Well, it's been a long day. Tomorrow looks like a long one too. So what is my light in the distance?
Black. Lantern. Earth-2. Superman.
BAM!
Well, that and a chipwich.
We're staring a slow comic week dead (no pun intended) in the eyes, but all that could be forgiven if Blackest Night: Superman #1 is as good as I'm anticipating it to be. Check out the full list of this week's comic releases at THIS LINK.
Last week, any remaining fears any of you may have had regarding the validity of "Blackest Night's" tie-ins should have been put to bed for good. "Blackest Night: Batman" debuted with the perfect mixture of humor, heart and horror (which, I now think DC should adopt that as the event's new tagline), and "Green Lantern Corps." once again showed how to add to a storyline without stepping on its toes. I can only expect a lot more of the same from "Blackest Night: Superman," which will feature Zombie Kal-L's return, as well as PA KENT. Could there possibly be more potential for humor, heart and horror?!? (See, it works!)
We've yet to see New Earth's Superman show up in "Blackest Night," so it should be interesting to see how Clark handles his dad and, well, himself rising from the dead. I am also curious as to how far into the Superman family of characters writer James Robinson digs here. Will he include Supergirl and her father? Will Superboy show up, and, if so, didn't Tanya Moon die? We'll see here and I'm guessing we won't be disappointed, despite my growing fear of anything Robinson writes nowadays.
Speaking of the Superman family, Supergirl #44 marks the third quarter of the "Codename: Patriot" storyline, which has me interested in General Lane's machinations for the first time in a while. Granted, I think we can all be pretty sure he's going to be double-crossing that Kryptonian "Patriot" real soon, but it's still the first one of his plans that has grabbed my attention. I'm also looking forward to the reunion of Kara and Thara. Personally, I would love to see those two kids kiss and make up (no, not that way, perverts), which would really fill out Supergirl's supporting cast as the series goes forward. That said, I'm pretty sure Nightwing and Flamebird will be making a mortal sacrifice within the next year. Just a hunch.
I'm much less hopeful for Superman Annual #14. For one, I think my feelings on Robinson's work of late is well documented. For two, this story will center on Mon-el's past life in Daxam, and the history of his people. Is anyone interested? I mean, Mon is a pretty decent character and all, but I just don't see where his past is going to become important. And didn't Peter Tomasi already paint us a perfect picture of Daxam when exploring Sodam Yat?
And don't forget about Batgirl #1 (we finally get to see if DC made the giant mistake of replacing Cassandra Cain!) and Justice League of America #36 (the second of a three-part series written by Len Wein which had a surprisingly strong debut despite the Royal Flush Gang).
Marvel's got less this week, but they do have Daredevil #500, a milestone issue in which Ed Brubaker promises to explain plenty about Kingpin and Lady Bullseye. If you've been following all along Matt Murdock's story, then you know this is a must-buy. If you haven't been reading, you should know this is a must-buy in trade form, and you should also know that issue #501 is likely going to be a real nice place for new readers to jump on board.
The only other books that are (somewhat) of note are Mighty Avengers #28, Punisher Noir #1 (yes, another "Noir") and X-Men: Legacy #227 (a "Utopia" tie-in).
And before I go, you may also be interested to know Archie #600 is out this week. Yes, THAT issue. The one titled "Archie marries Veronica." The one that got at least one fanboy to lose faith in humanity. I have to say, I am a bit interested ... if only because I have a sneaking suspicion the book will twist with Archie getting with Betty after all, and all those angry "Archie" fans can feel oh so foolish.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
PS3 Slim Officially only $299
Big News! Sony has dropped the cost of the PlayStation 3 to $299!
Bigger News! Sony just announced the PS3 Slim officially, at a cost of $299! (Read more HERE). It will be out the first week in September.
In other words, it will soon be the right time to finally buy a PS3. Just don't buy one just yet, unless you're fine with outdated electronics which are 66% bigger than they need to be.
Frankly I was going to buy one anyway soon, with so many big games coming out in the next year ("DC Universe Online" and "Mod Nation Racers" should be enough alone), but this price means, definitively, Microsoft once again has competition to worry about.
Bigger News! Sony just announced the PS3 Slim officially, at a cost of $299! (Read more HERE). It will be out the first week in September.
In other words, it will soon be the right time to finally buy a PS3. Just don't buy one just yet, unless you're fine with outdated electronics which are 66% bigger than they need to be.
Frankly I was going to buy one anyway soon, with so many big games coming out in the next year ("DC Universe Online" and "Mod Nation Racers" should be enough alone), but this price means, definitively, Microsoft once again has competition to worry about.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
The Ballad of Ocho Cinco's Maddenoliday
Click THIS LINK to read all about Chad Ocho Cinco's harrowing experience trying to get online to play "Madden NFL 10."
It's about as intelligent as you would expect from a man who needed to change his last name to poorly-translated spanish. It's also about as intelligent as you would expect from someone who feels the need to tweet so much.
It's about as intelligent as you would expect from a man who needed to change his last name to poorly-translated spanish. It's also about as intelligent as you would expect from someone who feels the need to tweet so much.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Fanboys like all sorts of comics
Through the magic of the AP wire, I present to you the world's biggest "Archie" fanboy:
DALLAS — When comic book store owner Dave Luebke heard that after 67 years, the carrot-topped everyman of the comic world, Archie, was proposing to va-va-voomy rich girl Veronica instead of girl-next-door Betty, he decided to protest by selling his copy of the series’ rare first issue.
Luebke’s Archie Comics No. 1 sold for $38,837 when Dallas’ Heritage Auction Galleries offered it Friday. Heritage spokesman Noah Fleisher said the buyer was a longtime Archie reader and collector from Virginia who did not want to be identified.
“Betty is it. Not Veronica,” said Luebke, whose Richmond, Va., store has more than 1 million comics in stock. “This is serious.”
Thursday, August 13, 2009
'Blackest Night' top dog revealed
Click on THIS LINK to see the cover to "Blackest Night #5" and learn who the main villain behind the event is. Needless to say, spoiler alert!
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
This week's comic expectations
Ladies. Gentlemen. Prepare for one whopper of a week for DC Comics. I can barely count the number of DC books in this week's buy pile on my hands, and I need to take my socks off to count all the books I'm taking home. Check out the full list at THIS LINK.
So, where to begin? On any other week like this, "Blackest Night" would have to take center stage — and there is plenty of "Blackest" to go around — but I am going to have to give Adventure Comics #1 the nod for where to start this time. What's so intriguing about this book is, even on the eve of its release, I'm still not sure what exactly we're going to get. On the one hand, it's a Superboy main feature with a Legion of Superheroes co-feature. On the other hand, the Legion will play a role in the main feature, as will Superboy's former Teen Titans teammates. On the other hand, we should expect to see all three different Legions in these pages in the months to come, and Superboy Prime by the fourth issue. Oh, and on the other hand, Francis Manupal said this book will reek of Americana. That's a lot of hands!
But enough about the mystery which is "Adventure Comics." As I said, there is a lot of "Blackest Night" to go around, starting with Blackest Night #2. When last we left our heroes, the Dibneys had just killed the Hawks, consequently making the Hawks black lanterns themselves. Scar had taken the rest of the Guardians hostage, Ray Palmer was freaking out missing Jean Loring (don't worry, Ray, I betcha you'll see her soon!), and Aquaman was about to get turned to the dark side (not to be confused with Darkseid. Oh, and Hal Jordan and Barry Allen were just about to face off with former teammate J'onn J'onnz, but that fight has already been won by the Martian in the last issue of "Green Lantern." All caught up? Good, because I don't have a clue of what Geoff Johns will be pulling out of his rear this time around!
Green Lantern Corps. #39 will be the first issue that really deals with the Green Lantern-specific side of "Blackest Night," as a good part of the issue will be centered on the situation on Oa — dead Green Lanterns turned Black. I'd also bet we'll see the next step in the Sinestro/Mongol showdown here, as well as Sodam Yat's story fighting Mongol on Daxam. I'd also bet "GLC" will be the place for seeing more on the ongoing "War of Light" between the other color lanterns, so this is one must-read book if you're following "Blackest Night."
The "Blackest" content also spills over into the first of the six three-part mini-series to come, Blackest Night: Batman #1. Two reasons to read this one: 1) Deadman, a longtime member of Batman's supporting cast, has got to have some fun things to say about these black rings. 2) Dick Grayson vs. the Flying Graysons. Need I say more?
I'm also psyched (yes, I used the word "psyched" past 1994) about JSA vs. Kobra #3, the next part in the six-issue mini-series depicting Kobra's beatdown on the Justice Society. Well, so far it's been a beat down. We all know the good guys will come back. But, in the meantime, writer Eric Trautman has been spinning an expert tale by narrating from Kobra's point of view for a change, which has really helped show the reader just how far ahead the bad guys are right now. No JSA fan should be sitting this mini out.
Other top DC books out this week include Red Robin #3 (which features Ra's Al Ghul), Action Comics #880 (the second part in the "Codename: Patriot" crossover) and Booster Gold #23 (which begins to reveal the secrets behind Black Beetle).
Marvel's offerings this week are far more sparse, with a couple of exceptions. The Marvels Project #1 may turn out to be a decent series, even if it's just the latest in a growing and lengthy list of "Secrets of the universe's origin!" tales. This particular series will look at the dawn of the Marvel Universe proper, and the origin linking The Invaders in 1939. Why could this one actually be good for a change? Look no further than the creative team, writer Ed Brubaker and artist Steve Epting, the guys who brought Captain America back to prominence.
That said, I'm trade-waiting this one, since I have so little faith in these "secret origin" stories.
And speaking of Marvel stories I have no faith in, the relaunch of the Ultimate Comics Universe continues this week with Ultimate Comics Avengers #1 and Ultimate Comics Spider-man #1. The good news is, Mark Millar is back on Avengers and Brian Bendis is still on Spidey. The bad news? Can anything undo the stink left on the Ultimate Universe by "Ultimatum?" The Ultimate Universe was built as a continuity-free playground where writers like Bendis and Millar could stretch their creative legs. Did anyone at Marvel actually think the way to reset that universe was by killing off tons of characters and decimating the land? Isn't that just a crapload of continuity to work around?
Also of note from Marvel this week is Cable #17, Uncanny X-Men #514 (the fourth part of the "Utopia" storyline), and Incredible Hercules #132.
So, where to begin? On any other week like this, "Blackest Night" would have to take center stage — and there is plenty of "Blackest" to go around — but I am going to have to give Adventure Comics #1 the nod for where to start this time. What's so intriguing about this book is, even on the eve of its release, I'm still not sure what exactly we're going to get. On the one hand, it's a Superboy main feature with a Legion of Superheroes co-feature. On the other hand, the Legion will play a role in the main feature, as will Superboy's former Teen Titans teammates. On the other hand, we should expect to see all three different Legions in these pages in the months to come, and Superboy Prime by the fourth issue. Oh, and on the other hand, Francis Manupal said this book will reek of Americana. That's a lot of hands!
But enough about the mystery which is "Adventure Comics." As I said, there is a lot of "Blackest Night" to go around, starting with Blackest Night #2. When last we left our heroes, the Dibneys had just killed the Hawks, consequently making the Hawks black lanterns themselves. Scar had taken the rest of the Guardians hostage, Ray Palmer was freaking out missing Jean Loring (don't worry, Ray, I betcha you'll see her soon!), and Aquaman was about to get turned to the dark side (not to be confused with Darkseid. Oh, and Hal Jordan and Barry Allen were just about to face off with former teammate J'onn J'onnz, but that fight has already been won by the Martian in the last issue of "Green Lantern." All caught up? Good, because I don't have a clue of what Geoff Johns will be pulling out of his rear this time around!
Green Lantern Corps. #39 will be the first issue that really deals with the Green Lantern-specific side of "Blackest Night," as a good part of the issue will be centered on the situation on Oa — dead Green Lanterns turned Black. I'd also bet we'll see the next step in the Sinestro/Mongol showdown here, as well as Sodam Yat's story fighting Mongol on Daxam. I'd also bet "GLC" will be the place for seeing more on the ongoing "War of Light" between the other color lanterns, so this is one must-read book if you're following "Blackest Night."
The "Blackest" content also spills over into the first of the six three-part mini-series to come, Blackest Night: Batman #1. Two reasons to read this one: 1) Deadman, a longtime member of Batman's supporting cast, has got to have some fun things to say about these black rings. 2) Dick Grayson vs. the Flying Graysons. Need I say more?
I'm also psyched (yes, I used the word "psyched" past 1994) about JSA vs. Kobra #3, the next part in the six-issue mini-series depicting Kobra's beatdown on the Justice Society. Well, so far it's been a beat down. We all know the good guys will come back. But, in the meantime, writer Eric Trautman has been spinning an expert tale by narrating from Kobra's point of view for a change, which has really helped show the reader just how far ahead the bad guys are right now. No JSA fan should be sitting this mini out.
Other top DC books out this week include Red Robin #3 (which features Ra's Al Ghul), Action Comics #880 (the second part in the "Codename: Patriot" crossover) and Booster Gold #23 (which begins to reveal the secrets behind Black Beetle).
Marvel's offerings this week are far more sparse, with a couple of exceptions. The Marvels Project #1 may turn out to be a decent series, even if it's just the latest in a growing and lengthy list of "Secrets of the universe's origin!" tales. This particular series will look at the dawn of the Marvel Universe proper, and the origin linking The Invaders in 1939. Why could this one actually be good for a change? Look no further than the creative team, writer Ed Brubaker and artist Steve Epting, the guys who brought Captain America back to prominence.
That said, I'm trade-waiting this one, since I have so little faith in these "secret origin" stories.
And speaking of Marvel stories I have no faith in, the relaunch of the Ultimate Comics Universe continues this week with Ultimate Comics Avengers #1 and Ultimate Comics Spider-man #1. The good news is, Mark Millar is back on Avengers and Brian Bendis is still on Spidey. The bad news? Can anything undo the stink left on the Ultimate Universe by "Ultimatum?" The Ultimate Universe was built as a continuity-free playground where writers like Bendis and Millar could stretch their creative legs. Did anyone at Marvel actually think the way to reset that universe was by killing off tons of characters and decimating the land? Isn't that just a crapload of continuity to work around?
Also of note from Marvel this week is Cable #17, Uncanny X-Men #514 (the fourth part of the "Utopia" storyline), and Incredible Hercules #132.
Stride aims to "Save The Arcades"
Get a load of this press release sent over the AP Wire by the makers of Stride gum. Keep in mind, they wrote this, not an AP writer.
1) The quote from Challenge Arcade's owner. You're trying to tell me that wasn't written by a PR guy? If someone gives you $10,000 and saves your business, I doubt if you would use the phrase "What a Wonderful Gesture!" Far more sincere would be "Holy eff'n Cr@p man!"
2) The marketing director just happens to slip in Stride's catch phrase into his mission statement. "... we’ve identified four other arcades that deserve a long lasting existence ..." Really, Gary? A "Long Lasting Experience?" Where ever did you derive your choice of words from?
Still, since the campaign seems like it could do some good for some people, I'll tell you to visit www.savethearcades.com for more info.
With classic video game arcades facing the ultimate "game over", the makers of STRIDE, The Ridiculously Long Lasting Gum , want to do everything they can to help keep the elbows bumping and quarters flowing. Enter Save the Arcades — a nationwide campaign to stop the disappearance of this beloved and endangered form of gaming.Now, I really like the idea behind this ad campaign (and yes, don't fool yourselves, for as good as the cause is, it's still an ad campaign), but there are two just horrendously funny things here:
Last week, STRIDE discovered that a Philadelphia-area arcade called Challenge Arcade was within days of closing down, so they decided to help. By providing $10,000, STRIDE ensured that Challenge will stay in business and continue to offer gaming goodness, world record events and tournaments to the community.
"What a wonderful gesture!" said Joe LeVan, Owner, Challenge Arcade. "I can’t say enough good things about the folks at STRIDE who helped me stay afloat during this difficult time."
"Well, we couldn’t launch ’Save the Arcades’ without actually saving an arcade!" said Gary Osifchin, Marketing Director, STRIDE. "Now that Challenge Arcade is safe, we’ve identified four other arcades that deserve a long lasting existence, and we’re asking everyone who cares about gaming to help preserve this long lasting tradition and keep those quarters rolling in."
STRIDE is inviting gaming enthusiasts everywhere to join the movement to save the arcades by choosing the next arcade to receive some financial support.
1) The quote from Challenge Arcade's owner. You're trying to tell me that wasn't written by a PR guy? If someone gives you $10,000 and saves your business, I doubt if you would use the phrase "What a Wonderful Gesture!" Far more sincere would be "Holy eff'n Cr@p man!"
2) The marketing director just happens to slip in Stride's catch phrase into his mission statement. "... we’ve identified four other arcades that deserve a long lasting existence ..." Really, Gary? A "Long Lasting Experience?" Where ever did you derive your choice of words from?
Still, since the campaign seems like it could do some good for some people, I'll tell you to visit www.savethearcades.com for more info.
This week's video game releases
I'm a little late with THIS LINK to this week's video game release list. I was busy playing "Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10" for the better part of the last 24 hours ... which, by the way, I shot a 59 on my first full round playing Baniff Springs. I also downloaded yet another course, Cog Hill (on sale this week for 33% off, which makes it $5), but you can find my thoughts on that HERE.
Anyway, it doesn't take a genius to know this week "Madden" is the word, out at midnight on Thursday night. It does take a genius to figure out why ESPN insists on calling their Thursday night preseason Super Bowl rematch, which is a promotional tie-in to the "Madden" launch, the premiere of their "Monday Night Football" season. But I digress.
If "Madden" isn't your thing — or if you just wonder if this year's game is enough of a step up from last year's to drop another $60 — other releases are pretty bare, but include a promising first-person shooter for the DS called "C.O.R.E.," and a Namco/Bandai Wii exercise game (yes another one) called "Active Life: Extreme Challenge," which includes base jumping. Yes, Base jumping. If there is one activity I doubt the Wii can replicate, it's base jumping.
Anyway, it doesn't take a genius to know this week "Madden" is the word, out at midnight on Thursday night. It does take a genius to figure out why ESPN insists on calling their Thursday night preseason Super Bowl rematch, which is a promotional tie-in to the "Madden" launch, the premiere of their "Monday Night Football" season. But I digress.
If "Madden" isn't your thing — or if you just wonder if this year's game is enough of a step up from last year's to drop another $60 — other releases are pretty bare, but include a promising first-person shooter for the DS called "C.O.R.E.," and a Namco/Bandai Wii exercise game (yes another one) called "Active Life: Extreme Challenge," which includes base jumping. Yes, Base jumping. If there is one activity I doubt the Wii can replicate, it's base jumping.
Monday, August 10, 2009
'Batman: Arkham Asylum' demo
Rarely have I ever looked forward to a demo like I looked forward to the demo for "Batman: Arkham Asylum." If you haven't taken the time yet, it's available for free download on Xbox Live and the PlayStation Network.
I finally got a chance to play the demo last night and it both excited me and worried me at the same time.
There is plenty to drool over here. The demo allows you to beat up a few henchmen, use your batarang, and show off exactly how "Detective Mode" will work, by highlighting areas of the wall that you can grip to and highlighting where in the room henchmen are hidden. Most importantly, this one-level cross-section of the game makes it obvious that charging headstrong into a pack of armed criminals will only result in bloody, bloody death. Instead, Batman will have to creep around in air vents and skulk the ceilings in order to get the drop on villains. The second part of the demo forces you to take out a room of five henchmen one by one without getting caught.
The whole thing, between the game mechanics and voice work by Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill, feels uniquely Batman.
The one flaw which really worries me, though, is the speed at which Batman moves. You feel much more Michael Keaton than Christian Bale. The man walks like he's enjoying a sunny day in the park. And yes, there is a button specifically for running, but it doesn't feel very organic. Here's hoping the speed at which the Dark Knight moves doesn't prove to be this very promising game's downfall.
All in all, though, this demo did nothing but encourage me to take August 25th off from the office.
I finally got a chance to play the demo last night and it both excited me and worried me at the same time.
There is plenty to drool over here. The demo allows you to beat up a few henchmen, use your batarang, and show off exactly how "Detective Mode" will work, by highlighting areas of the wall that you can grip to and highlighting where in the room henchmen are hidden. Most importantly, this one-level cross-section of the game makes it obvious that charging headstrong into a pack of armed criminals will only result in bloody, bloody death. Instead, Batman will have to creep around in air vents and skulk the ceilings in order to get the drop on villains. The second part of the demo forces you to take out a room of five henchmen one by one without getting caught.
The whole thing, between the game mechanics and voice work by Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill, feels uniquely Batman.
The one flaw which really worries me, though, is the speed at which Batman moves. You feel much more Michael Keaton than Christian Bale. The man walks like he's enjoying a sunny day in the park. And yes, there is a button specifically for running, but it doesn't feel very organic. Here's hoping the speed at which the Dark Knight moves doesn't prove to be this very promising game's downfall.
All in all, though, this demo did nothing but encourage me to take August 25th off from the office.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
'Wii Sports Resort' impressions
In an event so rare it ranks up there with Bigfoot sightings, solar eclipses and Jeph Loeb books of redeeming value, I was given both Friday and Saturday off this weekend.
I'd cue the choir of angels for celebratory music, but they're probably exhausted from my cuing them so often already.
Anyway, the bad news is, I was far away from my Xbox 360 all weekend, so I have still yet to get my hands on the "Batman: Arkham Asylum" demo. Rest assured that I'll be fitting that in between "True Blood" and "Entourage" once I'm out of work later. The good news is the girlfriend and I finally got a good chunk of time to try out "Wii Sports Resort."
Keep in mind, this is no formal review, as I generally don't review games until doing more than playing for three hours with a Wiimote in one hand and stuffed-crust pizza in the other, but it doesn't require very much time to see "Wii Sports Resort" does, in fact, fall into that rare category of party games for the Wii worth your time — a category so rare I wouldn't even include "Wii Play" in it, were it not for the pack-in controller.
"WSR" includes 12 mini-games, most of which are new to the "Wii Sports" series, and all (ok, most) do have that same easy precision control that made the original title such a party-game favorite. Included in the 12 games are a new bowling (which I didn't try), ping pong (which plays similar to "Wii Sports' " tennis) and golf.
Surprisingly, of all these 12 games, I may have spent the most time of with golf, partially because the "Wii Motion Plus" makes the game very smooth and partially because of the inclusion of 18 holes, including nine taken directly from the very first Nintendo golf game ever, simply titled "Golf." My dad and I may have played over 100 rounds on "Golf's" lone course, so playing those holes again is truly a thrill, even if the nostalgia is lost on 98% of those who pick up "WSR."
If any of these new games break out in popularity like "Wii Sports' " bowling did the first time around, I predict it will be archery. With three different difficulty levels, each with four different competitions, this mini-game tests your ability to aim through differing levels of wind, elevation and obstacles. It can become competitive very quickly, especially since one bad shot can make it tough to come back, and concentration is a must. Unfortunately for me, the girlfriend is apparently a natural when it comes to firing virtual arrows ... let's just move on.
I also really enjoyed the frisbee mini-game in which you need to throw your disc as close to a target as possible, and also get your little virtual puppy to catch it. While not the toughest game ever, there's something enjoyable about having a happy little dog go that extra mile to catch your throw and score points for the team.
Unfortunately, this game falls a little short in the depth category. A couple of the games require very little skill, like wakeboarding and sword fighting (the game I was most looking forward to and consequently most disappointed by), while others were hampered by bugs, like basketball which was just very awkward (and I play basketball!) and canoeing, the only game that really had difficulties reading the "Wii Motion Plus" sensor when switching from one side of the boat to the other.
And you know, I really hope that I just gave up on sword fighting too quickly and find out that I love it once I give it another chance, because isn't that the game we all hoped to get the most out of the "Wii Motion Plus" innovation? Upon first try, sword fighting just feels like the player who whacks the other as fast as they can is the winner. There's very little reward for strategy and patience. And really, if this version of sword fighting stunk so hard, what does that mean for our future hopes for a lightsaber game? As I said, I really hope I just gave up on the mini game too quickly. I guess you can judge for yourselves.
Overall, I'm very pleased to have "Wii Sports Resort" in my game library, and yes, "Wii Motion Plus" does make a world of difference in Wii games, even if the sensor has to be reset from time to time.
Will it reach the same wild popularity that "Wii Sports" had? No, certainly not, but that's mostly because "Wii Sports' " popularity was mostly borne of the Wii's own novelty. That will never be reproduced, or at least not until Project Natal launches. In the meantime, the best you can say for "Wii Sports Resort" is that it plays and feels like the direct successor to "Wii Sports," and that should be all the endorsement you need.
I'd cue the choir of angels for celebratory music, but they're probably exhausted from my cuing them so often already.
Anyway, the bad news is, I was far away from my Xbox 360 all weekend, so I have still yet to get my hands on the "Batman: Arkham Asylum" demo. Rest assured that I'll be fitting that in between "True Blood" and "Entourage" once I'm out of work later. The good news is the girlfriend and I finally got a good chunk of time to try out "Wii Sports Resort."
Keep in mind, this is no formal review, as I generally don't review games until doing more than playing for three hours with a Wiimote in one hand and stuffed-crust pizza in the other, but it doesn't require very much time to see "Wii Sports Resort" does, in fact, fall into that rare category of party games for the Wii worth your time — a category so rare I wouldn't even include "Wii Play" in it, were it not for the pack-in controller.
"WSR" includes 12 mini-games, most of which are new to the "Wii Sports" series, and all (ok, most) do have that same easy precision control that made the original title such a party-game favorite. Included in the 12 games are a new bowling (which I didn't try), ping pong (which plays similar to "Wii Sports' " tennis) and golf.
Surprisingly, of all these 12 games, I may have spent the most time of with golf, partially because the "Wii Motion Plus" makes the game very smooth and partially because of the inclusion of 18 holes, including nine taken directly from the very first Nintendo golf game ever, simply titled "Golf." My dad and I may have played over 100 rounds on "Golf's" lone course, so playing those holes again is truly a thrill, even if the nostalgia is lost on 98% of those who pick up "WSR."
If any of these new games break out in popularity like "Wii Sports' " bowling did the first time around, I predict it will be archery. With three different difficulty levels, each with four different competitions, this mini-game tests your ability to aim through differing levels of wind, elevation and obstacles. It can become competitive very quickly, especially since one bad shot can make it tough to come back, and concentration is a must. Unfortunately for me, the girlfriend is apparently a natural when it comes to firing virtual arrows ... let's just move on.
I also really enjoyed the frisbee mini-game in which you need to throw your disc as close to a target as possible, and also get your little virtual puppy to catch it. While not the toughest game ever, there's something enjoyable about having a happy little dog go that extra mile to catch your throw and score points for the team.
Unfortunately, this game falls a little short in the depth category. A couple of the games require very little skill, like wakeboarding and sword fighting (the game I was most looking forward to and consequently most disappointed by), while others were hampered by bugs, like basketball which was just very awkward (and I play basketball!) and canoeing, the only game that really had difficulties reading the "Wii Motion Plus" sensor when switching from one side of the boat to the other.
And you know, I really hope that I just gave up on sword fighting too quickly and find out that I love it once I give it another chance, because isn't that the game we all hoped to get the most out of the "Wii Motion Plus" innovation? Upon first try, sword fighting just feels like the player who whacks the other as fast as they can is the winner. There's very little reward for strategy and patience. And really, if this version of sword fighting stunk so hard, what does that mean for our future hopes for a lightsaber game? As I said, I really hope I just gave up on the mini game too quickly. I guess you can judge for yourselves.
Overall, I'm very pleased to have "Wii Sports Resort" in my game library, and yes, "Wii Motion Plus" does make a world of difference in Wii games, even if the sensor has to be reset from time to time.
Will it reach the same wild popularity that "Wii Sports" had? No, certainly not, but that's mostly because "Wii Sports' " popularity was mostly borne of the Wii's own novelty. That will never be reproduced, or at least not until Project Natal launches. In the meantime, the best you can say for "Wii Sports Resort" is that it plays and feels like the direct successor to "Wii Sports," and that should be all the endorsement you need.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
This week's comic expectations
To quote "Blues Brothers," "We're on a Mission From God."
That's us. This week. Mission From God.
What is this mission, whether you choose to accept it or not?
Get "Irredeemable's" sales numbers to where they should be!!! Headlining this week's comic book releases is Irredeemable #5, priced at 99 cents! Check out the list of this week's stuff at THIS LINK.
I've been doing my part to get the word out on how fantastic Mark Waid's tale of Superman gone wrong is. It is at once the most cerebral read and the most marvelously horrific read on the market. And yet, the sales numbers have never even reached the 14,000 mark, and they've been stumbling.
Folks, you want to be reading this book several times an issue. It isn't just that Waid is telling the tale of Earth's greatest hero turning into its greatest enemy, Waid finds the most creative and well-developed ways to use The Plutonian's powers to their most devastating extent. And it's not always in the flexing muscles sort of way — in the second issue The Plutonian turns an entire office of people into psychological wrecks simply by pointing out the many downsides to finding out his secret identity. And all the while, we slowly learn more and more about where The Plutonian comes from and how he slowly spiraled down the rabbit hole.
I would gamble my salary for the next five years — there are many, many, many more of you that would love this book than the piddly 11,000 or so it averages now. At 99 cents, you all had better be buying this book!
Marvel's top book in a slow week is Captain America: Reborn #2, continuing the story of Steve Rogers' return to the land of the living. Now, I've been as big a fan as anyone of Ed Brubaker's run on Cap, so I trust his storytelling and long-term plans. That said, Bru's got a lot of 'splaining to do over that last issue. First off, I am going to need to see much more before I classify this whole "lost in time" thing as interesting in the least. For two, I am hoping against hope that this doesn't turn into yet another Norman Osborne-dominated story. "Captain America" has been my last refuge from "Dark Reign" stories, so the climax to the story had better not revolve around it.
But, I do trust Brubaker and find myself anticipating this release, mainly because the biggest mystery of this run, ever since issue #1, has been the Red Skull's master plan. At this point, even knowing Cap is lost in time, we still don't know what that endgame is. And so, I keep reading.
Also from Marvel this week is War of Kings #6, the conclusion to the Inhumans-centered space epic. Plenty of big, BIG developments have already taken place in these pages, from Crystal's marriage to Ronan to the Inhumans getting serious about killing to Lilandra's death. Amazingly, though, we enter this final issue with still little idea of how this will all shake out.
Will Vulcan survive? That's the biggest question on my mind, mainly because I've felt like Brubaker created this character of great potential (between the relationship to Cyclops, relationship to Shi'ar and his bratty personality), and yet we have not gotten to see that potential play out yet to the fullest — attacking the main X-Men team in an all-out war. If he does survive then the next logical question is, will Havok survive? I doubt this series will end without a confrontation between the two, and neither is likely to show any mercy. And oh, by the way, with all this talk of killing, Black Bolt was just about to use a weapon that would kill him, wasn't he? So who will lead the Shi'ar? Who will lead the Kree? Will the Inhumans succeed in advancing the Kree's evolution? So many questions!
From DC, Superman: World of New Krypton #6 kicks off the four-part "Codename: Patriot" crossover encompassing the Superman family of titles. Last issue closes with the apparent murder of General Zod. Apparently Zod told the guy to kneel one too many times. If you read solicitations, it seems Zod may survive, but that's besides the point. The point is, one minute Zod is putting Kal-El on trial, the next moment Kal-El needs to go hunt down his killer, who is heading to Earth. Do I smell a reunion show? Seinfeld has me in that mood.
Meanwhile, Justice League: Cry for Justice #2 is out this week, and this is a pivotal issue for the series. The debut issue of this long-delayed mini was, well, a piece of crap. All that beautiful painted art readers waited so long for was only given pages upon pages of dialog in which the only thing each character said — individually, I might add — was that they wanted "Justice." The saddest part about it was that in every instance where the characters wanted "Justice," they didn't actually want "Justice," the wanted Revenge. So this was either a case of James Robinson not knowing the differences between the two words, or maybe this is the entire theme to his story, the characters learning the difference, in which case we're looking at a real dud of a mini-series.
On top of all that first-issue-sucking-pressure in this second issue, we now know Robinson will be taking over the main "Justice League of America" book following this mini, and carrying some storylines and characters over. Which means, if this mini continues to be as horrible as it began, then we're not looking at a case of one bad mini, we're looking at a case of the whole Justice League line of books being taken down by this bad mini. And after the years of Dwayne McDuffie's horrible Justice League stories, I cannot take more crapage.
As I take my leave of you, remember, we're on a Mission From God this week. Go buy "Irredeemable!!!"
That's us. This week. Mission From God.
What is this mission, whether you choose to accept it or not?
Get "Irredeemable's" sales numbers to where they should be!!! Headlining this week's comic book releases is Irredeemable #5, priced at 99 cents! Check out the list of this week's stuff at THIS LINK.
I've been doing my part to get the word out on how fantastic Mark Waid's tale of Superman gone wrong is. It is at once the most cerebral read and the most marvelously horrific read on the market. And yet, the sales numbers have never even reached the 14,000 mark, and they've been stumbling.
Folks, you want to be reading this book several times an issue. It isn't just that Waid is telling the tale of Earth's greatest hero turning into its greatest enemy, Waid finds the most creative and well-developed ways to use The Plutonian's powers to their most devastating extent. And it's not always in the flexing muscles sort of way — in the second issue The Plutonian turns an entire office of people into psychological wrecks simply by pointing out the many downsides to finding out his secret identity. And all the while, we slowly learn more and more about where The Plutonian comes from and how he slowly spiraled down the rabbit hole.
I would gamble my salary for the next five years — there are many, many, many more of you that would love this book than the piddly 11,000 or so it averages now. At 99 cents, you all had better be buying this book!
Marvel's top book in a slow week is Captain America: Reborn #2, continuing the story of Steve Rogers' return to the land of the living. Now, I've been as big a fan as anyone of Ed Brubaker's run on Cap, so I trust his storytelling and long-term plans. That said, Bru's got a lot of 'splaining to do over that last issue. First off, I am going to need to see much more before I classify this whole "lost in time" thing as interesting in the least. For two, I am hoping against hope that this doesn't turn into yet another Norman Osborne-dominated story. "Captain America" has been my last refuge from "Dark Reign" stories, so the climax to the story had better not revolve around it.
But, I do trust Brubaker and find myself anticipating this release, mainly because the biggest mystery of this run, ever since issue #1, has been the Red Skull's master plan. At this point, even knowing Cap is lost in time, we still don't know what that endgame is. And so, I keep reading.
Also from Marvel this week is War of Kings #6, the conclusion to the Inhumans-centered space epic. Plenty of big, BIG developments have already taken place in these pages, from Crystal's marriage to Ronan to the Inhumans getting serious about killing to Lilandra's death. Amazingly, though, we enter this final issue with still little idea of how this will all shake out.
Will Vulcan survive? That's the biggest question on my mind, mainly because I've felt like Brubaker created this character of great potential (between the relationship to Cyclops, relationship to Shi'ar and his bratty personality), and yet we have not gotten to see that potential play out yet to the fullest — attacking the main X-Men team in an all-out war. If he does survive then the next logical question is, will Havok survive? I doubt this series will end without a confrontation between the two, and neither is likely to show any mercy. And oh, by the way, with all this talk of killing, Black Bolt was just about to use a weapon that would kill him, wasn't he? So who will lead the Shi'ar? Who will lead the Kree? Will the Inhumans succeed in advancing the Kree's evolution? So many questions!
From DC, Superman: World of New Krypton #6 kicks off the four-part "Codename: Patriot" crossover encompassing the Superman family of titles. Last issue closes with the apparent murder of General Zod. Apparently Zod told the guy to kneel one too many times. If you read solicitations, it seems Zod may survive, but that's besides the point. The point is, one minute Zod is putting Kal-El on trial, the next moment Kal-El needs to go hunt down his killer, who is heading to Earth. Do I smell a reunion show? Seinfeld has me in that mood.
Meanwhile, Justice League: Cry for Justice #2 is out this week, and this is a pivotal issue for the series. The debut issue of this long-delayed mini was, well, a piece of crap. All that beautiful painted art readers waited so long for was only given pages upon pages of dialog in which the only thing each character said — individually, I might add — was that they wanted "Justice." The saddest part about it was that in every instance where the characters wanted "Justice," they didn't actually want "Justice," the wanted Revenge. So this was either a case of James Robinson not knowing the differences between the two words, or maybe this is the entire theme to his story, the characters learning the difference, in which case we're looking at a real dud of a mini-series.
On top of all that first-issue-sucking-pressure in this second issue, we now know Robinson will be taking over the main "Justice League of America" book following this mini, and carrying some storylines and characters over. Which means, if this mini continues to be as horrible as it began, then we're not looking at a case of one bad mini, we're looking at a case of the whole Justice League line of books being taken down by this bad mini. And after the years of Dwayne McDuffie's horrible Justice League stories, I cannot take more crapage.
As I take my leave of you, remember, we're on a Mission From God this week. Go buy "Irredeemable!!!"
Friday, July 31, 2009
Marvel's Blackest Night
Not a dream! Not an illusion! The Dead Shall Rise!
Oh wait...
Get a load of THIS LINK to a Newsarama interview announcing "Necrosha," a crossover between "X-Force," "New Mutants" and "X-Men: Legacy" in which X-Villain Selene uses the Transmode virus to reanimate the corpses of plenty of dead mutants, namely those in Genosha.
Yes, a 2009 event in which The Dead Shall Rise.
I'll spare you a diatribe on cheap knock-offs. That should be obvious.
My indignation is directed at Newsarama itself, a site I frequent as much as most of the rest of you... 10 questions were asked in that interview. Zero included the words "Blackest Night." One question involves the words "the skies over mutant-kind seem to be getting darker and darker..." as if this was all obviously an original idea.
Well I'm calling you out, Newsarama and namely interviewer Steve Ekstrom, from one Journalist to another, you just made yourself look like a shill.
Oh wait...
Get a load of THIS LINK to a Newsarama interview announcing "Necrosha," a crossover between "X-Force," "New Mutants" and "X-Men: Legacy" in which X-Villain Selene uses the Transmode virus to reanimate the corpses of plenty of dead mutants, namely those in Genosha.
Yes, a 2009 event in which The Dead Shall Rise.
I'll spare you a diatribe on cheap knock-offs. That should be obvious.
My indignation is directed at Newsarama itself, a site I frequent as much as most of the rest of you... 10 questions were asked in that interview. Zero included the words "Blackest Night." One question involves the words "the skies over mutant-kind seem to be getting darker and darker..." as if this was all obviously an original idea.
Well I'm calling you out, Newsarama and namely interviewer Steve Ekstrom, from one Journalist to another, you just made yourself look like a shill.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
The wrong and right ways to have downloadable content
My love for all things "Tiger Woods PGA Tour" is no secret. I've been playing the series since long before it was named for el Tigre, and I'll probably keep buying the games every year until the sport of golf is done away with to make room for Blernsball. Heck, I bought my Xbox 360 a week after learning just how well the system's controller and "Tiger Woods" fit together.
So, it should come as no surprise that I've purchased all three of the downloadable courses EA Sports has offered since releasing "Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10" on June 8.
However, am I the only one angry to have had to spend over $21 in new courses already, just under two months since the game's initial release?
Don't get me wrong, all three courses are wonderful — and the fantasy course "The Predator" is devilishly challenging. But, my question is, why couldn't those courses have been included in the initial game? Heck, one course was released on the same day as the game!
Downloadable content should not be content that could have been in the game in the first place, it should be content developed in the months following the game's release in order to keep gamers playing long after they conquered all there is to conquer.
Instead, this feels as though EA intentionally left out content in a mad grab for our cash after the initial $60. What's to stop next year's game from including only two or three courses with the option to download any of another dozen for $7.50 a pop?
This greed is even more glaring after reading THIS PRESS RELEASE I had in my inbox when I walked into the office yesterday. 2K Sports will be releasing downloadable content for "NBA 2K10" called "Draft Combine" a month before the game's release for $5 (or 400 Microsoft Points).
I'm loving this idea. Heck, I've always been a "NBA Live" fan, but this content alone has me thinking of changing teams. In preparation for the main game's release, "Draft Combine" will let you begin the process of creating a player and navigating the pre-draft activities necessary for a created player's success.
And yes, for those of you that cannot see the difference, "Draft Combine" does seem to be something that can (and likely will) be included in the main "NBA 2K10." But by releasing it early, it gives gamers the opportunity to whet their basketball appetites and really get their hands dirty in a way that far surpasses most demos. If you're going to make downloadable content available so early in a game's lifetime, this is the way to do it.
I applaud 2K Sports' idea here and hope to see more ideas of its ilk (maybe an "NFL Head Coach"-style download before next year's "Madden?") in the near future. In the meantime, I'll still be paying those greedy prices for fresh golf courses.
So, it should come as no surprise that I've purchased all three of the downloadable courses EA Sports has offered since releasing "Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10" on June 8.
However, am I the only one angry to have had to spend over $21 in new courses already, just under two months since the game's initial release?
Don't get me wrong, all three courses are wonderful — and the fantasy course "The Predator" is devilishly challenging. But, my question is, why couldn't those courses have been included in the initial game? Heck, one course was released on the same day as the game!
Downloadable content should not be content that could have been in the game in the first place, it should be content developed in the months following the game's release in order to keep gamers playing long after they conquered all there is to conquer.
Instead, this feels as though EA intentionally left out content in a mad grab for our cash after the initial $60. What's to stop next year's game from including only two or three courses with the option to download any of another dozen for $7.50 a pop?
This greed is even more glaring after reading THIS PRESS RELEASE I had in my inbox when I walked into the office yesterday. 2K Sports will be releasing downloadable content for "NBA 2K10" called "Draft Combine" a month before the game's release for $5 (or 400 Microsoft Points).
I'm loving this idea. Heck, I've always been a "NBA Live" fan, but this content alone has me thinking of changing teams. In preparation for the main game's release, "Draft Combine" will let you begin the process of creating a player and navigating the pre-draft activities necessary for a created player's success.
And yes, for those of you that cannot see the difference, "Draft Combine" does seem to be something that can (and likely will) be included in the main "NBA 2K10." But by releasing it early, it gives gamers the opportunity to whet their basketball appetites and really get their hands dirty in a way that far surpasses most demos. If you're going to make downloadable content available so early in a game's lifetime, this is the way to do it.
I applaud 2K Sports' idea here and hope to see more ideas of its ilk (maybe an "NFL Head Coach"-style download before next year's "Madden?") in the near future. In the meantime, I'll still be paying those greedy prices for fresh golf courses.
So Spidey can't get a divorce but he can...
One of the horribly bad choices that led to the train wreck that was Spider-man's "One More Day," was Marvel's notion that Spider-man and Mary Jane getting a divorce would make him a horrible role model for children.
In fact, the whole idea behind getting rid of Peter's relationship with MJ was to de-age the character to better embody a heroic role-model who young readers can relate to.
So why, then, do I see THIS happening on the fourth page of "Amazing Spider-man #601?"
That's right, according to Marvel, divorce is morally wrong, but drunken sex out of wedlock (and, given Peter's state in this page, likely unprotected sex) is A-OK!
Is that really the image you want our younger readers to be relating to, Marvel? Let's take our hero out of a stable, healthy relationship with the woman he loves and turn him into a Spider-Ho. Good call. No, really, good call.
In fact, the whole idea behind getting rid of Peter's relationship with MJ was to de-age the character to better embody a heroic role-model who young readers can relate to.
So why, then, do I see THIS happening on the fourth page of "Amazing Spider-man #601?"
That's right, according to Marvel, divorce is morally wrong, but drunken sex out of wedlock (and, given Peter's state in this page, likely unprotected sex) is A-OK!
Is that really the image you want our younger readers to be relating to, Marvel? Let's take our hero out of a stable, healthy relationship with the woman he loves and turn him into a Spider-Ho. Good call. No, really, good call.
Buy Pile Report
Well, to paraphrase Kirsten Dunst, Bill Willingham and Matt Sturges brought it.
Geez, how old is that movie? I feel old. Where was I? Oh yes...
Right now, it feels a bit impossible that anyone could surpass Geoff Johns' ability to write the Justice Society. Still, the first issue under new writers Willingham and Sturges, Justice Society of America #29, sure packed a lot of punch into one issue.
I think the biggest compliment I can pay the pair is it didn't take more than a dozen pages for me to completely forget I was ever worried about how this large group of characters would be portrayed under new scribes. Sure, the voices are somewhat different (how could they not be?), but this is not a Matt Fraction/"Uncanny X-Men" situation. Willingham and Sturges are authentically adding their own flavor to the characters' pre-exisisting personalities, and as a result, I felt right at home as a reader within those first dozen pages.
I also have to applaud the writers on their decision not to spend this entire issue being over indulgent and harping on the idea of this issue marking a new beginning. Willingham and Sturges jump right out of the box with storyline without even mentioning a staus quo.
The storyline itself, however, did not seem like anything special -- and I do use the word "seem" intentionally. Step One: The JSA encounters a mystery. Step Two: The JSA is sidetracked by a group of B-list villains. Step Three: Those B-listers overwhelm the heroes in order to set up the come-from-behind victory in a few issues. We've seen this all before, right?
I'm guessing wrong.
I trust Willingham and Sturges enough that what we read here is not simply the old hat bad guys vs. good guys storyline, and I think the events of the last few pages should prove that. I'll hold off on truly judging this storyline until the arc is complete.
All in all, this first issue for the JSA's new writers made me a very relieved fan.
The rest of the week's books were not as successful.
Just hours after discussing with a friend about how James Robinson has yet to do anything I can appreciate since returning to comics, I read his Superman #690, a book which felt more like one of those 99-cent teaser comics before big events than an actual issue of a story. Contained between the covers are five vignettes, none of which truly advance anyone's story, just sort of give you the impression that there may be a story there in the future.
Let's list them, shall we?
1 - Atlas, who had already kicked Steel's rear last issue, kicked his rear again.
2 - Guardian paired Gotham's own detective Harper as Jonathan Kent's teammate.
3 - Zatara (where the hell did he come from?!?) meets Mark Merlin, who wants his help in finding Prince Ra Man.
4 - Guardian and Dr. Light flirt a little.
5 - Ganglios stops Sodam Yat from meeting Mon-El, in a move which basically just saves continuity after the two met for the first time already 1,000 years in the future in "Legion of Three Worlds."
That's all, folks! James Robinson! Come on, man!
Equally disappointing was Blackest Night: Tales of the Corps #3, not for a lack of quality but a lack of value. This book is $3.99, yet only contains a Kilowog backup story, an Arisa backup story, and a "Director's Commentary" of "Blackest Night #0, which would have been interesting had ANYTHING of interest been said. No third story, and no story on a member of a non-emerald corps.
Though as I said, those two backup stories we got, both written by Peter Tomasi, were very very good. The first focuses on Kilowog's first days in the corps, showing how 'wog's drill sergeant treated him, how 'wog first stepped into a leadership role and even how 'wog met Sinestro. The story is strong, poignant, humorous (we learn where the word "poozer" comes from!) and I am now in love with Chris Samnee's simple and straight art.
Arisa's story is more of an origin and a showcase of her personality for any younger readers who don't know her or understand why she holds a special place in longtime fans' hearts. We see her boundless energy, her passion for the corps, her early training at home and her personality during her first encounter with -- who else -- Kilowog. And did I mention I am now in love with Mike Mayhew's pencils and Andy Troy's colors?
Another plus is, given the amount of death and personal connections in these stories, you can be sure they will be pertinent to that little zombie tale we're all reading.
Heck, maybe this book is worth four bucks?
Geez, how old is that movie? I feel old. Where was I? Oh yes...
Right now, it feels a bit impossible that anyone could surpass Geoff Johns' ability to write the Justice Society. Still, the first issue under new writers Willingham and Sturges, Justice Society of America #29, sure packed a lot of punch into one issue.
I think the biggest compliment I can pay the pair is it didn't take more than a dozen pages for me to completely forget I was ever worried about how this large group of characters would be portrayed under new scribes. Sure, the voices are somewhat different (how could they not be?), but this is not a Matt Fraction/"Uncanny X-Men" situation. Willingham and Sturges are authentically adding their own flavor to the characters' pre-exisisting personalities, and as a result, I felt right at home as a reader within those first dozen pages.
I also have to applaud the writers on their decision not to spend this entire issue being over indulgent and harping on the idea of this issue marking a new beginning. Willingham and Sturges jump right out of the box with storyline without even mentioning a staus quo.
The storyline itself, however, did not seem like anything special -- and I do use the word "seem" intentionally. Step One: The JSA encounters a mystery. Step Two: The JSA is sidetracked by a group of B-list villains. Step Three: Those B-listers overwhelm the heroes in order to set up the come-from-behind victory in a few issues. We've seen this all before, right?
I'm guessing wrong.
I trust Willingham and Sturges enough that what we read here is not simply the old hat bad guys vs. good guys storyline, and I think the events of the last few pages should prove that. I'll hold off on truly judging this storyline until the arc is complete.
All in all, this first issue for the JSA's new writers made me a very relieved fan.
The rest of the week's books were not as successful.
Just hours after discussing with a friend about how James Robinson has yet to do anything I can appreciate since returning to comics, I read his Superman #690, a book which felt more like one of those 99-cent teaser comics before big events than an actual issue of a story. Contained between the covers are five vignettes, none of which truly advance anyone's story, just sort of give you the impression that there may be a story there in the future.
Let's list them, shall we?
1 - Atlas, who had already kicked Steel's rear last issue, kicked his rear again.
2 - Guardian paired Gotham's own detective Harper as Jonathan Kent's teammate.
3 - Zatara (where the hell did he come from?!?) meets Mark Merlin, who wants his help in finding Prince Ra Man.
4 - Guardian and Dr. Light flirt a little.
5 - Ganglios stops Sodam Yat from meeting Mon-El, in a move which basically just saves continuity after the two met for the first time already 1,000 years in the future in "Legion of Three Worlds."
That's all, folks! James Robinson! Come on, man!
Equally disappointing was Blackest Night: Tales of the Corps #3, not for a lack of quality but a lack of value. This book is $3.99, yet only contains a Kilowog backup story, an Arisa backup story, and a "Director's Commentary" of "Blackest Night #0, which would have been interesting had ANYTHING of interest been said. No third story, and no story on a member of a non-emerald corps.
Though as I said, those two backup stories we got, both written by Peter Tomasi, were very very good. The first focuses on Kilowog's first days in the corps, showing how 'wog's drill sergeant treated him, how 'wog first stepped into a leadership role and even how 'wog met Sinestro. The story is strong, poignant, humorous (we learn where the word "poozer" comes from!) and I am now in love with Chris Samnee's simple and straight art.
Arisa's story is more of an origin and a showcase of her personality for any younger readers who don't know her or understand why she holds a special place in longtime fans' hearts. We see her boundless energy, her passion for the corps, her early training at home and her personality during her first encounter with -- who else -- Kilowog. And did I mention I am now in love with Mike Mayhew's pencils and Andy Troy's colors?
Another plus is, given the amount of death and personal connections in these stories, you can be sure they will be pertinent to that little zombie tale we're all reading.
Heck, maybe this book is worth four bucks?
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