Edgar Wright Knows What We Want
Chalk another one up to my random, obscure pop culture blog changing the world, but no sooner do I mention I want to see Edgar Wright’s Ant-Man movie than he tweets this picture:
That was Tweeted Saturday morning, so right in the middle of The Avengers making their $200 million+ opening weekend. Is it possible that Edgar Wright is starting to realize that he could be a part of that? That everybody wants to see his Ant-Man film, and that I’m not the only one who wants his Ant-Man to be in Avengers 2?
Stop teasing us, Edgar! Make that movie!
The Avengers Reject Batman
The Avengers parody video continue! Because that movie made $200 million+ at the US box office over the weekend, a certain Caped Crusader with a movie out in July is getting a little antsy. And if you can’t beat’em, join’em! If they’ll let you. Also there’s Robin in it, so I’m definitely going to post it. The video may also have some off-color humor if you’re not into that kind of thing.
Check out this funny video from Booya Pictures.
Review: Ultimate Comics: All-New Spider-Man #10
For an issue that’s almost entirely talking heads, writer Brian Michael Bendis knocks it out of the park. But that shouldn’t come as a surprise. Bendis is a master of dialogue, and of crafting characters and conflicts through that dialogue. He does more for Ultimate Prowler in this one issue than he’s done in the entire series so far. And star Miles Morales has some fantastic moments as well, making decisions that will define him as a superhero and provide fascinating stories for us readers.
Ultimate Spider-Man #10
Bendis is basically writing a Masters Course on superhero comics with this series.
Comic rating: 5/5: Great.
Seriously, this issue is almost entirely talking. It’s a chat between Miles and his Uncle Aaron, only now they are both dressed in their respective superhero/villain costumes, and standing on a rooftop. The oddness of such an exchange is not lost on the characters either. But rather than let the 13-year-old Miles get bowled over by his adult uncle, Miles holds his own in the exchange, revealing true growth for the kid. He’s finally no longer beating up losers like Omega Red or the Ringer. It’s time for Miles to get a dose of the real world, courtesy of someone he thought he respected and idolized.
Uncle Aaron, meanwhile, reveals several new layers to his character during this rooftop chat. He’s not just some scumbag super-villain. He’s a thief, and he’s a smart thief. And he also, to some extent, has an eye out for his nephew. So even though he wants Miles’ help with nefarious things, and even threatens to blackmail the kid, Aaron still wants the best for the boy.
That’s some fascinating character work in what is another great issue of the Miles Morales saga.
The Avengers to Break $200 Million with Opening Weekend!
Holy crap that’s awesome!! The Avengers is going to make $200.03 million this weekend! That completely shatters the last record breaker: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, which had about $167 million only last year. I knew The Avengers was going to be popular, but nobody predicted it would be this popular! $200 million!! Jeez louise!
And it’s already made twice that internationally!
Another kind of Avengers ‘record’
Check out my review of The Avengers to understand why it’s so awesome. This is absolutely spectacular news. It means we’ll definitely be getting more Marvel movies in the future! And definitely more Avengers!
Also, fun trivia, the first movie to break $100 million in one weekend was the first Spider-Man film. So it’s great to know that the world loves superheroes as much as I do!
Review: X-Factor #235
Now this is the kind of character-based drama I love to see in my comics, especially X-Factor! Peter David finally gives us some real tension between series star Jamie Madrox and his beleaguered usurper Alex Summers, otherwise known as Multiple Man and Havok. I’ve been waiting for this tension to hit for several issues now, and it feels good to finally have something meaty to sink our teeth into at X-Factor Investigations. That coupled with a new and possible entertaining case leads to a damn good issue of X-Factor.
X-Factor #235
This is exactly the kind of comic I want X-Factor to be – minus the blue-skinned, big gun-wielding space maniac.
Comic rating: 4/5: Good!
For the first time in a long while, X-Factor is finally dealing with something on their level again. No interdimensional journeys, no time-traveling duplicates and no evil Reed Richardses. Yes, I realize the Isolationist and his hot demon girlfriend are behind it all, but they thankfully don’t appear in this issue. I also realize that this is an entirely biased sentiment, that I shouldn’t judge a comic book based on what I want it to be, as opposed to what it actually is. And I’m not. The ‘good’ rating isn’t based on my being pleased with the plot. It’s based on the quality of the comic. Trust me.
We have here some Grade A character-based drama, some great scenes with the team, and a fairly unique and compelling mystery to solve. Not to mention the promise of uncovering a mystery that has been around in the X-franchise for decades: just who or what are Shatterstar and Longshot?
And solving those kinds of mysteries involving B and C-list comic book characters is exactly what X-Factor is for!
