tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58838992143556228642024-03-13T17:08:54.545+11:00The AngriestFILM | TELEVISION | VIDEOGAMES | BOOKS | COMICS | POPULAR CULTUREUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger2789125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883899214355622864.post-81001724558754318582019-01-02T14:00:00.002+11:002019-01-02T14:00:43.777+11:00The Angriest: December 2018 in reviewIn 2018 I found it more and more difficult to find the time to update this blog. For one thing there was a difficult medical diagnosis with which to deal. For another what time I have found I dedicated to my more professional film blog <i>FictionMachine</i>. For 2019 I've decided to put this blog on hiatus. Nothing will get deleted, but it's unlikely anything will be freshly posted either.<br />
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In December 2018 I posted eight reviews of new and festival films, five reviews of older films, two reviews of videogames, and 27 short reviews of comic books. A full index is included below, but my review of <i><a href="http://fictionmachine.com/2018/12/22/review-aquaman-2018/">Aquaman</a> </i>was the most popular post of the month.<br />
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New and festival films reviewed this month were:<br />
<ul>
<li><i>Aquaman </i>(2018, <a href="http://fictionmachine.com/2018/12/22/review-aquaman-2018/">review</a>)</li>
<li><i>Bumblebee </i>(2018, <a href="https://fictionmachine.com/2018/12/09/review-bumblebee-2018/">review</a>)</li>
<li><i>Dumplin' </i>(2018, <a href="https://fictionmachine.com/2018/12/10/review-dumplin-2018/">review</a>)</li>
<li><i>Gatao 2: Rise of the King </i>(2018, <a href="https://fictionmachine.com/2018/12/11/review-gatao-2-rise-of-the-king/">review</a>)</li>
<li><i>Half the Picture</i> (2018, <a href="https://fictionmachine.com/2018/12/02/review-half-the-picture-2018/">review</a>)</li>
<li><i>Long Time No Sea </i>(2018, <a href="https://fictionmachine.com/2018/12/17/review-long-time-no-sea-2018/">review</a>)</li>
<li><i>Outlaw King </i>(2018, <a href="http://fictionmachine.com/2018/12/16/review-outlaw-king-2018/">review</a>)</li>
<li><i>Ralph Breaks the Internet </i>(2018, <a href="https://fictionmachine.com/2018/12/26/review-ralph-breaks-the-internet-2018/">review</a>)</li>
</ul>
Older films reviewed this month were:<br />
<ul>
<li><i>Ciao Ciao </i>(2017, <a href="http://www.vcinemashow.com/ciao-ciao-china-2017/">review</a> at VCinema)</li>
<li><i>The First Purge </i>(2018, <a href="http://fictionmachine.com/2018/12/31/review-the-first-purge-2018/">review</a>)</li>
<li><i>The Greatest Showman </i>(2017, <a href="https://fictionmachine.com/2018/12/12/review-the-greatest-showman-2017/">review</a>)</li>
<li><i>Horrors of Malformed Men </i>(2018, <a href="http://fictionmachine.com/2018/12/23/horrors-of-malformed-men-1969/">review</a>)</li>
<li><i>Sweet Country </i>(2017, <a href="http://fictionmachine.com/2018/12/27/review-sweet-country-2017/">review</a>)</li>
</ul>
Videogames reviewed this month were:<br />
<ul>
<li><i>Skies of Arcadia </i>(Dreamcast, 2000, <a href="https://angriest.blogspot.com/2018/12/dreamcast-20-14-skies-of-arcadia.html">review</a>)</li>
<li><i>Power Stone </i>(Dreamcast, 1999, <a href="https://angriest.blogspot.com/2018/12/dreamcast-20-13-power-stone.html">review</a>)</li>
</ul>
Comics reviewed this month were:<br />
<ul>
<li>29 Aug (<a href="http://angriest.blogspot.com/2018/12/the-pull-list-29-august-2018.html">Link</a>) (<i>Isola, Batgirl, Daredevil, Ms Marvel, Star Wars: Poe Dameron.</i>)</li>
<li>5 Sep (<a href="https://angriest.blogspot.com/2018/12/the-pull-list-5-september-2018.html">Link</a>) (<i>Giant Days, Avengers, Batman, Green Arrow, Immortal Hulk, Justice League, </i><i>Star Wars: Doctor Aphra.</i>)</li>
<li>12 Sep (<a href="https://angriest.blogspot.com/2018/12/the-pull-list-12-september-2018.html">Link</a>) (<i>Scales & Scoundrels, Catwoman, Daredevil, Detective Comics, Hawkman, Invader Zim, Mech Cadet Yu, Moth & Whisper, Ms Marvel, Oblivion Song, Rat Queens, Sleepless, Star Wars: Darth Vader, Superman, The Wicked + the Divine.</i>)</li>
</ul>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883899214355622864.post-60189868895113711392018-12-20T12:14:00.000+11:002018-12-20T12:14:04.572+11:00The Pull List: 12 September 2018<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
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One of the absolute best new comic books of 2017 was <i>Scales & Scoundrels. </i>It was a fantasy adventure book that started as a loose <i>Dungeons & Dragons </i>pastiche and then expanded and developed along with its characters as they split apart and found ways to face their own problems and challenges. Superficially it was very much like Image stable-mate <i>Rat Queens</i>, whereas that book is dominated by a scabrous attitude and a transgressive sense of humour, <i>Scales & Scoundrels </i>felt more sweet. The humour was there, but the stories had something more serious and even noble about them. It was simply a charming confection.<br />
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Then it spontaneously ended, with this 12th and final issue published on 12 September. No real explanation was given - perhaps sales, perhaps personal issues for the creative time - but it simply felt too soon. With the trade paperbacks running to five issues each, these last two issues haven't even made it into a book - so readers may want to track down copies sooner rather than later, since they may potentially <i>never </i>get reprinted or collected.<br />
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This final issue picks up on Dorma, returned home but trapped by a rockfall among the tunnels. It's an emotional but fairly truncated conclusion, leading her to come to terms with leaving home many years earlier as well with the death of her brother. Galaad's artwork is wonderful as ever, with a deceptive simplicity. Sebastian Girner's handle on character is superb. We have lost this book for now, and hopefully it will come back, but if this is it then it goes out on a typically strong note. <b>(5/5)</b><br />
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<i>Scales & Scoundrels #12. Image. Written by Sebastian Girner. Art by Galaad.</i><br />
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Under the cut: reviews of <i>Catwoman, Daredevil, Detective Comics, Hawkman, Invader Zim, Mech Cadet Yu,</i> <i>Moth & Whisper, Ms Marvel, Oblivion Song, Rat Queens, Sleepless, Star Wars: Darth Vader, Superman, </i>and <i>The Wicked + the Divine.</i><br />
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<b>Catwoman #3</b><br />
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<i>DC Comics. Written by Joelle Jones. Art by Joelle Jones and Fernando Blanco. Colours by Laura Allred and John Kalisz.</i></blockquote>
Selina Kyle meets with the one behind the scenes that has been copying her work, and made her a target as a cop-killer in the process. Joelle Jones is really standing out in this series - not just for her distinctive art, which is great at expressing the energy and emotion of the action scenes, but for her clever and intriguing scripts. There's a good blend on show here: the fights, the conversations, the moments of reflection - and a kicker of a revelation by the end. <i>Catwoman </i>hasn't been this good since Genevieve Valentine left. <b>(4/5)</b><br />
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<b>Daredevil #608</b><br />
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<i>Marvel. Written by Charles Soule. Art and colours by Phil Noto. </i></blockquote>
Matt Murdock's troubles with his imaginary twin brother Mike begin to grow, as Mike wises up to his own situation and takes matters into hand to keep himself alive. After bemoaning with the last issue that this weird storyline seems to be pulling away from the Mayor Fisk crisis, this issue it whips around and dives right back into it. Phil Noto's artwork really lifts this one. I'm still not that interested in the whole Mike Murdock thing, but at least it is now progressing more interesting story elements and looks great while it does. <b>(3/5)</b><br />
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<b>Detective Comics #988</b><br />
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<i>DC Comics. Written by James Robinson. Art by Stephen Segovia. Colours by Ivan Plascencia.</i></blockquote>
Still emotionally bruised from his recent affairs, Batman investigates a seemingly ordinary murder. Naturally it unfolds into something more complicated, with multiple killers, the return of Firefly - and a female sidekick - and a secret room in an apartment that should have one. While the dialogue hits the odd awkward note, the plot seems razor-sharp and provides an excellent set-up for this fresh storyline. Stephen Segovia's artwork is truly sensational, and gives the story a nicely dark and realistic look. <b>(4/5)</b><br />
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<b>Hawkman #4</b><br />
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<i>DC Comics. Written by Robert Venditti. Art by Bryan Hitch, Andrew Currie and Paul Neary. Colours by Alex Sinclair and Jeremiah Shipper.</i></blockquote>
Hawkman's journey through intergalactic history brings him to the planet Thanagar, and his former incarnation Katar Hol. Much as it's rather charming to see all the various takes on Hawkman take their victory laps, I would probably be happiest if DC conclude this story arc with all them magically wrapped up in just the one definitive back story and identity going forwards.In the meantime this is a fun storyline with fantastic artwork, so it's certainly giving the readers value for money. <b>(3/5)</b><br />
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<b>Invader Zim #34</b><br />
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<i>Oni Press. Written by Eric Trueheart. Art by Kate Sherron. Colours by Fred C. Stresing.</i></blockquote>
On an alien prison station without any remaining credit, Zim not only loses his valued imprisoned enemies but also finds himself imprisoned by the right angle-obsessed Gellaxis. His only hope? Gir remembering to add more credit to his account. In a series whose quality varies an awful lot from issue to issue, this new <i>Zim </i>story is one of the better ones. The jokes work, the characters reflect their TV counterpart, and the Dib-free space setting feels fresh and engaging. You're still going to want to be a fan of the TV cartoon to fully enjoy this book, but if you <i>are </i>a fan this is definitely an entertaining read. Kate Sherron's art reflects nicely the style of creator Jhonen Vasquez. <b>(3/5)</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHyVSq20JVB7dh6teSj_MJw6x0A4frpd02mNdy9NV6jGNdCjGK81TGw9WM1m9cH0_MYaQOYyASgwSpkshyphenhyphenaYlsIxNwlis_oErLkfojw9Yr4HWJQEtvU7rJKnxAJWemF1Rj-X8bahV9WmA/s1600/mechcadetyu12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="293" data-original-width="191" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHyVSq20JVB7dh6teSj_MJw6x0A4frpd02mNdy9NV6jGNdCjGK81TGw9WM1m9cH0_MYaQOYyASgwSpkshyphenhyphenaYlsIxNwlis_oErLkfojw9Yr4HWJQEtvU7rJKnxAJWemF1Rj-X8bahV9WmA/s200/mechcadetyu12.jpg" width="130" /></a><b></b></div>
<b>Mech Cadet Yu #12</b><br />
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<i>Boom Studios. Written by Greg Pak. Art by Takeshi </i></blockquote>
This final issue of <i>Mech Cadet Yu </i>feels rather rushed and abrupt, making me wonder just how many issues' notice the creative team got that the series was ending. That's how it feels anyway: one of the chief assets of the series at its beginning was the growing relationships between the characters. There simply isn't enough of that here, and the series would benefit from a longer and more substantial epilogue that what it gets. Still, this is a firm enough finale to satisfy readers, and leaves this 12-issue epic as a pleasing and well-crafted read for those following behind on the trade paperbacks. <b>(3/5)</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOL0IWGe2NcdsATXqL1ReJn2oGczfh-wCVxCARVTI8wOIAe42wAKlRr-v4yUm_XXAyc9pw3Ss8NqY_B6fhu5ih89uHij79vtwHRY8dLWVAdKV5QLScP4j8zye-DVSznVGr-5l-tVY9UY8/s1600/mothwhisper1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="293" data-original-width="191" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOL0IWGe2NcdsATXqL1ReJn2oGczfh-wCVxCARVTI8wOIAe42wAKlRr-v4yUm_XXAyc9pw3Ss8NqY_B6fhu5ih89uHij79vtwHRY8dLWVAdKV5QLScP4j8zye-DVSznVGr-5l-tVY9UY8/s200/mothwhisper1.jpg" width="130" /></a><b>Moth & Whisper #1</b><br />
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<i>Aftershock. Written by Ted Anderson. Art and colours by Jen Hickman.</i></blockquote>
Original superhero books are a tough sell: anybody keen to read a book of that genre is most likely satisfied reading one of the long-established corporate books like <i>The Amazing Spider-Man </i>or <i>Batman</i>. To its credit, Anderson and Hickman's new miniseries <i>Moth & Whisper </i>positions itself at the fringe of the genre. It takes up several superhero genre tropes, but does blend them with healthy doses of science fiction, espionage, and crime. The deliberately stark colours and artwork give it a striking look, but things are pulled down somewhat by this first issue acting as a bit of an infodump rather than a proper story. Future issues should be able to avoid that, so it may be worth giving this book a chance for at least two months to see how it develops. <b>(3/5)</b><br />
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<b>Ms Marvel #34</b><br />
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<i>Marvel. Written by G. Willow Wilson. Art by Nico Leon. Colours by Ian Herring.</i></blockquote>
Ms Marvel fights the Shocker while Bruno finally unlocks the secret to Kamala's powers. While the fights are always entertaining, it's really Bruno's discovery that's the winner here. It's an explanation I would never have thought of or expected, and further extends Ms Marvel one of the Marvel Universe's most interesting characters. Kamala's fight gets particularly odd by the end, and there's foreshadowing galore - that's all a bit weird given that G. Willow Wilson only has a few more months left on this book before leaving for <i>Wonder Woman. </i><b>(4/5)</b><br />
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<b>Oblivion Song #7</b><br />
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<i>Image. Written by Robert Kirkman. Art by Lorenzo De Felici. Colours by Annalisa Leoni.</i></blockquote>
Nathan may have found his brother, but now he's in US military custody - and has a terrible confession to make. This is a hugely satisfying issue to read, because it really finishes up establishing the comic's first act and finally allowing things to fully make sense. There's a strong sense of tragedy, as well as a great pushing-off of the book into its second phase. Sure it's playing with some familiar tropes (the armed forces want to use Nathan's machine as a weapon, for example), but it's playing with them really well. Lorenzo De Felici's artwork has really grown on me, and along with Annalisa Leoni's colours gives the book a strong identity. <b>(4/5)</b><br />
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<b>Rat Queens #11</b><br />
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<i>Image. Written by Kurtis J. Weibe. Art by Owen Gieni.</i></blockquote>
Finally back together, the Queens resolve to move on from Dee's shattering of reality - when suddenly a forgotten member of the team arrives on their doorstep. It's a fresh start for <i>Rat Queens </i>after what felt to me like a pretty long and confusing story arc. With everything getting somewhat complicated and confusing - I admired the ambition, less so the execution - it is nice to have a sort of a loose reset happen here so things can become a little more focused. Owen Gieni's charming art continues to support the characters, who are - as always - well characterised and amusing thanks to Kurtis J. Weibe's script. <b>(3/5)</b><br />
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<b>Sleepless #7</b><br />
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<i>Image. Written by Sarah Vaughn. Art by Leila Del Duca. Colours by Alissa Sallah.</i></blockquote>
Sarah Vaughn and Leila Del Duca's thoughtful, slowly paced fantasy series returns for its second arc. The series is absolutely a slow burn, taking its time in developing the characters and the world around them. I'm finding that pace weirdly delightful. Leila Del Duca's artwork has a wonderful eye for detail; if you're enticed by the idea of beautiful dresses and courtly clothing, a medieval architecture, this is absolutely a book for you. There's also a jump forward in the story of about a year, which was quite a surprise. <b>(4/5)</b><br />
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<b>Star Wars: Darth Vader #21</b><br />
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<i>Marvel. Written by Charles Soule. Art by Guisepe Camuncoli and Daniele Orlandini. Colours by David Curiel.</i></blockquote>
Given the choice of planet for his own personal residence, Vader chooses Mustafar: the volcanic world where he lost his wife, and was horribly scarred in a lost duel with Obi-Wan Kenobi. It is essentially trivia-as-narrative like most prequels, giving the backstory to why Vader has a castle on the planet during <i>Rogue One </i>(another pretty solid example of the trivia phenomenon). This is the final arc for this volume before it wraps up; I kind of wish Charles Soule would have taken the book somewhere more interesting rather than revisiting old elements so extensively, but for what it is it is entertaining enough. <b>(3/5)</b><br />
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<b>Superman #3</b><br />
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<i>DC Comics. Written by Brian Michael Bendis. Art by Ivan Reis, Joe Prado, and Oclair Albert. Colours by Alex Sinclair.</i></blockquote>
The Earth has been pulled into the Phantom Zone, the very place that Superman had just banished the alien criminal Rogol Zar - who was the actual reason Krypton exploded and who holds a murderous grudge against all Kryptonians. This is a wild story concept, and should be a momentous dramatic adventure. Instead its decompressed pace is crippling the suspense, and the regular comedic beats are ruining the drama. Ivan Reis pencils only get you so far in making an entertaining comic book. <b>(3/5)</b><br />
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<b>The Wicked + the Divine #39</b><br />
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<i>Image. Written by Kieron Gillen. Art by Jamie McKelvie. Colours by Matt Wilson.</i></blockquote>
The penultimate story arc comes to a conclusion with an issue that is unexpectedly sedate, but at the same time packed with positively cataclysmic revelations for <i>The Wicked + the Divine</i>'s ultimate climax. The series has primarily followed Laura through her transformation to the goddess Persephone. Now she is just Laura again, and the how and why of that change forms the bulk of this issue. It's not action-packed, but it's well characterised, and smart. The end is near; I'm not sure I'm ready. <b>(4/5)</b></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883899214355622864.post-17703435141667491702018-12-13T14:33:00.001+11:002018-12-13T14:33:14.385+11:00Dreamcast 20 #13: Power Stone<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>2018 marks the 20th anniversary of the Dreamcast, Sega's final - and in my opinion the finest - home videogame console. Despite a range of excellent games, it simply failed to compete against Sony's PlayStation 2. To celebrate,</i> The Angriest <i>counts down its 20 best games.</i><br />
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<i><br /></i>Most fighting games tend to follow the same basic design: a one-on-one martial arts battle between two characters that follow along a one-dimensional plane. They move back and forth, with any two-dimensional side-step simply acting to re-align that linear plane. Fighting games that attempt more complex ranges of movement often struggle because they are more complicated to control. The first one that I ever played that successfully negotiated a fully three-dimensional range of movement was <i>Power Stone, </i>a Capcom fighter exclusively for Sega's arcade platform and the Dreamcast. It's a fantastic, frantic gem.<br />
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First and foremost, the game is hugely playable. It doesn't take long to get a handle on how the game plays, and once you're up and running it takes a long time to fully master gameplay. The additional dimensions of play, plus the addition of power-ups - should your character collect the titular 'power stones' - gives the game a nice sense of longevity.<br />
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Like most Capcom titles it is also beautifully designed, with a vibrant use of colour and variety between the playable characters. It is no surprise that the game was soon spun off into a television anime series, since design-wise it is truly top-notch.<br />
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The game was later followed by a sequel, <i>Power Stone 2</i>, that included simultaneous four-player gameplay and added several new playable characters. Long after the Dreamcast had gone, both <i>Power Stone </i>games were bundled into a re-release on the PlayStation Portable (PSP) hand-held console. Now the IP sits waiting for a canny producer at Capcom to revive it for a third round. It certainly deserves it.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883899214355622864.post-4894681823388418152018-12-07T09:19:00.001+11:002018-12-07T09:19:23.168+11:00The Pull List: 5 September 2018<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The saga of Esther and Ed's awkward will-they won't-they romance hits that stage where Rachel finally decides she loves Ross, but then he comes back from China with Julie in the Season 1 <i>Friends </i>finale. We all know how <i>that </i>ended, and I'm sure there will be a similar resolution here. <i>Giant Days </i>is that kind of comic book, after all. It has the familiarity of a old, worn blanket, and is just as warm.<br />
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We don't praise John Allison's writing enough. He develops superb characters, feeding on archetypes, but he also allows them to gradually mature and develop. He tells funny stories that are often done in one issue, but they all feed into longer-term dramatic arcs as his characters fall in and out of love, make mistakes, have little victories, and so on. It feels effortless, but I suspect it's a much trickier job than most of us realise.<br />
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Max Sarin's expressive, cartoon-like artwork simply increases the appeal, as do Whitney Cogar's very effective colours. It looks sweet, and that's the perfect tone for these sweet, enchanting stories. A specific shout-out to the <i>Babylon 5 </i>advent calendar: this is a comic with broad, populist appeal, but Allison's a proud nerd at the core. <b>(4/5)</b><br />
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<i>Giant Days #42. Boom Studios. Written by John Allison. Art by Max Sarin. Colours by Whitney Cogar.</i><br />
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Under the cut: reviews of <i>Avengers, Batman, Green Arrow, Immortal Hulk, Justice League, </i>and <i>Star Wars: Doctor Aphra.</i><br />
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<b>Avengers #7</b><br />
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<i>Marvel. Written by Jason Aaron. Art by Sara Pichelli and Elizabetta D'Amico. Colours by Justin Ponsor.</i></blockquote>
The first story arc of Jason Aaron's <i>Avengers </i>relaunch introduced the idea of the Earth's first Avengers: a group of prehistoric superheroes led by Odin, Thor's father. This one-shot gives the origin story of the world's first Ghost Rider, a Paleolithic warrior with a familiar flaming skull but a demonic mammoth replacing the famous Rider's motorcycle. It's a neat idea, and rather fun, but at the same time it does feel a bit more like trivia than an actual story. That said, it's a nice excuse for Sara Pichelli to provide some guest art for <i>The Avengers</i> and that is never a bad thing. <b>(3/5)</b><br />
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<b>Batman #54</b><br />
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<i>DC Comics. Written by Tom King. Art by Matt Wagner. Colours by Tomeu Morey.</i></blockquote>
Matt Wagner is an industry legend, so it's pretty sensational to see him illustrating this one-shot story for <i>Batman</i>, particularly when his work is so deftly coloured by Tomeu Morey (who also colours <i>Justice League </i>this week). Still emotionally bruised from being left at the altar, Bruce reminisces on his past with the help of adopted son Dick Grayson. It's a great character piece, and a timely re-affirmation of both their personalities and their relationship. A must-read for classic Batman and Robin fans, and nicely self-contained. <b>(5/5)</b><br />
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<b>Green Arrow #44</b><br />
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<i>DC Comics. Written by Julie Benson and Shawna Benson. Art by Javi Fernandez. Colours by John Kalisz.</i></blockquote>
Oliver Queen has been targeted for execution vigilante-style in his civilian identity, for a murder he doesn't remember committing. In his Green Arrow identity he is racing against the clock to stop the social media-connected villain Citizen from killing both Queen and other more corrupt millionaires. There's a strong urban feel to this arc that really calls back to the classic Mike Grell era of <i>Green Arrow</i>, and that angry 'street-fightin' man' tone really does highlight the character at his best. <b>(4/5)</b><br />
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<b>Immortal Hulk #5</b><br />
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<i>Marvel. Written by Al Ewing. Art by Joe Bennett and Ruy Jose. Colours by Paul Mounts.</i></blockquote>
This issue is a weird combination of good and bad ideas, as the Hulk confronts Sasquatch in a hospital. Turns out Sasquatch has been possessed, which is a great basis for a horror story in itself, but the identity of the possessor simply doesn't work for me. Bennett and Jose provide great art, and Paul Mounts' colouring gives everything a delightful retro feel. It just winds up sticking on the villain's identity. I see other reviews are much more excited by the reveal; for me it's just awkward and a bit silly. <b>(3/5)</b><br />
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<b>Justice League #7</b><br />
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<i>DC Comics. Written by Scott Snyder. Art by Jim Cheung, Mark Morales, and Walden Wong. Colours by Tomeu Morey.</i></blockquote>
The League's fight against the Legion of Doom for control of the Totality reaches its climax. This has been the perfect kind of Grant Morrison <i>JLA </i>pastiche: the famous heroes and villains, and a big-screen 'out there' combination of large scale crisis and head-scratching surreality. I was a little concerned over how Snyder would script a conclusion in one issue with so many balls in the air, but he absolutely pulls it off. Throw in the great superhero artwork, and this is a superb seven-part story. Get the trade paperback as soon as you can. <b>(5/5)</b><br />
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<b>Star Wars: Doctor Aphra Annual #2</b><br />
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<i>Marvel. Written by Si Spurrier. Art and colours by Caspar Winjgaard.</i></blockquote>
Two monster hunters find themselves dispatched to a remote planet on the payroll of rogue archaeologist Chelli Aphra. Their mission: to capture a rare creature on the orders of a galactic criminal gang lord, while avoiding the artefacts and traps of an ancient temple. Things, however, are not how they appear. This is a great one-shot that combines action, comedy, and surprise plot twists, although has surprisingly little Aphra in it. That's forgiveable: her absence makes the story to a large extent. Caspar Winjgaard does a great job with the art and colours. <b>(4/5)</b>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883899214355622864.post-62412111210845055562018-12-02T21:32:00.003+11:002018-12-02T21:32:56.533+11:00Dreamcast 20 #14: Skies of Arcadia<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvQHI3qBNKnLajJpLh3a1mzVoVy6lYiw_kQW5FHH1hyphenhyphenPyhbJQZaU1GXL9i05aH9S6bD5q9x_k8uTd14tABRkBlonwLMYtMVMjH92Z6e6QMusDsjipM2_xD1DdJ0zWbmmdw-xuNzgetWJw/s1600/skiesarcadia.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="224" data-original-width="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvQHI3qBNKnLajJpLh3a1mzVoVy6lYiw_kQW5FHH1hyphenhyphenPyhbJQZaU1GXL9i05aH9S6bD5q9x_k8uTd14tABRkBlonwLMYtMVMjH92Z6e6QMusDsjipM2_xD1DdJ0zWbmmdw-xuNzgetWJw/s1600/skiesarcadia.png" /></a><i>27 November 2018 marked the 20th anniversary of the Dreamcast, Sega's final - and in my opinion the finest - home videogame console. Despite a range of excellent games, it simply failed to compete against Sony's PlayStation 2. To celebrate,</i> The Angriest <i>counts down its 20 best games. This project's running behind, like much of this website, since we're at the actual anniversary and we're only up to game #14 in the countdown. Never mind - happy birthday to the Dreamcast.</i></div>
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No games console survives for long in Japan without some role-playing games (RPGs). Starting with <i>Dragon Warriors </i>and <i>Final Fantasy </i>on the Nintendo Famicom, they have always been a key part of a console's success - guaranteeing it hardware sales purely on the back of one or two key breakout titles. The Dreamcast didn't fare outrageously well when it came to RPGs, but it did manage a couple of highlights. One of them was definitely <i>Skies of Arcadia</i>.<br />
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The player controls the pirate Vyse, who captains a flying airship while fighting against a tyrannical empire. It was largely a quite traditional role-playing game, with turn-based combat sequences, and the player improving characters' abilities by gaining experience points from each battle. The traditional style of gameplay made <i>Skies of Arcadia (Eternal Arcadia </i>in Japan) a natural hit for Japanese players, but its English-language port was surprisingly successful as well. For fans of Japanese-style RPGs it's a pleasure - although to be fair it is a bit heavy with random monster encounters and fights.<br />
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Sadly, despite its enthused acclaim at the time, <i>Skies of Arcadia </i>has not enjoyed much in the way of success in subsequent years. A Gamecube port was released to moderate sales, but a promised PlayStation 2 edition was cancelled. Sega confirmed at one stage that a sequel was in development for new consoles, but was not ultimately produced. A HD re-release has been teased but has not to date appeared on any platform.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883899214355622864.post-40718734873657286282018-12-02T15:45:00.001+11:002018-12-02T15:45:04.185+11:00The Pull List: 29 August 2018<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx9JKHCuPIMZRiVepq-gS3bYqOh1XyfbyMqE-hrYeh-mVLlJYZagykQ7aq-oO2v84UdzGa3hkgEImOlhlPuDSZKbZQE7C-pSJ0Wki1NYusLJyeqU9tmC30CQSXv90a6QbqIcDI_moAx4w/s1600/isola5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="585" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx9JKHCuPIMZRiVepq-gS3bYqOh1XyfbyMqE-hrYeh-mVLlJYZagykQ7aq-oO2v84UdzGa3hkgEImOlhlPuDSZKbZQE7C-pSJ0Wki1NYusLJyeqU9tmC30CQSXv90a6QbqIcDI_moAx4w/s320/isola5.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>
Still running terribly behind: here are the comics I read from 29 August, starting with <i>Isola </i>#5. Rook and Olwyn have reached the limit of their escape, with nowhere left to go. Hovering between life and death, Olwyn has a vision of her departed brother.<br />
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The art in <i>Isola </i>is astounding. It looks like a weird, glossy cross between a quality anime and a Walt Disney feature. Five issues in, and at the conclusion of the first 'chapter' (a trade paperback is out), and the quality hasn't faltered or slipped. This is one of the most attractively illustrated American comics of the year.<br />
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The story is evocative and driven by a strong action-oriented momentum. Background detail is being drip-fed to the reader one issue at a time. That cannot last forever, of course. Future arcs (issue 6 is due in January) are going to need to bed down some background context if <i>Isola </i>is going to continue being entertaining. This fifth issue does not quit nail the landing either, and could have done with a firmer footing: either a stronger conclusion or a stronger cliffhanger. Fletcher and Kerschl wind up somewhere in between.<br />
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These past five issues have been superb, but something needs tightening up soon if it's going to continue being such a high-quality work. Fingers crossed we get something in 2019. <b>(4/5)</b><br />
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<i>Isola #5. Image. Written by Brenden Fletcher and Karl Kerschl. Art and colours by Karl Kerschl and Msassyk.</i><br />
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Under the cut: reviews of <i>Batgirl, Daredevil, Ms Marvel, </i>and <i>Star Wars: Poe Dameron.</i><br />
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<b>Batgirl #26</b><br />
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<i>DC Comics. Written by Mairghread Scott. Art by Paul Pelletier and Norm Rapmund. Colours by Jordie Bellaire.</i></blockquote>
Have you ever noticed that for all the attempts to re-imagine and update Batgirl as an upbeat, positive-vibed superhero book, she always winds up mired in trauma and misery? Here she begins the story chasing after a serial killer supervillain named Grotesque, bemoaning how grim and awful he is - if only there was a publisher that could steer her back towards happier material? With the issue climaxing with Barbara entering some strange hallucination after the microchip in her spine is electrocuted, it all feels a little too similar to other <i>Batgirl </i>storylines from recent years. <b>(3/5)</b><br />
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<b>Daredevil Annual #1</b><br />
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<i>Marvel. Written by Erica Schultz. Art by Marcio Takara. Colours by Marcelo Maiolo.</i></blockquote>
Flashback time, as Daredevil meets Misty Knight for the first time. This is all the way back when Ms Knight is an everyday New York City police detective with a form suspicion that vigilantes and superheroes are up to no good. Marcio Takara's artwork is strong and inventive, and well coloured by Marcelo Maiolo. It's a great done-in-one adventure; exactly the sort of thing that works best for an annual or one-off special. It's self-contained, easy to follow, and hugely entertaining. <b>(4/5)</b><br />
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<b>Ms Marvel #33</b><br />
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<i>Marvel. Written by G. Willow Wilson. Art by Nico Leon. Colours by Ian Herring.</i></blockquote>
Kamala's powers continue to go haywire while she races to stop the Shocker from setting up a permanent hideout in New Jersey. While she struggles to maintain shape and size, Bruno races to school to find a cure in its science lab. This issue is high on comedy, and Wilson's script absolutely nails the tone and style. The laughs are well-matched by Leon and Herring's visuals, which are well-established by now and striking among other Marvel books. This is always such a great comic, but some issues are greater than others. <b>(4/5)</b><br />
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<b>Star Wars: Poe Dameron Annual #2</b><br />
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<i>Marvel. Written by Jody Houser. Art by Andrea Broccardo. Colours by Stefani Renee.</i></blockquote>
Coming in right on the cusp of the monthly title's cancellation, this extra-length <i>Poe Dameron </i>adventure is a solidly enjoyable little heist adventure set shortly before the events of the <i>Force Awakens </i>feature film. Houser's script is good - certainly better than much of the ongoing title - Broccardo's artwork doesn't quite capture the look of the screen actors, but copes well enough. One big bonus: you can read this annual without reading the ongoing series. <b>(3/5)</b>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883899214355622864.post-6137851497398498772018-12-01T20:04:00.000+11:002018-12-01T20:04:31.423+11:00The Angriest: November 2018 in review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidv2jXMfAngQeX13knCieXnoncC7D9EiFYzPP0TxAKOz5AR55IqQ5bG0BT4P6frqgxpbXUzotqzMEdo5j-aM6iITo0NHxqRDLHbfptp0JopKOWUsi_nPHOW9gTeeOaWk_1igMuyZ4C2W4/s1600/meg02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="562" data-original-width="1000" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidv2jXMfAngQeX13knCieXnoncC7D9EiFYzPP0TxAKOz5AR55IqQ5bG0BT4P6frqgxpbXUzotqzMEdo5j-aM6iITo0NHxqRDLHbfptp0JopKOWUsi_nPHOW9gTeeOaWk_1igMuyZ4C2W4/s320/meg02.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I spent November in Singapore on vacation and in Taipei serving on the Fipresci Prize Jury at the Taiwan Golden Horse Film Festival, and that didn't leave too much room for writing. Hopefully I can find time to speed up the schedule before the end of the year. With only one piece published this past month on <i>The Angriest</i>, the most popular post was a <a href="https://angriest.blogspot.com/2018/11/the-pull-list-22-august-2018.html">foregone conclusion</a>. Over at <i>FictionMachine</i> it was a bit more competitive, but the review of <i><a href="http://fictionmachine.com/2018/11/10/review-the-meg-2018/">The Meg</a></i> won through - everyone loves reading about bad movies.<br />
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Overall in November I wrote two short essays on Japanese silent film, seven film reviews, and short reviews of eight comics books. A list of all posts is included below.<br />
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Articles and essays:<br />
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<li>"Rising Sun: the Dawn of Japanese Cinema", at <i>FilmInk </i>(<a href="https://www.filmink.com.au/rising-sun-dawn-japanese-cinema/">link</a>).</li>
<li>"Falling Shadow: Japan's Vanished Silent Cinema", at <i>FilmInk </i>(<a href="https://www.filmink.com.au/falling-shadow-japans-vanished-silent-cinema/">link</a>).</li>
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New and festival films reviewed:<br />
<ul>
<li><i>Creed II </i>(2018, <a href="http://fictionmachine.com/2018/11/26/review-creed-ii-2018/">review</a>)</li>
<li><i>Dying to Survive </i>(2018, <a href="http://www.vcinemashow.com/dying-to-survive-china-2018/">review</a> at <i>VCinema</i>)</li>
<li><i>An Elephant Sitting Still </i>(2018, <a href="http://fictionmachine.com/2018/11/24/review-an-elephant-sitting-still-2018/">review</a>)</li>
<li><i>Robin Hood </i>(2018, <a href="http://fictionmachine.com/2018/11/23/review-robin-hood-2018/">review</a>)</li>
<li><i>Tracey </i>(2018, review at <i>VCinema</i>)</li>
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Older films reviewed:<br />
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<li><i>American Animals </i>(2018, <a href="http://fictionmachine.com/2018/11/08/review-american-animals-2018/">review</a>)</li>
<li><i>The Meg </i>(2018, <a href="http://fictionmachine.com/2018/11/10/review-the-meg-2018/">review</a>)</li>
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Comic books reviewed:<br />
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<li>22 Aug (<a href="https://angriest.blogspot.com/2018/11/the-pull-list-22-august-2018.html">link</a>) (<i>Batman: Kings of Fear, Action Comics, Daredevil, Detective Comics, Justice League Dark, Star Wars: Darth Vader, Star Wars: Doctor Aphra, The Terrifics.</i>)</li>
</ul>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883899214355622864.post-44370893989000789522018-11-25T22:06:00.001+11:002018-11-25T22:06:46.902+11:00The Pull List: 22 August 2018<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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These reviews, thanks to work pressures and international travel, are ridiculously far behind. There may come a time when I cut my losses on 2018 comic book reviews, but until then we shall continue plugging along. Here are titles read from 22 August, starting with the new miniseries <i>Batman: Kings of Fear</i>, from Scott Peterson and Kelley Jones.<br />
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There have been so many Batman comic books published over the decades that it really can get difficult for writers to find new angles and story ideas. <i>Kings of Fear </i>certainly doesn't kick off in the freshest of fashions: Batman recaptures a runaway Joker, and then has to enter Arkham Asylum to defeat him again. It's standard stuff for the character, although it does dangle some intriguing criticism of Batman's methods at one point that could lead somewhere if writer Scott Peterson is bold enough to extend it fully.<br />
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Visually there are some inventive panels and pages, but ultimately how much one likes it will come down to how much one enjoys the art of Kelley Jones. A noted <i>Batman </i>artist of past years, Jones has a distinctive and exaggerated style to which I've never quite warmed. Your taste may vary. <b>(3/5)</b><br />
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<i>Batman: Kings of Fear #1. DC Comics. Written by Scott Peterson. Art by Kelley Jones. Colours by Michelle Madsen.</i><br />
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Under the cut: reviews of <i>Action Comics, Daredevil, Detective Comics, Justice League Dark, Star Wars: Darth Vader, Star Wars: Doctor Aphra, </i>and <i>The Terrifics.</i><br />
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<b>Action Comics #1002.</b><br />
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<i>DC Comics. Written by Brian Michael Bendis. Art by Patrick Gleason. Colours by Alejandro Sanchez.</i></blockquote>
We're a few issues into Brian Michael Bendis' double-book run on <i>Action Comics </i>and <i>Superman</i>, and we're pretty much getting what any regular Bendis reader will have expected. Long-form storytelling, with a comparatively slow plot and a lot of conversation and moments of character. This <i>Action </i>story thread, which follows how the Metropolis criminal underworld tries to work around Superman, is fascinating stuff but it does seem to be dragging a little already. Patrick Gleason's art is sensational though, so while the writing is imperfect the visuals are compensating wonderfully. A cliffhanger ending throws a major plot ball into the air that I did not expect; I'm keen to see where it goes. <b>(4/5)</b><br />
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<b>Daredevil #607</b><br />
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<i>Marvel. Written by Charles Soule. Art and colours by Phil Noto.</i></blockquote>
In the past, Matt Murdock had invented a twin named Mike that he could masquerade as in the course of his crime-fighting adventures. Now Mike Murdock has returned - which is, of course, impossible. After a long and unfinished arc regarding the Kingpin becoming New York's mayor, seeing a strange whimsical storyline like this feels like a mild irritation. Phil Noto's art is great and Charles Soule's script is okay enough, the concept of the story simply doesn't hold very much appeal. <b>(3/5)</b><br />
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<b>Detective Comics #987</b><br />
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<i>DC Comics. Written by Bryan Hill. Art by Miguel Mendonca and Diana Egea. Colours by Adriano Lucas.</i></blockquote>
Karma lures Batman and his sidekicks into a final confrontation in the climactic issue of "On the Outside". It's all a set-up for a new <i>Outsiders </i>monthly in which Batman, Katana, Orphan, the Signal, and Black Lightning travel the world tracking down crises around the world based on alien intelligence. In effect, that makes this current <i>Detective </i>arc its pilot. The character set is good - it's particularly nice for DC to find a purpose for the Signal - and Bryan Hill's writing is solid and effective superhero stuff. The artwork by Mendonca and Egea is particularly strong: both detailed and effective. <b>(4/5)</b><br />
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<b>Invader Zim #33</b><br />
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<i>Oni Press. Written by Sam Logan. Art and colours by Fred C. Stresing.</i></blockquote>
<i>Invader Zim </i>is a typically reliable book with a consistent quality and style: broadly amusing, and clearly of appeal to TV series fans, but never exceptional or ground-breaking. This issue, in which Zim's attempt to win a school science fair is sabotaged by robot sidekick Gir and a sackful of wiener sausages, actually feels slightly under-par. It's enjoyable enough but ultimately mediocre. It feels like a subject the show would have covered, but the jokes simply don't feel strong enough. Collectors of the whole series won't find it as waste as such, but certainly casual readers could be reading much better stuff. <b>(2/5)</b><br />
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<b>Justice League Dark #2</b><br />
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<i>DC Comics. Written by James Tynion IV. Art by Alvaro Martinez Bueno and Raul Fernandez. Colours by Brad Anderson.</i></blockquote>
With the original owners of magic seemingly coming to take it back from humanity, Wonder Woman, Zatanna, Man-Bat, Detective Chimp, and Swamp Thing travel to the Tower of Dr Fate for assistance. I love a good team book, a comic that generally rises and falls based on two factors: firstly, a good combination of superheroes, which I definitely feel has been nailed here. It's in a team that second-string heroes like Detective Chimp can thrive, and it is where bigger characters like Swamp Thing can keep being used between their own solo titles. Secondly, a good team delivers good dialogue, and James Tynion IV is absolutely succeeding as well. <b>(4/5)</b><br />
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<b>Star Wars: Darth Vader #20</b><br />
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<i>Marvel. Written by Charles Soule. Art by Guiseppe Camuncoli and Daniele Orlandini. Colours by Dono Sanchez-Almara and Erick Arciniega.</i></blockquote>
Two Imperial Inquisitors reveal they have a heart - and with Vader on the warpath that makes them his latest target. A well-developed and staged chase through Coruscant allows this current story arc to advance into its next stage via an important conversation between Vader and the Emperor. The artwork this issue is boosted by some lovely rich colours, particularly the golds and oranges of Coruscant at dusk. It's solidly enjoyable tie-in work that fans will love. <b>(3/5)</b><br />
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<b>Star Wars: Doctor Aphra #23</b><br />
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<i>Marvel. Written by Simon Spurrier. Art by Kev Walker and Marc Deering. Colours by Java Tartaglia.</i></blockquote>
Aphra remains trapped inside a spore-infested space prison, being targeted by a new lover - an Imperial lover - and hunted down by an older one. The combination of action, humour, and odd moments of heart really works for this, the best of Marvel's <i>Star Wars </i>comics. The overall story arc takes a firm step forward as Aphra works towards her escape, and it all comes nicely illustrated by Kev Walker and Marc Deering. I don't think it's a coincidence that the best <i>Star Wars </i>comic is the one that relies the least on pre-existing movie characters. There's a much stronger sense of uncertainty and suspense going on. <b>(4/5)</b><br />
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<b>The Terrifics #7</b><br />
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<i>DC Comics. Written by Jeff Lemire. Art by Dale Eaglesham. Colours by Mike Atiyeh.</i></blockquote>
The meeting of heroes promised back at the beginning of <i>The Terrifics </i>finally arrives, and the DC Universe heroes led by Mr Terrific finally come face-to-face with Alan Moore's Tom Strong. It feels terribly cynical and mercenary, taking Moore's creation and incorporating it into the DCU in the full knowledge that Moore wants them to leave his characters alone. The bottom line? Strong is not an interesting or original enough character for DC to sacrifice their creative dignity by including him. Dale Eaglesham's art is clean and neatly composed, with an old-fashioned style. Lemire's writing is still fairly simple and - one could argue - ordinary. There have been better issues of this book, for sure. <b>(2/5)</b>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883899214355622864.post-80188872027170848042018-11-08T19:00:00.001+11:002018-11-08T19:00:41.644+11:00The Angriest: October 2018 in reviewI spent the whole of October on long-service leave (it's an Australian thing) and mostly overseas, so there wasn't too much blogging going on around the net. A review of the 2000 Sega Dreamcast game <i><a href="http://angriest.blogspot.com/2018/10/dreamcast-20-15-samba-de-amigo.html">Samba de Amigo</a> </i>did, however, get a huge number of hits on <i>The Angriest</i>. Over at <i>FictionMachine, </i>the most-read new review was of the Australian fantasy film <i><a href="http://fictionmachine.com/2018/10/04/review-harmony-the-five-frequencies-saga-part-i-2018/">Harmony</a>.</i><br />
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In total October saw the publication of three new and festival film reviews, one older film review, one videogame reviews, and short reviews of 10 comic books. A full index is included below.<br />
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New and festival films reviewed:<br />
<ul>
<li><i>First Man </i>(2018, <a href="https://fictionmachine.com/2018/10/05/review-first-man-2018/">review</a> at <i>FictionMachine.</i>)</li>
<li><i>Harmony: The Five Frequencies Saga Part I </i>(2018, <a href="http://fictionmachine.com/2018/10/04/review-harmony-the-five-frequencies-saga-part-i-2018/">review</a> at <i>FictionMachine</i>.)</li>
<li><i>Jinpa </i>(2018, <a href="http://www.vcinemashow.com/jinpa-china-2018-viff-2018/">review</a> at <i>VCinema</i>.)</li>
</ul>
Older films reviewed:<br />
<ul>
<li><i>The Apology </i>(2016, <a href="http://www.vcinemashow.com/the-apology-canada-2016/">review</a> at <i>VCinema.</i>)</li>
</ul>
Videogames reviewed:<br />
<ul>
<li><i>Samba de Amigo </i>(2000, <a href="http://angriest.blogspot.com/2018/10/dreamcast-20-15-samba-de-amigo.html">review</a>)</li>
</ul>
Comic books reviewed:<br />
<ul>
<li>8 Aug (<a href="http://angriest.blogspot.com/2018/10/the-pull-list-8-august-2018-part-2.html">Part 2</a>) (<i>Port of Earth, Catwoman, Daredevil, Detective Comics, Doctor Who, Hawkman, Invader Zim, Mech Cadet Yu, Oblivion Song, Spider-Man</i>.)</li>
</ul>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883899214355622864.post-50097557468813770952018-10-07T18:31:00.001+11:002018-10-07T18:31:19.180+11:00The Pull List: 15 August 2018<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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One day soon, when <i>The Wicked + the Divine </i>has concluded, I am going to go back and re-read the entire series from issue #1. It is such an exceptionally developed and presented work that it just begs for additional scrutiny, and time to really appreciate what an excellent work of narrative art it is. The story is complex and has gradually unfolded in the most effective of ways. The artwork is among the best being published today.<br />
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In the 38th issue, a lot of questions are raised. Someone dead may be alive. Someone may be giving up godhood. Someone else has gone missing from, well, pretty much everywhere. Things are clearly nearing the ultimate climax, and it's all getting rather intense.<br />
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Every time I praise this series I find myself compelled to start with Jamie McKelvie's artwork. Simply put, there's no one in the industry who captures emotions on face than he does. He accentuates the emotion of Gillen's scripts immeasurably. He makes the characters seem <i>real. </i>I don't know how many more issues we've got to go, but he's making every one of them an absolute treasure. <b>(4/5)</b><br />
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<em>The Wicked + the Divine #38. Image. Written by Kieron Gillen. Art by Jamie McKelvie. Colours by Matthew Wilson.</em><br />
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Under the cut: reviews of <em>Aquaman, Batman, Batwoman, Beneath the Dark Crystal, Doctor Strange, Justice League, Ninja-K, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Wars: Poe Dameron, Usagi Yojimbo, </em>and <em>The Wild Storm.</em><br />
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<b>Aquaman #39</b><br />
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<i>DC Comics. Story by Rob Williams and Dan Abnett. Script by Dan Abnett. Art by Joe Bennett and Vicente Cifuentes. Colours by Adriano Lucas.</i></blockquote>
The "Sink Atlantis" crossover with <i>Suicide Squad </i>continues. Atlantis has been magically raised to the ocean's surface, Mera has been crowned queen, Aquaman worries that a covert American mission may be coming, and underneath them all that covert mission is already there with a nuclear warhead in their hands. This is a great acceleration of the set-up made in last week's <i>Suicide Squad</i>, with Aquaman now setting out to build a strike force of his own to take down the Squad. Great traditional artwork by Bennett and Cifuentes make for solid action scenes, and the story is managing to act like a small event while still following on from the previous three years' of storylines. <b>(4/5)</b><br />
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<b>Batman #53</b><br />
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<i>DC Comics. Written by Tom King. Art by Lee Weeks. Colours by Elizabeth Breitweiser.</i></blockquote>
Bruce Wayne gets weirdly religious as he defends Mr Freeze inside a sequestered jury. It's an oddly talky issue, and while the religious angle works in isolation (there's much talk of Job) it never quite feels like a match for Batman. Unlike Daredevil, he's never really showed off much of an interest in things theological. It's a weird case of <i>almost </i>working, although it does spark off a nice ending that points to a 'back to basics' approach in the immediate future. Artwork by Lee Weeks is excellent. <b>(3/5)</b><br />
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<b>Batwoman #18</b><br />
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<i>DC Comics. Written by Marguerite Bennett. Art by Fernando Blanco. Colours by John Rauch.</i></blockquote>
This somewhat haphazard and unsatisfying volume of <i>Batwoman </i>comes to an end, with yet more maudlin contemplation about the past. It's actually oddly impressive how, no matter how Marguerite Bennett's scripts have pushed Kate Kane's story forward, it always winds up obsessed with backstory. It cripples the character. It ruins all potential. This 18-issue run has, in the end, felt like a waste of time. That's despite some otherwise good writing and effective artwork. It just sits there, month after month, spinning its wheels pointlessly and sinking into the mud. If DC relaunch this book again, I really hope that the next writer does something about the future, and finally let go of the past. <b>(2/5)</b><br />
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<b>Beneath the Dark Crystal #2</b><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Archaia/Boom Studios. Written by Adam Smith. Art and colours by Alexandria Huntington.</i></blockquote>
In Mithra, Thurma is forced to defend her crown against an unexpected usurper. Up in Thra, Kensho decides to redistribute the wealth of the Crystal Castle to the people. Things do not go so well for either of them. There was something rather enticing about <i>The Power of the Dark Crystal, </i>which adapted a failed film screenplay and gave readers a proper lengthy <i>Dark Crystal </i>follow-up for the first time. That's probably while <i>Beneath the Dark Crystal </i>continues to strike a hollow note in its second issue: this feels like just another story, and so far not an outrageously gripping one. Hopefully things pick up soon, because right now it's fairly entertaining but quite underwhelming. <b>(2/5)</b><br />
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<b>Doctor Strange #4</b><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Marvel. Written by Mark Waid. Art and colours by Jesus Saiz.</i></blockquote>
Stephen Strange's search for more magic leads him to a dwarven weaponsmith, one whose imprisoned by a civilization of photon-based aliens. When things go south in the rescue, Strange finds himself escaping with the dwarf but losing his companion Kanna. This is a good issue, albeit one that feels like Waid had recently been watching Marvel Studios' <i>Avengers: Infinity War. </i>Jesus Saiz provides excellent artwork as well. Really the only thing here to give me pause is the continued use of narration, which feels like a weird distancing technique that separates the reader a little from the immediacy of the story. I'm not sure it's that effective. <b>(4/5)</b><br />
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<b>Justice League #6</b><br />
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<i>DC Comics. Written by Scott Snyder. Art by Jorge Jimenez. Colours by Alejandro Sanchez.</i></blockquote>
With Luthor and the Joker inside the minds of Superman and the Martian Manhunter, and both Batman and Hawkgirl out of action, things are looking grim for the Justice League - unless the team can somehow pull a victory out of defeat. There's some clever comic book lunacy in this story arc, that more than any other in recent years feels like a tribute to the legendary Morrison/Porter run of the 1990s. Some of the material surrounding the opposite of the DC heroes' powers is simply inspired. Jimenez's artwork is sensational, as are Sanchez' colours. This is a top-notch superhero book: if you read DC you should be reading this. <b>(5/5)</b><br />
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<b>Star Trek: The Next Generation: Terra Incognita #2</b><br />
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<i>IDW. Written by Scott Tipton and David Tipton. Art by Carlos Nieto. Colours by Fran Gamboa.</i></blockquote>
IDW continue their latest mirror universe adventure with a second part. I'm not certain why the writers over there are so obsessed with the mirror universe - then again, I'm not sure what drove the makers of <i>Star Trek: Discovery </i>to make it the centrepiece of their first season either. It's a curious novelty that wears off pretty quickly, and for me it wore off with the first mirror story in <i>Deep Space Nine</i>. Everything since has kind of driven me to roll my eyes. Thankfully this issue keeps the mirror people to a bare minimum - just one scene really - while setting up a parallel story about the Enterprise aiding in a Federation-Cardassian Union peace deal. It's well written stuff with good artwork, and more importantly it's authentic to the TV series on which it's based. I worry things will go south as they develop, but for now it's a pretty great <i>Star Trek </i>comic. <b>(4/5)</b><br />
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<b>Star Wars: Poe Dameron #30</b><br />
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<i>Marvel. Written by Charles Soule. Art by Angel Unzueta. Colours by Arif Prianto.</i></blockquote>
Black Squadron continue their run to find allies for the Resistance in this final <i>Poe Dameron </i>storyline - and the first for Marvel set after the events of <i>The Last Jedi.</i> It's relatively entertaining stuff, which seems to be the best this series can manage: never unreadable, never exceptional. It also employs an intriguing story structure, with Poe in the present receiving messages from the past. Each issue relates a message, only to end with his getting a new one and introducing a cliffhanger. I'm not entirely sure it works, but it's an interesting narrative tool nonetheless. I'm interested to see what ongoing <i>Star Wars </i>title replaces Poe Dameron: if it's a simple relaunch I will likely bow out, since there are so many more interesting characters that could take Poe's place. <b>(3/5)</b><br />
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<b>Usagi Yojimbo: The Hidden #5</b><br />
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<i>Dark Horse. Story and art by Stan Sakai.</i></blockquote>
Usagi and Ishida continue their investigation into the murder of a runaway Christian, and the contents of the stolen box are finally revealed. This is a particularly strong issue of <i>The Hidden</i>. Sakai has taken obvious care in adapting elements from Japanese history into a riveting murder-mystery. The plot develops in a strong direction, the character work is sensational, and as always the black and white art is simple and effective. This is such a rich and beautifully produced work, as always. It becomes hard to find a new way to praise it each time; in this instance it really is the use of Christian history in Japan to generate the drama. <b>(5/5)</b><br />
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<b>The Wild Storm #16</b><br />
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<i>DC Comics. Written by Warren Ellis. Art by Jon Davis-Hunt. Colours by Brian Buccellato.</i></blockquote>
This issue feels much tighter and focused than usual, likely due to its focus on just two plot threads rather than three. Angela Spicer learns how to use her cyber-suit to enter the Internet, making a possible new friend along the way. Meanwhile Lynch continues searching out the former Project Thunderbook subjects. The tightly controlled format of <i>The Wild Storm </i>has really become a strength: it gives the series a clarity that makes it a tremendously easy - albeit slightly formal - read. A double-page spread of Angela's entrance into the Internet is a particular highlight, but it's all illustrated tremendously. <b>(5/5)</b>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883899214355622864.post-4828193798526026422018-10-03T22:50:00.000+10:002018-12-07T14:13:00.293+11:00Dreamcast 20 #15: Samba de Amigo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>2018 marks the 20th anniversary of the Dreamcast, Sega's final - and in my opinion the finest - home videogame console. Despite a range of excellent games, it simply failed to compete against Sony's PlayStation 2. To celebrate,</i> The Angriest <i>counts down its 20 best games.</i><br />
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As I noted in an earlier review of <i>Sega Bass Fishing 2</i>, the Dreamcast was a console big on peripherals, with multiple titles making use of their own dedicated controllers. <i>Samba de Amigo </i>is another one. A charming rhythm action game, it's core appeal came in its own special extras: a pair of maracas.<br />
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Seriously, who doesn't want to play a smiling monkey shaking a pair of maracas in time with the music?<br />
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The game was developed by Sonic Team, based known for their titular hedgehog platformers. It was originally an arcade game, like many of the Dreamcast's popular titles, and presented a range of Latin and pop music. The Dreamcast version pretty much replicated the arcade edition. A sequel was released in Japan, but failed to make it to international markets before the Dreamcast collapsed. A Wii remake was released in 2007 that used the Wii controllers in lieu of the dedicated maracas.<br />
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While the game is simple and indeed relatively limited, it is loaded with charm. It's simply a delight to play, particularly with friends. In many ways in foreshadows the kinds of simple motion-based titles that make Nintendo's Wii such a success - and it's no surprise that Sega released the remake to that platform as a result.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883899214355622864.post-63858437729780883912018-10-02T16:00:00.001+10:002018-10-02T16:00:45.368+10:00The Pull List: 8 August 2018, Part 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Rice and Mac break all manner of laws pursuing their alien suspect, and enter the spaceport for the first time. Some period later, their encounter is discussed on the news, and some difficult questions are asked.<br />
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There is a superb slow build to <i>Port of Earth</i>, as each issue pushes the core narrative forward to the next surprise and then comments on and illuminates the action via the framing device of a television interview. This drip-fed world building makes this an addictive read, as well as a smart and political slice of science fiction.<br />
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I am particularly liking Andrea Mutti's artwork, which has a semi-realistic, rather scratchy style that enhances the drama nicely. This is a very dramatic, straight-faced work, without much room for comedy in Zack Kaplan's scripts. It's been progressively getting better too; it's worth getting the first two trade paperbacks to catch up. <b>(4/5)</b><br />
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<em>Port of Earth #8. Image. Written by Zack Kaplan. Art by Andrea Mutti. Colours by Vladimir Popov.</em><br />
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Under the cut: reviews of <em>Catwoman, Daredevil, Detective Comics, Doctor Who, Hawkman, Invader Zim, Mech Cadet Yu, Oblivion Song, </em>and <em>Spider-Man.</em><br />
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<b>Catwoman #2</b><br />
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<i>DC Comics. Story and art by Joelle Jones. Colours by Laura Allred.</i></blockquote>
It's Catwoman versus a room full of copycats as an on-the-run Selina Kyle finds that trouble refuses to leave her alone. This appears to be a particularly nasty new enemy as well, given how they treat their agents here. There are still a lot more questions than answers at this stage, but writer/artist Joelle Jones manages to sustain the mystery for another issue. Her artwork has a wonderfully sketchy style that avoids the male gaze that usually plagues <i>Catwoman </i>comics. It's a hugely promising read, and a new monthly well worth your support. <b>(4/5)</b><br />
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<b>Daredevil #606</b><br />
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<i>Marvel. Written by Charles Soule. Art by Phil Noto.</i></blockquote>
Phil Noto's art is great, as it always is, and that gives <i>Daredevil </i>#606 an immediate and attractive selling point. Storywise, it is a little less exciting. My hopes for a clean climax to the whole "Mayor Fisk" saga have ended, as events meander on to new elements and twists without really feeling as if previous crises have been resolved. A flashback structure makes things feel more intriguing, but in the end I'm not enticed by the arrival of the Matt Murdock lookalike Mike Murdock. Solid writing, great art, but a somewhat ragged narrative. <b>(3/5)</b><br />
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<b>Detective Comics #986</b><br />
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<i>DC Comics. Written by Bryan Hill. Art by Philippe Bryones. Colours by Adriano Lucas.</i></blockquote>
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Batman struggles to take down the villainous Karma, while Black Lightning struggles to contain the Bat's enthusiastic sidekicks who itch to get involved. Admittedly there is something overly familiar about the whole "Batman's sidekick defies his orders to save him" storyline, but it's done in an engaging fashion and an appealing set of characters. This is all set-up for a new <i>Batman and the Outsiders</i> volume, but it's building it up well and promising a good line-up for when the inevitable spin-off comes around. If nothing else it is providing an avenue for the Signal - the latest Gotham crime-fighter for what there really hasn't been much room. <b>(3/5)</b></div>
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<b>Doctor Who: Road to the 13th Doctor #2</b><br />
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<i>Titan Comics. Written by James Peaty. Art by Pasquale Qualano. Colours by Dijjo Lima. Backup written by Jody Hauser. Backup art by Rachael Stott. Colours by Enrica Angiolini.</i></blockquote>
In the lead-up to the imminent arrival of TV's 13th Doctor, Titan provide three one-shots featuring the 10th, 11th and 12th Doctors. This second issue features Matt Smith's 11th Doctor, whose earlier ongoing adventures I had regularly been reading. The Doctor and comic companion Alice arrive in San Francisco to find it overrun with disguised alien robots - and an enemy I suspect we will see again one the 13th Doctor comic kicks off. Pasquale Qualano's art does a fairly good rendition of the Doctor, while James Peaty's story is short but satisfying. A short backup strip set during the TV episode "The Power of Three" acts as a showcase for the new 13th Doctor creative team. <b>(3/5)</b><br />
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<b>Hawkman #3</b><br />
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<i>DC Comics. Written by Robert Venditti. Art by Bryan Hitch, Andrew Currie and Paul Neary. Colours by Alex Sinclair and Jeremiah Shipper.</i></blockquote>
Hawkman's journey through his past lives leads him to Dinosaur Island, an unhappy T-Rex, and a mystery at the top of a mountain. Bryan Hitch's artwork is certainly the star here, and it feels as if Robert Venditti's script has been purpose-built to accommodate Hitch's big-screen artistic talents. As for Venditti's script, it is entertaining but yet to really take a hold. The decision to scramble all of Hawkman's tortured rival back stories together is bold, but still doesn't seem to solve the ongoing problem of who he is and why he dresses up and flies as a hawk. It's a bit of a mess in that regard - but what else are you going to do? <b>(4/5)</b><br />
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<b>Invader Zim #32</b><br />
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<i>Oni Press. Written by Eric Trueheart. Art by Kate Sherron and Meg Casey. Colours by Fred C. Stresing.</i></blockquote>
Zim and Dib get overly competitive at physical education exams in this new issue, which does a better-than-usual job of adopting the original <i>Invader Zim </i>cartoon's look and humour. Eric Trueheart's script contains more than the usual number of jokes, and they're ones that you can really imagine making a TV episode. Similarly, Sherron and Casey's artwork hew much closer to the original TV style that some other recent issues of the comic; I do like the occasional experiment, but it's always nice to pull it back to a baseline look from time to time. <b>(3/5)</b><br />
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<b>Mech Cadet Yu #11</b><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Boom Studios. Written by Greg Pak. Art by Takeshi Miyazawa. Colours by Jessica Kholinne.</i></blockquote>
In the penultimate issue, the Sharg engage in full-scale invasion and the mech pilots simply are not able to stop them all. Sacrifices must be made, but everyone is fighting over who and what that sacrifice is going to be. This is pretty much exactly what you want in a second-to-last issue: the stakes are raised even higher, the drama intensifies, and as a reader you get the distinct feeling that not everybody is going to survive the series finale. This has all felt like an archetypal giant robot anime in print form; that doesn't promise an entirely happy ending either. <b>(4/5)</b><br />
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<b>Oblivion Song #6</b><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Image. Written by Robert Kirkman. Art by Lorenzo De Felici.</i></blockquote>
It's the end of the first story arc, which of course means a shock revelation to keep the book's momentum going. In this case it isn't anything that the average reader couldn't see coming, and as a result the shock effect feels a little blunted. Lorenzo De Felici's artwork continues to be appealing without being exceptional, and that ultimately feels a bit like the book in general. It's rock solid stuff and will absolutely gain its fans, but at the same time never quite feels like a necessary read. <b>(3/5)</b><br />
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<b>Spider-Man Annual #1</b><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Marvel. Written by Brian Edward Hill. Art by Nelson Blake II, Alitha E. Martinez, Mark Bagley, and Roberto Poggi. Colours by Carlos Lopez.</i></blockquote>
With Miles Morales absent from Marvel Universe in recent months, it is actually somewhat refreshing to see him back in action in this pleasant but by no means necessary one-shot annual. While fighting Morbius the Living Vampire, Miles flashes back to an earlier battle he fought near the beginning of his crime-fighting career. Mark Bagley returns to provide art for the flashback sequence, which is a pleasant surprise. If you've never read the Miles version of Spider-Man, this is a decent introduction. An amusing backup strip turns the spotlight to fan favourite and best friend Ganke. <b>(3/5)</b><br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883899214355622864.post-41302201160214807142018-10-02T15:32:00.000+10:002018-10-02T15:32:17.006+10:00The Angriest: September 2018 in review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMvckcTXsWQvSSi57xn3q4vkLX9tR5z-2gW5ZMTPwA2-SW2OVptWVchXUvS8lX3Wq4-QSENmdqvELr4yuXsWmaeHHmPqlAa9vtBHJrFzKR3ysLlKHBxNoHI7ftA8lWUJ6wVL0sT3hpACw/s1600/spiderman2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="529" data-original-width="940" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMvckcTXsWQvSSi57xn3q4vkLX9tR5z-2gW5ZMTPwA2-SW2OVptWVchXUvS8lX3Wq4-QSENmdqvELr4yuXsWmaeHHmPqlAa9vtBHJrFzKR3ysLlKHBxNoHI7ftA8lWUJ6wVL0sT3hpACw/s320/spiderman2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Reviews of <a href="http://angriest.blogspot.com/2018/09/the-pull-list-1-august-2018-part-2.html">comic books</a>, including <i>Giant Days </i>and <i>The Immortal Hulk</i>, proved the most popular new post at <i>The Angriest </i>last month. Over at <i>FictionMachine</i> it was a retrospective <a href="http://fictionmachine.com/2018/09/18/review-spider-man-2-2004/">review</a> of <i>Spider-Man 2 </i>that proved the greatest new attraction.<br />
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It was a slow month in September due to work and health commitments. That said, it was very much a month for quality over quantity: online publications included an interview with <i>Star Trek</i>'s Gates McFadden and a full-length essay on Japanese classic <i>Humanity and Paper Balloons</i>, plus reviews of four new theatrical and festival releases, three older films, the first episode of <i>The Crown</i>, and short reviews of 19 comic books. All the links are below the cut:<br />
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Film essays and interviews:<br />
<ul>
<li>"The Doctor is In: Talking to <i>Star Trek: The Next Generation’s</i> Gates McFadden" (<a href="https://www.filmink.com.au/doctor-talking-star-trek-next-generations-gates-mcfadden/">link</a> to <i>FilmInk</i>)</li>
<li>"We're out of sake for the saint" | <em>Humanity and Paper Balloons </em>(1937, <a href="https://fictionmachine.com/2018/09/13/were-out-of-sake-for-the-saint-humanity-and-paper-balloons-1937/">link</a> to <i>FictionMachine</i>)</li>
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New and festival films reviewed (at <em>FictionMachine </em>unless noted):<br />
<ul>
<li><em>Being Frank: The Chris Sievey Story </em>(2018, <a href="http://fictionmachine.com/2018/09/11/review-being-frank-the-chris-sievey-story-2018/">review</a>)</li>
<li><em>Golden Job </em>(2018, <a href="https://www.filmink.com.au/reviews/golden-job/">review</a> at <em>FilmInk</em>)</li>
<li><em>The Nun </em>(2018, <a href="https://fictionmachine.com/2018/09/05/review-the-nun-2018/">review</a>)</li>
<li><i>The Witness </i>(2018, <a href="https://www.filmink.com.au/reviews/the-witness/">review</a> at <i>FilmInk</i>)</li>
</ul>
Older films reviewed:<br />
<ul>
<li><em>Adrift in Tokyo </em>(2007, <a href="http://fictionmachine.com/2018/09/03/review-adrift-in-tokyo-2007/">review</a>)</li>
<li><em>Our Shining Days </em>(2017, <a href="http://fictionmachine.com/2018/09/26/review-our-shining-days-2017/">review</a>)</li>
<li><em>Spider-Man 2 </em>(2004, <a href="http://fictionmachine.com/2018/09/18/review-spider-man-2-2004/">review</a>)</li>
</ul>
TV episodes reviewed:<br />
<ul>
<li><em>The Crown </em>1.01: "Wolferton Splash" (<a href="http://angriest.blogspot.com/2018/09/the-crown-101-wolferton-splash.html">review</a>)</li>
</ul>
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Comic books reviewed:<br />
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<ul>
<li>25 Jul (<a href="http://angriest.blogspot.com/2018/09/the-pull-list-25-july-2018-part-3.html">Part 3</a>) (<i>Punk's Not Dead, Action Comics, Star Wars: Doctor Aphra, The Terrifics.</i>)</li>
<li>1 Aug (<a href="http://angriest.blogspot.com/2018/09/the-pull-list-1-august-2018-part-1.html">Part 1</a>) (<i>Seven to Eternity, Batman, Delta 13, Justice League, Mister Miracle, Scales & Scoundrels.</i>)</li>
<li>1 Aug (<a href="http://angriest.blogspot.com/2018/09/the-pull-list-1-august-2018-part-2.html">Part 2</a>) (<em>The Immortal Hulk, Doctor Who: The Seventh Doctor, Giant Days, Green Arrow.</em>)</li>
<li>8 Aug (<a href="http://angriest.blogspot.com/2018/09/the-pull-list-8-august-2018-part-1.html">Part 1</a>) (<i>The Sandman Universe, Star Wars: Darth Vader, Suicide Squad, Superman, Sword Daughter.</i>)</li>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883899214355622864.post-51650235081903105252018-09-26T22:28:00.001+10:002018-09-26T22:28:01.995+10:00The Pull List: 8 August 2018, Part 1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSpIFKU_xNubw37TYjaSkw0jGRtvGYEqRLhACf6Jx5QGTBia5D9JCZXZ_61fe-9lzLrjrnbQhFj-bOMVEIxEjwpykEJ3JevaZF-SllfwSpTCc_VlZH6Shvpc9h1XyCEyPimm9L-gKzV48/s1600/sandmanuniverse1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1537" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSpIFKU_xNubw37TYjaSkw0jGRtvGYEqRLhACf6Jx5QGTBia5D9JCZXZ_61fe-9lzLrjrnbQhFj-bOMVEIxEjwpykEJ3JevaZF-SllfwSpTCc_VlZH6Shvpc9h1XyCEyPimm9L-gKzV48/s320/sandmanuniverse1.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>
Imagine the thinnest of stories draped over a sales catalogue; that is essentially what you get from <em>Sandman Universe</em>, a fairly expensive launch for DC Vertigo's new line of fantasy and horror comic books based on Neil Gaiman's famous series <em>The Sandman</em>. In the Dreaming, the mystical world where everybody from humans to gods go to dream, something is going terribly wrong. The search to find Daniel, the Dreaming's immortal ruler, takes Matthew the raven across worlds and to the set-ups of a raft of new stories and adventures.<br />
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I completely understand DC's desire to revisit and expand the world of <i>The Sandman</i>. They are launching with a couple of new and old series: <i>The Books of Magic, The Dreaming, Lucifer, </i>and <i>House of Whispers.</i> To be honest, all four look fairly promising in a 'could swing either way' fashion. Also being honest: each little prologue feels exactly like the sort of five-page preview that DC releases online every week. So is there entertainment value here? Absolutely there is. Does it also feel like a bit of a cheap rip-off. Absolutely it does. A hell of a lot like one. How desperate are you to read these new books? <b>(2/5)</b><br />
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<i>Sandman Universe #1. DC Vertigo. Written by Neil Gaiman, Simon Spurrier, Kat Howard, Nalo Hopkinson, and Dan Watters. Art by Bilquis Evely, Tom Fowler, Dominike "Domo" Stanton, Max Fiumara, and Sebastian Fiumara. Colours by Max Lopes.</i><br />
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Under the cut: reviews of <i>Star Wars: Darth Vader, Suicide Squad, Superman, </i>and <i>Sword Daughter.</i><br />
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<b>Star Wars: Darth Vader #19</b><br />
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<i>Marvel. Written by Charles Soule. Art by Giuseppe Camuncoli and Daniele Orlandini. Colours by David Curiel.</i></blockquote>
Darth Vader continues to lead the Inquisitors in hunting down and murdering all known surviving Jedi. This feels like a neat little one-shot following the villains around in their business, and certainly helps to solidify the characters and the general thrust of this story arc. Camuncoli and Orlandini's artwork continues to get better and better, and is certainly a whole level of quality above where they started. That it ends on an apparent cliffhanger is a little odd: it's less an exciting hook than a mystifying one. What the hell is actually going on? <b>(3/5)</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaeg_Jw8zq2AZNak-SAtnhTqTGL0Wq5ERAiH7b3VFJPHBfQm4cLsQj78h5sZgkjBgR5aO9qBnXoAlmL0rJjagqkFjlWs3f-iL7jVHVX5Xix3ILgrXANODTISyFuZtcl3GJG_92wQIkVWE/s1600/suicidesquad45.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1041" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaeg_Jw8zq2AZNak-SAtnhTqTGL0Wq5ERAiH7b3VFJPHBfQm4cLsQj78h5sZgkjBgR5aO9qBnXoAlmL0rJjagqkFjlWs3f-iL7jVHVX5Xix3ILgrXANODTISyFuZtcl3GJG_92wQIkVWE/s200/suicidesquad45.jpg" width="130" /></a></div>
<b>Suicide Squad #45</b><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>DC Comics. Written by Dan Abnett and Rob Williams. Art by Lose Luis, Vincente Cifuentes and Jordi Tarragona. Colours by Adriano Lucas.</i></blockquote>
I am not typically a reader of <i>Suicide Squad</i>, but must make an exception as it joins a five-part <i>Aquaman </i>crossover - and I <i>do </i>read <em>Aquaman. </em>This is a solid start to the storyline, with Taskforce X getting dropped in a submarine and infiltrated into the recently surfaced city of Atlantis. The focus in this issue is definitely on the <i>Suicide Squad </i>side, but it will be interesting to see how the story shifts when the focus is more heavily on Aquaman. The promise is there, and so is the dramatic hook, but how will things be fulfilled in future issues is yet to be seen. <b>(3/5)</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyP87NVKd1n46dnvZHkUByTzBQPXQRLt_SDMWzRaxOKMNWDs_xMY6eGGeUTp2f4HJUv5hXNdKCR6M8z6aNlc9AsYBFsy4Imxm0L4sCaeniudOPB1W_U-XLNfhuZ8sCSmy4pOJ0zSmLA4I/s1600/superman2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="325" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyP87NVKd1n46dnvZHkUByTzBQPXQRLt_SDMWzRaxOKMNWDs_xMY6eGGeUTp2f4HJUv5hXNdKCR6M8z6aNlc9AsYBFsy4Imxm0L4sCaeniudOPB1W_U-XLNfhuZ8sCSmy4pOJ0zSmLA4I/s200/superman2.jpg" width="130" /></a></div>
<b>Superman #2</b><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>DC Comics. Written by Brian Michael Bendis. Art by Ivan Reis, Oclair Albert and Joe Prado. Colours by Alex Sinclair</i></blockquote>
The Earth has been dragged into the Phantom Zone by some unknown means, leaving the whole planet in peril and Superman lost at how to work out what happened <i>and </i>how to get the Earth out again. That's not even his biggest problem either: Rogol Zar, the destroyer of Krypton, is trapped in the Phantom Zone too, and without access to the sun Superman's powers will very quickly go away. Good scripting by Brian Michael Bendis and great artwork by Ivan Reis and company make this a properly great new <i>Superman </i>story arc. I'm still not entire sure of Bendis' work on <i>Action Comics</i> but I am all in on <i>Superman</i>. <b>(4/5)</b><br />
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<b>Sword Daughter #3</b><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Dark Horse. Written by Brian Wood. Art by Mack Chater. Colours by Jose Villarrubia.</i></blockquote>
A critical sword duel. An unexpected jump in time. This viking saga is beautifully presented. Brian Wood - a dab hand at a viking story - tells a wonderfully simple and stark story about a man's hunt for revenge and his non-verbal, long-abandoned young daughter. Mark Chater's artwork does a wonderful job of presenting the barren landscape and visceral combat of 10th century Scandinavia. This issue employs a great split narrative that only reveals itself in the final page. What I really like about Wood's writing is that while he writes stories about vikings quite a lot - in <i>Northlanders, </i>in <i>Black Road</i>, and now in <i>Sword Daughter</i> - is that the tone always changes. It's also always great. <b>(5/5)</b>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883899214355622864.post-20465078178572505512018-09-20T11:24:00.003+10:002018-09-20T11:24:47.538+10:00The Pull List: 1 August 2018, Part 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2KSLSfWXeB3AQGN4qxS9dPSLzEm1uqLPO8uROcWYKEWBxEQmz51I0YhpnX7_vIdjvC70qgEx4kWGhtz-l-LZsUyaGJFMPT4p0x8q2nn7EobXtrPNOQWn2C3D4klKMW1L97NpW79y0Ecs/s1600/immortalhulk4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1041" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2KSLSfWXeB3AQGN4qxS9dPSLzEm1uqLPO8uROcWYKEWBxEQmz51I0YhpnX7_vIdjvC70qgEx4kWGhtz-l-LZsUyaGJFMPT4p0x8q2nn7EobXtrPNOQWn2C3D4klKMW1L97NpW79y0Ecs/s320/immortalhulk4.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>
Journalist Jacqueline McGee is on the hunt for a story: the apparent resurrection of Dr Bruce Banner, aka the Incredible Hulk. Joining her on her assignment this issue is Walter Langkowski, better known by his own alter-ego Sasquatch and also Banner's former college roommate.<br />
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We're now four issues into <i>The Immortal Hulk. </i>The first three issues have had an almost anthology-esque structure to them, with each story using a darker, more threatening version of the character to tell horror stories. This issue feels like a much more conventional superhero comic, firming up an ongoing narrative and reconnecting Banner and the Hulk back into the Marvel Universe. It is a perfectly solid approach, but I do hope writer Al Ewing can strike a balance between the horror stories and the superhero ones. The first three issues were just too good to lose. Joe Bennett provides excellent illustrations with inker Ruy Jose. <b>(3/5)</b><br />
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<em>The Immortal Hulk #4. Marvel. Written by Al Ewing. Art by Joe Bennett and Ruy Jose. Colours by Paul Mounts.</em><br />
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Under the cut: reviews of <em>Doctor Who: The Seventh Doctor, Giant Days, </em>and <em>Green Arrow.</em><br />
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<b>Doctor Who: The Seventh Doctor #3</b><br />
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<i>Titan Comics. Written by Andrew Cartmel. Art by Christopher Jones. Colours by Marko Lesko. Backup written by Richard Dinnick. Art by Jessica Martin. Colours by Charlie Kirchoff.</i></blockquote>
The world is in danger from an alien-triggered holocaust and it's down to the Doctor, Ace, and the Intrusions Counter-Measures Group to save the day. This has been an entertaining three-part romp, and an absolute gem for nostalgic fans of the late 1980s, and Sylvester McCoy's three-year tenure as the Doctor. Christopher Jones is the perfect artist for this sort of comic book: he has a gift for depicting real-life actors in their television roles, and without making things look overly photo-referenced or stiff. The backup strip by Richard Dinnick goes out on a higher note than earlier issues, particularly when it comes to Jessica Martin's artwork. (Enjoy the alternative cover too: which is based around TV serial "The Happiness Patrol" for some reason.) <b>(4/5)</b><br />
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<strong>Giant Days #41</strong><br />
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<i>Boom Studios. Written by John Allison. Art by Max Sarin. Colours by Whitney Cogar.</i></blockquote>
Daisy's life in thrown back into disarray when her German ex-girlfriend Ingrid burst back on the scene. Can she resist her charms a second time? Plus there's a Halloween party fast approaching, and insufficient time to find a costume. After more than 40 issues, <i>Giant Days </i>now just seems like a warm and comforting blanket of a comic: loveable characters, a bit of soap opera drama, and plenty of snappy dialogue and comedy. It's pretty much the most consistent and reliable comic book out there. <b>(4/5)</b><br />
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<strong>Green Arrow #43</strong><br />
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<i>DC Comics. Written by Julie Benson and Shawna Benson. Art by Javier Fernandez. Colours by John Kalisz.</i></blockquote>
While Green Arrow tries to connect better with Arsenal and Black Canary, a new vigilante named "the Citizen" begins stalking the city's rich and immoral to teach a permanent lesson. This is a fairly good DC superhero issue: neither awful nor brilliant, but breezily entertaining in a pleasing but unmemorable fashion. It's what <i>should </i>count as the average for superhero books, but of course it never is. At the moment this storyline seems a bit overly familiar. I'm keen to see if it breaks into a more interesting and original direction next month. <strong>(3/5)</strong><br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883899214355622864.post-47608326066545860142018-09-17T09:33:00.002+10:002018-09-17T09:33:33.043+10:00The Crown 1.01: "Wolferton Splash"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I have never had a particular interest in the British royal family. I don't actively dislike any of them, but I do prefer republics to constitutional monarchies, and I have never supported the creepy tabloid culture that surrounds them like an unwanted parasite. As a result I did not rush to see Netflix's big-budget historical drama <i>The Crown</i>, that begins in the final years of King George VI's life before focusing soon into the series on his daughter Queen Elizabeth II.<br />
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That has been my loss. It turns out, from the debut episode at least, that <i>The Crown </i>is one of those rare television series whose quality is so pronounced that its subject matter seems almost entirely irrelevant. It is a series about <i>people: </i>their wants and needs, and their struggle to transcend the obstacles that lie in the way. The characters are richly drawn and uniformly performed to the most remarkable degree of quality. If you have not seen any of it yet, I strongly encourage you do give it a try. The hype is there with reason.<br />
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There is a remarkably grand scale to the episode, particularly when it comes to Princess Elizabeth's marriage to Philip Mountbatten - not yet a Prince, but I expect a future episode will cover that. Likewise scenes set up in the royal family's Balmoral estate have a beautiful texture and scale to them. You can certainly see where the budget went: this is a visually beautiful series, and extremely well shot.<br />
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The series wavers back and forth in terms of historical accuracy, but that is to be expected in a historical drama. Opinions will differ on whether a film or TV drama should side with historical accuracy or dramatic potential; <i>The Crown </i>seems to be charged a course somewhere in the middle of the two. That honestly strikes me as the best approach. The casting is superb in terms of visual accuracy. Matt Smith makes for a wonderfully convincing Philip, and he brings along a superb ambiguity. Sometimes he seems genuinely in love with Elizabeth. At other moments there's a sort of cynicism to the character. Most often it's something in between the two.<br />
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A lot of publicity was given to John Lithgow's performance - ultimately award-winning - as returning Prime Minister Winston Churchill, back to 10 Downing St after five years in opposition. It's most effective, but is admittedly a little mannered. The real Churchill has been regularly pushed to the point of parody in pop culture, and <i>The Crown </i>doesn't quite manage to escape that impression. Claire Foy seems to get away with the opposite as Elizabeth: she nails the voice but does not exaggerate it, and she manages to develop a three-dimension character that presents the Queen as a woman more than as an icon.<br />
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The absolute highlight for me, however, is Jared Harris' incredible turn as George VI. He dominates this first episode so much that anyone without a passing knowledge of history might assume he was the star of the entire series. We first encounter him coughing blood into a toilet bowl: he has lung cancer - an ailment that his doctors have shockingly decided not to tell him about. Even after receiving an emergency lungectomy he remains no wiser to his perilous condition. Harris has perfected George's legendary speech impediment, which colours the character without ever distracting from it. His is a tragic story in this episode, but it plays out with moments a wit, intelligence and tremendous dignity.<br />
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Television drama just seems to be getting better and better. <i>The Crown - </i>from the first episode, at any rate - is proof positive of that.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883899214355622864.post-25344735950690839842018-09-16T14:20:00.000+10:002018-09-16T14:20:28.305+10:00The Pull List: 1 August 2018<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>Seven to Eternity </i>returns after a break with its 10th issue. I am happy for the book to take its time, because the intricately detailed artwork of Jerome Opeña must take an absolute age to compose - and I'd rather it look great that come out on a monthly schedule.<br />
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We pick up where we left off, with Adam Osidis having betrayed his companions to rescue the Mud King. Now they travel towards the mysterious Springs of Zaal, where Adam may finally receive a cure to the disease that is slowly killing him. That journey is interrupted by pirates who descend upon them from balloons.<br />
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It isn't just the artwork that makes this book so strong; it's the rich and distinctive fantasy world that Rick Remender has developed with which to tell his story. It's familiar in many respects, but peppered with superb original concepts and cultures. Want a great fantasy comic book? Look no further. <b>(5/5)</b><br />
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<i>Seven to Eternity #10. Image. Written by Rick Remender. Art by Jerome Opeña</i><br />
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Under the cut; reviews of <i>Batman, Delta 13, Doctor Who: The Seventh Doctor, Giant Days, Green Arrow, The Immortal Hulk, Justice League, Mister Miracle</i>, and <i>Scales & Scoundrels</i>.<br />
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<strong>Batman #52</strong><br />
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<em>DC Comics. Written by Tom King. Art by Lee Weeks. Colours by Elizabeth Breitweiser.</em></blockquote>
Mr Freeze is on trial for a triple homicide. He was caught by Batman, who also picked up critical evidence that the police coroner didn't catch. The entire appointed jury are convinced he's guilty, save one: Bruce Wayne. It is such a tremendously clever idea for a storyline, and while some readers may not like the idea of an entire storyline essentially being a courtroom drama (I think it's outstanding, personally), the writing and Lee Weeks' excellent art cannot be faulted. It's great to see a comic series so old still finding new angles. <b>(5/5)</b><br />
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<b>Delta 13 #4</b><br />
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<i>IDW. Written by Steve Niles. Art and colours by Nat Jones.</i></blockquote>
The crew of a salvage spacecraft are confronted by a growing and dangerous alien organism on their ship, with no means of escape. Or, if we're to be blunt, <i>Alien </i>gets remade as a comic book with the serial number filed off. To Niles' mild credit, things this issue take a more Lovecraftian turn before reaching a fairly fresh conclusion that I did not see coming. Is it enough to save the overall book? Maybe. Certainly when read altogether as a graphic novel it will feel more of a cohesive piece than when broken into individual installments. In serialised format it was hugely frustrating with a rather rushed climax, but at least it ended well. <b>(3/5)</b><br />
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<b>Justice League #5</b><br />
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<i>DC Comics.</i></blockquote>
James Tynion IV takes over writing <i>Justice League </i>to jump back and reveal the machinations of Lex Luthor from <i>his </i>side of the story. It's a great idea for several reasons: firstly, it extends that horror show cliffhanger (Superman and Martian Manhunter have been taken over by Luthor and the Joker, respectively) for a whole extra month; secondly, it gives more depth to the new Legion of Doom and its members; third, it expands the story generally. It looks and reads brilliantly. This is a great run of <i>Justice League, </i>one designed to be an absolute fan-pleaser. <b>(4/5)</b><br />
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<b>Mister Miracle #10</b><br />
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<em>DC Comics. Written by Tom King. Art and colours by Mitch Gerards.</em></blockquote>
There can be peace between New Genesis and Apokolips once and for all. No more soldiers never ever die again. The simple price for such an arrangement? That Scott Free give up his infant son to Apokolips for good. As with his <i>Batman </i>issue this week, Tom King presents a thoughtful, dramatic and dialogue-heavy drama. Mitch Gerards excels at illustrating this kind of story, and enhances the trauma of such a choice brilliantly. With only one issue left to go, it is hard to see <i>Mister Miracle </i>having a happy ending. I shall look forward to issue #12 with a wonderful sense of dread. <b>(5/5)</b><br />
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<b>Scales & Scoundrels #11</b><br />
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<i>Image. Written by Sebastian Girner. Art by Galaad.</i></blockquote>
The big shock in this issue comes after the story ends: next month's issue #12 is going to be the last issue of <i>Scales & Scoundrels </i>for an indefinite period. That's <i>terrible</i>. This has been one of the absolute best comics of the year, with elegant and emotive artwork and clearly developed and hugely entertaining storylines. No reason was given - sales is a possibility, with <i>Comichron </i>estimating about 2,600 issues shipping in June - but hopefully the series can continue in some form soon. It's simply too damn good to go to waste. This penultimate issue sees the dwarf Dorma return home for the first time in many years, only to find her family and friends in danger. It's just such wonderful stuff. <b>(5/5)</b>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883899214355622864.post-49527985976424164442018-09-08T19:58:00.000+10:002018-09-08T19:58:33.426+10:00The Pull List: 25 July 2018, Part 3<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Fergie is a Northern English teenager who doesn't know his own supernatural history. He's currently being haunted by a ghost who appears to be Sex Pistols vocalist Sid Vicious, and being hunted down by a distinctive British secret agent who is a victim of supernatural forces herself.<br />
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<i>Punk's Not Dead </i>is a great comedy-drama comic by writer David Barnett and artist Martin Simmonds. It feels like a late 1990s DC Vertigo book, which is a near-guaranteed winner for me. I love that period of American comics history, where my favourite books tended to be by names like Morrison, Milligan, Ellis, and Ennis. The English setting, the intricate back story infused by history or pop culture, the mature tone, and the great art all make for a wonderful throwback. This sixth issue is one of the best so far, and provides a lot of much-needed backstory and context. It also wraps up the first story arc, with a collected trade paperback coming out in October.<br />
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That's why I'm praising it now: if you haven't been following this book already, and you're of a similar comic-reading vintage to me, it is well worth heading to your local comic shop and pre-ordering the paperback now. It's a fabulous book, and one of my new favourites for 2018. <b>(4/5)</b><br />
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<i>Punk's Not Dead #6. IDW/Black Crown. Written by David Barnett. Art and colours by Martin Simmonds.</i><br />
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Under the cut: reviews of <i>Action Comics, Star Wars: Doctor Aphra, </i>and <i>The Terrifics.</i><br />
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<b>Action Comics #1,001</b><br />
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<i>DC Comics. Written by Brian Michael Bendis. Art by Patrick Gleason. Colours by Alejandro Sanchez.</i></blockquote>
With Lois and Jon missing away somewhere in deep space, Clark continues to maintain his normal routine despite his concerns and his loss. While he investigates a growing spate of arson attacks, he is being investigated himself by the Daily Planet's new gossip reporter. This is a solid issue, introducing the series' new set-up and a new mysterious villain waiting to be properly revealed. At the same time it feels a little weird: Brian Michael Bendis is writing both <i>Action Comics </i>and <i>Superman</i>, and that feels like too much of an overlap. It denies us the chance to see another writer's take on the Superman character. Still, Patrick Gleason's artwork is tremendous here. <b>(4/5)</b><br />
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<b>Star Wars: Doctor Aphra #22</b><br />
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<i>Marvel. Written by Si Spurrier. Art by Kev Walker and Marc Deering. Colours by Java Tartaglia.</i></blockquote>
Attempted prison breaks, dangerous alien secrets, an ex-girlfriend <i>and </i>a conflicted new romantic attached: <i>Doctor Aphra </i>continues running apace. One of the real selling points of this book is the extra amount of story and complexity added each issue. For a book focused on one protagonist, with a group of supporting players orbiting, it is surprising just how much Si Spurrier is squeezing in. The loose attachment to broader <i>Star Wars </i>continuity makes it a joy to read for long-time fans, while the LGBT edge adds a well overdue element into the franchise. Sure it's a tie-in book, but it's also a regular joy. <b>(4/5)</b><br />
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<b>The Terrifics #6</b><br />
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<i>DC Comics. Written by Jeff Lemire. Art by Joe Bennett, Sandra Hope, and Matt Santorelli. Colours by Hi-Fi.</i></blockquote>
There is some particularly clever panel layout work being done on this book. While it does go against my usual instincts - a low panel count means a low story count - it is quite simply so beautifully inventive that I have to applaud. Of course the actual story continues to coast along: I like the characters, the artwork is fine, but the actual tale being told feels well beneath Lemire's talents. I suspect it's going to scuttle the book in the long run: it's simply not exciting, urgent or original enough. <b>(3/5)</b>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883899214355622864.post-8940190793896296142018-09-03T11:25:00.002+10:002018-09-03T11:25:43.061+10:00The Angriest: August 2018 in review<br />
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With the Melbourne International Film Festival dominating August, most of my blogging this past month was based around film reviews for both FictionMachine and FilmInk. Over here at the Angriest, the most popular posts included <a href="http://angriest.blogspot.com/2018/08/the-pull-list-11-july-2018-part-1.html">reviews</a> of comic books including <em>Daredevil, Oblivion Song, </em>and <em>Hawkman</em>, and the classic <a href="http://angriest.blogspot.com/2018/08/dreamcast20-18-ikaruga.html">videogame</a> <em>Ikaruga. </em>Over at FictionMachine, the most popular new reviews were of the films <em><a href="http://fictionmachine.com/2018/08/09/review-crazy-rich-asians-2018/">Crazy Rich Asians</a> </em>and <em><a href="http://fictionmachine.com/2018/08/22/review-the-happytime-murders-2018/">The Happytime Murders</a>.</em><br />
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Altogether in August 2018, I wrote 12 reviews of new and festival films, two older films (both, weirdly, starring Tom Cruise), three Dreamcast videogames, and 32 comic books. A full index of posts is below the cut.<br />
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New or festival films reviewed (at <i>FictionMachine</i>, unless noted):<br />
<ul>
<li><i>Climax </i>(2018, <a href="https://www.filmink.com.au/reviews/41464/">review</a> at <i>FilmInk.</i>)</li>
<li><i>Crazy Rich Asians </i>(2018, <a href="http://fictionmachine.com/2018/08/09/review-crazy-rich-asians-2018/">review</a>)</li>
<li><i>The Deserted </i>(2017, <a href="http://fictionmachine.com/2018/08/18/review-the-deserted-2017/">review</a>)</li>
<li><em>The Guilty </em>(2018, <a href="https://www.filmink.com.au/reviews/guilty-melbourne-international-film-festival/">review</a> at <em>FilmInk.</em>)</li>
<li><i>The Happytime Murders </i>(2018, <a href="http://fictionmachine.com/2018/08/22/review-the-happytime-murders-2018/">review</a>)</li>
<li><i>The Kindergarten Teacher </i>(2018, <a href="http://fictionmachine.com/2018/08/19/review-the-kindergarten-teacher-2018/">review</a>)</li>
<li><i>Leave No Trace </i>(2018, <a href="http://fictionmachine.com/2018/08/08/review-leave-no-trace-2018/">review</a> at <i>FilmInk.</i>)</li>
<li><em>Mirai of the Future </em>(2018, <a href="https://www.filmink.com.au/reviews/mirai-of-the-future/">review</a> at <em>FilmInk.</em>)</li>
<li><em>The Miseducation of Cameron Post </em>(2018, <a href="https://fictionmachine.com/2018/08/26/review-the-miseducation-of-cameron-post-2018/">review</a>)</li>
<li><i>The Spy Who Dumped Me </i>(2018, <a href="http://fictionmachine.com/2018/08/08/review-the-spy-who-dumped-me-2018/">review</a>)</li>
<li><i>Submergence </i>(2017, <a href="https://fictionmachine.com/2018/08/21/review-submergence-2017/">review</a>)</li>
<li><i>Tigers Are Not Afraid </i>(2017, <a href="https://www.filmink.com.au/reviews/tigers-not-afraid-melbourne-international-film-festival/">review</a> at <i>FilmInk.</i>)</li>
</ul>
Older films reviewed (at <i>FictionMachine</i>, unless noted):<br />
<ul>
<li><em>Jack Reacher: Never Go Back </em>(2016, <a href="http://fictionmachine.com/2018/08/30/review-jack-reacher-never-go-back-2016/">review</a>)</li>
<li><i>Mission: Impossible </i>(1996, <a href="https://fictionmachine.com/2018/08/02/review-mission-impossible-1996/">review</a>)</li>
</ul>
Videogames reviewed:<br />
<ul>
<li><i>Ikaruga </i>(2002, <a href="http://angriest.blogspot.com/2018/08/dreamcast20-18-ikaruga.html">review</a>)</li>
<li><i>Sega Bass Fishing 2 </i>(2001, <a href="http://angriest.blogspot.com/2018/08/dreamcast20-17-sega-bass-fishing-2.html">review</a>)</li>
<li><i>Sonic Adventure </i>(1998, <a href="http://angriest.blogspot.com/2018/08/dreamcast20-16-sonic-adventure.html">review</a>)</li>
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Comic books reviewed:<br />
<ul>
<li>11 Jul (<a href="http://angriest.blogspot.com/2018/08/the-pull-list-11-july-2018-part-1.html">Part 1</a>) (<i>Hawkman, Daredevil, Ms Marvel, Oblivion Song, Star Wars: Darth Vader.</i>)</li>
<li>11 Jul (<a href="http://angriest.blogspot.com/2018/08/the-pull-list-11-july-2018-part-2.html">Part 2</a>) (<i>Superman, The Crow: Memento Mori, Detective Comics, Isola, Mech Cadet Yu, Port of Earth, Rat Queens, Transformers: Unicron.)</i></li>
<li>18 Jul (<a href="http://angriest.blogspot.com/2018/08/the-pull-list-18-july-2018-part-1.html">Part 1</a>) (<i>Batwoman, Batman, The Immortal Hulk, Quantum & Woody, Shadowman.</i>)</li>
<li>18 Jul (<a href="http://angriest.blogspot.com/2018/08/the-pull-list-18-july-2018-part-2.html">Part 2</a>) (<i>Infidel, The Avengers, Justice League, Star Wars: Poe Dameron, </i><i>Vs, The Wild Storm.</i>)</li>
<li>25 Jul (<a href="http://angriest.blogspot.com/2018/08/the-pull-list-25-july-2018-part-1.html">Part 1</a>) (<i>Saga, Doomsday Clock, Justice League Dark, Mera: Queen of Atlantis.</i>)</li>
<li>25 Jul (<a href="http://angriest.blogspot.com/2018/08/the-pull-list-25-july-2018-part-2.html">Part 2</a>) (<em>Descender, Aquaman, Detective Comics, Green Arrow.</em>)</li>
</ul>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883899214355622864.post-27992099881795367032018-08-31T11:08:00.000+10:002018-08-31T11:08:45.305+10:00The Pull List: 25 July 2018, Part 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR_uezwh7u5AenrWqVBOFwlPXljyfzQI5WNYH7Ob3D03HXdjRu4EnJpL02FYrKKnOgvsJbsAhqZM_4PFLw2620ou7lJvaPfs4LduzLyjgTe3O-X-5KnlAUD9tJB6GdniNw_CimGAydcqU/s1600/descender32.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="585" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR_uezwh7u5AenrWqVBOFwlPXljyfzQI5WNYH7Ob3D03HXdjRu4EnJpL02FYrKKnOgvsJbsAhqZM_4PFLw2620ou7lJvaPfs4LduzLyjgTe3O-X-5KnlAUD9tJB6GdniNw_CimGAydcqU/s320/descender32.png" width="208" /></a></div>
After 32 issues, Jeff Lemire and Dustin Nguyen's epic science fiction epic reaches its final issue; well, it sort of reaches it. Events pick up where issue #31 left off - a super-advanced civilization of artificially intelligent robots has returned to the galaxy to judge humanity's crimes against robot-kind and deliver a final genocidal punishment.<br />
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Expect a neatly tied-up conclusion for your 32 issues' of patience and you may be sorely disappointed. Things even in a cataclysmic but also wide-open fashion. There's no sense of resolution, but rather destruction on a mass scale and a hook to follow-up series <i>Ascender </i>in early 2019. It feels a bit like a switcheroo, since this isn't an end of a story all but rather the end of a chapter. Next year things pick up a decade later and with a new fantasy bent to things instead of the science fiction setting that has been used so far. It feels oddly unsatisfactory, and a little like the readers have been cheated.<br />
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I will probably check out <i>Ascender </i>when it arrives, but as a reader I'm not entirely happy with how this first series has panned out. <b>(3/5)</b><br />
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<i>Descender #32. Image. Written by Jeff Lemire. Art and colours by Dustin Nguyen.</i><br />
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Under the cut: reviews of <i>Aquaman, Detective Comics </i>and <i>Green Arrow.</i><br />
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<b>Aquaman #38</b><br />
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<i>DC Comics. Written by Dan Abnett. Art by Riccardo Federici. Colours by Sunny Gho.</i></blockquote>
At last it is time for the final showdown between Arthur Curry, aka the Aquaman, and Atlantis' corrupted and insane King Corum Rath. It's a high-stakes, high-tension finale. That is a hard thing to deliver after so many issues of build-up, but thankfully Adnett, Federici and Gho manage to achieve it. It's visually marvellous stuff, and feels high-budget in aesthetic and detail. It also achieves a great success in kicking things on to the next epic storyline. With anything luck it will be just as good. This has been an outstanding story arc that Aquaman fans will remember for years to come. <b>(5/5)</b><br />
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<b>Detective Comics #985</b><br />
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<i>DC Comics. Written by Bryan Hill. Art by Philippe Briones. Colours by Adriano Lucas.</i></blockquote>
This is a great storyline from Bryan Hill, in which a mysterious new super-villain is targeting Batman's sidekicks in a perverse attempt to make the Caped Crusader more effective. Bring in Black Lightning to safeguard and retrain the Signal, Batgirl and Orphan while Batman tracks the villain down. The dialogue and character work is strong, and Briones and Lucas produce excellent artwork. It's all a lead-up to a new <i>Outsiders </i>series, and so far it's making a strong pitch for my money. <b>(4/5)</b><br />
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<b>Green Arrow #42</b><br />
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<i>DC Comics. Written by Mairghread Scott. Art by Matthew Clark and Sean Parsons. Colours by Jason Wright.</i></blockquote>
In the sewers underneath a prison, Green Arrow tracks down the Parasite - or is the Parasite hunting him? This is a solid and enjoyable issue of <i>Green Arrow</i> - good artwork, and a neat little wrinkle on the usual superhero adventure - but at the same time it doesn't go too far beyond good, and certainly doesn't extend to being something great. The classic <i>GA </i>tone is there, however, so long-term fans of the character will find a lot to enjoy here: a bit of social justice tied up with the capes and costumes. <b>(3/5)</b><br />
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<b><br /></b>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883899214355622864.post-25653434146483676532018-08-30T22:13:00.000+10:002018-08-30T22:15:04.566+10:00Dreamcast20 #16: Sonic Adventure<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>2018 marks the 20th anniversary of the Dreamcast, Sega's final - and in my opinion the finest - home videogame console. Despite a range of excellent games, it simply failed to compete against Sony's PlayStation 2. To celebrate,</i> The Angriest <i>counts down its 20 best games.</i><br />
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Sonic the Hedgehog is Sega' most famous and popular mascot character, so it's no surprise that one of the Dreamcast's first major releases would be a new <i>Sonic </i>videogame. <i>Sonic Adventure </i>was a bold attempt to advance the <i>Sonic </i>franchise in much the same way that Nintendo had transformed and updated <i>Super Mario Bros </i>with the 3D action-adventure title <i>Super Mario 64.</i> To be honest, Sega's attempt was only a partial success - but those bits that <i>did </i>succeed were a lot of fun to play.</div>
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The reaction to <i>Sonic Adventure </i>back in 1998 was fairly divisive. Some players really enjoyed the game's attempts at a 3D environment and a more exploratory role for the player. Others felt that the game failed to capture the primary aim of a <i>Sonic </i>title; running very fast down a track to complete a level as quickly as possible. Certainly that sense of running through a level slightly too fast to feel one was in control was a key factor in previous <i>Sonic </i>games. The trick to enjoying <i>Adventure </i>seemed to be to acknowledge one wasn't playing a 'proper' <i>Sonic </i>game at all, but rather something entirely new.</div>
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The game is divided into two kinds of levels. The action levels are pretty much what players were likely expecting: typical speed-running <i>Sonic </i>gameplay in a 3D presentation - it wasn't a fully open world space, more like a corridor to run down, but it was energetic and fun and not too challenging. The adventure levels involved a lot more walking around a proper 3D environment undertaking a treasure hunt; sometimes they were fine, but occasionally these levels became interminable. The combination felt a little messy.</div>
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There was also a minigame attached utilising the Dreamcast's memory card, which had a small liquid crystal display that enabled it to be independently used as Tamagochi-style virtual pet. It was far from a necessary element of the game, but did add value.</div>
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Opinions really differ on <i>Sonic Adventure. </i>Some loved it, others hated it. I loved the bits I loved, and hated the ones I didn't.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883899214355622864.post-63471082583984852102018-08-27T13:21:00.000+10:002018-08-27T13:21:20.511+10:00The Pull List: 25 July 2018, Part 1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It is the final issue of another of <i>Saga</i>'s six-episode story arc, and as always it ends with surprises and gut-wrenching emotion. The Will has killed Prince Robot, and all that stands between him and the other refugees is Marko. A fight ensues.<br />
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That makes it a somewhat unusual issue of <i>Saga</i>. We don't usually see actual honest-to-god comic fights in this book. Moments of violence, yes. Character beats, yes. Enormous genitals honestly more often than I think non-readers would guess. A pitched one-on-one fight really stands out. It has a proper and genuine impact. Of course the writing is always good, and it is here too. The art and colours are always impressive and beautiful to read - except maybe for the enormous genitals. This issue, however, is one of those particularly impactful ones - and in part that's really frustrating because this is the last issue before creators Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples take a minimum 12 month sabbatical.<br />
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You can't really discuss this issue without ruining it. If you're reading <i>Saga </i>this issue is one of the particularly good ones. If you're not reading <i>Saga </i>I can only urge you to buy Volume 1 and read it from the beginning. You'll probably thank me. <b>(5/5)</b><br />
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<i>Saga #54. Image. Written by Brian K. Vaughan. Art and colours by Fiona Staples.</i><br />
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Under the cut: reviews of <i>Doomsday Clock, Justice League Dark, </i>and <i>Mera: Queen of Atlantis.</i><br />
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<b>Doomsday Clock #6</b><br />
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<i>DC Comics. Written by Geoff Johns. Art by Gary Frank. Colours by Brad Anderson.</i></blockquote>
As Mime and Marionette are taken prisoner by the Joker, their lives are revealed in flashback - and the blunt violence of <i>Watchmen </i>invades the more abstract villainy of the DC Universe. There is a question that keeps coming up in this series, issue by issue, and thus far writer Geoff Johns has failed to give his readers an answer: what is this series <i>for</i>? The original <i>Watchmen </i>had a strong purpose that helped to make it a masterpiece, but <i>Doomsday Clock </i>simply doesn't seem to have one. It mimics the Moore/Gibbons original well enough stylistically, but it lacks the original's intelligence. It feels less like a story and more like merchandise. The art is pretty and there's some solid dialogue, but it lacks purpose. <b>(3/5)</b><br />
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<b>Justice League Dark #1</b><br />
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<i>DC Comics. Written by James Tynion IV. Art by Alvaro Martinez Bueno and Raul Fernandez. Colours by Brad Anderson.</i></blockquote>
If DC wanted to know the secret to securing my love, it's their second-stringers: all the weird characters who are never popular enough to warrant their own ongoing series. They're pretty much on the money with their relaunch of <i>Justice League Dark</i>, which teams up Wonder Woman with Man-Bat, Detective Chimp,Swamp Thing, and Zatanna. The events of <i>Dark Nights: Metal </i>blew a hole in the universe, and while the main League fight against whatever weird menace threatens the Earth Wonder Woman is covering something entirely different that seems to be attacking magic instead. The premise is great, the set-up is effective, and James Tynion IV has picked one hell of a team to play with. I'm onboard and then some. <b>(4/5)</b><br />
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<b>Mera: Queen of Atlantis #6</b><br />
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<i>DC Comics. Written by Dan Abnett. Art by Lan Medina and Norm Rapmund. Colours by Vernoica Gandini.</i></blockquote>
To claim the throne of Atlantis and save both the kingdom and Aquaman, Mera fights a trial by combat against Orm, aka the Ocean Master. This miniseries finale leads directly into <i>Aquaman </i>#38, so if you're reading the latter it's worth tracking down the former. It's been a fairly run-of-the-mill superhero series, but it's been great finally seeing Mera get her own book - even if it's just for six issues. Sometimes it's nice to read a straightforward superhero book without pretension. <b>(3/5)</b>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883899214355622864.post-18118682578576913282018-08-26T20:03:00.002+10:002018-08-26T20:03:23.058+10:00The Pull List: 18 July 2018, Part 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgM6A55KQxHg7LF8dTx_UDZpMA1f2FprxPGyLClb0kSDXXWpywKVqWeCPC1Ofgzn1eV6RNkb5fQaK-neZjYgpD3HZ2MaeEyFXB65VjrbMmIj0PU4qFRW1w8vnZAbR6xGItf_Mziy4k5sk/s1600/infidel5.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="585" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgM6A55KQxHg7LF8dTx_UDZpMA1f2FprxPGyLClb0kSDXXWpywKVqWeCPC1Ofgzn1eV6RNkb5fQaK-neZjYgpD3HZ2MaeEyFXB65VjrbMmIj0PU4qFRW1w8vnZAbR6xGItf_Mziy4k5sk/s320/infidel5.png" width="208" /></a></div>
Aisha is not expected to survive in her hospital bed for much longer, but before she can get to her Medina has to survive escaping the apartment building. This is a rocket of a horror comic, sprinting at breakneck speed with everything brought up to a terrifying climax. It caps off a sensational five-issue miniseries.<br />
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Aaron Campbell nails the artwork in this finale, shifting style and tone from page to page to match the requirements of the script. As for that script, Pornsak Pichetshote absolutely perfects the ending. This has been a tremendous story about racism, religious intolerance and nightmarish surreal horror. Horror is a hard genre to do in comic book form: it relies so much on the unknown, yet unlike film - which can flash moment of fear at a viewer - or prose - which forces the reader to imagine the nightmare - the comic book delivers still images which can be stared at and examined for as long as the reader chooses. It's a challenge that the writing and art absolutely meet. If you like horror, you need to put the impending trade paperback onto your to-read list.<br />
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This has been a fabulous debut for Pichetshote. I cannot wait to read what comes next. <b>(5/5)</b><br />
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<i>Infidel #5. Image. Written by Pornsak Pichetshote. Art by Aaron Campbell. Colours by Jose Villarrubia.</i><br />
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Under the cut: reviews of <i>The Avengers, Justice League, Star Wars: Poe Dameron, Vs, </i>and <i>The Wild Storm.</i><br />
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<b>The Avengers #5</b><br />
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<i>Marvel. Written by Jason Aaron. Art by Ed McGuinness, Paco Medina, Juan Viasco, Mark Morales, and Karl Story. Colours by David Curiel.</i></blockquote>
Ghost Rider rescues Captain America from Loki and the Progenitor, while the Avengers prepare to save the Earth from an ancient alien infection. This opening arc from Jason Aaron has honestly become stronger each issue, with back story and plot developments bolstering things up and transforming a weird meandering semi-reboot into a hugely entertaining superhero romp. This issue it's Ghost Rider who gets the best deal, with a sort of wobbly weak re-working of the character finally getting a bit of individuality and strength. <b>(4/5)</b><br />
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<b>Justice League #4</b><br />
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<i>DC Comics. Written by Scott Snyder. Art by Jorge Jimenez. Colours by Alejandro Sanchez.</i></blockquote>
The Justice League continues to fall in the face of the mysterious Totality. Superman and the Martian Manhunter are ambushed by a miniaturised Luthor and Joker hidden inside their bodies. Cyborg and Green Lantern fight against a super-charged Sinestro. Wonder Woman, Aquaman and the Flash are at the mercy of Gorilla Grodd. The Legion of Doom is back at the worst possible time and now the entire universe is in danger. Big picture action, crazy science fiction ideas, beautiful artwork and colouring. When DC gets the League right, it's a wonderful thing to read. <b>(4/5)</b><br />
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<b>Star Wars: Poe Dameron #29</b><br />
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<i>Marvel. Written by Charles Soule. Art by Angel Unzueta. Colours by Arif Prianto.</i></blockquote>
In the aftermath of <i>The Last Jedi</i>, Black Squadron head out on a secret mission to secure support against the First Order - only to find themselves cruelly deceived. This comic emerges from its needless "meanwhile" story arc covering the events of <i>The Force Awakens</i>, and dives straight into a fairly dull and predictable story about fighter pilots visiting an alien planet with its own political troubles. You can guess where the plot is going from the outset, and none of the characters seems particularly interesting or distinctive. The art is attractive but remains fairly stiff. Unless you're in the hardcore, miss this. <b>(2/5)</b><br />
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<b>Vs #5</b><br />
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<i>Image. Written by Ivan Brandon. Art by Esad Ribic. Colours by Nic Klein.</i></blockquote>
It is time for Satta Flynn to make his final stand, as the authorities attempt to kill him for good. The artwork has always been the star of this series, with Esad Ribic presenting a phenomenally high budget look and a constantly growing sense of power and scale. The design work is second-to-none, and Nic Klein's colours have ensured everything looks rich and cinematic. It's in Ivan Brandon's scripting and story where the series has wobbled a little. There's a lack of clarity that, if filled, would have turned a fun and visually exciting book into a genuinely great one. <b>(3/5)</b><br />
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<b>The Wild Storm #15</b><br />
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<i>DC Comics. Written by Warren Ellis. Art by Jon Davis-Hunt. Colours by Steve Buccellato and John Kalisz.</i></blockquote>
Skywatch and IO sit perched on the edge of global war. John Lynch's latest attempt to warn a Thunderbolt test subject that IO is hunting them down ends in violence. Jack Hawksmoor discovers he has been redesigned to survive a post-apocalyptic Earth in the future. The art in this 15th issue is particularly strong and effective, notable Jack's flashbacks to having his body rebuilt. The story, as always, steps forward in multiple separate threads without too much consideration for pacing. On a scene by scene basis, however this issue is particularly well written and illustrated. <b>(4/5)</b>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883899214355622864.post-32463997936176072712018-08-23T09:48:00.003+10:002018-08-23T09:48:36.916+10:00Dreamcast20 #17: Sega Bass Fishing 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>2018 marks the 20th anniversary of the Dreamcast, Sega's final - and in my opinion the finest - home videogame console. Despite a range of excellent games, it simply failed to compete against Sony's PlayStation 2. To celebrate,</i> The Angriest <i>counts down its 20 best games.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>I am not usually a fan of sports games, but in the case of <i>Sega Bass Fishing </i>and its sequel I found myself making a surprised exception. The first game was entertaining enough, but as is often the case the 2001 sequel added an impressive list of additional features that made it a richer and more appealing game. There was an expected tournament mode, but also a more relaxing free fishing mode that simply let the player go fishing in the location and style of their choice.<br />
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The game made obvious but excellent use of the Sega Fishing Controller, a specialised rod controller that better simulated the experience of fishing. Dedicated peripherals were a major element of the Dreamcast, whether the Fighting Controller, the Arcade Stick, the Microphone, Modem, Lightgun, or even a set of Maracas. The Fishing Controller was one of the more effective additions to the console, even if its uses were limited.<br />
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This is a great example of Sega's arcade titles of the time, which was a creative high point for the company. It has crisp, appealing visuals, a catchy J-rock soundtrack, simple but addictive gameplay, and just an all-round clean aesthetic. It is the sort of title that made me such an enthused fan of the Dreamcast as a console. The focus was purely on fun, and taking a simple and easy to understand task and turning it into something you simply keep replaying. The 'one more go' effect is high with this one.<br />
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The <i>Sega Bass Fishing </i>franchise has continued well past arcades and the Dreamcast, with subsequent installments arriving for the PlayStation 2, Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii, and Windows. Numerous copycat games by independent studios have also continued to hit the market over the past two decades. It's a formula that works.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883899214355622864.post-68132447286951060712018-08-21T10:31:00.000+10:002018-08-21T10:36:50.440+10:00The Pull List: 18 July 2018, Part 1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Kate Kane is back in Gotham City, caring for her sister at last and teaming up with ex-girlfriend Detective Renee Montaya to fight another unexpected super-criminal. That makes this issue an incredible breath of fresh air, replacing the overwrought anguish and self-analysis that has flooded this title for multiple volumes with likeable characters and a well-developed story. I had almost given up on the character, but as always a back-to-basics approach saves the day.<br />
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Renee is a fabulous character and it's great to see her return to the DCU. One assumes that with the last reboot her history as the Question has been erased, which is a shame - but there's always the possibility of pushing her back in that direction in future. Her arrival also continues pushing this title for strong female characters, putting her alongside not just Kate and Alice but Julia Pennyworth as well. Fernando Blanco's artwork continues to be solid, serving the story ahead of anything else. With luck this new approach will continue for a while. With the CW Network preparing a <i>Batwoman </i>television series, it would be a shame to have the comic book end now of all times. <b>(4/5)</b><br />
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<i>Batwoman #17. DC Comics. Written by Marguerite Bennett. Art by Fernando Blanco. Colours by John Rauch.</i><br />
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Below the cut: reviews of <i>Batman</i>, <i>The Immortal Hulk, Quantum & Woody </i>and <i>Shadowman.</i><br />
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<b>Batman #51</b><br />
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<i>DC Comics. Written by Tom King. Art by Len Weeks. Colours by Elizabeth Breitweiser.</i></blockquote>
Mr Freeze has been captured, assaulted by the Batman and charged with a triple homicide. Now at trial, a jury of 12 Gotham citizens are assembled to deliver a verdict. Everyone thinks Freeze did it except one: Bruce Wayne. That's a killer hook for this new storyline, one which finds Wayne in a particularly bleak position - abandoned at the altar by Selina and fighting crime in a particularly brutal fashion. Len Weeks' artwork is excellent, and distinctly different from the last artist Mikel Janin. <b>(5/5)</b><br />
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<b>The Immortal Hulk #3</b><br />
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<i>Marvel. Written by Al Ewing. Art by Joe Bennett, Leonardo Romero, Paul Hornschemeier, Ruy Jose, Marguerite Sauvage, and Garry Brown. Colours by Paul Mounts, </i><i>Paul Hornschemeier, and Marguerite Sauvage.</i></blockquote>
A collection of unreliable narrators tell this short, smart Hulk adventure, each version illustrated by a different artist or team. It's funny as well as horrific, in what has quickly solidified into a distinctive and original style for this latest Hulk volume. The differing art styles really bring out the various voices, each of which comes with their own personal beliefs and biases. We're only three episodes in, but this series is showing off an impressive amount of creativity. It is hard to predict where the story is headed, and that makes each of these early issues a delight. <b>(5/5)</b><br />
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<b>Quantum & Woody #8</b><br />
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<i>Valiant. Written by Eliot Rahal. Art by Joe Eisma. Colours by Andrew Dalhouse.</i></blockquote>
It's time for a new storyline and a debut for new artist Joe Eisma. The comedic heroes are back from the atomic realm, but have brought dangers back with them. What's worse, their power restrictions have been reversed: now if they stick together their abilities disappear! The tone of Eliot Rahal's script is consistently amusing and breezy, but unfortunately Eisma's artwork does not sell it particularly well. The proportions are a little too off to work properly, and with Andrew Dalhouse's colouring everything looks a little too weak and blurry. It's not a dealbreaker, but it's not a selling point either. <b>(2/5)</b><br />
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<b>Shadowman #5</b><br />
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<i>Valiant. Written by Andy Diggle. Art by Doug Braithwaite. Colours by Jose Villarrubia.</i></blockquote>
Introducing Marius Bonniface: the first Shadowman. This is a neat slice of comic book horror, and certainly the period setting helps it a great deal. I am not usually too invested in Shadowman, but this issue shows that with a more old-fashioned setting to sit alongside the gothic horror there's a lot more potential to the character than you usually get. Doug Braithwaite's artwortk and Jose Villarrubia's colours both really bring their A-game this issue. It's a slick, entertaining piece of work. <b>(4/5)</b>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0