Superman/Batman : Apocalpyse

Superman/Batman : Apocalpyse is the latest DC animated movie.  It's based on writer Jeph Loeb and artist Michael Turner's The Supergirl from Krypton, a story that spanned Superman/Batman #8-13.  The story reintroduces Kara Zor-El to modern age DC continuity as Supergirl.  The previous incarnation had been some protoplasmic entity known as Matrix, and that's about as deep as I'm willing to dive into that character!

The movie itself is a near faithful retelling of the original comic and the art style is a clear homage to the late Michael Turner.  Some liberties were taken, notably the ending with Darkseid, to streamline the story for mainstream viewers.  I don't feel the changes hurt the final product and any issues with the dialogue or story may be from following the source material too closely.  The voice acting is superb which is to be expected by perennial Batman Tim Conroy, Superman Tim Daly, and Wonder Woman Susan Eisenberg.  Summer Glau capably voices Supergirl as does Andre Braugher for Darkseid, however I did find myself missing Michael Ironside in that role.  And let's not forget the hottest woman in the movie Granny Goodness voiced by Ed Asner!

There have been animated movies with better story, but the action in Apocalpyse is  where it truly shines.  A one panel fight scene between Precious, a highly touted warrior, and the Furies in the comic is expanded to almost a full minute of violence, showcasing the true skill of Darkseid's elite guard.  Artemis and the other Amazons get their time to shine as they face off with an army of Doomsdays.  And the highlight of the movie for me is the battle between Big Barda, Wonder Woman and the Furies.  That said, I did feel the conclusion's fight with Darkseid ran too long.  Overall, I would say Superman/Batman: Apocalypse is a worthy addition to the DC movie library and it is likely to please everyone save the harshest of critics.

Vampirella Polystone Statue (Sideshow Collectibles)

She's been illustrated by legendary artists over the years.  She's had her iconic costume worn by stunning cover models.  She's even inspired a horrible film adaptation starring the beautiful and well cast Talisa Soto.  Now Vampirella is getting the Sideshow Collectibles treatment just in time for Halloween!

Vampirella stands 18" tall and weighs about 8 pounds.  The pose is perfect and the details incredible, everything from the hair all the way down to the base.  This lovely statue will also set your wallet back $289.99, but monthly installments are available so it doesn't have to hurt all at once.  Honestly, if I hadn't blown all my cash on other Sideshow statues, I'd be pre-ordering mine right now!  I highly recommend the exclusive version for its switch-out head, but you'll have to get on the waiting list.







 

Power Girl: Snow Job

There are very few comic books that I look forward to reading each month, and Power Girl is one of them.  Even after Amanda Conner and Jim Palmiotti left, this title hasn't lost any steam with the new creative team.  The current story Snow Job, now two issues in, starts with Starr Enterprises bankrupt, victimized by an employee who has fled the country.  The employee then turns up dead and Power Girl finds herself trying to solve a murder mystery.  There's also a great deal of action with Kara matched up against a seemingly stronger foe, with a surprise reveal at the end leaving me eager for the third installment!

Writer Judd Winnick has the right feel for his characters and it shows in the humorous moments between Power Girl and new Batman Dick Grayson in Power Girl #17.  It's not all fun and games, however, and Winnick capably shifts gears when the story needs to advance or take a serious tone.  The other key to good storytelling is artist Sami Basri.  His Power Girl is drawn sexy and strong with lots of fun facial expressions to get your eyes above her chest!  He's had many opportunities to draw Kara in action, and he doesn't disappoint.  If you haven't been reading Power Girl, then now is a perfect time to start!
 

Wonder Woman: The Contest

Superman was killed by Doomsday.  Batman was broken by Bane.  It seemed only fair that Wonder Woman have her big event in the 90's, so began The Contest.

This tale runs from Wonder Woman #90-93 as well as a Wonder Woman #0 issue thrown in; there was such a fascination with "zero issues" back in the day!  The plot is simple yet effective, and summarized on DC's website as follows:

"After winning a contest of physical and mental challenges, Princess Diana was elected to go to Patriarch's World to teach them the Amazon ways as the super-heroine Wonder Woman.  But years later, Diana's mother is unsatisfied with her limited progress to bring an end to all acts of hate on Earth, so she institutes another contest to name a new champion.  Attempting to defend her position, Diana enters the games ..."

The contest's ultimate victor was Artemis, a skilled warrior from the Bana-Mighdall tribe with a short temper and penchant for violence.  By winning the contest, and claiming the title of Wonder Woman, Artemis brought honor back to her banished tribe.  However, this is only half of the story as Queen Hippolyta had other motivations for removing Diana as Wonder Woman.

The Contest is well-written by William Messner-Loebs, but the real star is Mike Deodato Jr. and his artwork.  This guy was born to draw Amazons and monsters, and his run on Wonder Woman definitely put him on the map!  As a side, Deodato Jr. has said that part of his inspiration for creating Artemis was the Coda warrior and Kherubim Zealot of Wildcats fame.
 

Maxima of Almerac Spotlight

Time to take a stroll down memory lane, folks, and spotlight one of my favorite villainesses of all time: Maxima!  My introduction to this fiery redhead came in Action Comics #651.  I was a pre-teen at the time, and helpless against her AWESOME costume.  On top of that, I really enjoyed seeing a strong female villain with an arsenal of superpowers that rivaled Superman.  We're talking super strength, super speed, invulnerability, flight, teleportation, forcefield projection, optic force beams, telekinesis, telepathy, mind bolts, and mind control to state only a few!

The Empress of Almerac first appeared in Action Comics #645 as a simulacrum (a clone of sorts) escorted by her alien servant Sazu.  Maxima came to Earth in search of a suitable mate and, being that she was in Metropolis, it was inevitable that Superman catch her eye.  Things didn't end well, however, the simulacrum was destroyed and Sazu imprisoned.  It wasn't until 6 issues later that the real Maxima appeared to free Sazu and confront Superman.  After some playful aerial "catch me if you can" Maxima got serious and explained her motivations to Superman.  They were genetically compatible and she sought a worthy addition to her royal house.  Of course, Superman rejected Maxima and she did NOT take it well, with the Man of Steel resembling a human pinata and allowing Maxima to tear apart S.T.A.R. labs and display her awesome powers.  Maxima was ultimately beaten by Superman and imprisoned, but it would not be the last we saw of her.

Through the years Maxima has switched between good and bad, even joining various iterations of the Justice League.  Maxima has also had romances with various male heroes like Captain Atom, Aquaman, and Amazing Man.  I'd like to highlight her courtship of Aquaman in Aquaman #41 as being particularly fun.  As expected, Maxima's aggressive advances were not well-received and she found herself in a fierce catfight with Power Girl, Dolphin, and Tsunami.  Even in this handicap match, one gets the impression that Maxima could have beaten each hero individually, and only leaves when the situation inconveniences her.

And what does the future hold for Queen Maxima?  Sadly, Maxima was killed off during the Our Worlds at War crossover a few years back.  I'm not really sure what the crossover was about, but I can say that her "heroic demise" was a WASTE of a powerful and fun character.  The good news is that Maxima's demise wasn't drawn explicitly, so while her spaceship was clearly destroyed, it is possible that she made it out in time with her ability to teleport.  Or a writer could explain away her death as another simulacrum standing in for real Maxima.  Here's me crossing my fingers!

Power Girl: A New Beginning

Power Girl is my favorite DC heroine by far.  I've been a fan of Kara Zor-L since reading Justice League Europe and I'm also enjoying her new ongoing series.  The writers have made Power Girl more engaging and grounded in her attempts to juggle heroics with a civilian identity and a budding business - and executed far better than you'll find with her annoying brat of a cousin Supergirl.  The first Power Girl trade collects issues #1-6 where Power Girl pits her brain and brawn against the Ultra-Humanite and a trio of party-loving aliens.  Think Paris Hilton, Kim Kardashian, and Lindsay Lohan - only interstellar!  And if that wasn't enough superhero fun, Terra guest stars and continues to build on her relationship with Power Girl that started in her Terra mini-series.  There are some gorgeous variant covers by Adam Hughes and Guillem March, but the real star artist is Amanda Conner who draws oodles of emotion and humor into each panel.  This is truly one of DC's finest ongoing series.
 

Super Street Fighter IV Anime

When Super Street Fighter IV hit consoles it increased the game's roster by 10 characters, including the brand new villainess Juri Han.  Juri is the first Korean fighter in Capcom's history and despite her youth is already a master practitioner of Taekwondo.  This femme fatale was an instant hit with the SF faithful and her popularity only grew with an anime spotlighting her character.  In the anime Juri, an agent of S.I.N., targets Shadoloo operatives with no care for the innocent civilians who get killed in her wake.  The team of Chun-Li, Cammy, and Guile arrives on the scene to stop her but... let's just say it doesn't end well.  The animation is beautiful and the action fluid as Juri takes on Chun-Li, Cammy, and Guile in individual fights.  There's also a battle with Bison's lady army of dolls.  Sadly, this anime is available for download only on Xbox Live at the moment... unless you can find a copy floating somewhere online!
 

Birds of Prey: Endrun

The Birds of Prey return under the stellar guidance of Gail Simone with eye-popping art by Ed Benes!  The first 4-part story Endrun has just concluded, so snatch it up from comic book stands.  Two things I have enjoyed thus far: the additions of Hawk and Dove to the team and the introduction of the White Canary.  The White Canary's identity is a secret for much of the story, but what is very clear from the start is her ability to kick ass.  Black Canary has her hands full as she and Huntress engage this white-garbed assassin in a fight reminiscent of Darth Maul facing Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon in Star Wars: Episode One.  With the Birds of Prey roster rounded out by Oracle and Lady Blackhawk, I expect this series to find its way onto our blog regularly!
 

Crimson Viper Spotlight

And if you need further proof of Crimson Viper's badassery, then check out one of the trailers for the Street Fighter IV game prior to its release.  The perennial lightning-legs diva Chun Li gets all she can handle from this electric new challenger!

Video Games | Street Fighter IV | Chun Li Vs. C. Viper

XBox 360 | Playstation 3 | Nintendo Wii

Street Fighter IV: The Ties That Bind

It's been a while since I've seen a Street Fighter anime, the last one being Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie.  It was a masterpiece with stellar animation, realistic fight choreography, and a Chun Li shower scene!  The SF formula is in full effect here in Street Fighter IV: The Ties That Bind.  (Insert Bad Guy) is out to capture data on the world's top fighters while (Insert Heroes) investigate the unusual events surrounding the fighters' (Deaths/Disappearances), leading to a climactic battle between good and evil.  The animation is impressive with fluid fight scenes and character emotions.  Several SF favorites make appearances in this 45-minute movie and there's no shortage of ladies with veterans Chun Li, Cammy, Sakura, Ken's wife Eliza and newcomer Crimson Viper.  While Chun Li and Sakura are relegated to beating up goons, the real catfight here belongs to Cammy and Crimson Viper.  I hate to give away more than the images already have, but I'll say that C. Viper gets a strong push!  Only bad thing is this anime comes as a bonus disc in the Collector's Edition of Street Fighter IV for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC.
 

Iron Man 2: Dissecting the Black Widow

Iron Man 2 has been out for a while so moviegoers have had a chance to watch it and form their opinions.  I imagine non-comic fans were plenty pleased by Scarlett Johansson and her portrayal of Black Widow.  But what of true comic book fans?  Would they buy Scarlett's portrayal of the Russian super(hero) spy?  I was very happy with it, for the most part.  The costume was an excellent "real world" depiction of the comics, displaying equal parts utility and sex appeal.  There was also one fantastic fight scene where Black Widow engages a dozen henchmen.  Natasha Romanova's knack for espionage is also showcased as she spies on Stark on behalf of S.H.I.E.L.D.  Now you might ask, with all these positives what could possibly have gone wrong?  Well, seeing as I thoroughly enjoyed the movie, my gripes are little more than nitpicking.  For starters I wanted more display of a Russian background apart from Black Widow's name.  I have no problem with Scarlett speaking with a clean American accent - any self-respecting spy would pull that off in real life - but it wouldn't have hurt to throw in line or two spoken in Russian.  At one point Black Widow mentions her ability to speak Latin.  Latin?!  This was a totally wasted opportunity!  My only other gripe is Scarlett's youthful appearance.  When I think of Black Widow I conjure a more mature-looking woman like Olga Kurylenko from Quantum of Solace.  Still, Scarlett's performance did make me a believer that she'd be perfect as the second modern Black Widow Yelena Belova from the comics!
 

Psylocke Polystone Statue (Sideshow Collectibles)

Do you have $264.99 to burn?  Well, here's a great way to spend it: Psylocke!  I've mentioned before how Betsy Braddock is my favorite X-Man (by far), so you can imagine my delight at Sideshow Collectibles making a polystone statue of her.  The statue is gorgeous with great attention to detail from the hair to the katana to the environment and, of course, the costume!  This statue surpasses all others I have seen on the market, including a noteworthy Psylocke effort by Bowen Designs (also sold on the Sideshow Collectibles website).  Is the $265 price tag (not to mention shipping) a bit much?  Definitely.  But for die-hard Psylocke fans who can set aside the green, it is well worth it in my opinion.
 

Black Scorpion Collection

Femme fatales were a big part of my childhood and one of them was Roger Corman's Black Scorpion.  The seductive crimefighter was played by Joan Severance in movies Black Scorpion and Black Scorpion II: Aftershock.  Michelle Lintel donned the mask in Black Scorpion: The Television Series which aired 22 episodes on the then Sci Fi Channel.  It's hard to pick a favorite Black Scorpion, but Joan did go topless in the movies so that may be my tie-breaker!  At the same time, one cannot discount Lintel's martial arts authenticity and equally alluring look.  The movies and TV series featured some mighty fine girl on girl action with the heroine squaring off against female villains.  Sadly, it's getting harder to find this campy crusader on DVD since no more units are being produced.  It should also come as no surprise that the TV series collection is often ridiculously priced!  However, one can find them for free on the Internet (if you look hard enough) or ripped onto DVD at comic book conventions for affordable prices.
 

Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths

DC has been cranking out some nice animated features and the latest one just might be my favorite: Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths.  The story borrows little from Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely's graphic novel JLA: Earth 2 and ultimately manages its original take on the JLA going against their counterparts the Crime Syndicate of Amerika.  The animation is beautiful and the story tight with never a wasted moment.  The voice acting is near perfect with the only weakness (amazingly) being Batman, but even William Baldwin wins me over in the end.  My guilty thrill favorite moment is the battle between Superwoman and Wonder Woman, sensationally voiced by Gina Torres and Vanessa Marshall respectively.  Without reservation, this movie is a must buy for comic book fans!

Psylocke #2

My favorite X-Man has to be Psylocke.  Elizabeth "Betsy" Braddock started as an English telepath, and sister to Captain Britain, before being transformed into an Asian telepathic ninja.  Yeah, when it comes to convoluted backgrounds, they don't come much wilder than Psylocke's.  The important thing is she sports one of the hottest costumes around and gets to kick all sorts of ass in it!  And even though she was killed off for a spell (bonehead move there, Marvel) she has returned to her rightful place in the X-Men comics - even having her own 4-issue mini-series!  In Psylocke #2 of said series she engages Yukio in a fight that is beautifully illustrated over several pages.  Even without this fight, the series is well worth collecting for all Psylocke fans.
 

Justice #4

I've always been a fan of Alex Ross.  His artwork has a way of making heroes seem truly heroic and villains their most sinister!  And the 12-issue Justice has a pretty gnarly concept: super-villains working together to defeat the superheroes stop the end of the world... okay, by defeating the superheroes!  The dookie hits the fans for our heroes in Justice #4 when the villains make their move, and with Ross at the helm their predicament has never felt so dire.  Wonder Woman faces off with her arch-nemesis Cheetah in one of their most brutal encounters I can recall.
 

Secret Six: Depths

Secret Six is easily my favorite team of anti-heroes, always walking that fine line between self-serving and "damn, how did we end up doing a good deed?"  One of their most compelling stories has to be "Depths" focusing on the slave trade and missing Amazons following the "Amazons Attack" event.  Guest stars appear in the forms of Wonder Woman and Artemis!  The 5-part arc is excellent, but I'm gonna highlight Secret Six #12 for an amazing rumble between Wonder Woman and Secret Six's strongwoman Jeannette.  The outcome will shock you!
 

G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra

I hate to admit it but I had fun watching G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra.  Even after leaving half my brain at the door there were still scenes and dialogue that made me cringe.  However, the movie was never boring with its action and pacing and it did force me to look at it with the eyes of a child.  Even those accelerator suits weren't as bad as the trailers had me fearing.  Of course, my most enjoyable moment of G.I. Joe had to be the catfight.  Scarlett versus The Baroness!  But even this wasn't perfect.  The outcome had me wanting a rematch, this time with Scarlett sporting her sexy black combat suit.  Unfortunately, the movie took a great liberty with Baroness's background that not only weakened her character, but made the rematch with Scarlett an impossibility.  For shame!  Still a fun movie to watch with 25% brain power.
 

Batman: Hush

When it comes to a rogues gallery no one touches the Dark Knight.  It's not even close, people!  The point is driven home in Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee's collaboration "Hush".  Littered with Batman's villains from A-Z, you better believe this story also features a ridiculous number of femme fatales rearing their lovely heads.  I'm talking Catwoman, Huntress, Poison Ivy, Harley Quinn, and Talia al Ghul.  Oh, and there's a really brutal fight in Batman #616 between Catwoman and the DCU's numero uno martial artist Lady Shiva!  Guess who wins.  The story ran from Batman #608-619 and is collected in trade paperback.

War of the Marvels

Dr. Karla Sofen, a.k.a. the villainess Moonstone, began her tenure as Ms. Marvel in issue #38 after Carol Danvers refused to follow Norman Osborn's Dark Avenger team.  And boy did the good evil Doc wear the original costume well!  As any fan might have predicted, it was only a matter of time before Danvers returned to reclaim her mantle in the "War of the Marvels" story.  The event spanned Ms. Marvel #41-46 but you could go back as early as issue #39 to see the seeds planted for Carol's return.
 

Superman/Batman: Public Enemies

Superman/Batman: Public Enemies was enjoyable in comic book form.  The exaggerated art style worked well with the rapid story pace.  I hoped it would translate well into animated movie form... and it did!  The art style is kept intact and almost all the story is followed to the slightest detail.  And of course it features a great cast of female villains and heroes!  Among them: Lady Shiva, Silver Banshee, Giganta, Amanda Waller, and of course my favorite Kryptonian Power Girl.  My only real disappointment is an off-screen battle between Power Girl and a suited-up Lex Luthor with the heroine worse for wear afterwards.  I guess I'm left to my imagination's foul designs!  Bwa ha ha!
 

Blackest Night: Wonder Woman #2-3

Blackest Night got off to a strong start, but the event seems to have run a couple months too long with the main story hurting from too many weak/repetitive tie-ins.  Blackest Night: Wonder Woman isn't one of them!  Superheroine enthusiasts can rejoice to 3 action-packed issues featuring the greatest Amazon of them all, in a variety of forms.  In issue #2 she is shown as a Black Lantern in a brutal battle with Mera, Queen of Atlantis.  In issue #3 she is now  a Star Sapphire locked in a rematch against a ferocious Red Lantern Mera!  Gorgeous artwork and great writing!
 

Cyberforce/Wildcats: Killer Instinct

Flashback!  Anyone remember how great Image Comics was in the 90's?  The company was started by 7 talented artists and, looking back, it certainly would've helped if some seasoned writers made up their ranks too.  Anyway, each artist had his own title and my two favorites were Jim Lee's WildC.A.T.s and Marc Silvestri's Cyber Force.  And wouldn't you know it, they had a crossover!  Dig through the bargain bins to WildC.A.T.s #7 and Cyber Force #3 and you'll find an awesome battle between the teams' respective martial artists Zealot and Cyblade.  Either that or purchase the trade paperback of the entire "Killer Instinct" crossover.  Highly recommended for its taste of nostalgia and great artwork!
 

Wonder Woman #41

Wonder Woman #40 ended on a cliffhanger tease, but this is the issue to showcase a knock-down-and-drag-out battle between DCU's strongest women.  Sorry to Supergirl fans, but make mine Power Girl any day!  Wonder Woman #41 features the fight in many gorgeously illustrated pages and both superheroines have their time to shine.
 

Incredible Hulk #606

I've never been a fan of Red Hulk. Since his arrival he's been given ridiculous victories over established heroes like Thor and Iron Man. I guess that makes me a hypocrite because that's exactly what I love about the Red She-Hulk! A super-strong villainess with a scary attitude to boot. Incredible Hulk #606 delivers the moment I've been craving since her debut: a throwdown with original She-Hulk Jennifer Walters! Sadly it's given only a few panels as a backup story, but I'll take what I can get!