Shmee.Me

March 18, 2014March 18, 2014

Things Get Creepy With The Justice League Dark Volume 1!

Since I gave my casting choices for the Justice League Dark, I thought I would post a review for the New 52 DC re-launch. Peter Milligan has done a great job with this book. Especially showing why the JLD is necessary with the existence of the normal Justice League, which contains some of the most powerful beings in the universe.

The story starts out with Madame Xanadu talking to herself about the main members of what is to be the JLD, Zatanna, Deadman, Shade: The Changing Man, and John Constantine, and how she needs to bring them together to stop a great evil. While this is happening a girl named June Moon seeks out Deadman because the Enchantress is after her. The Justice League tries to defeat the Enchantress, but their strength is no match for the power of her magic. Only people that understand magic can hope to defeat her. Will the members of the JLD unite in time to stop the craziness of the Enchantress?

This book does a great job of not needing to do an origin story for each character, but instead having them reveal the important parts about their past as the story progresses. It is also fun to see the normal Justice League get their butts handed to them, and having no idea what to do. I like that the book that doesn’t deal with standard superheroes. These people don’t really see themselves as heroes, and they are not even sure that they like the people they are working with, but if they have to deal with them or have the Earth be destroyed, they will make due.

DC did a good job getting a smart writer in Peter Milligan to update this book. Plus it brings a lot of good Vertigo comic characters in to the main line, and DC could use some good none A-Type heroes in their universe. I will be checking out more JLD volumes in the future.

March 13, 2014

Find Freedom With X-O Manowar!

Some of the free comics I got from Comixology were X-O Manowar issues 1-4. I don’t read a lot of stuff from Valiant comics, but if the rest of their stuff is as good as Manowar then that will have to change. X-O Manowar was big in the 90’s, but with Valiant re-launching their comic brand it was a good time to reboot Manowar too, and they are doing a great job.

The story starts off with a group of Visigoth rebels trying to stop the march of the Roman Empire. While they are fighting they are captured by aliens, and after years of slavery on the alien ship the rebel leader Aric finds armor that will only attach to a true warrior and gives the wearer amazing powers, and he uses it to exact his revenge.

What I love about this comic so far is the isolation of the main character. He is an alien slave for years, and when he finally gets the power to free himself and his people, he finds out that things have changed while he is away, and none of that is possible. Despite the fact that all superhero origin stories are similar they managed to make this one feel fresh and exciting.

It is also well drawn and very colorful, and the action is displayed well in the book. All the artists did a great job. The art is a least half of the reason to read a comic book, and they are holding up their end.

I will be looking to get more X-O Manowar comics in the future. It is a good book from an eager comic book company looking to make its mark, and I wish them the best. If the same old stuff from DC and Marvel has got you in a rut, Manowar might be just the book you have been looking for.

March 11, 2014March 11, 2014

Getting To Know Comixology!

Comixology is a digital comic books seller. I am still not sure how to feel about digital comics. On one hand I love eBooks, and I use my Kindle all the time, but on the other I love to collect comics. I love the feel of glossy pages in my hand, and trying not to rip them as I turn the pages, but having my comics everywhere I go is very handy, and since the people at Comixology are either always having good deals or giving comics away, my digital library is growing.

So far I am using them to try out new series’, or titles that they are giving away for free/cheap, but I may give in and start buying most of my comics this way. It is just so convenient. I feel bad that my local comic book story doesn’t get these sales, but they are so far away, and my Surface is right next to me.

I love turning on my Surface and reading a comic book or two, and the thought of not having to worry about destroying my comic books in a bag while I travel around is great. I know Marvel has started to give away the digital comic book of most of its paper back ones that you buy, and that is great, but I wish that Comixology would do the same thing in reverse and ship me all the paper versions of the digital books that I own. That would be awesome (never going to happen).

They have made owning and buying digital comic books so easy and convenient that I can see them being my comic book future, but I am sure that I will still get the paper copies of the ones I like. If you see a good deal on a book that you want at Comixology, you should give it a try. They are good at what they do, and they might start to win you over too.

March 7, 2014March 7, 2014

Who Should Play The Justice League Dark?

Guillermo Del Toro has been in talks with DC/Warner Brothers to do a Justice League Dark (The Justice League that deals with what goes bump in the night) movie, and if anyone is going to take Vertigo’s characters and make movie out of them it would be him. I, being the ever helpful person that I am, thought I would cast the big five for him.

John Constantine

John is probably the most recognizable JLD character, since his book has been running for what seems like forever, and he is the center of the JLD. I am going to pick Aaron Echkart.

He has got the look, and we saw in the Dark Knight he has no problem bringing comic book characters to life. I think he will also do a good job of mixing the serious with the humor that Constantine needs. Since they are going another way with Batman now, he should be free.

Madame Xanadu

The mystic of the JLD is a good opportunity to work in some young blood. My professional selection is Kerry Washington.

She is such a good actor, so it is time to get her away from Scandal and on to bigger things. I think she would have a lot of fun with this role.

Deadman

Deadman is an interesting one since he would have to be computer animated the whole time, and if you are going to do computer animation there is only one actor you need to call: Andy Serkis.

Andy is a the best at bringing life to CG characters, and he could let his creativity run wild with the poor undead Deadman.

Shade, the Changing Man

Shade would be a good time to use an unknown actor, since he can look like just about anyone, and the public would have no pre-conceived ideas on how he should look, but my job is to cast him, so I went with Cillian Murphy.

I probably should have shied away from another Dark Knight actor, but he is so good at being moody that I couldn’t help myself. He has proven in all his work that he would do a good job, and it would let him be the hero for once.

Zatanna

AKA The other JLD character people might know (but still probably not). Since she is the one that will probably save the day in this flick, I went with someone with a lot of acting experience, and I think she looks a lot like Zatanna as well. Jennifer Connelly.

My friends will probably just think I am picking her because of my long standing crush on her, but no, I think she has what it takes to play the master magician, and would provide a good anchor for this group.

This is my cast for the JLD. I would love to hear your take on the JLD, or even what other characters you would throw in and who you would like to play them. Like who would be Swamp Thing, or Frankenstein’s monster? Leave a comment if you have an idea! Shmee out.

February 20, 2014February 20, 2014

What I Don’t and Do Want From The Fantastic Four!

So Fox has cast its new Fantastic Four film with Michael B. Jordan as The Human Torch, Kate Mara as The Invisible Woman, Miles Teller as Mr. Fantastic, and Jamie Bell as The Thing. It is obvious they are going for a younger crowd with this movie, and that is fine, but I do have some thoughts on how to make their movie better.

I Don’t Want Another Origin Story!

Please don’t make me see these kids hit by gamma radiation, and then learn how to be super heroes. We have seen that like a hundred times now. It would be fun to just have a movie about the Fantastic Four and their amazing adventures.

I Do Want X-Men Crossovers!

If Fox is going to hold on to both the Fantastic Four and X-Men it would be wonderful if they would show up in each other’s movies. Create the Fox-Marvel universe. It would be awesome to have Mr. Fantastic ask for advice from Professor X! Plus any movie is better with Patrick Stewart.

I Don’t Want Anymore Moping!

If any set of superheroes loves their powers it is the Fantastic Four. Sure The Thing has some love-life issues, but it would be great to have some heroes not weighed down by the “burden” of their amazing powers.

I Do Want Some Clobbering Time!

The Thing is supposed to be able to go toe to toe with the Hulk, so I want to see him just destroy some stuff. Maybe like a whole Army base or something. The Thing can literally make or break this film.

I Don’t Want The Characters To Be Dumb!

These guys are super scientists for crying out loud! Please let them make good choices, and at least act like the super smart people they are. Sure Johnny Storm can be a little dumb at times, but the Fantastic Four as a group should be pretty keen.

I Do Want Another Bad Guy Besides Dr. Doom!

Dr. Doom will no doubt be in this movie, but I really am not his biggest fan, so I am hopping that they bring in someone else. I know Marvel is keeping all the best bad guys for themselves, but there are still a bunch of good ones to choose from like Devos the Devastator who wants to bring “peace” to the universe.

That is my basic list, but I would have to say my biggest want is for this just to be a good movie. The last Fantastic Four movies at their best were forgettable, so it would be a nice change of pace for this new movie to not be terrible. Do you guys have anything you want to see from this new F4 film?