Game of Thrones Double Recap: "The Climb" and "The Bear and the Maiden Fair"

Here we are again, fans of Westeros! I was underwhelmed by episode 5 of Game of Thrones, "The Climb" so I decided to roll it into my recap of the most recent ep, "The Bear and the Maiden Fair". They were two okay outings, with a few standout moments. Here we go!

The Climb

Samwell/Night's Watch

We very briefly see Samwell and the woman and baby he rescued from the incest compound. It's a pretty dull scene! He gives her an arrowhead, and he sings a little. They seem very alone in the cold snowy woods.

Littlest Starks

Very short scene with Bran, Tonks, and their new redhead warg friend. The redheaded boy has a seizure while having a vision; apparently the visions take their toll. He sees Jon Snow and the wilding group in his vision, however. More on him later!

Arya & the worshippers of the Lord of Light

Well, Arya is still miserable since the Red Woman rolls into camp making all sorts of proclamations and demands. Maybe someday Arya will shut her up for good!  For now, the RW is impressed that Beric has been brought back from the dead no less than six times. Beric doesn't sound that thrilled – he says all there is on the 'other side' is darkness. The RW doesn't really believe him, though. Then she demands they hand over Gendry, bastard of King Robert. For a bag of gold, they willingly oblige despite Arya's angry cries and protests. Gendry himself does not want to leave either. The RW pauses a moment to tell Arya that she will kill people, and that they (Arya and the RW) will one day meet again. Creepy!

Camp Stark

Robb isn't have the best time of it. He sees some representatives from House Frey, who want an apology and also Harrenhal (oh, is that all?). Robb says that while he won't marry the lord's daughter, his uncle (Catlin's brother) will do so. He ain't thrilled! He refuses at first but then agrees.

Theon

Theon is still tied up in this tedious storyline. The jerk holding him captive says some stuff about being a Karstark (the lord of which was beheaded by Robb earlier, as you may recall), but then says he could be lying. He cuts off Theon's pinkie finger to much screaming. Ugh can Theon please just die already?

Jamie and Brienne

Jamie is still at Harrenhal, and his stump is healed slightly. Brienne is stuck in her pink dress, and the two of them are bargaining for freedom. They are told that Jamie is going back to his father, as a show of good faith, but Brienne must stay for ransom (of the supposed thousands of sapphires her dad owns). Sigh. Jamie's lie is going to come back and bite his ass! Or hers.

Hit the jump for the full recap!

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Star Trek Prepaid Visa Cards Beaming In!

Looking to give your favorite Trekkie some cash for convention splurges this summer? Or maybe you'd like to be a Ferengi about it and hoard it for yourself? Card.com has the perfect choice - they just introduced Star Trek prepaid Visa cards! The cards are happily emblazoned with our beloved Original Series, DS9, and Voyager characters, several ships of the fleet, and the Star Trek logo! They have three pages of images to choose from, so all fans can find something they like. 

Pretty cool, ya? Fill yours up with some gold-pressed latinum and bring a smile to your face even when paying for the everyday stuff - you know, cat food for Spot and spare dilithium for the shuttlecraft. 

Anyone else seeing a lost opportunity for the promotional image to have James T. Kirk as the cardholder? He definitely needs quick access to cash when he's buying drinks for all those ladies he meets - and it's gotta be Visa, because on Orion they don't take American Express. Get on over to card.com and check it out! 

Shut Up and Take My $5: Adventures of Superman #2, Uncanny Avengers #8, Avengers #11

I get it. The universe is punishing me. I didn’t give you guys a review last week, and now I’m presented with an impossible choice.

This week, there were two amazing books and one fantastic digital release. One was incredibly emotional; one was beyond epic, and the last was just plain ol' entertaining. That’s right, folks: it’s (Insert Dramatic Music) The Triple E!

As a result, we have our first ever tie: The Adventures of Superman #2, Uncanny Avengers #8, and Avengers #11. There is just no way I can recommend one above the other; all three are just that damned good. So this week, I’m going to try and sell you on all three. I know, it's Uncanny.

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ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN #2

This e-comic (book?) by Jeff Lemire hit me right in the gut. I’ve had a soft spot for Lemire ever since I read Sweet Tooth and The Underwater Welder. That man knows how to tug at the heart strings. AoS #2 is no different.

He presents us with an odd Superman setpiece: instead of focusing on the man in the cape, we center on two kids pretending to be Superman and a variety of villains. It is absolutely wonderful. It brought back so many memories of when I ran around pretending to be Batman or the Green Ranger. Lemire had the dialogue down pat. The kids play Superman in the cheesiest, 1950s-iest way possible, as befits the incomparable carefree optimism of youth.

Lemire's art, on the other hand, may be off-putting to some.  His characters are all a bit distorted (picture a more coherent Picasso.) Having read his other work, I've come to love it, but it's easy to see how this would be jarring for those used to a clean look in their Super-comics. Still, for $0.99, you really shouldn’t pass this one up. Just be sure to have a box of tissues handy for when the air suddenly gets dusty after reading that last panel...

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UNCANNY AVENGERS #8

This book by Rick Remender has been teetering on the edge of mediocrity. The first arc was cool, but it hasn't been the groundbreaking story I was looking for in an X-Men/Avengers team-up. As it turns out, I just needed a bit more patience.

Holy shit, there's a lot to be excited about in this issue. Thor and Sunfire save Rio in the coolest most badass way possible. Tension builds in the ranks, as Wolverine’s Uncanny X-Force chickens come home to roost. And finally, Captain America pulls off a one man Black Hawk Down. It’s an intense book. I will admit, if you haven’t read Remender’s Uncanny X-Force, you will be missing some helpful backstory. Don’t let that discourage you, though: it’s still amazing, and you are given the major points you need to know. Still, if you are having doubts, look at it this way: the book revolves around Apocalypse, Red Skull (with Xavier's telepathy), and Kang the Conqueror.

Oh, I shouldn't forget to mention Daniel Acuna’s art. His cover work has always been amazing, and his interiors follow suit. His art for the opening scene in Rio is worth the price of admission alone. Honestly, this book deserves a whole crap ton of credit for making me like Sunfire. I hate that guy.

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AVENGERS #11

I have been itchin' to make one of these books my pick of the week since Jonathan Hickman took the reins. I am absolutely loving this series, but I just happen to love the classic cryptic and plot-heavy storyline. If you don't enjoy those stories, it's series as a whole is not for you (at least not yet.)

Avengers #11, a bit more accessible this time, brings the story back down to earth with a hilarious casino caper in Macau. A.I.M. and some other agencies of ill-repute have all gathered at this one casino for a supposed chemical weapons deal. Enter Carol’s 6: Captain Marvel, Sunspot, Cannonball, Black Widow, Shang-Shi, and Spider-Woman all go undercover in an attempt to sweat out the seller and discourage any buyers.

This one's just too much fun. Seeing A.I.M. goons dress up in tuxes (still rocking the beekeeper look!) is wonderful. Better still, the Shang-Shi section felt like I was watching a Bruce Lee movie, except with glowing lightning nunchaku and shadow ninjas. The best part of this book was when Cannonball and Sunspot talked a bunch of A.I.M. lackeys into a ceasefire so they all could party all night. (Well, all of them except for Doug. God damn it, Doug!)

Mike Deodato was tapped for art duties this time around. It was pretty standard fare, sprinkled with moments of greatness anytime Cannonball, Sunspot, and the A.I.M. guys were on the page. I like Deadato’s work but sometimes it can get pretty heavy and muddy, which is exactly what happens here.

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So there you have it, folks. You can see why I couldn’t pick just one. If you are low on cash, go with Adventure of Superman #2, it’s the best value this week! If you are looking for an epic story, grab Uncanny Avengers #8 and buckle up. If you need to check-out and just have some fun, Avengers #11 is your book. But no matter which book you grab, always remember: never hang out with an A.I.M. agent named Doug. That guy sucks.

Review: Star Wars #5

Dark Horse’s ongoing Star Wars series soldiers on this week with issue #5.
 
Action takes a back seat as character moments from four different arcs provide the meat of this month’s issue. Han and Chewie have parked the Falcon and sought refuge in a Coruscant cantina, Luke and Prithi share a moment that furthers the growing trust between them, Darth Vader bestows a great responsibility upon his newest acquaintance, and Leia and her team of elite pilots never say die.
 
Writer Brian Wood continues to keep the reader’s attention, especially with the Han and Chewie arc as they evade fan-favorite bounty hunters Boba Fett and Bossk. As the smuggler pair ducks through Coruscant’s seedy underbelly, they find help from the most unexpected source. Is it friend or foe? We’ll just have to wait until issue #6.
 
While character interactions are the main focus in issue #5, it is not completely devoid of action. While still on their latest scouting mission, Gray Squadron, lead by Princess Leia, goes toe-to-toe with Colonel Bircher and his top-of-the-line TIE Interceptors. Once again, Carlos D’Anda depicts the space combat with gritty ferocity, exemplifying the speed and tension of the heated dogfight. Whether the battle was won by the Rebels is debatable, but once the action has subsided, Wood brings it back to the characters. Adrift in her crippled X-Wing, Leia orders her fellow pilots, Wedge and Tess, back to the fleet, but the duo refuses to leave their stalwart leader, even if it means disobeying orders. It's a moment that truly gives these characters their humanity.
 
With the Star Wars property's time with Dark Horse dwindling, Brian Wood, Carlos D’Anda, and the creative team on this series are going for broke in order to make one of the publisher’s last SW stories a memorable one.
 
Star Wars #5 arrives Wednesday.

Game of Thrones Recap: Kissed By Fire

Another week, another new epsiode of of Game of Thrones! "Kissed By Fire" is the fifth episode this season, marking the halfway point. Only 5 left, very sad. But when they are this good, I suppose we should not complain. Read on for the recap! 

Arya

Well, the Hound and the One-Eyed Man – who has a name, it is Beric – fight, and Beric's sword is on fire! No matter – after a pretty nice swordfight with lots of growls and yelling, the Hound slices down upon Beric's shoulder, essentially cutting him in two. The priest of the Lord of Light falls upon his body, and a then he LIVES. What the what. Arya doesn't know what to make of it either; and she is pretty mad that the Hound gets to go free, and then later she asks Beric if the Lord of Light can bring back men who've lost their heads, like her dad. Sad face. Beric shows her his scars and tell her that he's died six times now – even the Hound's brother killed him once. Arya is also preparing to get to Camp Stark in Riverrun, and asks Gendry (King Robert's bastard) to come with her. He refuses, saying he wants to choose his own path, and wants to stay with the Brotherhood. Arya is quite sad this episode.

Camp Stark

Robb is pissed. The lord of house Karstark marched into the castle with some men and killed the two Lannister squires in revenge for the loss of his own sons and soldiers, even though they technically didn't do anything. Robb is upset that men are flouting his orders left and right, and orders everyone involved to be hanged. Catlin and her brother tell him that if he hangs Lord Karstark, he'll lose their men, a loss he can't afford. He angrily beheads Lord Karstark anyway.

Later we see Robb puzzling over his war plans, moving small figures around a table to figure out his next move. His wife Talisa comes in and soothes him a bit, and then he decides he will attack Casterly Rock for revenge on the Lannisters. He will, however, need more men. He realizes that the men he needs are from the house of the girl he was supposed to marry – House Frey. We see a plan forming in a little lightbulb over his head!

Beyond the Wall

Jon Snow and Ygritte finally get it on in a cave with hot springs. Nudity all around!

Hit the jump for the full recap!

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Shut Up and Take My 99¢: The Adventures of Superman #1

So you blew your comic money on beer. Way to go.

Well, since I neglected to provide you with a $5 pick of the week last week, I am here to give you a fantastic use of 99¢! Everyone can afford that! Go out to the car, dig in between the couch cushions, or take a loan from your sibling’s/kid’s piggy bank because you’ll only need 99¢ to check out The Adventures of Superman #1 on the DC Digital Comics App or on Comixology!

I’ll be honest, I really didn’t even know the DC digital line existed until this week. I had heard of all the comics that were a part of it, but I thought they were books available in shops. This explains why I could never find them!

The Adventures of Superman will be a weekly digital book with a rotating team of writers and artists. This week features the talents of Jeff Parker and Chris Samnee.

Parker pens a perfectly bite-sized Superman yarn. A vagrant finds himself with unbelievable mental powers and wrecks a neighborhood in Metropolis. Superman shows up and saves the day. Is it simple? Yep. But that’s what makes it so awesome! It’s a classic Superman story, complete with a return to the red underwear! The last page also leads me to believe that there will be a narrative thread that will carry through each story from week to week.

Chris Samnee’s art was the real selling point for me. I love his art; it just puts a smile on my face. He draws in such a classic style, which has been a great fit for his previous work with Thor, The Rocketeer, Captain America, and now, the Big Blue Boy Scout. I’m glad he chose to draw Supes this way; I didn’t realize how much I have missed the classic costume until now.

You guys really have no excuse. This issue is only 99¢, and you can grab it on your phone (on which it is specifically designed to be read!) Buy it while walking to the cafeteria, and you'll be finished before you finish your lunch. It’s the perfect book for the comic fan on the go! When you combine the convenience, price, quality story, and art you could have one of the best ideas in comics today. Go take the leap into digital folks! Your eyes and wallet will thank you for it!

Game of Thrones Recap: And Now His Watch Is Ended

Game of Thrones was fantastic this week, you guys! Love love love. Might be the best one yet (yep, I totally said it), and it will definitely go down as one of the top episodes of all time. Without further delay, here is the recap for "And Now His Watch Is Ended"

Jamie and Brienne

Thankfully, the ep started off with Jamie right away, since we were eager to see how he survived his unhanding. The answer is, not surprisingly: not well at all. His hand is tied around his neck to tell his shame, and he falls off his horse into the mud. The bandits kick and beat him, especially when he tries to fight them with his other hand. Brienne is watching out for him the best she can, but there isn't much she can do.

Later in the episode, a defeated mud-encrusted Jamie sits at the fire with Brienne, refusing to eat. She tells him to eat, to live and take revenge. She also goads him about his whining, crying, and quitting, and calls him a woman – yes his lot in life just got a bit crappier, but he's still a damn Lannister and all that. He begrudgingly eats, and then Brienne is downright nice about him saving her from rape prior to his hand being chopped off. Her father has no actual riches to speak of, but Jamie lied for her – she asks him why, but he won't answer. I really love them as unlikely comrades in their currently shitty situation.

Bran & Littlest Stark, Hodor, and Tonks

We briefly see Bran dreaming again of the three-eyed crow, and the redheaded boy is with him as well. This storyline is dull at the moment, I hope something interesting happens soon.

Hit the jump for more from this explosive episode of Game of Thrones!

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Thor: The Dark World Trailer Arrives Via Bifrost!

Marvel's Phase 2 kicks off next week with the debut of Iron Man 3, but Marvel Studios is already getting amped for the November release of Thor: The Dark World, their first venture into the Fall season. Check out the trailer below!

Dipping into Thor's comic mythology, T:TDW finds the god of thunder facing off against the Dark Elves of Svartálfaheimr led by the vengeful Malekith. With a battle raging on at least two worlds, Thor must turn to his decietful brother Loki for help. Hilarity ensues.

Directed by Alan Taylor (Games of Thrones), Thor: The Dark World reunites stars Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston, and Sir Anthony Hopkins. Joining them for this installment are Doctor Who alum Christopher Eccleston and former Lost island resident, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje.

Journey back to Asgard on November 8th!

Game of Thrones Double Recap: "Dark Wings, Dark Words" & "Walk of Punishment"

Greetings, fans of Westeros! Welcome to my double recap of episodes two and three – "Dark Wings, Dark Words" and "Walk of Punishment". I have to say, I felt that so little actually happened in episode two that it only warranted a short summary, not an entire post/recap. Not a ton of action in that one! Good thing episode three was really important – I'll get to that craziness in just a minute. But first things first!

Episode 2: Dark Wings, Darks Words

Beyond the Wall

Poor old Samwell, still getting crap from his fellow Night's Watch brethren. One asshat in particular is goading him on, pushing him around. The commander stands up for him, and tells the bully that Samwell is in his charge, and if anything happens to him, the commander will kill the bully. Glad Samwell still has someone grumpily looking out for him.

Only a brief glimpse of Jon Snow, Ygritte, and the wildlings – they are watching a warg, or person who can commune with animals and see what they see, with his eye white and blank. Jon has never seen a warg, and neither have we. That leads us to…

Bran & Littlest Stark, Hodor, and Tonks

…Bran and his whole ability to dream through the eyes of the wolves, and seeing the crow with the third eye mean he is also a warg. He is met in the forest by the adorable redheaded kid from Love Actually! He tells Bran he's a warg too, and tells the group to follow him. There are several scenes of them trudging around the countryside talking. Hopefully something more interesting will occur there soon

In King's Landing

Supposed queen-to-be Margaery and her grandma invite Sansa for tea, trying to figure out what the deal is with Joffrey. Sansa finally breaks under the women's questioning and says he's a monster. They only look a little worried, I suppose they feel Joffrey can be dealt with. Margaery ,meets with Joffrey later in his chambers and he shows her a new crossbow – it is all very suggestive and phallic. Margaery seems shrewd, I hope she will gain the upper hand with Joffrey soon – she seems well on her way already. We also see Tyrion making out with handmaiden/whore Shea. Same old, same old from these two.

Hit the jump for more!

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Shut Up And Take My $5: Captain America #6

We’ve all been there: two issues in your hand, you can only afford one. What is the broke geek to do?! Sean Sorensen is here to guide you in your thrifty comics crusade by providing you with the one issue each week that'll make you say, "Shut up, and take my $5!" It always feels good to get the most "BIF! BAM! POW!" for your buck, doesn’t it?

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Sorry for the delay this week, my comic compatriots! Fatherly duties, work, and Boston Comic-Con prep have made reading time scarce this week, but what came out of it all was an unexpected choice for your comic of the week. You see, I read Chew #33 first this week, and I figured nothing could top that. Poyo vs Pengthulu in an antarctic rumble for the ages! Age of Ultron #6 was great, and Nova #3 has continued its fantastic stride; but Chew #33 was perfect. That was it. What could possibly top it?

Captain America #6.

Rick Remender had some huge shoes to fill by taking over for Ed Brubaker. Brubaker had revitalized the character and produced what could be the best run Cap has ever seen. No pressure there, Rick.

Remender has handled the pressure with flair by taking Cap in a whole new direction. Instead of a safe spy thriller or traditional Cap story, Remender has thrown Cap into a crazy sci-fi epic. Kidnapped by Arnim Zola, Cap finds himself transported to Dimension Z. Here, he manages to save a baby from Zola (technically, Zola’s artificial son) and raise him as his own for ten years, while battling mutants and Zola’s personal army. It’s a wild ride.

In issue #6, Zola has done what is probably the dumbest thing you can do: he kidnaps Captain America’s son, Ian. This affects our hero in a way that’s quite hard to capture in words: think a mama grizzly protecting her cub, but give the grizzly the super soldier serum and a vibranium shield.

As a father, this issue really hits home. Remender managed to capture the all-out desperation and emotional overload any father would experience while trying to get back their child. Remender doesn’t show us the normally calm, cool, and collected Steve Rogers, but instead show us a man on the edge willing to do anything to get his son back.

The part that really sealed this book’s selection this week? The interaction between Zola and Cap’s son. Cap has raised Ian to be a good person; he has instilled in him all of the ideals that make Cap great. It is awesome to see Ian throw it all in Zola’s face. It gets even better: Remender shows us another viewpoint that we have never really thought about. As he brainwashes Ian, Zola reminds us that every young protege that Steve Rogers takes and trains have all suffered, and they all suffered because of him. I love it when a villain as a compelling argument.

John Romita, Jr. takes up art duties on this one, and it’s pleasing to see him return to form. JR Jr’s art has been through some interesting phases recently. While he was amazing back in the day, he has actually put out some surprisingly sub-par work of late. For his Captain America duties, however, he must have dusted off the cobwebs because this has been his best work since Amazing Spider-Man. He has gone with a very Kirby-esque look for Dimension Z, which adds so much. Everything is completely alien except for Cap and Ian, and he illustrates the dichotomy very well. Cap and Ian are always drawn very cleanly, while the other creatures of Dimension Z are treated with more abandon. It’s a whole ton of fun to look at. Plus, he draws a heck of a bearded Cap!

I will admit, the fact that I am a father heavily influenced my choice this week, but I stand by it. Remender is penning one heck of a sci-fi epic, and John Romita Jr. is keeping pace right along side him. If you haven’t read a Captain America book in a while, this one will probably convince you to go digging through the back issue bins at your local comic shop. You will want to catch up, and I can guarantee that you will be picking up issue #7. Dont believe me? Grab this one and see for yourself!

(If this all seems a little too weird for you, then I won’t be of much help to you this week. My second recommendation would be Chew #33, and that shit was really weird.)