Ender’s Game is one of the most successful science fiction series of the eighties. Of course, I say this without having actually read it or ever having discussed it with anyone or even knowing a damn thing about it. I suppose I’d heard of it before, but I can’t really say that with any certainty.

Having read this introductory issue I’d say that there is a lot of potential for the comic series. The lead character is intriguing and the world is not overly complicated or hard to get into. There is a bit of lingo that is never clearly explained, but for the most part the meanings can be inferred. Certainly part of the charm is having all the elements of the story come together and finally make sense. While it was a lot of setup and not much action there’s really no other way for a quality story to begin. A solid foundation, so to speak. The art wasn’t really my style but it seemed well matched with the subject matter and was executed cleanly and consistently.

Overall I wasn’t completely bowled over but there are aspects that piqued my curiosity. I cannot guarantee that I would actively seek out and purchase the next issue but I am definitely interested to see how the story will develop.

Publisher: Marvel
Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane #3
Written and Drawn by: Terry Moore and Craig Rosseau
On stands: 10/8/2008

One of the amazing perks of this job is getting to enjoy Marvel Comics before they come out…just so you can ramble about them online! It’s a dream life.

So I get to see SMLMJ before all you lowly readers, and I’m glad I can give you a mostly positive review.

Spiderman Loves Mary Jane is an out-of-continuity series told through the point of view of Mary Jane Watson, and is aimed mostly towards girls, though if any male thinks that automatically means they won’t enjoy it, they are sexist pigs and I curse them to the bowels of Hades.

I have enjoyed the series mostly. It gets a little to fluffy for my tastes at times, but most of the time it’s a fun, low pressure read that doesn’t condescend to the assumed “girl” reader. It’s always a good idea to enjoy a book that’s not all tangled up in continuity and the need to be X-TREME.

This miniseries has kept up the same tone in continuing the zany teenage antics of MJ and friends, with a little snarky Spidey action on the side in this particular issue. There’s nothing ground breaking or “deep” here, but it’s like sipping a foamy milkshake- sweet and fun.

That’s not to say I didn’t find some overused cliches here (Uh oh, Flash is jealous of Peter tutoring Liz! That dumb jock and his temper!) but they didn’t irk me to badly. If you’re allergic to cute, I’d avoid the series, but I think everyone, even guys, can benefit from reading something a little cute.

The art isn’t bad, though MJ’s constant anime blush is starting to grate on me. It’s obviously cartoony and I’ve always been a fan of that.

So, though I don’t claim it’s a great comic, I recommend it for anyone who wants to relax their brain for a few minutes and enjoy Spiderman and MJ deal-with-the-devil-free.

Also, according to MJ’s dialogue, something called a “punk-goth emo-bot” dwells in her world. If that thing ever finds me, we’ll have a robot war on our hands.

I am very shocked when I say this, but I really enjoyed this issue. Normally, this wouldn’t be something unusual for me to say about a Supergirl comic…if I was talking about Peter David’s run of Supergirl, which I adored. But the current Supergirl?

This run of Supergirl has been…rocky, to put it nicely. The first few issues were controversial due to the art (which depicted a ridiculously skinny and sexualized Kara- and this is even by comic book standards, the girls bones were jutting- in a skirt the length of a belt and some lackluster writing depicting Supergirl as an angsty, bratty teeenybopper without a kind bone in her body…though the writers probably thought she was “dark” and “edgy” with the all her boring daddy issues. It got to the point where the editor was begging women to read the title. Yeah.

DC actually listened to it’s fans and improved the art by putting the excellent Renato Guedes and Tony Bedard in for some fill in issues, and then some more artists that drew Kara like a human being and not a sex puppet.

The writing, though better, remained lackluster. Supergirl lacked a supporting cast and any real direction or interest as a title.

DC has promised to fix all that with this new run by Sterling Gates and Jamal Ingle and give Supergirl a real place in the Superman mythos.

This issue looks for a promising start. It addresses the criticisms about Supergirl in a much less patronizing way than Supergirl #18 (which was basically Joe Kelly’s rant that the fans wanted Kara to have no flaws at all and that’s why they didn’t like the book…completely missing the point) and sets up a conflict between Kara and the reporter Cat Grant.

I genuinely sympathized with Kara’s struggle to find her place in the world in the story, and I really liked her interaction with Lana. There was a very neat scene with Superman where the two of them had coffee on the rooftops, and for the first time I really got a feeling of affection between those two, and mutual understanding.

The last page sets up a status quo I think could be taken in a very interesting direction. It’s certainly a solid jumping off point for other stories to be told.

The art was beautiful as well. I’ve always liked Jamal Ingle’s work. The characters are well defined and expressive, and Kara doesn’t look like she comes from Planet Blow Up Doll.

The comic was by no means a masterpiece, but it was solid and fun to read, and that’s important. What’s more important is something that happened when I was in my local comic book shop a while ago. A girl I knew from school as a fellow comic book geek was flipping through a Supergirl trade. She showed me a page where Kara was showing off her amazing ability to wear a thong and look like Paris Hilton.

“I don’t get how I’m supposed to relate to her,” she told me.

I couldn’t relate to that Supergirl either. I could relate to the Supergirl in this comic. And that, my friends, is a good sign. Let’s hope it continues.

No, unfortunately I did not get to play a demo of Spider-Man: Web of Shadows, the latest Spidey game to hit the market. SHH! however did have a demo shown to them and they have written up a pretty extensive and detailed review/preview of the game (pretty much spoiler-free) that you can check out here. Here’s a small excerpt:

Professional gamers guided us through an Xbox demo of the new game and we were stunned at the level of action and detail that’s been rendered in “Web of Shadows.” Not only does Spidey move through the game with all the speed, strength and agility as the real deal certainly would, it also cleverly uses his Spider-sense to ID and target threats and enemies, and gives him startling and dynamic levels of wall-crawling and web-slinging skills in an enormous playing field that makes the player feel like they’re smack in the middle of the New York cityscape where the action can literally go anywhere. It’s as if the player has been dropped in the middle of the most enormous action scene any of Sam Raimi’s movies could come up with. And throughout the relentless battles, Spider-Man retains that classic Peter Parker sense of humor, spouting a running series of quips and one-liners conceived by comic book writer Brian Reed.

Few game announcements have given this robot a preemptive robo-boner by only trailers, screen shots, and game descriptions, but next to Ghostbusters, Spider-Man: Web of Shadows has done just that. This may be the Spider-Man game we have all been waiting for and what Spider-Man 3 probably should have been; or it could be a massive disappointment.

Pass judgement when the game drops on October 21!

It'll take more than big ol' boobies and magic pony's to float this boat.

Was it the hype, the drastically different art style, the sporadic release schedule? Or was Ultimates 3 simply a bland an convoluted story that was crushed under the weight of our impossible expectations? I’m not sure, but I’m sorry to say that developing Ultron into a full fledged villain was maybe the only highlight that I can recall at the moment. I have to say that the wind has been taken out of my sails as we “March on Ultimatum” - or rather, shuffle, mosey, shamble, or at best - stride on Ultimatum. Seriously, did I miss something or was the payoff really just Magneto getting really mad and Dr. Doom stealing a sinister photo-op?

Am I alone in this sentiment? Because as i look back through the last decade of Ultimate Marvel goodness and often greatness, I see events far more epic and exhilarating story arcs that could have and maybe should have functioned as the universe wide turning point that Ultimatum is intended to be. Ultimate Galactus and Ultimates 2 come to mind first and maybe the zombie stuff in Ultimate Fantastic 4 - If you haven’t read them yet, you are missing out on some super-hero gold - Perfect 10’s those ones. Ultimates 3 on the other hand, I’ll gratiously round it up to a 5.

Seriously lets take some inventory here examining only The Ultimates 1,2&3:

Captain America:

Volumes 1&2 - Single handedly disarms a nuclear missile - Kicks the Hulk’s ass after dropping a tank on him - Impales Nazi alien on the tip of a fighter jet - Kicks Hank Pym’s ass while 60 feet tall - Drops a couple dozen Shield agents in a cemetery after being shot with about 100 tranquilizer darts - “DO YOU THINK THIS LETTER ON MY HEAD STANDS FOR FRANCE!?” - Saves the world - twice.

Volume 3 - Plays dress up with T’Challa

Hulk:

Volumes 1&2 - Attempts murdering Freddie Prince Jr. - Drinks a truck full of beer - Destroys an armada of alien spaceships with his bare hands - Beats Nazi alien to a pulp, eats him and shits him out - gets blown up by an nuclear bomb - Steals a pair of pants from a fat man - Kills Abomination.

Volume 3 - (Cricket noises…)

Thor:

Volumes 1&2 - Battles entire Ultimates team - Destroys alien armada with a hammer - goes crazy - Summons an Asgardian army into battle - kills his brother - saves the world - drinks lots of beer.

Volume 3 - Bangs Valkerie.

You see where I’m going here, sure punches were thrown, people died stuff happened (sort of) but good God did Ultimates 3 ever come up short. I can only hope that Ultimatum provides a decent segue for Mark Millar to pick up the pieces next year and bring some order back to this here town.

Anyway - that’s just one bot’s opinion, what did you all think of Ultimates 3?

1985 #5
Writer- Mark Millar
Artist-Tommy Lee Edwards

1985 #5 is an issue away from the final issue in this miniseries and it’s a damn fine issue at that. In brief, somehow the Villains of the Marvel Universe manage to travel from their universe to ours, where there are no superheroes. They set up shop in the spooky old Wyndahm house (which is a story in it’s self) and become increasing immoral and terrible in our universe with no heroes to keep them in check. Only Toby Goodman and his Dad, loyal Marvel Comics zombies know who they are and what to do to try and stop them. Originally planned as a series with photos way back in 2005, it was deemed way to costly to produce.

Toby ends up in the Marvel Universe in this issue trying to find superheroes to come back to his universe to help stop the villains. Much to his dismay, he’s not able to convince anyone of the seriousness of his plight. After trying the Avengers Mansion and the Baxter Building (Home of the Fantastic Four), he ends up at the Daily Bugle and manages to convince Peter Parker using his knowledge of him from the comics.

This comic is the ultimate kid fantasy that we’ve all had in our heads at one time or another. Anyone who’s read Marvel Comics has had fantasies of magically transporting themselves to another dimension to interact with their heroes. Heck, I still do it!

The only bad thing about this book I’d say is those who haven’t grew up reading Marvel may be not as attached to the story as someone who has. However, for those of you who loved the movies Goonies and Monster Squad, you may find yourself enjoying this series as well.

Bonus for supergeeks! This series ties into Millar’s current Marvel Comics, Wolverine and Fantastic Four. All three series are separate and can be enjoyed as such, but reading them all gives you a much larger vision of the story in each book.

Venom: Dark Origin #3 Published by: MARVEL Written by: Zeb Wells Art by: Angel Medina Release Date: October 1, 2008 Price: $2.99

Issue number three of Venom: Dark Origin is continuing the fall of Eddie Brock into the darkness that is Venom. I have been reading this mini-series since issue one, and I must say, I have been enjoying it.

This entire issue is Eddie obtaining the symbiote suit, and I thought it was done well. All 32 pages devoted to Eddie obtaining the suit, escaping with the suit, and discovering that the symbiote knows all the Spider-Man knew while it was bonded to him.

I have always felt that Venom was a flat character with no substance. It seemed he would just show up, try to kill or bond with Spider-Man for various reasons, then disappear. The thing is, though, is that I think we all forget that there is a man under the alien, and according to this telling of his life, a deeply troubled man. After all that happens to Eddie it brings to question whether or not all those evil things that Venom does is actually entirely the alien symbiote, or could some of it be the motivations of a man who feels he has been wronged by both Peter Parker and the mask he wears?

This has been a great reveal of Eddie Brock’s life and really adds some depth to the villain of Venom by showcasing the man bonded to the alien, not just the alien itself. This is a good read for Spider-Man fans who share the same view of Venom I did, and while it doesn’t necessarily rocket Venom to the top of my all time favorite Spidey foes, it certainly makes him a bit more interesting. Pick up the first 3 issues and find out more about Eddie Brock!

The feel good comic book of the year!-Slugtron

I love Marvel. I really do. It is certainly one of the most detailed and coherent universes in comics history. And lately they’ve had a good fucking run; Secret Invasion, Ultimate Spider-Man, Daredevil and this whole Old Man Logan thing Millar is doing. But, every so often they slip up and do something stupid. Well, beyond stupid… As in completely fucking asinine. Marvel Apes is a testament to just that.

Reading the first three issues was nothing short of a horrible struggle. A freak accident alters reality to something that is ripped off from the shit-twist-ending of Tim Burton’s pathetic remake of Planet of the Apes. Marvel Apes succeeds in proving that even everyone’s favorite publisher will occasionally try to capitalize on a concept of taking characters and having fun with them (e.g. Marvel Zombies). It’s like George Lucas won the be Marvel’s Editor-In-Chief for a Day contest. Much like real prime mates Marvel has flung shit at us and that shit is this mini-series. What next? Another series about Spider-Ham? Minus 100 points Marvel! If I were Stan Lee I’d be pissed.

I have an answer to at least one of your questions; Why the fuck did they make this book?

Answer: $$$

Issue four of Marvel Apes comes out this week. Don’t read it.

And if you do get the urge to pick it up just watch Tim Burton’s terrible remake of Planet of the Apes, shit in a paper bag and take lots of deep breathes.

Marvel Comics
Punisher War Journal #24
Written by Matt Fraction
Art by Howard Chaykin
On Sale: 10/01/2008

Before today my only experience with The Punisher was years ago when someone decided that Archie and The Punisher would make a good pair. Even with Archie Andrews and the rest of the Riverdale gang the issue didn’t hold my attention enough to read the whole thing.

A man’s family being tragically murdered is an intriguing opening, but Mad Max pulled that off in ’79 with such panache that it would be difficult to top. Based on what I have heard I am sure that The Punisher is a good series, though you wouldn’t know it from this issue. The story was weak and seemed to mainly be a springboard for future events. It’s possible that would be a reason for people to purchase the next issue, but I was not invested enough in the plot or characters to shell out the money for it. I admit, I’m curious as to why all of Tony Stark’s invention’s went kaput, but I don’t think that was intended to be the highlight of the comic.

It’s been brought to my attention that my standards are impossibly high, but I simply don’t care. Something is either quality or it isn’t, and it’s not my fault either way. The art could have been so much better. It didn’t look as thrown together as other comic art I’ve seen, but it lacked strength and was simply boring. I always thought The Punisher was about a pissed off dude that had no mercy and went around killing bad guys and whoever got in the way. I imagined him shooting drug dealers in the head, not throwing grenades at green aliens. I was prepared for gritty violence not cheesy shenanigans.

Capcom has done it again, as expected by at least one robot. Me. This game kicks ass!
As most of you know, they took it back to the basics and made a really challenging Mega Man game, with most of the same functions as Mega Man 1. I think this game in ways seems harder then the original except for the fact that you are aloud to purchase extra lives, and energy tanks pretty much whenever you want. Making it harder, but then easier at the exact same time. I would address that as a complaint, if I had the spirit left in me to master another impossible Mega Man game. The fact is this makes it more accessible to more players and so I think it’s a good choice.

Mega Man 9 is the feel good game of the year! -Slugtron

Also if you don’t think it’s challenging enough they are releasing challenge upgrades, so that you can play on hard, and very hard modes. I think it is lame to sell content like that for more money, but I still might buy an upgrade. There is one upgrade for a bonus stage, and at this point that would be the first and only one I am tempted to try.

The story in it is actually pretty rad, rather then Dr. Wily’s robots, you are fighting Dr. Lights robots gone mad. It begins with Dr. Wily on the news saying he has changed his ways and he wants to help, and to arrest Dr. Light. Which happens. It is also a cool touch that when you enter the boss cages there are Dr. Light symbols.

It has a nice sounding sound track. I think some of the weapons are pretty cool my favorite being “Hornet Chaser” but there are others that are pretty lame, “concrete shot” for example.
Just like the first games the bosses seem to have pretty set patterns, and just because you have the weapon that kills them, doesn’t mean they won’t work you.

With the bosses, just like the weapons there are some cool ones, and there are some lame ones. My favorite boss being “Galaxy Man” lamest being “Hornet Man”

Dr. Wily’s stage is difficult, but fun. In my opinion there are a few to many instant deaths. Dr. Wily isn’t that challenging himself (or maybe he is, but I am just that good?) but by the time I got to him I was rejoicing in the fact I didn’t have to continue in order to figure him out. So to sum it up this game is rad, 153 out of 156 stars.

If I wasn’t mandated by the B.S.R.B to stop handing out phony prescriptions, then I would tell sick kids this would cure their cancer!