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August 29th, 2008
 Daredevil #110 Cover When I saw the Daredevil movie, I really thought this is what the Daredevil character was like. Yes, the movie did a fairly good job capturing the darker tones of the comic, but missed on almost every other level. Because of this, I was reluctant to start reading Daredevil. But when I saw that amazing writers like Brian Michael Bendis and Ed Brubaker were writing it, I thought I would give it a chance. Since then, I haven’t regretted the decision once.
This month, Daredevil wraps up one of the most intriguing arcs that I have read so far in Daredevil. The basic premise of the story is that this man, “Big” Ben Donovan, who is a somewhat shady fellow, has been wrongly accused of murdering 3 people, including 2 children. He is sentenced to death. However, Luke Cage doesn’t believe that he did it and hires Dakota North to figure out who the real culprit is. Along the way, Matt Murdock and associates get involved as well. Only problem is, even though Donovan basically admits he is coving for someone, he won’t admit it. At the end of the last issue, Dakota gets shot and Daredevil is being surrounded by a bunch of men with guns. This is where this issue picks up and boy is it amazing. Click that little “more” for my full review. Seriously… do it!
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August 29th, 2008
 Every now and again, I have my fits of nostalgia. I reflect back upon graphic novels from yesteryear and even the not-so-distant-past. I know all of you have felt that way more times than you can count. Everything I’ve written thus far has been of graphic novels of the past – partly because I’m still catching up, and partly because there are so many fruitful ideas emanating from them. Reflecting back upon past events and how they lead up to the most current events is, I believe, crucial to understanding most aspects of a universe as a whole. However, deciding where to start reading is not an easy task.
With an ever-growing series of comics being published, finding a place to call home is overwhelming, intimidating and unnerving. When I was very young, I started becoming interested in comics and quickly fell into my niche with the comic, Bone. But afterwards, I found it extremely hard to get into anything else, because Bone was a standalone. After finishing the 1000+ page graphic novel, I was completely lost.
Sure, I was reading manga at that time, but that was different. It just wasn’t epic enough for me, I guess. I didn’t know what epic meant until I got my hands on Crisis on Infinite Earths – luckily, I found this gem in my high school library, and it changed everything.
**Forgive me for the spoilers**
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August 29th, 2008
I’ve been putting off this film for a long time because I’ve never really liked  Superman to begin with. Sure, he’s got some great and defining stories, but overall he’s just too idealistic, naïve, and, frankly, powerful for his own good. However, the first two Superman films, even though they don’t hold up well at all, were the first real classics of the superhero genre, and pretty much stayed that way until 2002 when Spider-Man came out (sorry Burton Batman, but you aged worse than Supes and he’s older). So, given my new found interest in comics, I figured I should watch this to see why Warner Bros decided to entirely reboot the franchise only two years after this. Well, I’ve seen it, and I can see why.
Superman Returns takes place five years after Kal-El leaves Earth to find the remnants of his home world. In that time, Lex Luthor was released from prison and breaks into the Fortress of Solitude, where he apparently watches the first two Superman films given that we see Marlon Bando again. That’s a fairly smart move actually and more bad guys should do this when they’ve been beaten in the last movies. He also steals some of Kal’s crystals. Meanwhile, Lois Lane got engaged, had a kid, and wrote a Pulitzer-winning article titled “Why the World Doesn’t Need Superman.” Clearly, there’s never been a time when the world has needed him more.
**spoilers and more after the break**
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August 29th, 2008
 X-Men: Legacy #215 cover Here we are, post Mr. Sinister trying to take over Charles Xavier, Sebastian Shaw and some other girl who isn’t really important (unless someone decides to make her so in the future) and I don’t think anyone knows what to expect out of X-Men: Legacy #215.
Mike Carey is definitely going way back and forth with X-Men story rehashing and, really, I don’t like it. I mean, sure the story is better when they pull from things from previous issues–because rehashing can be fun at times (see also: Uncanny X-Men #500 with Magneto going berserk)–but this month’s issue felt more forced than anything.
I’ve felt that X-Men: Legacy has been odd like this since it started. Messiah CompleX and X-Men: Deadly Genesis really changed the way that Cyclops and Charles Xavier act as characters which is good in a way, but from how the story is going now, things just aren’t as good as I’d could have hoped… it almost reminds me of 90s X-Men comics when they were in their decline.
**spoilers and more after the break**
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August 28th, 2008
 Runaways v3 #1 Cover I’ll admit, I got a little teary-eyed when Joss Whedon ended his run on Runaways earlier this year. I agree with all those who say that he was bad for the series, because of the long delays between issues. It is true, this really made me frustrated. But his writing far outshines any frustrations I had. I was very excited to hear that the series was going to continue, even if it had to be without Whedon.
This week started the new re-restart of this beloved fan-favorite series. I will say to start that I have some mixed feelings about the start, but overall, I am willing to give it a chance. As a fair warning, I want to let any Runaways fans know that I have NOT read the original volume 1 run of Runaways, as sad as it is. It is on my list of “must-reads”.
After the jump, my full review of Runaways v3 #1.
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August 27th, 2008
 Kick-Ass #4 cover Bwaaaaaaah! I am Mike Rapin! I’m a friggin’ zombie!!! Bwaaaaah! Aren’t you scared of me?!
You may be confused as to why I am a zombie (man, I have a sudden hunger for brains), but you can blame that bastard Mark Millar for killing me with his sheer genius. The most recent issue of Kick-Ass (#4, for those of you counting) really did a number on my flipping skull to the point of killing me. Oh yea.. I’m effing dead and unless Dr. Strange or Brother Voodoo is coming to save me, I’m not quite sure what will become of me…
But back to the comic: John Romita Jr.’s art had me drinking blood all throughout this issue. His art tells almost as much story as the friggin’ dialogue. I absolutely love it. And, if you haven’t gotten it yet, the story is so compelling, if you read it, you will (most likely) die and become a damn zombie. It’s a good trade-off if you ask me.
**spoilers and more (brains) after the break**
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August 27th, 2008
 Wolverine #68 Cover Remember last month when I told you to go out and get Wolverine #67? And remember the month before when I said to get Wolverine #66? Well, guess what I am going to tell you this month? GO GET WOLVERINE #68!!!! Unless you are a masochist and don’t want to do what is good for you, you really should heed my advice. Honestly, you don’t even really have to read the rest of this review, I’ll tell you right now: I loved it. But if you are interested read on.
In the last issue, Logan and Hawkeye made it to Las Vegas, where they found out that Hawkeye’s daughter (who happens to also be Spider-Man’s granddaughter) is being held captive by the new Kingpin. This month, we pick up from that point and continue to follow the adventures of this unlikely pair of geriatrics. So, with a belly full of beer, just like Logan (seriously, I was just at the pub), I’ll have my full review following the break!
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August 27th, 2008
Yeah, I know this has been out for a year and, as an event, has been covered to  death not only by reviewers but by Marvel themselves. However, I am making an effort at reading current comics as opposed to trade-waiting for everything, so I felt the need to familiarize myself with the events of Civil War so I could understand Secret Invasion (not to mention all the series that were drastically changed).
Few things are as daunting to a comics newbie as an “event.” Why, you ask? Because every single comic book event promises to be a cataclysmic, universe-altering moment in which not only “everything will change” and “nothing will be the same” (if you take a shot every time Dan DiDio or Joe Quesada say that you will die, I guarantee it), but your own faith in God will be shattered and then rebuilt. Also, every event comes with about eleventy-seven tie-ins that are nothing but a nuisance.
**spoilers after the jump**
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August 26th, 2008
So, this week I decided to just continue my sort of “Rapid Reviews” to which I call, if you didn’t guess it, Tuesday Twist-offs.
Let me lay down what I’m going to speed through for you real quick:
Does that work for you? Well, it works for me. Let’s begin.
**definite spoilers and randomness after the break**
August 26th, 2008
I’ll start of this week’s comic book previews by stating that I had a really, really, really hard time deciding which comics to feature this week. It is true, there is a lot of good shit spewing from mighty Marvel tomorrow and I, for one, am super pumped. Despite having to remove some really awesome books from this post, I still have a delicious line-up of comics to talk about this week. This includes the return of one of my favorite series, the end of an arc in another, a one-shot in yet another. I also have the long delayed Kick-Ass and a bunch of Secret Invasion tie-ins. Don’t close that tab and hit the break for a look at what you should be buying this week!
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Daredevil #110 Review
