Blackest Night is a new 8 issue series being published by DC Comics in connection mainly with their Green Lantern titles. I have only read the first issue so far (picked up #2 last weekend but haven't had the chance to read it) and if it can maintain the momentum and intensity for the remainder of the series this is going to be a FUN ride! DC zombies, Geoff Johns writing, Ivan Reis pencils, death of prominent characters, promises of much more to come - what's not to love? My only potential drawback is that with DC bringing back most of their dead characters it could provide them with an easy way to shuffle some back into the 'real world' when the series ends. There could be some magical save and now we have the return of Blue Beetle(Ted Kord version), Terra I, the original Hawk & Dove, or any of the countless other Titans that have been massacred over the years in the name of senseless cannon fodder for the massive crossover beast. Overall I have hopes and faith in Johns that he won't resort to something like this, but not as much in the DC editors who may want to finally try and have a total reboot to a simpler, more light-hearted era.
Based solely on reading issue #1 and a quick scan of #2 - ***** out of *****
After a random stop at Toys 'R' Us about a month ago I discovered that the newest wave of DC Universe figures had finally made it to my region!!!! Alas at that time they no longer had the figures I was hoping for - Dr. Fate (preferably both versions) and Hawkgirl. Well once I know that my target is within my grasp, the hunt is on. I have a slight tendency to be a little OCD.... okay that's a bit of an understatement - I would stop by almost everyday after work to see if they had restocked their shelves yet. Finally (I believe it was day 4) I found my main objective. The 'classic' version of Dr. Fate was left on the peg as if by magic waiting for me to only supply the justification in my mind that I needed to add it to my collection - well that and the $$$$, but that came later. Still would like to find the variant, but not a 'must have' and the Hawkgirl was always going to be sight purchase depending upon how well the sculpt/paint looked. So my obsession has dampened a little-just try and hit the store on the weekends now, but the search continues. Haven't had the heart to remove him from the packaging yet, maybe if I find the variant the original will be freed from his clamshell tomb.
Last weekend was the G.I. Joe convention - an annual celebration of all things Joe and was held this year in Kansas City. I was never a huge fan of Joe, but felt kind of obligated to go since it was this close and there are some obvious ties to comics. Plus the guest list included Larry Hama and Greg Horn. Interesting show! Lots of dioramas were on display with some being very intricate and detailed (sorry no pics, I didn't take anything to get signed and didn't want to have the hassle of carrying the camera). I did swing by Horn's booth and got a couple of prints from him. The first was the 'official' show print and was being offered with Baroness in red (as pictured) or the more classic black uniform. The second picture is obviously not G.I. Joe related. This one is for a friend who is a huge Thor fan - I'll get it in the mail at some point Alex - plus it was a San Diego ComiCon exclusive print, so that was a little bit of a bonus as well.
one last rave while it's fresh in my mind
Since I had finished a little bit of homework last night, I 'treated' myself to a night at the cinema. Inglourious Basterds opened this weekend and I was curious. Never been a huge Tarantino fan, but enjoy most of his stuff and the trailers for this really drew me in. WOW!! that is really the first word that came to mind after I saw it. This is a great movie. Unfortunately I can see it not having a long life in theaters. The trailers play it up as being pretty action packed - and there are scenes that are very action movie oriented, but this is Tarantino after all and we all know what that means - talking. There were very long stretches that were 'just' the characters sitting around talking - you know character development type stuff. I have a feeling that it is going to do really well this first week or two and then when people have had a chance to tell friends about it, the box office will drop since it wasn't entirely explosions and Nazi killing-even though there was a lot of the second and even some of the first! Sure some of the film was a little over the top, and it took some liberties with actual history, but WHO CARES!!!? This was an excellent movie and you could tell that Tarantino put a lot of care into making it. I have read a little online about it and found some comments that mirror what I was thinking, but couldn't put my finger on - the main one being this was made more like a spaghetti western than a war movie-this includes, at least to me, the opening segment right down to the music. So glad Tarantino did this deliberately and I am not going totally insane. Another thing that jumped out to me was, for some reason, Brad Pitt made me think of Lee Marvin. This is not a bad thing, especially since Marvin led the Dirty Dozen and I think it was more the appearance-the wrinkles around the eyes in the early scenes when he is recruiting the basterds. I would recommend this film, just don't go in expecting a genre film, unless that genre is Tarantino.
This turned out rather long winded so I will wrap it up - musings later and most assuredly rants are on the way also. Thanks to any readers for indulging my post.
