MONDOmagazine

The Amazing Spider-Man #600
Main story: Dan Slott (w), John Romita Jr. (p), Klaus Janson (i), Dean White (c).
Backup stories: Many, including Stan Lee, Marcos Martin, Mark Waid, Bob Gale, and many more. Marvel Comics.

For the amount of pages and sheer joy you get from this package you can’t knock it. That said, I’m going to knock it. I have some controversial views on John Romita Jr.’s artwork: I think it’s generally terrible. He’s admitted his style is “the deadline style” — whatever he gets out by deadline, that’s his style. This looks like the deadline was really tight. His work on The Eternals? Generally pretty good. But there are scenes in that comic and in this one where I swear Romita is bored. In particular the last page of this issue, where he achieved a character that looks more sleepy than sexy. Though, really, for me, it’s the good pages that make the bad ones so frustrating. But with an entertaining main story and some seriously great backup material you really can’t fault this title. Worth picking up. — Miles Baker

Miles’ rating: 5 out of 5
Owen’s rating: 3.5. out of 5

Blackest Night: Tales of the Corps #2
For Owen’s review of Blackest Night: Tales of the Corps #2 and Isaac’s review of Green Lantern #44, check out our Crossover Corner at the bottom of the page. Read the rest of this entry »

By Miles Baker

DC Comics

There are exciting things going on in the DCU that I don’t care about. If you were a big Lantern fan, this would be the month for you. I just couldn’t get into Sinestro Corps, I’m skipping a lot of the new Batman titles, and Wednesday Comics is over (also, I was disappointed in it).

BATMAN AND ROBIN #5
Issue #2 of this series rocked hard. I like that Morrison is playing with new villains, the classics need a bit of a break right now.

DETECTIVE COMICS #858
The first issue of the Batwoman-led Detective Comics came out last month and it was a treasure to behold. This month Rucka and Co. finally get around to telling us Kate Kane’s backstory and I’m excited to see how Williams III will handle the flashbacks. Read the rest of this entry »

Agents of Atlas #7
Jeff Parker (w), Gabriel Hardman (a), Jana Schirmer (c). Marvel Comics

Parker has really thought about this series. He’s thought about the backstories, the inter-dynamics, the magic, and destiny. Though, even seven issues in, I still feel like I’m at a disadvantage because I didn’t read the first mini-series. But I’m sticking with it. There are some fun characters and I really like the concept. I did like this issue, but I feel that the team is more or less at the same place they were at issue one. The last two issues of this story resolved nothing, though did address an elephant in the corner. The close of this issue suggests that there will be some new developments in Agents of Atlas and a move away from addressing “Dark Reign” issues and I welcome that. It’s time to learn more about Atlas and what Jimmy Woo is going to do with it. — Miles Baker Read the rest of this entry »

Owen’s Book of the Month

Starman Omnibus: Volume 3
James Robinson (w), Tony Harris and others (p), Wade von Grawbadger and others (i), DC Comics

Every month that another volume comes out, it is pretty much a guarantee that it will be my best of that month. I suppose it’s possible that something better could come out. I suppose there are a few comics that could best it (Top 10: The Forty-Niners comes to mind, as does the last issue of Y: The Last Man), but odds are good that you’ll see another Starman omnibus on my list three more times after this. With good reason, too. To keep it brief, lest I become repetitive (too late), this comic is a masterwork of character building, lush visuals, and serialized storytelling. Read the rest of this entry »

Astonishing X-Men #30
Warren Ellis (w), Simone Bianchi (p), various. Marvel Comics.

If a team takes two years to put out six issues (I’m counting the announcement at San Diego Comicon 2007 as when the creators started work) you’d at least hope they’d be good. Bianchi is perhaps one of the worst artists to attempt to make a coming in the medium’s history. It’s not that he can’t draw — his figures are fine, even if they are making strange and goofy poses in every panel — it’s that he can’t compose a page. He’s trying really hard with these complicated layouts that fall dead flat. Why? Because there’s no fucking purpose to them. He’s losing out on emotive details because he’s adding angles and semi-circle panels. Then there is Ellis’ mishandling of the characters. He gets the occasional moment right, but then so many so wrong, like Wolverine saying that he’s “Old enough to spank the front o’ your brain with one o’ my claws, Summers.” “‘o”? Since when is Wolverine a character from Treasure fucking Island? If you liked Whedon’s run on Astonishing X-Men, pretend they cancelled the title. — Miles Baker Read the rest of this entry »

The Cell 2
Directed by Tim Iacofano
New Line Cinema, 2009

By Miles Baker

Based on the best cell-er?

While watching The Cell 2, I had a feeling that this wasn’t originally meant to be a Cell movie. Watching the “making-of” feature after the movie confirmed that. There is no relationship between either of these films. The filmmakers try to make a connection, but it’s wrong. They try to establish that Jennifer Lopez’s character was a psychic when she actually had a virtual reality thingamajig that got her into the killer’s head. So, this movie, which relies on psychic powers, is not even in the same genre as the original. Why would they lie like this?

I was surprised at how much I liked The Cell when it came out almost 10 years ago. I liked it enough to watch it a few times. So when I found out about The Cell 2 I thought, “Yeah, I’d watch that. See what it’s like.” — and so their nefarious plan totally worked. They suckered me into this by dressing up their bad movie in sequel’s clothing.

The Cell 2 focuses on psychic FBI agent Maya Casteneda (Tessie Santiago) as she and her team try to track down The Cusp, a serial killer who cuts out his victims’ heart only after killing them and bringing them back to life seven times. Maya uses her bizarre and fickle ability to touch an object and read the memories of its owner. But she also enters their mind. A big deal is made of this, because if she’s in someone’s head when they die, then she dies. The Cusp is revealed half-way through the movie for no good reason whatsoever, except that it seems like the writers were bored with writing a mystery thriller and thought it best to mixed it up a little. The colours are drab and it’s clear that the director has a history in television, filming many scenes as if he only has two walls (to be fair, an 18-day shooting schedule may have a lot to do with this).

Cell 2 is nothing like the carefully plotted and exquisitely-made original, which is a shame but not entirely regrettable. It’s bad. Don’t get me wrong, this is a bad movie. But it does, for a large chunk of the film, cross over into the enjoyably-bad category.

It doesn’t start off that way. Early on, Cell 2 wants to be a legit scary movie and uses scene after scene of torture porn try to create a false sense of tension. Midway through, it’s like the film realizes it’s done with that and decides to get fun, with some detours back into torture porn for good measure. Those parts are tedious. I think if you like torture porn they’d be too tame, but I can’t really say. I decided to go get a drink during those parts.

The fun parts come in the end half as they embrace the cheese: terrible acting, silly plot twists, amazingly lame chase sequences, bad jokes, and the best closing credits of all time. The two chase sequences are the best. The low-speed foot race, where the protagonists escape by hiding under some blankets is a gem. It got me laughing a few times and you can’t fault any movie that does that.

The Cell 2 was sent to MONDOmagazine as a review copy. It is currently on sale on DVD, Blu-Ray (the version Miles reviewed), and via download services.

Not that I want to think about September and the end of summer, but the solicitations for that month’s comics are out and I like to daydream about buying things.

From DC

WEDNESDAY COMICS #9-12 This is looking better and better! Check out this page by Joe Kubert! It ROCKS. Sargent Rocks.

BATMAN AND ROBIN #4 I think Phillip Tan is a very odd choice to fill in for Frank Quitely, but the first issue of Batman and Robin really impressed me so I have a feeling I’ll still be picking this up.

DETECTIVE COMICS #857 Still so pumped about this series. September’s issue will be the end of the first “arch.” I hope it’s a good one.

BATMAN: STREETS OF GOTHAM #4 The more I see of this series the more interested I get. Plus, I think Victor Zsasz is fucking scary and apparently I’m into that. Read the rest of this entry »

Well, it made the national papers: Captain America is back and here’s where you learn all about it. These juicy secrets where so powerful that our American cousins couldn’t wait until Wednesday to get them. There was a special comic shipment just for this enormous comic. But was it worth it? The MONDOcomics team will tell you.

Captain America #600
Main story: Ed Brubaker (w); Butch Guice, Howard Chaykin, Rafael Albuquerque, David Aja, Mitch Breitwiser (a).
Back-up stories: Alex Ross, Paul Dini, Roger Stern (w); Kalman Andrasofszky, Dale Eaglesham (a). Marvel Comics.

This is a really impressive comic because it weaves in about a dozen important characters and is still somehow manageable. Of course, the lengthened page count helps that out significantly: this is the heaviest saddle-stitched comic I’ve ever bought. Almost every single thread that Brubaker has touched on during his run comes into play in this issue, with one helluva kicker into the next storyline. One under-appreciated part of this comic and Captain America in general is how good the action is. Brubaker writes visceral action and has some great partners in this issue to bring it to life. In this issue, the Sharon fight and the Crossbones escape are two excellent pieces of violence. Read the rest of this entry »

Amazing Spider-Man Family #7
Roger Stern, Tom DeFalco, Ron Frenz, Fred Hembeck (w), Val Semeiks, Sal Buscema, Fred Hembeck (a), Mike Getty (i), Andres Mossa, Bruno Hang, Antonio Fabela (c). Marvel Comics.

Separated into three stories, the first is a sweet recollection of how Aunt May met Uncle Ben, as told within the context of current continuity. It’s good to see they haven’t forgotten about Nathan Lubensky. In general, it was okay but the art is a little odd, like drawing the age on Aunt May was an after-thought. Of course I’m here for the Spider-Girl story, which keeps an excellent pacing while balancing classic action and drama. And the final story has Petey (little Peter Parker) meet Brother Voodoo, I guess.  I don’t know much about those guys — but the issue does have Fancy Dan! He’s fancy! — Isaac Mills

Isaac’s rating: 3 out of 5

Batman: Streets of Gotham #1
Paul Dini, Marc Andreyko (w), Dustin Nguyen, Georges Jeanty (p), Derek Fridolfs, Karl Story (i), John Kalisz, Nick Filardi (c). DC Comics.

One panel has a subtle grappling hook fall on down as Harley Quinn hails a taxi, the next panel she’s yanked into the air by the strong arm of Batman a rooftop away. The drops of humour — this time more litterally — are ever present in Dini’s writing, and I’m glad that’s so. The thing with Dini is that even though he has certain favourite storylines and characters he wants to use (like Hush, for instance) he still clearly plays ball and introduces new adventures to have, shifting things to the backburner as necessary. Not a juggling act everyone can do. I have to complain about the one bad guy punching an imprint of his name (“Abuse”) into another man’s head — I saw the Mythbusters that said that was impossible. I’d actually prefer if the guy used a laser or something to leave his calling card. Why would I rather believe a thug has a sophisticated laser in his pocket instead of the ability to punch words into peoples heads? There’s clearly something wrong with me. — Isaac Mills

Isaac’s rating: 4 out of 5
Miles’ rating: 4 out of 5
Owen’s rating: 3.5 out of 5 Read the rest of this entry »

Amazing Spider-Man #597
Joe Kelly (w), Marco Chechetto (a). Marvel Comics.

The first part of this story was so good, but since then it’s been…I don’t want to say bad, but at least not living up to its potential. Certainly this issue isn’t as bad as last week’s “why does Sue Storm look just like the prostitute we just saw” issue, but it still isn’t living up to the promise of that great first issue. I appreciate the digs at Daken’s mohawk, and Peter’s (mostly successful) attempt at impersonating Venom, and that cliffhanger is shocking, but ultimately this storyline has turned out to be little more than a tour of Norman’s empire with some obligatory fights thrown in. For a better Joe Kelly book, read Bad Dog. — Owen Craig

Owen’s rating: 2.5 out of 5
Miles’ rating: 3.5 out of 5

Batman #687
Judd Winick (w), Ed Benes (p), Rob Hunter (i). DC Comics.

DC must be crazy. Why else would they release this book the week after Morrison and Quitely’s Batman and Robin? First of all, this book features a lot of Dick Grayson agonizing over whether or not he should become Batman, while in Batman and Robin he seemed very comfortable in the suit. So this book feels like it comes first chronologically. More importantly, though, this book does not benefit from the comparison; it’s sloppier, less fun, and less pretty. Benes seems to have studied from the Liefeld school of useless lines everywhere and is the expert of ambiguous character acting (are those characters sad or awkward). As for Winick, I see potential here, but he has some lessons to learn about economy in writing. You know that moment in writing class when the teacher walks over, looks at your script, and starts crossing lines out, saying “you don’t need that line, you don’t need that line, you don’t need that scene…”? Winick must have never had that happen to him (see Dick and Alfred’s many lengthy conversations). I think this book has potential, especially now that Benes is leaving, but Winick, please remember: less is more. — Owen Craig

Owen’s rating: 2 out of 5 Read the rest of this entry »

This is not an article about the terrible movie of the same name.

Clearly, this is a mega-review of the new Batman series DC Comics launched this week. It’s the first time readers get to see Dick Grayson don the Cowl (except for that time he did it in the 90s) and Damian Wayne fill Robin’s tunic (except that time he did it and decapitated a guy). It’s a rare case were the MONDOcomics gang are all buying the first issue so we thought we’d capitolize on our impulse spending and give you all of our takes on the issue. Enjoy, and let us know what you think in the comments.

Batman and Robin #1
Grant Morrison (w), Frank Quitely (a), Alex Sinclair (c). DC Comics

My summation: not as good as I hoped, not as bad as I feared. I was worried that the new Dynamic Duo that DC is hoisting on its readers would be a disaster,  but they might have something special here. Well, as long as Morrison and Quitely are on the job. They are doing a lot of good in this issue: adding some new villains to the gallery, great one-liners, relocating to a bunker like in The Dark Knight, and — most importantly — trying to add some wonder to Batman and Robin. I still can’t really get a handle on Damian Wayne though. He oscillates between likeability and assholery, driving me nuts. But I’m going to say that the big reason that I’m going to rate this issue so high is Quitely. He’s a fantastic artist and there’s one page of this issue, showing Batman’s new set-up that’s just brilliant. That page was worth a whole point. Seriously. This issue is all set-up and I do want to see where it’s going, so I’ll be back for issue two. — Miles Baker

Miles’ Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (3.5 if it didn’t have the set-up page) Read the rest of this entry »

Agents of Atlas #6
Jeff Parker (w), Gabriel Hardman (a), Marvel Comics

Maybe people who are huge Namor fans would get more mileage out of this. To me it was a whole lot of arguing about whether Namor should go back to Atlantis or not. A LOT of that. The art was really, really pretty (well done Hardman…also, badass name, Hardman) but too much time was spent explaining the history of the Atlantean people. This comic is at its best when it’s being whimsical and retro, not when it’s playing the role of the Marvel Encyclopedia. This is a great comic, but this wouldn’t be the issue I’d hand to someone to get them into it. – Owen Craig

Owen’s rating: 2.5 out of 5
Miles’ rating: 3 out of 5

Amazing Spider-Man #596
Joe Kelly (w), Paul Siqueira (p), Amilton Santos (i), Jeromy Cox (c), Marvel Comics

After this issue, they might want to call it “The Amazing Harry Osborn”. I’ve been really happy with how this series has handled it’s supporting cast and Harry has been consistently pleasing. They keep pulling the same gag and I keep falling for it. You keep thinking that Harry is going to do something dumb and Peter will have to save him but then it turns out Harry is smarter than you think. I love it. Norah Winters has also been a fun addition to the cast and I really hope Pete gets with her. I have a bit of a crush on her. Anyway, “American Son” picks up a lot after a first issue that didn’t thrill me — so much so that I wasn’t lamenting the departure of Phil Jimenez as much as I thought I would. Siqueira did a fine job. — Miles Baker

Miles’ rating: 4 out of 5
Owen’s rating: 2.5 out of 5 Read the rest of this entry »