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Wednesday, March 31, 2010

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.
 

Monday, March 29, 2010

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.

Sunday, March 28, 2010

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.
 

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

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!
 

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

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!
 

Monday, March 22, 2010

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.
 

Friday, March 19, 2010

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!