1 Razor

Thanos Rising #1

/ / Comics

Thanos Rising #1I was justifiably concerned when Marvel Comics announced their plans for a mini-series looking in-depth at the life and childhood of Thanos. I can’t say Thanos Rising #1 is worse than I expected, but the misadventures of a teenage outcast on the moons of Saturn is exactly as insipid as I dreaded it would be from a company that learned nothing of George Lucas‘ (flawed, but still vastly superior) attempt at similar themes in the Star Wars prequels.

I can’t lay all the blame at the feet of writer Jason Aaron as the entire idea behind the comic is pretty damn bad. (Seriously, who at Marvel thought this was a good idea?) However, Aaron certainly does nothing to save the situation by offering up a Dawson’s Creek version of Thanos’ adolescence that is just as awful as it sounds.

After giving us the birth of the blue-skinned baby Thanos in a world filled with bland suburban Caucasians, the story follows the outcast finally making friends and to learn his first lessons about death. None of which is of any interest. Pass.

[Marvel, $3.99]

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Age of Ultron #1

/ / Comics

Age of Ultron #1I have absolutely no idea what the point of this comic is supposed to be. Marvel’s ten-issue event begins here with only the smallest appearance of it’s leading villain. What we do get is some weird dystopian alternate reality (think Age of Apocalypse but half-assed and really crappy) where the world has fallen to Ultron and D-list villains like the Owl are powerful enough to take down Spider-Man.

Nearly the entire issue is dedicated to Hawkeye‘s bloody rescue of Spider-Man from the Owl and his goons. Making it back to Avengers headquarters we briefly meet far-less heroic versions of Iron Man, Luke Cage, and She-Hulk. Along with Wolverine and Emma Frost it appears the heroes of this world have nearly given up as Ultron reigns supreme and Captain America lacks the will to lead his team into action.

Aside from being extremely violent, unnecessarily gritty, and all around unenjoyable, this first issue is also rather pointless as we don’t really spend any time getting to know any of these versions of classic Marvel characters. Maybe they’re saving that for the next nine issues. God help us all. Pass.

[Marvel, $3.99]

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Justice League of America #1

/ / Comics

justice-league-of-america-new-52-1-coverNearly everything about his comic comes from a ridiculous premise and bad (and do I mean BAD) ideas. After having cancelled Justice League International, and still desperate for a second Justice League team working inside the DCU, the New 52 launches their brand spanking new Justice League of America.

The premise is simple (and basically ripped off nearly completely from Justice League Unlimited with all the best parts taken out). Amanda Waller (who’s lost a lot of weight since the reboot) and Steve Trevor decide to put together a team they can control, market, and use as a last result if the real Justice League goes bad.

Under that premise you’d expect some heavy-hitters. After all, if these guys are the last line of defense against Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman, and the rest, you’d expect some top-shelf talent. You’d be wrong. Instead Waller and Trevor put together a laughable list of C-list and D-list heroes who’d struggle taking on Keith Giffen’s Justice League Antarctica, let alone the current New 52 version.

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Dredd-ful

/ / Home Video
  • Title: Dredd
  • IMDB: link

dredd-dvdYou know you’re in trouble when you begin comparing the film you are watching to a universal derided mid-90’s fiasco of a film starring Sylvester Stallone and Rob Schneider and find the new version you are currently watching wanting.

I’ll say this for director Pete Travis‘ take on the comic book character, it understands the character of Judge Dredd far better than Sly’s flick ever did, but it’s bleak dystopian setting and forgettable story is about as much fun as a root canal. Dredd is 95 minutes of joyless action in which no one, including the audience, is having any fun.

Set some time in the distant future, where most of the world has become uninhabitable and forced people to flock to huge Mega-Cities ruled by Judges who are in effect judge, jury and executioner all in one, Karl Urban stars as Judge Dredd. As the film opens Dredd has been tasked to take a struggling recruit (Olivia Thirlby) out on assignment to judge her future.

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Amazing Spider-Man #700

/ / Comics

amazing-spider-man-700-coverI certainly can’t condone the actions (going as far as death threats), but after reading Amazing Spider-Man #700 I can see why writer Dan Slott is facing the wrath of Spider-Man fans everywhere. In this final issue Slott and Marvel Comics take a seismic shift in the Spider-Man mythos, something that even the Clone Saga never deemed do. Caution, true believers, spoilers ahead!

We begin with the fallout of Spider-Man’s recent battle with the Sinister Six in which Doctor Octopus has successfully swapped his mind with that of Spider-Man. For Doc Ock that means he’s now Spider-Man. For Peter Parker, however, that means he’s trapped in a dying body.

In the final issue of the series Slott allows Peter Parker to be beaten, and killed, by a super-villain who will go on to usurp his life. Slott doesn’t allow Doc Ock to get off completely as, before his death, Peter forces the new Spider-Man to experience all the memories of the old one, perhaps (slightly) changing his perspective on life.

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Amazing Spider-Man #700 Read More »