Ultimate Spiderman #160 Death has lost its shock

I remember when Superman died. It was a big deal. Then Batman had his back broken. Hal Jordan became evil, We went through a dozen or so Flashes, they even ripped Wolverine's adamantium out at one point. Wildstrom killed off most of Stormwatch, (I clearly was the only one who cared) and they even cloned Spiderman before and tried to pass off a copy. In the Star Wars books, they've killed Luke (again a clone) and Chewbacca. So I'm sorry to say, I'm not impressed.

As an aspiring writer, I get how at some point a writer has nothing else to say about a character. But that's what made comics so great, a writer could take a character through a story arch or several and then move on, adding depth to the character and passing on a wealth of knowledge to the next writer. Any time a writer stays on too long, they end up going for the end game. It's not in the spirit of what an ongoing comic is. It's a publicity stunt and a cop-out. I'm sorry but I've read enough "Death of.." stories. If you want to kill someone, create a character and write the story. More comic writers need to go the Frank Miller route and create, instead of hijack.

@HuffingtonPostHuffington Post 

RIP Spider-Man: http://huff.to/lKvOVW

Metallica + Lou Reed = Feast or Famine

After reading this article from Entertainment Weekly, Metallica and Lou Reed reveal secret collaboration on full-length album, I am both intrigued and apprehensive. Obviously, both Metallica and Lou Reed are legends in music but these types of collaborations can be a landmine for all involved. For every Queen/David Bowie, there are at least three Blue/Steve Wonder's. Here's hoping James, Lou and the boys fall closer to the "Under Pressure" end of the spectrum. 

Cowboys and Aliens Trailer 2

Whenever I am having a bad day, I need to watch this trailer. I'm not sure if I've been this excited for a movie in years. It's to the point that I believe it will be good and will probably love it no matter if it is or not. The trailers have done a great job building my excitement.

Movie Review: Drive Angry (2011) Spoilers

One of the great benefits of insomnia, is that fact that it gives me literally plenty of time to find every points club, coupon site, text club to join etc. Some night, probably at about 3 AM, I joined some Redbox thing that allows me to get random texts with free promo codes. I wish I remember how I did it, because it's one of the few useful clubs I'm in.

Today, I received such a text and decided that it was the perfect opportunity to rent a movie that I just wasn't sure of - Nicolas Cage's Drive Angry. Personally I love the popcorn movie thing that Cage can do. Is it over the top? Yes. Is some of the dialog awful? Putrid. Does stuff go boom? Most certainly. But for what it is, pure popcorn movie suspension of disbelief shoot 'em up fun. Will Drive Angry win any awards? Never. But it is damn fun.

The best thing that the movie does, it know what it is. It's not a plot deep, character driven indie drama. It's an action flick. Flick as in doesn't even claim film or movie as a description. When I saw a previous Cage vehicle, Bangkok Dangerous, I expected an action flick. What I got was a boring, slow, painfully drawn out wanna-be indie critic's darling. Thank you Mr. Cage for giving up that ghost and finding a much more entertaining one.

Cage plays, John Milton (clever wink, think Paradise Lost), a father out for revenge. He's breaks out of hell and drives some spectacularly gorgeous muscle cars while trying to outrun Death (capital D) and save his grand-daughter from a creepy cult leader. Yes it sounds a lot like Ghost Rider with cool cars. That's pretty much it. It's simple, it's clear, it's a linear line that drives through anything it can find. And it works. The script literally spends more time detailing the cars Cage drives than any mythology or dogma. Grandpa escapes Hell to help Granddaughter. Which I honestly have to problem believing.

Along the way he picks up the heroine of the flick, Piper, played capably by Amber Heard. Heard does what Megan Fox was supposed to do in the Transformer movies. Make edgy, tough and beautiful both believable and legendary. She is not given much to work with, 65% (made up %) of her dialog probably comes from her first 10 minutes on screen. However, her inclusion in any future films/flicks will certainly garner my attention. She finds away to come across as something of a mix of Bonnie Parker and Daisy Duke. What's not to love?

Milton and Piper of course carry the film, the cult leader is creepy but ultimately forgettable and William Fichtner plays Death with his usual character actor polish. Understated is always better, I mean, who can surprise Death? All in all it's well cast, well paced an a fun rental. Especially if you manage to get it for free.

Rating: A- (Tried to steal the sex scene-shoot out from Shoot 'em Up)

Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011) - Trailer (HD)

One of the more assuming moments during my geek movie night on Friday was during the trailers before Xmen: First Class. The following trailer came on and I immediately knew which film, I'd seen the trailer before. It's a sad commentary on both the audience and the movie's marketing that when the title rolls at the of the trailer, most of the audience erupted into shocked laughter...

That said, it doesn't look horrible. Just not sure the audience exists.

100 books/graphic novels in 12 months

New goal. Since I added graphic novels, I'm well ahead of schedule for 52 in a year. I am currently at 42 with 4 months to go. And I just joined an online book club so four more are assured. Therefore I'm revising my goal up to 100. 100 books/graphic novels in 12 months. Ideally I'd like to break down to be at least 60/40 but I've been so graphic novel heavy lately I'm sure it will be closer to 70/30 or 80/20

1. October - Interworld - Neil Gaiman

2. October - The Prince - Machiavelli  

3. November - The Bourne Betrayal - James Ludlum, Eric Van Lustbader

4. November - Catch 22 - Joseph Heller 

5. December - First Daughter - Eric Van Lustbader

6. December - Suck It, Wonder Woman - Olivia Munn

7. December - It's Hard Out Here For a Shrimp - Pepe The King Prawn

8. January - Good Omens - Neil Gaiman

9. January - A Jew Must Die - Jacques Chessex

10. January - The Pearl - John Steinbeck

11. February - Let America Be America Again - Langston Hughes

12. February - The Dream Keeper - Langston Hughes

13. February - The Tavernier Stones - Stephen Parrish

14. February - Hawkman: Endless Flight (Graphic Novel) - Geoff Johns, James Robinson, Rags Morales

15. February - The Thieves of Manhattan - Adam Langer

16. March - The Eternals (Graphic Novel) - Neil Gaiman, John Romita Jr. 

17. March - A.D. New Orleans after the Deluge ( Graphic Novel) - Josh Neufeld

18. March - The Grand Design - Stephen Hawkin

19. March - Boozehound - Jason Wilson

20. March - Sin City The Hard Goodbye (Graphic Novel) - Frank Miller 

21. March - Whilteout Vol 2: Melt (Graphic Novel) - Greg Rucka, Steve Lieber

22. March - Gotham Central: In the Line of Duty (Graphic Novel) Ed Brubaker, Greg Rucka, Michael Lark

23. March - DMZ (Graphic Novel) - Brian Wood, Riccardo Burchielli 

24. April - Ultimate Fantastic Four #1-#6 (Graphic Novel) Bendis, Millar

25. April - The Maverick Experiement - Drew Bergquist

26. April - The Sword - Brian Litfin

27. April - The Simple Dollar - Trent Hamm

28. April - Hitler's Pre-Emptive War: The Battle for Norway, 1940 - Henrik O. Lunde

29. May - Unwritten: Inside Man (Graphic Novel) - Mike Carey, Peter Gross

30. May - Parker: The Hunter (Graphic Novel) Darwyn Cooke, Richard Stark

31. May - The Dresden Files: Welcome to the Jungle (Graphic Novel) Jim Butcher, Ardian Syaf

32. May - Marvel 1602 (Graphic Novel)  - Neil Gaiman, Andy Kubert, Richard Isanove

33. May - Daniel X: Alien Hunter (Graphic Novel) James Patterson, Leopoldo Gout

34. May - Small Gods: Killing Grin (Graphic Novel) Jason Rand, Juan Ferreyra, Kristen Simon

35. May - Fray (Graphic Novel) Joss Weadon, Karl Moline, Andy Owens

36. May - Planetary Vol 2: The Fourt Man (Graphic Novel) Warren Ellis, John Cassaday

37. May - Planetary Vol 3: Leaving the 20th Century (Graphic Novel) Warren Ellis, John Cassaday

38. May - Eye of God - Ariel Allison

39. May - Tick Tock - James Patterson

40. May - Xmen: Kitty Pryde Shadow and Flame Vol 1 (Graphic Novel) Akira Yoshida, Paul Smith

41. May - Red (Graphic Novel) Warren Ellis, Cully Hamner

42. May - Parker The Outfit (Graphic Novel) Darwyn Cooke, Richard Stark

Upcoming:

The Dressmaker of Khair Khana - Gayle Tzemach Lemmon (Book Club)

Who Killed Art Deco - Chuck Barris

Pirates of the Levant - Arturo Perez-Reverte

The Last Dickens - Mathew Pearl

Shiloh - Larry J. Daniel 

The Liar - Stephen Fry 

First Snow - Eric Van Lustbader

Faithful Place - Tana French

Any suggestions on future books/graphic novels are very appreciated.