Thursday, April 26, 2007

Planet Hulk

With wedding season finally over with (for me at least) I hope I can get back to posting at least a few times a week.

So, I read the entire Planet Hulk story line recently. In the span of a few days as a matter of fact, which is a pretty good endorsement from me. Since the accident I seem to have lost my desire for disposable entertainment, so making it through a year long arc in a few days has to say something for the story. Of course, reading it all at once like that takes a little away from the epic scope Pak tried to achieve. But, that's entirely my fault really, the damn thing was so enjoyable I couldn't put it down.

Hulk is tricked by the puny earthlings, gets rocketed into space, becomes a savior to an entire world of people, becomes ruler of said people and then unwittingly becomes the destroyer of said world. Now he's pissed, he's found a way back to Earth and will make the puny humans pay.

Sounds kind of small when you word it that way, but it really is an epic, maybe one of the best storylines Marvel has produced since Morrison took on the X-Men.

And don't any of you Civil War nuts feed me any crap about that line-wide crossover. What little I've been able to make it through of Civil War I've not enjoyed at all. That includes all the lead up stuff such as Avengers Dissassembled, Secret War, House of M and whatever other crap they'll undo in the next year or two.

Pak borrows a bit from some epic films for the story (Ben-Hur and Gladiator especially...though I wouldn't call the latter "Epic"), but the general idea of sending Hulk into space is a pretty good one. In fact it reminds me very much of Hulk: The End that was published a few years back. It was nice to see some new characters in a book for a change. Sure they won't (or didn't) last, but it lends a lot of unpredictability to and already great story.

The art was fantastic too, done by Carlo Pagulayan, a guy I'd never heard of. The action is top notch and his Hulk is simultaneously menacing, regal and gentle. The battle with the Silver Surfer is some of the greatest action work I think I've ever seen

I have high hopes for World War Hulk, hopefully it won't disappoint, and that we at least get too see Hulk smash the hell out of everyone.

-L

Tuesday, April 03, 2007

The post in which I make excuses...and talk about 300 and TMNT!

Seems I can't get back on a regular posting schedule, but I have been busy! My sister's wedding is less than two weeks away so things have been crazy. Believe it or nor I've got more Boom! comics to get too...

Like the title says, I saw 300 (twice) and TMNT, and enjoyed both tremendously. 300 is most assuredly a better film than Sin City (which I did enjoy), and it gives me a little hope for the apparent upcoming Watchmen film that 300 director Zack Snyder has been signed to helm it. The visuals in 300 are amazing, and the changes made from the source material actually enhance the story. Of course the story is an idealized account of the actual battle, but they never set out to film an accurate depiction of what really happened anyway. As good as the visuals are (except for a tad too many slo-mo shots), the acting is what really carries it. I had a few problems with the dialogye, but overall the actors do a fantastic job. Here's hoping a few of them might land in the Watchmen film.

TMNT...well, for die hard fans of the original comic it will most assuredly be a disappointment. But what comic book film isn't in that aspect? I'm not sure why the decision was made to have this work as a followup to the original film (and apparently the third film as well), but it really does work. The villians are pretty much a non-entity, almost an afterthought. Instead the focus is on how the Turtles are a family, and how they seem to have forgotten that. The animation is unbelievable, and I'm confident that the duel between Raph and Leo is some of the best CGI work I've ever seen. Seriously, there was more emotion in that scene than in every single frame of George Lucas' crap-fest trilogy combined. It's a great light hearted family film that's got plenty to satisfy fans (except those that refuse to be placated).

More to come eventually, and if you're lucky it'll be this week!

-L