AVENGERS ASSEMBLE!!...in 1952?

For shits and giggles, lets imagine that an Avengers movies was already made...58 years ago....

Did you catch the little cameos from other Marvel heroes not mentioned in the role call?

Flight Volume 7 Review

Contributors: So Many
Art Director/Editor: Kazu Kibuishi
Publisher: Villard

It’s amazing how excited I get when a new volume of Flight gets announced and I have been anxiously awaiting this volume of Flight since that announcement. I think we have reviewed every single volume of Flight one way or another here at Aboutheroes so you know how we feel about the formula and the end product. There is a certain joy that I get out of Flight that I don’t get out of most graphic novels. If you’ve never heard of this series, think of it like a comic anthology featuring over 15 creators all with different art styles and storytelling methods. Each story is a stand-alone tale, with the exception of a couple that keep coming back. Even if many of these creators are not household names, it in no way diminishes their remarkable ability to tell a story, often with limited or no dialogue at all.

With over 15 stories, it’s impossible to talk about each one of them so I will just point out some of my favorite stories in this collection. I guess the one with the most page count is King of Beasts by Paul Harmon, which is a story about Naga, a bounty hunter, who is after the biggest bounty of all: The Beast King. I think I really liked the art in this story, it was dark with lots of maroon tones that set the mood of the story and it was unique to see a character fight with a snake as a weapon. Justin Gerard’s Live Bait is a story was an interesting take on a murder mystery and a revenge story. I guess what makes it so unique is that it features a city rat and muskrat as the main characters in search of a swampland killer. By far my favorite story was Premium Cargo by Kostas Kiriakakis. It’s an emotional tale of an airship captain’s last days with his foster son. The art was completely beautiful and played such an important part of the dialogue shared between Snowball and his father.

Many of the creators followed the flight theme in a loose way, taking it as any kind of journey. So yes, you don’t have to include a wing or plane or even a flight in your story to be included in this collection. While I have enjoyed the previous volumes of Flight, this particular volume was certainly missing something. Sure, we still have our share of science fiction, fantasy and even a war story that range from serious to just fun, but it’s just not as an impressive collection as the previous volumes. I think my biggest gripe is that in this collection the artists don’t have quite a different range as before. There are too many artists that have a similar art style and unfortunately it makes some of the stories forgettable as soon as you put the book down.

It seems that less and less material is being printed as the series goes up in numbers. Unfortunately there is also a price increase too. At 260 plus pages for 27 dollars it’s still a deal for the amount of talent that is packed in this anthology. Trying to find a book for that someone you are trying to get into comics? Look no further. This book is the perfect example of what comics should be about. I think it’s safe to say that volume seven is the weakest of the set, but we have come to expect a certain quality in these stories by now. Don’t get me wrong, it was still fun to read the collection, but I just wish they had made a bigger collection and included more short stories. C+

About Heroes @ Comic Con 2010: The Walking Dead panel

Fans of Kirkmans book...get ready to be VERY happy.

Before we got to seeing some footage, we were first introduced to the creative team to the show.

Director/Writer Frank Darabont, The Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman, Producer Gale Anne Hurd, Make up efx master Greg Nicotero, and head of AMC SVP of original programing Joel Stillerman.

A quick roundup on some of the information we got:

-Gale (having a hand in a few comic-to-movie properties) got involved after hearing the popularity of the series and then reading the book.

-Darabont, a huge horror fan, discovered the series at his local comic shop. Upon reading it he realized that the story that series was telling was the apporach he wanted to do for a zombie movie, a genre he's been trying to figure out.

-Stillerman loved the idea of the series, BUT he loved the talent that was already involved (i.e. when your script says it's written by Frank Darabont and when you find out that the producer is Gale Anne Hurd, you might want to make that show happen.)

-They also annouced that the score of the show would be done by Bear McCreary, the composer for Battlestar Galactica.

Soon, they finally showed the reel.

The first scene we get is the first scene from the comics. Sheriff Deputy Rick Grimes and his partner Shane have a blockade in the middle of the road, as a run away car comes straight towards them.

The police blow out the tires and soon the car is tumbling over to the side of the road.

A shoot out with the crimals erupts, ending with Rick getting shot and knocking out.

Suddenly, Rick wakes up alone in a hospital (yeah, yeah, we know, we know “Just like 28 Days Later...”)

We soon see the nightmare that Rick as woken up from.

The reel shows scenes with Morgan(played by Lennie James) a survior that finds Rick, a few quick scenes with Lori, Carl(!), and Amy in the survivor camp, Rick walking around dead bodies stacked on top of each other, Rick riding a horse in the middle of Atlanta...oh, and ZOMBIES. Tons, and TONS of zombies.

Great stuff, and the look as this classic cinematic feel to it.

After the footage was shown, some of the cast came to the panel and joined the stage...

Andrew Lincoln (who plays Rick Grimes), Sarah Wayne Callies (Lori Grimes), Jon Bernthal (Shane), Laurie Holden (Andrea), and Emma Bell (Amy). Micheal Rooker was hanging in the audience as he will be playing Merle Dixon (a new character made for the show I believe).

Heres a quick breakdown on the Q and A:

-Andrew Lincoln( whos brittish) got wind of the project after his agent gave him the sides. He went to his local comic shop in England and found out that the comic is the stores biggest seller.

-Lincoln auditioned his scenes with Jon Bernthal(who had his dog with him) in Frank Darabonts garage! Lincoln credits Bernthal dog for getting him the part.

-Sarah Wayne Callies blames Greg Nicotero for ruining her life! She points out that up until recently she had no scenes with the zombies yet. After finally sharing screen time with the undead, she's had nightmares since. Funny moment during the panel was that a few Zombies (or Roamers) were walking near the stage, Callies was freaking just a little.

-Frank hopes that some legendary horror directors (::coughGeorgeRamerocough:::) could work on the show in it's second season.

-Fan favorites Micchone won't show up in the show till the second season. (Though Darabont is DYING to bring that character to life)

-The show is shot on Super 16mm, giving it that classic grainy look.

-The chacter of Tyrese will show up in second season too. Darabont , while auditioning actors for Morgan apparently saw plenty of guys he would be great for the part (Kirkman jokes that the show would have 3 Tyrese's)

-The show will follow the series pretty closely, but “vering off the path” to introduce new ideas, Darabont says they will make sure that they will go back to the path that Kirkman left.

-The DVD could have the option (at least for the pilot episode) to watch in black and white!

A great panel for sure.

The Walking Dead comes out in October on AMC.

Jonah Hex Trailer is blasting away online

Some of the West Coast About Heroes guys caught an early test screening of the flick so hopefully we will get some news on what they thought of it soon.

My thoughts on the trailer? Josh Brolin pretty much nails Jonah, and I'm sure at the very least he will be the best thing about it.

The steampunky western weapons are pretty cool and the action could be fun.

My problems so far is that the story looks too generic for a character as odd and interesting as Jonah Hex(looks like your standard revenge film). It also looks a little too slick and glossy for my taste, I personally would have liked a grittier Hex film.

BUT, I didn't make this thing, and who knows, maybe this will be a blast!

The flick comes out on June 18th.

Joss Whedon to direct The Avengers movie

Variety has reported it "":http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118017689.html?categoryid=13&cs=1&ref=bd_film

For as long as the Avengers movie was announced, I racked my brain on who would be a good choice.

Jon Favreau made sense to me since he started this big wave of Marvel movies thanks to Iron Man, but he stated he has no interest in making The Avengers movie(instead he will be a producer on it).

Maybe Zack Snyder? His visuals are amazing and the action is guaranteed to be well shot and big in scope. Granted his character work is fine(at best) but it’s not his forte and for the Avengers film you need someone who can make this ensemble work and be fun to watch.

Maybe J.J. Abrams? He’s work on Star Trek was great, and the ensemble in that film was stupendous. He was able to balance both the action and the character while still making it exciting.

BUT both Snyder and Abrams are busy as fuck guys with no room to make an epic movie like The Avengers.

SO, enter Joss Whedon.
.

Lets look at his stats.

Dude’s an accomplished writer/director. His writing is what he’s known best for, but his directing is energetic and nicely stylized.

For at least FOUR different shows he’s handled large ensembles and gives each character personality, humor and enjoyable traits to make them distinct.

He knows his comics,and has written 25 issues of Astonishing X-Men (plus his run on The Runaways comic). His X-Men run was critically acclamed and a huge hit.

And most importantly…he’s HUNGRY.

Not in the sense that he’s poor assholes, no, he’s hungry to prove himself.

He has a huge following, but it’s a cult following and it’s not enough for someone who needs make more projects.

Right now, Hollywood thinks Whedon only works for a niche audience, much like Kevin Smith.

Whedon has been trying to get into the big leagues, to be someone in the industry that can make a blockbuster hit off a project.

He’s had a few movie projects get away from him or be stuck in development. The stuck in development hell Goners, an original script at Universal, and the Wonder Woman film that didn’t work out

His recent show,_ Dollhouse_, also got cancelled, making him a very available man.

He’s been kicked around by some bad luck in the last few years, and he needs to make a movie to make a big stamp.

This movie is his answer.

Personally (as if you couldn’t tell) I think he’s perfect for the job.

I'm a big fan of his stuff and I have been waiting for someone to give him a big budget superhero film, I just didn’t think it would be this big budgeted superhero film.

This will be the most ambitous project he has ever worked on, but I think he’s ready.

Good luck Joss, because it’s your job to make sure the Avengers assemble!

Scott Pilgrim trailer is out...and its epicness is epic!

Oh bless your british heart Edgar Wright, you've brought back the POW, BAM, SMACK words to the live action world. Adam West will be proud.

The trailer does a good job giving everyone an idea of the crazyness thats in store for them.

Curious to know what non-fans of the comic think about this.

Another thing to note, like the Kick-Ass movie, the film was being made before the comic series was done, so like Kick-Ass , the Scott Pilgrim film will have some divergences from the source material near the end. BUT one thing for sure, Edgar Wright absolutley undersood the tone of the series, because this FEELS like how a Scott Pilgrim movie should feel.

And are you asking for some shot comparisons?

No problem....
Comic
View image
Movie
View image
The movie comes out August 13th.

The Dawn of the Real Superheroes?

Thanks to Kick-Ass (issue 8 is finally out, trailers are being released and of course our own Joshiebear reviewing a test screening cut of the flick) the concept of “Real” superheroes is going to start being mainstream real soon.

But, Kick-Ass isn't the only game in town.

So besides reading Kick Ass or waiting till April of next year to go to your local cineplex, you can try these other movies and comics to wet your appetite of the “real” superhero genre.

-The Black Pearl (1996)

Written by Mark Hamill (yep, THAT Mark Hamill) and Eric Johnson, artwork by Bruce Patterson and H.M. Baker, this Dark Horse comic was about a troubled man who finds himself in the wrong place and the wrong time after he accidently saves an abducted woman. The media turns blows his act up to be something he's not, making him sound like a hero. He decides to try to live up with the name and become The Black Pearl.

-Mirageman (2007)

Think of this as the low budgeted Chillean cousin of Kick-Ass.

Check out the trailer...

Yes, it may look silly, but the film has gathered some amazing reviews. If your willing to have an open mind, you might be surprised with this one.

-Special (2006)

Another low-budget (you know what, just get use to those words for the next two items here) that has a neat twist on the “normal guy getting powers” concept.

-Captian Blasto (2008)

A webseries that askes the question “Why don't I just HIRE guys to pretend to be the bad guys?”

-Defendor (2010)
Looking like the low rent Batman to Specials low rent Superman, this has Woody Harrelson already kicked ass as Tallahasse in Zombieland last year.

This film will be getting a small release THIS month! February 26 at the Landmark theater in Los Angeles and then it will role out to other cities till it hits DVD this April.

And these are only just beginning.

Already in production is a movie called “Super” thats going to be written and directed by James Gunn (Slither, PG Porn) and staring Rainn Wilson (The Office)
(picture here)

If you wanna read more about it check out Gunn's blog.
"":http://www.jamesgunn.com/2009/09/10/my-movie-super-with-rainn-wilson-ellen-page-and-liv-tyler/

It seems like the “real” superhero genre has been around for a while, but the real question is....are these movies based on truth more then we like to admit?

Should we be looking forward to meeting such real life heroes such as
RAZORHAWK?

Well, at least there's cool stories out there this. Cool FICTIONAL stories...are you listening RAZORHAWK?

WCAH Episode 11: That's a Were-Steamer!!!

In this episode, we discuss Blackest Night #1, Deadpool stuff, SDCC, Twilight hatred, X-Men: Necrosha, Dark Reign, New Avengers, Blabbity blah blah...IT'S COMICS!!!

We have a twitter account! For more frequent comic-oriented updates, follow us: TWEET. Also, feel free to email us: aboutheroes 'AT' gmail.com (I know I say a different account name in the podcast, i made a new one!!!)

West
Coast About Heroes - Episode 11

DC vs Mortal Kombat.....REALLY?!?

ZOMG! A DC VIDEOGAME IS COMING OUT!!!
It's DC vs Mortal Kombat.
.....
WHAT? There really isn't a 'Happy' part to this one. Mortal Kombat hasn't been relevent or popular in almost 10 years, and aside from Rayden (spelling? don't care enough to check) everyone else who's part of the MK crew would get their asses kicked in a fight against DC characters. Ugh. Think about it. When's the last time you played a good DC oriented game? Want to hear MY answer? NEVER. I have never played a good DC game. Yeah, some of the Batman games were alright when I was a kid, but nothing special.

Anyway, reports say they're going to magically make DC characters such as Superman crappier with a Magic Handicap. All I really have to say is...this is dumb and I hate them for knowing that nerds like myself will at the very least go out and rent it (not buying, I refuse to do that) to indulge my morbid sense of curiosity. Well, maybe we'll be able to play online and one of you guys out there in whereveryouareland can get on and kick my 'Reptile' ass with any number of DC characters that'll make the game. In my opinion it would be smarter for them to do sort of a Marvel Nemesis take and just MAKE UP characters to fight our heroes. Ugh. That game was crappy, but it's sure to be better than this thing. Ok, bitch-session: OVER.

Walking Dead #48 Review / Editorial

Written By: ROBERT KIRKMAN
Art & Cover CHARLIE ADLARD & CLIFF RATHBURN

Ok, so I'm going to pretend that you've never heard anything about this book and just hit this review running.

THE WALKING DEAD IS SO FREAKING GOOD. ROBERT KIRKMAN IS A MONSTER AT WRITING COMICS WHEN HE'S NOT AT MARVEL! Ok enough with the caps, but man, whenever I pick this book up, I always set it down with a lasting impression sitting inside of me. There are few other comic titles that can stir up my emotions so well with characters that I have no other choice but to love and hate. This issue is without a doubt the most climactic and incredible issue in the series' history. I don't want to spoil anything, because man, this thing is chock-full of things just begging to be spoiled, so I'm going to go ahead and avoid specific plot details and just try to critic the book from a writer's point of view. It should be interesting since I'm nowhere close to being a writer (I pause and reread that last sentence, realizing that I occasionally write for this site and wonder whether or not I should feel like an idiot for writing it...). Anywhoo, in this issue, Kirkman displays a very efficient way to keep you interested in a comic that very well could have just dried up by now, much like a zombie years after the crazy government gases reanimated it from whatever resting place it was chilling in. He's shaking things up. He's killing people (left and right I might add...don't look at me that way, it's not technically a spoiler, I didn't say WHO died). He's doing what so many of our hero comic cannot, which is becoming routine. Since the series is his to do with as he sees fit, he can do what needs to be done to make it interesting. Since the story started, there have been so many shifts in the status quo, and just when I thought things were gearing towards being somewhat comfortable, and issue like this comes along and literally slaps you in the face for being so accustomed to comic stories where nothing truly changes, and if somebody tries to change something, the retcon timer starts ticking until the status quo is re-established.

Ok, on to the next thing that needs to be addressed. Character develpment. Kirkman is so good at making you love his characters. As I have read these most recent issues, I've almost felt as if I myself lived in the prison sanctuary our 'family' of survivors has taken residence in. I've glimpsed into their worries, their happy moments, their day to day hum-drum of getting by in a zombie infested world and their moments of incredible crisis. Kirkman takes the appropriate amount of time to really show you his characters, to build a beautiful house of cards and makes you forget just how fragile it truly is, and then writes an issue like this that seems to just turn a leaf-blower our way and force you to just watch the cards scatter and flail about. By the same token, he knows how to make you HATE a character as well. Any readers who have read any of the last year's issues can (or should) sympathize with me when I state that "The Governor" is one of the dirtiest, most awful villains in recent comic history. Now sure, it's easy to write a monster that does awful things, but it's not easy to do it well. Just compare and contrast The Gov' with a 90's 'extreme' violent psychopath like, say, Carnage. He was a killer who massacred people, but man....he was sooo gay. Wheras The Gov' isn't just a killer (in an albeit somewhat roundabout fashion), he's a liar. He's a puppetmaster taking advantage of those foolish enough to put him in charge. He's more evil in his abuse of trust and leadership than any simple killer symbiote can ever be (haha, again, after reading that, should I feel like an idiot?).

If you haven't read any of this series, please do yourself a favor and go pick up the trades. If you can't do that, at the very least you should go to a book store, park your butt in the aisle along with that dorky guy reading anime (....or 30 year old guy named omar...either way) and start reading son. And after you've gotten all caught up, you can sit back with me and watch Kirkman just pull out another deck of cards and get to work, knowing that at any moment, he's GOING to blow it all down again, and love him for it. +A

...oh yeah...the art's purty too.