Comic Book Movie Review – Man of Steel

I’ll admit to being cautiously optimistic heading into this film.  Sure the trailers looked good, and we’d actually get a Superman story with some action in it, but trailers can make almost anything look good.  (Note:  I was going to say anything and post a trailer to Speed 2, but upon watching it, I realized it even looked bad in the trailer.  Carry on.)  That level of cautious optimism took a bit of a hit when I saw the 57% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.  But then I saw a bit of news that intrigued me.  While looking up whether or not there was an after credits scene (there isn’t), I saw that the film currently had an 8.4 rating on IMDB, and an A- on Cinemascore.  So, ordinary people that actually went to see the movie on opening day fairly well liked it.  Cautious optimism restored.  And it is with that feeling that I sat down to watch the movie.  There will be some spoilers after the cast list.

Man of Steel

Directed by Zack Snyder

Written by David S. Goyer (screenplay & story) and Christopher Nolan (story)

Starring
Henry Cavill as Clark Kent/Kal-El
Amy Adams as Lois Lane
Michael Shannon as General Zod
Diane Lane as Martha Kent
Russel Crowe as Jor-El
Kevin Costner as Jonathan Kent

Superman Unchained #1

Superman Unchained #1 by Scott Snyder and Jim Lee hit shelves this week, just in time for the release of Man of Steel.  I’m of two minds regarding the issue.  First, I did like the issue.  I thought it was nicely written, and you get the Jim Lee art when he’s had time to work on it.  Not the more “scratchy” style it takes on when he’s in a hurry.  Here you have a friendly Superman doing Superman things.  Early on, he absorbs the impact of a space station, saving the people inside it, and where it was going to land.  And yes, that sounds a bit ridiculous, but come on.  It’s Superman.  It was written and drawn in such a way that the reader is just pulled into the scene.  It was awesome.  And it was followed up with Superman joking about how the people on the space station should got out for drinks and celebrate, being that they just broke about 7 Guinness world records.  I like that Superman.  Clark Kent written just as well.  The exchanges between Clark and Jimmy Olsen and Lois Lane were just as good.  I highly recommend that you read this issue.  But, I really emphasize the “read” part of that last sentence.  Should you buy the issue though?  That’s a different issue and question.  Which takes me to my second mind.

The book cost $4.99.  It cost $5 for what was in actuality 24 pages of story.  Sure, two of those pages are the size of a small poster, but there was no reason for it.  One side might make for a decent poster, but you have to leave it with the comic because the other side is part of the story.  Therefore, it can’t be hung on the wall, like poster-sized things should be.  And it looks like things only get slightly better.  The next issues will be $3.99.  Unfortunately, it seems like the page count is going to remain the same, making this DC’s first 32 page book that is $3.99.  Normally, their $4 books are expanded to 40 pages and contain a backup story.

I hate talking about price points.  It’s boring, and it’s all relative whether or not something is worth the price on the cover.  There are some books that I wouldn’t pay $1 for and some I’d pay more for.  You get the idea.  In short, I hate paying extra for gimmicks that add nothing to the issue.  And yes, the “unchained” part of the title is silly.  But who cares?  It’s just a title.

Injustice: Gods Among Us

Traditionally speaking, I’m not a fan of fighting games that don’t have Smash Bros. in the title.  Sure, I played several incarnations of Street Fighter 2, but so did everyone.  And like everyone else, I’ve been brutally maimed in Mortal Kombat.  But since those games on the Super Nintendo, I haven’t bought any “traditional” fighting games.  Honestly, I just was never that good at them.  When Injustice was announced, I didn’t really pay much attention to it.  So what if it was a fighting game with DC characters.  I didn’t buy DC vs. Mortal Kombat after all.

But then I started seeing some videos for the game, and it gained my interest.  The interactive backgrounds looked fun, the transitions to different sections of a stage looked fun, and the super moves looked amazing.  Still though, it was low expectations that I downloaded the demo.  And while, there wasn’t a lot to the demo, it was a good taste of what the game had to offer.  And it also was the final thing that convinced me to buy the game.

So, I bought the game early Thursday afternoon (had a couple days off from work) and finished the main story later Thursday night.  I don’t really have an hour estimate for you, but it wasn’t that long.  But really, it’s a fighting game.  What do you expect?  But what there is of that story is fantastic.  I don’t want to give too much of the story away, but it does involve elseworlds, which explains heroes fighting other heroes.  And yes, you can assume that some of those heroes have turned evil because of events that have transpired in this world.  

Trailer of Steel

The new Man of Steel trailer is here.  What do you think?  I’m holding onto my cautious optimism.  And by the way, any arguments against putting the origin story in the movie are invalid.  Superman’s origin hasn’t really been explored in film since 1978.  Smallville doesn’t count.  It was a television show, and only 2-3 million people watched.  I imagine Warner Bros. is hoping more people than that see the movie.

Comic Book Movie Review – Superman vs. The Elite

Superman vs. The Elite

Directed by Michael Chang

Written by Joe Kelly

Starring
George Newbern as Clark Kent/Superman
Pauley Perrette as Lois Lane
Robin Atkin Downes as Manchester Black

Superman vs. The Elite is based on the story “What’s So Funny About Truth, Justice, and the American Way” that was written by Joe Kelly, and appeared in Action Comics #775.  I am not certain how much this movie deviates from the comic, because I’ve never read it.  Maybe when I read the digital copy that came with the Blu-ray I’ll comment on it.  But for now, we’re focusing solely on the movie.  And overall, it was a pretty good movie.  Maybe one of the best that DC has produced.  Spoilers after the break. 

Dear Superman

When Scott Lobdell was announced as your writer, I knew that this day would come.  I held out for as long as could.  Maybe I’d be surprised and the book would be interesting.  Maybe it’d be worth my time and money to keep getting the book every month.  Maybe it would be a quality book.  And maybe I’ll grow a foot and become a professional basketball player.

Sadly, none of those things happened.  Though, I never really wanted to play basketball.  I gave Lobdell 6 issues, and really, that was probably 4 issues too many.  I did not enjoy a single issue, but I kept buying because I wanted things to get better.  I want you to be good.  But you’re not.  You’re that person that talks non-stop without actually saying anything of value.  You’re that person that tries too hard to sound smart, only for people to see that you don’t have a clue what you’re talking about.

But worst of all is that you’re boring.  I don’t mind things not exactly making sense,  but they have to be nonsensical in an interesting way.  You can’t try to talk over people’s heads, and be dull.  It’s okay to talk about sophisticated ideas, but you have to do it in a way that people will want to read.  You need to be like Neil deGrasse Tyson.  If you can’t do that, then you really shouldn’t over complicate matters.

It is with a heavy heart that I drop you.  I’ve been buying you since 2006, but it’s time to let go.  Maybe we can try this again when you get a different writer.  But not until then.

Good-bye Superman.

Secret Sundays

I’m not sure what issue this panel comes from, as I found it perusing the wonderful series of tubes that compose the Internet.  But what I really want to know is, ‘who are these people that Superman buys his very specific glasses from?’  I always thought that he just went to the store, in disguise, and just bought some glasses.  I mean, he couldn’t go to an eye doctor, because then he’d have to take off his glasses, and *poof* the doctor knows he’s Superman.  Also, I might be less inclined to mock the whole secret identity thing know that there’s “science” involved.  If Superman had his glasses built to such exact specifications that it takes a day to make them, then me must have spent a long time researching this.  But back to the “who are these people” issue.  Can they be trusted?  Are they a secret society of glasses makers?  Do they keep Superman’s identity a secret because there was glasses maker/patient confidentiality laws?  Might these people live far away from Metropolis, and have never seen a picture of star reporter Clark Kent?

These are all very important questions.  Grant Morrison should start answering these in a new story right away.

Superman and his “super” hearing

This was in Superman #13, written by Scott Lobdell and drawn by Kenneth Rocafort.  It was not good, but that’s not what this little entry is about.  It is about being consistent within a single issue.  Sure, it was kind of odd to see Clark Kent just go off on a rant and essentially quit his job at the Daily Planet, but whatever.  It’s the New 52.  Clark doesn’t have to be mild-mannered.  No, this entry is not about that odd moment in the issue.  Neither is it about Superman working out for 5 days, bench pressing what amounts to the weight of the world.  Instead, this is about Superman’s “super” hearing.  Near the middle of the issue, this panel happens.

Yes, that is Superman’s “super” hearing that is so good, it’s able to work as sonar and create a vague image of a creature that has appeared in Metrolpolis.  And normally, I’d just shrug my shoulders and move on with something like this.  But this was not a normal issue.  Earlier in the issue, this happened. 

New Action Comics Creative Team

It had been announced previously that Grant Morrison would be ending his run on Action Comics with issue #16.  (I think, though it may be #17.)  Today, DC has announced that Andy Diggle would be the new writer starting with issue #18.  Also, joining him on art duties is Tony Daniel, who just recently left Detective Comics.

This news makes me happy.  I was a bit worried about the quality of Action Comics post-Morrison, and I’d hate to be tempted to drop both Superman titles.  (Haven’t actually dropped Superman yet, but it’s on notice.)  Granted, I haven’t read a lot of stuff by Diggle, (should probably get around to finishing The Losers Vol. 1) I haven enjoyed what I’ve read.  (That includes the aforementioned partially read volume of The Losers and Green Arrow:  Year One.)  And I have heard good things about his work at Marvel.  So, there’s hope.  And I do like Tony Daniel’s art.  His art is something that works better with an action-y book.

In the linked interview, Diggle did say that he’d be exploring Clark’s relationship with Lois Lane.  Because, you know, Wonder Woman and Superman kissing sends Lois to the background, never to be seen from again, because the only possible role that she can ever hold is the title of Superman’s girlfriend.  (/sarcasm)  Uh oh, I feel a rant coming on, but that’s not what this post is about.  So, I’m going to wrap things up, and say that I am looking forward to Andy Diggle being the new ongoing writer for Action Comics.

Weekly Readings

Welcome to a pretty late edition of Weekly Readings.  Sorry about that.  This week we have:

• The Fury of Firestorm #0, in which Jason and Ronnie deal with what comes next for them.
• Batman, Incorporated #0, in which Batman recruits a ton of people.
• Aquaman #0, in which Arthur discovers his true heritage.
• Happy #1, in which Nicholas Sax finds himself in a highly unlikely situation.
• Justice League Dark #0, in which John Constantine gains magical knowledge and meets Zatanna.
• Superman #0, in which Jor-El deals with the end of Krypton, and my fears are realized.
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #14, in which Splinter teaches Raphael a lesson.

Spoilers after the break.