Comic Fest 2010: A Fantastic Spring Day

So, last week was Comic Fest here in Denver and it was a blast. I got some awesome prints of Zatanna and Matilda (Natalie Portman in the Professional), I also picked up a big chunk of the original New Mutants run including a copy of Marvel Graphic Novel No.4 signed by Claremont and McLeod and the issue Cypher died in. Besides the cool raid of the quarter bins and finding out there's a cool little comic shop in Cheyenne. I also got to hang out and have a cigarette with Matthew Sturges (after he signed my copy of JSA: All Stars(which of course, cuz it's me was the issue with Stargirl on the cover). I even made him laugh while doing a bit of monologuing on Power Girl's outfit and the frequency of having to tie Chuck Taylors(which we agreed was a worthwhile cost of wearing cool shoes). Then I got an issue of Madame Xanadu as well as a sketch, and make it even cool was when she told me she remember the review I did here at Monkey Knife Fight of her manga Fool's Gold. She and Matt Sturges are(from my meetings with them) super nice and awesome folks. Oddly, enough while I was there I kept running into Scorpio Steele and Zach Howard (also really neat guys) and I also said "Hi" Armando Durruthy how did an awesome Guy Gardner sketch from me last year and we've kinda been keeping in touch since then. Oh and before I forget I also got a way cool Avengers print done in a style that kinda reminds ya of Bruce Timm's style. though, I didn't have any work critiqued this year I was able to scope out some of the panels. Which for whatever reason, I ended up missing all of the panels last year, which really sucked. All three of the panels I went to were all pretty DC centric and the Marvel panels honestly seemed kinda lame so, I opted for raiding Quarter Bins instead. Well, that's about it had a really great time and hopefully next year they'll move it to a bigger room as it's starting to get really crowded in the space they hold it. I even managed to find a copy of the Marvel Team-Up featuring Spiderman, The New Mutants and Cloak & Dagger, in which Sunspot and Wolfsbane are injected with the drugs that gave Cloak and Dagger their powers. All in all I had a really fun time.

She's the Boss...Bub

Reading a blog on here a couple days ago someone referred to Jubilee as Wolverine's sidekick. Which kinda struck me as odd since as a kid I always thought he was her sidekick and even lately rereading the Jim Lee Visionaries trade. It seems like that, or at least that's how I interpret it. Nowadays I can see it more of thinking of her as his sidekick, but (partly because it's funnier)I still like to think of him as her sidekick. Just something about this world wary soldier being the tag a long to a teenage mallrat just tickles me deep down and if I ever got the chance to write a Wolverine story that is exactly how I would write it with her calling the shots and him just there as the muscle following her around and her flights of fancy and beating up any one dumb enough to talk smack to her. Of course, the funniest thing would be to have him (in at least one panel) say to her "sure, boss." Well that's all I got for today. Hope everyone has a good weekend.

X-Factor: The Movie (casting call)

A couple of posts ago, I wrote up how much I think James Roday of Psych fame should play Jamie Madrox in a movie and thinking it over I thought it would be fun (since I haven't done it in a while). To put together a list of who I'd cast if they ever made an X-Factor movie. This the X-Factor from the Madrox miniseries up to issue #35or so.

Jamie Madrox/Multiple Man - James Roday, since I already wrote a previous blog about this choice I won't go into much detail other than saying I think he would make a perfect Jamie.

Guido Carosella/Strong Guy - Ethan Suplee. Even though he's not Italian I think Ethan would make a great Strong Guy. Just make him 7 feet tall with some special FX magic and let him do his thing like he did in Mallrats and My Name is Earl and I think it would be like when they cast Hugh Jackman as Wolverine.

Monet St. Croix/M - Zoe Saldana. Besides her action chops in movies like Star Trek and Avatar. She is beautiful enough to pull off the Veronica Lodge aspects of M's personality while remaining believable that she could kick every one's ass, while painting her nails.

Theresa Rourke Cassidey/Siryn - Isla Fisher. Even though she's not Irish and has mostly done comedies. I think she has the looks and the wit to play the live action incarnation of Banshee's Daughter. Especially with her slightly unhinged character in The Wedding Crashers.

Rahne Sinclear/Wolfsbane - Rachel Nichols. Even though I thought G.I. Joe was a terrible, terrible movie and she's not Scottish. I thought she was pretty good in it. But, what really makes me think she would make a good Wolfsbane is her role as the Orion cadet in Star Trek.

Julio Esteban Richter/Rictor - Gael Garcia Bernal. With his roles as Che Guevara in Fidel and The Motorcycle Daries. I feel he would make a good fit as the "powerless" Rictor.

Pietro Maximoff/Quicksilver - Cary Elwes. Much like Paul Rudd he has that perfect ability of being able to play a complete jerkass while still remaining likable. This is probably the biggest hurdle in finding an actor to play Pietro. In order to play the son of Magneto, who have to have an actor that can say terrible horrible things but still have the audience kinda like him and maybe even root for him a little bit and I think Mr. Elwes fits this to a T.

Layla Miller - Chloe Moretz. With her up coming role as Hit_Girl in Kick Ass and her kinda creepy looks (plus her age). I think she would do a really cool job as the girl who knows stuff.

Well there you have it the folks I would cast if I made an X-Factor movie. I hope you enjoy my selections and as always feel free to argue with me in the comments sections ;)

Hope this doesn't get my geek card taken away

I haven't really gone into this before so, I thought for a little change of pace I'd make a list (yay Lists!!!) of some of the geeky stuff I'm not into or don't like. Since, most of the time I use this blog to talk about the things I do like and also 'cause, I'm bored and can't really think of anything else to write about. As with most lists I do on here these are in no particular order.

Lord of The Rings - Never read the books (or plan to)and I found the movies more boring than watching paint dry after a baseball game.

Tabletop Gaming - Even though I have friends who are into Warhammer and D&D I've never seen the fun in it and occasionally feel the need to make fun of the people who are into it as being way geekier than me, even though we're probably one par with one another.

Doctor Who - My uncle used to watch this show when I was a wee lad and even then I thought it was cheesy. I tried to give the new show a chance and even though its lost some of the cheese I just don't feel it. Nothing against anyone who does it's just not my bag.

Fantasy - For whatever reason which goes into why I didn't like LOTR. I've never been a fan of any of the wizards and elf stuff. As soon as I here that wizards or swords and sorcery are involved my brain just completely checks out. Not sure why, guess that's just how I'm wired.

WoW - Maybe tying into that whole thing about more loathing of fantasy settings. I just don't understand how so many people get hooked on the World of Warcrack. Just everything I've heard of it makes it sound lame and then when I thought it couldn't get any lamer Mr.T and Ozzy started pimping it. This does weird out some of my friends that I hate this game so much when I love other RPGs (especially Final Fantasy VII). But for whatever reasons, I really really hate this game.

I could thing of some other stuff but, not wanting to get lynched or have my geek-cred revoked I think I'll leave it at that. Hope y'all have a Happy Easter and I'm sure I'll be back to talking about Aquaman's suckiness or the awesomeness of Jubilee or something equally unimportant here soon :P

He may not have psychic powers, but kenetic powers...

Even though, its on hiatus at the moment. Every time I watch Psych, one thing is made abundantly clear... The star James Roday would be perfect if they ever make an X-Factor movie or any other kind of X-Film with Multiple Man in a large role. Seeing his Hi-jinx as Shawn Spencer week after week makes me think of the awesomeness of having a scene with 5 or 10 of him having an argument over how played the leader of the Cobra Kai's in Karate Kid, or whether or not Humphrey Bogart actually said, "Play it again, Sam." In Casablanca.

With Our Powers Combined...

So, this week I've been re-playing the first Marvel Ultimate Alliance and though I enjoy the game. There are quite a few characters I wish this or the sequel would have made playable and that is what I would like to talk about to day. Which means another list (WOO-HOO!!). For those of you who haven't been here before. I'm a cat that really enjoys make lists. If I can find any excuse to make up a list you better believe I will use it. With that said here is a list of the character I think they should use as playable characters if (or when) the do a third Marvel Ultimate Alliance.

Firestar - Mainly, so I can form a Spiderman and his Amazing Friends team. Since both Spiderman and Iceman have been playable since the first one I think it's only fair to include Firestar in the next one.

Madrox - Granted both him and Firestar are bosses in the second Marvel Alliance game its just not the same and actually, I think it would be great if they included a bunch of X-Factor characters. Including (besides Jamie, Natch); M, Wolfsbane, Strong Guy,Siryn, Beast and, Havok. Plus, it would be fun to have an all Madri team. lol

Jubilee - Because, I love her and think she should be in all things Marvel.

The New Mutants - Or at least Cannonball, Magick, Sunspot and, Warlock (since, I already include Rahne in the X-Factor list).

Kitty Pryde - I'm actually kinda shocked she wasn't in any of the games yet.

Cloak and Dagger - They've had bit part and stuff but making them playable would be so awesome.

Hank Pym - really any of his personae would work.

Well, that's the list. Looking back its a bit mutant heavy but what can I say. I'm a mutie lover. After all if it wasn't for the X-books I would've proably stopped reading Marvel all together years ago and this is my site after all. Agree/Disagree drop my a line about your picks. Have a good wekkend and I'll see ya when I see ya.

A Geeky Confessional

Taking a break from my New Mutant love I figured I'd confess you to you my faithful reads about some of my darkest secrets (okay, they're not really that dark or that much of a secret,lol). But, I feel the need to make a confessional of some of my nerdy likes. Since, I don't really go into this stuff all that much I figured I'd let my guard down and share this stuff with all ya.

I still love Spiderman and his Amazing Friends. I don't know what it is about this show. But, something about it just hits all my geek buttons. Maybe its something about the joys and wonder of childhood and my memories of sitting in front of the TV as a young lad and watching the adventures of Pete, Bobby and Angelica or maybe its just that this was just an awesome show that has stood the test of time alot better than the shows it competed against back in the day. Who knows.

I enjoy collecting lots of GL paraphernalia. From Green Lantern rings and shirts and my Green Lantern jacket. It probably doesn't hurt that my favorite color is green and sadly, I am still waiting for them to make a GL bowling shirt.

My New Mutant love. Since I have made a few posts on this one. I won't go into much detail other than I really dig this book.

Jubilee! If you have read this blog with any regularity it will become apparent that I am a bit fixated on Ms. Jubilation Lee. It all started as a lad when I purchased the X-Men's Atlantis Attacks Annual which featured a short Jubilee story in one of her first appearances and ever since then. I have been smitten.

Since, i don't want to give away all of my geeky secrets I think I'll leave it at this before I depress myself and must get drunk until this shame no longer saddens me.
Good night and good luck :P

The New Mutants (coming to Disney XD soon)

After yesterday's post I've decided to keep the New Mutant love going. So, today I thought I'd spend some time and go into further detail on the idea I posted (in one of my very first posts on here). The idea was that (among others) The New Mutants should have an animated series based on their adventures. For me this idea is a no-brainer as far as I'm concerned. After all, you could stealth get kids into the Marvel Universe by using this team that not many of them have heard of, and maybe their parents haven't even heard of this team. Plus, you get to tell stories that haven't been told a million times before. Which seems to be the many problem of what to do when you bring one of the A-list comic book characters to the small screen and there as an offshoot of this you can tell stories that are nearly direct lifts from the original New Mutants book and the kids will think these are brand new stories. Of course, now that Marvel has been bought by Disney, I feel this would be even more advantageous. So, on that note this is how I would break down the series:




Season 1 - The formation of the team. Professor X must find these "new mutants" that are appearing around the world before Donald Peirce and the Hellfire Club find them and turn them into criminals. This season would have Spiderman, the X-Men and, the Fantastic Four. The season ends with Karma's disappearance and the team going on to look for Roberto's Mother.

Season 2 - The New Mutants begin learning how to use their powers responsibly. As well as Learning to work as a team and trust each other with their lives. With season begins with the New Mutants finding and saving Roberto's mother from a group of goons. Which leads into them them discovering Nova Roma and befriending Amara Aquilla (though I would probably drop some of the Roman stuff and make it more South American). It would also have Kitty Pryde join the team and the season ending with the team being forced into attending the the Massachusetts Academy. With the X-Men and Hellfire Club guest staring.

Season 3 - Would open with the New Mutants escaping from the Massachusetts Academy and Ktty leaving the team. After that it would feature the arc where Rahne and Roberto gain Cloak & Daggers powers and the addition of Cypher (Doug Ramsey) to the team and ending with the Demon Bear Saga and Magick joining the team. Guest stars would include Cloak & Dagger, Spiderman and the Avengers along with a couple of X-Men.

And if it was lucky enough to get a fourth season this one would include the addition of Warlock, as well as the Legion storyline and the introduction of Strong Guy as Sam reconnects with Lila Chaney and the team learning what happened to Karma and attempting to rescue her from her Uncle's control. Guests would include Multiple Man, Dazzler, Kitty Pryde,Strong Guy and Banshee.

Well there you have it Disney (and Marvel) my pitch for a New Mutants cartoon. Now all you have to do is give me a bunch of free passes to Disney land and world and I will write the entire thing (and of course, make sure to credit Chris Claremont).

Some New Mutant Love

Ya know I realised today that I haven't written about my love of The New Mutants in awhile. One of the things that brought this on was me finally getting a copy of The New Mutants: Classic Vol. 4 and chatting about it with a couple of people. So, in an attempt to rectify that, I figured I would do some of that today. First I would like to talk about how disappointing it was when they killed off Doug Ramsey. To me this was a wasted opportunity, he could have been one of the most effective mutants. After all his power is that he can understand all languages. Think about that for a minute. Besides, using it to translate and communicate with all the countries of the Earth and all the alien races of the Marvel Universe, he can also understand body languages (much like Batgirl before she learned to speak) of both humans and non-humans. But, he could also understand all computer languages. Just going with the computer and body language aspects would be like combining the skills of Oracle and Cassandra Cain into one character. Just doing that would have made him into one of the most badassed characters around, then you add in his powers as the best translator in the MU and you have one very powerful mutant.

Next I would like to talk about (again), how one of the things that separated the X-Men from other teams of superheroes and really made them stand out (at least for me). Was the Xavier School. As I've written on here before this is one of the worst parts of that whole House of M fiasco in my opinion. Without the school there isn't much difference between the X-Men and any of the other superhero teams and to keep this post on subject. I would like to add that one of the things that I really enjoyed back in the day about reading The New Mutants was the whole the junior varsity team vs. the varsity team rivalry between the new mutants and the X-Men, especially in the story arc of Kitty Pryde joining the New Mutants and how she felt like it was a demotion from her place on the X-Men.

Finally, I would like to spend a little time on how good this series was in its character work. From the first issue up until Rob Liefeld began working on the book you could really see the through line of the growth each character developed through out the series. From Sam becoming more comfortable as a leader to Rahne gaining more self confidence as well as becoming more comfortable in her own skin. Even the development in both Bobby and Danielle of learning to work with a team and each becoming less implusive in their actions. I could go on and on about all the things I love about this book. But, I think this is a good stopping point.

A Ranty Review

So, I finally broke down and watched the live action G.I. Joe and since seeing it I have been talking every one's ears off about how terrible this movies is. I figured I'd better write these things down here before I lose any friends or family members over my incessant nit picking of this movie. Now, It's true that I still enjoy the
80s cartoon, but I hardly call myself a die hard fan. I don't own any G.I.Joes and I've only read a handful of their comics... Still this movie was terrible and before you read ahead (just in case you haven't seen this terrible terrible movie). This review (rant) is chocked full of spoilers.

After watching I really believed that this was written as a futuristic military movie and during the second draft on of the producers thought that they could change a few names in the script slap the name G.I.Joe on it and they could collect more money and get it made easier. Watching this movie I could not find any choice the director made as being passable yet alone the correct choice. First there's the lame explanation of G.I.Joe that goes along with Duke and Ripcord's recruitment. this was so lame, I really wish more directors would get the advice Mike Baron gave me when I should him my comic book ideas. Show Don't Tell!!! They spent way to much time explain the concept of G.I. Joe when they could have saved so much time just dropping you in a la Star Wars and letting you discover this world as the plot unfolds rather than just using every military movie cliche to over explain everything. Next there's "The Baroness" whose so lame the cartoon version would pimp slap the taste out of her mouth if the two ever met.

This movie feels like the writers did absolutely zero research while making this movie. Zero. Probably the least offense is making Ripcord black. The flashbacks of Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow I felt were better than the actual movie. The film makers completely ruined The Baroness, turning her for a hard as nails femme fatale who is ruthless and will betray anyone friend or foe to accomplish her goals. Into a weak brainwashed damsel in distress. Whom is rescued by her former boyfriend Duke. It's really sad that the cartoon is more brutal and has stronger characters in both the protagonists and antagonist than the movie. Seriously, the actually toned down The Baroness, Snake Eyes and Destro's origins. WTF! I repeat the toned down their origins.

Actually, compared to the 1987 movie, they toned down just about everything in this version. Now, I don't want to be one of those folks who trashes something without giving ways they could have made this a decent movie. Sadly, I feel if they would have done any of these and kept everything else the same this movie would be a keeper rather than I punishment not permitted by the Geneva Convention.

First, they could have had more Joes in the background, hell in the workout scene alone they could have had 8 or 10 non speaking extras that could be identified in some form or another. Like having a guy on the treadmill next to Scarlett with a large tattoo of the Marines emblem on his chest or a guy in a red football jersey grabbing some weights or a guy wearing a Union Calvary or a Red Socks hat picking up weights. I mean this is supposed to be an ultra elite branch of the military and they only have 5 members and one of them never leaves the office? LAME. They could have had Xamot and Tomax in a meeting with Destro just wearing business suits with Cobra tie pins and I would have been happy.

Another way is if they had not changed Snake Eyes and The Baroness' origins so much making them pansies compared to their animated doppelgangers. Hell, the girls from W.I.T.C.H. could win a tussle with these characters. The director and writer could have learned a lot if they would have approached this project the way J.J. Abrams approached Star Trek and, though I'm not much into Star Trek that movie actually made me rethink my beliefs about Abrams and his talents (or lack there of). This movie also has the problem of stealing its biggest piece of action from Team America and actually doing a worse job at it. Seriously, if you are thinking about finally seeing this movie go watch either G.I.Joe: The Movie (1987) or Team America and you will have a much more entertaining viewing experience. This movie should be used in film school as how not to make a movie and by that I don't mean as an adaption of another work or as reworking of an old franchise I mean a just a general movie. The professor and his students should have the writer(s) and director visit their classes (or attend them to learn what film making actual is) and have the students go over it scene by scene and tell them how off the mark they were in each one. I honestly believe these film makers should personally give back every dollar that this movie made to us poor saps that sat through it.

Shhhh... It's a Secret

Reading Kalinara's latest fun meme, got me to thinking about my favorite characters and to share with you fine folks about some of the secrets and/ or guilty pleasures I believe they have and enjoy. So, here ya go :)

Jubilee - Is way smarter than Kitty Pryde, but she hides it because she would rather play video games than reprogram the Danger Room.

Big Barda - Her favorite thing to do when no one is around is to play with Barbies.

Booster Gold - He has thought about trying out for American Idol, but doesn't think he has a good enough voice or that the audience has the proper respect for Blondie. His audition song would be Rapture.

Guy Gardener - Secretly wishes he could draw as well as Kyle.

Superman - would actually perfer being a farmer or a reporter rather than a superhero.

Bruce Wayne - His favorite band (though he would never admit it) is The Cardigans.

Alex Summer - Way better at crossword puzzles than his brother Scott.

Well, there you go there's my list of secrets that I think these characters are witholding from the general audience.Hope you enjoy it :)

Away My X-Men

Lately, I've been thinking about the X-Men and the different things I like about them. This train of thought then brought me to how much "House of M" really bugged me. Besides de-powering one of my favorite X-Men (the mighty and awesome Jubilee). It also really annoyed me how much they shrunk the mutant population. One of the things I dug about the X-Men pre-House of M was the variety in mutants and powers and how the different groups within the Xavier Institute. Of all the things I miss about the X-Men and their affiliated "X-Teams" the pre-House of M variety and the combinations that led to make my really miss those days. sadly, stories like House of M have become a trademark of Joe Quesada's editorial run at Marvel. After all who would of thought after this terrible story we would have the whole Civil War fiasco followed by Peter Parker selling his soul to the Devil and getting a divorce out of the deal. One the plus side it looks like they're finally undoing a couple of these stories and even though DC has been better at the major event promotions as of late. One of the things that really has been bugging me about both companies has been the whole Nothing Will Ever Be The Same!!! events. Of course, the main reason I'm not a fan of these events is because, the only thing that makes one of these events stick is wholey dependent on how good the story is. After all once another writer takes over a book (s)he is able to throw out the stuff they don't like while keeping the continuity they either like or were fans of back in the day and in teh end I guess, even us fans have the power to do that as well and in my X-Men Universe Jubes is still a mutant and the kids that starred in the X-Men Academy books are all still at the school and they all still live in New York state.