“Life is like a hurricane…”

April 13th, 2018

Friday – 13 April 2018
Are you a DuckTales fan?
(Old or new series, but for this case, let’s say “new.”)

Are you a Lin-Manuel Miranda fan?
(As if 99% of respondents aren’t going to say “Yes.”)

Well, in the best of all possible “You got your chocolate in my peanut butter; you got your peanut butter on my chocolate” worlds: Lin-Manuel Miranda makes his DuckTales debut next month, as Fenton Crackshell-Cabrera – an updated version of the original series’ Fenton Crackshell – whom astute fans might better recognize by his nom de guerre: Gizmoduck!

Gizmoduck!
Picture (c) – IO9.com

And it’s not as if this wasn’t teased months ago. At the end of the episode “The Great Dime Chase,” viewers see Gyro Gearloose looking through his notebook, at a list of projects. The last one on that list is “Project: Blatherskite.” Viewers of the original DuckTales series will recall that Fenton Crackshell activated his Gizmoduck armor by saying “Blathering’ Blatherskite!”

So, tune in May 11th and watch Gizmoduck’s – and Lin-Manuel Miranda’s – introduction to the series!

#BlackPantherHistoryMonth

February 28th, 2018

Testing out Instagram feed settings for this month’s Black Panther pictures.

This is only a test.

[instagram-feed]

Son. Brother. Warrior. King. Black Panther.

February 25th, 2018

I saw Black Panther Thursday night (opening weekend)… and again last Sunday night.

Like my previous reviews, this is going to be a two-part review:

  • The first part will be more of a synopsis and spoiler-free.
  • The second part will be more in-depth.

Part One: Synopsis

I loved this movie.

Over sixty years after his debut in Fantastic Four (Vol. 1) Issue 52, the King of Wakanda was made the lead of his own movie. Ryan Coogler, his cast, and his crew put together an amazing vision of a young man, his country, and the legacy that he upholds.

It’s taken my Top 3 Superhero Movies and made it a Top 4. (I really need to figure out my Top 5.)

Part Two: In-Depth Review

To quote En Vogue:

And now it’s time for the breakdown…

There are some who might say that I gave this movie a “10” too easily. While my immediate reaction would be “It’s my opinion  – and my blog – so step off,” the better answer is this: This was an incredibly well-made film with good pacing, excellent character development, and a well-told story. It hit all the marks I want in a movie.

Much like Wakanda itself, this film was very self-contained: You don’t have to know anything else about the Marvel Cinematic Universe to enjoy it. It’s a globe-spanning tale that needed nothing else to complete it. But, if you’ve seen movies from the MCU – they use footage from Captain America: Civil War to remind you that T’Challa has already ventured beyond his nation’s borders – this movie just adds to the richness of the world-building that the folks at Marvel Studios have done.

I loved that the movie opened with a story. And it wasn’t just any story. It was a story, told from father to son – from T’Chaka to T’Challa – about the history of Wakanda and her people. It was beautifully told. I freely admit that it reminded me of Mufasa telling Simba of the kings who came before them in The Lion King.

Next, we are sent back to 1992 and introduced to a young, vibrant T’Chaka, as king and Black Panther, checking in on agents he has dispatched to America. We learn that one of the agents is his brother, Prince N’Jobu. We also learn that N’Jobu has come to disagree with Wakanda’s isolationist stance and has even aided an outsider in stealing Vibranium from his homeland. After a brief confrontation, the king is forced to kill his brother to help maintain Wakanda’s facade as an impoverished third-world nation.

The movie jumps forward to present-day London, where a young African-American man, named Erik Stevens, is perusing African artifacts. He identifies one item as Wakandan and declares his intent to steal it, which he does with the aid of Ulysses Klaue, last seen in Avengers: Age of Ultron. Klaue intends to sell the artifact to undercover CIA agent Everett Ross, last seen in CA:CW.

We later discover that Erik is actually N’jadaka, son of N’jobu, and that he has a righteous mad on for the people who killed his father and abandoned him. He also has designs on the Wakandan throne and the mantle of the Black Panther. N’Jobu’s death set into motion the arc that turned his son Erik into the monster known as “Killmonger.” We learn that everything he has done since his father’s death was done to bring this plan to fruition.

This movie also brings two quotes to mind:

  • “The sins of the father are visited upon the son,” and
  • “The villain is the hero in his own story.”

N’Jobu’s sins were not the only ones brought to light. T’Chaka’s decisions – not only to kill his brother and orphan his nephew – but also to hide Wakanda’s true nature from the world are the sins that weigh upon T’Challa as he tries to decide what kind of king – and man – he wants to be.

Nowhere was this more evident that in the two scenes spent on the Ancestral Plane. Upon T’Challa’s first journey, he asks the spirit of his father how to be a good king. T’Chaka looks soberly at his son and simply states:

You are a good man, with a good heart. And it’s hard for a good man to be a king.

On his second visit to the Ancestral Plane, T’Challa calls out his father – and all the Wakandan kings before him – for hiding away from the world and for leaving a lost little boy alone in that world. He also states that he cannot rest, knowing that it is Wakanda’s fault for creating Killmonger and the threat that he poses.

The climactic battle was waged on many fronts: T’Challa vs. Killmonger, the Border Tribe (now loyal to Killmonger) vs. the Dora Milaje, and Agent Ross vs. Wakanda fliers.

Wakanda – from the border plains to Warrior Falls to Birnin Zana, the capital city – wasn’t a one-note nation. It was a rich melange of people, living together and acknowledging, celebrating, and embracing their common origins and beliefs, as well as their tribal diversity. I loved seeing members the agrarian tribes walking among their “city-folk” kinsmen as equals. And they were all connected. Not just as kinsfolk, but through their technology, as well.

Chadwick Boseman once again gave a great performance. You could see that his T’Challa took his role as king and people’s champion very seriously, though not without some doubt – as you would expect from one who was suddenly thrust into a new role. You could see the weight of his father’s decisions on him, as he learned of long-buried secrets and lies used to insulate and isolate Wakanda, but also as he struggled to shake that weight from his shoulders and bring Wakanda into the world community. You could also see that he was attempting to carve out his own identity as king, bringing all the facets of his life together harmoniously. I thought that it was an exceptional choice to end the movie with the young California boy asking him “Who are you” and T’Challa just smiling and saying nothing, as the screen cut to black, because there were so many answers to that question.

Michael B. Jordan’s performance as Killmonger exemplified the second quote that I noted above: He didn’t see anything he did as wrong or evil. He saw themas a means to achieve an end goal: To get answers for what happened to his father and to exact his revenge upon those who did it. In his eyes, the end justified any means. Watching the movie the first time, I realized that he and T’Challa reminded me of four figures:

  • Malcolm X (before his pilgrimage to Mecca) and Martin Luther King, Jr., and
  • Magneto and Professor X

In each of those examples, both sides had a very clear ideal of what the world should look like and how to achieve that goal. Killmonger, like Malcolm and Magneto, was willing to do whatever it took; T’Challa, on the other hand, sought more peaceful and diplomatic means.

Angela Bassett’s Queen Ramonda was equal parts Queen Mother and mother. While she did not have much screen time, brought a quiet grace to each scene she was in. (This also served to remind me how much I wish she had been cast as Storm in the X-Men franchise.)

Letitia Wright as Shuri was a refreshing breath of air. Equal parts brilliant, sarcastic, and witty, she leads the Wakanda Design Group as chief scientist/engineer. And, while her lack-of-age may be called into question, her scientific acumen can not be. Many people are wondering if Shuri is going to step into the Tony Stark/chief scientist role at the end of RDJ’s time as an Avenger, if not fully assuming Riri Williams’ role as the new Iron Man/Ironheart. I’m just waiting to see her meet Tony and for them to start geeking out, in the same way that Stark and Banner did in the first Avengers movie. Of course, I then want to see her pat Tony on the head and tell him “Nice try…” with some of his technological creations and/or call out his role in creating Ultron as a “rookie mistake.”

Lupita N’yongo’s Nakia was brave, independent, and fierce – a fine complement to T’Challa. Her time outside Wakanda opened her eyes to the plight of the weak and downtrodden against those in power. It also opened her eyes to what Wakanda could do – and could become – in helping the outside world. Thus, her new struggle became convincing her king and former love.

Danai Gurira as Dora Milaje General Okoye was, well… if the Panther needed tooth and claw, she would be it. I never read The Walking Dead, but when Michonne, also played by Ms. Gurira, appeared in Season Three, my first thought was “Huh. She’s a badass.” Okoye is Michonne turned up to “12.” A proud Wakandan, she faced the turmoil of duty to her country versus loyalty to her friends and loved ones. This was evident in the scenes where Nakia tries to convince her to flee with them and Okoye states that she can’t because “…[her] loyalty is to the throne, no matter who sits upon it,” and when she faces W’Kabi in the climactic battle and threatens to strike him down “for Wakanda.”

Martin Freeman returned as CIA Operative Everett Ross. I have enjoyed Freeman’s characterization of Ross over the course of these movies. He comes across as a man whose straight-forward nature lines up with how he expects the rest of the world to be. We see his worldview shift, after his exposure to Wakanda and its marvels. He eventually comes to see that there is more to this “third-world country” than simple farming.

Andy Serkis portrayed the same Klaue we last saw in South Africa, during Avengers: Age of Ultron. I grew up watching Klaw battle the Fantastic Four in comics and cartoons; I’ve also seen him appear in other shows.

Klaw

One difference between the MCU Klaue and his four-color and/or cartoon counterpart was that he knew what the Wakandans were capable of and seemed to fear and respect it… to some degree. He tried to warn Killmonger off from going to Wakanda, not knowing his heritage and true aims. This Klaue was a bit more outre’ than his comics counterpart; by the same token, the character design was far more grounded than the comics/cartoon Klaw. His role in this movie was as more of a catalyst than antagonist – he served as Killmonger’s e-Ticket to the Birnin Zana and a path to the throne. This is unfortunate, as I would have liked to have seen him return to trouble Wakanda and the Black Panther again.

Winston Duke’s M’Baku, Chief of the Jabari, was fantastic.

to rule. He fought with the passion of one who believed that his cause was just. Not a villain, per se, but one who saw a potentially different path for Wakanda – one that was more steeped in tradition and less so on mirroring the outside world. After he was defeated, I didn’t expect to see him again in this movie. I was pleasantly surprised when Nakia suggested that they turn to him for aid after Killmonger assumed the throne. His presence exuded power and authority when Nakia, Queen Ramonda, and company stood before him. And, let’s face it: The scene where he started barking/grunting at Ross and threatened to “…feed you to his children,” was one of the most genuinely amusing scenes in the movie

My one – ONE – nitpick with the movie comes from a comic book bias: The Dora Milaje. In the comics, the Dora are not only the royal bodyguard, they are also the ceremonial wives-in-training for unmarried kings. (I’m actually glad that they left the latter out of this story.) As the royal guard, they are THE be-all/end-all of warriors in the Wakandan armed forces. The scene where they fought the Border Tribe at the movie’s climax should have seen them easily handing the Border Tribe their asses. I made the comment that, at the fight’s end, when the Border Tribe had Nakia and three Dora surrounded, that would have been a fair fight.

As I said before, this was an incredibly well-done movie. It touched on so many personal and social topics that it’s hard to believe that it was all done in two hours and change. It was an excellent addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe as well as a great stand-alone piece. As I said in my review of Wonder Woman, it was worth the wait. It is just unfortunate, in both movies’ cases, that we had to wait so long.

Addenda:

In preparing this post, I’ve come across a few articles that add to the richness of understanding what went into making this movie. I share them here with you:

  • to Make a Point About White Supremacy
  • This Black Panther Toy Commercial Is More Important Than You Understand
  • Building Wakanda: An Interview with Black Panther Production Designer Hannah Beachler
  • Watch Ryan Coogler Break Down Black Panther‘s Stunning Casino Fight

Also, I will be on Monday’s episode of Geekshow Podcast, discussing the movie and its importance. Check it out!

“X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills”

January 26th, 2018

Are you a fan of the X-Men?

Did you enjoy X2: X-Men United?

Do you like – or even dislike – Magneto?

Do you like well-written stories with great artwork?

If you answered “yes” to any of the above questions, you should check out this limited time offer on Amazon: Marvel Graphic Novel #5 – X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills.

Magneto joins forces with the X-Men to determine who was responsible. Their investigation turns up an unlikely – and very well-respected and popular – suspect. The search for the truth takes a long and winding path.

This book was written by Chris Claremont, during the height of his X-Men run, with artwork by Brent Anderson. Some of the references and dialogue do come across as a bit dated, but the story is well-told and worth reading. Also, as loosely noted above, parts of this book were adapted into one of the storylines for X2: X-Men United.

When this book was first released – in 1982 – it sold for $8.95 (USD). You can now get it for only 80 cents. You read that correctly: ZERO dollars and EIGHTY cents. How can you go wrong with a price like that!? (Hint: You can’t!)

Give it a read.

Black Panther

October 19th, 2017

Wednesday – 18 October 2017
Unless you were under a rock, you know that the trailer for Black Panther dropped Monday.

Black Panther: All Hail the King!

In case you somehow missed it, take a look.

If you want to take a few more minutes and watch it again, go ahead. I’ll wait.

All done?

Let’s just take a minute here to admit how unbelievably amazing that was, so many levels. “What levels,” you ask? How about:

  • This is the blackest thing that Marvel has done since Luke Cage. You think that people flipped over a series about a Black man, set in Harlem? Yeah. Turn that up to “11.” This movie has a nation – arguably the most technologically-advanced nation on the planet – in Africa, run by a Black man who’s not a pusher, pimp, or thug. He’s a king. Let that sink in for a moment.
    • I’m actually half-expecting some portions of the population to kick back reactions like we saw to Luke Cage or even NBC Live’s The Wiz, about it being “too black” or “not diverse enough.” My response to that is simply, “Suck it up and deal with it. This is what representation looks like. Welcome aboard.”
  • This isn’t a Blaxploitation movie.
  • We finally see Wakanda, more than just a scenic hillside vista. See previous statement about African nation. I love the fact that they show what appears to be Birnin Zana, the capital city, as a diverse place  with low and high technology, various styles of wardrobe, and multitudes of people.
  • We’ve already seen Chadwick Boseman‘s T’Challa in Captain America: Civil War. Now, we get to see a feature-length film with him coming into his own as king, a champion, and a man.
  • The Dora Milaje – The King’s personal guard. Oh, by the way: They’re all women. Correction: “They are all highly-trained, bad ass women.” Enough said.
  • Angela Bassett as the Queen Mother Ramonda. She was my first choice for Storm, back when they were casting the original X-Men movies. I’m glad to see that someone realized that she was an excellent choice for Ramonda.
  • Shuri – T’Challa’s sister… at least, I’m assuming that it’s Shuri he’s greeting, while checking out to versions of the Black Panther garb.
  • Michael B. Jordan as Killmonger – I will grant that I’m not very familiar with the character, but I’ve come to appreciate Michael B. Jordan’s acting skills and, from the little we saw in the trailer, I think that he’s going to sink his teeth into the role.
  • Ulysses Klaw – I’ve been looking forward to Andy Serkis’ MCU return since Avengers: Age of Ultron. It looks like they are moving him forward towards becoming the “master of sound,” as he’s known in the comic universe. I appreciated that they didn’t try to make him be composed of “living sound,” as he is in the comics. I am curious to see if they explain how/why his are does not appear to be a prosthesis, though.

There are still four months until this movie hits theatres. I’m sure that we’ll see at least one or two more trailers for it before then – my guesses would be one around Christmas and another during the Super Bowl. I hope that they can tease a little more of what’s to come without giving away the whole movie.

What did you think of the trailer?

Salt Lake Comic Con 2017: Coda

September 26th, 2017

Sunday – 24 September 2017
This past weekend, Salt Lake City was host to the fifth annual Salt Lake Comic Con (#SLCC17) – a three-day celebration of fandom. I missed the first day – Thanks, Universe! – but attended Friday and Saturday.

Friday

Friday saw me testing out a new variation of my Green Lantern costume – Varsity Green Lantern:

I met up with and played tour guide for my friend, Denise, who ventured south from Canada to check out the Con – I had talked about SLCC to her earlier in the year and suggested that she see and compare it to Calgary’s Calgary Comic and Entertainment Expo and San Diego’s event. And, she did.

The first part of the day was spent scouting the Con, checking out things to see once Sara! and Team DiVa arrived. One of my goals was to get the little ladies to meet Shea Fontana, author of DC SuperHero Girls comics, of which they are fans. Sara whipped up a Hawkgirl costume – including molding the helmet out of Worbla (first time she’d ever used it!) – and the girls went as the DC SuperHero Girls versions of Katana (Diana) and Bumblebee (V)

Warrior women!

Mission: ACCOMPLISHED – Team DiVa meets Shea Fontana

I was going to have some of their books signed… but managed to leave them in my car. D’oh! I told them that I would get them signed the next day. They were, fortunately, alright with this option. We then walked around, waiting for the girls to decide what they wanted to buy as a souvenir before they left – Vanessa wound up getting a Tentacle Kitty (work-safe); Diana, a parasol. A little later, Sara took the ladies off for dinner and pre-bedtime hanging out; Denise and I roamed and took in some panels before the show closed for the evening.

Saturday

I unveiled another new variation on an old theme: Nick Fury, as redesigned by Marvel artist Declan Shalvey. The idea for this came over a year ago, when Marvel was setting up their Civil War II storyline.

Backstory:

I went to my local comic shop and the guys congratulated me for being on the cover of a comic. Having no idea wheat they were talking about, they showed me the book:

At that point, I tweeted Mr. Shalvey, leading to this exchange:

Thus, I decided to work up a costume based on that:

I was rather pleased with how it turned out.

For my second day at the con, I was scheduled to participate in two panels.

  • Comics as a Learning Tool for Beginning and Young Readers

    • I moderated this panel with the following people as panelists:
      • Shannon Barnson, educator and panelist on Geekshow Podcast
      • Andrew Malin
      • Mike Tuiasoa, co-owner of Watchtower Cafe and panelist on Geek Parenting Podcast
      • Quinn Rollins, curriculum specialist from the Granite School District and author of Play Like a Pirate, and
      • Jess Smart Smiley
  • Get Out!: Modern Horror Classic and 2017’s Most Important Film
    • I was just a panelist on this, along with:
      • Sean Means (moderator), film critic for the Salt Lake Tribune
      • Melissa Perez, panelist on Black Girl Nerds
      • Melissa Merlot, comedian and panelist on The LEFT Show
      • Dr. Paul White, professor at The University of Utah, and
      • Dr. Debra Jenson, professor at Utah State University

The “Comics as a Tool” panel was fantastic! My fellow panelists had some great anecdotal stories to share about how they – and either their children or children they’ve worked with – have used comics in the home and classroom. We also had a number of great questions from the audience. It was early in the morning (and not the largest turnout), but parents and teachers (!) came to hear what we had to say about using comics to help children begin to read and using comics to help young readers who are experiencing difficulty with reading.

After that, there was wandering, people-watching, picture-taking, and lunch.  Post-lunch, I took Denise to experience the joy of RubySnap. She’s threatened to send cross-border requests for cookies; I may have created a monster.  Back to the con for more roaming before my last panel.

The Get Out! panel was just fun. Sean did a masterful job of guiding the discussion. We delved into the social commentary behind the movie, how it turned a number of norms on their ears, and issues of power and control. The hour we had for that panel felt far too short; I would have loved to have had another hour or more to peel back more layers of the movie. The audience not only asked good questions, but they also made a few salient points.

Following the panel, we went to the Grand Ballroom to watch the results of the Cosplay Contest. To be honest, I first went into the ballroom because of the music they were playing – I had to know what was going on. We entered during the period when the judges were voting on the winners and honorable mentions and there was a dance party going on at the front of the room. I wondered if Melodywise Cosplay was there… and, lo, did she walk across the stage moments later.

And then, all too soon, Salt Lake Comic Con 2017 was no more than a memory.

Thank you to the staff, volunteers, guests, and fans who continue to make Salt Lake Comic Con such a fun experience.

Pictures

Epilogue 1:

As I mentioned, I’d invited Denise down to compare Salt Lake Comic Con with other cons she’d attended. Her commentary:

  1. I was pleasantly surprised at the quality, quantity, and variety of cosplay.
  2. The people were so friendly and polite, it was almost like still being in Canada. 😃
  3. I loved the variety and diversity of the panels.
  4. I don’t have the same feeling I do at the end of SDCC, where I had fun and enjoyed myself, but I need the year to recover so I can do it again. If there was another SLCC next weekend, I’d be right there.

Although, my favorite of her comments was something she tweeted the next day:

Epilogue 2:

As noted earlier, I did Saturday’s costume based on a Twitter conversation with Declan Shalvey last year.  Naturally, I sent him a picture of the costume, which elicited this reply:

Needless to say: My day was completely made.

“All the world is waiting for you…” – Wonder Woman (2017)

June 6th, 2017

Monday – 05 June 2017
I saw Wonder Woman this past weekend.

I saw it Friday early afternoon, affording me the opportunity to avoid most spoilers, either in conversation or in the media.

Like many of my previous reviews, this is going to be a two-part review:

  • The first part will be more of a synopsis and spoiler-free.
  • The second part will be more in-depth.

Here we go…

Part One: Synopsis

I thought that this was a fantastic movie. Period. Full stop.

Almost eighty years after her introduction, we finally got Wonder Woman. Leading her own movie. On the big screen. And she was everything that you expect her to be: Warm, kind, and compassionate, but also a passionate seeker of truth, honor, and justice.

It’s in my Top 3 of superhero movies, along with Superman and Captain America: The Winter Soldier.

Part Two: In-Depth Observations

Now for the spoiler-laden deep dive…

After reading Wonder Woman Shatters Records with $200+ Million Worldwide Opening on Forbes, I had the following thoughts:

I love and hate that it shattered Warner Bros. Entertainment‘s projections of “…maybe $85 million” on opening weekend:

Love: Because it was a fantastic movie that deserves EVERY DOLLAR IT EARNED.

Hate: That WB has so little faith in the film “…because has a female lead,” or “..because it’s a female director,” or whatever thin excuse they offered that wasn’t “Our record with superhero movies over the past three years has been pretty bad, we haven’t really been true to our characters in some cases, and the fans have lost their faith in us.”

Patty Jenkins, the film’s director, struck a fine balance between drama and humor (not comedy), while also presenting elements of empathy, pathos, and tragedy. It was light in just the right places and also somber and dark in the proper places, as well. It was what I would have liked to have seen more of from the Superman side of Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice. The locations had character of their own: Themyscira (“Paradise Island”) was lush, bright, and vibrant, London showed you why it is/was referred to as “The Smoke,” and Belgium pulled the triple duty of presenting a war-torn battlefront, a town – and its war-weary population – all too close to the front, and the lavish and the German encampment, seemingly-untroubled by the ravages of war, in a nearby castle.

The film’s first act opened in the modern day, with Diana receiving a package. She opens it to find the picture that audiences first saw in Batman vs. Superman, with her and four companions in World War I. This sends her on a nostalgic trip that leads to her upbringing on Themyscira…

The movie spent just enough time on Themyscira to show Diana not just as the Princess of the Amazons, but as a young girl – the only child on the island, a fact which was deftly noted, but not belabored. It then jumped to show Diana as a young woman, also. In these scenes, viewers saw glimpses of her impulsiveness, inquisitiveness, passion, and determination. When the veil between Themyscira and Man’s World was torn, she also received a very harsh and grim look at the face of war. Although they showed clips of the battle scenes in trailers, it was still amazing to see the Amazons in action, facing an unknown threat with no hesitation. Steve Trevor’s introduction was handled right in line with the classic version(s), his plane crashing just off the island’s shore. The Amazon’s reactions to him rang very true of a culture who was unsure of whether or not outsiders could – or should – be trusted. I was sad that we didn’t get to see the traditional contest to determine who would travel to Man’s World, but the lack of those scenes did not diminish the movie at all. Instead, Ms. Jenkins took a different, yet no less effective, route to show Diana’s resolve in wanting to fulfill her mission as an Amazon.

In the second act, Diana’s introduction to Man’s World captured the awe and occasionally doe-eyed amazement of a stranger in a very strange land. The scenes walking through London – seeing a baby for the first time and her discovery of ice cream were wonderful touches that served to make her relatable. The ice cream scenes also reminded me of similar scenes with the character in the 2012 animated Wonder Woman feature and 2015’s Justice League: War. Another callback that I appreciated, as a fan of the 1978 Superman, was Diana’s deflection of the bullet and saving of Steve Trevor in the alleyway:

© All Things Marvel And DC

When Diana met Steve’s superiors, she couldn’t fathom how they were so willing to sit back, rather than lead their troops into battle and victory. In meeting Steve’s other companions, she was unsure of them, as they did not appear to be the most honorable of men. She appeared to understand them and their natures a little better, as they traveled. Farther along the journey, the shock of seeing people’s lives devastated by the war was clearly visible on Diana’s face. This made for a stark juxtaposition against how Steve and his band appeared to view it as “just another day,” not that they were immune to its affect, more that that had become inured to it.

Then it came: Diana’s reveal/”transformation” and her march to face the German army.

©Los Angeles Times

And in that moment, we saw the warrior aspect of the “warrior princess.” Purposeful. Relentless. Strong. I was surprised and pleased at how well movie was able to keep from fully showing her costume/armor for so long. Saving the reveal of the warrior who would come to be known as “Wonder Woman” until then only served to heighten the powerful moment. The fight in the nearby village gave a couple of fine examples of just how physically strong Diana was, in ways that were not displayed on the battlefront scenes.

In the movie’s final act, Diana moves face her foe and fulfill her purpose for traveling to Man’s World. She navigates the various battlefields deftly: She blends in almost seamlessly at the gala, having… liberated… her attire from another attendee and – unable to take on her foe there – advances to the German airstrip, steely-eyed resolve in her gaze. The look distress and lack of understanding on Diana’s face, as she saw that no one/nothing had changed after her foe was defeated and her mission had been seemingly fulfilled, was saddening and a bit disheartening. Having operated under a simple and straightforward notion – no, naivete – her worldview seemed to shatter and the pieces couldn’t be resolved into a coherent whole that she recognized. She lashed out at Steve, whose role as a spy and her recall of his dodges and half-truths along their journey seemed to only further distort the picture… until her true foe revealed himself. Her mission renewed and her true purpose revealed, she rose to meet the new challenge with the same confidence and determination than she showed at the Belgian front.

The closing scenes returned us to the modern day, with one last nostalgic look at the past and a nod to the future.

Patty Jenkins did a masterful job of bringing an iconic character to the big screen. She did this without making yet another dark and forboding DCEU film and also without making a sloppy or cheesy mess of the production. The pacing was good and the movie found a good emotional balance of drama and humor. I would say that my biggest complaints/concerns were:

  1. Lack of the aforementioned Amazon contest,
  2. Not having a scene where Diana used her lasso to help calm or quiet Charlie’s demons in the camp scene,
  3. No scene where she talked with animals,
  4. The death of Steve Trevor (but I attribute this to my expectation of Steve always being around, as he is in the comics), and
  5. Some of the CGI in the third act wasn’t great. And there was a lot of it.

Gal Gadot’s Diana, Princess of Themyscira and Wonder Woman, was portrayed beautifully; she brought the character to life. Her drive and devotion to learn the truth was apparent. The lack of guile and even her naivete didn’t come off as comical, but as the result of someone who literally had an idyllic upbringing and was then thrust into situations outside her understanding. In Wonder Woman (vol. 2) #170, “A Day in the Life,” Phil Jimenez described Diana (via Lois Lane) this way:

It is a remarkable thing. She’s perhaps THE most powerful woman on the planet. Yet men INSIST on protecting her.

Even certain SUPERMEN I know– 

Last thing I see before J.L.A. Teleporters break us into energy and fire us across the world is HER SMILE… and I’ve NEVER felt more safe.

…and, later…

And THERE it is… That look, the eyes, the everything.. The STORY.

WONDER WOMAN is a MIRROR… a mirror of HUMAN TRUTH.

She reflects the contradictions of the world — of the person STARING at her — takes them onto herself… 

And gives you TRUTH, LOVE, RESPECT in return.

Thank GOD… or GODDESS… for that.

This is the Wonder Woman that Gal Gadot and Patty Jenkins brought us.  Thank God – or Goddess – for that, too.

Chris Pine’s Steve Trevor was a charming rogue. Literally. He was a spy and he was charming and a little smug. He came off as a man with his heart in the right place, but willing to stray from the path of angels in order to complete his mission. He was chivalrous, in his own way, until he realized that Diana was a woman that didn’t need his protection and whose protection and help he might need, in turn.

Hippolyta, as portrayed by Connie Nielsen, came off as every bit the warrior queen I wanted to see. She watched her general training troops for a fight she hoped to never see. However, when war came to her domain, she rode fearlessly into battle alongside her fellow Amazons. We also got to see the mother who wanted nothing more for her child than that she be happy… even if that meant curtailing her daughter’s impulsiveness. The joy and pride she felt for Diana was evident, much as the sorrow was when it came time for Diana to leave.

Robin Wright (The Princess Bride, herself) was Antiope, sister of Hippolyta, aunt of Diana, and general of the Amazon army. You understood that she was dedicated to her sister and queen, her country, her duty… and to her niece. From the trailers, I didn’t realize that it was Antiope who was shot when the Germans came to Themyscira, but I loved the fact that it was her headband – not a tiara, not a crown – that Diana wears as Wonder Woman, to honor her fallen aunt.

Etta Candy, played by Lucy Davis, is a character I wish had more screen time. Etta is a staple in Wonder Woman stories; while it was good to see her, I fear that we won’t see her again, aside from possible flashbacks. I was glad that they gave her a strong backbone, a sharp tongue, and a measure of agency – these are things that I expect to see from Etta.

Danny Huston’s General Ludendorff was a proud and patriotic German. His desire for war – along with a clever script – easily made you think that he was the primary antagonist.

I was also disappointed that we did not get more screen time with Elena Anaya’s Doctor Maru (a.k.a.”Doctor Poison”). I’m mostly familiar with the Post-Crisis and Rebirth era comic book versions of the character, but would have liked to have seen a little more about “who” she was and what drove her.

David Thewlis’ Ares was proud, cunning, and manipulative. I think that Ares was a good – if not perfect – choice for Wonder Woman’s first villain. He provided an antagonist who could go blow-for-blow with Diana and also served as someone who challenged her beliefs. I, likewise, appreciated how he engineered events to his liking. As gods are wont to do. When his plans were revealed and his facade stripped away, he became even more ruthless in his drive to see them come to fruition. As one would expect from the God of War.

To conclude, I think that this was an excellent bit of cinema. It moved well, it hit the right beats, and it stayed true to the characters it brought to the screen.  In short: It was pretty much the polar opposite of what I’ve come to expect from from a DCEU movie. I’m sad that it took so long to come to fruition, but I am conversely glad that there is a movie with a strong female protagonist (who “just happens” to be a character of whom my daughters are very fond) that I will be happy to share with my girls when they are a little older.

As Gail Simone wrote in 2008’s Wonder Woman (vol. 3) #25, “A Star in the Heavens – Scene 2: Personal Effects”:

This movie was worth the wait.

Salt Lake Comic Con FanX 2017

March 19th, 2017

Sunday – 19 March 2017
This past Friday and Saturday, Salt Lake Comic Con presented their third Fan Experience or “FanX” event. Two days of celebrities, artists, authors, panels, and vendors celebrating all manner of fandoms, not just comic-related ones.

I attended both days. The first day, I didn’t have a particular agenda in mind, so I wandered the floor. It served as a good opportunity to check out artists and vendors. I also hung out at the Dr. Volt’s Comic Connection booth for a while. The second day, I brought my friend, Andy, to his first-ever con. It was like watching the proverbial kid in a candy store. I was content to roam around with him, as he took in everything.

Also, on Day Two, I was a panelist on the “Diversity in Cosplay” panel.

My co-panelists were:

Our panel opened with Jay explaining “why” there still needed to be this kind of panel. From there, it explored topics including: gender-bending/race-bending/and body type-bending and making cosplay your own (not worrying about what others might think or say), what got us into cosplay, our favorite cosplay, our most proud moments in cosplay. We also took a number of good questions from the audience. It was an honor to be a part of the panel and a pleasure to meet my fellow panelists. If you aren’t familiar with their work, please take a few minutes to check them out.

After the panel, there was a bit more wandering before calling it a day.

In all, I found this FanX to be another great con experience; I look forward to what the the Salt Lake Comic Con team plans for September.

And now, the pictures!

Quick hits

February 24th, 2017

Friday – 24 February 2017
There’s been a lot of comics-related news in the past couple of weeks… and I’ve had very little time to post anything about it. But, I’m carving out a couple of minutes here to do that very thing.

  • tory Month: 15 Influetial Black Superheroes
  • What did you pick up this week at your LCBS?
  • to a later time slot, but some of the things that they’ve been able to do have been really solid. That being said, I still don’t know what difference 10:00 PM vs. 9:00 PM makes for network censors.  *shrug*
  • Wonder Woman Performs Her Sacred Duty in International TV Spot
    • tory in One Comic Collection
    • Get a First Look at Mattel’s Wonder Woman Toy Lineup
  • Hayao Miyazaki’s Retirement Is Officially Over
  • J. Jonah Jameson Cleans Up the Daily Planet
  • to Life in Stunning Images by Japanese Photographer
  • The Flash. Gorilla City. More fun than a barrel of… well, you know.

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Reviews from the First New Comic Book Day of 2017!

January 6th, 2017

Thursday – 05 January 2017
Happy New Year and Happy Day-After-New Comic Book Day!

As yesterday was the first new comic book day of 2017, I went to my local comic book shop and came home with new things to read. This week, I picked up:

  • Champions #4  (DC)
  • Cyborg #8 (DC)
  • Green Lantern #14 (DC)
  • Hawkeye #2 (Marvel)
  • Justice League #14 (DC)
  • Nightwing #12 (DC)
  • Scarlet Witch #14 (Marvel)
  • Shade: The Changing Girl #4 (DC: Young Animal)
  • Superman #14 (DC)
  • The Unstoppable Wasp #1 (Marvel)
  • The Unworthy Thor #3 (of 5) (Marvel)
  • The Wicked + The Divine #25 (Image)

In all, it was kind of a mixed week for my books – some good, some kind of meh, and a couple of extraordinarily fun reads. My favorite reads were:

  • Cyborg #8
    I’ve been a bit lukewarm about Cyborg after David Walker’s departure. But, there was something about John Semper, Jr.’s writing that drew me into this issue. Perhaps it was seeing Cyborg “intervene” in an instance of police brutality. Perhaps it was watching the interaction between Cyborg and Exxy Clark. Perhaps it was that the Cyborg we had been reading about for most of the issue wasn’t Cyborg. I’m not sure exactly what the special sauce was, but I not only enjoyed the read, it made me laugh at points.
  • Champions #4
    A portion of this issue dealt with the literal fallout from Issue #3. And a fight with Atlanteans. And the question of leadership. And, a very quick and well-handled discussion about mutant-Inhuman relations. From the pacing to the dialogue to the artwork, I think that this is one of the freshest – and most fun – books in Marvel’s stable these days.
  • Hawkeye #2
    Kate Bishop. Superhero. P.I. (kind of, sort of). This issue picks up right after the end of Issue #1, with Kate taking a perp from her first case to the police station. She then stops a back-alley assault – there’s a kinetic feel to the two-page spread showing how the action plays out, as well as a bit of the aftermath. That scene also includes the following bit of dialogue:

    Kate (aiming bow with nocked arrow at a mostly off-panel figure): Touch some sky, pal.
    Guy: Whoa whoa whoa. I am not with these dudes.
    Kate: Okay, then you should probably mosey on out of here, cowboy. I don’t need help.
    Guy: I buy that. I don’t think that I’ve ever seen anyone that needs help less than you in this moment.

    Our intrepid Hawkeye even has a run-in with a cultish mob. I have to admit that I didn’t see that coming, as I was reading. I look forward to seeing how it resolves.

  • The Wicked + The Divine #25
    Gillen and McKelvie continue to knock it out of the park with this book. Where to start…? Persephone is on the warpath, Woden is in her sights, and it looks like Cassandra of The Norns has been cast in the unlikely role of Persephone’s Jiminy Cricket. Readers – and Woden – are treated to an interesting look at some of Persephone’s power set – more than just *KLLK*-ing someone’s head to explode, that is – and are rewarded with this:

    Woden: Listen. We’re the clever, practical two. Baal is practical. Minerva is clever. We’re both. Who else is going to work out what’s going on? Sakhmet? Dionysus? I think Amaterasu only wears sandals so much because she has trouble with shoelaces…
    Persephone: And I am…?
    Woden: You’re the wild card Dark Arts professor who scares the shit out of Slytherin kids like me. I still have no idea how you do half the things you do.
    Cassandra: Me neither. You’re the only god who’s ever affected me. Why? You projected a performance through Owly…
    Woden: She did? That’s impossible.
    Cassandra: And… you said something happened after Lucifer died. What was that?
    Persephone: Nothing important.
    Cassandra: See! That’s the kind of enigmatic wankery we haven’t got time for when we’re all going to be dead in two years!

    And the closing pages with Baal, Minerva, and… Sakhmet (?) were a curious look at a little “family” and how they were dealing with revelations about Ananke.

  • Green Lanterns #14
    There’s a GL book on my list. Amazing surprise. But, this issue wrapped up a storyline that had an interesting premise: What if one ring could harness the entire emotional spectrum? (And, as much as I hate to admit it: I just made the “One ring to rule them all” connection. Yep, Slow on the Uptake Guy, that’s me!) While I found the character who found that ring a bit tedious, I liked the concept. What I enjoyed even more was a breakthrough for rookie GL Jessica Cruz. She has a lot of potential and want to see her live up to it. It was also nice to see other members of the Corps show up… and the reactions of Jessica and Simon’s to who it was that dropped in. Sam Humphries also left a nice little surprise to be unraveled at the story’s end.
  • The Unstoppable Wasp #1
    When talking about Champions earlier, I said that it was one of the freshest and most fun books coming out of Marvel these days. This book is another. Let me first start by saying that I’ve been reading – and thoroughly enjoying – Jeremy Whitley‘s PrinceLess titles for the past few years. (As the father of twin girls, I love the concept of a princess who didn’t need a prince to rescue her. If you haven’t read PrinceLess or PrinceLess: Raven – The Pirate Princess, do so!) When it was announced that he and Elsa Charretier – and Megan Wilson – would be doing this book, I was intrigued. And then came the wait.The wait is over……and I’m happy to say that Whitley’s Nadia Pym is an absolute delight! And Ms. Charretier’s artwork is a perfect pairing with the writing.  Nadia is unstoppable. (Just ask Ms. Marvel and Mockingbird!) She has an irrepressible spirit and drive that is a refreshing change from so much of the angst associated with so many heroes these days. And she has no pretense, just a passion to help and to do good. Oh, and she’s loves science. A lot. She’s also a total fangirl, as evidenced in this post-battle conversation with Mockingbird and Ms. Marvel:

    Nadia: You worked on one of my father’s projects? I’ve researched them all. I don’t remember a Bobbi.
    Mockingbird: “Bobbi” is short for Barbara. Barbara Morse.
    Nadia (realization dawning ): Biologist Barbara Morse? Like, “Project: Gladiator” Barbara Morse? Like, almost succesfully reproduced the Super-Soldier serum Barbara Morse?
    Mockingbird (somewhat astonished): Those are not usually the things people remember about me.
    Nadia: Like, lady adventurer scientist in the Savage Land and hanging out with Man-Thing in the Everglades Barbara Morse?
    Mockingbird: That is… weird that you know all of that.
    Nadia: You are my hero! I read your research on the super-soldier serum and you talked about all the traveling and the Savage Land and I thought– I thought “This is who I want to be when I grow up!” A woman who’s a super scientist but doesn’t stay in the lab all day. She has adventures! (reaches over and hugs Mockingbird) You inspire me.
    Mockingbird: Okay… that… that’s a lot right there, and I just… you know, I’ve worked for S.H.I.E.L.D. for a long time… and I… I don’t know that anybody has ever said that I inspire them, and… and it’s totally cool for a super hero to just cry in public… people don’t remember that I’m a scientist. They just remember that I used to be married to Hawkeye1 and I hit things with sticks. So that means a lot. Come here, kid. It’s been a rough couple of months for me. Can I have another one of those hugs?
    Nadia: Heck yes!

    See, unabashed science-loving fangirl. And superhero. And, from the look of the last page, ready to take on the world.

    If there is one book that I’d recommend reading from this week’s new titles, this is it. Buy it. Read it. You won’t be disappointed.