Fly Fox Productions

Comic Book reviews 11/9/11

2011-11-10T07:18:00.000-08:00

Comic Book Reviews November 9, 2011

Green Lantern #3

Geoff Johns, Doug Mahnke, Christian Alamy, Keith Champagne.

Geoff Johns may be my favorite comic book writer, of all time. There might be individual stories I like better and writers who influence me more, but none of them comes close to the level of consistency that Geoff Johns brings to the comic book medium.

Green Lantern # 3 continues the story of Hal Jordan and Sinestro as they journey to Sinestro’s Home planet to attempt to end the tyrannical end of the Yellow Lantern Corps.

In the world of literature Geoff Johns would be the equivalent of a popular fiction writer, Tom Clancy, and Michael Crichton spring to mind. Johns may never be held in the same circle of Comic book “legends” like the once successful Alan Moore, the continuously declining Frank Miller, or the overrated neo-idiot Grant Morrison, but that’s probably for the best. Johns is a different kind of master, he writes fun stories. All those other writers I mentioned seem to view comics as a world to be twisted and manipulated into their own unique viewpoint. Moore challenged the morality of the characters, Miller changed the worlds they inhabited, and Morrison who can write decent books (All Star Superman, 52) usually spews his neo-pagan-liberal beliefs into every character he writes, in subtle and blatant ways he inhabits characters with an attitude I can’t stand. Johns is the kind of writer who takes the established characters, their personalities, their worlds and their attitudes and puts them in fun interesting stories. I have enjoyed everything I have read that was written by Geoff Johns, without fail Geoff Johns delivers fun and often emotionally engaging stories, (see his Booster Gold run). Johns knows that overcoming tragedy is far superior to reacting to it. Cough, Moore and Miller, Cough.

Solid art by Doug Mahnke and co. Not an unused panel in the bunch.

Newcomers report: spend some time reading about the history of Hal Jordan on Wikipedia, or on a comic book related pedia website, and you’ll be able to catch up with the story and jump into the ongoing. Pick up issues 1 and 2 if you can. However Johns does a good job of recapping the situation presented in the books by fleshing out storylines and referencing prior plot points.

Story: 5 Art: 5 Overall: 5 Terrific Book do yourself a favor and read it.

Newcomer score 2.5 Not necessarily newbie friendly, but anytime is a good time to start reading Geoff Johns.

Legion Lost #3

Fabian Nicieza, Pete Woods

I enjoy this book. Unfortunately it will most likely be cancelled. Legion Lost started out rough but it seems to be coming into its own.

Members of the time traveling futuristic Legion of Superheroes are stuck in the present day. No way to get home, and with a genetics altering plague released by a criminal from the future, the stakes are getting higher and so is the quality of this book.

The legion of Superheroes is an indecipherable mess of continuity with way too many characters. The overall premise is solid, but years of fanboyism has rendered the series unreadable. That being said Legion Lost is legion done right, a compelling situation, and a contained cast of characters. The series started off a little rocky, the first issue failed to give adequate introductions to the characters, especially to new readers, but the premise was solid enough for me to admire and continue to read. Writer Fabian Nicieza continues to develop the personalities of the characters. Through subtle actions and dialogue, each characters displays their motivations and personalities.

The art is fantastic, Pete Woods is a fantastic artist and it boggles my mind that he is relegated to a second tier book while that hack Rags Morales joins fellow hack Grant Morrison in crapping all over the flagship title of DC (Action Comics). Woods’ art elevates this book from compelling to a must read. However there is one case of a duplicated panel, a minor quibble in an amazingly drawn book. (After looking at it I actually enjoyed the cop out enough to analyze the character’s expressions.)

Newcomer report. Legion fans beware, there be a standalone story here. Legion Lost is the perfect jumping on point for comic readers and newbies alike. However current issues must be read. The first issue established the situation, the second issue established the characterization, and the third continues both.

Story: 4 Art: 5 Overall: 4 Please buy this book so I can read it. Thanks.

Newcomer score: 2 Do yourself a favor and buy this book, but remember to get 1 and 2, as they are absolutely necessary to enjoyment of the series.

Demon Knights #3

Paul Cornell, Diogenes Neves, Oclair Albert.

Former Doctor Who scribe/novelist Paul Cornell weaves a web of a story about… well… it’s… it’s fantasy done right, fun, funny, and thrilling.

Demon Knights continues to be a great book, Set in the medieval period of the DCU, and using iconic characters’ like Jack Kirby’s Etrigan the Demon, Madame Xanadu and Vandal Savage. This book reads like a fantasy novel, but forgoes the usual banality about fate and choice and delves right into the action. Cornell is a decent writer, and this book shows his ability to take on any character and weave an interesting story. I’d like to see him get a longer run on some of the bigger DC characters. (kick Morrison off Superman before he ruins him forever!)

The art is solid, but average.

Newcomer report. Good jumping on point for experienced comic readers or fantasy lovers.

Story: 3.5 Art: 3 Overall: 3.5

Newcomer score: 3 anyone could read and enjoy this.

Spaceman #1

Brian Azzarello, Eduardo Risso

Eh, It costs a dollar.

An apocalyptic future? A monster? I can’t explain the story because I’m not sure what it is.

Brian Azzarello is also writing Wonder Woman, its better go read it instead. This book is probably a personal project for Azzarello, unfortunately personal projects don’t always equate to quality. Without the benefit of narration boxes we are set adrift to decipher the futuristic slang of a mysterious world. This could be an interesting story, but I have no clue because it can’t even be understood.

The art is mediocre, it tells the story I guess. I’m not a fan of the under-rendered bordering on surrealistic take on comic art. I prefer Jim Lee to Frank Miller, its as simple as that.

Newcomer report: Well it’s a first issue, if your willing to spend a dollar on it be my guest. But be warned it is really not very interesting.

Story: ? Art 2.5 Overall 2.5

Newcomer score: 3, it’s a first issue so it seems like a great jumping on point?

Star Trek/Legion of Superheroes #2

Chris Roberson, Jeffrey Moy, Phillip Moy

Its star trek and the legion of superheroes, what else needs to be said.

The two groups investigate their new surroundings.

IDW and Dc team up to grant us the ultimate of team ups, well not really but if this sounds like a good idea to you, you will probably enjoy it.

Newcomer report: You won’t miss anything by starting with this issue

Story: 3 Art: 4 overall: 3 Star Trek/Legion

Newcomer score: 4 Nothing will be missed by starting here

Ultimate Spiderman #4

Brian Michael Bendis, Sara Pichelli, Justin Ponsor.

Brian Michael Bendis is the Shakespeare of comics.

Miles Morales continues his journey to take over the mantle of Spiderman.

Outrageous claims aside, Brian Michael Bendis masterfully crafts a story that is equal parts funny, touching, and devastating entirely through his dialogue. (Shakespeare did the same.) I have an interesting relationship with Spiderman. As a child I watched and liked Spiderman the animated series, but as I grew older I realized that the Spiderman of that series and the Spiderman of everything else were two vastly different characters. In almost every other medium Peter Parker is an idiot, sure he is comic book “smart.” But he continually makes the wrong $%*^ing decisions. Ancient freaking Aunt dying? How about sell your marriage and essentially your soul to the devil in order to let her your OLD aunt hold on for a couple more miserable years. Faced with the idea of mandatory registration of super humans? Take off your mask on live t.v. and open yourself up to the consequences of fraud and being a freaking vigilante. Some of you might bemoan my position saying that I shouldn’t blame the character for the actions the writers choose for him, Idiots the character has always sucked! He always does stupid things. Always. Why would I want to read about a superhero making the wrong decisions? He is a grown man he has been for some time. Peter Parker needs to grow up.

Wow I ranted for a while there, back to the matter at hand. Ultimate Spiderman is awesome so far, Miles Morales, a child, has obtained great powers and must face the pressures of great responsibility. I never read Ultimate Spiderman when it was about Peter Parker, after reading about it online I am glad I didn’t, as it seems to be more of the same Peter Parker garbage as before. But now we have a fresh Spiderman, a young boy, who unless Bendis has no heart, won’t face the same kind of torturous problems as teenage Peter Parker. Wait a sec… Peter Parker was still a high schooler in Ultimate Comics, Screw you Marvel!

Sara Pichelli’s art is the apex of Marvel’s current brand of “realistic” artwork. Too bad Bendis’s script skipped over his first fight. (A huge mistake, but it doesn’t really take away from the overall story, and it adds some extra levity to a dramatic comic book.)

Newcomer’s report. This comic is great about recapping in the beginning of every issue. Jump on any time, preferably sooner rather than later.

Story: 5 Art: 4 overall: 5

Newcomer score: 5. Jump on in this issue and you’ll be just fine. However, if you want to see the complete journey of Miles Morales you’ll definitely want to check out the first three issues, as they are probably the best presentation of human storytelling in the history of marvel. They are that good.

Pick of the week

I love me some Geoff Johns, and I generally don’t care for Marvel. But this week’s pick has to be Ultimate Spiderman, Brian Michael Bendis’s decompressed storytelling somehow manages to make you feel like you read your money’s worth. Green Lantern is amazing though, hmm. Geoff Johns or a likable Spiderman? Why not choose both.

The Walking Dead

2011-09-17T16:17:00.000-07:00

PreacherMan

2011-09-12T19:18:00.000-07:00

Vic's Garage

2011-09-09T17:20:00.000-07:00

The beginning of my web comic entitled Vic's Garage.

Snow White Review

2011-09-01T18:43:00.000-07:00

Daniel reviews the Disney classic Snow White. What will he say about the first of the Disney Animated Features?

Cacti?

2010-12-13T15:55:00.001-08:00

TOP 5 GUNSHOTS

2010-10-30T18:36:00.000-07:00

A new video!

Raptor Call of the Shadows!

2010-08-29T22:51:00.000-07:00

Raptor Call of the Shadows

SCOOBY DOOBY DOOO!

2010-07-01T11:57:00.000-07:00

Scooby Doo the movie.

Scooby-Doo/Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed
The Best of the New Scooby-Doo Movies

NBA JAM!

2010-06-21T20:09:00.000-07:00

NBA Jam
NBA Jam: Tournament Edition

Karate Kid Remake

2010-06-11T16:16:00.000-07:00

Is it better or worse than the original? The Karate Kid (Special Edition)

Smeagol Reviews the Dark Knight

2010-06-07T19:43:00.000-07:00

Smeagol Reviews the Dark Knight. Bonus sneak peek at upcoming production!

New Writer Makes Debut! Top Websites Of All Time!

2010-06-06T17:28:00.000-07:00

BEST WEBSITES EVER (Not named FlyFox Productions)

Well here it is. I’m dusting off my old typewriter (2 year old laptop) and I am writing my first article since retiring from my one year in hell at the local high school newspaper. Honestly I don’t know why I didn’t leave after the first semester. It must have been the easy D that old goat gave me….. Or maybe it was the girl sitting two rows over with the orange shirt and glasses. Well anyhoo I should get back to the process at hand: Giving out some of my favorite websites to visit around the web.

1. WWW.CRACKED.COM
What’s so great? Cracked is a comedy website that puts out a least 3 new articles a day and has hundreds more of them archived for your viewing pleasure. The staple of CRACKED is what they call List-based humor. OR what I call the most amazingly funny lists of random, strange, and generally awesome topics known to man. Some of my favorite are: 7 Man-Made Substances That Laugh in the Face of Physics, 5 Real life soldiers Who Make Rambo Look Like A P***Y, and 6 Insane Fan Theories That Actually Make Great Movies Better. The most amazing thing is that most of their facts seem to check out. Well they at least hold up to my Wikipedia viewings on the topic. Which also led me to discovery that CRACKED was at one point an actual, legitimate magazine for a LONG time. It formed in 1958 and finally died in 2007 leaving behind a fully realized website in its place. Yes I do love me the list based humor which somewhat leads me to my next site
VISIT: Daily

2. WWW.TOPTENZ.COM
What’s so great? Top Tenz is another list site. Only this one is not geared towards humor but my other love…. Random Facts and Stories. Who knew that LEX LUTHER was more of a villain than The JOKER or that the baseball cap is the Numero Uno hat. NOT ME that’s for sure. I mean I always kind of suspected these things but to have someone verify them is beyond wonderful. It’s simply amazing. Now some problems that I do have with this site are the lack occasional lack of new lists and the sometimes boring topics. However there is a very broad selection of topics and the archives are very deep so do some digging and enjoy some of the best the net has to offer.
VISIT: Weekly

3. Yahoo.Sports.com
What’s so great? Yahoo sports is wonderful I can check scores, read articles and listen to sports all from the comfort of my computer. The site, unlike thE Sports Page you Now use, loads very quickly and is very easy to navigate. With very few pay to enjoy features it is nice to come across a place serving the top shelf stuff for free once in a while. I’m always looking at News from the NFL, NBA, College, and UFC. I have no real complaints about this site other than that it is hard to find college softball even though the World Series is going on. I mean I get it during the season but come on it’s the PLAYOFFS for crying out loud. With loads of stories and news and a wonderful fantasy component, all I have to say is. If you like sports you will like Yahoo Sports.
VISIT: DAILY

Well that wraps it up for today’s edition of …….. ummm……… unnamed column by me:
A.W.S.
If you tell me what your favorite sites are I might just review them.

White Bread Music Video

2010-06-04T20:34:00.000-07:00

Music Video!

2010-04-16T11:17:00.001-07:00

Dexter

Dexter Season 1 and 2

A serial killer who kills serial killers, by now just about everyone knows the premise behind this show. Dexter Morgan a Forensic blood specialist for the Miami Metro Police Department is, in a secret life, a serial killer, but the catch is Dexter only kills other murderers. What could go wrong with a show like this? It seems almost too good an idea to mess up, however somehow this show manages to do just that.
The show starts out really good with Dexter stalking and killing his prey while a larger story unfolds around him. The story seems really exciting but then the shows focus shifts off of Dexter’s “pastime activities” and on to this larger story and his personal life. Exposition in television shows is usually a good thing, because the action overwhelms the story element of the show. But in Dexter the series begins to focus all of its attention on the story portion and give us none of the action. This shift in the focus of the latter part of the first season and almost the entire second season nearly cripples the show.
All in all Dexter is a decent show with interesting yet overly long story arcs. I haven’t seen past season two, so I really can’t say if what the show will focus on next, but at this point it seems like it has nowhere else to go but up. If you are at all interested in this show and haven’t checked it out already I would recommend it. Despite all my hang ups with the story it actually is really quite good, with solid acting and an engaging premise it manages to keep up its entertainment value.
3 ½ out of 5

zombie fellini

2010-01-15T23:30:00.001-08:00

Zombie Fellini!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Flying Blind On a Rocket Cycle: a written article.

2009-10-28T09:50:00.000-07:00

5 Easy Ways to Have a Happy Childhood and Live to Tell About It
By Daniel Shultz

As a regular visitor to the Cinema critique website The House Next Door Online I read a lot of articles related to film, but up until now I have never agreed with one more, The 5 for the Day Article by Craig Simpson is spot on. In his article Simpson voices his dissatisfaction for Where the Wild Things Are (from here on referred to as WTWTG). He then goes on to list five better serious films about childhood, I will rip off his form and do the exact same thing here.

First of all let me explain how I came to view the film. I was going to the movies with my brother and his fiancé. As a minor film snob, who was presented with only a few good choices at the theatre, I was adamantly opposed to the movies they wanted to see. It finally came down to Couples Retreat and WTWTG. I managed to convince them to see WTWTG and we sat down in the theatre. Two hours later I was completely depressed, for I had just sat through the most depressing children’s film ever. Mufasa didn’t die, Bambi’s mother didn’t either, and unlike the tearjerker moments of those and the great Up from earlier this year we were offered no consolation through humor. WTWTG isn’t a children’s film, no isntead it is an Emo teenager and repressed Cinema Snob’s idea of what a children’s film should be. Instead of bright colors and happy characters we get dull grays and browns and we get characters representing every known form of depression. And instead of a happy ending where the characters learn a valuable from their journey we get unintentional hilarious moments that are meant to evoke sadness. Watch the scene of Carol running toward Max’s boat near the end of the film and just try not to burst out laughing. I never thought I would rather see a movie that’s trailer advertises the fact that Faison Love would be depantsed in it, but WTWTG makes me wish I had seen Couples Retreat Instead.

Now I will begin my list. My list will differ in that not all selections will be about children, instead they will be five films that would bring me out of any depressive state. They will also be five films I viewed in my childhood.

Number 1: Back to the Future.

A movie without fault is a rare thing, and Back to the Future is not one of them. But that doesn’t stop it from being epically awesome. From Marty’s mom getting the hots for him to Christopher Lloyd’s Doc Brown paying off a cop, this movie has so many hilarious and sometimes incestuously creepy moments. I never get tired of seeing this movie, and it never stops being the best film for bringing me out of a depression. Zemeckis never made a better film.

Number 2: Karate Kid

Karate Kid is a movie that gets better with age, sure the early eighties look incredibly weird (at least to me being born in the late eighties.) but the movie’s main character represents everything I was in childhood. The main character is a middle class teenage boy who is good at sports, has a crush on the school beauty queen, who he gets by the way, and he learns Karate from Pat Morita. Okay so maybe I didn’t get my school crush and I don’t know Karate, but I was good at sports! Okay average at sports, but that doesn’t matter because Pat Morita’s performance is what really makes this film great. After a career of sitcom appearances and small movie roles, Morita busts out with a great performance in a stock role. The wise teacher has never been played better and probably never will.

Number 3: Secondhand Lions.

I’m cheating with this one. I saw it only after becoming an adult, but I won’t let that stop me from enjoying great performances by two of my favorite actors, Robert Duvall and Michael Caine, and the only performance of older Haley Joel Osment that will ever be better than horrible. This film has it all, action, romance and a weirdly sad ending which at the same time is joyously happy. Secondhand Lions is a film that has no trouble in bringing a smile to my face.

Number 4: Black Beauty

Wow, a movie about horses, this seems unexpected especially since I am an American male who would rather watch Gladiator or The Terminator over any Rom Com ever made. (Except Return to Me, Carroll O’ Connor answering a phone before he even picks it up is comedy gold.) Black Beauty makes the list even though it is incredibly sad, I cry every time (SPOILER ALERT FOR THOSE HERETICS THAT HAVEN’T SEEN IT) Beauty watches Ginger’s dead horsey body pass him on the road, and then I cry again at the end when he imagines himself in Horsey heaven with all his Horsey friends. This movie may be sad, but unlike the depressiveness of a certain recent release, it is a happy-sad, if that even makes sense.

Number 5: Kidnapped (Disney)

I place this film at the end of my list because it is my favorite film of all time. Yes this cinema’s snob favorite film was directed by a non auteur studio director who’s best work includes a film which many suspect may have actually been directed by its male lead, and a film for which he was nominated for an academy award for placing the camera right where Walt Disney told him to. But hey this Disney project was his masterpiece. Forget the influence of a wunderkind director and the undisputed master of family entertainment, this film is undoubtedly the work of director Robert Stevenson. What? Never heard of him, check the credits of that guilty pleasure Disney Live action classic you have in your house and chances are he is the director. His other Disney films include the tearjerker Old Yeller and the James Bond thriller Darby O’Gill and the Little People.

Why is this film so great? It might have to do with the near perfect page to screen adaption of another Robert Stevenson’s masterpiece novel. Or perhaps it is the fantastic performances of every single actor that appears on screen. From the Screen debut of 8 time Academy Award Nominated Peter O’Toole, to the best performance the Academy Award winning Peter Finch ever gave, to the best role James MacArthur ever gave this side of Hawaii five-o, and finally the roles acted by what seems like nearly every English, Scottish, and Irish character actor ever. Okay maybe that those last two were exaggerations but they have bits of truth in them. Jams MacArthur is capable enough and all those small roles are executed perfectly. But I better stop reviewing my favorite film of all time before this gets any longer, so let me end with a quote that encapsulates the beauty of the film. “I would rather have ten foes in front of me than one friend cracking pistols at my back.” Indeed.

Number Extra: Rocky

Here is one more film to be inspire us to new heights of our sad pathetic lives. Rocky has to be on every list ever made, because if it isn’t the ghost of Sylvester Stallone’s acting career will haunt the list maker with endless showings of Paradise Alley, Stayin Alive, and *shudder* the Get Carter Remake. But seriously Rocky is the best film of all time, and I am not just saying that because a certain somebody’s acting career is sitting next to me as I write this. Ohh and by the way have you heard about Stallone’s next Rocky Opus, yep he wants to make Rocky 7.

P.S. I honestly do love all the Rocky films, (except 5, shoot yourself Tommy Morrison) but number 7! Come on Stallone! Please Save the franchise from yourself.

Movie Monday: Night of the Axe Cowboy

2009-10-19T19:10:00.000-07:00

Sorry for missing the last two weeks, not that anyone comes to this website anyways. Here is the new Movie Monday, its a horror! Horror in how bad it is lol!? Enjoy!

Movie Monday: Dreamland

2009-09-28T20:14:00.000-07:00

A boy is careless about his school work until he gets transported back to the old west were he learns a uhhhh something.

Movie Monday: The Adventures of Blasto, Case File 2,999

2009-09-21T18:08:00.000-07:00

The latest entry in the Movie Monday series, this week we take a look at Blasto the world's greatest superhero. This week Blasto recieves some information on a case he is working on. This leads him into a battle with the villian MR TUV.

Movie Monday: Showdown in the Desert

2009-09-14T18:30:00.000-07:00

Showdown in the Desert is the first entry in Fly Fox Productions' Movie Monday series. Expect to see a new movie every monday night from now on. Future entries may include short films or entries in two new series one including the superhero known as Blasto.

La Vita Bella

2009-05-10T20:43:00.001-07:00

LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL.

A Life is a thing of beauty, the ultimate sculpture, the most exquisite painting. Life is Loved so much by it's artist that he was willing to give up his very life to save it. The Movie Bella is about this art and the need to preserve it and to keep it safe from those that would have it destroyed before it is even seen.

Bella won the People's Choice Award at the Toronto Film Festival, because deep down in their hearts everyone knows how they feel inside.

Bella, is a good film, it isn't a classic, but it shows a truth, it shows what choices people have in their life, whether to continue a life that is self serving, or to realize that just helping others can be infinitely more rewarding. It shows the everyday, not a melodramatic representation of something but perhaps, just maybe what life is like for some. The heartache that comes with a tragedy, and the sorrow and pain that comes with the choices that we make and the circumstances that we are in.

The film keeps its camera in tight using this to show us the turmoil and pain its characters are feeling, it only comes out to show us them at times of peace.It hovers around them which involves us with the characters, as if we too might be there experiencing these things with them. The Truth is I have cried at lesser movies and not shed a tear for better, but the thing this film did do was entertain, and more importantly teach, one that people that rush to judgement often overlook the pain that others have, and two that all people have inside them a burning desire to do what is right.

Bella rated PG-13 (but suitable for most ages using discrestion):
***1/2 out of ***** Because of an impeccable message.

Maiden Voyage or The Final Frontier

2009-05-10T00:44:00.001-07:00

THE FIRST BLOG. (The Final Frontier)

What to say, what to say. I saw the new Star Trek movie the other day, it was really good, the actors were better than I thought they would be, And Leonard Nimoy's appearance was probably one of the greatest things in motion picture history, at least for me. I stand by that, as someone who grew up watching Star Trek, (mostly The Next Generation and Voyager) I hold Spock in a place of honor in My Fictional Characters round table almost up there with Shukov, Indiana Jones and the fictionalized version of Alan Breck. So to see His epic reveal it was quite a moment. I'm no trekkie, But I do consider myself a fan of star trek, so I got all the little jokes they put in just for fans. As someone with prior knowledge of most things Star Trek I have problems judging it on its quality as a film. However I know that it was well made and exciting and truly epic but profoundly sincere. I did have some problems, the fight scene was way too edited and well thats all I really remember. So What did you Think about it, what did you like or dislike about it?

Star Trek: **** out of ***** for a truly exhilarating movie.