Yearly Archives: 2011
A Star Wars Change We Can All Agree On: More Porkins!
I found this hilarious Star Wars video online today (thank you, Topless Robot) and I wanted to share. Everybody’s been grousing about the changes they keep making to Star Wars (damn you Hayden Christiansen ghost!), but I think here are some changes we can all agree to. The video is made by comedy team Hey Killer.
Batman: Year One is On Its Way!
The next DC animated movie, Batman: Year One, comes out next month. DC released this cool teaser scene this week. The scene is absolutely badass in the comics…but I think it loses a bit of its cool in the transition to animation. Like with All-Star Superman, the book was definitely better. However, I like the animation, I’m cool with Batman’s voice and I’m definitely looking forward to this movie.
It’s just a shame DC won’t make anymore Wonder Woman animated films, or feature characters other than Batman and Superman.
Sex Sells at DC Comics
Wow. DC Comics is really taking the whole ‘sex sells’ thing to new heights with their relaunch. Issue after issue so far has featured their heroines and female characters either stripping naked, nearly naked, already naked or having casual sex. Not every issue has done this, but enough to stand up and take notice. I realize there is the unfortunate belief that comic book nerds are all lonely, depraved men living in their parents’ basements, but come on! Why are they doing this?
Because boobies, that’s why!
Bewbs, tits, tatas, melons, mammaries, jugs, etc.
Is this getting out of hand? Are readers titillated or irritated?
I haven’t read all of the new issue #1s, but I’ve read enough to notice this sexy trend. DC seems to be going out of their way to oversexualize their female characters, even the popular, famous characters. And it’s not like the nudity or sex adds anything to the specific scene or character. Most of these scenes could very easily be skipped or drawn with clothes on. And the sex is as gratuitous as possible. At least one superheroine, Starfire, was flirty and sexy before relaunch, but her new incarnation is that of a total slut who hops into bed with Roy Harper just for kicks and giggles. It’s practically the first thing she does once she appears in the issue.
And Starfire’s not alone. Check out the oversexualized moments I’ve found in just three weeks of new releases. There will be spoilers:
Review: X-Men: Schism #4
Finally, the confrontation between Cyclops and Wolverine comes to the breaking point. Or is that the slashing/eye-blasting point? Not only is the rift between them clearly laid out and understandable, but the two heroes actually do come to blows at the climax of this issue. And it’s an awesome fight. X-Men: Schism #4 is an exciting and tense issue, one that thankfully is not bogged down by the ridiculousness of the Hellfire Club Kids. It’s just Cyclops and Wolverine laying it all on the line.
X-Men: Schism #4
And I am completely on Cyclops’ side.
Wolverine comes off like a fool! I understand his reasoning, and I suppose it fits with the character, but in the context of everything we know about the X-Men and in the context of what we’re reading here, Wolverine is a blind, stubborn fool. Fortunately, it doesn’t seem like we’re made to root for Wolverine anymore. Both sides are pretty clear and neither one comes off as completely favored over the other. The reader can choose for themselves who is right, and also see that both Cyclops and Wolverine are being more than a little selfish. That’s a plus and definitely helps to better define the titular Schism of the X-Men.
Spoilers after the jump.
Gears of War 3: First Impressions
I knew jumping into a new Gears of War game would be fun, but I didn’t realize it would be this much fun! Gears of War 3 is exciting, fast-paced and deliciously frantic. But the skills garnered from previous Gears games means I’m good enough to keep up with the frenzy! Armed with my chainsaw lancer and shotgun, I’ve been tearing it up on the Versus Multiplayer. I definitely haven’t been winning all the matches, but I’m more than holding my own in these no-holds-barred matches of blood and testosterone. I’ve only been playing for half an afternoon, but the joy and excitement of tearing it up in Gears of War 3 is just so energizing!
I mentioned the chainsaws, right?
And the big, burly space marines? Ladies...
Anyway, this isn’t a full review. That will come in a few weeks once I’ve beaten the campaign. I just wanted to tell everyone my first impressions of the game so far. I was only able to play for a few hours Tuesday night, but they were beautiful hours. I’m already Level 10. I’ve dropped and chopped over 100 bodies. And at one point I was playing as a giant spider/crayfish killing people with my massive mandibles! The game is chock-full of different game modes. The weapons have been tweaked. The Retro Lancer charge is sweet!
If Gears of War 2 was any indication, I’ll be immersed in this game for hours/days/months to come.
This Spinal Tap cliche is a classic, but if the Gears 3 beta earlier this year was a 10 (and it was!), then the developers turned the dial up to 11 for the actual Gears 3 game!
I suppose it’s hard to describe the energy I’m feeling just from playing the game. It’s one of my favorite games to play with my friends, and one of the few games where I actually have a real team I play with, so just booting up the game and knowing what fun awaits is a blast. But actually getting into the game and being right in the thick of the chaos is exhilarating! This energy and excitement is why I game! As I’ve written before, Gears of War is an action-oriented game that has real weight to it. You move, shoot, dodge and run as if you really are a hefty Space Marine wearing massive Space Armor. In space! And most of the time you’re playing against real people out there in video game land. So they’re smart, and victory over them is doubly rewarding. The Versus Multiplayer is a true test of skill and ability, so to see me rake up the points and be at the top at the end of the match is a treat. I’m good, and I know I’m good.
Gears of War 3 is already living up to the hype and excitement. And I haven’t even started playing the 4-player campaign yet!
Henchman-4-Hire 