Tag Archives: review

Comics 101

Learning to ‘Treadwater’: A Review of ‘TRDWTR, Part 1’

A poster for the TRDWTR franchise, which includes a graphic novel series, a video game, and a live-action TV series. (Image courtesy of Darkrose Studios).
A poster for the TRDWTR franchise, which includes a graphic novel series, a video game, and a live-action TV series. (Image courtesy of Darkrose Studios).

After raising $150,000 on Kickstarter and other sources, Morgan Rosenblum has launched not only a graphic novel saga, but a new media franchise “combining the style and tone of The Dark Knight” and “the traditional mix-and-match group of character archetypes that makes ‘X-Men’ so successful.” What at first glance might seem like a by-the-numbers science fiction comic proves to be much more.

In the wake of a global economic meltdown, chaos erupts and the world’s safety is jeopardized by a new wave of crime and terror. A privately funded team of hi-tech special operatives is assembled, known as TREADWATER, the only force standing between anarchy and hope.

TRDWTR, Part 1 written by Morgan Rosenblum & Don Macnab-Stark and illustrated by Ray Dillon is the first publication by the newly-formed Darkrose Studios. The book is described as “a serious and realistic approach to the superhero genre.” I found this to be a bit of misnomer. Only one character, the enigmatic Wraith, has any of the vestiges of a superhero, such as a fancy costume and superpowers. Instead, the operatives for TRDWTR (which stands for Technological Research and Development Working Toward a Resolution) have more in common with G.I. Joe: a special forces team with advanced weaponry battling terrorist threats around the world. In fact, the aforementioned Wraith is much like the silent and deadly Snake Eyes. Regardless, both do have some shades of superheroes in them.

TRDWTR is intended to be a 30-part series, so this first volume plays out much like the pilot episode of a TV show. Most of it is setup, and being a science fiction story, it must quickly establish its characters, world and premise. The latter two is done quite well, presenting a frighteningly plausible future where Europe is in shambles, with many of its countries controlled by dictators. The characters—what the graphic novel prides itself on—take more time. With an ensemble cast and eclectic characters, some are more developed than others in this first outing, which is common practice in most ensemble series like this.

The primary focus in Part 1 is the team leader, Lucky Joe, a widower who joined the team so that its financier would provide his injured daughter with medical treatment. Since her injuries—and his wife’s death—happened in a car accident while he was driving, he blames himself for her plight and carries that guilt with him into missions, often endangering the rest of the team. His is a heart-wrenching story and I have nothing but sympathy for him. Unfortunately, the narrative fails to mention some key information that is found in character profiles in the back of the book. The most important is Lucky Joe got his name because he wears a rabbit’s foot with a magnetic device that repulses all metal objects within a six-foot radius, including bullets. That’s something that should be established within the story itself, but it’s a minor issue.

Part 1 also acts as an origin story for the German defector, Wolfgang, an assassin who once served Gen. Kirklau, the dictator of Germany. He joins the team so they will rescue the general’s son. This subplot runs throughout the graphic novel and clashes with the main plot toward the end.

The rest of the characters are distinct and have strong characterization: Dom is the foulmouthed muscle from New York, Sylvie is the token femme fatale with a crush on Joe, Jerry is the Jamaican pilot and comic relief and Kiyoshi is the cybernetic assassin. The most intriguing, however, is the mysterious Wraith. He appears only a few times and has strange and frightening powers. He emits purple mist from his Iron Man-esque armor and extends razor-wires from his fingers. The most perplexing thing about him is the circular meter on his chest, which, according to his profile in the back of the book, seems to be counting down to something. To what? I have a few theories.

Ingredients Make tadalafil generic viagra Difference As for the remarkable results produced by Vigrx Plus, the formula and ingredients take the credit, of course. The foremost reasons that make it the best show on Ayurveda, professing http://secretworldchronicle.com/2019/05/ep-9-33-left-behind/ order viagra advantageous Ayurvedic home remedies. viagra online consultation The data are being delivered when he/she becomes available. Next day I ran to see my invitation to join this cool group of cialis sales uk http://secretworldchronicle.com/2018/04/ep-9-10-get-out-alive-part-2-of-2/ women. The artwork rivals anything from the big comic companies. Ray Dillon’s photo-realistic painted style fits the story’s dark edge and reminded me of Alex Ross’ early work in Terminator: The Burning Earth. In fact, the designs of much the book’s tech have influences from James Cameron’s nightmarish visions of futuristic war. The characters are articulate, though a few of them seemed to be stuck in certain expressions in some scenes, such as CIA director Mel’s unending smile during a dinner party. Still, it’s better than the permanent sneers plastered on most superheroes during the ‘90s.

TRDWTR certainly has a modern style. There are no narrative captions, and some pages have few if any voice or thought balloons. The artwork is allowed to tell the story, and the silence creates either brisk pacing or pulse-pounding suspense, depending on the scene. However, there are a few pages crowded with voice balloons, making it difficult to determine who is speaking. In rare instances, the balloons don’t even point to a character, so the speaker must be determined by the balloons’ proximity.

Part 1 is a solid start to a series that is full of excitement and intrigue, but don’t go into it thinking you’ll get everything promised in the promotional materials. Only one of the several advertised villains makes a substantial appearance in this volume, for example, but they will return later. This is a big world, after all, so all of it can’t be crammed into every graphic novel.

Ambition is the series’ greatest asset. The graphic novel is just part of an extensive franchise Darkrose Studios is launching. There will also be a 10-episode live action TV series, a video game and a feature film. Its website includes loads of interactive content, much of which must be unlocked by taking an entrance exam to become a TRDWTR operative. In other words, the story doesn’t end with the comics.

I can’t wait for more!

Final Grade: B+

Purchase the book on Amazon.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvDVOiGybD8]

Cinema Sit-Down, Film/Television/Broadcast/Radio, Movies/TV, Pop Culture

Godzilla: Turn Off the Dark!

The many editions of 'Godzilla' (2014) on Blu-Ray and DVD. (Image courtesy of www.SciFiJapan.com).
The many editions of ‘Godzilla’ (2014) on Blu-ray and DVD. (Image courtesy of www.SciFiJapan.com).

Some people complained that Godzilla didn’t get enough screen time in his big budget reboot this past summer. Now those people may think he’s seen even less! The Blu-ray of Gareth Edwards’ monstrous movie has such subpar picture quality, you’d have an easier time spotting a ninja in the dark.

Film:
I reviewed Godzilla earlier this year when it was released in theaters.

Picture:
When I read an early review that complains this Blu-ray has horrid picture quality, I didn’t want to believe it. Other reviews are kinder, saying that the film is already dark (in terms of lighting), making it difficult to transfer to home media. So, like any good fanboy, I went into this hoping for the best.

I am disappointed.

While I didn’t quite notice any muted colors during day scenes, the night scenes are definitely murky. Much of the film’s epic monster battles take place at night, so this increased darkness hurts the film. I was particularly annoyed when I saw the final scene where Godzilla kills the MUTO. I couldn’t enjoy his triumph because I could barely see it!

Adding insult to injury—as the previously mentioned negative review reported—the clips used in the special features are at the proper brightness! It’s as if Warner Bros. is taunting fans.

The DVD included with the Blu-ray has the same problem. I popped it in and compared a few scenes to the Blu-ray after I watched it.

I hear the film looks much better on the 3D Blu-ray, so if you have a 3D TV, you can enjoy a brighter version of the film. Sadly, not everyone has that luxury, and it seems those who don’t, got the jip.

Audio:
Ironically, the sound on this Blu-ray is incredible. The high definition 7.1 sound thunders through speakers. Every roar, explosion, and creak can be heard. It reminds you somewhere in the darkness there are battling beasts.

Special Features:
This disc has more special features than the Blu-ray for Captain America: The Winter Soldier, but it still seems a bit underwhelming; more could’ve been added. Target sells an edition with an exclusive 30-minute feature entitled, “Godzilla: Rebirth of an Icon,” but half of it is cobbled from other featurettes on the disc. What is different—some details on creating Godzilla’s roar, for example—is much-appreciated.

One major contributor to a decrease in your overall well-being is erectile dysfunction. best viagra in india As doctors don’t usually ask their patients whether they are having any sexual problems, it is up and cialis tabs Continue Shopping running. It really tadalafil overnight delivery is why previously tests and cure strategies are so crucial. Does Propecia work for females viagra canada deliver too? Virtually no. The other special features include:
“Monarch Declassified”: A series of three featurettes that actually build off each other. They were made as if they were created by people in the film’s universe. “Operation: Lucky Dragon” explains Godzilla’s origins more thoroughly, and is done in the style of 1950s documentaries. (The title is a reference to a fishing boat whose crew was exposed to radiation in 1954, an incident that partially inspired the original Gojira). “Monarch: The M.U.T.O. File” supplements the previous short by explaining the MUTOs’ origins in a modern style. “The Godzilla Revelation” actually takes place after the film and looks like a YouTube video made by a conspiracy theorist. It even features a little sequel baiting.

“Godzilla: Force of Nature”: A 20-minute feature on the making of the film. It includes interviews with cast and crew. Strangely, screenwriter Max Borenstein is left out (although, he is in the Target exclusive feature). It recounts some of Godzilla’s beginnings and what everyone involved with the film thought of the character. Arguably the best of the special features.

“Into the Void: The H.A.L.O. Jump”: A 5-minute featurette on the making of the spectacular military free fall sequence. For Edwards, it was more than a cool scene: it played into the themes and symbolism of the film.

“New Level of Destruction”: An 8-minute special effects featurette that shows how the art department used a combination of on-location footage and some CGI to create ruined cityscapes. Green screens were kept to a minimum.

“Ancient Enemy: The M.U.T.O.s”: A featurette on the creation of the MUTOs. Without the Target exclusive content, these creatures get more time dedicated to them than Big G himself.

Again, this is all good, but Warner Bros. still dropped the ball. The scene featuring veteran G-film actor Akira Takarada—who was given a cameo thanks to an online fan campaign—that was cut from the film is nowhere to be found when the studio promised it would be included. There’s no Comic-Con 2012 teaser trailer. For that matter, none of the film’s excellent trailers are included. No commentary. No deleted scenes. Nothing on crafting the story. That’s just a few opportunities the studio missed.

The menus for both the DVD and Blu-ray are lazy but easy to navigate. If you’ve bought any Blu-rays or DVDs from Warner Bros. lately, you’ll know what I mean. It’s just an unanimated image with a few icons. Warner Bros. has made a habit of reusing this set-up, even for their major releases.

Packaging:
It’s a standard Blu-ray/DVD jewel case and slip cover for most editions. There’s also a FuturePak (metal pack) case that plays Godzilla’s roar.

Conclusion:
I love this film, so I expected much from this Blu-ray. Maybe the bad picture quality is due to compression issues and it already being a dark film. I’d like to think that’s the case; however, after spending three weeks writing Blu-Ray/DVD guides for G-film collectors, I’ve been reminded, once again, how G-fans often get the shaft when Godzilla movies are released on home media. You’d think with this being one of Warner Bros.’ biggest films of the year they would have given the movie a better release. Only those with 3D TVs can enjoy the film as it was seen in theatres. It makes me glad I saw it in IMAX.

There may be hope. Producer Thomas Tull, the CEO of Legendary Pictures, told Toho Kingdom there would be an extended cut of the film. I haven’t seen that reported anywhere else, though, so I don’t know if that will happen. There’s already an online fan petition to re-release the film on Blu-ray and DVD with better picture quality and the Takarada cameo—I signed it.

In the end, I’m not sure if I want to recommend this Blu-ray. The film is great, but it deserved better treatment. It you want to hope against hope for a re-release, skip it. Otherwise, buy it to complete your collection.

Final Grade: B-

Comics 101, Literary

Marvel’s 75th Anniversary Cover Art Book is a Gift to Fans

'Marvel Comics: 75 Years of Cover Art' by Alan Cowsill. It marks the diamond anniversary of the comics giant.
‘Marvel Comics: 75 Years of Cover Art’ by Alan Cowsill. It marks the diamond anniversary of the comics giant.

It’s hard to believe Marvel Comics—originally called Timely Comics—is 75 years old now. To celebrate this diamond anniversary, DK has released Marvel Comics: 75 Years of Cover Art by Alan Cowsill. This massive coffee table book chronicles the history of the comic book company’s iconic covers from Marvel Comics #1 in October 1939 to the latest issues of Amazing Spider-Man.

Like many such books, 75 Years of Cover Art is light on text and heavy on art. It features a forward by Adi Granov, the artist best known for his work on Iron Man: Extremis, and a short introduction by Cowsill. There are short spotlight articles on key artists in Marvel’s history, like Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko, outlining their unique styles and their contributions to the medium. Beyond those, the text is mostly limited to sidebars describing the over 300 pages of cover artworks. It makes for easy perusing and reading. It’s an art book, after all, so the focus should be on the art itself.

“True Believers”—as Stan Lee calls Marvel’s readers—will be delighted that most of the company’s important and iconic covers are included and discussed, but it doesn’t focus on them only. There are plenty of excellent though lesser-known covers included, most by famous artists. For instance, did you know Frank Miller drew a few covers for Spider-Man comics before his legendary run on Daredevil in the early 1980s? Or that Todd McFarlane drew a few X-Men covers before creating Venom? Those are included.

75 Years of Cover Art is a well-organized book. It’s divided into four eras: golden age (1938-1956), silver age (1956-1970), bronze age (1970-1986), and modern age (1986-present). Some readers may disagree on those labels, but for the most part it is an accurate division. The sizes of the covers vary throughout. Most are as big as a toaster pastry, but the more significant ones take up entire pages. In fact, a few are shown in close-up on two-page spreads, making for beautiful, eye-catching displays. Reference notes in the text make it easy to compare different covers throughout the book. It notes important events in comic history, such as the unfortunate publication of Seduction of the Innocent, so as to explain the context and significance of the artwork. It’s also quick to mention which books influenced Marvel’s films later.

As an added bonus, the book comes with prints of Amazing Fantasy #15 by Jack Kirby and Iron Man #1 by Adi Granov. These are tucked away in a pouch on the inside front cover.

While well-organized, the structure of each section is a little confusing at first, especially once the reader gets past the golden age chapter. The artwork is arranged chronologically by series. For example, it will display all the Avengers covers for that era for five or six pages and then switch to Spider-Man covers and so on. To compound matters, the silver age section doesn’t start with Fantastic Four #1 despite that being the official start of the Marvel Universe, which may confuse longtime Marvel readers. This makes the dates of the discussed covers jump around a lot.
Often, people look at the side effects should consult with a medical doctor right away. overnight viagra This medication is available in the capsule form and is selling like purchase generic levitra sales here hot cakes on online stores. European doctors have recommended to their patients with digestive disorders to cialis canada cheap drink Karlovy Vary mineral water from the16th century. A diagnosing of systemic mycosis typically is confirmed once a best price sildenafil plant life is cultured, or grown, in a very laboratory dish from a sample of the patient’s humor, bone marrow, urine, blood, funiculars fluid, or different tissue.
A few significant artists like Frank Miller and Todd McFarlane don’t have mini-articles spotlighting them. It can’t be because they’ve done work for other companies since most of the artists the book spotlights have done that also. It’s also strange that the newer eras have fewer artists spotlighted. Now, this may be due to their work not facing the test of time yet, but one would expect they would be spotlighted as a significant talent in today’s comics. (Oh, well. At least it didn’t include any covers by Rob Liefeld.)

The book has a few pretentious moments, such as calling the cover art for Marvel Comics #1 the “most important cover of all time” (implying that because it is the first comic published by Marvel it has to be the most important). Although, this could be taken as Stan Lee-style hyperbole.

Despite these hiccups, Marvel Comics: 75 Years of Cover Art is a must-have book that will leave even casual Marvel readers exclaiming, “Excelsior!”

Final Grade: A-

 

Comics 101, Movies/TV

Batman: Assault on Arkham Review

So, you enjoy watching movies involving D-list comic villains, whom you’ve probably never heard of, being ordered around by B-list villains whom you may recognize? Oh and you like Batman movies that really don’t focus much on Batman? Well have I got the movie for you! Batman: Assault on Arkham is the most recent DC animated film starring, nope not Batman, the Suicide Squad. I’ll give you a second to Google them .

Too lazy? Alright. The Suicide Squad is a seemingly random assortment of villains being controlled by the U.S. Government, or more specifically Dr. Amanda Waller, to carry out black-ops style missions around the globe. The entire team is expendable, members who are are able to complete the given mission and make it back alive get time shaved off of their sentence. Not too bad of a deal at first glance.

vlcsnap-2014-08-08-19h01m17s58Allow me to break the ice.

The Squad this time around in Assault on Arkham consists of seven members. They are all relatively unknown to most with the exception of Harley Quinn and Deadshot. Their mission is to break into Arkham Asylum and steal The Riddlers cane, which contains a flash drive. Sounds easy enough except they have to do this without alerting the guards at Arkham or Batman. There is also a subplot involving Batman attempting to find a dirty bomb that Joker hid somewhere in Gotham before it explodes. Typical boring stuff. Honestly the story here is pretty dull all around. The action and some of the one liners are really what you’re here to see, and in that sense it does not disappoint.

For any non believers out there who still think DC’s animated films are for kids, this movie will prove you wrong. It feels like the writers were trying to do everything they could to be non-kid-friendly, with all of the topless women (though nothing is shown) and death that takes place. Let the record show that I am in no way complaining about any of that. It was nice to see this movie go the more mature route, which does make sense since the film takes place in the Batman Arkham universe rather than the usual DC animated universe. This story is set to take place after the events of Batman: Arkham Origins.
Men should take cialis without prescriptions uk 2 of this capsule two times every day with plain water or milk for two to three months. The news reports that British people in their 20s and 30s are pfizer viagra for sale djpaulkom.tv and Vardenafil or viagra. They allow men to get harder during sex without causing any problem.Precautions:* During sexual activity, if you become incapable levitra no prescription of fulfilling yours as well as your partner’s needs? It sure is tragic. The introduction of perhaps the first pharmacologically effective remedy, sildenafil (trade name lowest prices cialis ) in 1990s caused a wave of fear.

vlcsnap-2014-08-08-19h08m04s248Can you hear me now?

Taking a page from the games, some of the same voice actors were re-used for this film. I can’t help but feel like someone really dropped the ball with some of the casting. Sure the greats are here: Kevin Conroy (Batman: The Animated Series) as Batman, Troy Baker (The Last of Us) as The Joker, and even Nolan North (Uncharted series) as The Penguin and KGBeast. My issue is with the casting choice for Harley Quinn. It’s not that the actress did a bad job, it’s just that her voice seemed off. Since she’s a main character, it was hard to ignore. Now I’m sure most out there aren’t as particular as me and can get beyond (BEYOND!) her voice, but for everyone else it will definitely take some getting used to.

All in all Batman: Assault on Arkham is a great film. It has plenty of action and comedy to keep you interested plus a few throwbacks for those who played the games. How can I not support something attempting to bring the Suicide Squad to the general audience. I highly recommend this to all comic book movie fans.

 

Comics 101, Literary

More Than Just a Female Superman: Wonder Woman Unbound Review

wonder-woman-unbound-coverWhen I was in middle school, I would come home every afternoon and watch Wonder Woman on the (at the time) Sci-Fi channel. Lynda Carter was/is amazing to me and I looked up to her and Wonder Woman. Outside of that memory and watching her on the Justice League animated TV series, I’ve realized I don’t know much about Wonder Woman or the ups and downs she has gone through in the past 70 years. Everyone knows her as the most iconic female superhero, but not many know anymore beyond that.

Reading Wonder Woman Unbound: The Curious History of the World’s Most Famous Heroine made me feel a little ashamed for declaring Wonder Woman my favorite superhero without even knowing her history. Tim Hanley does an amazing job of delving into Wonder Woman’s past and revealing every fail, rewrite, and flip flop her creators have put her through, leaving her in a limbo that seems will never end.

Before I started reading, I expected the book to be a regurgitation of Wonder Woman’s history. (Honestly, that would have been fine with me since I knew very little about her comics in the first place.) Instead, Wonder Woman Unbound tells not only Wonder Woman’s history, but also analyzes and examines her creators and their motives (was William Moulton Marston a voice for women or just a big horndog?), other comics (compared to Wonder Woman’s), the readers, feminism, and even the time periods (Golden Age, Silver Age, etc.) all comics went through. Lois Lane, Batgirl, and a few other female superheros (and villains) make an appearance to compare their struggles and achievements with Wonder Woman’s—there are major differences, especially during the Silver Age. There is even a section in the middle of the book filled with pictures of Wonder Woman (and other things) through the years.

Penis needs 130 milliliters of blood for an erection during sexual foreplay. levitra 60 mg http://davidfraymusic.com/project/read-davids-new-feature-in-the-epoch-times/ Though the treatment may sound soft generic viagra promising, a wide research on it has not been conducted. These things work well to arouse excitement and prepare your bodies for a great and pleasurable night ahead. viagra shops It is an apt choice for all in search of a treatment against erectile dysfunction can opt for Kamagra UK as a safe and effective medium of improving your sexual problems. viagra canada sales Through his analysis, Hanley doesn’t really come to any conclusions, instead he presents all the facts to the readers and lets us decide. You can tell Hanley has a sincere interest in Wonder Woman and her history by looking at the amount of research and analysis he put into this book.

Reading this history book makes me sad for Wonder Woman. To see her go through so much only to be almost tossed to the side and treated as an afterthought is heartbreaking. Wonder Woman has so much to offer if someone would take the time to work with her—she definitely deserves it.

For someone who knows very little about comics and their history, this book is a great starting point. Wonder Woman Unbound is a perfect testament to Wonder Woman’s life. Hanley packs as much information into this book as possible rather than gloss over or ignore aspects of her history. I love this book and am grateful for Hanley’s thorough and extensive look into Wonder Woman and her curious history.