Category: Marvel

Alpha Flight Sadly Doesn’t Quite Make the Mark…

Being a huge Alpha Flight fan I was somewhat saddened by the news today that Alpha Flight is no longer going to be an ongoing series as recently announced. It seems that all we are going to get right now is the recent limited series which was for the most part a pretty fun solids ride. It was great to have all the original characters back again-and even better that Major Maple Leaf was no where in sight! Still however I think that Alpha Flight could have been and should have been even better this time around.

It seems to me that no one can make it quite as interesting as the original series by John Byrne. Heck we even got Wolverine making a cameo in this last run-yeah yeah I know Wolverine is everywhere these days, but one place he really needs to be is Alpha Flight as he was once a member and has a crazy history with the group. I for one think he needs to quit the Avengers and hell maybe even the X-men and head back to his roots in Canada. How awesome would that be? Become a full fledged member again? At the very very least I think there should be a series, much like the current Captain America & Bucky, that chronicles his past with the team from when Mac and Heather Hudson (his other red headed obsession) found him. How about that Marvel?

Either way I am pretty disappointed Marvel went back on their decision to make Alpha a mainstay monthly. From what I hear in the latest issue though is that two Alpha members are going to make a major impact on the X-universe. My guess is it’s Northstar and Aurora, but they quite honestly have had their chance, Northstar already was a member of the X-men and Aurora part of the Weapon X series….My hope would be for Sasquatch, Puck or Snowbird. Either way I hold hope someday someone will truly do justice to the team as their stories could be right up there with any superhero team around today! Long Live Alpha Flight!!

The New Hulk Series: Far From Incredible!

You all must know how disappointed I have been with the Incredible Hulk in the comics for the last few years, the Red Hulk, A-Bomb, The Incredible Hulks….Uggh! I just couldn’t stand it! So naturally I was pumped to have all of that bull shit wrapped up with the mess that was made of the Hulk over the years when I heard that Hulk was going to get a new writer and start over again at number one with Jason Aaron and Mark Silvestri on board. Now here we are at issue number four and I have got to say my attention is seriously faltering.

The concept seemed interesting enough, well sorta, Hulk and Banner have split into two different entities and are at odds with each other. Well too bad John Byrne already did this in his short but brilliant stint / story arc way back in the 80’s. But well we all know how original ideas are hard to come by now days…anyway what we have ended up with is a long haired bearded Hulk who lives in the crust of the earth with the mole men and a psychotic dick of man, Bruce Banner who lives on an the gamma Island of Doctor Moreau. Seriously borrowing a bit TOO much there from Moreau-it’s almost sickening. But hey what the hell right it’s the Hulk?

Well for some reason Banner is trying to turn into the Hulk again but it ain’t working and he’s become a mad man, sending his Doc Moreau clones after the real Hulk and pissing him off. So the Hulk decides to go after Banner once and for all…oh yeah the Hulk is intelligent again. How the hell is it determined these days if he’s a mindless monster, a child like brute or an intelligent bad ass? I have been confused for years about this all. Anyway Amanda Von Doom (no relation to Doctor Doom, apparently that’s a common last name?!) has gotten the Hulk to help her destroy Banner because her group of assassins takes down mad scientists exclusively. How convenient huh?

Now they head toward Gamma Banner Moreau island and get attacked by Hulk Sharks, Hulk bats, Hulk Tiger men ect. It’s a pretty weak story if you ask me…I almost prefer Abomb to this really. Then there’s a question of the art, I used to like Silvestri, but today his sketchy art reminds me more of slightly talented Rob Liefeld, I also don’t really dig the long haired handsome bearded “hunk” Hulk that is portrayed here-or for that matter the “old Hulk” they for some reason draw on the cover with his “foot ball player / meat head high top” bowl cut. To make matters worse they have got Whilce Portacio stepping in on issue #4 for some seriously crap-tas-tic artwork that’d make Liefield cringe in his Levi’s 501’s & Doc Martens. I think I just have to say it-the Hulk sucks again!!! How is that possible? Am I crazy Hulk fans?! Have I gone mad and this shit is actually brilliant?! I am hoping this story ends soon and a new writer and artist take it over….hey Mantlo, Stern, David, Jones, Byrne and Buscema rescue me from this ongoing Hulk Nightmare!!

The Green Goblin Could Have Been Rad!! Shame on Raimi!

Everyone remembers how truly crap-tas-tic Sam Raimi’s Green Goblin was in the 2002 Spider-man movie right? Remember he was essentially a green Mighty Morphin Power Ranger. Let’s put it this way-if you were actually a fan of The Green Goblin, one of the greatest comic book villains EVER, you weren’t keen on his Goblin. Well as it turned out he got a second chance at bringing us the Goblin we all wanted in the wretched Spider-man 3, what did we get? James Franco on a flying snowboard!

Well people here we get a new look at what Raimi was considering for the look of the Green Goblin, this design was done by ADI and Sam is actually directing the actor in this clip. I don’t know about you but to me this IS the Green Goblin-however to Sam I guess he liked the Power Ranger idea-then again this is the guy who made Spider-man 3 so this isn’t surprising….

It’s 1987: Trick or Treat! How about a Comic Book Instead?!

Way back in 1987 Marvel had an idea-let’s give kids comic books instead of candy on Halloween! Yeah back in those days people were super freaked out that Halloween candy was poisoned or that it had razor blades and needle s stuck in it. Whoever started that rumor has gotta be a major party pooper-I mean did anyone ever really get harmed by Halloween candy?! Well Marvel had the solution and  one that really should have stuck-mini comic books instead! Hell I’d take an Incredible Hulk comic over a Baby Ruth any day!!! Check this out:

Well along with my mini comics I’ll gladly take one of these Hulk Trick or Treat candy or in this case comic book carriers from 1979!!

Classic Iron Man’s Still the best….

I just wanted to take a second out to say that the classic red and gold Iron Man still to this days blows the armor off of the new slick movie and comic book versions. I mean he looks like a true super hero here doesn’t he?!

Seriously I have to say I just don’t think this new fancy pants armor is all that cool! I never have-maybe it’s because it looks like he’s going to transform into a Lexus  at any given moment?! Anyway I was just looking at some old school comics the other day and I really miss the  classic  look-if it ain’t broken don’t fix it!!!!

 

Movie Super Heroes Making Costumes from Basketballs!

So did everyone out there get a good look today at the new Superman today? It seems  the new photo of Henry Cavill as Supes is causing quite a buzz online today. What I am confused about is why these new  movie super heroes seem to be constructing their costumes out of  basketballs?!

Seriously this is the new trend- The new Spider-man also has  a costume constructed from basketballs.

Hmmm….not really all that into that look personally and geezus it’s gotta be hot as shit! This new extreme look for super heroes is actually kinda lame. I have got to be honest, I pretty much can firmly say that all the super hero costumes so far in the movies kinda blow. Even Batman, looks pretty lame with all of his clunky armor even though the movies have been pretty rad. What I will say is that these super hero movies will not age well, honestly I’m not too sure how long they will continue to  keep my attention. They are an amusing watch the first time but  upon second viewing end up being pretty flat and totally plastic. That being said the new Superman looks  more like  a friendlier version of Bizzaro. It appears as if Superman has been given the Chris Nolan dark hero look which personally doesn’t really work for me….

Obscure Super Hero Movies! Dr. Strange 1978?

So it’s apparent now that Marvel is going to keep cranking out super hero movies and I am certain one of their next films is gonna be Dr. Strange! What a lot of people don’t know is that they already gave Stephen a go way back in 1978!

The results well as you can guess it was not quite what you would call a memorable film to say the least! This was actually a pilot that aired on CBS way back when. It seems Marvel was trying for another hit like The Hulk series-which to this day is still totally rad! I don’t care what anyone says Lou Ferrigno is still a much better Hulk than any of these CG versions. So check out this clip and see why this show never made it into a real television series….

Comic Book Cover of the Week: Marvels Meanest Man in Black!

The Spectacular Spider-man # 36 from 1988 has one of my fave covers and villains! Tombstone was was one mean mother! As you can tell by this excellent cover drawn by the legendary Sal Buscema he doesn’t take any shit and his favorite past time is kicking peoples asses! That’s pretty impressive for a guy named “Lonnie Lincoln” huh? Well this here was the first appearance of Marvel’s meanest albino and the beginning of his rocky relationship with ol’ web head. As a right hand man for the Kingpin, Tombstone has clashed over the years with the likes of Luke Cage, Daredevil, Punisher and Moon Knight. I always loved this covers simplicity and it was the best first impression of one of Spider-man’s most under rated villains!

Comic Book Cover of the Week!

Here we have on of my favorite comic book covers and annuals, Incredible Hulk Annual #15! This one not only has a beautifully drawn cover by Mike Zeck, who really didn’t dabble much in the Hulk territory very often, if at all  but it also is one helluva great issue of  non stop action! This time around the Abomination is not quite feeling himself as his body has been taken over by the spirit of Tyrannus! It’s also during the time when The Hulk was gray again back in the mid 80’s. The inside is incredibly drawn by Hulk legend Sal Buscema, and this issue features some of his best Hulk art ever…