Comic Panel of the Week: Hawkeye Again

Sonic the Comic #8 Review

---SPOILER WARNING---

Today I'm going to take a look at something a little different. This isn't the first time I talked about Sonic the Hedgehog comic books however all the comics I reviewed before were published by Archie Comics. While they still continue today there was another comic series released about everyone's favorite hedgehog. However unlike Archie it was released in the UK and published by Fleetway Editions. Sonic the Comic was Sega's official comic and frequently had story's about Sonic and other Sega games.

Living in North America I didn't really know much about the comic series until I watched Afroblu's Sonic the Comic Retrospective. It got me interested in the series, however the comics are pretty much impossible to find over here. But I did read the Officially Unofficial continuation called Sonic the Comic Online which I have enjoyed, and I'm in the process of reading the actual series since I found a way to read them. It was a hard choice to pick an issue to review today. My choice was between Issue 7 the first appearance of this version of Super Sonic or Issue 8 which detailed Sonic's origins. I decided to do Issue 8, and just for clarification I only found the Sonic strips so I'm not going to be able to review the other story's in the book.

The comic opens with Tails, Porker Lewis, and Johnny Lightfoot watching Sonic as he uses a Star Post to bring them to the Special Zone. They enter the Special Zone, and avoid obstacles as they make there way to the Omni-Viewer, The Controller of the Special Zone. Sonic tells the Omni-Viewer that he wants to show his friends the truth about Robotnik and how Sonic got his powers. It turn's out Sonic knew Robotnik when he was the kind Dr. Ovi Kintobor. Back then Sonic was just a normal brown hedgehog.

It turn's out Kintobor was trying to rid the planet of all evil by using the Golden Rings to transfer all the evil into the Chaos Emeralds. However he couldn't find the Seventh Emerald so the process was very unstable. Interested in Sonic's speed he conducted some experiments that helped Sonic run faster in return for Sonic helping him to find the last Chaos Emerald. During a test of new sneakers that were meant to help Sonic go even faster Sonic broke the sound barrier, which caused him to turn blue and his quills merged together.

Later while throwing out a rotten egg, Kintobor tripped over a wire and fell into the machine that was going to transfer all the evil of the world into the Chaos Emeralds. The resulting explosions transformed him into the Evil Dr. Robotnik. So yeah the Robotnik in this continuity is literally an Eggman. I know it seems a bit silly but this turn's into a plot point much later. Anyway Sonic is interrupted by the Omni-Viewer who tells him to run away. The comic ends with Robotnik using the Omni-Viewer to send Sonic and his friends into the future.

This comic wasn't bad. The art was great, and the story while a bit silly is actually pretty good. However I find the way Sonic and Robotnik transform really silly. I mean I can kinda see why Sonic transformed but Robotnik's is just laughable. I'm not demeaning him as a villain I'm just saying an explosion of evil energy combining a person with a rotten egg is kinda silly. Anyway I thought it was a good comic, and I recommend the series to any Sonic fan. Especially fan's of the games since this a series actually has much more to do with the games then the Archie Comics.

Rating: 4/5

Sonic Chronicles' Ending totally ripped off this comic

Comic Panel of the Week: That's Deadpool

"Super Ghouls 'N Ghosts" First Thoughts

This game is really hard. But I beat it, and now I'm going to talk about it. I got this game on "Capcom Classic Collection Reloaded" which also had the other two games in the series as well as three versions of Street Fighter 2, Two really interesting Side-Scrolling Beat 'em-up/RPG's, and a lot more. However this series is the main reason I got the collection, it was notorious for being really hard, and they weren't kidding. This game is difficult, but I stuck with it, and managed to beat it.

But there was a lot of anger along the way. Especially when you get to the end only to find out that you need to have a special weapon to beat the Final Boss, and the Princess sends you back to the beginning of the game in order to get it. Also the game is actually harder now. It's at about this time I felt like breaking my PSP in half. Despite the difficulty the game is pretty fun, and actually quite addicting.

I mean after the first two levels the game actually lowers in difficulty and actually get's pretty fun. It's weird it's like they made the first two levels as hard as possible so that no one would be able to get to the easier parts. I mean there still hard, but the second last stage is the easiest level in the game. But then again how easy the stage is determined by what weapon and armor you have. Overall it's an enjoyably difficult game, and I definitely recommend it if your looking for a challenge.

Rating: 4/5

Grant Morrison's Action Comics #1 Review

---SPOILER WARNING---

So it's been a year since the End of the Old DC Continuity. The New 52 has almost reached the end of it's first year, and DC has lost a whole lot of readers. But I'm not here to talk about the reboot in general, I'm here to talk about Action Comics #1. If you remember my "Top 5 Comics of 2011" while talking about Superman Beyond I mentioned that I didn't like Action Comics #1. So since it's almost been a year since reading this, I thought I would finally explain why.

The story is essentially set up for the new status quo. We open with two business men doing something bad. There interrupted by Superman who's first statement is "Rats. Rats with money. And Rats with Guns. I'm your worst nightmare." That sounds like something Superman would say don't you think. Superman then proceeds to beat up everyone there. The police come, and find him about to drop the business man off the building there on.

Superman tells the police he won't let him go until he confesses to his crimes. He then proceeds to drop him off the building, but catches him before he can hit the ground. Grinning the whole time. Superman then tells him he's going to keep doing it until the business man admits, of course after having enough the first time the business man admits to a number of thing but I'm not sure anyone would trust his word at this point since I'm pretty sure he's in shock and would admit to anything to get away from Superman. After the business man admits, Superman flees from the police all the while grinding while a bunch of bullets fly off him, which could injure any number of bystanders.

Superman returns home after he saves some homeless people who were living in a building about to be demolished. He talks to his landlord, named Ms.Nyxly. I wonder if she has anything to do with Mister Myxlplyx. Anyway he call's and warns Jimmy and Lois to not get one any trains but they do anyway. The train go's out of control, and Superman has to stop it. This is revealed to be a plan by Lex Luthor who's working with the US Government to capture Superman. His plan is to aim the biggest bullet at Superman, the bullet of course being a Bullet Train. The comic ends with Superman stopping the train but get knocked unconscious and captured by the Government. Proving that this Superman may be faster then a speeding bullet, but not stronger then a locomotive.

Before I get to my overall thoughts I want to say, yes I know what Grant Morrison is trying to do. I know he's trying to take Superman back to his roots, but I don't think it works and I'm going to explain why. You see this Superman is arrogant, violent, and overall unlikable. He treats everyone like there beneath him, and he's so beyond what Superman represents it's not even funny. This Superman rules through intimidation and fear, like Batman.

Except even Batman is more restrained then him. He's actually more like the Batman from All-Star Batman and Robin, running around grinning while beating up anyone who he deems a criminal. Speaking of Batman there is something else I have to address. There seems to be a double standard involving this comic. You see I know people who will not except Tim Burton's Batman killing people. Some non-comic fan will use the excuse that he killed when he was originally released, but the comic fan won't except it as an excuse because they know Batman is a character that evolved beyond that point.

It's the same thing here. But the difference is those same people say Grant Morrison is a genius for bringing Superman back to his origins. But there's a reason why he changed. It's been almost 75 years, and you have to expect a character to change with the times. Bringing Superman back to his roots did nothing but make him unlikable. I think Superman deserves better.

I didn't hate this book as much as I'm coming off as. It has good art, and it has some good moments. What makes me angry is the fact that this is a masterpiece to some people. While there is a chance this might get better, this one issue goes against everything Superman as a character stands for. Well that's all I have to say. Thanks for reading. I know I'm coming off as a bit of a fanboy but I think what I had to say needed to be said

Rating: 2/5

"Crisis on Two Earths" First Thoughts

---SPOILER WARNING---

So yeah, I'm really late on this one. I mean this is almost three years old. But anyway today I was finally able to watch the new, well not so new now, Justice League movie. I really liked this. I liked the story. It has really good characters, and it was overall very enjoyable. The best part of this movie is James Woods as Owlman. Owlman is one of the most interesting villains I've ever seen. Another good character is the Flash played by Josh Keaton. Despite being the comic relief he is actually pretty funny, and he did a great job.

We also see a bunch of parallel versions of characters we know in the DC Universe, such as Green Arrow, Deathstroke, Ravager, and even Elongated Man. I also like that for the most part every parallel version has a different costume, and not just the same costume but recolored like in "Deep Cover for Batman." One of the best moments is when Wonder Woman pulls a Bane, and hits Evil Vixen's back with her knee to "knock" her out. There are some problems, It does feel a bit rushed, it really doesn't have that much character development, and it doesn't really give us a reason to care about what happens to the Parallel Earth.

There is a romance between Martian Manhunter and the parallel version of Rose Wilson that doesn't really go anywhere, and some of the motivations don't really make sense. One of the most glaring problem is that Batman technically kills both Owlman and Johnny Quick, more so with Johnny Quick. It's like doesn't care since this is Parallel earth. Anyway that's all I have to say, It has some problems but overall I recommend it.

Rating: 4/5

Comic Panel of the Week: Batman and Robin #12

The original ending to the Dark Knight Rises.

I actually have two comic panel's of the week. There were so many good panel's in Batman and Robin #12 It was lucky that I decided to use just two. This is actually the first issue of Batman and Robin I picked up, and It kinda makes me wish I was buying this from the start. It also reminded me a lot of the Dark Knight Rises, which has to be a coincidence but a really awesome one.

Marvel Premiere #57 Review

---SPOILER WARNING---

Today were going to take a look at Doctor Who. While this isn't the first time I've talked about it, I never really explained what it is. Doctor Who is a British television show about a time traveling alien named the Doctor. It is one of the longest running shows, starting in 1963 and still running today. What allowed it to run this long is the fact that since the main character is an alien every time he dies he can regenerate into a new body. So every time the person who's playing the Doctor want's to leave the character regenerates into a new body and a new actor takes his place. This comic is about the most well known Doctor, Tom Baker who was the Fourth Doctor. So let's check it out.

The comic open's with the Doctor landing on a plant which is being attacked by robots. The Doctor goes to a nearby shop, totally unaware of the situation. The shop keeper is terrified for his life, and suddenly one of the Robots busts threw a window. It attack's the man, and kill's him. The Doctor is horrified by this, and the Robot starts to scan him. This causes the robot to malfunction since the Doctor has two hearts, and the robot thinks there's two humans there but only see's one. He dismantles it with his Sonic Screwdriver, discovering it belongs to something called the Ninth Legion.

More robots and a tank come, and attack the Doctor. However before any of them can hit him he goes back into his TARDIS. (His Time Machine) He rematerializes in the middle of a Gladiatorial Area, on the same planet, and is forced to fight. He win's but his reward is being forced to be a slave. The Doctor discovers that this is an Alternate Earth where the Roman Empire never fell. He befriends a cyborg named Morris, and he helps the Doctor escape. The comic then ends with the Doctor discovering that the Roman are worshiping an alien race called the Malevilus.

This comic isn't that bad. It's actually much better the second time. The art is pretty good, however the story isn't the best. It's not that bad but it's not that good either. What I really like is that this comic has a section in the back that explains what Doctor Who is, and some of him main villains. That's a nice touch for people who aren't really in to Doctor Who. Overall it's not that bad, so I'd give it a recommendation.

Rating: 3/5

Comic Panel of the Week: Hawkeye

Godzilla: Kingdom of Monsters #2 Review

---SPOILER WARNING---

It's Godzilla! The most well known giant monster ever. Growing up I didn't really know much about Godzilla, most of my knowledge came from that bad American remake/adaptation. I could spend a whole article explaining why that movie is a horrible betrayal but i don't really have the time or the money to track down a copy of it in order to review it. Though it did have a Animated Spin-Off which had an interesting opening. Anyway I got more interested in Godzilla after watching James Rolfe's Monster Madness. So like many other comics I got this last October in order to prepare for Halloween. So let's check out "Godzilla: Kingdom of Monsters #2", now with 99.9% less Matthew Broderick.

The comic open's in the middle of a Godzilla attack. A man is running around looking for his children. It then cuts to later that day as the man watches Godzilla destroy Tokyo, as he is leaving he discovers a military truck filled with explosives. We then cut to the Vernadsky State Geological Museum in Moscow, where students are learning about a meteor impact that happened in 1908. A sudden earthquake happens, and as everyone is evacuating one of the kids steals the meteorite. As there leaving all the birds start to fall from the sky. We then go to Mexico where Anguirus starts to attack.

Back at Moscow the boy returns home, and brings the Meteorite to his room. He tries to break it open since he thinks there's diamonds inside but it's revealed to be an egg. A baby Rodan hatches from the egg, and the boy hides it in his closet until he get's back from hockey practice. Meanwhile Anguirus is still attacking, and this alerts the President of the United States who is obviously suppose to be Obama but they call him Ogden. President Ogden holds a press conference, and he tells the press that he's doing everything he can but conventional weapon's don't seem to affect either Godzilla or Anguirus.

Back in Moscow, the boy return's home with a cat he plan's to feed to Rodan. But he finds his room destroyed, and all his lizards have been eaten by a now much larger Rodan. It then eats him, and flies away leaving the cat that the boy planed to feed to it. We then cut to the Texas/Mexico boarder where the Governor has put up a wall to keep Anguirus out of America. I have a feeling the Governor is supposed to be someone to, since he doesn't like Ogden, and start's saying he's a coward for letting the boarders go unprotected. He then builds a wall made of unbreakable "100% Pure American Steel", but when Anguirus inevitably breaks through it he immediately blames Ogden for allowing him to build a wall out of such faulty material.

Finally we cut back to Godzilla who is now destroying Yokohama. The man from before has strapped a bunch of bombs to himself, and plan's to Kamikazi himself destroying both him and Godzilla in the process. However his sacrifice is for nothing as the bomb barley even bothers Godzilla. The comic ends with Godzilla going back to destroying the city.

I have mix feelings about this comic. On the one hand it has some good art, and the monsters all look like they should however the characters, with the exception of the father who lost his kids, are unlikable. Especially the kid and the Governor. Speaking of which I really don't like the Political Satire. Especially since I'm Canadian, and I don't get everything there Satirizing. I wouldn't have such a problem if there wasn't more Satire then Godzilla. I'm serious, for a book called Godzilla he's barley in any of it. He's in a total of 8 pages out of a 22 page book, and in half of those he's only shown in one small panel in silhouette or on a TV screen. Overall I can't really recommend it but If your a Godzilla fan I think it's worth checking out.

Rating: 2/5

Comic Panel of the Week: Colossal Phoenix

(Note: Had to re-upload due to accidentally deleting it while working on this weeks review)