NB of the Week

-WE'RE TRAPPED LIKE SPOILS! SMALL LITTLE SPOILS WITH NO HAIR AND ONE LEG!-

The Art of Marco Rudy

 New Avengers Annual was out today and I try to stay away from annuals. They tend to have little or noting to do with the main titles and are typically twice the price. With this one, it's mostly the same. Written by Frank J. Barbiere, the story is one of Doctor Strange as he deals with his inability to except defeat and a demonic parasite. It plays well into what Hickman is doing over in the monthly and while it was a better read than most annuals tend to be, it was still unnecessary to the main story (at least so far). However, the real star is the gorgeous art of Marco Rudy. His is a name that has been around and you've probably seen his stuff without really knowing but you should take heed with this one. It's beautifully painted and wipes the floor with 98% of the filler crap that usually goes into an annual.

Brain Tunes

Sam Smith - How Will I Know
I have no idea who this guy is and apparently this cover of Whitney Houston's How Will I Know was used in Grey's Anatomy but I won't hold that against him. Slowing the song down fits perfectly and he has a pretty damn good voice. For once, Grey's anatomy did something worth noticing.

My Main Man Jackie Chan

Chinese Zodiac
Asian Hawk is a hunter of ancient relics (repetitive?) and is on the look for statue heads stolen from China hundreds of years ago. Those heads? The 12 heads of the Chinese zodiacs. He's been hired by a wealthy man (Oliver Platt) who plans on making millions upon millions by auctioning them off.... So pretty basic stuff.
This is supposed to be Chan's last big jump into action movies as he's getting pretty old. And sadly it showed. The man is currently 60 years old (58 when making this) and I assume after all the hard years, his body just doesn't move as well. You can tell wire works are used and you can definitely tell he's not putting his life in the same dangerous situations he once did but who can blame him? The movie was pretty cheesy and I would be lying if I said I wasn't a bit disappointed in it but at the end of the day, it's Jackie Flippin Chan and I don't really care much. He's earned my respect a hundred times over and even these bad movies are great to watch. I typically don't look up others' opinions in movies (as they tend to be a lot more serious about movie watching than I am) but I found a quote from Chris Sawin at examiner.com that matched my feeling perfectly:
"Chinese Zodiac is incredibly frustrating at times and is mostly disappointing overall, but throws in just enough of what Jackie Chan used to be like in his prime to be somewhat satisfying."
If you already love Chan, you'll love this movie as you've probably loved every movie of his over the last decade. If you're somewhat new to the realm of Chan, I suggest watching some of his brilliant, older ones first to gain the respect needed to appreciate these newer ones.

Boobs of the Day

Kailynne Messier
You will have no idea who this is because I have no idea who this. As I watched my Judge Judy (yeah, I loves me some Judge Judy), this semi-trashy lady came on trying to sue somebody for whatever it was. All I know now is that her shirt was ready to give and Judy was about to have herself a Jerry Springer moment. Alas, our (mostly my) luck was not to be. But thanks for the memories, tight shirt lady who doesn't matter.

(My apologies, for my phone is not smart enough to take good photos)

NB of the Week

-IF YOU HAVE SPOILS, YOU WEAR THE PANTS!-

Wonder Woman #32

Written by Brian Azzarello

Drawn by Goran Sudzuka

The Sons of the Amazon will join the ladies and fight for their world. Strife wants to be the God to survive the First Born's murderous rampage by being by his side and bearing his child. Minotaur and Cassandra attack Demeter on her home turf and find out that you don't muck with the Harvest. But then First Born walks in, looking for his next kill. Too bad Diana has arrived. She sends that others away and prepares for war.

As with the previous almost three years, Azzarello has made Wonder Woman and the Gods of Olympus a force to be reckoned with. Gods have been around in comics for a very long time. Norse, Greek, Chinese, Skrull. They're all there. Never have I read a comic where the Gods have felt this "human." I care about these ones more than I care about most other DC characters. One could argue that Azzarello's writing is too slow paced and I'd listen to that argument. But I won't concede to it. Every issue has been great. Each story arc has built upon the last and given layer upon layer to these characters, God or other. Azzarello's run is coming to a end pretty soon and on that day I may weep a little. Maybe internally, maybe externally but the lament shall be the same either way. I very much doubt that DC will get another writer that will hold half as much interest from me that this title has done so far.

(Late) NB of the Week

-DO YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENS TO A SPOILS WHEN IT'S STRUCK BY LIGHTNING? 

THE SAME THING THAT HAPPENS TO EVERYTHING ELSE.-

Starlight #4

Written by Mark Millar

Drawn by Goran Parlov

Duke McQueen must find his way into the resistance if he (and the planet's people) have any hope of saving things. Duke, Space-Boy and fellow inmate Wes are about to square off with Pindar and the guards when in comes crashing help. Strapping on jet-packs, the three are whisked away to join the sought after good guys. However, before Duke's inspiring speech is even done ringing in the air, we see Wes betraying everybody as he contacts the evil Lord Kingfisher, telling him right where to find the secret base.

I have loved most things from Millar (even though some have been semi slow and bland) but Starlight continues to show his range. However, one of the main things I love about this book is that it reads like old, campy science fiction. When tackled, these kind of stories tend to come off as overtly cheesy now-a-days, basing more in mockery of the genre then story while this one seems to revel in it. Goran Parlov's art is perfect for it. Not refined or "pretty" like most comic artists try to be. In fact, he makes it feel like this story could be straight out of Heavy Metal. This is the kind of tale that John Candy should be narrating, telling us about how big his body has gotten and how much he loves boobs. This is a title I'm happy to have going into my Millarworld collection.

NB of the Week

The Darkness Is Coming

The Sun Is Fading Fast

The Prophecy Fulfilled

The Runs Come At Last

Iron Fist: the Living Weapon #3

Danny stands in K'un L'un and is stunned to see it's destruction. Even more frightening is how he finds his teacher, Lei Kung the Thunderer: under the Tree of Immortality, on his knees, beheaded. Prince of Orphans tells him it's time for him to eat the tree's fruit and become their new yu-ti. Rand instead kicks it in half. Orphans doesn't like that too much and sends him flying out of K'un Lun. And right into the arms of his father...?

Captain America #21

Cap battle the Iron Nail to the bitter end. Which apparently means he sacrifices his body and youth... I may have missed something because I didn't understand that ending. I'll have to reread this story and see what it was that I didn't pick up.

Witchblade #175

Mystery still surrounds Sara Pezzini and how she rid herself of the Witchblade but now that she was forced to take it back, they need to talk it out a little. Which essentially breaks down to Pezzini telling the Witchblade off in dream-world, making her claim that it's damn lucky to have her and it better shut up. Surprise surprise, it listens and she is taken back as full Witchblade.

Original Sin #3

In one of Marvel's larger WTF moments in memory, This issue ends with a pretty big surprise. Most of the issue is talk and detective work ti figure out who killed the Watcher but the end answers that for us: it was apparently Bucky. And he reveals himself to us and to Nick Fury as he shoots Fury in the chest, shoots off his hand that's reaching for a gun and then proceed to cut Fury's head off. A shocker of a last page even if you know it's not all it seems.

All-New X-Factor #9

New mutant Georgia joins the team and finds out that her father was only adoptive as DNA finds her birth mother. Quicksilver talks the team into taking her to meet her (since he and Polaris should know a thing or two about abandoned children). After Georgia meets her mother, it's all too soon before her father interrupts and kidnaps her (he is apparently a very bad mutant that we don't know). Meanwhile, Gambit courts and beds the blond on the cover only to find out it's his new boss' wife. Oops.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 34

The focal point of this issue is mostly Donny, April and Angel visiting good old Harold, from back in Donny's micro issue. They want him to look over Fugitoid's notes on the Technodrome to see if he can figure out how to stop it. While visiting, though, Angel stumbles onto Metal Head, who of course looses control and attacks them all. When will the antics ever end?

Miles Morales: the Ultimate Spider-Man #2

Love Bendis on this book but once again, nothing happens by way of progress, just some amazing dialogue. Essentially, Miles runs into Peter Parker, who is supposed to be dead. Pete claims it's complicated. They scuffle a bit and Pete escapes with Miles' web shooters (which is what he wanted). Miles talks to Ganke about it and tells him Jessica Drew is a clone of Pete and believes this one is too, while Ganke reveals he's comfortable enough to then admit that Spider-Man has a great butt. The End.

Earth 2 #24

Not a lot happens in this issue even though it was pretty awesome. Lantern is back and he has a can of whoop ass for the Parademons as Hawkgirl rescues Flash. Meanwhile, Jimmy is able to talk Val out of his raggedy sweatshirt to find that he has been hiding an S on his chest this whole time

Boobs of the Day

Anissa
If you read Robert Kirkman, chances are you read Invincible and know who/what the Viltrumites are. Anissa is one and lately in the book she's taking somewhat of a "liking" to our hero Mark. Ok, maybe that's misleading. She wants his good genes in order to make a baby. And she attempts to get them even though he said "no". A lot. Ok, so maybe she raped him. I never said she was the nicest comic character ever. But she does have a nice rack for a humanoid alien.