BOUGHT/THOUGHT June 6, 2007

[GNR]

Rising Stars Vol.1 Born In Fire & Rising Stars Vol.2 Power

Finally got around to picking these up after quite some time of store browsing.Very satisfied with this purchase and one of the better reads I've had with capes.

-First of all,the artist changes surprisingly didn't bother me at all,as different as the styles are (Cha,Immonen,Zanier,Anderson) the transitions weren't at all distracting,looking forward to more great Anderson work in Vol.3

-all the big events in the story happen for a reason,the action scenes had real depth and purpose and ALWAYS have serious repercussions and effect on the characters,

Spoiler

Sanctuary

's sacrifice was jaw dropping

-the popping up of characters throughout the story who were last seen as kids was great,loved the scene with Willie and John as kids,the closing "Selah" chapter with the telekinetic was pretty moving and relevant

-the funeral scene and the realization made there to "change" the world was well done,I was glad to see JMS take a chance by redirecting the story and really place these characters in a world without a Hydra,super-villains or cosmic threats
--therefore combating real world threats which humanity created on its own,Jason's redemption looks to be taking a tragic turn,but what a great path to redemption he's taken

-JMS doesn't define the powers,he defines the characters and that's one of the best things about this book,the stories about the overweight indestructible victim and the deceased dreamwalker were perfect stand alone stories

Overall,this is exactly the type of book I was looking for.After reading some online reviews,it's clear that alot of fans weren't too happy about the turn in the story with John's mission to "change the world".Personally,I loved it and admired everyone trying to make their mark before they are gone.Tragic and heroic at the same time.Great series which I highly recommend to any cape fan looking to try something new.

And if you enjoyed that small production NBC currently debuted this season,you might be interested in this.

 

[fifthfiend]

Anyway back to reviews:

Supergirl 18

This was the most embarrasingly awful thing I've ever seen in any entertainment medium, it reads like the product of the lowest breed of internet troll given the canvass of a nationally distributed superhero comic in which to peddle his nonsensical screeds. It's not the awful writing that gets me so much as the total lack of class, and if there were such a thing as a license for metacommentary (which there really ought to be) then I would submit a formal motion that Joe Kelly's be suspended indefinitely.

A few off-week reviews for stuff I just got around to picking up:

Daredevil 97:

Not so much anything inherently spectacular as just well-executed, craftsmanlike storytelling of the kind that these days is in all too short supply. A minor criticism: When your superhero spouse tells you to get the **** out of the restaurant, get the **** out of the restaurant, I mean seriously come the **** on.

World War Hulk Prelude:

Dunno to what degree the author has skewed the canon to his own ends but the comic does a remarkable job of establishing the historical underpinnings of the Hulk's righteous outrage. Also, Doc Sampson comes off as exactly as much of a self-serving *****e as I always suspected him to be.

 

[PhotoJones]

I've never seen an episode of NBC's Heroes, and I'm sure it's watchable, but it just seems like a rip-off of JMS' Rising Stars.

 

[GNR]

Did you enjoy Rising Stars photo?

Heroes is VERY similar to RS in terms of themes,ideas,but still a good show on its own

 

[PhotoJones]

Did you enjoy Rising Stars photo?

Heroes is VERY similar to RS in terms of themes,ideas,but still a good show on its own

I don't remember much about it, but I do remember liking it.

 

[fifthfiend]

I've never seen an episode of NBC's Heroes, and I'm sure it's watchable, but it just seems like a rip-off of JMS' Rising Stars.

It's sort of more a ripoff of every comic in the last 30 years including Rising Stars, which is basically the exact essence of what makes it so totally great.

I mean they even remember to rip off the obnoxious bull**** cliches that would annoy the **** out of you if it didn't seem like they were being deliberately adhered to out of a sense of fannish completism. It takes the experience of ripping up your comics and stamping up and down on them in frustration at Doctor Doom being a goddamn cheating son of a ***** and make it all feel new again.

 

[PhotoJones]

It's sort of more a ripoff of every comic in the last 30 years including Rising Stars, which is basically the exact essence of what makes it so totally great.

I mean they even remember to rip off the obnoxious bull**** cliches that would annoy the **** out of you if it didn't seem like they were being deliberately adhered to out of a sense of fannish completism.

Haha. You're not really selling it very well, there.

 

[fifthfiend]

I've actually found myself to be wholly incapable of explaining my love for this show in ways that are not entirely indistinguishable from outright hatred, and my inability to explain why this should be only fuels my passion for the program.

 

[PhotoJones]

I've actually found myself to be wholly incapable of explaining my love for this show in ways that are not entirely indistinguishable from outright hatred, and my inability to explain why this should be only fuels my passion for the program.

Hmm...interesting. So you love to hate it, or what? I take it that the show's "horribly entertaining", no?

 

[GNR]

Well I will say that it definitely beats out Smallville,also...

-no villains of the week

-the show differs every week,for example you don't get 15 mins of action and 15 mins of setup in the start,no set format

-ongoing plot threads which don't see resolve at the very END of the season

-awesome characters like the Petrelli bros and hints at a secret society of heroes

 

[PhotoJones]

Well I will say that it definitely beats out Smallville,also...

-no villains of the week

-the show differs every week,for example you don't get 15 mins of action and 15 mins of setup in the start,no set format

-ongoing plot threads which don't see resolve at the very END of the season

-awesome characters like the Petrelli bros and hints at a secret society of heroes

The simple formula Smallville adhered to like it was the law of ****ing gravity is what quickly drove me from the show.

Is this still the first season for Heroes? Like I said before, I haven't seen an episode and the chances of me renting the DVD's are slim to none. That and I don't really watch TV anymore.

 

[Dread]

I have liked HEROES. I just eventually stopped posting in the forum because I got lazy.

 

[Anubis]

Love the show, but that season Finale was pretty anti-climactic. Where was the huge battle? Where was fire versus ice? Where was Stripper Hulk going Smash? Just, that last fifteen minutes of that show was a f**king waste. But overall it was f**king awesome.

 

[PhotoJones]

Sounds to me like the show is akin to a Bendis comic. There are flaws everywhere and it's an eventual letdown...and yet the fanboys tune in each week by the droves.

 

[Anubis]

Stop acting like a putz and rent the DVD.

 

[PhotoJones]

Comics take up WAY too much of my time as it is. I'm not about to start watching a 22 episode, hour long TV show from the beginning.

 

[Anubis]

You'll do it, and you'll freakin' like mister. And I mean that with the utmost love and respect.

 

[PhotoJones]

I won't and you can't make me!

 

[Anubis]

Don't make me get my belt!!

 

[PhotoJones]

I don't wanna watch your goddamn, crappy show!

 

[Anubis]

Alright, Dat's cool.

 

[PhotoJones]

Now put that belt back on and pull your pants up...it's looking at me.

 

[fifthfiend]

Sounds to me like the show is akin to a Bendis comic. There are flaws everywhere and it's an eventual letdown...and yet the fanboys tune in each week by the droves.

I'd call it maybe 1% letdown to 99% totally great, putting it at pretty much the opposite ratio of what you find in the Bendisverse. Protagonists are allowed to succeed, legitimate character development takes place, and plot threads actually progress and lead into legitimate payoffs rather than the author sort of generally noodling around until terminating things at random with inexplicable Deus Exes.

As I've said the show certainly suffers from something of a foolishly consistent adherence to the conventions of the medium, but at least in my eyes it tends to play as homage, and even were that not the case I'd call it a far cry from Bendis's perpetual, determinedly lazy knee-jerk flouting of same.

Also George Takei appears at irregular intervals to provide the inestimable service of being George Takei.

 

[Anubis]

Now put that belt back on and pull your pants up...it's looking at me.

Oh come on, you know you wanna look. It's been known to cloud peoples minds upon gazing at it's magnificent ebony glory.

But for reals though, it's a good show. And if you don't wanna see it, that's cool. Eventually, you'll possibly catch an ep here and there. I mean, I bet sooner or later Sci Fi Channels gonna show another marathon of all 22 episodes before the next season opener. Or some crap show during the summer gets axed and they decide to show two or three episodes of heroes a night to fill the void. Or not. I don't care. You're the one missing out on the awesomeness. Not me.

 

[PhotoJones]

But for reals though, it's a good show. And if you don't wanna see it, that's cool. Eventually, you'll possibly catch an ep here and there. I mean, I bet sooner or later Sci Fi Channels gonna show another marathon of all 22 episodes before the next season opener. Or some crap show during the summer gets axed and they decide to show two or three episodes of heroes a night to fill the void. Or not. I don't care. You're the one missing out on the awesomeness. Not me.

Pfft. Looking in the mirror is awesomeness enough. I'm pretty awesome, you know.