Category Archives: Comics 101

The recent struggles faced by the MCU, with underperforming projects, departure of key personnel, and complex storytelling, raise questions about its future. While it’s going through a challenging phase, it’s important to acknowledge that several real-world factors, like contractual issues, tragic events, and external pressures, have contributed to these challenges. There’s hope that with a clearer path ahead, the MCU can overcome these obstacles.

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official_looking_timeline_for_the/In recent times, Marvel Studios has faced criticism for its abundance of content on Disney+, which has diluted the impact of its projects. While some MCU shows have succeeded by exploring characters and experimenting with storytelling, others have fallen short by relying too heavily on epic battles and convoluted plots. The overemphasis on explaining intricate time travel and multiverse concepts has also made the narrative more complex and less engaging for viewers.

Additionally, the departure of key actors and the effort to elevate secondary characters have posed challenges for Marvel. The loss of iconic figures like Iron Man, Captain America, and Black Panther has left a void that supporting characters are struggling to fill. The introduction of new characters hasn’t always yielded the desired results, and some projects have faced delays.

Despite these challenges, the MCU continues to expand with new characters, storylines, and timelines, making it increasingly difficult to follow and maintain viewer engagement. As it navigates these complexities, Marvel must strike a balance between quantity and quality, focusing on storytelling and character development rather than relying solely on spectacular battles and intricate plotlines. Ultimately, the future of the MCU remains uncertain, but there’s hope that it can regain its former glory by addressing these issues and delivering compelling narratives that resonate with audiences.

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Artists Spotlight, Comics 101, Indie Pennant

Comic Book Review: Calico

January 17, 2021 Alpha Omega

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Welcome back GiGa Community; as you all know, at fifteen years old, in 1992, I had an opportunity and pleasure of interning at Marvel Comics in Manhattan, New York; Spider-man office to be exact. It was during that year that I had delved into the comic book industry, soaking it all in, down to my very fabric of my soul. I loved all of the intellectual properties, their stories, and the craft; I knew I wanted Comics to be a part of my future life story. I was a fan of some characters, and ambivalent to others, but never the less, just like family I loved them all (Some more than others of course); the environment moved my soul. To this day, I still find being an artist to be one of my first loves, and comic books satisfied that yearning. The culmination of efforts between a writer, penciler, inker, letterer, colorist, and editor was to me, an amalgamation of geniuses at work. I love and respect the craft.

GiGa: GeekMagazine was contacted by Sigma Comics asking for an honest review of their newly released comic series, Calico. I was unsure of who this new IP was that was entering the competitive arena, so I did superficial research, watched an interview, and a review; it seemed to be worth the read. The first complimentary comic came and as busy as I am, I opened it and felt the cover art seemed acceptable for a comic book in 2021, but I didn’t have a peaceful undisturbed moment to read it, so I left it on my desk to be ready for the day I found a free opportunity to read it, then write a review. My family and I left the house for a few hours, and when I returned I went straight to my office and hadn’t realized the comic was no longer on my desk. A few seconds after I sat down, my daughter calls me, “Papi, look what Ivi did”!

Ivi Snow knew She really did it this time.

Ivi Snow is one of my two white German Shepherds, she is 1½ years old, so I am accustomed to finding “surprises” when we come back home; I thought it was poop again. A minute later my daughter comes to my office holding my complimentary issue of Calico in shreds. Needless to say I was peeved and Ivi knew it. Then I remembered what the premise of the comic was. “NYC HAS A NEW ANTI–HERO. Every day millions of animals are abused and killed. Animal rights groups and charities try to help, yet the savagery continues.” Sigma Comics appears to be committed to fighting animal abuse. I laughed at the irony of this moment and took a picture of her with the destroyed comic, apparently, she enjoyed the comic. I couldn’t read it, as a substantial part of the first few pages were now gone. With that above picture attached to an email to Sigma comics, I humbly apologized and requested another review copy, I was willing to pay for it at this point, but the great people at Sigma found humor in the event as well and sent me another.
When the next copy arrived I kept it in my safe this time, and that night when I was done with work, I read it before I went to bed. I opened the cover and this time, I was able to really absorb the content. I applauded the first impression, it was transparent in showing their allegiance to the cause, “American Humane”, as a parent to two German Shepherds, I was sold.

The first page was gripping, showing an example of the atrocities committed upon animals and the visualization was almost too tough to bear, but I was roped in, I had to read on. We get our first glimpse into the soul of our Anti-Hero on page two, with tears running from angry eyes, the penciler, inker, and colorist nailed the conviction this character was driven by, and we’re then introduced to Calico “A one-man arsenal of destruction in constant pursuit of justice for the smallest and weakest among us…”

In his apartment he works his frustration on a double end bag, his thoughts speak poignant commentary as to the nature of life being nothing but conflict in every facet of existence and we see where his psychological state dwells; he’s scared and/or resentful of life and bitterly expresses this in his own twisted way. The Boxing Gym advertisement on page 5 could easily be dismissed as fictitious until a little research clarified that it is indeed a real business; as an ex-fighter boxer, martial artist, and ex-body guard myself, I respected that blurring between fantasy and reality as it was perfectly in line with the tale that I was uploading to my brain.

The writer then takes the reader on a journey through the life of Calico, recalling childhood memories of being bullied. This alludes to post traumatic damage; he hates bullies and had long since made the decision to suffer them no longer. We next accompany the protagonist from his apartment to a local boxing gym where he trains and prepares for an upcoming tournament, and while there, he loses himself in the art of combat. His thoughts become louder than spoken words; he’s a fighter with unfortunate luck, struggling skill, and lots of animosity. Here is where the reader learns this character has no reservation about the thought of condemning the abuser to death and that animals were his only friends since his youth.

Page 8 we’re given a full frontal nude of the hero in the shower after leaving the gym, even in the shower he’s consumed by antipathy as conveyed by more flashbacks of the same bully from his youth; he’s never recovered from those years. This memory was different, ironically, it was in this recollection where he was impressed by an alley-cat that scared off the bully and his dog, which serves as a perfect transition into revealing his super-hero outfit emblazoned with a black cat’s profile in front of what appears to be a moon. He also has a flying robotic AI assistant named Bumble that is a metallic sphere with one camera eye. Then, we’re back to his childhood memories, this time he evokes the very first time he inflicted pain by punching that bully in the face before fleeing the scene. Page 13 is where things escalate quickly, so I won’t spoil it for interested readers.

So here’s my honest review and rating:

Comic book Production:
I feel the writing could have been more impacting and/or expansive; a name would have been nice to have, but it served its purpose; The art is what communicated the story the most. Lettering was great, the penciling and inking were acceptable as well, but gets a little hard to understand what’s happening during the murder scene.
The Character:
His real name is never revealed, but from how Calico was insultingly called a “Dominican York” translated from Spanish, he is likely Latino. I think the character is less anti-hero and more of a deranged, sociopathic, villain with post-traumatic stress. He’s fed a list of targets by an unknown accomplice, he intends to kill, (and/or violate) which to me is the modus operandi of a serial killer. I couldn’t see the word “Hero” being applicable to this guy in anyway.
The full frontal nude, to me, was unnecessary, but being a student at the Art Institute of Atlanta I’ve drawn male nudes before, so I respect the art, 100%. That scene only became awkward after the second penis comment. Which helped me to get a better understanding of the mind of the protagonist as portrayed and communicated by the writer. I think the outfit really is too similar to Black Panther.
As per the multiple male phallus related comments and insults, along with, what I found to be excessive homo-erotic language, it seemed in my humble opinion, as if there’s other unresolved issues besides being bullied that Calico has never addressed. In one scene, I had to look at one scene under better light to understand that Calico actually violates or rapes his victim with a red hot pipe, all while making references to size; he says to his victim, “Relax! It’s only one-inch thick pipe. In penis size its only four-inch girth. You got this”. the last unnecessary thing I read that really nailed the coffin shut for me was the statement, “F*** em. Hard. in the @ss. With no vaseline”.
Concept:
I personally, don’t think the character could have longevity, and if so possibly as a novelty act; appropriate for an 8-Issue Series. He possibly may develop a fan base, but with a very niche market. He is not a “Deadpool” type of anti-hero, I’d say this brooding character is damaged psychologically which easily could bleed over into villainy. I couldn’t see the Dark Knight tolerating this character, or working with him in any way, and would probably bring him to justice. In comparison to other anti-heroes, such as Hulk, Ghost Rider, Blade, or the Punisher, I’d say even Frank Castle wouldn’t see his motivations, means, or ends as acceptable. I see a more deviant sociopathic “Joker” kind of weirdness from Calico minus the smiles and laughing.

Conclusion: It’s a comic book, it fits the criteria. I wasn’t left feeling like I want to read more, but I am only one man, with one opinion worth 2 cents. I endeavor to say it could have been written for a broader appeal to a wider audience; for me, I feel the niche-aspect will leave some put off or uninterested. But somehow, I’m sure this will pull the targeted audience it was meant for. In the end, Sigma successfully this debut is a great accomplishment for the creators and production team and for that I salute and respect their creative vision, hard work, and love for the craft.

I’d give it 3 out 5 Stars
?????

~Jack~

Image Sources:
> https://sigmacomics.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/sigma-comics-large.jpg
> https://prnewswire2-a.akamaihd.net/p/1893751/sp/189375100/thumbnail/entry_id/1_gapzb7c1/def_height/800/def_width/520/version/100011/type/1

Comics 101

ARTIST ALLEY: Michael Allan Nelson

May 28, 2016 Kate Kane

Michael Alan Nelson is a writer currently is residing in LA, California. With 2 awards (2004, 2011), several short comic stories based on the HP Lovecraft’s Cthulhu and Supergirl to his name, his latest run has been with a rather interesting series going by the name of Hexed.

Tell us a bit about Hexed

MAN: Hexed is about a young woman named Lucifer who makes her living as a thief in a mystical underworld, all while trying to find a way to remove the hex that has been placed on her by the mysterious Keeper of Secrets. Lucifer works for a woman named Val Brisendine who operates an art gallery as a front for hiding all the magical pieces Lucifer steals. But as Lucifer goes about her thieving way, she crosses paths with several baddies, some of whom are dangerous in the extreme. The story follows Lucifer on her quest to free herself from her hex while keeping the world safe from deadly magic and the evil creatures who wield it.

How did you get into Hexed?

MAN: I created Lucifer (and the Harlot-Keeper of Secrets) in my series Fall of Cthulhu. But as that series wrapped up, we realized that Lucifer was such a fun character that we didn’t want her story to end. We thought it would be fun to put her in a universe of my own making. Thankfully, the folks at BOOM! Studios liked the character and the idea of creating my own universe for her so they let me run with it. The rest, as they say, is history.

Who was your favourite character to write?

The Harlot with Val running a close second. While I love Lucifer, there’s something about the Harlot’s foreknowledge that is so much fun to play with. I can also use an odd diction with her that I can’t with Lucifer. Some of the turns of phrase that I like to write would sound odd coming from a young woman, but not so much from an ancient mystical god. She can be snarky, heartfelt, and threatening all in the same sentence. That’s something that would be more difficult to pull off with a human character.

Was it the character itself or the story that made you pick that character as a favourite?

MAN: The character. Everything comes from the character. Don’t get me wrong, I love the story and the arcs the characters take, but it really is their personalities that make them come alive for me. The Harlot’s underlying madness, Val’s patient frustration, Lucifer’s cross-your-fingers-and-hope-for-the-best devil-may-care attitude. Having those characters with those traits really make writing them enjoyable. If it was just moving them through plot points, it wouldn’t be nearly as much fun to write (or read).

What inspired you to work in comics?

MAN: My brother got me into it actually. He coloured comics in the 90s and knew that I’ve always wanted to be a writer. I had been struggling with novels and short stories since I was a teenager, so he asked if I thought about writing comics. So he introduced me to a few people in the industry and I started studying on the process. A couple years later, Ross Richie (the founder of BOOM! Studios) asked me if I’d like to write a short comic for his Zombie Tales anthology he was publishing. So I gave it a shot and, for some reason, he liked it and has been asking me to write for him ever since.

What is the piece you are most proud of?

MAN: Hexed. It’s by far the best thing I’ve ever written. I’m proud of most of my work, but I think the full story of Hexed, from its very beginning to the very last issue is, hands down, the best story telling I’ve done to date.

Who is your ultimate dream team to work on a comic with?

MAN: Oh, that’s a difficult question to answer and one that entirely depends on the project. There are so many wonderful and talented people in the industry that it’s hard to narrow down a “dream” team. To be honest I would just want to put them all in a room and eavesdrop on them talking about the craft of graphic storytelling.

What is your current project?

MAN: I’m trying to develop a few stories at the moment, just working on a few comic ideas and some more prose as well. I won’t have anything coming out in 2016, but I hope to see some of these ideas come to life next year.

What is a typical day in the life of you when working on comics?

MAN: I’m sure it would look quite boring from the outside. I wake up, drink some coffee and start writing. When the writing gets tough, that’s when I take a walk to help clear my head. Then I’ll head back to it, taking a break every now and then to eat or go for another walk. But my brain is pretty much toast by mid-afternoon. So I try to get as much done as early as I can. But if I spend my morning scanning news feeds or lurking on Twitter, the day ends up being a wash.

How long does it take to do a single issue script?

MAN: I’ve written some scripts in 24 hours and others have taken me a full month to write. But usually I can hammer out a first draft in a week. Then it takes about another week to do any rewrites or address any notes my editor may have.

The time also depends on the publisher/creative team. For most of my BOOM! Work, I write a complete script first before sending it off to the artists. When I was writing for DC, I would write “Marvel” style scripts which were much quicker since I was only giving a general overview of what happened on each page. However, that meant writing the bulk of the dialog after the art came back. That added a bit of extra time.

What is the process you go through?

MAN: Whenever I write a story, I usually create the interesting moments first. I’ll come up with the scenes, the tent-pole moments, then find the best way to connect them. I try to outline whenever possible since it helps if I know where I’m headed. I’ve written stories before where I had no idea where the story was going to go and, more often than not, it turned out to be a mess. Sometimes it works, but not very often. But if I have a key moment that I’m building toward, it makes creating the connective tissue that much easier for me.

Who are your inspirations?

MAN: That is a long and inexhaustible list.

What is your dream project?

MAN: A Hexed television show. It would be an utter dream to see Lucifer’s story on the screen.

If you could pick anyone to act as your mentor, who would it be?

MAN: If I could pick ANYONE, living or dead, it would have to be Orson Welles. I would give anything to have had the chance to sit in a room with him and listen to him discuss story and character, let alone have him take me under his wing. I have no idea if he could have made me a better writer, but I bet he could have certainly made me a better story teller.

Have you done anything at a convention, as in had a table in artist alley or a booth or been a guest?

MAN: I’ve been going to conventions as a guest of BOOM! Studios for over ten years now. So I’ve had a chance to meet fans from all over North America. I was even a guest at the Middle East Film and Comicon in Dubai one year. That was such a fantastic show and a great experience meeting fans from that part of the world. I also occasionally do more prose-focused shows like BEA or ALA, though not quite as much as I used to.

What was the most memorable fan moment you have had?

MAN: I’ve had so many memorable fan moments, but I think the most surprising was when a fan of Hexed came to the booth to show me her Lucifer tattoo. I was completely stunned and amazed that my story had moved someone so much that they were willing to permanently mark their body to show their love for the character. It was an incredibly humbling moment.

Have people ever cosplayed your work?

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How has the industry changed since you first started?

MAN: When I began writing in 2005, the industry was pretty much dominated by the Big Two. However, in that time we’ve really seen the rise of the independents like Image and BOOM! Studios. They’re taking the industry by storm and I love it! We’re seeing such great stories and ideas that go beyond the superheroes that the medium has been known for. It really is a new golden age and it’s fun to be a part of it.

How do you feel about the change to mainstream thanks to shows like The Big Bang Theory and the movies now in the cinema like Spiderman and Batman vs Superman?

MAN: It’s always wonderful to see comics and their most popular characters go on to other mediums, but I would like to see that mainstream popularity transfer to an increase in popularity for the MEDIUM of comics, not just the characters that began there. People will rave about an Avengers movie making a billion dollars and that certainly is a wonderful thing. But the popularity of the films aren’t directly proportional to the popularity of the comics. Yes, the comics a movie is based on will see an uptick in sales when the movie comes out, but I don’t believe that uptick is coming from a majority of new readers coming into the medium. And that’s what I want to see. I want to see people who love these films go and read the comics those films are based on. And once they fall in love with the medium itself, go out and find other stories they enjoy. That’s why I’m such a huge fan of The Walking Dead. Because I believe the show has brought in new readers to the comics medium. I want to see more of that.

Anything extra you would like to share:

MAN: Yes, buy my books! And not just my books, but the books of any creator whose work you enjoy. If you love someone’s work, support them so they can continue to create the stories you enjoy.

Fun time:

Who is your favourite comic book character?

MAN: Spider Jerusalem

Who is your favourite author(books)?

MAN: George R.R. Martin

What is your favourite movie?

MAN: The Princess Bride

What is your favourite band/music artist?

MAN: Joe Satriani

What is a quirk you have (like dipping fries into chocolate Sunday)?

MAN: I get really freaked out if I see someone put their socks and shoes on by covering one foot completely before starting on the next foot. You put your socks on first, then your shoes. You don’t dress one foot completely and then the other. That’s just…wrong.

Pick-

Day or night

MAN: Night.

Star trek or star wars

MAN: Star Trek

Coffee or tea

MAN: Coffee

Summer or winter

MAN: Summer

Cats or dogs

MAN: Dogs

Batman or Superman

MAN: Batman

Movies or a book

MAN: Books

Pizza or Burgers

MAN: Pizza

Coke or Pepsi

MAN: Neither. It’s all carbonated battery acid.

For those wanting to see more of Michael’s work you can find him on Facebook, Twitter and his website.

Cinema Sit-Down, Comics 101, Movies/TV, Pop Culture, Random Giga, Social/World Views, Variant News, World News

Captain America – What Happened!?

May 28, 2016 Alpha Omega

On Wednesday May 25, 2016, patriotic comic lovers the world over discovered that their beloved American hero and patron saint, Steve Rogers, aka Captain America, is a secret member of Hydra, the nefarious group who played a major role in WWII Axis forces. According to Marvel “Hydra is a world-wide subversive organization dedicated to global domination. At its height, Hydra was the most extensive, powerful, and dangerous such organization in history”, basically, the bad guys.

“What”?

Many are highly offended, others heart broken. It’s probably the same as telling a kid there is no Santa Clause for the first time; it probably hurts “Right There” provoking the “Say it ain’t so” cry. Some prefer ignorance to enlightenment, living a “What I don’t know won’t hurt me” mentality. People need their fairy tales, “please, don’t challenge the story.., even if it’s all a lie”. This news must sting like a slap to the face; for some.

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Nevertheless, the world changes as time moves along; evolving alongside humanity, whether we like it or not. I’m sure people who are 70 look at the world today and say, “That’s not how you wear a baseball cap! What is this? This place sucks”. It’s the natural passage of time that makes you feel your age; witnessing things changing at an uncomfortable rate. The next generation will swear this is how it’s always been, slow conditioning to accept a new standard of what can be called the “new norm”. Is change a bad thing? Not all, but there will always be a transitional period where things are a bit uncomfortable; it’s to be expected.

I remember during my time at Marvel Comics back in 1991, things were so much more different than the Marvel everyone knows now. Nick Fury was Caucasian, now, the majority of people will only know him as a black guy. That bothered me for a while until I realized that comics are a business. They don’t want it be a niche hobby like the 80’s. They want the comics industry to be big screen, commercialized, and mainstream. That’s where the money is; getting a larger audience. How do they do that? Simple, it’s what always made comics a bit edgy. Comics have always been a great platform to mirror and parody real life. There was a gay hero when that became a hot societal topic, Black Panther when society was going through that phase, etc., etc. etc.

Captain America was created during another societal phase ie. times of war, a time period of fierce war propaganda. The American public just wasn’t that “quick on the uptake” back then. They were easily fooled, easily frightened. So, heroes were created that were in-line with the propaganda of the time period. Remember, back then, radio and TV were law, and could do no wrong; now, the world and it’s people are much more informed. We’re a much smarter society than that of 1942, a time when people still gleaned most of their news from the printed papers, and word of mouth. People are beginning to educate themselves and are discovering for themselves the dark side of the “American Idea”.

Many of us have grown up, we’re smart enough to use the internet to learn the truth about America’s dirty dealings, and it was only natural that comics follow suit to reflect this new age of information. I think this shocking revelation bothers people because, we just don’t want to believe that anything “America” is a lie, or at the very least a boat load of half-truths. America has haystacks full of ugly secrets; all you have to do is start researching. Just do research on The Bush Family Nazi connection, to begin with. America has been in bed with the enemy, or secretly was the enemy, on many occasions in our country’s history. But, is anyone up in arms that this is a reflection of America’s true shadowy history? Nope. As long as we don’t challenge the comics. People like to read for entertainment, but not to expand their mind.

Then, there is also the claim that these turn of events, are an insult to its Jewish creators even though most uniformed people are unaware that Prescott Bush (George W. Bushes Grandfather), a representative of the American government, helped finance Hitler’s campaign with the help of Jewish Bankers (Warburg). This is history. And we’re angry about a comic?

In the end, it is evident that a spoiled and privileged country and its people simply don’t like truth and this is as real as it gets. It’s easier to fool someone then it is to convince them that they’ve been fooled. The revelation hurts so much more when you discover it’s not just in a comic book; it’s a hint at truth unspoken.

Overall, I personally, applaud Marvel for understanding that the public is a lot smarter then yesterday and much more informed. Thank you for creating a story that reflects REAL LIFE.

~Jack~

——————————————————
Author: Montemoiño Jack

Editor: Kate Kane

Cinema Sit-Down, Comics 101, Movies/TV

Rick Talks Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice

April 8, 2016 Jack Montemoiño

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WILLIAM RICK LLANERAS · THURSDAY, APRIL 7, 2016
Edited by: J.A.M.

Last night, I finally went to see the new Batman Vs Superman: Dawn of Justice movie. Here’s my Spoiler-Free review…

First off, I don’t know what the f–k people were thinking when they labeled this a “bad” movie. What in the world were they looking for? It’s a popcorn flick, not Shakespeare! This movie was great! I also heard people griping that it had too many plots and side stories, and too much was happening all at once, so they couldn’t follow the story. In reality, it incorporated many different stories/plots from past Batman/Superman comics. So if you’ve never read a good Superhero comic I can totally understand one’s inability to follow various story arcs that occur concurrently. However, if you are an avid comic book fan (or at the very least, a soap opera fan) and still couldn’t follow this movie, that’s on YOU, not Director Zack Snyder. He did a good job with this one.

Was it perfect? No. Despite it’s 2:33 runtime, I personally think it should have been longer. Certain parts should have been expanded for character depth and clarity. –Hopefully, that’s what the announced R-Rated Director’s Cut on Blu-ray will offer. I also selfishly admit I really wanted to see Batman kick more ass. lol. Regardless, it’s waaay better than the reviews it’s been getting lately. –Many of which were written by “fanboys” who always expect a movie to directly follow it’s comic book counterpart. These Sphinters always catch titty-attacks whenever a director exhibits creative control and slightly deviates from what we’re all used to. Yes, at times that can backfire. (See the 2011 Green Lantern movie, and the recent 2015 Fantastic Four movie. Well, actually DON’T see them. They’re both horrible!) In the case of Batman vs. Superman, it worked! Just like Marc Webb’s recent re-imagining of Spider-Man in The Amazing Spider-Man (2012), Zack Snyder’s interpretation was well done.

As for the stars, Gal Gadot was a very cool Wonder Woman. Jesse Eisenberg’s Lex Luthor was good, but could have used a little more depth to better explain his maniacal mindset. Henry Cavill was good as a very conflicted Clark Kent/Superman. Amy Adams was ok again as Lois Lane. Jeremy Irons was a cool “modern” Alfred. Happily, one of my character criticisms from the 2013 Man of Steel movie was slightly rectified, as Diane Lane’s Martha Kent was used a little better this time around.

Now for the part many of you have been waiting for… Ben Affleck. Um… Where do I start? HE WAS F—NG GREAT!!! Not only as Batman, but especially as an anger-driven Bruce Wayne in a world that was changed suddenly, dramatically, and violently when Zod and Superman entered it. In this new world of God-like beings, even Batman had to evolve. He was already becoming a little more violent and extreme in his tactics, but to rid the world of what he perceived as a global threat, he had to step up his game up even more. Affleck looked the part. He fought like Batman is suppose to fight! His costumes were awesome. His Batman voice was cool! –Definitely better than Christian Bales’ Batman voice. Seriously, is it me or did Bale’s Batman voice always sound like he was forcefully pushing a turd out of his butt. lol. For all of you people who hated on Affleck the day he was cast in the role, (yes I remember seeing MANY Facebook post crapping on the guy), you were dead wrong! –Just like everyone who criticized Michael Keaton when he was first cast as Bruce Wayne/Batman back in 1989, and everyone who complained when Robery Downey Jr. was cast as Tony Stark in 2008’s Iron Man. I’m one of the few who had faith in Affleck’s ability to take on this role. I’ll repost my original Facebook post from August 23rd, 2013 proving my prediction, right after I finish writing this. I was happy to see he proved me right and delivered a great performance.

Overall, on a scale of 1 to 10, I give this flick a strong 8. It’s a good starting point for future Justice League movies. So f–k what the critics say and go see it for yourself. Even if you don’t think it’s as good as I do, I guarantee you’ll think it’s better than the current media reviews of it. Definitely a Day-1 pick up on Blu-ray for me! —WRL

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