Review: Marvel 1985 issue 1
I like Mark Millar. I liked his work on the The Ultimates. I liked his work on Wanted. I like his new book, Marvel 1985.
It’s easy to like those books, because they’re all kind of the same. What if superheroes and villains lived in the real world? That’s what Millar writes and he does a good job at it. It’s no Watchmen, which took a less personal and more geopolitical look at the same idea, but it’s good.
Marvel 1985 and Wanted are particularly similar in the idea that the villains are winners. In Wanted, analogues of DC and Marvel bad guys have already won. In Marvel 1985, the Marvel villains come to our Earth (though, not actually our Earth, since I kind of remember 1985 without Dr. Doom and Red Skull) to take over.
It’s all shown through the eyes of Toby, a teen-age protagonist who is drawn a lot younger, and it gives the story an air of “is-it-really-happening?” that, frankly, kind of annoys me. Maybe I’ve seen too many stories devolve into dreams or imagined tales that I’d like to see something more solid.
Regardless of my nitpicking, Marvel 1985 is a good book and full of funny moments and hidden treats. (Hey, kids! Find Ultron’s head!) This wasn’t on my list to pick up before, but I was won over by the first issue and I’ll be sure to collect the rest.
Batman cereal
The Bat-Blog recently drew my attention to this, a 1989 Batman cereal commercial. I remember eating this stuff. From what I recall, it tasted kind of like Captain Crunch. My mom is not one for the sugary cereals, so my brother and I must have bugged her about this a lot.
One Hulk, Two Hulk
Pop over to Again with the Comics to read Brian Hughes’ really funny amalgamation/parody of the Hulk and Dr. Seuss.
– Matt Price
Next Spider-Man could be “Almost Famous”
Michael Angaramo, AP
Latino Review says the top choices to play Peter Parker/Spider-Man in “Spider-Man 4,” should Tobey Maguire choose not to return, are Patrick Fugit and Michael Angarano. Interestingly, both actors were in “Almost Famous,” playing the same character, William Miller. (Angaramo played the even younger William.)
I think I could buy either of these guys as Peter Parker; however, I think a new Spidey means a new Mary Jane, too, and if Raimi’s not back, well, it’s a whole new ballgame. Still, there are more Spider-Man stories to be told, and if they are done well, I’d gladly watch them.
– Matt Price
You’re Abe Froman?
Comics shipping 5-29-08
Just a reminder – due to the Memorial Day holiday, comics ship on Thursday this week. If you go looking for “Final Crisis” on Wednesday, it’s not going to be there.
That said, what a beefy week of comics. The much-anticipated “Final Crisis” #1, of course. The original Toyman returns in “Action Comics” #865. The second part of Grant Morrison’s “Batman RIP” ships.
Marvel’s not being left out of the party, either, as the grand finale to Joss Whedon and John Cassaday’s “Astonishing X-Men” hits this week, in “Giant-Size Astonishing X-Men” #1. Mark Millar goes Marty McFly in taking us back to “1985.”
On the indy front, Dave “Cerebus” Sim releases his Holocaust-themed “Judenhass.”
Full list and commentary after the break.
Review: Immortal Iron Fist 15
In the penultimate issue of Immortal Iron Fist from the dynamite team of Ed Brubaker, Matt Fraction and David Aja, this title once again shows why so many fans are so worried about the future of the series.
Issue 15, penned by Fraction, is another look into the past of the Iron Fist — this time the life and death of Bei Bang-Wen — and it’s a perfect example of what makes this run so special. A great story, great fights and great characterization add up to a spectacular done-in-one issue.
When Immortal Iron Fist was announced, I remember a lot of people saying this:
“…”
Yeah, because nobody was all that excited about a kung-fu exploitation character from the ’70s popping up again and being lame and getting cancelled. I certainly wasn’t waiting with bated breath — but I was dead wrong not to be. Brubaker and Fraction have spun fascinating tales and David Aja has found a perfect, fluid style to bring the action a little life and a little dignity.
Next issue is the last from Bru, Fraction and Aja, with the team of writer Duane Swierczynski and artist Travel Foreman taking over starting issue 17. It’s issues like this one, though, that will make the job that much harder for Swierczynski, because it’s so rare to find a book that has it all. And for the readers’ sakes, I sure hope it doesn’t lose anything in the transition.
– Greg Elwell
“Indiana Jones” tops weekend box office
‘Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull’
topped the box office this weekend with an estimated $126.0 million.
WEEKEND TOP 5 STUDIO ESTIMATES, MAY 23-26, 2008
Rank. Movie Title (Distributor)
Weekend Gross | Theaters | Total Gross | Week #
1. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (Paramount)
$126.0 million | 4,260 | $151.1 million | 1
2. The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (Buena Vista)
$28.6 million | 3,929 | $96.7 million | 2
3. Iron Man (Paramount)
$25.7 million | 3,915 | $257.8 million | 4
4. What Happens in Vegas (Fox)
$11.2 million | 3,188 | $56.4 million | 3
5. Speed Racer (Warner Bros.)
$5.2 million | 3,112 | $37.4 million | 3
Source: Box Office Mojo
(www.boxofficemojo.com)
Shuster Award Hall of Fame winners announced
The Beat has this year’s inductees into the Canadian Comic Book Creator Hall of Fame, as administered by the Shuster Awards. Honorees are Stanley Berneche, John Byrne, Pierre Fournier and Edwin R. “Ted” McCall. Lots more about the honorees in the link. The Byrne Forum discusses the award here.
– Matt Price
Read “The Moth” for free
An e-mail from Rude Dude Productions brings the news that “The Moth” and “Draw Nexus” are now available as free downloads at Wowio.com.
From Rude Dude:
NEW BOOKS AVAILABLE
5 new free books added at WOWIO
If you want to preview full copies of some of our books or would like to help support us, download our books for FREE on WOWIO.com. We’re paid for each download, so every book you download directly support the Rude Dude Crew!
Rude Dude has added 5 new books at WOWIO for FREE download. The new books include Moth 1-4 and Draw Nexus: Tips and Techniques – all 102 pages!
Also available are Nexus: Greatest Hits, Nexus 100, and the sold out Nexus Origin. Get caught up now! Use the below link to go to all the books available from Rude Dude, or use the book code to go directly to the book!
Link to a series: http://www.wowio.com/users/searchresults.asp?nGroupId=[series ID]
Link to a book: http://www.wowio.com/users/product.asp?BookId=[book ID]
Series and Book IDs
SERIES ID FOR The Moth 412
BOOK IDs
The Moth 01 4453
The Moth 02 4465
The Moth 03 4466
The Moth 04 4467
SERIES ID FOR NEXUS 125
BOOK IDs
NEXUS 99: Space Opera – Act 01 1625
NEXUS’ Greatest Hits 1626
Nexus the Origin 4148
Books not in a seriesbook ID
Draw Nexus: Tips and Techniques 4560
