Showing posts with label media tie-in. Show all posts
Showing posts with label media tie-in. Show all posts

Thursday 28 July 2016

Comics Wrap Up - Just Gotta Get Right Out Of Here

Even for us unlucky folks who may very well never make it to the holiest of nerd-pilgrimage sites which is San Diego Comic Con (SDCC,) (dude, it's expensive!) this uber-celebration of geekery is important for all of us who love the nerdy-stuffs!

And, due to the magic of the interwebs (particularly YouTube) we can share in the goodies that are the interviews, announcements, and reveals of the event.

(And there's loads of them! Yay!)




This week's wrap-up is a look at some of the awesome things coming out SDCC - not all of it though, because, dude, I'm human!

So here are my picks of the fresh vids and news of SDCC, as well as the usuals from my week faffing around the medium of comics.







Film Trailers







Second Doctor Strange trailer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!

(Still can't get over Benedict Cumberbatch & that accent though.

Like when Martin Freeman was putting on a Yank accent in Captain America: Civil War.

Reckon they'll end up in a movie together? With their awkward American accents and everything... lol!)




-0-








This teaser-type-trailer for Suicide Squad was actually released last week - but I only saw it this week, so it counts under this week's wrap-up. Because I said so. ;)




-0-




The trailer many people were waiting for was for Wonder Woman:







I have to ask though... is that supposed to be WW1 or WW2? Because there are parts that kind of look like both to me...

Anyway, this looks like it could be pretty cool... or not. Let's hope for cool ;)


-0-



There was also footage released of the upcoming Justice League movie.






I'm really not sure about this one... for several reasons that it would take too long to go into here but which start with Ben Affleck and the Batman costume, and move through various niggling points from there.

But what you gonna do? DC man, DC.




-0-





And last but not least, we have the character-focussed Suicide Squad trailers which've been released over the past week, featuring Deadshot, Harley Quinn, and The Joker:





DEADSHOT




HARLEY




THE JOKER









TV Trailers





I love this trailer for Legion. Legion is an X-men character who really hasn't been explored all that much - but has so much potential.

I'm glad FX have decided to pick this up. (Though of course, I still mourn the loss of the 'Marvel's Agent Carter' series.)









-0-




There are SPOILERS for the most recent  series of Gotham in this next vid - a show-reel of the craziness we went through last series, and a glimpse of the next series to come.

If you don't watch Gotham then why the hell not?! Seriously. Go think about your life choices ;) (and then watch it.)









-0-



There are also SPOILERS for the previous series of Arrow in this next vid:







Much as it pains me to say this - and it does pain me, of all the DC series this is one of my faves, and I'd even put it ahead of some Marvel properties (Gasp!) - I think this series has more than run its course.

I may be wrong - and lord knows I'd be happy to be - but it feels like we've actually come to not one but two natural endings over the course of the last 4 series, and now we're trying to reinvigorate something which maybe should've just been let be. #JustSaying




-0-




Annnnnddd this vid has SPOILERS for the previous season of The Flash:









Fans: Barry, don't do the thing.
Characters: Barry, why did you even TRY to do the thing?
The forces of good storytelling: Barry, please don't do the thing, please!
Everyone: FOR GOD'S SAKE BARRY, DON'T DO THE THING.

Barry: ...Guys? ...I did the thing...



Hopefully they can fix this, and not make it too irritating while they're doing it *buries fangirling head in hands* - we live in hope.




-0-




Some SPOILERS in this vid too, for the previous series of DC's Legends of Tomorrow:







Oh my gosh, this looks like it's going to be so GOOD! :)

One of my favourite things about Legends is that it's essentially the dregs of a bunch of DC shows cobbled together. It really shouldn't work. BUT GOD IT DOES.

*Brief interlude for me to hop about like the insane fangirl that I am*

Seriously, whoever decided to take a chance on this wacky beauty of a show - well done!







Other Stuff





I found this interview with G Willow Wilson (Ms. Marvel writer) uber-interesting - check it out:








-0-





Stephanie Tran @ Women Write About Comics discussed her reservations over Mark Millar's decision to make the new Kick-Ass lead a young black woman (as I mentioned a few weeks back.)

This includes a discussion of Millar's repertoire with regards to people of colour (PoC) and female characters, as well as his track-record when it comes to inclusions of rape in storylines.





There are some very interesting points made. I don't agree with all of them, but, then, when do I ever?

I certainly understand the trepidation over Millar's potential plans with this latest character, but also think that Millar has a reputation as a boundary-pusher. No, I don't always agree with his decisions (no way, no how!) but do I think we need boundary-pushers in comics? Hell yes!





Likewise, though, we need people like Stephanie Tran to question the decisions those boundary-pushers make, and explore the repercussions of the representations they decide to portray.

So yes, I understand the trepidation and worry about what Millar may or may not do with a black female Kick-Ass, but personally I reserve judgement until we've had a chance to see what Millar actually comes up with.






-0-





Danika Ellis @ Panels wrote a list of '5 Lesbian Mermaid Comics You Need To Read.'

Never say I don't provide you guys with variety. :)





-0-




UK people can see a documentary - we Brits do love a good docky-wocky ;) - on 'Britain's Favourite Superhero' on Channel 4 @ 7.30pm on Saturday, 30th July.

It features Stan Lee. You have to love Stan Lee. It's the rules.










Like this post? Try these:





Thursday 14 July 2016

Comics Wrap Up - If You Change Your Mind, You Know Where I Am

Graphic Novels



This week I reviewed the fantabulous, amazing, OH SO FREAKING AWESOME Monstress, Vol 1: The Awakening (UK - US)








IT'S A FANTASTIC BOOK!!!!!!

You can see my review for Monstress here.








Other Stuff




On Saturday, I reviewed the kids tie-in novel Thor: Dueling With Giants by Keith R A DeCandido (UK - US)





And you can see my review of that here.




-0-



Jessica @ Rabid Reads also reviewed the awesome Monstress, Vol 1 - check out her review here.



-0-



Kory Cerjak at Panels wrote a pretty decent list of 'The Best Comics of January-June 2016.'



-0-






-0-



In #GiveCaptainAmericaABoyfriend news:

You can vote for Stucky as the Ship of the Year for the MTV Fandom awards. I think that'd be an awesome way of showing Marvel where the heart of the fans is.

Unfortunately, the Civil War porn parody has decided to spam the hashtag with explicit pics.

As I've said before, I don't have a problem with porn as long as it's safe, sane, consensual, and non-exploitative, but as far as I'm concerned it doesn't have a place on this hashtag.



-0-






The new Iron Man is a 15-year-old black girl!

While this rocks, (out loud!) it does beg the question, can we still keep calling her Iron Man?

Apparently so, but I agree with the fan who pointed out the missed opportunity to call her Iron Maiden. (In the tweets at the bottom of the linked article.) Because that's just great :)

Saturday 9 July 2016

Review Time! - Thor: Dueling With Giants by Keith R A DeCandido


Title: Thor: Dueling With Giants

Author: Keith R A DeCandido

Genre: Kids, Fantasy, Media Tie-In

Series: Tales of Asgard Trilogy (#1)

Amazon: UK - USA






A few starting notes:

I received a free digital review copy of this book via NetGalley. NetGalley provides review copies from publishers in exchange for fair and honest reviews.

This novel is a media tie-in to Marvel's Thor, but it's based more on the comics than on the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU.)

Now, that doesn't mean there's huge differences between the Thor of the film and the Thor we find here, but there are differences - it's widely accepted that Loki's adopted, and Frigga is not Thor's biological mother, to name a few.




Premise:

Loki is bored. Which of course spells mischief for Asgard and The Mighty Thor.

Prepare for frost-giants, trolls, and a bunch of fighting.





Best bits:

This is one of those books for when you just want some derring-do and stabby action.

(And who doesn't want some stabby action occasionally?)

Loki manages to steal the show (again!) and add just a dash of emotional heartache/feels parental-wise (again!)

This is a skill that Loki has.

This book may be handy for tempting the reluctant aged-9-or-10-plus reader (especially boys, given that it can often be a struggle to get them to read) into reading.

Because we all know that the little monsters angels like some stabby action adventure.

And 10 year old me was a stabby-books kinda gal. I would've loved this book as a kid.






LOOK AT HIS MAJESTIC PLASTIC COUNTENANCE MORTALS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Note to self: less coffee.)







Not so great bits:

In places, the level of language and vocabulary felt maybe a little advanced for the target audience.

I think maybe the author struggled with the balance between a formal Asgardian dialect, and the audience, and while it's largely OK, it does slip in places.

Also - the women in this book? Either saintly mothers, and a stand in for damsels-in-distress when needed, or Sif - who is essentially 'one of the boys' and resents any reference to her being, y'know, (*whispers*) female.

While I understand that Norse mythology (where all the Asgard Marvel stuff essentially stems from) isn't exactly resplendent with complex female characters, I would've liked gender stereotypes to be just a little less rigid here.

And, of course, some parents will never be OK with violence and battles and the like (though the kids will love it!)




Verdict:

I would've liked more Loki and less gender stereotypes, but I can't lie (unlike a certain trickster,): I enjoyed the hell out of this book!

(Yay stabby-ness!)










Liked this post? Try this:






Thursday 7 July 2016

Comics Wrap Up - What's That Coming Over The Hill?

Graphic Novels




This week I've reviewed two pretty cool (and fairly different to each other,) graphic novels.




Disney's Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland, Vol 1 (
US) (also available in a 2 volume collected edition: US - UK) by Jun Abe is a manga graphic novel from Tokyopop. Alice fans will love it.

Check out my review here.





Luna the Vampire: Grumpy Space (UK - USA ) by Yasmin Sheikh is full of a quirky and off-beat sense of humour that suited me down to the ground (or should that be 'up to space'...?)


luna the vampire grumpy space


You check out my review of Luna's wacky adventures here.






I also read Monstress, Vol 1: The Awakening (UK - US) and IT'S SOOOOO GOOD!






I'll be fangirling over it writing a review of it soon. But... WOW! Really. Wow.





Other Stuff




Michelle @ Tea & Titles wrote a fab post about 'The Cutest Comics of Ever: Part 1' which included comics that I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for from now on :)




-0-



Patrick Lenton wrote a fab article on why we should #GiveCaptainAmericaABoyfriend - and I totally agree!



-0-




Tom Felton - Draco Malfoy to a generation of people  - is joining the cast of The Flash (*does a li'l embarrassing fangirl dance*)

I'm so chuffed! TOM'S GONNA BE IN THE FLASH!!!!  fjngoeirnyheouh!!!!














Like this post? Try these:




Monday 4 July 2016

Review! (Graphic Novel Edition!) - Disney's Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland, Vol 1


Title: Disney's Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland, Volume 1

Author: Jun Abe

Genre: Graphic Novels, Manga, Fantasy, Media Tie-In

Series: Disney's Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland

Amazon:
2-volume edition - US - UK
Vol 1 - US
Vol 2 - US





A few starting notes:

I received a free digital review copy of this book via NetGalley. NetGalley provides review copies from publishers in exchange for fair and honest reviews.

OK, we have some stuff to get clear straight-off:

This manga is made up of two volumes (oddly enough, Vol 1 (US,) and Vol 2 (US,)) and is also available in a collected edition of both volumes (US - UK.)

From what I can make out, here in the UK (and probably a lot of other countries,) it's currently only available in the collected 2-volume edition (in English, anyway.)

I received a review copy of the first volume, so that's what I'm reviewing here.

This is a manga adaptation of the movie adaptation (UK - US) of the classic book (UK - US).

It reads right-to-left in traditional manga-style.

Right, we all got that? Great.






Premise:

Alice Kingsley is a girl trapped in society's expectations. Then... then she sees the rabbit.

What follows is a trip to Underland, an adventure, a prophecy, and the chance to be 'the Right Alice;' prepare for impossible things.





Best bits:

The combination of Alice in Wonderland, Tim Burton, and a manga-style just works. Ok?

There's something about this which is just... right.











The character design is spot-on - not least in terms of The Hatter and the Red Queen.

The right level of detail is carried throughout - highly intricate in the places where it needs it, and less dense in the places that need a lighter touch.

The whole thing is deftly carried out with skill and a real love of the vivacity of the source material.

Basically, I loved it.





Not so great bits:

In places, I felt like this was so true to the film, that I could quote some lines before I read them, and that did take a little of the sparkle out of things.












But this is a tie-in with the film, and you're going to expect an element of this at the least.

There's the odd drop of violence here and there, but nothing beyond what's in the film - if you know the film, you know what to expect, and it's fans of the film that're going to be the main audience here.





Verdict:

Alice fans rejoice!

The artwork is beautiful, and the combination of elements astounding.

Any Wonderland fan will love it.









Thursday 30 June 2016

Comics Wrap Up - It's Much Better To Face These Kinds Of Things...

Due to a quirk of the Comics Gods, all of my comics-y goings-on this week have been in the 'Other Stuff' category.

(Dammit Loki! Stop messing with my sh**! I said I was sorry already!)

My 'Other Stuff' category is what most people would call Miscellaneous - the category where all the stuff I'm too confused or lazy busy to put into other categories goes.




There's still some very interesting cr*p going on in this week's wrap-up - so take a look! XD





Other Stuff




This week, I read a Thor tie-in novel: Thor: Dueling with Giants (UK - US) by Keith R A De Candido.





This is the first book in a trilogy of 3 kids' novels - Marvel's Tales of Asgard - and I'll be reviewing it soon. :)





-0-




There's good news for fans of diversity in comics this week:

Marvel announced plans for a new Inhumans character and series: Mosaic. A new black superhero, Mosaic's alter-ego is a basketball player named Morris Sackett.

Elsewhere, Mark Millar has announced new runs of both the Kick-Ass and Hit-Girl series, with the title role of Kick-Ass being taken up this time around by an African-American woman.

It's uber-good that comics creators are finally waking up and smelling the under-representation in the industry, but there's still undoubtedly a ways to go.

Progress, though my dearest nerdlets! Progress!




-0-




In #GiveCaptainAmericaABoyfriend news:

Sebastian Stan spoke briefly about his views on Stucky; his comments were positive, and probably about as enthusiastic as you can get while towing the studio-line.







A gay porn parody of Civil War seems to have decided to use the hashtag for marketing.

I have no issues with porn in itself (as long as it's safe, sane, consensual, and non-exploitative,) but am majorly p**sed off that they're using the tag.

People have been working to get this seen as a serious campaign, and throw light of the lack of LGBTQ+ representation and relationships in mainstream media; adding porn to the mix runs the risk of cheapening the issue in the eyes of many.





-0-



Nadia Bauman at Women Write About Comics wrote a piece about the treatment of Russian culture and history in graphic novel Codename Baboushka Vol 1: The Conclave of Death (UK - USA.)






-0-









Johanna at Comics Worth Reading spread the news that awesome Welsh actor Michael Sheen will be directing a film adaptation of Dark Horse Comics' title Green River Killer (UK - US.)







Like this post? Try these:



Thursday 23 June 2016

Comics Wrap Up - A Town Called Alice

Graphic Novels


This week, I've gone ever-so-slightly head-over-heels for Alice in Wonderland in all its shapes and forms.

I saw Alice Through The Looking Glass (highly recommend!) early in the week, and also read Jun Abe's manga edition of the first film.

This is a release from our beloved Tokyopop, recently resurrected by the grace of a major contract from Disney.







Just to make it clear this manga is made up of two volumes (oddly enough, Vol 1 (US,) and Vol 2 (US,)) and is also available in a collected edition of both volumes (US - UK.)

From what I can make out, here in the UK (and probably a lot of other countries,) it's currently only available in the collected 2-volume edition (in English, anyway.)

Apologies if any of that explanation was a load of cr*p - this is just how I understand things to be.

I read a review-copy of the first volume - and will be reviewing it very soon :)

What I can tell you right now though is that I loved it! XD




Single Issues


Comics marked * are free in Kindle format at the time of writing

I haven't read many single issues in a while, but decided to read a few short ones this week - including yet more Alice in Wonderland-style goings-on (Alice seems to be a favourite of retellings in comics.)





Beyond Wonderland #0 (of 6)* (UK - US) is the prologue to a very interesting looking series about Alice - aka Calie - a young woman who escaped Wonderland once, and is in danger from what she left behind there...













Escape From Wonderland #0 (of 6)* (UK - US) is another prologue - this one to the series that follows Beyond Wonderland.

By the time Escape From Wonderland comes along, our Alice has a very definite no-sh** attitude, and a taste for uncomfortable corsetry.













The Stuff of Legend: The Dark #1 is the first part of Volume One (UK - US) of the series.

Just from this first issue, I'd say that it's kind of like a sepia Toy Story... only with a scary freaking monster who steals children. Intriguing, no?







Other Stuff



twenty one pilots released the official video of their Suicide Squad song, Heathens. I'm actually fairly loving this song.







-0-




Caitlin at Words and Other Beasts wrote a fab review for X-Men: Apocalypse. 

And she agrees that Quicksilver was awesome. Because he was.



-0-



I watched this awesome 'Toon Sandwich' X-Men: Apocalypse trailer parody (and laughed a lot!)

NSFW due to swearing and adult humour, mm'k?






-0-



The awesome comics publishers Dark Horse have launched an adult colouring book line.






The line starts with Avatar: The Last Airbender (Available for Pre-order: US,) and Serenity (Available for Pre-order: US.)






Like this post? Try these: