that this is a kick-ass comic. It has it's faults, plenty in fact, but it's still very enjoyable. Would I buy it? Na. But I still think that it's live up to all it's praise and I can see what it's fans see in it.
That's all for now. Next up: Alias.
I'm Waezi2, and thanks for wasting time with me.

Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Puella Magi Madoka Magica in 5 panels

... What the HELL kind of sick manga is this!?

A lovely magical girl manga full of heart, laughs, drama and a few tears!

Bullcrap!

Bendis Month(and a half): Avengers Disassembled

Hello and welcome to Bendis Month(and a half). I'm going to take a look at one of the most popular/infamous writers Marvel ever had. I decided to read a couple of his comics in order to learn whatever it is true or not that he has no soul. If he truly is that kid in school who said he knew karate so the other kids who said they knew karate wouldn't beat him up. Whatever it's true that he dominates the Marvel Universe, ruining the continuity that they worked years to somehow make work without Flash traveling back in time.
OR that he is a brilliant storyteller who shakes up the status quo. That he wrote some of the best Avengers stories of newer time.
Let's start the theme month with the very first Bendis comic I ever read; Avengers Disassembled.
... And HOLY CRAP, did it confuse me!



One of the main reasons to why it left me completely lost were that it was back when I only read comics translated to Danish. And since Avengers stories hadn't been translated to Danish since the Silver Age, there was an awful lot I had to google in order to understand WHO half of the characters were, since I couldn't find any of the 90's or early 00's comics.
In Danish, the comic had been renamed "Kaos"(chaos) instead of "Disassembled", and I honestly think that it is very suiting... in more than one way.
This four parter story-line is a gigantic mess. And I get that it was suppose to be(my guess is that this is a 9/11 story), but it doesn't really work. It's extremely hard to enjoy it, due to a mix of the less than pretty art, and all the horrific things that happens randomly. Yeah, it sucks that their headquarter that for some of them is their second home, if not their ONLY home has been burned to the ground. And that two of their team mates had died horribly, and the rest of them damaged both mentally and physically. But... It's just so... difficult to get into, because it's so messy. Instead of feeling sorry for the Beetles of superheroes, I'm left like this:
And that's just naming the problems you have as a normal reader. It's when we look at the comic through the fan-glasses that it get's REALLY ugly!
I could use FOREVER to explain what is wrong with the whole "Wanda goes coo coo for cocoa puffs" thing, and I might... in another blog. But let's just say that... it's messy.
The series has ONE redeeming...
...
...No, nothing is redeeming about this...
There was only thing I liked about "Avengers Disassembled", and that was the aftermath. Once the entire freaking thing is over with, and the surviving Avengers are back on their feet, they gather at the ruin that used to be the Avengers Mansion, realizing that they are finished. That the Avengers are no more. That they don't have the finances to keep the team running, and they are all still pretty shaken by the entire crisis. We have a bittersweet moment where they talk about the good days, about what being an Avenger meant to them, and what each o them plan on doing now. It's actually pretty touching.
... Even though a new team of Avengers were formed half a year later...
So, my first confrontation with Brian Michael Bendis was... less than enjoyable.
Next time, a BMB comic I enjoyed a lot more.
That's all for now. I'm Waezi2, and thanks for wasting time with me.

Wednesday, October 14, 2015

W2's Web Of Horror: Wingless.

"Wingless; The Dovecote Princess" is a dark fantasy story of a girl named Ephelia. Armed with a enchanted book with a sentient mind, she runs away from a wedding she does not wish to be part of, she begins her quest to become a knight for the honour of her family. She finds out it is not that simple.
Also, her head get's cut off her neck...
But don't worry. She got better!
This series is despicable!
It let's you believe that it is a fairy tale about a young woman who wants to prove herself. And then it slaps you in the face with it goriness, like decapitated heads and hands, guts flying out of bodies, monster pigs and scary deform squirrels.
Besides the many horrors we see on the pages, we have some pretty interesting interaction between Ephelia and her traveling companion; Bouquin the book. Bouquin has little to no faith in Ephelia's quest for knighthood as well as finding her motivations for... well, EVERYTHING to be without logic. This, of coarse, infuriate our young heroin, and you wonder WHY she bother carrying around a magic book who gives her advises she almost never listen to(or is it read?). They are total opposites, and that makes their forced relationship that more interesting, as they exchange thought and ideas.
Here is a link to the comic: Wingless; The Dovecote Princess
That's all for now. Next time; Nuns and witches!
I'm Waezi2, and thanks for wasting time with me.

Thursday, October 8, 2015

W2's Web Of Horror: Bongcheon-dong Ghost Story

I COULD tell you what this Korean horror comic is about... but I dare not!
This... this is some scary shit, I tell you! And if you are foolish enough to google it and then read it, well... Don't tell me that I didn't warn you.
This short story is so frighting that you will YAWN the next time you play "5 Night At Freddy's".
You are going to demand to get your money back for every single horror movie you ever bought, since "Bongcheon-dong Ghost Story" will make them look like a bunch of old Smurfs videotapes.
You are going to shit yourself so much that even your ancestors will find themselves in a pair of dirty pants.
You will call your mom and dad, and ask them why they were so cruel to give birth to a child with eyes.
You are going to scream so loudly that it will trigger a geological event.
Your heart will pound so violently that it will burst out of your chest, become a sentient being, name itself Bob, and live a life more happy and meaningful than the one YOU have.
You will lose your sanity, put on a sombrero, hang yourself from the roof, and beat yourself up with a stick as if you were a pinata!!!
... Or maybe that's just me...
But really, this comic is not for those of a sensitive soul. Trust me! Don't read it if you are in the library or any other public place, since you won't be capable of withholding your girly scream.
You HAVE been warn.
That's all for now. I'm Waezi2, and thanks for wasting time with me.

Wednesday, October 7, 2015

The Boy Who Fell(chap 32) in 5 panels.


 ... Man, I blacked out. What just...

.....

AAAAAAAAAAARRRRRGH!!!!

And the winner is... NERO!

Oh GODOHGODOHGODOHGOD...

So, Nero... Any comments on your, dare I say it; head-on victory?

I DON'T KNOW HOW THIS HAPPENED!!!!

Hear that, folks? He barely noticed his opponent during the match!

Oh jesusmariajosephandacamel...

Anything to say to your thousand of adoring fans?

I JUST BEHEADED SOMEONE!!!!

Bet you feel pretty great right now, right?

... NO!!!!

W2's Web Of Horror: The Boy Who Fell.

Happy almost-Halloween!
So? Ready for the spookiest day of the year? Got enough candy? Got yourself a costume that won't make you look like a male prostitute? Do you have a stack of new spooky comics?
I don't... I guess I used too much time watching Gravity Falls, Steven Universe and Adventure Time...
The last two years, I have searched for comics that could be appropriate Halloween reading.
But this year, I will do something... slightly different; I will recommend you a couple of web-comics. And there are plenty of creepy, bloody, scary and dark web-comics.
First up; The Boy Who Fell.
Atsushi Ren, a 13 year old timid boy. He has few friends, since he and his mother moves from place to place before he can get to know any kids at his own age. But the day he finally manage to befriend someone in his current school... he dies.
... Bummer...
And even worse; he ends up in hell, greeted by Lord Devil. That is of coarse very confusing for the lad, since he can't remember doing ANYTHING evil or even wrong in his short life. But the devil assure him that he is dead indeed, and that he just has to deal with it... OR he can participate in grand Hell Tournament, a contest only held once every millennium. The winner will be granted a wish, that can be anything. Even returning to life.
But it's not a knitting contest. It's a life-threatening competition where everything is allowed, including killing your opponent. Ren has less than a month to learn how to fight the demons that anticipate in the tournament as well, and he is now thrown into a world of monsters and horrors, all to get back home. His only help is Sorian, a fierce demon who owes her life to Ren, who in return trains him so that he at least will be capable enough to SURVIVE.
The art and story is obviously very inspired by manga, but has it’s own unique style that gives the series a dark and fun tone. While this isn’t the first story I’ve read about a good person who goes to hell, "The Boy Who Fell" is one hell of a web-comic. Even though I'm not that big on "Train-then-fight-then-train-again-and-fight-again" mangas, this one is more fluid than Naruto or Dragon Ball. Besides leaning how to defend himself, Ren must evolve mentally as well, and we see him get more and more worried as he realize that he most likely has to kill someone. But he has no other choice, if he wish to return to the land of the living.
Here is a link to the series: www.boywhofell.com. Hope you enjoy.
That's all for now. I'm Waezi2, and thanks for wasting time with me.

Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Not-White Month: Justice League Of America's Vibe.

Okay, one more request, and that will be the end of Not-White Month. This time: Justice League Of America's Vibe.
One heck of a long title, eh?
Vibe is one of those characters who died YEARS ago, and most of us has actually forgotten all about, if we even knew he had ever been part of the DCU. So bringing him back to mainstream comics, and even getting him his very own solo-series is quite risky. To bring back a legendary character like Barry Allen is one thing, because even though he died in the 80's, he was still remembered and known by any DC because of his importance in Crisis On Infinite Earths. But what do we remember Vibe for?
.... Well, he was... part of the JLA... and that's it.
So really, if you want this almost unknown hero to have his own solo-series, you practically HAVE to ad JLA to the title. Here, he gimmick of re-using a name that sells is excused.


Cisco is a young man, who was saved by his older brother Armando during Darkseid's first invasion. Cisco survived, his brother... became the first victim of many that day.
Years later, Cisco learns that he has, due to the magic of science, evolved superpowers from being that close to the dimensional rift that Darkseid used to enter our realm. He can create seismic vibrations and has a sixth sense that allows him to detect visitors from other dimensions.
He meets government agent Gunn(get it?) from ARGUS who invites him to join the JLA. Everything seems to be going pretty great for Cisco... Except, this is a superhero comic, and working with the government is ALWAYS a bad idea. Vibe soon finds out that the dimensional travelers that ARGUS sends him to capture may not be the enemies hey want him to believe they are.
I am usually a sucker for stories about traveling through dimensions, bu this series seemed kinda... okay. Maybe it was that this 10 issue long series had three writers, but the writing didn't really capture me. Sure, it has some good ideas, like how the Darkseid invasion affected Earth, and Vibe's pretty unique powers, but good ideas is not enough. And I'm honestly pretty tired of "government BAAAD" stories(DC has PLENTY of those), so that's a turnoff right there. But I will compliment the outstanding artwork that brought to this series. So if for no other reason, buy the comic for the great artwork.

That's all for now. I'm Waezi2, and thanks for wasting time with me.

Tuesday, September 29, 2015

Not-White Month: Mighty Avengers.

I disliked Mighty Avengers before it was published.
And that was very narrow-minded of me, I admit it. Especially since my philosophy is that you should never judge a comic before you read it, since there is no such thing as a bad idea for a comic-book. Heck, even One More Day has some sort of potential. Yes, is sucks that it annihilated Peter and MJ's marriage, but it could have potential, and, in the hands of the right writer, well... I'm not saying that it wouldn't be a challenge, but if Kaine could be the main character of his own comic, then EVERYTHING is possible.
But we are not here to talk about OMD. We are here to take a look at Mighty Avengers vol. 2.
AKA; the team book with black people in it.
And that's why I disliked it from the start. The same reason to why I dislike Birds Of Prey.
Is it a problem that there are extremely few colored people on the Avengers and the Justice League? Yes. But you don't solve it by making a team with only one white guy, who's role is to be the evil whitey that you stick it to. And that is basically what Spider-Man (possessed Doc Octopus) is; an uptown jerk that needs to be taught a lesson. And just like Birds Of Prey, the series end up being filled up with stereotypes.
And how come it's only Afro Americans? No Persians? How about some Asian superhero, we almost never see those in comics.
But that's okay, really. Stereotypes are not always a bad thing. Especially when it comes to superhero stories. Heck, Luke is THE stereotype-hero of Marvel. I may not like BOP, but I can still recognize that the writing is amazing. So it's not my cup of tea, so what? I dislike the idea of Mighty Avengers, but that doesn't make it a bad series.
But having poor dialogue does. AND that this is ANOTHER Avengers spin-of. And it really didn't have to be. In fact, at the beginning of the series, we see Luke Cage, White Tiger and the second Powerman in action as Heroes For Hire. Now THAT would be great!
But not only is this NOT a Heroes For Hire series; it MOCKS Heroes For Hire! Even Luke, the original super-powered bodyguard/private eye, describing it as a face, something he grew out of.
And the art... Seriously, most of the time, it looks like Luke is telling a dirty joke, but then again; the artist for this series was Greg Land AKA the porn artist.
BUT... calling it terrible is not fair. In fact, it's not that bad, it's... okay. But that's about it.
And that's sadly all for this years Not-White Month. But October is near, so I better find some spooky Halloween reading.
I'm Waezi2, and thanks for wasting time with me.

Thursday, September 24, 2015

Not-White Month: Luke Cage; Power Man.

Am I the only one who thinks that Power Man is a great name for Luke?
No one but me? Really? COME ON!!!
... Fine, let's just review "Luke Cage: Power Man"
The series follows the adventures of Carl Lucas, a tough-guy from Harlem who get's framed for a crime he never committed. The life behind bars is less than pleasant, especially since the guards... well, dislike him is one way to put it. But Lucas get's the opportunity for a early parole by becoming the test-subject in a very dangerous medical experiment. unfortunately, one of the guards who hates him sabotages the machine, hoping that it would end Lucas' life... But instead, it gave Lucas superhuman strength as well as bulletproof skin.
What? It happens!
Lucas uses his new strength to escapes, and decides to become a superhuman private eye/body guard AKA; a hero for hire. Changing his name to Luke Cage, he is now ready for a new and better life life.
Cage's adventures can seem a little... odd. It's like it's walking on the line between Silver Age and Daredevil grittiness. It's suppose to be a more realistic series about street crime and how hard life can be when you are black, but it can be hard to take serious when Luke are fighting villains who makes Spider-Man's rouges seem... normal. But it somehow works, believe it or not. One of the more uncomfortable tales s about a racist super-villain named Wildfire who are attacking a family of colored people. And none of their neighbors are doing anything about it due to the fact that they are the only black people in the neighborhood. Heck, most of them are just watching, some of them even cheering for the pyro-bastard.
"Luke Cage: Power Man" is a tale of one man's search for redemption and how a streetpunk tries to make a proper purpose with his life. Besides real-life problems(sorta) and some weird but creatively made bad guys for Luke to pummel, there are also a fair dose of humor, even if it's unintended with the outdated 70's talk.
It's sad that Luke is mostly a team-book character nowadays, because he is a pretty great character. I used to think of Luke as some black superhero, but that was a mistake, since Luke is THE black superhero. Yes, Black Panther came first, but Luke is truly a hero of the people. He don't care who you are, he ain't gonna take shit from no one, not even Doctor Doom(long story there). Luke is a man who let's his actions speak for him. It doesn't mater who he used to be, but who is is right now. And if you have a problem with that, then you are more than welcome to say it to his face.
Seriously, we need this guy out of the Avengers, and back on the streets in his own series!
That's all for now. Next time, e will take a look at my least favorite Avengers spin-off of all time.
I'm Waezi2, and thanks for wasting time with me.

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

Not-White Month: All New Atom.

You ever feel like wanting to shrink down and just disappear from the rest of the world?
Ray Palmer did that. Literally.
And who could blame him? His ex, who he was about to get together with again KILLED one of his closest friend's wife in a rather horrifying way.
But even though Ray Palmer is gone, the world still needs The Atom.
"All New Atom" follows the adventures of Ryan Choi, Ray Palmer's pen pal from Hong Kong. After Ray's disappearance, Ryan moves to Ivy Town in order to take Ray's job as university teacher. But he also takes the role of his idol's identity as the Mighty Mite. Not so much for the sake of being a superhero, but for the joy of being a science experiment on legs, and the trill of being on the size of an atom.
But Ryan has to take the role as hero as well, because Ivy is one weird-ass town, filled with flying heads, giant women, alien gods and monsters form crappy Japanese movies.
The Atom's world is a strange mass of magic and science-fiction, which makes the stories wonderfully unpredictable. Anything can really happen. Seeing the world through Ryan's eyes is not boring at all, and has plenty of smart-ass quotes from some of the smartest men in the world, both those from the real world and them that only exist in the DCU(my favorite being a Lex Luthor quote).
Did I mention that the series was written by Gail Simone? What do I really have to say but; Gail Simone wrote this series?
That's all for now. Next time; the hero who's keeping it real.
I'm Waezi2, and thanks for wasting time with me.

Thursday, September 10, 2015

Not-White Month: Prince Of Power.

You eve feel... cheated... when you read a Greg Pak comic?
Surprisingly many of his comics has... well, similarities is a word for it. They are mostly about a hero with extreme power who are misunderstood by those he wish to protect, often hunted by them.
Like the Hulk.
Or Hercules.
Or War Machine.
Or Storm.
Or Alpha Flight.
Or Superman.
That's right, SUPERMAN! Superman is, when Pak writes him, and misunderstood giant, hunted by those he protect! You see my problem here?!
Don't misunderstand, I love Pak's writing(the exception being his Storm series). It's exiting, it's funny and he does plenty of research on the heroes he write, and even use characters that has been in comicbook limbo for years.
But today, we will take a look at a four issue mini, with a hero he created himself as main character.
"Prince Of Power" takes place after the "death" of Hercules, and is about his sidekick; Amadeus Cho, a 17 year old punk and one of the 7th smartest humans on the planet. After Herc's great sacrifice, Cho is now the go-to guy whenever a mythic monster needs to be slayed.
But Cho discovers that Hercules is not death, but lost in the omniverse, and the only way to find him and get him home is by achieving godhood.
That's right, AMADEUS CHO, sociopath teen who sided with the Hulk during the World War Hulk is going to become an actual god. What could POSSIBLY go wrong?!
When I read a Marvel comic with a god in it, I sometimes wonder; do they even TRY to make this guy like the actual god? Seriously, Marvel Thor has NOTHING to do with the actual mythic god! He is not even red haired, for Christ sake!
But in this series, it really seems like Pak did his research. He actually got the Egyptian after life right of the bat. He actually knows what kind of god Hathor/Sekhmet is. It feels good to read a comic written by a guy who knows what he is talking about and doesn't just make Loki the god of Evil because, hey, that's easy! Pak even points out that Thor's followers were a bunch of hooligans who killed monks while being high on mushrooms!
And it's also great to see Cho in action as the new Prince Of Power. If you don't know Cho, then let me explain how he works: You know that Iron Man is a superhero because he is smart enough to build high-tech armor, right? and that Hank Pym is a superhero because he is smart enough to invent science that's like magic? Well, Cho is a superhero BECAUSE he is smart. Sure, he is armed with Herc's trusty mace and a force-field, but he mainly kicks ass because of his chocolate fueled brain. He is just as destructive as the Hulk, only he smash up everything with his brain, so to say.
Even though "Prince Of Power" was mainly build up to the badass crossover event "Chaos War"(that for some bizarre reason had no effect on the Marvel U) it's still good. It was, most importantly of all; fun, something superhero comics should be by definition, and if you ever doubted that Amadeus Cho was awesome, then you will, after reading this four issue mini, no longer be in doubt. 6 out of 5 stars.
That's all for now. Next time, ANOTHER Asian superhero who are bearing the mantle of a white guy.
I'm Waezi2, and thanks for wasting time with me.

Wednesday, September 2, 2015

Watchmen in 5 panels(W2 style)

(I know Linkara already made one, but I want to try it anyway)



Dear diary, I assaulted some guy who barely talked to me and broke two of his fingers. I am the bestes vigilante ever.



I had a sexual relationship with a blue superhuman for YEARS, and he can still find ways to surprise me and/or make me fell unconformable.



I'm on Mars, building a castle of glass. If I had human enthusiasm, I would have considered this "awesome."



I will not let the Russians blow up America!

YAY!



I am going to do it myself!

Yay?


 Aaand this is pretty much my one contribution to the plot...



I'm a bloody genius!

(Honestly, Watchmen is the comics answer to the Godfather-movies, but you already knew that, right?)
Special thanks to Eyz, please check out his blog(eyzmaster.blogspot.dk) as well as his Deviantart(theeyzmaster.deviantart.com).