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Let's see if this works, and can take this blog boldly forward into the blog-o-sphere.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Monday, August 25, 2008
A Brand New Day is losing it's polish, is it Gold or Dust
I want to point out something here. I grew up on Spider-Man, I learned to read from his comics, and now a college grad (finishing up that college thing ate up my time to post here) I have always loved Spider-Man. So when I hear about the good old days of Spider-Man, my thoughts don't run to the Stan Lee days, but rather to a time when Spider-Man was already married. As Spider-Fans my senior remember Spider-Man in High School with them or in college as they were, I remember him being a teacher through my high school and college years. I remember him dealing with 9/11 when Captain America wouldn't. The way I know Spider-Man is from the last 20 (well really more like 12, since I could buy comics consistently) years, and putting him back beyond that brings up a 'feeling' of Spider-Man that was from 30 years ago, for me that's a pre-fetus stage.
My initial shock in reaction to "One more Day" was more than enough to keep me away from the "Brand New Day" line. For months I was buying piles of comics, but I felt I was missing Spider-Man. Though to quell this, through fate, a hard cover of the first 6 issues of this "Brand New Day" ended up in my hot little hands.
So I back Tacked and have read up to the most recent issue, the Start of "New Ways to Die" which sucks because after reading most of this in a day I now have to wait for new issues. Though the best part of the Spider-Man relaunch is that the title is printed thrice monthly. So I don't have to wait long, unlike for every other book on the shelf, save Trinity. Unlike Trinity, ASM (Amazing Spider-Man for those of you that would like to win a No-Prize someday) is written like a TV show, with a group of writers rotating the head seat for an arc, and rotating artists as well, trying to keep one on an arc at a time. But with the Sub-plots it gets mingled, which is great for continuing readers, but kills the option of people picking up a random comic and not getting lost.
So, super the comics gets published a lot, but why? Well these Spider-stories are chock full of Web shooter cliffhangers, but more importantly there is a supporting cast! This is cool because he hasn't had one in years, except his now never-wife, MJ who has only made a brief appearance since the deal with the devil. Now that I've read this type of ASM, I see why people at Marvel Editorial have been trying to get rid of her for years, she kills the book. White Pete getting married he has little reason to go out, or find a job since his wife can be the bread winner. Also he didn't have any friends since apparently married people don't have friends. Now Pete has these, including his best friend.
That's right Harry is back, from beyond the grave, or not because apparently he never died, in passing he was still the Goblin at some point, but forgot. Plus Harry is now dating some really attractive chick that Pete is developing the hots for, but what superhero has time for dating right?
But the best stories still focus on the action, and not so much the drama, as hearing about the Paker Luck (which is more ironic than normal bad luck) can get stale, except when they played off it with "Par-Kour" luck when some crazy acrobatic/ parkour expert made a heist. Someone complained in the letter to the editor pages about the the sport being misrepresented but, I'm hoping they overlook it and bring that character back, she was cool! Breathed some life of the new century into the book, that is lacking among all this focus on the old type of Spidey. Which is one of my main complaints since this is suppose to be a "Brand New Day" why does it feel like too much has returned to the past?
But they have been fixing up this problem as they go along. While starting with Parker in his classic situation as a photographer at the Daily Bugle, Parker quicly gave JJJ a heart attack, brining in a new publisher, re-dubbing the paper the DB. This moved many of the newspaper cast from the DB, to Front Line, which ties into another part of Marvel. This is good because Spider-Man hasn't been a part of the Marvel universe leaving too many questions up for grab, that should be addressed in this new arc. What happened during the Civil War? What happened with the Goblins, Venom and many other classic ASM villains now that history has been rewritten.?
But while there are many questions up for grabs, this old time Spider-Fan is enjoying the ride.
My initial shock in reaction to "One more Day" was more than enough to keep me away from the "Brand New Day" line. For months I was buying piles of comics, but I felt I was missing Spider-Man. Though to quell this, through fate, a hard cover of the first 6 issues of this "Brand New Day" ended up in my hot little hands.
So I back Tacked and have read up to the most recent issue, the Start of "New Ways to Die" which sucks because after reading most of this in a day I now have to wait for new issues. Though the best part of the Spider-Man relaunch is that the title is printed thrice monthly. So I don't have to wait long, unlike for every other book on the shelf, save Trinity. Unlike Trinity, ASM (Amazing Spider-Man for those of you that would like to win a No-Prize someday) is written like a TV show, with a group of writers rotating the head seat for an arc, and rotating artists as well, trying to keep one on an arc at a time. But with the Sub-plots it gets mingled, which is great for continuing readers, but kills the option of people picking up a random comic and not getting lost.
So, super the comics gets published a lot, but why? Well these Spider-stories are chock full of Web shooter cliffhangers, but more importantly there is a supporting cast! This is cool because he hasn't had one in years, except his now never-wife, MJ who has only made a brief appearance since the deal with the devil. Now that I've read this type of ASM, I see why people at Marvel Editorial have been trying to get rid of her for years, she kills the book. White Pete getting married he has little reason to go out, or find a job since his wife can be the bread winner. Also he didn't have any friends since apparently married people don't have friends. Now Pete has these, including his best friend.
That's right Harry is back, from beyond the grave, or not because apparently he never died, in passing he was still the Goblin at some point, but forgot. Plus Harry is now dating some really attractive chick that Pete is developing the hots for, but what superhero has time for dating right?
But the best stories still focus on the action, and not so much the drama, as hearing about the Paker Luck (which is more ironic than normal bad luck) can get stale, except when they played off it with "Par-Kour" luck when some crazy acrobatic/ parkour expert made a heist. Someone complained in the letter to the editor pages about the the sport being misrepresented but, I'm hoping they overlook it and bring that character back, she was cool! Breathed some life of the new century into the book, that is lacking among all this focus on the old type of Spidey. Which is one of my main complaints since this is suppose to be a "Brand New Day" why does it feel like too much has returned to the past?
But they have been fixing up this problem as they go along. While starting with Parker in his classic situation as a photographer at the Daily Bugle, Parker quicly gave JJJ a heart attack, brining in a new publisher, re-dubbing the paper the DB. This moved many of the newspaper cast from the DB, to Front Line, which ties into another part of Marvel. This is good because Spider-Man hasn't been a part of the Marvel universe leaving too many questions up for grab, that should be addressed in this new arc. What happened during the Civil War? What happened with the Goblins, Venom and many other classic ASM villains now that history has been rewritten.?
But while there are many questions up for grabs, this old time Spider-Fan is enjoying the ride.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
The World Ends with You
So I wanted to put this out to those that care:
*If you own a DS + have some Spare money + don't have the World Ends With You = You are a horrible person
The World Ends With you is a great game, possibly the best I've played in years. It's innovative and original, what can you say that to these days? The battle system is like nothing you've ever experienced. Taking advantage of the 2 screens on the game, your top fighter uses the D-Pad (or for lefties the ABXY set, but if you're using your left hand learn not to and stop ruining life for the rest of us, yeesh) the bottom fighter, and our Hero, Neku uses the touch screen FTW. He uses pins that play differently and have different attributes. For the most part they are simple and fun to use.
If you're not a great gamer, you can play easy, if you're a ultimate gamer, then play a little and the game will sale and reward you for your skillz.
Like RPGing, there are so many items in the game it can boggle the mind, using the fashion portion lets you scale your stats and you can modify for different areas, and play with different abilities. Don't care, just make it a little easier and blaze on through? Another great feature is that you choose when you want to enter battle 98% of the time. If you want to fight and get items and experience go ahead, if you don't then don't.
While the game play is great there are other things to consider. This game has real music, mostly hip-hop oriented, but damn good, kind of like a popy down beat feel which matches the game so well.
The graphic design is awesome, and where the game shows ties to Kingdom Hearts, which has the same main creator. Whlie a touch darker than Kingdom Hearts I think that opens up the game to be more enjoyable.
Overall this is game gets a 10/10 from me, and is the single best game I've played on the DS to date.
*If you own a DS + have some Spare money + don't have the World Ends With You = You are a horrible person
The World Ends With you is a great game, possibly the best I've played in years. It's innovative and original, what can you say that to these days? The battle system is like nothing you've ever experienced. Taking advantage of the 2 screens on the game, your top fighter uses the D-Pad (or for lefties the ABXY set, but if you're using your left hand learn not to and stop ruining life for the rest of us, yeesh) the bottom fighter, and our Hero, Neku uses the touch screen FTW. He uses pins that play differently and have different attributes. For the most part they are simple and fun to use.
If you're not a great gamer, you can play easy, if you're a ultimate gamer, then play a little and the game will sale and reward you for your skillz.
Like RPGing, there are so many items in the game it can boggle the mind, using the fashion portion lets you scale your stats and you can modify for different areas, and play with different abilities. Don't care, just make it a little easier and blaze on through? Another great feature is that you choose when you want to enter battle 98% of the time. If you want to fight and get items and experience go ahead, if you don't then don't.
While the game play is great there are other things to consider. This game has real music, mostly hip-hop oriented, but damn good, kind of like a popy down beat feel which matches the game so well.
The graphic design is awesome, and where the game shows ties to Kingdom Hearts, which has the same main creator. Whlie a touch darker than Kingdom Hearts I think that opens up the game to be more enjoyable.
Overall this is game gets a 10/10 from me, and is the single best game I've played on the DS to date.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Deadpool is back
So what prompts me to start a blog on comics? Only one thing, my biggest fan boy experience relived. Deadpool is back suckers! His new series apparently will start off as a tie in to Secret Invasion. Plus Deadpool is solo again, zoinks. Considering the ongoing Deadpool series contains all of my favorite comics ever written I'm more than ecstatic.
But this isn't the return form the dead like when Cable and Deadpool started up so many years ago, it's plagued by a factor I'd like to call the Way factor, simply this guy doesn't get the character.
"Why not?"
Glad you asked little rhetorical fairy. Deadpool was started so many years ago as some stock rip off of Deathstoke from DC, who was similarly tied to Taskmaster from Marvel. Anywho for whatever reason his first appearance in New Mutants 98 sparked all kinds of positive fan response, that comic companies hadn't seen since they gave readers a chance to kill of the boy wonder so many years ago.
This generated two minis that did three things for Deadpool. Give him more exposure, develop the idea he had the potential to be a hero, and gave him a sense of humor. Oh and it let Madurara enter the comics game, fyi.
Enter Joe Kelly. He was handed the character and through a myriad of artists gave our 'Wade Wilson' more character development than any comic character has seen since the relaunch of Superman in the 'Man of Steel' Arc, you know when Superman suddenly wasn't a dick anymore. There were many moments that defined this book as a revolutionary title. Overlapping an old issue of Spiderman, Deadpool goes back in time and messes with poor Pete and his aunt. What was amazing is that this was done over the art of the old comic in the same style making it look like a 60's comic. For awhile Marvel had foldouts of their covers with brief descriptions of the characters in the issue and what had happened previously. Deadpool was the first title to do this.
Then the writing reigns were handed to Priest known for making the Black Panther a readable book, and a launching title for the Knights line at Marvel. Even considered by Priest to be a failure in attempting to make Deadpool the superhero Seinfeld book, there were still some comic moments and other parts of Deadpool's past added (that since have been thrown into question, like if his father is Loki) Teri even killed Deadpool, again, and explained his recent fluxuation in the power level of his regeneration, something that hadn't been done since Kelly started on the book.
Gail Simone breathed new life into the character. Giving him a new assortment of enemies and a new side cast. This fan favorite arc launched her career as the most successful woman in comics and helped Udon start a relation with Marvel. This lead into Agent X which was Simon's baby.
Cable and Deadpool written by Nicieza often dealt more with Cable for plot using our crazy Wade as the point of view character for the stories. There were a couple of mentions to Deadpools past including his rivalry with T-Ray. The end of the series even acted like a Deadpool team up book as Cable was needed for the messiah complex. The biggest sales spike of this title was during the Civil War crossover when there was a slight reveal, a touch too early on who would die next in the war. It was Goliath, woopie.
Now I'll admit I shed a tear (ok, I bawled like a little girl who just got kicked in the face) when C&DP 50 hit the stands the final book. All I would get was Way's interpretation of Deadpool for awhiles. Now I find out my wishes were answered but this hack would probably be the one writing my favorite fictional character?
Given the legacy of the character to pull the best from his creative staff I will hold out, but I can only see what the future will bring.
But this isn't the return form the dead like when Cable and Deadpool started up so many years ago, it's plagued by a factor I'd like to call the Way factor, simply this guy doesn't get the character.
"Why not?"
Glad you asked little rhetorical fairy. Deadpool was started so many years ago as some stock rip off of Deathstoke from DC, who was similarly tied to Taskmaster from Marvel. Anywho for whatever reason his first appearance in New Mutants 98 sparked all kinds of positive fan response, that comic companies hadn't seen since they gave readers a chance to kill of the boy wonder so many years ago.
This generated two minis that did three things for Deadpool. Give him more exposure, develop the idea he had the potential to be a hero, and gave him a sense of humor. Oh and it let Madurara enter the comics game, fyi.
Enter Joe Kelly. He was handed the character and through a myriad of artists gave our 'Wade Wilson' more character development than any comic character has seen since the relaunch of Superman in the 'Man of Steel' Arc, you know when Superman suddenly wasn't a dick anymore. There were many moments that defined this book as a revolutionary title. Overlapping an old issue of Spiderman, Deadpool goes back in time and messes with poor Pete and his aunt. What was amazing is that this was done over the art of the old comic in the same style making it look like a 60's comic. For awhile Marvel had foldouts of their covers with brief descriptions of the characters in the issue and what had happened previously. Deadpool was the first title to do this.
Then the writing reigns were handed to Priest known for making the Black Panther a readable book, and a launching title for the Knights line at Marvel. Even considered by Priest to be a failure in attempting to make Deadpool the superhero Seinfeld book, there were still some comic moments and other parts of Deadpool's past added (that since have been thrown into question, like if his father is Loki) Teri even killed Deadpool, again, and explained his recent fluxuation in the power level of his regeneration, something that hadn't been done since Kelly started on the book.
Gail Simone breathed new life into the character. Giving him a new assortment of enemies and a new side cast. This fan favorite arc launched her career as the most successful woman in comics and helped Udon start a relation with Marvel. This lead into Agent X which was Simon's baby.
Cable and Deadpool written by Nicieza often dealt more with Cable for plot using our crazy Wade as the point of view character for the stories. There were a couple of mentions to Deadpools past including his rivalry with T-Ray. The end of the series even acted like a Deadpool team up book as Cable was needed for the messiah complex. The biggest sales spike of this title was during the Civil War crossover when there was a slight reveal, a touch too early on who would die next in the war. It was Goliath, woopie.
Now I'll admit I shed a tear (ok, I bawled like a little girl who just got kicked in the face) when C&DP 50 hit the stands the final book. All I would get was Way's interpretation of Deadpool for awhiles. Now I find out my wishes were answered but this hack would probably be the one writing my favorite fictional character?
Given the legacy of the character to pull the best from his creative staff I will hold out, but I can only see what the future will bring.
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