So I'm supposed to be reading my Green Lantern homework, but I want to play Halo 3. *Sigh* What's a Geeky Vixen to do? ;)
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Now playing: Coconut Records - Minding My Own Business
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Wednesday again, already? About the geekiest vixenest thing I've done in the past week is, at the behest of Mr. Geeky Vixen, start on the stack of Green Lantern books on the table in my sunroom. I read Sinestro Corps War, Vol. 1. It was pretty good. (I'm actually supposed to be reading them as I type this, but I had to sneak a peek at this week's shipping list.)
Not a whole bunch out there this week, but here goes:
Outsiders #16: So pumped for this one. As I've mentioned, I read Batman and the Outsiders as a kid. I've read a few issues of the 2003 relaunch, and it was OK, but I missed the old characters. When Batman left the DCU in Final Crisis #6, they released an Outsiders one-shot as a follow-up. If you haven't read it, go pick it up right now! I know part of it is my love for the characters, but honestly, it's one of the best reads out there. Go to your comic shop now, and buy the one-shot and Outsiders #15. Read them. You'll thank me later. Tiny spoiler: The old gang's back together, and this Geeky Vixen is along for the ride.
Wolverine #71: Finally, kids, the long-awaited continuation of Old Man Logan is hitting the shelves. I am not a regular Wolverine reader, but this storyline has been pretty good. It's set in the future, and basically, he's the lone horseman of the X-Men apocalypse. A lot of bad things happen, and, well, it's interesting.
Wow, that's it? Hope my Jersey Gods #2 came in. Guess that gives me more time to read Green Lantern books.
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Here's what's waiting for me in my subscriber box:
Batman Battle for the Cowl #1: I'm a DC apologist. I've loved Wonder Woman ever since I pulled on my Underoos and my mom and I went to see Batman like 4 times in the theater. Amidst the fanboys screaming about Marvel, I'm the one wondering what they're reading that's better than what DC's got going on at the moment. Yes, I read Final Crisis, and no, it wasn't earth-shattering. And yes, I have issues with DC's lax policy on events and continuity (especially in terms of Wonder Woman under the influence of the anti-life equation, which never shows up in her own title, and the nods to her fight with Genocide which do). That being said, I like living in a place where I don't have to choose. If you've been living under a rock, what I'm about to say is a total spoiler, so be warned. Allegedly in Final Crisis #6 Bruce Wayne bit it. (I say allegedly because, much like daytime soap opera characters, comic book characters have a way of cheating death when it's convenient for the plotline of the moment. Not that I'm complaining, mind you. I just recognize it as a fact of life.) Now, in the next event series, a bunch of Gothamites are going to fight to see who's going to be the next Batman. My money's on Harley Quinn. (Just kidding!) I think one of two things is going to happen: either Dick Grayson is going to cast off his Nightwing persona and move into the role of Batman. He thinks like Bruce (he's just as suspicious and as much of a know-it-all), and he's certainly got the training. If that doesn't happen, I think Bruce will come back.
Fables #82: Ah, Fables. I started reading this book around issue 15 or so (whatever issue started the "Storybook Love" arc), and I've been hooked ever since. It took me a while, but I finally was able to go back and get all of the issues from the beginning. Last issue we said a couple of goodbyes, in the book, and to cover artist James Jean. Jean's art is so beautiful and surreal, and lended itself well to the fantastic storytelling within the book itself. I'm going to miss his art, but I trust that Willingham and company will continue to make this one of the highlights of the month for me.
Green Lantern Corps #34: I put this one here for Mr. Geeky Vixen. At his behest, I am going to try to start reading GL titles, because he says they're the best books out there. I've been keeping up with the "Origins and Omens" stuff, and it's interesting.
Soul Kiss #2: I picked up the first issue of this new title last month, and I was blown away by the simple story and cool art. I love Image Comics. They bring me Madman Atomic Comics, The Walking Dead, and The Sword. And once in a while, they bring me new titles that I fall in love with (see Soul Kiss and Jersey Gods).
The Walking Dead #59: As I mentioned last post, I'm a girl who loves her zombies. I read the first 40 issues in a weekend, and after a brief "I'm never reading this again" after issue 48, I came back and I'm glad I did. Kirkman crafts stories that keep you coming back, and they're not happy endings.
Wonderful Wizard of Oz #4: I know, I know. But I love the story and the art. I met the artist, Skottie Young, at AdventureCon last year, and he was a really nice guy. I like his unique style of art, and you can't beat the source material.
So that's it. My pull list for this week. I'll keep you guys posted if anything else creeps into my stash. :)
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Now playing: DJ Shadow and Dan "The Automator" - Swami Safari
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What can I say about this movie that hasn't already been said? Not much. I remember reading Kevin Smith's first impressions, and let's face it, to me anything that mofo says is gold. Except when he talks about hockey for two hours, but that's the fun of SModcast. :)
First, let me say, that though I pride myself on being a well-read geeky vixen, I have not read the graphic novel. (You know, the one that Alan Moore wrote and said was "unfilmable".) I read the issue 1 reprint DC put out a month or so ago. It was enough to pique my interest, and I decided I'd go no further until I saw the movie. (Mostly b/c I got burned when I tried to read V for Vendetta after I saw the movie. Alan Moore is good, but he's very verbose. And crazy paranoid, but that's OK.)
Second, lemme give you background on my relationship with Zack Snyder. I. love. him. He puts everything he's got into his films, and I respect that totally. My first crush came about with his 2004 remake of Dawn of the Dead. I'm a girl who loves her zombies, like really loves her zombies, and from the opening strains of Johnny Cash's "The Man Comes Around" (b/c I'm a girl who loves her Johnny too), I was hooked. Snyder took a movie that was already good, and made it his own. Then came 300. Never in my life have I wanted more to jump over my movie seat and start bustin' heads. It was beautiful and dirty and violent, and it made me look at the ol' Phantom of the Opera in a whole new light.
Enter Watchmen. Because I'm a good geek and I read Wizard, I heard about this movie like, what, 2 years ago? Everything I read talked about how Snyder was pouring his heart and soul into this film, and Alan Moore, in his infinite craziness, was asking to be detached from the project. It unified the fanboys for a time; they were all saying it was destined to be the best. comic. movie. ever. Having never read the graphic novel, I was going to have to take their word for it. I read a few things about it here and there, always being careful not to spoil it for myself (though if it's an adaptation of an already published work, it's kinda hard).
So to this past Saturday. The gang and I opted for a noon showing, just to make sure we got in. Plus, you are more likely not to have a-holes in the theater at that time of the day. After starting the excursion in the game/comic/toy store next door, I was all geeked up. Of the trailers, the highlight was the Logan trailer. And then, it started.
From the first yellow screen, I knew we were in for something incredible. Going in, we knew the movie pushed three hours, but at no point in the film did I think, "Wow, this is really long." And here's where I tell you what you already know, if you've seen the film. Rorschach is amazing. He's scary and vulnerable at the same time, and he's close to (dare I say it?) Heath Ledger's Joker in my book as best comic book character on film.
Most surprising to me were the performances of Billy Crudup and Malin Ackerman. Billy Crudup will always be Russell Hammond (due to my bordering on obsession love of Almost Famous), but he pulls off Dr. Manhattan beautifully (blue genitalia and all). His emotion (or lack thereof) is riveting, and I really wanted to see more. Malin Ackerman, before her role as Silk Spectre, is probably best known as Ben Stiller's crazy new bride in The Heartbreak Kid or as the spoiled sister in 27 Dresses. It's a pretty big leap to become an ass-kicking, latex-wearing femme fatale, but she handles it like a champ.
To answer the critics, yes, this is a very violent movie, but it's by no means the most violent movie I've ever seen (see Lady Snowblood, either of the Kill Bill flicks, Death Proof, Sin City or most zombie/slasher flicks and tell me that's the most violent movie you've seen). It's a story of a dystopian society that both needs and villifies its heroes, and shows us the dirty side of being a hero. In this world, heroes sell out. They do things that even some villains won't do. They get old. They get scared. And ultimately, they kinda win. (I don't consider that a spoiler, b/c you kinda figure that since it's a superhero comic. Go watch the movie.)
I loved this movie. It looked like a comic on the screen, the way we wanted. Yes, they changed the ending (again, not a spoiler if you're a good geek), which has split the fanboys. As much as I've heard people complain about the ending of the book, I've heard some of these same guys gripe about the movie ending. There's just no pleasing some people, especially us comic book geeks. :)
I've heard that there's going to be a director's cut released with like 30 more minutes added. I think I'm going to hold off on seeing the film again until I see whether that's true in my hometown.
Well, that's it for this one. Tomorrow's comic book day, so I'm going to try to have something new for you guys for that.
Excelsi--oh, wait. That's been taken already. ;)
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OK, so it's high time I used this thing for all things geeky. Most of the posts you will see here will be (we hope) reviews. What sort of reviews? Toys, comics, movies, books, TV, music, you name it. So, um, yeah, check back for that. :)
Also, I meant to post this before now, but better late than never. Mr. Geeky Vixen and I were at one of our favorite toy stores, Hero's Headquarters (check it out--our bud Anthony is the coolest), and this guy and his friend came into the store. His name's Jeremy Massie, and he's a local guy who's written a comic book, and he wanted to find a place for a signing. We started talking, and he's really cool. He even gave me a sample of his work to check out. I have to say, it's good stuff. His current project, published by Alternacomics, is called The Deadbeat. As an indie sweetheart, I can endorse it. Check out Jeremy's blog here to read more about it! I wish the guy every success--he's livin' the geek dream.
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