Collectible Game Review: Heroclix The Brave and The Bold Expansion & Blackest Night Starter Set
The Brave and The Bold Expansion and Blackest Night Starter Set
by Wizkids/NECA
You may recall there was a time on comicsonline when the site was consumed by Heroclix information. That was 3-4 years ago. The game kind of disappered for a bit and now it’s back. Hammer of Thor was the first release through NECA based in New Jersey who bought the product license from Topps.
Hammer of Thor featured the inclusion of The Runaways (Chase, Molly, Nico, Gert & Lace and Karolina) The Agents of Atlas (Marvel Boy, Jimmy Woo, Gorilla Man, M-11, Namora and Venus) Some Thunderbolts (Mac Gargan Venom, Songbird, Moonstone, and Penance) many Guardians of the Galaxy (Starlord, Rocket Raccoon, and Moondragon) and, as you might expect, a whole lot of Asgardians. The newest Captain America is a beast.
Comic Review: Justice League of America #41
Justice League of America 41
Penciled by Mark Bagley and Written by James Robinson
I have to say that Justice League of America has been such a disappointment to me for a year or more. They started this series out with so much power and promise. Brad Meltzer wrote an incredibly too short run on this book and Dwayne McDuffie tried to keep it going, but it just wasn’t the same. Len Wein’s story involving Amos Fortune and Roulette was really a snooze.
To be fair, some of this might be attributed to the availability (or lack thereof) the “big shots”. Batman is “dead”, Superman is stationed on New Krypton and The Flash is – well – complicated right now, since DC is rebirthing him and I doubt they want to commit him to the team until that’s complete. Also, Green Lantern is fighting the Blackest Night throughout almost every book in the DC comics line.
Comic Review: Ultimate Enemy #1
Ultimate Enemy 1
Pencils by Rafael Sandoval Written by Brian Michael Bendis
BMB just can’t stop writing huge ensemble cast crossover epic stories. If only he could do so consistently well.
I really loved Ultimate Spiderman and I really loved his work on Daredevil. These were groundbreaking, redefining runs on books that sucked you in and made you want to stick with the books. I have enjoyed most of his run on New Avengers, and kind of thought of that as his clinic book that he should use to improve upon ensemble cast narrative and characterization. Sometimes, Wolverine doesn’t seem like himself and sometimes Spidey whipping his mask off with only slight arm twisting goes in the face of everything that had been done over on the main Amazing Spiderman book.
Comic Review: Siege #2
Siege 2
Penciled by Olivier Coipel Written by Brian Michael Bendis
This second issue of the story is good but not breaking much new ground. Personally, I am continuously scratching my head when it comes to the character of The Sentry. I just don't like the idea of dragging a character's story out forever as a plot. I am glad to see Steve Rogers back in the fold and am thinking we missed a story somewhere of watching the world embrace Cap being back, especially so soon after the Skrull Invasion. Wouldn't they be a little on edge of a possible impostor?
Oh wait…I read New Avengers. Spiderwoman has a special device issued to her from S.W.O.R.D. that can determine if anyone is an alien.
NYCC 09: DC Universe Online
DC Universe Online Panel
All weekend long players were allowed to play through a two part mission in the Metropolis area that revolved around working with or against Lex Luthor as he tries to steal DNA for Doomsday that would lead to a secondary mission to find and take Doomsday or as a hero to prevent the villains from doing so. Characters were pre-made to showcase different types of powers and character design types.
The graphics are pretty sweet and the game play looks good.
NYCC 09: Robot Chicken Panel
The Panel was made up of Seth Green, Breckin Meyer, Kevin Shinick, and Geoff Johns. There was an audience member is a full Mad Scientist costume with Animated Robot Chicken Puppet that really smoked. Many attendees wanted to take photos with the costumed character. The panel emerged and Seth Green wanted to also get photos of the costume.
The panel was very funny but offered very few details about season four. They did reveal an opening sequence for the Full Assed Christmas Special that was a parody of the opening sequence of Casino Royale. Pretty funny.
They also showed a film of themselves goofing off around the office making a bet with Kevin Shinick that he couldn’t eat 12 donuts in under 30 minutes for $140.
They spent most of the panel speaking with audience members and answering questions.
NYCC09: Mattel’s DC Figures
Mattel’s DC Related Offerings look awesome. The DC Universe CRISIS figures look great and there is a wide variety of figures available ranging from Gotham City SWAT Officers to Thanagarian Warriors to many, many ,many DC characters.
They are also still producing plenty of Justice League Unlimited figures too. I am especially liking additions like Amanda Waller and General Eiling and a new Batman taken directly from one of my favorite episodes when Batman busts in on the two at the secret Project Cadmus base.
I was less interested in the figures based upon the Dark Knight film. Not much new and there were some real stretched that just looked silly.
NYCC 09: Cup O’ Joe Panel
The Cup O’ Joe panel focused primarily on Ultimatum and the cancellation of it’s books. It had been fairly well known that Ultimate X-men and Ultimate Fantastic Four were getting canceled but shocking was the news that the whole line was being canceled. Brian Michael Bendis acted out fake shock about Ultimate Spider-man’s fate and then they revealed the plan was to relaunch Ultimate Comics. A new line that will have 4 titles. Only a new Ultimate Spider-man and a new Ultimates was confirmed which was referred to twice as Ultimate Avengers. It was unclear if that was intentional or not.
Blu-ray Review: LOST The Complete Fourth Season
LOST The Complete Fourth Season is out on DVD and Blu-ray and if you’ve been following the show since the first season, this past season was the one where the show’s basic formula was turned on its side and recreated by way of flash forwards. Granted we really saw our first flash forward in the cliffhanger of season three but that was really our intro of what to expect with season four.