Logan

Logan is the Wolverine movie that we have always wanted. It's a shame because this is supposedly the last iteration of Hugh Jackman as Wolverine. If it truly is, then he goes out on top. I really loved this movie and I think this movie speaks to the sensibilities I've migrated to over the past few years.

I know I have stated this many times on this blog before, but I've become more attracted to the focused, centralized comic book movie. I no longer care about a super hero movie that has world ending stakes. I feel like there are no stakes in that. It all comes down to how cool the action sequences are.

Not to sound like an old man, but they've become special effects spectacles and not always in a good way. That is why a movie like, Logan is so refreshing. Here we have a story that is focused on the personal battles of a few characters. Dare I say, this is like a chase movie. A genre that has become a favorite of mine.

Hmm, I'm three paragraphs in and I haven't really talked about the movie. Logan is a gritty, often times violent story of an older Wolverine who has come to grips with his new reality. Mutants are pretty much gone, the X-Men are dead and he has to look after a broken down Professor Xavier. I don't feel like this is a spoiler because this is mentioned in any plot synopsis you would read about this movie. I will respect those that haven't seen it yet and keep the rest of this spoiler free.

Normally I wouldn't say this about a super hero movie, but I think the acting really deserves praise here. I legitimately think that Hugh Jackman and Patrick Stewart should be eligible for the job they did in this movie. Jackman has shown a devotion to this character that few actors show in extended roles. The studio has interfered in some of this attempts, but at the end of the day, he wanted to do right by Wolverine and I expect that. That is why this movie is such a moving send off for him and the character. It's not just the makeup he put on for this movie, but the way he moves and talks displays a guy that has been through a lot and is nearing the end.

As far as the timeline goes, it almost makes little sense that Professor Xavier would even be in this movie, but his inclusion is to the movie's benefit. Xavier is a prideful man that has clearly fallen to his lowest point and that is reflected in the performance. Like Logan, Xavier is a sympathetic character here. Not to give a spoiler, but there is also the added weight of what has happened to him over the past couple of years.

I would be remiss if I didn't not mention the performance of Dafne Keen as Laura (X-23). She is fantastic in this movie. It's always great to see child actors that actually know what they are doing. I hope this spring boards her into more things.

I won't mince words, this movie is violent. The brutality of the fight scenes are not for the faint hearted. However, this is what has been missing from a movie with Wolverine. Let's be honest, for a movie about a guy with sharp knives in his hand, is bound to be violent.

To wrap this review up, I like the aesthetic of this movie, which is a character in itself. This is in the year 2029 and it is a world reminiscent of our own. You're not going to see a lot of crazy future tech here. Well, outside of the advanced genetic engineering that is at the heart of this movie. Anyways, every thing looks like it takes place in the dust bowl for most of the movie. Kind of like Mad Max. Other times, it just looks ordinary and I don't mean that as an insult.

This is a deeply personal movie for both the Jackman and the director, James Mangold. This movie is definitely in my top three of favorite X-Men movies along with X-2 and X-Men: First Class.

There were a lot of cool easter eggs for long time comic fans such as having Caliban or the Reavers. Those are more deep cuts within the X-Men universe.

I've now seen this movie twice and I would recommend it to anyone else.

The Inevitable Best and Worst List of 2016

Every year, I tell myself that I will have this up by January. And every time it comes a few weeks into the year, after the point a best of list should have already happened. Looks like I have a resolution for 2018!

Anyways, last year I talked about how my interest in DC had waned. This year, with DC Rebirth, I have jumped back on to a couple of titles. The reboot (not reboot) has seemed to energize them. On the other hand, the delay of Civil War and everything in it’s hemisphere has made me question a lot of my choices over at Marvel.

I have not been a fan of the double shipping that both companies have been employing this year. This quantity over quality is causing the art to suffer on a lot of books and that is a problem. Since they keep making money, I’m afraid this is a practice that will continue.

This year I think I have finally started to get more selective with my books. I cut a number of fringe books, especially if I feel like they are a chore to read.

We also had a glut of comic book related movies this year and if we’re being honest, a couple of them were downright atrocious.

Anyways, without further ado, let’s pour one out for…

Dearly Departed (The Comics I dropped this year)
Before I get into the rest of my list, a moment of silence for the number of comics that I dropped this year after giving a good go at it:

• Avengers – Marvel
• Justice League – DC
• East of West – Image
• Outcast – Image
• A-Force – Marvel
• Nowhere Men – Image
• Uncanny Inhumans - Marvel

Favorite Comic Book TV Show of 2016
Luke Cage – Netflix – This was actually a tough pick for me this year. I still really like the joy that is found in Supergirl. Arrow has gotten back to basics and we did get a second season of Daredevil that featured the Punisher. However, if I follow my heart, it was Luke Cage. It was a show that spoke to me. It had a great soundtrack, great black actors, topical without being too preachy and Rosario Dawson! It is a show that drags in the middle and I still hate Diamondback’s stupid costume, but I’m judging this as an entire package. I’m keeping this short because I already talked about this show in length.
Honorable Mentions: Supergirl

Least Favorite Comic Book TV show of 2016
Daredevil Season 2 – Netflix – Now you may be thinking, “But Kevin, you listed it in your contender’s list of favorite shows!” Yeah… So I REALLY loved that first season of Daredevil. It is my favorite of the shows we have so far. That is why this season was such a disappointment. The Punisher was a great edition, but he really runs his course in the first six episodes. Then he becomes extraneous. Elektra shows up and her story line gets extraneous too. I guess what I am really trying to say is this show should have stopped while it was ahead. It limps across the finish line. And I know I am talking about a show based on a comic book, but apparently including the Hand, a clan of Ninjas that can come back from the dead, was my breaking point. Is this show terrible? No. This is here because I was so disappointed. I could easily fill this spot with “Agents of Shield”, but that’s such an easy target.
Honorable Mention: Agents of Shield (Picking this would have been too easy)

The Fond farewells of 2016
Chew – Image – This category is really an excuse for me to talk about Chew. I meant to make a post about this and just never did. After a couple of years, this book came to an end. It was a sixty issues series that was written by John Layman and drawn by  Rob Guillory. It was a dark comedy that was unlike anything I have ever read. It was clever, it packed a lot of emotional weight and it was full of so many sight gags that I would pour over each issue looking for them. It had a style onto itself and there will not be anything like it. To be brief, the premise is this. You have a federal agent (the FDA is completely different in this world) that has the power to get a psychic imprint of anything he eats. This helps him solve crimes, but you can see how this would be a curse. This is set against the back drop of a world where eating chicken has been outlawed due to alien writing in the sky and some other stuff. If this sounds outlandish, it is, but this book toes that line spectacularly. I even forgive it for the emotional roller coaster it put me through and it will be missed.
Honorable Mention: Velvet, Tokyo Ghost

Favorite New Artist of 2016
Brittney Williams - Goldie Vance - This was a tough choice, because there were two new artists I discovered this year. I'm going to give the nod to Brittney Williams and her work on the series, Goldie Vance from Boom Studios. It is a cartoony style that I'm a sucker for. What elevates it is the design of the characters, the "acting" found in good cartooning. The background work is even nice as well. Due to the success of the book, it went from being a mini-series to an ongoing series. This means I will get to see more of Williams' work in the new year.
Honorable Mention: Daniele Di Nicuolo - Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers: Pink


Worst Artist of 2016
Adam Kubert - All New Avengers, etc. - In the mid to late 90's Adam Kubert was one of my favorite artists. I'll spare my long, history and jump to the point. His art is not as good as it used to be. Are there worst artists out there? Absolutely. He's here more for my extreme disappointment at his downfall. Everything looks super rushed now. When I see he's on a book, I don't get excited. I just sigh. That's never a good thing. I don't want to waste any more space here.
Honorable Mentions: N/A

Favorite Artist of 2016
Valerio Schiti – Guardians of the Galaxy – There was a lot of great art this year, but I’m picking Schiti. This is based purely on the fact that his art elevated the Guardians of the galaxy with his great paneling. Also, the art has remained consistent while also having a workman like quality in a good way. Not many can stick to working on long arcs at a time. I also like Schiti's facial acting as well.
Honorable Mentions: Wes Craig – Deadly Class, David Marquez – Civil War, Cliff Chiang - Paper Girls

Favorite New Writer of 2016
David Walker – Power Man and Iron Fist – This year was my first exposure to David Walker's writing. I would not have discovered him if he had not been writing a comic based on two of my favorite characters. That would have been a shame. What I like about his writing in Power Man and Iron Fist is it has been very grounded, as far as super hero comics go. I like that it has been set almost exclusively in and around Harlem. The voices he uses for the characters feel authentic. I didn't like how he wrote Danny Rand at first, which is contrary to how he used to be, but it worked in the grand scheme of things here. When most writers try to use slang, it comes off as stilted and awkward. It's as if they watched the "The Wire" too many times, without actually understanding it. Walker has a command of it here and that's what ultimately makes this book work. The sense of humor is also great. I like that he's had a chance to explore this corner of the Marvel Universe.
Honorable Mentions: N/A

Worst Writer of 2016
Adam Hughes – Betty and Veronica  – I only read two issues of this book, but that was more than enough to cement this as the most poorly written book I read this year. I like to think that I am pretty tolerant of bad comic book writing and it takes a LOT to make me hate it. This was that book. If there was ever a text book case of poorly written teenagers by an old man, this book is exhibit A, B and C. I already ranted on this in length, so I won’t rehash here. Just trust me that this was one of the worst comics I’ve ever read.
Honorable Mentions: N/A

Favorite Writer of 2016
Jason Aaron - Mighty Thor, Unworthy Thor, Doctor Strange, Star Wars - As you can see, Jason Aaron is a very prolific writer. He wins my award because even though he is writing all of these series at once, they are all distinct from each other. This is an accomplishment because I don't traditionally like Thor or Doctor Strange and over the past few years he has made me care about both. Doctor Strange has not dipped in quality at all and Mighty Thor continues to be great. These alone would win the title, but then you have the very fun Star Wars series that he is working on too. 
Honorable Mentions: Tom King - Batman, Tom Taylor - All New Wolverine, Peter Tomasi/Patrick Gleason - Superman, Sam Humphries - Green Lantern

Pleasant Surprise of 2016
Superman – DC – Around 1992, I was really into Superman because of the Death of Superman event. I hung around for a couple of years and then dropped off. After that, I jumped onto Superman every now and then when something special was going on whether it was being drawn by Ed McGuinness or Jim Lee. I even checked out Grant Morrison’s All Star Superman run. Even with all of that, I have not truly enjoyed a Superman book until this year. What has made this book so great is that it is a book about Clark Kent and his family, his wife Lois and his son Jonathan. This book is dealing with his role as a father to a son coming into his super powers and their role in the new world they find themselves in. Peter Tomasi has been writing a fun book and has me liking this version of Superman. I never would have imagined this was possible.
Honorable Mentions: Goldie Vance – Boom, Green Lanterns - DC

Worst Mini-series of 2016
Civil War II - Marvel - The ONE issue of "Cage!" I read was going to win this easily, but I had to choose Civil War II due to the overwhelming disappointment that I felt. Not only did massive shipping delays ruin this book, but the writing didn't help it. I used to really like Brian Michael Bendis, but over the years, I've slowly started to turn on him. I figured there would be no way this book was going to stick the landing, but never did I feel that it was going to turn out and be ultimately inconsequential. The last two issues were insults to my comic sensibilities. I also greatly resent how they have tried to force the Inhumans down our throats. The art was great in this series, but the writing did not.
Honorable Mentions: Cage! - Marvel, Death of X - Marvel

Favorite Mini-series of 2016
Aloha, Hawaiian Dick – Image - It was good to see this book back and honestly, I didn't have a big pool of mini-series to pull from this year. The story at points was messy, but I really like the supporting characters in this series and they got some more attention. The way the series ends up is a heartbreaker. I just wish B. Clay Moore could commit to making this book an ongoing series. There are not any other series set in Hawaii that I'm reading about, so it is a refreshing setting to read about.
Honorable Mentions: Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Pink

Favorite New Series of 2016
Power Man and Iron Fist – Marvel - I gave the writer credit for this book earlier, so now I'm giving credit to the book as a whole. The writing, combined with the art of Sanford Greene/etc. gives this book a high quality, urban feel you do not get with any other books. What is even better is that it doesn't feel insulting in it's portrayal of a mostly minority cast. The humor is well written and it is street level, which I appreciate. There are no typical Marvel comic super heroics here. No world ending threats, just the immediate threat to the characters and their surroundings. This is always the book I read first when it appears in my Wednesday pickups. That's how I know this wins my prestigious, new series of 2016 award.
Honorable Mentions: Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers - Boom Studios, 

Worst Series of 2016
Extraordinary X-Men - Marvel - Out of all the series I read this year, this is one that I dropped after it just got to be too much. I don't know what they are doing with the X-Men right now, but this book is a shining example of what's wrong. There is a weird mix of X-Men here with a story that is really not moving the needle for me. At first this book seemed promising, but it hasn't delivered on that. Honestly, it's just boring and it has been a chore to read. Having Apocalypse show up should be a reason to celebrate, but not here when it's centered around some of the newer X-Men that I have not been invested in. Maybe if there were bigger name X-Men in this book, I would like it a lot more.
Honorable Mentions: N/A

Favorite Series of 2016
Jughead - Archie Comics - I have to give it up for this book. Between two writers, it has remained consistently funny. The Archie Comics reboot has really done wonders. The wacky stories of Jughead have been a delight. The humor has been second to none. It's a good counterpoint to the serious tone of the main Archie book. When Ryan North took over, he introduced hilarious comments at the bottom of each page. It's like having funny editor's notes on each page. This has added to the fun. Also, each writer would introduce old Jughead strips with a short essay on how wacky this comic was back in the sixties during it's inception. The all over the place nature of the stories may at first may not be for everyone, but if you are willing to ignore reality, this is the series for you.
Honorable Mentions: Superman – DC, Ultimates – Marvel, Ms. Marvel – Marvel,

Doctor Strange

I'm not going to lie. I ended up seeing this movie twice during the opening weekend. This was because I was seeing it with two sets of friends, but I still went gladly. I was going to write about it sooner, but life got in the way.

So yeah, I liked this movie. On my personal rankings of the Marvel movies, it's definitely somewhere in the middle. That's not a bad thing, you just have to remember that we are about fourteen movies deep now.

Like, Ant-Man, this was a character that felt like having their own movie would be an overreach. Thankfully I think they stick the landing. It perfectly nails the trippy, LSD fueled antics of the comics. This is exactly where it needed to be. The visuals are pretty amazing. However, I still do and will always hate CG "stuntmen". This happens a number of times in this movie and it's so hard for me to ignore it when I see it.

The fight scenes are pretty good, because for some reason, magicians rely on martial arts. I'm not complaining, I just want to point that out. Probably because that's a lot more exciting than watching people throw spells back and forth.

I'll get to the actors in a moment, but I'm going to start with the plot first. This movie moves quickly to establish Dr. Strange. I applaud this. Instead of spending half the movie with his origin, we get through that in about fifteen minutes and then we follow him on, let's say, his spiritual journey. On the flip side, it is way too convenient that he becomes as good as he does so quickly. They don't do a good job with the time lapse to know how quickly he picked things up. This movie does follow Marvel Movie plot #2,evil bad guy wants to control the world for murky reasons.

I want to point out that the problem I've had with the Marvel movies rears it's ugly head again. In their movies, the villains have been one note and essentially throw aways. That is the case here too. To name check it, the villain's name is Kaecillius. All he needed was a mustache to twirl. He's not compelling in any way. The after credits scene does provide a glimpse into what will be a better villain for the next movie.

Okay, so maybe that was a very short plot description. There isn't really much to cover there. So let's go with the actors. Benedict Cumberbatch delivers, as we thought he would. I don't mind his American accent here because it makes it feel like a different character from him. His trademark deep voice is even noticeably gone. Which is more impressive that he could hold the voice of the character here. I've become a fan of Tilda Swinton over the years and I think this movie helps cement that. There was controversy over her being cast in this role, but I hope this movie helps alleviate that. It's not her fault. She's put in a difficult position and I think she succeeds. She carries this role with a gravitas and grace. I bet she must have had some fun with the martial arts choreography. It is always great to see Chiwetel Ejiofor appear and he was great in this. I think the only problem I had was Rachel McAdams. She is just wasted in a thankless role in this movie. She is the love/not love interest and that is all she brings. It's unfortunate. On that same note, they waste Mads Mikkelsen as the aforementioned Kaecillius too. Why even bother using great actors for these roles?

To wrap this up, I don't have much else to say really. It was good. I didn't catch a lot of easter eggs here, except for the Stan Lee cameo, which we are conditioned to look for at this point. I am glad that this movie will be successful and add another character to the movie library. Definitely check it out.

Luke Cage

I binge watched Luke Cage a few weeks ago. Specifically, over the weekend it came out. I've taken some time to start writing this because I wanted to let it sit with me for a little while. I didn't want to go with my instant reaction on this show. NOW, I'm ready to talk.

Luke Cage is a fantastic show. Don't take this the wrong way when I say this, but it is an unapologetic black show. By this I mean, the vast majority of the cast is black and the dialogue feels authentic.

Even in this day and age, this show is a huge risk in my opinion. We're living in 2016 and the idea of a prominent black cast outside of a show on BET is such a foreign concept. I applaud Marvel for not only taking this risk, but letting the show be what it is. I also want to point out that it was written and produced by a man of color, Cheo Hodari Coker.

Before I get into the wonderful cast, I want to start by going over some of the little things they did that I truly appreciate. First of all, like the other marvel shows, they feature the primary color that the character is known for. In Jessica Jones, purple was everywhere. In Daredevil, red was prominently featured. For Luke Cage, it's the color yellow. You see this in subtle details, like street lights, desk lights and the accent color in Luke's hoodie. He even dons his iconic yellow shirt for a scene.

Then there is the soundtrack of this show. To me, it had the funk vibe you would get from 70's era blaxploitation movies, an homage to the beginning of the Luke Cage character. It also incorporated hip hop. To take it another step further, there were a cross section of well known black musicians, auditioning within the show at Cottonmouth's club. This aspect made me reminiscence for the days of the tv show, "New York Undercover", where popular music acts would appear every week.

The mark of a good show is the scenery. This show made Harlem it's own character and showcased its history. I know some may think that sometimes it was a little too overt, but I think this needed to happen. I like that this show and all the other Marvel netflix shows exist in their own ecosystem.

For those that also think that this show is "ripped from the headlines" in the topics it covers, keep in mind that this was filmed months ago. I think it speaks volumes that this show is still topical because the kind of issues that are raised here keep happening and have been happening for years. This show goes out of it's way to make a black man in a hoodie a powerful, positive symbol. I applaud this.

Let me go into the actors before I finish up with what I actually thought about the story. Mike Coulter is as cool as the other side of the pillow as Luke Cage. I like that he's older and is played as such. We don't need to see a young, twenty something, brash Luke cage running around. This was perfect casting. I can't remember if I have said this before, but I have a crush on Rosario Dawson. Her inclusion in this show was perfect and felt natural. Building off their first meeting in Jessica Jones, it makes sense she would show up here. Also, they referenced events in Daredevil, to make sure these shows stay connected. She is one of a number of strong, leading ladies in this show.

Simone Missick is great as Misty Knight. Like Cage, she is age appropriate and I am glad they didn't go for some young, twenty-something. It would not have had the same effect. I want to round out and say that Alfre Woodard was a perfect, slimy politician. She had layers, just like all the other characters. Another reason I like this show.

Mahershala Ali as Cottonmouth was a wonderful villain. I know I keep repeating myself, but he also had layers. The best villains are those that don't see themselves as the bad guy. He and Woodard's character have that to a T.

Not to give anything away, but Diamondback was a lot of fun.. He was a force of nature that I think helped give an air of uncertainty to the show. You didn't know what he was going to do next. I just could have done without the goofy costume he gets later.

Finally, the story itself. What I like about these Netflix shows is that they are self contained and small in scale. They are not about world threatening events. They are deeply personal battles with the characters. I honestly wish the movies could start to reflect this, but I understand they need to be bombastic to make billions of dollars. That's just a personal wish that will never come to pass.

I thought it was a weird choice to make Cage originally from Georgia and not Harlem like he is supposed to be. To me, his affection for Harlem is not as genuine as it could be. Sure he lived there now, but he's not FROM there. So when everyone talks about him as one of their own, it doesn't ring true. I let it slide because I know what it's supposed to be. The Netflix shows do seem to fall into a patter where the halfway point is where the hero is taken out of their normal environment for a few eps to deal with something big from the first half. Also, I really don't need a scientific explanation of Luke's powers. I hated they did that with Killgrave in Jessica Jones. We're watching a comic book show, so there is already a suspension of belief. I think you make it even worse trying to explain it. Just let it be. We saw what happened when George Lucas explained what the force really was.

Alright nerds. Join me in repressing this memory back down to the deepest, darkest depths. I'm sorry for bringing it up.

Since I've already talked long enough about this, let me bring this to a close. There were a couple of easter eggs in this show that made me gasp. At the end, Misty Knight is seen wearing a fro and a specific red outfit. The one from the comics! Yes, I gasped. They also show Claire pick up an ad for martial arts training from... Colleen Wing! Again, this is a deep cut reference to the comic books and I loved it! She forms a team with Misty Knight. I hope she shows up in Iron Fist! I made a brief reference to it earlier, but he puts on his goofy custom from the 70's in a brief scene. Let's not forget that he also says, "Sweet Christmas" a lot and it doesn't feel goofy. I think Mike Coulter make's it okay.

If I had to rank this on the Netflix shows, it would probably be 1B to the first season of Daredevil being 1A. I think the impact is greater because we get a hero of color that is well represented. I don't feel embarrassed by this show and I gladly recommend it to anyone else.