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?

---

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.)

Full Cast and Details for "Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox"!

Way back when, we dropped the details on DC's 2013 animated film lineup. The Dark Knight Returns, Part 2 was released in the beginning of the year, while Lego Batman: The Movie and Superman: Unbound are slated for release next month.

We finally have details for the last movie announced for 2013: Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox!  Slated for release on July 30, 2013, The Flashpoint Paradox (a slightly updated title from its original) follows Barry Allen, as he wakes up in a world completely unlike the one in which he fell asleep.  I mean that literally: Allen falls asleep at his desk and wakes up in a world unlike the one he knew.  Superheroes are at war, dead characters are alive, alive characters are dead, and, most pertinent to Allen, he has no powers!

Official synopsis:

When time travel allows a past wrong to be righted for The Flash and his family, the ripples of the event prove disastrous as a fractured, alternate reality now exists where a Justice League never formed, and even Superman is nowhere to be found. Teaming with a grittier, more violent Dark Knight and Cyborg, Flash races to restore the continuity of his original timeline while this new world is ravaged by a fierce war between Wonder Woman's Amazons and Aquaman’s Atlanteans. With breath taking action and an all-star voice cast, it's a bold, emotional vision that will forever change the landscape of the DC Universe.

While the Geoff Johns/Andy Kubert Flashpoint miniseries isn't my favorite DC event in the recent history, The Flashpoint Paradox is easily the most ambitious comic-to-film adaptation DC has ever done, and I'm certainly looking forward to it.  The cast is a little Grey's Anatomy heavy, but there are few names here that should make any DC animated fan happy.

• The Flash/Barry Allen: Justin Chambers ("Grey's Anatomy")
• Batman/Bruce Wayne: Kevin Conroy ("Batman: The Animated Series")
• Flashpoint Batman: Kevin McKidd (Trainspotting, "Grey's Anatomy")
• The Reverse Flash/Professor Zoom/Eobard Thawne: C. Thomas Howell ("Southland")
• Aquaman: Cary Elwes (The Princess Bride, plenty of awesome things in the early 90s)
• Wonder Woman: Vanessa Marshall ("Young Justice," "Metal Gear Solid 2")
• Cyborg: Michael B. Jordan ("Friday Night Lights")
• Superman: Sam Daly ("The Daly Show," and, er, "Grey's Anatomy")
• Gen. Sam Lane: Danny Huston (X-Men Origins: Wolverine)
• Green Lantern/Hal Jordan: Nathan Fillion ("Castle")
• Deathstroke/Slade Wilson: Ron Perlman (Hellboy)
• Lois Lane: Dana Delany ("Body of Proof")

That's one hell of a lineup, don't you think?  Kevin Conroy returns as Batman; Nathan Fillion again donning a green ring (figuratively); Dana Delany returning as Lois; Ron Perlman reprising his Deathstroke, and even Sam Daly taking up his father's mantle as Superman... there's a lot here to like (or at be intrigued to see.)

With a July release, there's no doubt we'll be seeing more of this from Comic-Con. We'll keep our ears to the ground and let you know if we hear more.

Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox is set for release on July 30 on DVD, Blu-Ray, and digital download.

UPDATE: Hit the jump for the full press release!

Click to read more ...

Shut Up and Take My $5: Thor God of Thunder #7

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?

---

This week’s releases could make a wallet cry. (Mine certainly did!) There were just too many quality books for one week to handle: Saga #12, Hawkeye #9, Uncanny Avengers #6, Batman #19, Thor: God of Thunder #7, Age of Ultron #5, and more! The list is rather daunting, but in the end, it was an Asgardian TIME CRASH that won the day.

That’s right, folks: Thor has gone Who. And that’s why Thor: God of Thunder #7 is the pick of the week.

Jason Aaron has been penning one of the best runs on Thor since Walt Simonson was at the helm. He has taken the character across time and space hunting Gorr the God Butcher, and, in the process, we have gotten to know three distinct Thors. There is the brash and impetuous young Thor, the modern Thor that we all know and love, and Thor the All Father from the end of time. All three have been encountering Gorr in their respective times, until now.

Aaron has thrown modern Thor and future Thor together, and the result is awe-inspiring. The beginning of the book reads like a Doctor Who episode: Old Thor is questioning his younger self as to where in life he is and promptly tells him to forget everything he just said. I was waiting for River Song to step out and chastise future Thor for spoilers! We get the Asgardian version of wibbly-wobbly-timey-wimey as future Thor complains about time travel. Oh, and they get drunk together. I’m very glad Jason Aaron decided to go the humor route with the two Thors. The humor is a nice juxtaposition to the utter despair we see towards the end of the issue at the hands of Gorr.

Aaron has created an amazing villain in Gorr the God Butcher. So many times Thor just faces off against something he can solve with his Hammer, but Gorr is different. He is determined and brutal. He shows no mercy to any deity, and his vendetta spans all of time. And the worst part? The more you learn about him, the more you kind of start to sympathize with him. In this issue Gorr does something I wouldn’t have thought possible. It is a true “well, shit...” moment, and it sets up the rest of the arc to be an emotional and action packed roller coaster. I can’t wait.

Esad Ribic’s art takes what is already an amazing Thor book and makes it a perfect Thor book. This man was meant to draw and paint Thor. He had an amazing run on Conan and has taken that style and applied it to the God of Thunder. Everything is epic. From a dark scene in a cosmic Library of the Gods to Thor and Thor sailing off into the cosmos to confront Gorr, everything looks amazing. He uses a combination of pencils and paint to give every page a wonderful fantasy atmosphere. Even some of the more Sci-Fi looking bits in future Asgard look like they could fit in a Conan book.

Simonson was the master of Thor the superhero; Ribic is master of Thor the god.

If you are a Thor fan, this is the book to buy this week. If you are a comics fan, this is the book to buy this week. If you are a Thor and Doctor Who fan? You have no excuse not to buy this issue. Jason Aaron and Esad Ribic are giving us a run for the ages on Thor (pun intended). If you have extra cash this week, I would recommend grabbing any of the back issues you can. The first trade doesn't come out until June and it would be a crime to wait that long to catch up on such an amazing run.

Batman: Arkham Origins Announced for Fall 2013

Get ready to head back to the asylum....way back, in fact.

The wildly popular "Arkham" series of Batman games will continue this year with a prequel installment titled Batman: Arkham Origins. Set prior to the events of both Arkham Asylum and Arkham City, the game will focus on Batman's first interactions with many of Gotham's most notorious villains. However, skepticism may be warranted. Rocksteady, the developer that made the first two games such successes will not be handling this outing into Gotham's seedy underbelly. Development has been taken over by Warner Bros. Games Montreal, but hopefully, they will deliver a worthy entry into the "Arkham" series.

According to WB Games Montreal, the plot of the game will involve eight of the best assassins in the world, hired by Gotham villain Black Mask, arriving in Gotham City on Christmas Eve night to kill Batman. These assassins will also be joined by the corrupt cops of Gotham who also seek Black Mask's reward for the Bat's head. Other details include an open world environment like Arkham City that includes two separate areas, "Old Gotham" and "New Gotham", providing a stark contrast between fancy skyscrapers and the familiar slums of what will become the Arkham City open asylum.

Arriving alongside Arkham Origins will be the handheld game Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate, which will launch for the 3DS and PS Vita. Taking place after the events of Arkham Origins, Blackgate will follow Batman's attempt to quell a riot at, you guessed it, Blackgate Prison. Unlike the third-person perspective of the previous games, Blackgate will be a side-scroller that features some of the same weapons and gadgets but will not rely on the previously established XP system.

Batman: Arkham Origins will be available for the Wii U, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC on October 25, 2013.

Review: Star Wars #4

Brian Wood’s journey through the Star Wars galaxy continues this week with Star Wars #4. Action and intrigue abound as the Rebels and Imperials continue to square off from opposite sides of the galaxy, dealing with internal and external conflicts alike. Issue #4 feels a bit more like filler than the previous three installments, but the story moves forward nonetheless. With multiple storylines going on in the series, Wood choose to focus heavily on the Rebels this time around, but still keeps the Imperials in the game.

As Brian Wood catches us up with Han and Chewie after their botched meeting on Coruscant, we find the pair running for their lives from a TIE fighter patrol. While a chase through the skyscrapers of the Imperial capital isn’t anything new, this particular instance includes a most unconventional means of evading pursuit as only our favorite Corellian and Wookiee can deliver. Just when you think you’ve seen it all, Carlos D’Anda depiction will make even the most casual Star Wars fan smile. Wood then leaves us with the promise that the smugglers are headed towards an “out of the frying pan, into the fire” situation in issue #5. A brief yet spectacular look in on Han and Chewie.

The meat of issue #4 focuses on the ongoing drama that is Princess Leia’s black ops squad of pilots tasked with finding a new home for the Alliance, as well as weeding out the mole in their midst. Sadly, this is the most disappointing section of the book since we don’t really see anything new. The squadron heads out and splits into teams to scout different sites, but, just as we’ve seen already, they are ambushed by an Imperial patrol. We understand that this is what the Rebels are attempting to avoid, but it seems like no progress has been made in this particular storyline. The Imperials show up, Leia and company freak out, and a dogfight ensues. Here’s hoping this one has a different and surprising outcome in the issues to come. The saving grace is Carlos D’Anda’s art. He continues to excel in portraying the action of a Star Wars dogfight, beautifully illustrating fighters and environments.

The issue ends with the most intriguing turn yet. Aboard Death Star II, we find Darth Vader bitching out his staff of officers for their “apparent lack of progress.” However, just in time to prevent an entire room full of invisibly choked corpses, Birra Seah, a liaison from the Kuat manufacturing company, calms down the Dark Lord (you read that right). Convincing him that his form of motivation is less than efficient in the workplace (who knew?), Seah makes a deal that will put her in charge of the remaining construction on the station….for a price. The fact that this is someone who was very quick to get into Vader’s good graces is fascinating. This storyline will definitely keep me coming back.

Brian Wood and Carlos D’Anda continue to do good work, regardless of the sudden decrease in pace, but every issue can’t be non-stop action. The pair continues to display an excellent handle on the material, from Wood’s quick nod to Han Solo’s days on the Imperial Academy to D’Anda’s beautiful, full-page splash of R2-D2 and C-3PO, accompanied by banter reminiscent of their famous squabbles in the Tataooine desert and Echo Base.

Star Wars #4 is out today from Dark Horse!

"Game of Thrones" Recap: Valar Dohaeris

Greetings, TV lovers! I am back from hibernation (which is ironic, since winter is coming) to bring you this season's Game of Thrones recaps! There is a lot to keep track of in these crazy realms, so hopefully you are all caught up on seasons one and two, and ready for more political intrigue, new allegiances, and lots of dirty guys and gals in armor.

After the obligatory here-is-what-you-missed-while-you-were-hiding-under-a-rock recap of season 2, the premiere, entitled "Valar Dohaeris" allows us to relive Daenerys' rage filled fire at her dragons' warlock captures, and we heard them shrieking and ripping things to shreds. Score. Those blue-mouthed weirdos scare me.

Beyond the Wall:

Then there is fat friend, Samwell Tardy, running through the snow away from the white walkers. He is attacked by a zombie white walker, but Jon Snow's wolf saves him! Huzzah. The Lord Commander, Mormont, helps out by lighting it on fire. We learn that poor hapless Samwell hasn't sent out the ravens like he was supposed. Idiot. I still like him though!  I also like me some Jon Snow, and we catch up with him and Ygritte at the wildlings adopted 'king' who used to be a night's watchman (aka Aberforth Dumbledore – Ciaran Hinds! Approve). Jon sees a giant hauling wood in the camp, a first for him and the viewers. Once faced with the not-king, Mance Rayder, Jon tells him about the white walkers and says he has come to fight and wonders if he has chosen a fighting side. This goes over well, and he is accepted.

In King's Landing:

Cersei pays Tyrion a visit. He is still recovering from the battle and has a deep scar across much of his face. Cersei tries to weasel of out him why he was to meet with their father later that day. The two trade barbs but she doesn't get any information. We soon discover that Tyrion wants to leave King's Landing and take up residence in Casterly Rock, the Lannister ancestral castle/home. Since his older brother Jamie joined the king's guard and gave up his inheritance, Tyrion insists it is his by right. Tywin thinks very differently, slandering Tyrion, his dwarf stature, his preference for wine and whores, the whole deal. Tyrion stomps off.

Hit the jump for the full recap!

Click to read more ...

"Arrested Development" Returning on May 26!

We've known for a while now that the hilarious Arrested Development was defying YOLO-enthusiasts everywhere with its revival via the streaming giant Netflix.

Back in 2011, we heard "first half of 2013."  In 2012, we heard "May."  Now, we finally have a set date:  Sunday, May 26, 2013!

(Kudos to Netflix for adhering to a first-announced release date schedule! As a gamer, I'm often disappointed.)

Like previous Netflix-original series (such as the critically-acclaimed House of Cards), all 15 episodes of this final countdown season will be ready at one time -- just waiting for your TV binge pleasure.

There are some opponents to the idea of releasing the entire series at once, arguing that the wait from week-to-week lets you savor, digest, and discuss.  I can see the point, but can't you hear the counterargument?

"Like the guy in the 5,000 dollar suit is going to wait for a series to air over time?! Come on!"

Shut Up and Take My $5: Indestructible Hulk #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?

---

<ALERT>

Hope this message reaches you in time! For the love of all that is holy: do not - I REPEAT - do not buy Dial H #11. I was wrong. Oh God, I was so wrong. What a waste of money...

</ALERT>

Now back to our regularly scheduled review...

This week, Marvel shined with three strong offerings in Age of Ultron #4, Thanos Rising #1, and Indestructible Hulk #6. These three books left the rest of my reads in the dust. But, you ask, who would win in a battle between The Hulk, Ultron, and Thanos? It’s actually a really easy question to answer.

Hulk. Smash.

Hulk has never been a favorite of mine. I feel like the Jekyll and Hyde bit has been done to death, and you can only watch the Hulk smash so many things before it actually get’s boring.

Enter Mark Waid.

In one arc, he managed to make both the Hulk and Bruce Banner fresh and exciting again, all without stripping away the core characters. For once, a writer is allowing Bruce Banner to grow and stretch his legs a little, making the Hulk's appearances all that more satisfying.

There is so much to love about this issue’s story. Bruce Banner is his own mad scientist version of the Future Foundation. With unlimited funds from S.H.I.E.L.D. and his own hand picked team of assistants, Banner is a sight to behold. Want to make a portal to Jotunheim using a sliver of Uru metal from Mjolnir? Sure. Why not? They can do that.  And do it, they did.

Opening the way to the one of the other nine worlds brings us some nice scenes with the Hulk vs. Frost Giants, with some help from Thor. The twist? This is not the Thor we were expecting. Somehow Banner’s portal landed them in a time before Thor’s involvement with the Avengers. Banner’s interaction with Thor is pure gold, including a comment about how the Thor he knows “drinks a Shake Shack dry once a week.” Kudos to Waid for making this Thor a lot like the Simonson Thor from the 80’s, complete with Shakespearian voice. It’s a great touch and jives perfectly with the art for the book.

Oh, did I forget to mention that this arc is being penciled by Walt Simonson? My bad.

I don’t think there could have been a better choice to pencil this story. There is something about Simonson’s art that just shines any time he is drawing anything having to do with Thor and crazy mad science. This issue is chock full of Simonson sound effects, Simonson energy circles, and Simonson motion lines. For fans new and old, this issue is an artistic treat.

But - and sadly yes, there is a “but” - Mr. Simonson’s art does suffer just a tad from the coloring job done on the book. This could be the crotchety old fan coming out, but I think Simonson’s art lends itself to the old pen and paper days. The digital color just doesn't work as well with his pencil and ink style. It comes off like someone tried to color a page that was meant to be black and white. But this is a small quibble; it’s still a gorgeous book.

There you have it, folks: Indestructible Hulk #6 has been found worthy of your $5. Between Mark Waid’s mad science and old school Thor fun and Walt Simonson’s fantastic art, this book delivers on every page. If you still need some convincing, I will direct you to this spoilerific splash page from the end of the issue. If that doesn’t sell you, you must be a fun-hating robot.

Review: Doctor Who, "The Bells of St. John"

Right, then, Clara Oswald. Time to find out who you are.

After losing her twice before (in "Asylum of the Daleks" and "The Snowmen"), the Doctor finally meets his impossible girl again. But just who is Clara "Oswin" Oswald?

If you were expecting to find out everything today, you were gravely mistaken.  Still, we have a strong, fun episode to get us back into the swing of things and re-re-reintroduce us to the universe's next companion.

"The Bells of St. John" marks Jenna-Louise Coleman's first official appearance as companion Clara. These first companion episodes (as they should be) are all about the chemistry and the spark between Doctor and his newest assistant. The Doctor needs to be so amazing and spectacular that the companion wants to be whisked away by this youthful, 1100-year-old man, but the companion also needs to be as intriguing and challenging to make the Doctor offer the ride. They have to work best off of each other, and they have to overcome the foe together.

Hit the jump for the full Who review!

Click to read more ...

David Tennant Returns to Doctor Who!

Announced on their Facebook page (and later confirmed by the BBC), David Tennant and Billie Piper will be returning to Doctor Who in this year's 50th Anniversary Special.  While most were expecting the fan-favorite 10th Doctor's would be back, it is exciting news to finally get confirmation that Tennant would, in fact, be returning to the fold.  Their many shippers around the world are also - no doubt - very excited to see Tennant returning with his first companion, the love-her-or-hate-her Rose Tyler, in tow.

Also announced, John Hurt (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Alien, Harry Potter) is also listed as a guest star on the much-anticipated 50th anniversary special.  The press release states that these are only "some of the all star cast," so there are more surprises ahead of us.

I. can't. freaking. wait.

Doctor Who returns tonight on BBC America at 8:00PM ET!  Headlining BBCA's "Supernatural Saturday" block, Doctor Who is followed by the premieres of Orphan Black and The Nerdist talk show.

The 50th Anniversary Special, beginning filming this week, is set to broadcast this fall.

(Full press release after the break.)

Click to read more ...