The Story: Hush steals Catwoman's heart! Literally! And Batman is furious.

Breaking into Arkham Asylum, Bats unloads his anger on The Scarecrow all while The Joker gleefully laughs in the background. Hush has gone too far this time and he knows Batman will stop at nothing to save Catwoman. The confrontation between these two archenemies goes as expected until Hush unviels his masterplan. Has the Batman finally been defeated?

The Good: Dustin Nguyen's art is at its best here. The scene at Arkham are cold and claustrophobic, heavily accented by the good use of mood and lighting by John Kalisz. This is how a great collaboration between colorist and artist should look.

Paul Dini's story has been very week so far, but finally shows signs of life (here and there). The reveal at the end and the ruthlessness on display finally brings a tad of credibility to Hush's villain status.

What's Not So Good: I said a little bit of credibility - but not enough to make Hush a good villaint. This story, despite it display of shocking events, is still not good. How (or whether) it fits into Grant Morrison's RIP story is still a mystery. If you've been reading both books then you'll be confused by lack of any sort of continuity markers. Bruce beating down Hush and then the scene instantly shifting to the two adversaries walking together in a completely different lighted situation is also awful storytelling. It's like the page was missing a few panels!

Hush going on the awful, villainous stereotype of revealing every single facet of his plan to Bruce is completely stupid. I'd expect this from a Silver Age book or James Bond movie, but not here. It just goes to show how idiotic Hush is, but also how incompetent Batman is for going along with ride (and into Hush's trap). This kind of storytelling reveals too much to Batman (and to the reader). Frankly, I found it insulting my intelligence.

Conclusion: It's better than the previous issues, but still not worthy of your hard earned cash. If the next issue redeems this series, wait for the trade.

Grade: D+

- J. Montes

George W. Bush has reportedly beat out The Punisher to win the title role in Warner Bros.' supernatural western Jonah Hex.

According to Hollywood Elsewhere, Oscar nominee Josh Brolin -- soon to be seen in the title role of Oliver Stone's presidential biopic W. -- has been cast as the scar-faced gunslinger Jonah Hex. (Previously, Punisher star Tom Jane lobbied for the role.)

Brolin's deal was reportedly "locked down last night," although a studio rep vigorously denied to the site that Brolin was even attached.

Jonah Hex will be directed by Crank filmmakers Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor, who also scripted. Oscar winner Akiva Goldsman (Batman & Robin, The Da Vinci Code) is producing along with Andrew Lazar's Mad Chance Prods. for Warner Bros.

Although a Western gunfighter-bounty hunter, the comic book adventures of Jonah Hex were infused with supernatural elements. He is a former Confederate officer whose face was horrifically scarred. Hex was introduced in the 1970s, and has had a few comic book series since then.

-ign.com

My Two Cents:

I hate westerns, as a rule, but I'm loving the Jonah Hex and Lone Ranger comics.

Se supone que un reinicio de la franquicia de Superman está en los planes de Warner Bros, luego que las expectativas no se cumpliesen (a pesar que recaudó 390 millones). Sin embargo, en Latino Review tuvieron la oportunidad de hablar con el presidente de DC Comics, Paul Levitz, quién reveló un par de nuevos detalles sobre el futuro del hombre de acero. En primer lugar, confirmó que Brandon Routh ha asistido a algunas reuniones sobre el futuro del personaje. Obviamente, esto pone las cosas en otra perspectiva. ¿Qué demonios puede hablar Routh, si un reinicio partiría todo de cero?. De hecho, Levitz estaría contento con el trabajo del actor en el rol de Clark Kent. ¿Que tal si el reinicio no es en el sentido clásico que se espera?.

Ahora, se preguntarán, ¿Cuando tendremos novedades definitivas sobre el futuro del azuloso?. Pues, aquí viene algo a tomar en cuenta. Considerando el terreno no consolidado de Batman 3, el presidente de DC señalaría que "Todos están esperando por Nolan para firmar por otra Batman, una vez que eso suceda, el anuncio de las fechas de estreno de Superman y todos los otros proyectos futuros le seguirá". OMG!.

Como último detalle, confirma que la película de Linterna Verde está moviendose mucho más rápido que el proyecto Supermax de Flecha Verde. Y si esperando a Batman es una batiseñal, la palabra Liga de la Justicia se me viene a la mente. De seguro, en ese mismo ámbito de la especulación, las piezas se están moviendo para estructurar el futuro en donde lo que pase con el hombre de acero, depende directamente de lo que suceda con el murciélago. ¡No sólo Ciudad Gótica espera a Nolan, todo el Universo DC lo hace!.

Un nuevo rumor en torno a fichajes en proyectos asociados a DC Comics sale a la luz, toda vez que Josh Brolin (bastante requerido en el hoy por hoy) habría puesto su millonaria para interpretar la versión fílmica de Jonah Hex. Hace un tiempo les contaba los detalles sobre el proyecto a cargo de los realizadores de Crank, Mark Neveldine y Brian Taylor. A Brolin lo hemos podido ver taquillando en películas del estilo de The Goonies o dando la cacha en Hollow Man, mientras en el último tiempo le ha puesto pino con interpretaciones en la onda de aquella película fomeque que provocó orgasmos en la manga de críticos intelectualoides, No Country for Old Men (Aguante There Will Be Blood).

Aunque su representante niega cualquier información, de concretarse, esto le da un nuevo plus al viejo Jonah Hex. La película comenzaría a grabarse en marzo próximo, así que pronto debiésemos tener más información al respecto.

vía /Film

Actualización: Variety confirma la información

]]> http://readrant.wordpress.com/?p=3081 Thu, 09 Oct 2008 23:21:43 +0000 dclebeau http://readrant.fr.wordpress.com/2008/10/09/review-action-comics-870/

A lot of us having been talking about just how good the Superman books have been lately.  That's not something that should be taken lightly.  The last issue of Supergirl was a good read.  Superman/Batman has been a lot of fun.  I can't remember a time when there have been so many good book starring Superman.  In continuity no less!

Lately, Action Comics has been leading the charge.  And the Brainiac story has really taken Action Comics to the next level.

Johns' story is filled with cool moments.  If this were a movie, the audience would have burst into applause several times.  My personal favorite is when Brainiac is stupid enough to ask Superman what Earth could possibly offer him just as Lois is declaring her love for him.  Before you know it, Hulkamania is running wild all over Brainiac.

The ending of the story has been publicized in the mainstream press.  So odds are you know what it is.  Based on recent covers, I think most readers saw this coming.  But it doesn't lessen the emotional impact.  Those last two pages packed a lot of punch!

I'm going to give most of the credit for that to Gary Frank.  I cannot lavish enough praise on his work here.  The look on Superman's face when he realizes that something is wrong is perfect.  The image of his flying through the sky hoping against hope that his fears aren't coming true is even better than that.  Frank is the rare artist who can deliver the good on the big action scenes as well as the character moments.  I am simply in awe.

The ending also sets up the New Krypton story that will run through all the Superman books.  Thank goodness they've all gotten so good!

Disclaimer:I've read every issue of Green Arrow that featured Connor Hawke in the title role.

Which is to say, I'm a fan.  I like Ollie too and I'm glad he's back.  But I always felt like the smartest thing Kevin Smith did when reviving Ollie Queen was to make some room for Connor.  The point I'm making is this: If you want to piss off this Green Arrow fan, start messing around with Connor.

Judd Winick has done precisely that for much of his run on GA/BC.  And little by little, my patience with that particular story dwindled away.  Not just because one of my favorite characters was in a coma, but because the story took some seriously stupid twists and turns before coming to an end that was always pretty much a foregone conclusion.

If you've been keeping up (or reading solicitations for future issues) you know that GA and company finally saved Connor.  This issue picks up as Team Arrow tries to return to normal.

For Mia, that means patrolling the city while flirting with Gambit-wanna-be, Dodger.  Rarely has a new character annoyed me as much as Dodger.  Gambit isn't even all that cool.  Why would anyone want to clone him with a different accent?  The scenes with Mia and Dodger made me gag.  I sincerely hope that when the new creative team takes over, Dodger is shown the door.

One of the many complaints that Internet fans tend to level against Winick is that he shoe-horns his own agenda into mainstream super hero comics.  This issue will give Winick's critics more ammunition as Mia takes an entire page to talk about HIV.

It feels a little like Winick getting on a soap box one last time before moving on to greener pastures.  I suspect the entire reason Dodger was created was to let Winick show that someone who is HIV positive can lead a normal life - including romantic relationships.  It's a nice message.  But I don't need anyone sticking a Gambit-clone in my face to make a point.

The highlight of the issue for me is Ollie's reaction when he realizes that Mia is doing more socializing than patrolling.  "I'll kill him.  And I don't mean facetiously like kicking his butt.  I mean actually putting arrows in him until he is a corpse."  Preach on, Ollie!

Unfortunately, things take a turn for the worse.  Fresh from his coma, Connor shows up looking for food.  Yep, something's wrong with Connor!  The devout vegetarian starts shoveling down Ollie's meaty chili.  He's looking healthier than he should be and he can't remember much of anything.  Oh, plus he seems to have a healing factor.

WTF?

Dear new creative team: After you have buried the Gambit wanna-be, please undo any powers that the previous creative team may have given Connor.  This was about as smart as making Jason Todd a shape shifter.  Thankfully, that was ignored.  Please ignore this too.

Your friend,

lebeau

This issue marks the conclusion of the 7-part "Secret Origin" story.  As such, it's hard to review as a single issue without also reviewing the story as a whole.  When "Secret Origin" started, I approached it with little enthusiasm.  Like most Green Lantern fans, I had read the origin of Hal Jordan many times over the years.  I couldn't imagine reading a seven-part re-telling of the same old, familiar story.

On the whole, I give Geoff Johns credit for injecting just enough new material to make the story feel fresh.  Yes, I think the story was at least one issue too long.  Yes, you can see Johns retrofitting decades of Green Lantern continuity to fit his new mythology.  Yes, there a lot of the soap opera melodrama fell flat on the floor.  And yes, Johns sometimes beat us over the head with how "cool" Hal Jordan is supposed to be.  In spite of all these things, "Secret Origin" was way more entertaining than it had any right to be.

This issue kicks off with Hal's first encounter with the Guardians.  His initial reaction to their size is spot-on perfect.  But the confrontation that follows is a little over-the-top.  It feels like another of those "Hal is so darn cool" moments.  The reader is supposed to be so impressed by Hal "Keepin' It Real" Jordan as he tells it like its is.  Even Sinestro is impressed.

For me, Sinestro really saves this issue.  The best parts of the story have been when we get a glimpse of the decent person Sinestro was beneath the arrogant veneer.  As an added bonus, we get a little insight into what could have pushed Sinestro over to the dark side.  Note to Johns: This is how you make a character cool.

Being the conclusion of an epic story, there are a number of epilogues.  No doubt they are setting up Blackest Night and future Green Lantern stories.  That was clearly the main purpose of "Secret Origin".  Johns planted the seeds for stories to come throughout.  And on that level, the story was a definite success.  I can't wait for the next big Green Lantern story.

Josh Brolin has signed on to star as Jonah Hex (supposedly).

I hated Crank, so I'm praying extra hard those bastards Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor don't screw this up.  Good thing their script has been making the rounds and getting universal praise in the process.

Here's hoping...

What say I? SWEEEEEEET!

The way I look at this is that it can go two ways. One they can completely camp it out, spend too much money and have a mess of Fantastic 4 proportions. Or they find a director who cares about the source material and who will treat it with respect so they can have the next Iron Man.

The casting of Gosling seems like a step in the right direction.Time will tell I guess. I will keep my eye on that one.

Until next time, Verisimilitude!

So, what makes a good monthly comic? A couple of things:

Comics that put “character” first!

Comics that tend to focus more on character than plot are inherently more readable as monthlies. When jumping into the middle of a six issue arc, its character that pulls you in and fills in the holes. With the exception of Fantastic Four, every comic on my list stars a single character.

“Done-in-One (or two)” Stories!

There’s no need to wait for the trade if each arc is only 1-2 issues long, right? Again, this type of story goes well with character writing. Since the plot isn’t required to sustain itself for 3-6 issues, it can be pared down and used primarily as a vehicle to reveal the titular hero’s character. Batman and Zatanna team up to stop the Joker!?! Reading that story you find that it's not really about catching the Joker as much as it's  about developing Bruce and Zatanna's relationship. Also, without really sacrificing the overall plot, these “done-in-one” stories can be framed like TV episodes that when viewed over an entire season combine to reveal a hidden master plot. Think Buffy, Heroes, etc… As many of us know, it can be very intimidating for a new reader to jump onto a book with a long running story, so hiding the plot in this manner is a great way to eliminate that intimidation factor. It also allows the writer to integrate sub-plots with clearly defined conflicts into the background that can be slowly developed and brought to the forefront at a later date, as Mark Millar does in Fantastic Four.

Cliffhangers that punch you in the face!

I mean, does this one really need explanation? There are quite a few comics (many on this list) that use the “final page splash” to great effect in almost every single issue. The rush you get from experiencing these in a floppy is much different than when experiencing them in a trade. Actually, it doesn’t even come close.

Getting that “OMG I can’t wait for next month!” Soap Opera feeling!

Of the four I’ve listed here, I think this last one is probably the most important (although it is very closely related to the Cliffhanger thing). For me, it’s the most important factor in deciding whether or not to wait for the trade. I ask myself, as many of you probably do, “Can I go more than a month without reading about BLANK?!?” If you answer “NO!”, then you obviously have a great monthly in your hands!

With the pretentious explanations out of the way I present to you, in no particular order, my “Top Ten Comics That Work Best as Monthlies”:

ACTION COMICS by Geoff Johns & Gary Frank

I could NEVER read this comic in trade; I just love the characters too much! And the cliffhangers are the epitome of punch you in the face. There haven’t been many done-in-ones in the Johns run, but that’s okay, since at least half the comics on this list barely utilize that comic book storytelling device. But Johns does love the sub-plots, wherein he writes some of the best (or, THE best) character moments in comics. CONS: More done-in-ones would be nice.

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN by “The Spidey Brain Trust”

With the exception of the current arc, “New Ways To Die”, Brand New Day has been nothing but 1-, 2-, and 3-issue arcs filled with character, character, character… the Soap Opera mojo has been strong. Because of the weekly shipping schedule, the Spidey team has been using the last page splash to great effect. CONS: Actually, maybe there are too many characters? Sometimes it gets confusing.

CAPTAIN AMERICA by Ed Brubaker, Steve Epting & Luke Ross

All of the above? Without all the little Bucky character stuff, I would not be enjoying this book as much as I am. It’s funny, but to me, most issues of Captain America feel like single issue stories set in an epic tapestry whose true significance won’t be seen ‘til Brubaker ends his run. It’s one long, ongoing story that excites me month in and month out.

DEADPOOL by Daniel Way & Paco Medina

We’re two issues in and I’m in love. For now. Plot? What plot? If you’re looking for a story, you’re in the wrong place, duder. This is all about Deadpool. That’s it. Do you need to read issue one to understand issue two? Hell no! Enjoy the funny!

DETECTIVE COMICS by Paul Dini & Dustin Nguyen

Current master of the 1- or 2-part story (yeah, yeah, I know the RIP tie-in breaks the rules). Reading Detective for the last two years I remember more about Bruce sex life (obv lack thereof) than I do the details of any of the stories. And to me, that’s awesome writing. Dini has made Bruce likable. This is new, folks. Bruce Wayne as an actual character in comics? Not since pre-DKR, I would think, have we seen the identity of Bruce Wayne written as a real character. Ah no, I disagree with you, Morrison’s Wayne is a flimsy piece of cardboard. Maybe he had something at the beginning of his run, but fleshing out Batman’s alter ego took a back seat to RIP setup long ago, maybe around the time Adam Kubert left the book. Anyway, yes, Dini isn’t writing Batman, he’s writing Bruce Wayne as Batman. And there is a difference, and that difference is quite refreshing.

FANTASTIC FOUR by Mark Millar & Bryan Hitch

The character stuff is lacking, but the sub-plots, cliffhangers and OMG moments make this a top of the stack must-read. Here’s a recent review that reads more negative than it actually is.

GRAVEL by Warren Ellis, Mike Wolfer & Raulo Caceres

The way the current arc is framed, it works wonderfully as a series of single issue stories filled with scenes exploring the character of William Gravel. Oh, you know what? Thank God Ellis finally got around to fleshing this guy out. Gravel started life as a boringly hollow SAS thug who starred in a series of idea-driven minis. In those minis, there was never anything particularly exciting or compelling about the Gravel character and the fact of the matter is, I probably only read them because they were written by Ellis. Now, under the watchful eye of Mike Wolfer, I really grown to like this guy and each month I can’t wait to read Gravel’s next adventure. Shocking. That’s good stuff, brother.

HULK by Jeph Loeb & Ed McGuinness

Heh. I really do love this book. Honest. HA!

INVINCIBLE by Robert Kirkman & Cory Walker

Ever since the #51 reboot, this book has been one of the most anticipated monthlies in my stack. LOVING IT... happy now, Bruce?

JACK OF FABLES by Matthew Sturges & Bill Willingham

Awesome title character? CHECK!
Outstanding sub-plots? CHECK!
Cliffhangers? CHECK!
SOAP OPERA?!? TRIPLE CHECK!!!

Availability: Amazon.com
Cover price: $19.95
Format: Soft cover, color, standard-size
ISBN 1563897350

Synopsis from publisher:
When Rosie Nolan inexplicably gains immense telekinetic powers, the harmless Irish zookeeper suddenly finds herself caught in an outrageous adventure of horrific violence and selfless loyalty. Able to move objects with her mind and sharing an empathic relationship with animals, Rosie is forced to flee her homeland when she separates Scotland from England with a single thought. Now hunted by a CIA agent looking to harness her abilities and a rogue police constable bent on vengeance, the godlike Rosie is joined by a radical environmental activist, his short-tempered ex-girlfriend, and a cowardly innocent bystander as she tries to uncover the secrets behind her powers.

Notes:

This publication reprints the comic book mini-series Goddess. All material in this publication was written by Garth Ennis and illustrated by Phil Winslade, who also painted the cover (originally used for the cover of issue #6).

Reprints:

1. Goddess #1 (1995)
2. Goddess #2 (1995)
3. Goddess #3 (1995)
4. Goddess #4 (1995)
5. Goddess #5 (1995)
6. Goddess #6 (1995)
7. Goddess #7 (1995)
8. Goddess #8 (1996)

 Actor Thomas Jane was desperate for the role, he even did a photo shoot of himself as Hex but he didn’t get the part. Brolin can kick it as a badass, he can handle a gun like it’s going out of style and I would certainly rather see him give a little depth to this complex character – I think he’s more capable than most other actors out there at the moment who haven’t already been involved in a comic book adaptation thus far.

Very much a western at heart, the directors are aiming to infuse the story with supernatural/science fiction overtones with “CG up the wazoo,” with the presumable hopes of kicking off a franchise, because, sadly, the world seems to have forgotten just how cool cowboys once were – before wimps like Spiderman & Co. stole their thunder. Let’s hope they don’t throw away all the gritty mentality of the story in favour of a cleaner, more audience friendly lacklustre film, because that is against absolutely everything Jonah Hex stands for. Oh, and let's not forget, Brolin's rep flat out denied that he has anything to do with this project. FYI.  [Hollywood-Elsewhere]

An even less probable rumour is that of Ryan Gosling playing a more well-known DC character, Hal Jordan aka the Green Lantern. Now, of course Warner Bros. are intending to up the not only the star factor of their upcoming adaptations, but the artistic and acting quality as well like in this past Summer’s recording smashing “The Dark Knight,” as a respect for the medium rather than basing casting solely on an actors physical resemblance to their character. Because, as this is now a fact and not a matter of opinion, Gosling is one of the top actors of his generation if not the best, and has more acting muscle than most involved in superhero crap, ahem, adaptations but many are squawking over his lack of actual muscle and that he just is not superhero material.

I disagree, first off gym memberships ain’t all that pricy and secondly I would have said exactly the same thing about Heath Ledger and look where it got him; one of the best performances of the year by a long shot. BUT, I don't think it suits Ryan Gosling's career one bit. He is way too talented and way too much of a film snob to accept a role like this, right?

Dear God I hope I am right. Of course, coming from Latino Review (if they are going to have a name like that, they should stick to Latino news, no?) this rumour seems just a little suspect for my liking and everyone is so obsessed with the casting of these movies when the first thing they bitch about is the tonal problems that can arise when adapting a comic for the sole purpose of shitting out a franchise rather than maintaining artistic integrity. Nothing is confirmed, Gosling is just the guy Warner Bros. would like to see as the Green Lantern, and I will believe it when I see it. And I will cry when I see it. Right now, everyone should calm the hell down and look up the word 'rumour' in the dictionary. [Latino Review]

Images courtesy of our friends at The Playlist.

Final Crisis: Revelations #3

Outside of Superman Beyond, Revelations is easily the strongest of the Final Crisis minis, and this issue keeps it coming hard.  We further see the damage done by the release of the Anti-Life Equation as Gotham is under siege by the Dark Faith – and among the mindless ranks of Anti-Life laying siege to the city is Mr. Freeze, Poison Ivy, Bane, and Jim Gordon.

Things are bad in Gotham, and they get worse as we learn that the Radiant and the Spectre seem powerless in the face of Anti-Life…and as Cain comes calling.  The description sounds epic, but in fact, this is a deeply personal series.  Originally intended to be a ‘street level’ view of the Crisis, it quickly grew up and realized that, in the best books, there is no ‘street level’ and ‘cosmic’, there’s just a battle for the hearts and souls of mankind.

This book demonstrates that point excellently.  While there is the massive threat of Cain and his faith, perhaps the bigger problem is that of the three heroes, only The Question seems to have any answers, and their biggest gun, The Spectre, is paralyzed by rage and hate.  It’s a deeply personal book, a great reward to old fans of the characters, and an energetic and entertaining tie-in to Final Crisis.

Grade: A-

Secret Six #2

The first issue of Secret Six was an undeniable success.  This issue follows it up well, but isn’t quite as strong.  The Six are well under way in their mission, breaking into Alcatraz to free Tarantula, as Catman and Batman have a long-overdue confrontation…and enigmatic crime boss Junior lays an insane bounty on the heads of the Six.

The action was quite well done in this issue as Nicola Scott proves to be an undeniably effective artist on the title, but every panel of action is another panel we aren’t getting the Six’s twisted sense of humor.  Still, the action and the character pieces are well-balanced, and two issues in, the series remains strong.  Here’s to hoping the Six stick around.

Grade: B+

Wonder Woman #25

If you told me to choose a single word to define Gail’s run on Wonder Woman thus far, it would be ‘confused’.  Then I would hit you, because defining a year’s worth of comics in multiple arcs in a word is an absurd proposition, and you’re an idiot for asking me to do so.

That said, if nothing else, this issue fits that single word.  The Queen of Fables makes for a compelling villain and Gail obviously enjoys writing her, but I can’t help but feel that this arc would’ve greatly benefited from an extra issue, largely because, while the character moments are spot-on, the action is cluttered and hurried.

Still, any comic with lines like…

“Oh, go cook me a couple of orphans in a pie, you empty suitcase.”

and

“Please feel free to direct all your attorneys to my associates.

            “Where we will promptly consume them.”

“Where they will promptly consume them, precisely.”

can’t be all bad, can it?  Once again, the issue is filled with rock solid character moments held back by a slightly cluttered plotting and art.

Next issue, as a public service announcement, marks the beginning of the Rise of the Olympian storyline, kicking off Wonder Woman’s ‘event’ if I recall correctly.

(edit: it reads MUCH better the second time, in my opinion - Chang's art, while gorgeous on many pages, detracted from some of the action scenes for me, but once beyond that, the book is definitely B+ worthy)

Grade: B

Green Lantern Corps #29

This issue kicks off the War of Light for the Green Lantern Corps title as we begin to meet the Zamorans – and as they go off recruiting.  Given that it kicks off the build-up to next years Big Event, it’s a little surprising as to just how little happens in the issue.

We see some fall-out from the attacks of the Quintet, but given that the Quintet was built up and taken down in two issues, it feels a little hollow.  Meanwhile, the scene with Mongul was tacky and the recruitment of Miri to the Zamorans wasn’t particularly well-handled, either.  Again and again, I can’t help but feel that they’re trying to do too much too quickly.  This title needs some room to breathe, and it isn’t getting it.

Perfectly average.  It doesn’t do a lot right, but it doesn’t do anything particularly wrong, either.

Grade: C

Vixen: Return of the Lion

Vixen: Return of the Lion is written by G. Willow Wilson, the scribe behind the current Air and the recent Cairo gets a mainstream gig here working on Vixen, one of the current line-up of the JLA.  In it, Vixen comes face-to-face with Intergang’s operations as she learns that they may have had a hand in the death of her family, all those years ago.

Very little happens in this issue – Vixen goes home, finds them terrorized by a gang, fights.  It’s a simple, but solid opener, and it’s helped along by the fact that the art, by Cafu, is absolutely fantastic.  The action shots, the character design, everything is extraordinarily well-handled. The story may be simple, but the art is fantastic.

Grade: B

The Immortal Iron Fist: Orson Randall and the Death Queen of California

This has already been reviewed fairly competently by others, but I had to throw my hat in the ring for a moment.  The art is fantastic - while the action scenes aren't quite Aja good (what action scenes are?), it's still stylistically excellent - and the story, while at least a smidge misogynistic, is faithful to noir conventions while remaining a bizarre occult martial arts masterpiece.  If you haven't been reading any of the Immortal Iron Fist books, you're doing it wrong.

And would it be inappropriate to ask why we haven't had an Orson Randall card in VS yet?  

Grade: A

Well regarded actor Josh Brolin (American Gangster) is in talks for the titular role in the forthcoming adaptation of Jonah Hex from Crank writer/directors Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor. Based on the DC Comics property created by writer John Albano and artist Tony DeZuniga, the film is a western focusing on an anti-hero type character.

The right side of his face is horribly distinctly scarred. He was an officer for the Confederacy during the American Civil War, fought at Gettysburg and is normally shown wearing a tattered Confederate States Army jacket. Hex is surly and cynical, and is in many ways similar to Clint Eastwood's Man with No Name or The Outlaw Josey Wales.

Jonah Hex is set for 2010. Brolin previously played cowboy Jedidiah Smith in the mini-series Into The West (pictured above) and The Mist actor Thomas Jane has previously expressed interest in the role, going so far as to personally do costume/makeup tests for his own enjoyment. Who would you rather see in the role?

Source

Oscar-nominated actor Ryan Gosling (Fracture) is apparently the frontrunner for the lead in the forthcoming adaptation of the DC Comics property The Green Lantern. If you're not familiar with the comic book, created by unofficial Batman co-creator Bill Finger and artist Martin Nodell, The Green Lantern is not a single superhero but rather an interplanetary corps of peacekeepers. According to Wikipedia:

Each Green Lantern possesses a power ring that gives the user great control over the physical world as long as the wielder has sufficient willpower and strength to wield it. While the ring of the Golden Age Green Lantern (Alan Scott) was magically powered, the rings worn by all subsequent Lanterns were technological creations of the Guardians of the Universe, who granted such rings to worthy candidates. These individuals made up the intergalactic police force known as the Green Lantern Corps.

The film, which is to be directed by Everwood creator Greg Berlanti and is set for 2010, will reportedly focus on the character of Hal Jordan, easily the best-known of the human Green Lanterns. What do you think of Ryan Gosling as Hal Jordan?

Source

Ryan Gosling to play Hal Jordan?  Awesome.

He's not exactly a perfect fit, but if there's any truth to this, I would be extremely disappointed if Gosling didn't pick up the role given his tremendous talent and the film's potential.  Latino Review is pretty solid when it comes to casting news and rumors, so it'll be interesting to see where this leads.

I won't pretend to be particularly versed in Green Lantern mythos, but I know enough to envision what could make for a spectacular space opera, and depending upon the script's setting, a stellar period sci-fi piece.

I have a few reservations in regards to Berlanti simply because he's a completely unproven commodity.  But I'm willing to give an unproven guy a shot over someone like Ratner who has been around but makes empty-hearted movies.

They're talking about a Spring 2009 start date on this baby.  Here's hoping we have one hell of a Green Lantern flick come Summer '11/'12.

In the meantime, we'll keep you updated.

(If any GL diehard reads this, drop us a line with what you consider to be essential reads on the character(s).)

The Story: Geoff Johns wraps up his Brainiac retcon as Superman must not only deal with his own means of survival, but also the fates of Metropolis and Kandor - two cities have been shrunken down for Braniac's "private collection". Meanwhile, Supergirl must come to grips with her role as a superhero and save the planet (not to mention solar system). Even on the verge of defeat, Brainiac has one final plan up his sleeve and he's ready for his revenge!

What's Good: This book is damn near flawless. Geoff Johns writes an issue that hits on the highest of highes and the lowest of lows. Superman using his ingenuity to fight and ultimately defeat Brainiac is one of brilliance. And Supergirl's last minute surge of courage had me cheering. The dramatic shift in tone that plays out with the defeat of Brainiac and the loss of Pa Kent will hit readers hard. All of this is punctuated with Gary Frank's incredible pencil work.

This story also sets up the big sweeping change that is New Kypton. The city of Kandor is finally saved and with it comes a race of Supermen. What will play out over the next few months will be fresh and completely new to the Superman dynamic.

What's Bad: The death of Pa Kent. No matter how many times they kill him off, it gets me every time.

Conclusion: The last couple of issues felt like this story was losing steam, but Johns comes back in a big way. He swings for the fences and hits a grandslam. This is easily the saddest issue of Superman I've ever read and one I will not soon forget. It's a great time to be a Superman fan.

Grade: A+

- J. Montes

El Mayimbe de Latino Review, el mismo que en el pasado filtró la elección de Heath Ledger como el Joker y Brandon Routh como el nuevo Superman. Ahora sorprende con un nuevo rumor en torno a la Warner Bros, que no deja indiferente a los que estamos consciente del potencial de la película de Literna Verde. Y es que, en esta ocasión, señala que Ryan Gosling es el candidato del estudio para interpretar a Hal Jordan/Linterna Verde en la película que dirigirá Greg Berlanti. Este detalle es bastante interesante, toda vez que  no creo que existan muchas dudas de que Gosling es un buen actor y en los últimos años ha tomado roles que han elevado sus dotes interpretativos (Half Nelson, Lars and the Real Girl), por lo que temas como buscar looks al 100% pasan a segundo plano (aunque tiene la misma edad que la del personaje). En esa onda, el tipo tiene más salsa que aportar al personaje en relación a compadres que proponen más pose que otra cosa, como el rumoreado David Boreanaz. Además, considerando el tipo de actores que han comenzado a llegar a los proyectos heroicos, el tanteo del estudio no es para nada descabellado. A mi, de hecho, no me molesta.

Por otro lado, en First Showing tuvieron la ocasión de leer el guión y han señalado "cinco cabronas razones por las cuales los fans van a adorar la película de Linterna Verde:"

5.- Respeto por los fans: A pesar de la dificultad de adaptar un personaje con tanta historia, los guionistas lograron respetar el material base. Hal es un piloto de pruebas de la aviación, algo que tiene bastante desarrollo en la historia, y su poder de voluntad es la fuerza motora de la película. Además se pueden ver otros personajes clave con grandes roles: Abin Sur tiene una gran importancia durante el primer acto, Sinestro, Tomar-Re y Kilowog también tienen bastante presencia. Además existen grandes cameos y la madre de todas las revelaciones al final de la película. Cosas que los fans entienden de inmediato, pequeños guiños. Además, no habrá cosas que no aparecen en los comics.

4.- Una "pelea de perros" mortal. No es literalmente, no se equivoquen en la onda del Hulk de Ang Lee. La idea es que las escenas en los aviones tienen el potencial de ser realmente espectaculares. De hecho, DogFight (el término utilizado en ingles) realmente es una batalla entre aviones. Existe una al comienzo entre Hal y tres aviones automatizados. Hombre vs Máquina. Sin Miedo

3.- Los anillos de poder. No existen límites para la imaginación. No creo que sea necesario hablar mucho al respecto, pero en el sitio señalan que las cosas que se hacen con el anillo de poder son realmente buenas. Hal saca el clásico puño verde, armas, redes y hasta toda una maldita ciudad. De hecho, la película parte con una gran pelea espacial entre Abin Sur y el que es descrito como "el mejor personaje" de esta historia que, precisamente, vendría a ser:

2.- Legion. El gran villano de la historia. El monstruo amarillo es el polo opuesto a todo lo que es el Cuerpo de los Linterna Verde. Lo califican como realmente cabron, un villano amenazador y con un aspecto "conchesumadremente terrorífico con su armadura. Es el Depredador, el Tiburón, El Alien, Mordred (De la serie "Torre Oscura" de Stephen King" en uno solo". Esa onda. Es descrito del tamaño de una ballena, con la sonrisa de un tiburón y los tentáculos de un pulpo. Aunque no suena precisamente amedrentador, el arte conceptual del personaje va a "hacerlos mojar su cama por una semana". Además, Legion pasa todo su tiempo en pantalla matando. Es lo único que hace. En un punto se puede pensar que se tomará un descanso, pero luego de darle a su presa una falsa esperanza de seguridad, se lanza y lo destruyo todo. Es tan poderoso que parte de su armadura se separa de su cuerpo y es lo que infecta y crea el villano terrícola (Hector Hammond).

1.- Batallas épicas. La película es gigantesca y tiene la característica de los comics del personaje. Estos no son solo problemas a nivel mundial. Involucra todo el Universo. La escala de las peleas es lo mejor. Hal Jordan no es el único que pelea. El Green Lantern Corps por completo se une en la batalla contra Legion. todo lo que uno imagina de Hal haciendo es multiplicado exponencialmente con cientos de Linterna Verde peleando al mismo tiempo.

"Las batallas en esta película son lo que obtienes cuando tomas por completo de la Armada Romana de la batalla inicial de Gladiador y le das un anillo de poder ilimitado. Luego tomas a cada miembro de los Bárbaros y los unes en un gigantesco y atemorizante motherfucker, y todos deciden tener una batalla de media hora de duración".

Supergirl #34 (****)

There's about to be a Superman crossover story and this is the team that's going to handle Supergirl. I have always liked Supergirl, but it's hard to explain why. She is consistently written poorly. I was pleased to see she got some cool moments in Johns' current Brainiac storyline and I'm happy to report she's written well here too. This is more of the human angle for Supergirl. She asks questions that we all ask. Why am I here? Am I doing the right thing? There are plenty of strong character moments. Plus, we get some nice Silver Banshee action and how often do we see that? Also, the book looks pretty. It fits the tone extremely well and it manages to solve an important artistic problem, how do you make a girl with bare midriff and the world's shortiest skirt not look trashy? My one complaint is why does Supergirl have to cry twice in one issue? It works fine the first time but it is completely pointless the second. Anyway, I'm glad Supergirl is finally getting the treatment she deserves.

Pssssssst! Hey! All of you Psylocke fans should check out this and this!

Above is a gorgeous piece by current Wonder Woman artist, Aaron Lopresti!  If you are not reading Wonder Woman right now, you so need to start!  Writer Gail Simon is taking the character to new heights!  

This statuesque version of Diana is by Wendy Pini of Elfquest fame!  I dig the unique version of her tiara and the super curly hair.  Those eyes are like stars and those thick eyebrows and heavy lashes would make even Brooke Shields jealous!

The TV Jonathan -- played by John Schneider -- died long ago on CW's "Smallville."

In the original Superman tales of the 1940s, Clark Kent's parents died while he was still a teen. And in the 1978 "Superman" movie that starred Christopher Reeve, Jonathan Kent, played by Glenn Ford, also died of a heart attack.

Source: AP