MONDOmagazine

Wow! One whole year of MONDOcomics! How are we going to celebrate? More reviews, of course!

Amazing Spider-Man #629
Roger Stern, Zeb Wells (w), Lee Weeks, Chris Bachalo (a), Dean White, Matt Hollingsworth (c). Marvel Comics.

And here’s part three of what could have been a really good two-part story. Last week I complained that it was little more than an extended fight scene, this week it’s little more than exposition about Juggernaut and this new Captain Universe’s back-story (with a beautifully illustrated Spider-Man providing window dressing and little else). If this issue was re-cut with the previous, it would have been a great book, as it stands it doesn’t work. Zeb Wells treats us to a back-story that serves as a prologue to the upcoming Lizard story arc which should have been covered in that particular issue of Web of Spider-Man. I’m sorry to complain about it, but I was so impressed by the first issue of the story, and they just let me down here. – Isaac Mills

Isaac’s rating: 2.5 out of 5

Captain America #605
Ed Brubaker (w), Luke Ross (p), Butch Guice (i), Dean White (c). Marvel Comics.

And so end the first arc after the return of Steve Rogers — oh, except he’s not here. Because Siege will be reveal what happens to Steve Rogers and Brubaker couldn’t ruin the ending of Siege four months ago (that was a job for the Marvel solicitations department) he ran a good, but dramatically odd arc in Captain America. The Cap from the 50’s story is good, but I can’t shake that after all this time looking for Steve there should be more fallout. And I’m sure it’s coming, it just makes these issues feel a bit like filler. But, know what, even when Captain America isn’t amazing, it’s still really damn good. — Miles Baker

Miles’ rating: 3.5 out of 5 Read the rest of this entry »

The correct pluralization would be "two iron men."

By Shane McNeil, Sean Kelly, Leo K. Moncel and Caesar Martini

From the writers of last year’s smash hit series Summer Movie MegaCalendar, prepare to be blown away by the thrilling sequel! More punch-out prose, more dastardly disagreements and more sarcastic humour. We size up this May’s sequels to Iron Man, Shrek and Gladiator (well, for all intents and purposes), and still make time for MacGruber and some curveballs. Join your old favourites as they take on all new challenges in Summer Movie Megacalendar: May 2010. This time, it’s personal.

Read the rest of this entry »

Jason Kieffer’s latest book, The Rabble of Downtown Toronto has been receiving a lot of heat. We watched the fire spit and spark at the launch party held Thursday, April 22^nd at The Central in Mirvish Village

By Georgia Webber

Everyone loves controversy, there’s no question about it. And no self-published comic book has received so much as Jason Kieffer’s The Rabble of Downtown Toronto, at least not in recent memory. What’s understandable is the inevitable disturbance that writing a book profiling forty homeless and downtrodden individuals will bring. What’s a little more challenging to understand is the intention behind it, who is responsible for the outcome of its circulation, and finally, what we should think of it. If you include yourself among the masses who love controversy, I’m sorry to report that if you weren’t in the room at the recent Toronto launch, you missed your conflict fix of the year.

Kieffer was introduced by the evening’s host Dave Lapp, a fellow cartoonist who has also spent some time chronicling the street dwellers of Toronto’s downtown. After a short presentation, Lapp started in with some prepared interview questions — but he didn’t get far before an audience member got sick of waiting for his turn. Read the rest of this entry »

Belinda Visage

By Kerry Freek
Photos by Melina Stathopoulos and Andrew Louis

At first, it looked like Day Four of [FAT] (titled Joy) might threaten audiences with a severe lack of glam. As the show opened with a much-too-long, uninteresting, tripped out solo dance/video/LED/meditation performance act, I’m willing to bet I wasn’t the only one considering the shocking similarity between the words “runway” and “run away.”

Luckily, Kirsty McKenzie’s Year of the Tiger heated things up. Her band of fierce gypsy-clown madams took the stage and rocked it wild-style. Strutting up and down in bright colours, big skirts, tulle and lots of leg, the models wore re-appropriated, cartoonish stuffed feline toys like tidy Victorian hats and Cro-Magnon capes. Crowds forgot about the aforementioned dancer as McKenzie’s pièce de résistance: a silver warrior-queen-as-kitty with faux fur and, well, flexibility. Brilliant.

Next up: Avendano. The collection was somewhat unbalanced in theme, but by the fourth or fifth model, Read the rest of this entry »

A Fabulous Disaster
Written, directed and performed by Denise Clarke
Runs until April 25 @ Factory Theatre

By Daina Valiulis

The stage lights come up on two booted feet resting on a log between two evergreen trees and a loud groan rumbles through the theatre. Groggily, our paper suit-clad heroine sits up, complaining of dry mouth as she reaches for her canteen. From the minute Denise Clarke stands up to the minute she lays back down, she holds the audience captive with her clownish and wistful musings about migrating rhinos, and the “mean” nature of sneezes to heartbreak and divorce.

A Fabulous Disaster is a one-woman show Read the rest of this entry »

Magpie

By Helen Fylactou

The energy on the second day of Toronto Alternative Arts and Fashion Week was playful, silly, and just straight-up fun. All the artists, designers and audience members let loose and everyone was interacting with each other. The theme for Day Two was Lust. The designers tackled issues of sexuality, desire, the body, identity and gender. Music and the art were fantastic — DJs Daniel Wilson, Curtis Santiago and Jet Phynx set the seductive mood of the evening.

Evan Biddell opened the 9pm runway show with his newest collection, Refined. While keeping his signature edge, Biddell managed a more wearable collection that was sci-fi inspired (certain outfits resembled Lady Gaga’s get-ups). Biddell never fails to impress. His designs were unique, well-tailored and colourful, keeping a simple colour palette: ghetto gold, black, brown and blue, with a few graphic printed pieces just for fun. One favourite ensemble was a full POP graphic, hooded cape with a white head cap and red Read the rest of this entry »

Albert Schultz, Eric Peterson. Photo by Cylla von Tiedemann.

Glengarry Glen Ross
Directed by David Stortch
Starring Albert Schultz, Eric Peterson, Kevin Bundy, Peter Donaldson, Stephen Guy-McGrath, Jordan Pettle, William Webster
Runs until June 5 @ Soulpepper

By Jeff Maus

David Mamet’s Glengarry Glen Ross is an 80s classic, still relevant and lean and scary. It is also touching and very funny. The best cautionary tales ring true 30 years later. This is the rare one that has gained relevance to the point that it hasn’t aged a day. Soulpepper’s production of it is as good as we’re going to get, and I’m glad to have had the chance to see it.

It involves a group of middle-aged real estate salesmen obsessed with “leads.” Leads are simply index Read the rest of this entry »

Shannon Perrault, Karen Robinson, Barbara Gordon, Stephanie Jung, Daniela Lama. Photo by Cylla von Tiedemann.

If We Were Birds
By Erin Shields
Directed by Alan Dilworth
Featuring Philippa Domville, David Fox, Barbara Gordon, Stephanie Jung, Daniela Lama, Shannon Perrault, Geoffrey Pounsett, Karen Robinson and Tara Rosling
Runs until May 23 @ Tarragon Theatre

By Daina Valiulis

The ever battling Dionysian vs. Apollonian natures of man wage a bloody war in Erin Shields’ If We Were Birds. Based on Ovid’s tale “Tereus, Procne and Philomela” from the Metamorphoses, it tells the tale of two loving sisters — Procne (Phillipa Domville) and Philomela (Tara Rosling) — who are torn apart by the marriage of the former to King Tereus (Geoffrey Pouncett), a brutish soldier with “boiling blood,” taking Procne to a state far away. While she is content with her husband and newborn son, Procne longs to see her little sister and Read the rest of this entry »

Amazing Spider-Man #628
Roger Stern, Mark Waid, Tom Peyer (w), Lee Weeks, Todd Nauck (a), Dean White, Andres Mossa (c). Marvel Comics.

Not as good as last week’s Spider-Man, it was still gorgeously drawn, and Spider-Man’s successfully hilarious (not always an easy job) — but the fact that it was basically just a dumb brawl spread throughout 22 pages makes it lose some points with me. Just to clarify, it’s a dumb brawl because the bad guy won’t listen to reason and stop fighting, without anything like a “thorn in his paw” to justify his stupidity. There’s a backup story that features the unemployed Peter Parker try and fail to get a job, failing because of his activities as Spider-Man (of course). It’d be a fun story if not for the fact that the whole “broke FOR REALS” plot point being so lame. — Isaac Mills

Isaac’s rating: 3.5 out of 5

American Vampire #2
Scott Snyder & Stephen King (w), Rafael Albuquerque (a), Dave McCaig (c). Vertigo.

I’m not really a King fan, but I’m a big Albuquerque fan and that’s why I picked up the first two issues of this series. Like many people, I’m a little vampired out right now, but I’m trying to not let that colour my review. In terms of format, this is a cool comic. It’s two stories (one by Snyder and the other by King), back to back, covering different timelines, but featuring the same American vampire. That’s a really cool way of telling a story. The two reflect interestingly on each other and it makes for a satisfying package. I wish it wasn’t about vampires, but that can’t be helped. It’s worth checking out, if only for the fantastic art. — Miles Baker

Miles’ rating: 4 out of 5 Read the rest of this entry »

Ado Les Scents

By Helen Fylactou

Last night marked the fifth anniversary of one of a Toronto fashion-lover’s favourite event: Toronto Alternative Arts and Fashion Week, also affectionately known as [FAT]. The event showcases over 200 designers, performing artists, musicians and photographers. In recognition of the passion and devotion that’s part of every creation, this year’s edition is titled Made with Love. The four-day event, being held in Liberty Village this year, is a vast array of designers and artists, ranging from debuting artists to seasoned designers.

Day One of [FAT] challenged designers and artist to focus on Longing, and called on collections to represent the hopeful reflection of fashion through design, art and performance. Read the rest of this entry »

Work by Anahita Azrahimi.

MONDO is ecstatic to be covering Toronto Alternative Arts and Fashion Week [FAT], one of Toronto’s most exciting fashion events. The [Pre-FAT] series features short and sweet interviews with some of this year’s participants. Stay tuned for coverage throughout the week, and click here for current and previous MONDO [FAT] articles.

By Helen Fylactou

Anahita Azrahimi is one of the featured artists at this year’s [FAT]. No stranger to the world of art and fashion, Azrahimi is currently the producer and art director of Sparrow in the Room, an artistic collective. Studying with some Iran’s visual artists, Azrahimi began her art endeavours at a young age. Beginning with drawing Disney characters to eventually painting Monet’s art, Azrahimi has always challenged herself to do more.  Her paintings are complex, dominant, and richly textured — her work demands a constant negotiation between the piece and the audience. Azrahimi kindly answered a few questions for MONDO in advance of the show. Read the rest of this entry »

Paria Lambina

MONDO is ecstatic to be covering Toronto Alternative Arts and Fashion Week [FAT], one of Toronto’s most exciting fashion events. The [Pre-FAT] series features short and sweet interviews with some of this year’s participants. Stay tuned for coverage throughout the week, and click here for current and previous MONDO [FAT] articles.

By Helen Fylactou

A recent graduate of the Ryerson University fashion design program, Paria Shirvani has done nothing by excel in fashion industry. She has been featured at the Holt Renfrew flagship store, has interned with designers such as Arthur Menonça and is actively involved with New York Fashion Week. Debuting in Toronto on [FAT] Day One, Paria Lambina is a ready-to-wear collection for women. The designs are body-conscious, classic and elegant. The collection worked both structured and flow in her 2009 Fall/Winter collection and audiences can expect a similar collection for Spring 2010. Read the rest of this entry »