Another Day, Another Green ‘Arrow’ Trailer!
This is a full trailer, whereas the last video I shared was more of an actual clip. This trailer has scenes from throughout the show, and explain the story more in depth. I gotta say, I’m definitely still liking the look and feel of this show. Though I hope you all don’t mind if I just keep calling him ‘Green Arrow’ instead of just ‘Arrow’, because I am not a corporate hack who doesn’t understand how this sort of thing works.
And considering how rare it is to get a live action superhero TV show – which is surprising, considering The Avengers movie has made a BAJILLION DOLLARS – I figure I’ll try and give this show as much coverage as possible. So stay tuned!
Review: X-Factor #236
I am not a fan of reality television, but the rest of the world is clearly in love. Ordinary people are turned into TV stars in shows like Ice Road Truckers, Pawn Stars or Hoarders. Programs focus on the day-to-day of real jobs or real lives more so than scripted television. Viewers are enthralled by every minute detail of the Kardashian family or the Real Housewives of Wherever for no other reason than the cult of celebrity. There is a show where Steve Urkel and other Z-list “celebrities” dance for our amusement, and a show glamorizing unwed, 16-year-old mothers – and both shows are incredibly popular. Jersey Shore!
X-Factor #236
We are living in the Mojoverse and we don’t even realize it.
Comic rating: 3/5: Alright.
Writer Peter David throws that bomb at our feet in this issue, and I for on am absolutely blown away. Whereas once upon a time the villainous Mojo’s TV-obsessed world was a parody of sleazy studio executives and bad taste, it has now become the stark, cold reality of our own television programming. We may not have real live gladiatorial combat yet, but how long until it’s here? How long until people are maliciously hurting one another for our amusement on reality TV?
The idea of Mojo being behind the nation’s love of the Kardashians would make a great story. How would our heroes fight against pop culture’s seemingly endless obsession with trashy TV?
Unfortunately, this brilliant idea is wasted and buried in an issue that amounts to little more than an extended fight scene between Shatterstar and the new villain Scattershot, who himself is a parody of trashy comic books. The fight’s OK, if you’re into extended fight scenes. But this issue has little else going for it, with barely any appearance of anyone else from X-Factor. The fight itself is lacking any deep character conflict, with Scattershot being one-dimensional and Shatterstar just showing off his fighting skills. There are a few hints towards Peter David’s larger plans for the series, but those hints continue to be so vague that I just don’t care anymore. So all in all, this is an issue that just doesn’t amount to much.
Other than that amazing Mojoverse idea!
The Break-Dancing Superhero!
Apparently big things are on the horizon for Vibe, the worst ever member of the Justice League of America! Not only does he have a new cartoon short premiering this weekend on the DC Nation animation block, but he’s going to be starring in a new Justice League story as part of the New 52 universe – which also, consequently, brings him back from the dead!
Feast your eyes on Vibe!
The 80s at their most superheroic!
Frequent readers of my blog know that I have a special place in my heart for obscure superheroes and super-villains. But it takes a special level of fan to like Vibe. Real name Paco Ramone, Vibe debuted in 1984 as a brand new character joining the Detroit era of the Justice League. This was back when Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and all the other well-known heroes had left the League, and it was basically just Martian Manhunter and a bunch of nobodies operating out of an apartment in downtown Detroit. Pretty much the lowest point ever for the Justice League. And Vibe was their poster child.
Vibe had the power to create sonic and seismic vibrations, but they didn’t stop him from being killed by a robot, becoming the first ever Justice Leaguer to die in the line of duty.
Well have no fear, Vibe fans, your hero is coming back! Behold the massive, four-page teaser image released with DC’s Justice League Free Comic Book Day issue!
Click to enlarge
Don’t see Vibe? Check out down in the left hand corner. That’s him!
Hey look, sleeves!
I don’t know what he’s doing in that picture, but it’s more than he’s done in years. Apparently he’s going to be fleshed out in an upcoming Justice League storyline. Justice League writer Geoff Johns had to say about Vibe to USA Today:
“I can’t remember the last time someone requested to see him,” Johns says, laughing. “That’s the whole point, though, I like new challenges. It’s fun to see a mix of some of the classics, some of the obscure and a lot of new stuff.”
And that’s not all! This Saturday is going to debut some new Vibe animated shorts to go alongside the DC Nation animation block. Perhaps you’ve watched some of the Super Best Friends Forever shorts? Well Vibe gets one as well!
And here’s another!
Things are definitely look up for Vibe!
Djibouti is Starting to Look Like a Proper Witch Doctor
After two days of playing, Diablo 3 remains a fun game. And now my Witch Doctor character, Djibouti, finally has some gear that makes him look like a proper Witch Doctor. No doubt some even better gear is on the horizon, but I feel like sharing.
He’s ready to kill Alvin and the Chipmunks
Diablo 3 has done a great job with individual characters. I’ve discovered that both genders for each of the five character classes (Witch Doctor, Barbarian, Monk, Sorcerer and Demon Hunter) are not only fully voice-acted, but have unique cut scenes devoted to each character. Granted the cut scenes are pictures and not actual movies, but still, impressive stuff.
For a Witch Doctor, Djibouti is pretty noble.
I haven’t managed to do anything too cool yet, other than to kill the Skeleton King, but who is that really? The first level explores the old Cathedral from Diablo 1, so that was kind of neat. As a Witch Doctor, Djibouti can conjure zombie dogs, flaming bats and poisonous frogs to attack my foes. He can also throw a jar full of spiders at them. I definitely picked the right class.
Review: Avengers vs. X-Men #4
Four issues in to Marvel’s big summer event, one thing has become very clear: Avengers vs. X-Men the series is going to speed through the basic plot, leaving all the actual fighting and meaningful character interaction to the tie-ins. While normally I might have a problem with this, I’m happy to say that Avengers vs. X-Men remains a good read in and of itself. I’ve been avoiding the AvX fight series, because I don’t need to spend good money on pages full of punching. And I’ve been buying a few of the regular series tie-ins, especially the X-Men ones. They haven’t exactly matched up perfectly with the main series, but I can live with that.
Avengers vs. X-Men #4
Four issues in and Avengers vs. X-Men is still good, as far as I’m concerned. The story is moving at a crisp pace, always changing and always giving me something new and exciting to read. Heck, everybody visits the Moon in this issue, for crying out loud!
Comic rating: 4/5: Good.
At the end of last issue, I was worried that we were going to spend several issues with the various teams searching for Hope in the five different locations across the globe. Turns out, those searches were relegated to the tie-ins. We see brief glimpses of each search in this issue, and the fights that occur in those places, but by the end of the issue they’ve found Hope and we move on to the next big part of the story. One could argue that those five separate location visits were just filler or padding, but not the kind we usually get in these big event comics. If the filler lasts less than an issue before moving on to the next exciting event, I’m cool with that. If I wanted to read that filler, I know which tie-in comics to buy.
I’m definitely enjoying the pace of Avengers vs. X-Men. That’s probably it’s strongest element. Part of me wants to give this comic a lower grade because of the lack of depth, but I can honestly say I enjoyed the comic while I was reading it. All in one sitting, I bet the full series is going to be even better. Avengers vs. X-Men isn’t going to have depth and intense character drama. While that might improve things, the series definitely isn’t broke without them.
Join me after the jump for a full synopsis and more analysis.
