As you have probably noticed if you are an avid reader of this blog, the format for posts has changed since the New Year. As such, the old weekly "Buy Pile Report" is no more. Instead, I'll focus my attention on one or two topics which are of special interest each week in the "Weekly Comic Report." (I know, creative name).
There will always be spoilers, so be warned.
First and foremost, what a week this was to be a comic fan, eh? DC delivers several of the more important "Blackest Night" tie-ins plus a couple of big Superman-family books and Marvel gives us more "Necrosha" and the finale to "Captain America: Reborn."
Which leads us to our first topic: Was "Cap Rebirth" -- er... sorry -- "Cap Reborn" the most anticlimactic story in the history of comics? Probably not. After all, us comic geeks have a penchant for hyperbole.
But, oh, let me count the anticlimactic ways: 1) This story did not need to be an over-priced mini-series, it could have simply been the next story in "Captain America" proper, kicking off with issue #600 to make it special. 2) Wasn't "Lost in time" one of the first widely-spread Internet explanations for how Steve Rogers would come back to life? 3) The outcome was spoiled by COUNTLESS other Marvel books before even issue #5 of 6 was released, including the epilogue chapter "Who Will Wield the Shield?" 4) After 50 issues or so of brilliant plotting -- both by the Red Skull and writer Ed Brubaker -- Skull's master plan to inhabit Steve Rogers' body was undone because Skull didn't count on Rogers having the will to fight back?
And that last point is where I find the most disappointment, because we spent four issues hemming and hawing, one issue watching Skull take control of Rogers and then in the space of mere pages, all those issues of plotting and scheming are undone before the reader even gets a chance to be afraid of Skull. Thanks to all the plot spoilers in other books, we didn't even get a moment to wonder if Brubaker was planning on keeping Skull in control of Rogers for a couple of story arcs.
And that brings me back to my first point of anti-climax -- if this story were carefully plotted and slow-roasted like the rest of Brubaker's run, we might have gotten to read the incredible tale of Skull doing some real damage as Steve Rogers for a while. How fantastic a few story arcs like that would have been! And wouldn't Bucky's eventual victory feel all the more rewarding?
Instead, to get in line with all the rest of the happenings with "Siege" and such, "Cap: Reborn" felt like it could not rush us to the finish line fast enough. And really, that's my problem with most of what Marvel has done over the past five years or so, and why I have been reading so much less from the "House of Ideas."
Secondly -- and I won't take as long on this rant, I promise. There have been PLENTY of "Blackest Night" tie-ins (I know, I've been buying most of them). And, I'm sure many of you have gotten so sick of reading the same old stories of "Character A has to watch Character B come back to life and deal with those emotions!" to the point where you've turned off to any of the tie-ins at all.
Well, you should know this: 1) "Green Lantern" and "Green Lantern Corps." are almost always required reading. 2) This week's "Atom and Hawkman" tie-in is very worth your cash, so go buy it.
The Atom's story, which focuses on Ray Palmer much more than his feathered friend, serves as a vehicle to flesh out the powers of Indigo light and allow the reader to understand how it works. Granted, it doesn't give us that highly-desired Rosetta Stone for the Indigo Tribe's language, but the most mysterious of all the lantern powers is now pretty well defined.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
'God of War III' dated for March 16
Dear readers,
If you own a PlayStation 3, you may want to schedule a sick day for March 16.
Sincerely,
Kratos
If you own a PlayStation 3, you may want to schedule a sick day for March 16.
Sincerely,
Kratos
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
iPad: Gaming device?
So, it's finally official. Apple's iPad.
Ignoring most of its capabilities for a moment (this is a gaming blog, after all), my question hinges on Apple's assertion that this could be an online gaming juggernaut.
Obviously, given the growing success of the iPhone in the gaming world, Apple has some credibility to make these claims. My own brain won't let that credibility mesh with logic, though.
Here's my knee-jerk take: The iPhone works as a handheld gaming device because of it's size. It's just as convenient as a Nintendo DS or Sony PSP, and the size allows the gamer to make use of the motion-sensing capabilities.
The iPad is just too big to be convenient as a portable gaming device. It's not big enough to be convenient as a mainstream gaming device, since the touchscreen surface cannot support both a touch keyboard and a big enough screen.
I don't know what kind of games can really be used on a device like this, since most of the games that work best on the iPhone would not gain anything by being larger. This strikes me as an instance when being in between two successful genres doesn't equate to being the best of both worlds.
Am I alone on this? I guess we'll all just have to wait to get our hands on it to make a final judgement.
Ignoring most of its capabilities for a moment (this is a gaming blog, after all), my question hinges on Apple's assertion that this could be an online gaming juggernaut.
Obviously, given the growing success of the iPhone in the gaming world, Apple has some credibility to make these claims. My own brain won't let that credibility mesh with logic, though.
Here's my knee-jerk take: The iPhone works as a handheld gaming device because of it's size. It's just as convenient as a Nintendo DS or Sony PSP, and the size allows the gamer to make use of the motion-sensing capabilities.
The iPad is just too big to be convenient as a portable gaming device. It's not big enough to be convenient as a mainstream gaming device, since the touchscreen surface cannot support both a touch keyboard and a big enough screen.
I don't know what kind of games can really be used on a device like this, since most of the games that work best on the iPhone would not gain anything by being larger. This strikes me as an instance when being in between two successful genres doesn't equate to being the best of both worlds.
Am I alone on this? I guess we'll all just have to wait to get our hands on it to make a final judgement.
No 'NBA Jam' news, afterall
My interview scheduled to happen today was canceled and cannot happen until Monday. I know, I'm as bummed as you are.
What I did find out is that the game will definitely be released in the fall as a physical disc, it won't be WiiWare. I asked about price and about the possibility of the currently-Wii-exclusive game making it to Xbox or PlayStation, but could not get an answer to either.
When I know more, I will pass it along.
Boom-Shakalaka (in a sad voice).
What I did find out is that the game will definitely be released in the fall as a physical disc, it won't be WiiWare. I asked about price and about the possibility of the currently-Wii-exclusive game making it to Xbox or PlayStation, but could not get an answer to either.
When I know more, I will pass it along.
Boom-Shakalaka (in a sad voice).
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
News on new 'NBA Jam' on the way...
Big news, sports fans!
...Well, it could be big news. I don't really know for sure yet. What I do know for sure is that I will be speaking with a representative for EA Sports on Wednesday to discuss the upcoming Wii remake "NBA Jam."
Boom Shakalaka indeed.
I shouldn't have to tell you, "NBA Jam" is a game near and dear to my heart. Just recently I was playing "NBA Jam Tournament Edition" on my old Sega Genesis — and yes, I was on fire. Hopefully I find out some good info on Wednesday, including the answer to my biggest question: When can we expect to hear about the game for Xbox Live or PlayStation Network?
For now, you can visit the game's official Web site at THIS LINK and vote for which players you want to see in the game.
Razzle Dazzle!
...Well, it could be big news. I don't really know for sure yet. What I do know for sure is that I will be speaking with a representative for EA Sports on Wednesday to discuss the upcoming Wii remake "NBA Jam."
Boom Shakalaka indeed.
I shouldn't have to tell you, "NBA Jam" is a game near and dear to my heart. Just recently I was playing "NBA Jam Tournament Edition" on my old Sega Genesis — and yes, I was on fire. Hopefully I find out some good info on Wednesday, including the answer to my biggest question: When can we expect to hear about the game for Xbox Live or PlayStation Network?
For now, you can visit the game's official Web site at THIS LINK and vote for which players you want to see in the game.
Razzle Dazzle!
'Mass Effect 2' Review
We have a review of "Mass Effect 2" up on the PoJo Web site (at THIS LINK), written by the Associated Press.
As you may have expected, the sequel was given a glowing recommendation.
As you may have expected, the sequel was given a glowing recommendation.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time: Master Quest (Part 2)
Well, I've had a weekend to dig my teeth into "Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time: Master Quest." What's the verdict, you ask?
Well, for any "Zelda" fan, this 2003 kinda-remake is a surprisingly rewarding experience. I recommend it, love it, and look forward to the day when our civil union will be recognized by the people of New York State. For anyone else, don't waste your time or money tracking this game down.
Here's the good: So far (I just turned adult and promptly won me a pretty Filly named Epona), the dungeons I've encountered are honest-to-goodness tougher and fresh, just as advertised. And, as advertised, the rest of the game is a spot-on recreation of the original "Ocarina of Time," no tougher, no easier.
The Deku Tree dungeon's layout is not changed too much, which initially left me worried I'd just spent $40 on a lemon of an experience. The main change here is an increased number of monsters, most of which take the form of the miniature Gohma pods.
But Dodongo's Cavern erased all of my fears, as the sequence of where you go in the level is completely altered, right from the beginning. In fact, if memory serves, the first place you have to go in the dungeon is to the walkways hanging overhead, a jarring and confusing change. The puzzles are not only tougher to figure out, but tougher to execute. Instead of simply needing to light every torch in a room to open a door (a classic "Zelda" cliche), this dungeon forces you to complete what I called a Torch Relay, in which you light a torch with your deku stick, but then have to put that stick away and light a new stick using the torch you just lit because the distance to reach the next torch you have to light is too great for one stick. On top of that, you'll have to fight monsters in-between torches.
Jabu-Jabu's belly is likewise turned on it's ear, but this time there is an even stranger twist: There are cows lodged in the walls which serve as switches. I could not make that up if I tried.
These new dungeon layouts also make it much harder to collect gold skultas. It seems the dungeons are filled with secret doors and ledges just out of reach of your current arsenal of weapons. And it also seems each time you encounter one of these rooms, there is that familiar skulta sound, letting you know you should remember to come back later in the game.
But, here's the bad: Despite the tougher dungeons, which are now tough enough to please any "Zelda" fan, the boss battles have not been made more difficult. The result is a slightly anti-climactic feeling for each dungeon, and a lack of any anticipation.
The main flaw, though? The GameCube controller. The familiar Z-Targeting is replaced by the "L" button, and while it may work very well for "Wind Waker" and "Twilight Princess," it just fails miserably here. Whereas "Ocarina of Time" boasted a fluid, natural camera and feel on the Nintendo 64, on the GameCube it almost feels like you are succeeding in spite of your limitations. Also, trying to play songs using the clunky GameCube C-button stick, or simply draw your side-weapons quickly, is sometimes difficult.
Still want to hear more? Well I plan on playing a little more tonight (after watching the Blazers/Hornets game, of course) so hopefully I'll have more to report soon.
P.S. Wasn't winning Epona difficult back in the day? I think Ingo has been getting rusty in the past decade.
Well, for any "Zelda" fan, this 2003 kinda-remake is a surprisingly rewarding experience. I recommend it, love it, and look forward to the day when our civil union will be recognized by the people of New York State. For anyone else, don't waste your time or money tracking this game down.
Here's the good: So far (I just turned adult and promptly won me a pretty Filly named Epona), the dungeons I've encountered are honest-to-goodness tougher and fresh, just as advertised. And, as advertised, the rest of the game is a spot-on recreation of the original "Ocarina of Time," no tougher, no easier.
The Deku Tree dungeon's layout is not changed too much, which initially left me worried I'd just spent $40 on a lemon of an experience. The main change here is an increased number of monsters, most of which take the form of the miniature Gohma pods.
But Dodongo's Cavern erased all of my fears, as the sequence of where you go in the level is completely altered, right from the beginning. In fact, if memory serves, the first place you have to go in the dungeon is to the walkways hanging overhead, a jarring and confusing change. The puzzles are not only tougher to figure out, but tougher to execute. Instead of simply needing to light every torch in a room to open a door (a classic "Zelda" cliche), this dungeon forces you to complete what I called a Torch Relay, in which you light a torch with your deku stick, but then have to put that stick away and light a new stick using the torch you just lit because the distance to reach the next torch you have to light is too great for one stick. On top of that, you'll have to fight monsters in-between torches.
Jabu-Jabu's belly is likewise turned on it's ear, but this time there is an even stranger twist: There are cows lodged in the walls which serve as switches. I could not make that up if I tried.
These new dungeon layouts also make it much harder to collect gold skultas. It seems the dungeons are filled with secret doors and ledges just out of reach of your current arsenal of weapons. And it also seems each time you encounter one of these rooms, there is that familiar skulta sound, letting you know you should remember to come back later in the game.
But, here's the bad: Despite the tougher dungeons, which are now tough enough to please any "Zelda" fan, the boss battles have not been made more difficult. The result is a slightly anti-climactic feeling for each dungeon, and a lack of any anticipation.
The main flaw, though? The GameCube controller. The familiar Z-Targeting is replaced by the "L" button, and while it may work very well for "Wind Waker" and "Twilight Princess," it just fails miserably here. Whereas "Ocarina of Time" boasted a fluid, natural camera and feel on the Nintendo 64, on the GameCube it almost feels like you are succeeding in spite of your limitations. Also, trying to play songs using the clunky GameCube C-button stick, or simply draw your side-weapons quickly, is sometimes difficult.
Still want to hear more? Well I plan on playing a little more tonight (after watching the Blazers/Hornets game, of course) so hopefully I'll have more to report soon.
P.S. Wasn't winning Epona difficult back in the day? I think Ingo has been getting rusty in the past decade.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time: Master Quest (Part 1)
My absence from this blog for a while was not without good reason. Following the restructuring of the PoJo and the restructuring of my job (which I explained a bit about when it happened), my schedule in all facets of life changed completely.
I'm not the same geek I once was... or, at least, I don't have the time to be the geek I once was. For instance, yesterday was my first chance to read the dozen or so new comics I purchased nine days ago. I still haven't picked up my buy pile for this Wednesday, believe it or not. And on the gaming side of things, I have a mile-high stack of recent games I still haven't had a chance to get to, like "Assassin's Creed II," "Shadow Complex," "Brutal Legend" and several others.
And all that makes it even stranger that the first video game I'm making time for in 2010 is almost a decade old. For the first time, I'm playing through the "Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time: Master Quest," which was released as a GameCube disc as a promotional perk for pre-ordering "Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker."
If you haven't heard of it, the "Master Quest" is a recreation of the N64 Classic (same graphics and all, despite the GameCube platform), with the differences being each dungeon is now laid out differently and with tougher enemies.
How did it come to this, you ask? Well, it started on Kotaku.com, where I read about Zelda Reorchestrated, where a loyal Zelda fan had just recreated all 82 songs (most of them very short jingles) and uploaded them all for free download.
As is the case with most video game music, the sounds make you remember all you loved about the game, and, with the good games, makes you want to go back and experience it all again.
I knew I had the urge to play "Ocarina of Time," again, for the first time in at least eight years, which is when it hit me:
I had always wanted to play the "Master Quest," but with so many other bright, shiny new games out there all the time, it was always hard for me to justify paying new-game prices to get a game I've already played through (the original version) several times. For a while, the best place to find the "Master Quest" disc was at GameStop used, and their prices generally ranged between $60-75, depending on which state you are in.
Last week, found a copy on ebay from a seemingly reliable seller for $40 after shipping. Knowing it would be tough to find a better price right now, and the game will only become more rare as the years roll on, I took the plunge.
I've carved out a little time in the schedule to play over the next two days, so check back real soon and I'll give you the very tardy inside scoop on whether or not the "Master Quest" is worth putting in the time and effort to give it a try.
I'm not the same geek I once was... or, at least, I don't have the time to be the geek I once was. For instance, yesterday was my first chance to read the dozen or so new comics I purchased nine days ago. I still haven't picked up my buy pile for this Wednesday, believe it or not. And on the gaming side of things, I have a mile-high stack of recent games I still haven't had a chance to get to, like "Assassin's Creed II," "Shadow Complex," "Brutal Legend" and several others.
And all that makes it even stranger that the first video game I'm making time for in 2010 is almost a decade old. For the first time, I'm playing through the "Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time: Master Quest," which was released as a GameCube disc as a promotional perk for pre-ordering "Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker."
If you haven't heard of it, the "Master Quest" is a recreation of the N64 Classic (same graphics and all, despite the GameCube platform), with the differences being each dungeon is now laid out differently and with tougher enemies.
How did it come to this, you ask? Well, it started on Kotaku.com, where I read about Zelda Reorchestrated, where a loyal Zelda fan had just recreated all 82 songs (most of them very short jingles) and uploaded them all for free download.
As is the case with most video game music, the sounds make you remember all you loved about the game, and, with the good games, makes you want to go back and experience it all again.
I knew I had the urge to play "Ocarina of Time," again, for the first time in at least eight years, which is when it hit me:
I had always wanted to play the "Master Quest," but with so many other bright, shiny new games out there all the time, it was always hard for me to justify paying new-game prices to get a game I've already played through (the original version) several times. For a while, the best place to find the "Master Quest" disc was at GameStop used, and their prices generally ranged between $60-75, depending on which state you are in.
Last week, found a copy on ebay from a seemingly reliable seller for $40 after shipping. Knowing it would be tough to find a better price right now, and the game will only become more rare as the years roll on, I took the plunge.
I've carved out a little time in the schedule to play over the next two days, so check back real soon and I'll give you the very tardy inside scoop on whether or not the "Master Quest" is worth putting in the time and effort to give it a try.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
IGN uncovers the truth about Final Fantasy and Jersey Shore
Spotted this a couple of days ago and busted my sides laughing. If you've played plenty of Final Fantasy and have been subjected to the trash which is known as "Jersey Shore," then you must read THIS LINK.
Welcome to 2010
What? I'm only 19 days late! And it's ONLY been two months since my last post.
What do you mean you thought I died?!? That's a horrible thing to say!
Now that all that unpleasantness is over, get ready to start experiencing Gaming Geek Version 2.0. Or, as I'm calling it, Gaming Geek Vista.
No, wait ...
What do you mean you thought I died?!? That's a horrible thing to say!
Now that all that unpleasantness is over, get ready to start experiencing Gaming Geek Version 2.0. Or, as I'm calling it, Gaming Geek Vista.
No, wait ...
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
This week's comic expectations
Happy Election Day!
...
Yeah, I know, it's not so exciting. Unfortunately, that's not the bad news. The bad news is this week's comic books are almost as unexciting with just one "Blackest Night" book and (for as much as I can give a damn about them) No "Dark Reign" books. So what is there? Check out THIS LINK for the full list.
Care for an illustration on how slow it will be? Superman: World of New Krypton #9 is just about the biggest book out. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm enjoying just about everything from the Superverse lately, and Kal's ongoing troubles dealing with intergalactic politics is pretty strong of late. And yes, we're due for an update on Zod's condition and yes, it looks like we're in for an action-packed issue. It's just that this series is still very much working its way toward a climax and in no way is this a book we're all chomping at the bit for.
Oh well. There are other books to like this week from DC, just no Triple-A choice. Batman: The Unseen #3 of 5 and Batman: Widening Gyre #3 of 6 are both solid minis worth taking a look at. Cinderella from Fabletown with Love #1 of 6 is the beginning of a mini any "Fables" reader is going to be interested in. And if you enjoyed our heroic Chinese friends from "52," The Great Ten #1 of 10 could be a good choice for you.
Oh, and that "Blackest Night" tie-in I mentioned? It's only Doom Patrol #4, which definitely promises to be a fun ride from Keith Giffen & company, but if you're in the majority out there that knows very little of the "Doom Patrol's" universe, seeing ghosts from its past isn't going to do much for you.
All that said? The book I am most looking forward to is The Mighty #10 of 12, a maxi-series which has not let up on the gas pedal the last few issues as we're careening toward a conclusion. I know not many of you are reading this story, but I highly recommend it to any and everyone of you when it comes out in trade form.
I know what you're thinking right about now: "OK, DC fanboy, what about Marvel?"
Well, Marvel is equally quiet, with the lone exception of Captain America: Reborn #4 of 6. With Steve Rogers lost in time, Sharon Carter and Bucky are fighting to get their friend back to the land of the living. As many of you regular readers know, I've been a big fan of Ed Brubaker's run on "Cap" since the start. That said, am I the only one who feels like this mini is just one long drawn out conclusion? Of course Steve is going to be saved. At this point, I am only still interested in finding out where Bucky will stand in the future. Otherwise, I'd just as soon move on to reading more great stories from Brubaker about Bucky, Steve or anyone. Heck, I'd take a book staring Hydra Henchman #4 if it were a fresh storyline at this point.
So what else is there? Well, Astonishing X-Men #32 will look to make it two weeks in a row of not being horrible. Deathlok #1 of 7, Black Widow: Deadly Origin #1 of 4 and Psylocke #1 of 4 all begin mini-series with niche characters, so take your pick.
And...... that's it. Sad, huh? Oh well, at least I'll have time to get caught up on gaming. You know I haven't touched my Xbox 360 in five days? Sad, huh? Well, not as sad as what "Heroes" has become, but that's an entirely different story...
...
Yeah, I know, it's not so exciting. Unfortunately, that's not the bad news. The bad news is this week's comic books are almost as unexciting with just one "Blackest Night" book and (for as much as I can give a damn about them) No "Dark Reign" books. So what is there? Check out THIS LINK for the full list.
Care for an illustration on how slow it will be? Superman: World of New Krypton #9 is just about the biggest book out. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm enjoying just about everything from the Superverse lately, and Kal's ongoing troubles dealing with intergalactic politics is pretty strong of late. And yes, we're due for an update on Zod's condition and yes, it looks like we're in for an action-packed issue. It's just that this series is still very much working its way toward a climax and in no way is this a book we're all chomping at the bit for.
Oh well. There are other books to like this week from DC, just no Triple-A choice. Batman: The Unseen #3 of 5 and Batman: Widening Gyre #3 of 6 are both solid minis worth taking a look at. Cinderella from Fabletown with Love #1 of 6 is the beginning of a mini any "Fables" reader is going to be interested in. And if you enjoyed our heroic Chinese friends from "52," The Great Ten #1 of 10 could be a good choice for you.
Oh, and that "Blackest Night" tie-in I mentioned? It's only Doom Patrol #4, which definitely promises to be a fun ride from Keith Giffen & company, but if you're in the majority out there that knows very little of the "Doom Patrol's" universe, seeing ghosts from its past isn't going to do much for you.
All that said? The book I am most looking forward to is The Mighty #10 of 12, a maxi-series which has not let up on the gas pedal the last few issues as we're careening toward a conclusion. I know not many of you are reading this story, but I highly recommend it to any and everyone of you when it comes out in trade form.
I know what you're thinking right about now: "OK, DC fanboy, what about Marvel?"
Well, Marvel is equally quiet, with the lone exception of Captain America: Reborn #4 of 6. With Steve Rogers lost in time, Sharon Carter and Bucky are fighting to get their friend back to the land of the living. As many of you regular readers know, I've been a big fan of Ed Brubaker's run on "Cap" since the start. That said, am I the only one who feels like this mini is just one long drawn out conclusion? Of course Steve is going to be saved. At this point, I am only still interested in finding out where Bucky will stand in the future. Otherwise, I'd just as soon move on to reading more great stories from Brubaker about Bucky, Steve or anyone. Heck, I'd take a book staring Hydra Henchman #4 if it were a fresh storyline at this point.
So what else is there? Well, Astonishing X-Men #32 will look to make it two weeks in a row of not being horrible. Deathlok #1 of 7, Black Widow: Deadly Origin #1 of 4 and Psylocke #1 of 4 all begin mini-series with niche characters, so take your pick.
And...... that's it. Sad, huh? Oh well, at least I'll have time to get caught up on gaming. You know I haven't touched my Xbox 360 in five days? Sad, huh? Well, not as sad as what "Heroes" has become, but that's an entirely different story...
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
This week's comic expectations
Hey Guys, this has to be a short one ...
Yes, I know, I only just returned from a lengthy absence and now I'm already cutting things short, but it's not my fault! Honest! If it makes you feel better, I've spent more time shooting video and editing it for poughkeepsiejournal.com in the last two days than I have sleeping. In fact, I think I've spent three-times as long on video than I have in bed.
Anyway, Check out the list of comic book releases HERE.
Obviously what immediately jumps off the page are the three "Blackest Night" books, with the mothership, "Green Lantern" and "Titans," all three of which have been out of this world and the later two have been required reading.
But there is more to love. "Superman: Secret Origins" was an instant classic from issue 1 last month, so I highly recommend #2 to any DC reader. Also in the Superman universe there is the first issue of the "World's Finest" mini to take a look at.
And don't forget the new issue of "Justice Society!" Is Mr. Terrific really dead?!? (doubt it).
And before we leave the realm of DC, the first issue of the "Arkham Reborn" mini is also out this week, so I'd be remiss if I didn't remind you of how strong the "Arkham" one-shot was during "Battle for the Cowl."
Marvel's got some books of interest this week too, though (Boy, suddenly this isn't such a quick post!), including two of the "Dark Reign: The List" titles of "Punisher" and "Wolverine."
And while there are plenty more "Avengers"-family books this month, I'd say all eyes for Marvel are on the "Necrosha" one-shot kicking off that highly controversial storyline. I wish Marvel would just admit to their thievery and be done with it, but oh well.
Whew! Back to video editing!
Yes, I know, I only just returned from a lengthy absence and now I'm already cutting things short, but it's not my fault! Honest! If it makes you feel better, I've spent more time shooting video and editing it for poughkeepsiejournal.com in the last two days than I have sleeping. In fact, I think I've spent three-times as long on video than I have in bed.
Anyway, Check out the list of comic book releases HERE.
Obviously what immediately jumps off the page are the three "Blackest Night" books, with the mothership, "Green Lantern" and "Titans," all three of which have been out of this world and the later two have been required reading.
But there is more to love. "Superman: Secret Origins" was an instant classic from issue 1 last month, so I highly recommend #2 to any DC reader. Also in the Superman universe there is the first issue of the "World's Finest" mini to take a look at.
And don't forget the new issue of "Justice Society!" Is Mr. Terrific really dead?!? (doubt it).
And before we leave the realm of DC, the first issue of the "Arkham Reborn" mini is also out this week, so I'd be remiss if I didn't remind you of how strong the "Arkham" one-shot was during "Battle for the Cowl."
Marvel's got some books of interest this week too, though (Boy, suddenly this isn't such a quick post!), including two of the "Dark Reign: The List" titles of "Punisher" and "Wolverine."
And while there are plenty more "Avengers"-family books this month, I'd say all eyes for Marvel are on the "Necrosha" one-shot kicking off that highly controversial storyline. I wish Marvel would just admit to their thievery and be done with it, but oh well.
Whew! Back to video editing!
Thursday, October 22, 2009
'Borderlands' Review
Whew! Giving up every free hour I've had since finding the game in my mailbox Monday morning, my review of "Borderlands" is online at THIS LINK.
It's a little bit odd to review a game without having seen all there is too see, but even dozens of hours into my time in Pandora, there really is so much more to be found. This game is for MMO vets and loot lovers. Heck, I just read a feature on Kotaku.com in which Gearbox creative director Mikey Neumann said there are weapons even he hasn't seen yet, including one that shoots mushroom clouds. Mushroom clouds!
What I said in my review I really believe to be true, though -- I'm enjoying this game plenty, and it has been very hard to turn off, even as 2 a.m. becomes 4 a.m. becomes "I can get by on four hours sleep, right?" But, that said, I am really not that guy who loves grinding and leveling. It's my least favorite part of RPGs. I can only imagine what some of you out there are feeling over this game if you're just as much an MMO nut as a fragger.
What I do love about this game, though? The Skags. It's like shooting the Gatekeeper and Keymaster from "Ghostbusters." Don't worry, if someone asks if I'm a God, just call me Zeus.
It's a little bit odd to review a game without having seen all there is too see, but even dozens of hours into my time in Pandora, there really is so much more to be found. This game is for MMO vets and loot lovers. Heck, I just read a feature on Kotaku.com in which Gearbox creative director Mikey Neumann said there are weapons even he hasn't seen yet, including one that shoots mushroom clouds. Mushroom clouds!
What I said in my review I really believe to be true, though -- I'm enjoying this game plenty, and it has been very hard to turn off, even as 2 a.m. becomes 4 a.m. becomes "I can get by on four hours sleep, right?" But, that said, I am really not that guy who loves grinding and leveling. It's my least favorite part of RPGs. I can only imagine what some of you out there are feeling over this game if you're just as much an MMO nut as a fragger.
What I do love about this game, though? The Skags. It's like shooting the Gatekeeper and Keymaster from "Ghostbusters." Don't worry, if someone asks if I'm a God, just call me Zeus.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Buy Pile Report
For the first time since I first started writing this blog, I am able to come on here and proclaim to you all that James Robinson gets not one but TWO passing grades.
Neither of his books were the best piece of writing he's ever given us, mind you. Far from it. But, given the legend's lengthy slump, both were pleasant surprises.
And we start with the relaunch of one of DC's tent pole books, Justice League of America #38, written by Mr. Robinson and Mark Bagley. And let's get the negative out of the way: Yes, killing a marginal character to start an arc has gotten out of hand and cliche. Yes, the JLA returning to Happy Harbor to reflect has become cliche. Yes, this particular bunch of JLAers has been doing WAY too much of that reflecting lately. And yes, Despero is one of those characters, like Doomsday, which has become a shell of his formerly-terrifying self, due to overuse and misuse.
(Like I said, this certainly was not Robinson's best work).
But there was glimpses of promise here. For one, I'm looking forward to seeing who is powerful enough to control Despero. My guess would be Dreamweaver, leader of the Extremists. For two, I really don't mind the idea of JLA tying into "Blackest Night" so soon into Robinson's tenure. I know many critics allowed failed JLA scribe Dwayne McDuffie sympathy by thinking his book was editorially forced to tie into big events too often, but a good writer finds a way to tell his story around those bumps and thrive off of it. Some of the "Justice League International's " best issues were the result of a tie-in. And immediately you see Robinson is looking to wrap his tale around the tie-in here.
I'm no believer in "Cry for Justice" yet, you know that. And you also know that I'm not entirely sold on Robinson's advertised JLA roster. But there was enough in this issue to give me hope for the future, and that's something I didn't have in two years with McDuffie.
I was even more pleased with Blackest Night: Superman #3, the conclusion of the Smallville-based mini-series. As I wrote last night, I looked at this as a litmus test for the many "BN" minis to come, following a fairly-disappointing conclusion to the Batman mini. Well there was nothing ground breaking here, and yes, there was a bit of the 'ole deus ex machina in there, what with Conner stealing Psycho Pirate's smile, but the ending offered a better sense of closure than the ending of Batman's story.
So yes folks, the yellow alert is over, you can go back in the pool it because it was just a Baby Ruth. "BN" minis are officially safe to empty your wallet.
And before we leave the Superman universe, Supergirl #46 concluded the "Hunt for Reactron" crossover with "Action Comics," with a bang. I've said it before, I'll say it again, Sterling Gates has made "Supergirl" a very strong wing of the Superman universe. Here, we get a reunion between Kara and Thara, a revelation for Kara and Lana's relationship and even a very nice and subtle moment of understanding for Lois, who has previously been blaming the Maid of Might for her sister's death.
But, beyond the titular character, this issue also contains some enormous moments for Nightwing and Flamebird -- so enormous that I wouldn't even want to hint at what it was for those of you who have been patiently following their tale -- and I've decided that I really like this pair of characters. If they weren't starring in a book in which half the readers are just waiting for Clark Kent to come back, I doubt if they could sustain a book all their own, but Greg Rucka and, to a lesser extent, Gates deserve all the credit in the world for fleshing out two brand-new characters (yes, Chris as a grown up is an all new character compared to kid Chris) and making them compelling and human (excuse the irony). In these pages, I found myself hoping that DC has long-term plans and a long-term home for these two.
And with that, back to Pandora. Review is coming soon!
Neither of his books were the best piece of writing he's ever given us, mind you. Far from it. But, given the legend's lengthy slump, both were pleasant surprises.
And we start with the relaunch of one of DC's tent pole books, Justice League of America #38, written by Mr. Robinson and Mark Bagley. And let's get the negative out of the way: Yes, killing a marginal character to start an arc has gotten out of hand and cliche. Yes, the JLA returning to Happy Harbor to reflect has become cliche. Yes, this particular bunch of JLAers has been doing WAY too much of that reflecting lately. And yes, Despero is one of those characters, like Doomsday, which has become a shell of his formerly-terrifying self, due to overuse and misuse.
(Like I said, this certainly was not Robinson's best work).
But there was glimpses of promise here. For one, I'm looking forward to seeing who is powerful enough to control Despero. My guess would be Dreamweaver, leader of the Extremists. For two, I really don't mind the idea of JLA tying into "Blackest Night" so soon into Robinson's tenure. I know many critics allowed failed JLA scribe Dwayne McDuffie sympathy by thinking his book was editorially forced to tie into big events too often, but a good writer finds a way to tell his story around those bumps and thrive off of it. Some of the "Justice League International's " best issues were the result of a tie-in. And immediately you see Robinson is looking to wrap his tale around the tie-in here.
I'm no believer in "Cry for Justice" yet, you know that. And you also know that I'm not entirely sold on Robinson's advertised JLA roster. But there was enough in this issue to give me hope for the future, and that's something I didn't have in two years with McDuffie.
I was even more pleased with Blackest Night: Superman #3, the conclusion of the Smallville-based mini-series. As I wrote last night, I looked at this as a litmus test for the many "BN" minis to come, following a fairly-disappointing conclusion to the Batman mini. Well there was nothing ground breaking here, and yes, there was a bit of the 'ole deus ex machina in there, what with Conner stealing Psycho Pirate's smile, but the ending offered a better sense of closure than the ending of Batman's story.
So yes folks, the yellow alert is over, you can go back in the pool it because it was just a Baby Ruth. "BN" minis are officially safe to empty your wallet.
And before we leave the Superman universe, Supergirl #46 concluded the "Hunt for Reactron" crossover with "Action Comics," with a bang. I've said it before, I'll say it again, Sterling Gates has made "Supergirl" a very strong wing of the Superman universe. Here, we get a reunion between Kara and Thara, a revelation for Kara and Lana's relationship and even a very nice and subtle moment of understanding for Lois, who has previously been blaming the Maid of Might for her sister's death.
But, beyond the titular character, this issue also contains some enormous moments for Nightwing and Flamebird -- so enormous that I wouldn't even want to hint at what it was for those of you who have been patiently following their tale -- and I've decided that I really like this pair of characters. If they weren't starring in a book in which half the readers are just waiting for Clark Kent to come back, I doubt if they could sustain a book all their own, but Greg Rucka and, to a lesser extent, Gates deserve all the credit in the world for fleshing out two brand-new characters (yes, Chris as a grown up is an all new character compared to kid Chris) and making them compelling and human (excuse the irony). In these pages, I found myself hoping that DC has long-term plans and a long-term home for these two.
And with that, back to Pandora. Review is coming soon!
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
This week's comic book expectations
You want pure fanboy crack? The solicitation for Incredible Hulk #603 claims Hulk and Skaar will be fighting Wolverine and Daken. Now, I haven't been paying attention to any of these four characters lately (I have too much taste), but aren't Logan and son enemies? Does it matter? No! Because this is the sort of book that fanboys dream of! So enjoy it fanboys! In the meantime, I'm going to be buying books of higher quality...
Check out the full list at THIS LINK.
And I am hoping Justice League of America #38 is of that higher quality, with James Robinson and Mark Bagley debuting. I've made no secret of my distaste for Robinson's work since returning to comics, but that doesn't change the fact that the man helped bring the Justice Society back to prominence. And did I mention "Starman"? Yes, his work on "Superman" has been mediocre at best. And yes, "Cry for Justice" has been corny and trite left and right. But I'm hoping that he is simply in a mini-series-induced rut. And I'm hoping he just needs a good team book to write instead of only a couple of characters in "Superman." And I'm hoping that team book does prove to be JLA, as the book has been fairly-consistently horrible since Brad Meltzer's departure.
Now let's just hope Robinson didn't carry over as much of "Cry for Justice" as he initially said he would. Because that junk ain't good. That's right, it's so bad I used poor grammar. Deal with it.
I'm also hopeful for Robinson's other book on the shelves this week, Blackest Night: Superman #3. For one, we have ourselves a pretty intense battle going because Kal, Conner, Dead Kal and Psycho Pirate. But more importantly, for me at least, this issue will serve as a litmus test. All three "Blackest Night" minis began with a bang. All three took only a slight step backwards in issue #2. Well, last week's "Blackest Night: Batman #3" was questionable at best. Don't get me wrong, watching the Demon Ertigan in action is always a treat. But the idea that the zombies can conjure an entire circus or apartment building out of thin are is only slightly more believable than Dick and Tim freezing their hearts to a stop only to revive themselves moments later.
So, will "BN: Superman" end with satisfaction? Or will it end colder than Dick and Tim? If Supes' mini ends just as poorly, it will go a long way in terms of creating expectations for Blackest Night minis to come. And since solicitations have already shown BL Kal-L will face Power Girl in "Blackest Night: JSA," I'm fearful of the answer.
It's worth noting at this point that I just started eating Cinnamon Toast Crunch, so if you notice a happier tone to my writing, its no coincidence.
Then again, it's tough to be positive when talking about Azrael #1, out this week. The last of the post-"Battle for the Cowl" tie-ins to come out, I can only wonder which of DC's marketing wizards came up with the concept of this book. I imagine the conversation inside the DC offices went something like this:
Marketing guy 1: Wow, this "R.I.P."/"Battle for the Cowl" stuff is going to be intense! Kind of reminds me of the "Nightfall" storyline.
Marketing guy 2: Hey, remember Azrael? He was a badass.
MG1: Dude! Azrael should be in "Battle for the Cowl!"
MG2: Yeah, too bad John Paul Valley is dead.
MG1: Or is he?
And somewhere along the line, DC remembered that yes, John Paul Valley is in fact dead, but by then the wheels were in motion.
Anyway, I have no idea who this new Azrael is. I don't much care. I'd bet dollars to donuts (yes, I'm apparently a 64-year-old man now) that this new Azrael lasts even shorted than JPV.
Other DC books out this week I expect to be strong are Supergirl #46 and Power Girl #6. Love those Multiversial Twins.
Meanwhile, Marvel is hitting us with a heaping helping of Earth's Mightiest Heroes. In Dark Avengers #10, our pal Norman Osborne (who is even more over-exposed than Wolverine and Tony Stark combined lately) continues his tumble back down into insanity. In Mighty Avengers #30, all five Avengers teams will be making an appearance in an enormous brawl (for once not with each other) with The Unspoken. Plus, two "Dark Reign"-specific titles come out this week, Dark Reign: The List - Avengers and Dark Reign: The List - Hulk.
But the Marvel book you most want on your radar this week is Invincible Iron Man #19, which concludes the "World's Most Wanted" storyline. If Matt Fraction's tale of Tony Stark's sacrifice for survival were not so strong it would be downright goofy. Good thing for us, he's made Tony's intellectual troubles not only believable but powerful. It all ends here. If you've been on board, it's been a nice ride, hasn't it? For those of you who haven't, that's what trade paperbacks are for!
And with that, I'm off to the World of Pandora, site of "Borderlands."
Check out the full list at THIS LINK.
And I am hoping Justice League of America #38 is of that higher quality, with James Robinson and Mark Bagley debuting. I've made no secret of my distaste for Robinson's work since returning to comics, but that doesn't change the fact that the man helped bring the Justice Society back to prominence. And did I mention "Starman"? Yes, his work on "Superman" has been mediocre at best. And yes, "Cry for Justice" has been corny and trite left and right. But I'm hoping that he is simply in a mini-series-induced rut. And I'm hoping he just needs a good team book to write instead of only a couple of characters in "Superman." And I'm hoping that team book does prove to be JLA, as the book has been fairly-consistently horrible since Brad Meltzer's departure.
Now let's just hope Robinson didn't carry over as much of "Cry for Justice" as he initially said he would. Because that junk ain't good. That's right, it's so bad I used poor grammar. Deal with it.
I'm also hopeful for Robinson's other book on the shelves this week, Blackest Night: Superman #3. For one, we have ourselves a pretty intense battle going because Kal, Conner, Dead Kal and Psycho Pirate. But more importantly, for me at least, this issue will serve as a litmus test. All three "Blackest Night" minis began with a bang. All three took only a slight step backwards in issue #2. Well, last week's "Blackest Night: Batman #3" was questionable at best. Don't get me wrong, watching the Demon Ertigan in action is always a treat. But the idea that the zombies can conjure an entire circus or apartment building out of thin are is only slightly more believable than Dick and Tim freezing their hearts to a stop only to revive themselves moments later.
So, will "BN: Superman" end with satisfaction? Or will it end colder than Dick and Tim? If Supes' mini ends just as poorly, it will go a long way in terms of creating expectations for Blackest Night minis to come. And since solicitations have already shown BL Kal-L will face Power Girl in "Blackest Night: JSA," I'm fearful of the answer.
It's worth noting at this point that I just started eating Cinnamon Toast Crunch, so if you notice a happier tone to my writing, its no coincidence.
Then again, it's tough to be positive when talking about Azrael #1, out this week. The last of the post-"Battle for the Cowl" tie-ins to come out, I can only wonder which of DC's marketing wizards came up with the concept of this book. I imagine the conversation inside the DC offices went something like this:
Marketing guy 1: Wow, this "R.I.P."/"Battle for the Cowl" stuff is going to be intense! Kind of reminds me of the "Nightfall" storyline.
Marketing guy 2: Hey, remember Azrael? He was a badass.
MG1: Dude! Azrael should be in "Battle for the Cowl!"
MG2: Yeah, too bad John Paul Valley is dead.
MG1: Or is he?
And somewhere along the line, DC remembered that yes, John Paul Valley is in fact dead, but by then the wheels were in motion.
Anyway, I have no idea who this new Azrael is. I don't much care. I'd bet dollars to donuts (yes, I'm apparently a 64-year-old man now) that this new Azrael lasts even shorted than JPV.
Other DC books out this week I expect to be strong are Supergirl #46 and Power Girl #6. Love those Multiversial Twins.
Meanwhile, Marvel is hitting us with a heaping helping of Earth's Mightiest Heroes. In Dark Avengers #10, our pal Norman Osborne (who is even more over-exposed than Wolverine and Tony Stark combined lately) continues his tumble back down into insanity. In Mighty Avengers #30, all five Avengers teams will be making an appearance in an enormous brawl (for once not with each other) with The Unspoken. Plus, two "Dark Reign"-specific titles come out this week, Dark Reign: The List - Avengers and Dark Reign: The List - Hulk.
But the Marvel book you most want on your radar this week is Invincible Iron Man #19, which concludes the "World's Most Wanted" storyline. If Matt Fraction's tale of Tony Stark's sacrifice for survival were not so strong it would be downright goofy. Good thing for us, he's made Tony's intellectual troubles not only believable but powerful. It all ends here. If you've been on board, it's been a nice ride, hasn't it? For those of you who haven't, that's what trade paperbacks are for!
And with that, I'm off to the World of Pandora, site of "Borderlands."
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