Showing posts with label Marvel Comics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Marvel Comics. Show all posts
Sunday, August 18, 2013
Justice League of America and Rocket Raccoon
Today's cover image is fitting if you consider the fact that Rocket Raccoon is going to be appearing on the big screen before the JLA get their chance - now, who ever expected that to happen? I have only seen a bootleg snippet of footage from Guardians of the Galaxy so far, and I still don't know if Marvel will have another hit on their hands yet - but I have to admit that the characters I am most interested in - Rocket and Groot - both look very cool from a design standpoint at least. The key will be getting the right actor to provide Rocket's voice. My favorite suggestions so far have been Liam Neeson or Jason Statham - he needs a real tough guy sound to offset his height.
Saturday, August 17, 2013
Lex Luthor and Dr. Doom
It seems that the role of Lex Luthor will be a key one in the upcoming Superman/Batman movie, as casting possibilities are already starting to surface. The two names at the top of the pack both sound very interesting to me: Mark Strong and Bryan Cranston. Strong definitely looks the part, and is known for playing arch villains in movies like Kick-Ass, Sherlock Holmes... and Green Lantern. That last film is a sticking point - will DC want the same actor as Sinestro to play Luthor? Even though the GL movie was not the success they had hoped, Strong was one of the best parts of it and it would be a shame to completely close the door on seeing a full-fledged Sinestro return some day. At 57, some may think Cranston to be a bit old to play Lex Luthor, but I think he is such a great actor that I could overlook that. Breaking Bad has shown us that he truly knows how to convey intellectual menace and ambition-driven men, so I think he would be amazing in the role.
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
Captain Atom and The Human Torch
There are a lot of cool headquarters in comics Batman has his cave, Superman has his fortress and Doctor Strange has his Sanctum Sanctorum. Still there was always something I really liked about the Fantastic Four's Baxter Building, mainly because it has been effectively used as a plot point in some of the FF's best stories. Whether it was launched into outer space, used as a gateway to the negative zone, or being crashed by super villains, it has always been like another character. I think my favorite tale was during John Byrne's run, where The Trapster is thwarted in his invasion attempt solely by the Building's security system - great stuff!
Monday, August 12, 2013
Superman and The Sub-Mariner
I think that a battle between Superman and Prince Namor could be epic. Sure, I would give Superman the edge... unless Namor was somehow able to lure him into the ocean. There, he is even more powerful and has all the resources of Atlantis and the undersea world at his command, and Superman could be in for the fight of his life. Making it a period piece would be even mor fun for me, as I love the golden age versions of these pioneering comicds charaters.
Sunday, August 11, 2013
The Demon and Thor
I have yet to see an episode of Game of Thrones, so I wasn't sure what to make of Kenneth Branagh being replaced as director on the sequel to Thor with GoT vet Alan Taylor, but I have to say that I like what I have seen in the trailers that have been released so far. I thought that then first film was too Earth bound, and that does not seem to be the cast with the second outing. Also, there are indications that Sif will get a larger role, which is good because I loved her portrayal in the original film. The only fault I saw was the same as has always been for the cinematic Thor - Put your helmet on already!
Labels:
Jack Kirby,
Marvel Comics,
Super-Team Family,
Team Up,
The Demon,
Thor
Friday, August 9, 2013
Vixen and The Black Panther
I've always liked Vixen, from way back to the days where she was a Superman supporting character with an ugly costume. She's had to work hard to gain prominence, first as a member of the ill-fated Detroit era Justice League and then of Suicide Squad. It was with the squad that she really began to flourish, under the pen of John Ostrander, who gave her a bit more depth. I enjoyed her appearances on Justice League Unlimited as well, they really demonstrated how cool her abilities can be. I think she was with Justice League International in the New 52, but since that title's cancellation, I am not sure where she's ended up. Hopefully DC will find a home for her, she's earned her place alongside the A-listers by now.
Labels:
DC Comics,
Marvel Comics,
Super-Team Family,
Team Up,
Vixen
Thursday, August 8, 2013
Metamorpho and Iron Man
I think that the differences between these characters' power sets would make for an interesting match up. I'm not really sure who I would give the edge to if they went to battle, although I would be rooting for Rex. I have always had a soft spot for hard-luck heroes, and he is one of the best.
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
Robin and Ultimate Spider-Man
Little did I know when I made this cover that Damian Wayne would be killed off before I even had a chance to post it. While I do think that it has been problematic that Batman has had so many sidekicks, I have to admit that I was just warming up to the kid before Grant Morrison decided to permanently close out his story arc... or did he? Morrison's time on Batman has apparently ended with the revelation of numerous Damian clones, leaving the door for a return quite open, it would seem.
Marvel's Age of Ultron event ended with Galactus showing up in the Ultimate Universe, and some are already suspecting that this will indeed signal the end to that line of comics. I can see that happening, but if it does I am sure there will be some elements that carry over to the mainstream Marvel Universe. The top of that list is Miles Morales, I just can't see that character going away no matter what happens to the Ultimate line.
Labels:
David Marquez,
DC Comics,
Kevin Maguire,
Marvel Comics,
Robin,
Super-Team Family,
Team Up
Tuesday, August 6, 2013
The Tick Vs. Ambush Bug
These guys seem like they were made to appear together. Aside from the similarity in appearance, the stories that they star in are always chock full of commentary and humor regarding the state of the comics industry. I can imagine that any tale that featured them side by side would just be a ton of fun. Heck, call in Patrick Warburton and Henry Winkler to reprise the voices and animate the story! Now that would be a blast!
Monday, August 5, 2013
Hawk & Dove and Cloak & Dagger
I think that these two pairs of street level crime fighters would be fun to toss in a story together. Dove and Dagger seem to spend as much time battling alongside their partners as they do trying to keep them in check, and that would make for an interesting dynamic. It would also be a cool looking issue - the costume designs on these teams are both very visually appealing, it's no wonder to me that they have remained relatively the same since the characters were introduced (even though one of the genders may have changed).
Sunday, August 4, 2013
Deadman and Mephisto
It's only fitting that I feature Boston Brand today since I just had a great time at the Boston Comic Con. Getting in was crazy, I don't think they were expecting such a huge crowd and the line took almost two hours to filter through. It wasn't that bad, all the cool costumes gave me and my brothers plenty to look at. We had a blast once we got in, highlights for me were talking to a couple of my favorite pros, Phil Jiminez and Lee Weeks. Just great guys. I had some nice brief chats with Bill Willingham, Colleen Doran, Mike Mignola, Aaron Lopestri, and Mark Bagley as well.
Saturday, August 3, 2013
The Hobbits and The Hulk
I was a Peter Jackson fan after seeing The Frighteners (a movie that convinced me that The Spectre could work in live action, watch it and you'll see what I mean), and I was very encouraged when I heard he was going to take on the Lord of the Rings Trilogy. Still, I wasn't prepared for just how lavishly those great books would be recreated. Sure, there are changes and omissions (I was hoping to see Tom Bombadil), but it was still amazing how much he captured onscreen. I had my reservations about the much shorter The Hobbit being stretched into three films, but I have to admit to being thoroughly entertained by the first installment and am looking forward to the second. So here's a director who can film an ensemble cast in a film packed with battles, amazing abilities and special effects, all while staying true to the source material, and isn't afraid to stay with a franchise... I think a Justice League movie could be an interesting next move - DC/Warner Brothers, are you listening?
Thursday, August 1, 2013
The Flash and Iceman / Dr. Fate Vs. The Red Skull
Another two-fer today. The Flash has gotten a lot of press lately, with reports of a potential movie on the horizon, not to mention an appearance on the WB's Arrow, that is said to be leading to a new Flash TV Show. I'm not sure whether the television news means that the movie is no longer happening or not, but it would surprise me if Warner Brothers went ahead with two versions. One good bit of news on the TV front is that the producers are promising a proper costume and they will actually call the character by his name, which is a departure for their superhero adaptations. I still fondly remember the 90's series and hope that the new iteration does Barry Allen justice.
Labels:
DC Comics,
Doctor Fate,
Flash,
Iceman,
Marvel Comics,
Mike Zeck,
Nick Cardy,
Red Skull,
Super-Team Family,
Team Up
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Justice Society of America and The Avengers: In Memoriam
Nobody has ever been better at illustrating team comics than George Perez. His ability to give each character distinct body and facial types is put to great effect, as is his talent at creating densely paneled pages and detailed backgrounds. These skills allow each member of a large cast to shine and give the whole comic a more cinematic feel. Could any other artist have pulled off Crisis on Infinite Earths nearly as well as he did, with its cast of hundreds? I think not!
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
Spider-Man and Halo
As a fan of Mike W.Barr and Jim Aparo's Batman and the Outsiders, I am glad to see Katana finally getting some increased exposure with her self-titled series, membership in the JLA, and appearances on the Beware the Batman CGI series. Now it's time for DC to take another look at her teammate, Halo. Here is a great character that they have all but ignored for decades. She has it all, a unique look, power set and back story. Best of all, she is a truly original creation, and not just a female version of an already existing male hero. It's beyond me why DC decides to keep her on the shelf and out of the comic pages. If nothing else, she should show up in the pages of Katana, those two always had an interesting relationship.
Labels:
Alan Davis,
DC Comics,
Halo,
John Romita Sr.,
Marvel Comics,
Spider-Man,
Super-Team Family,
Team Up
Monday, July 29, 2013
Wonder Woman and Captain America in: "The Trouble With Trevor!"
I was pleasantly surprised to see that Steve Trevor would be playing an active role in the recently relaunched Justice League of America series. He is one character that has really benefited from DC's new continuity, for decades it seemed like writers couldn't figure out what to do with him, more often than not he was just written out of the series entirely. It looks like DC is building up the character before having he and Wonder Woman start up any kind of romantic relationship, which is probably the right approach.
Sunday, July 28, 2013
Aquaman and Iron Man
Iron Man's future on the big screen seems to be in good hands, with slated appearances in at least two more Avengers films. There aren't any more solo films planned, but that probably isn't a bad thing, for now. I'd rather have fewer appearances by the character rather than Iron Man be over saturated with a bored Robert Downey Jr. phoning in the role.
With a Batman/Superman film announced, it seems like DC is finally on the road to a Justice League movie - but will it include founding member Aquaman? He seems like a harder character to introduce within a JLA movie, but would DC/Warner brothers really take a chance on a solo film that is bound to be very expensive to make, given the largely underwater locales? I think the only way it could work is if they got a major star for the lead role and a top director behind the camera. The Favreau/Downey Jr. combo took everyone by surprise with a previously B-list character and we need the same kind of collaboration with Aquaman. It's a tall order, but I think it could be done well, and look unlike any superhero that audiences have seen before.
Labels:
Aquaman,
DC Comics,
Howard Purcell,
Iron Man,
Jack Kirby,
Marvel Comics,
Super-Team Family,
Team Up
Saturday, July 27, 2013
The Watcher Watches The Watchmen
I originally put this cover together as kind of a goof because I liked how the names went together, but now that I think about it, there could be a fun story to be told. The Watcher is no stranger to divergent timelines, so I can see him peeking into The Watchmen's world and wanting to see if events would have unfolded differently in another reality. Sure, he's got a vow of non-interference, but when has that ever stopped Uatu?
Friday, July 26, 2013
Atari Force and The Micronauts
Comics based on toys usually held only marginal interest for me, but there were a couple of exceptions. The Micronauts was based on some of my favorite toys of my youth, and featured the gorgeous art of Michael Golden. The fact that Marvel had the characters firmly rooted in the Marvel universe, with plenty of guest appearances, made it even better. I didn't really pay much attention to the video game tie-in aspect to Atari Force, it was the amazing artwork of Jose Luis Garcia Lopez that drew me in. I'd love to see either of these teams return, but with tangled rights situations, I am not holding my breath.
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
The X-Men Vs. Lex Luthor
I thought that Luthor's power-suit was a bit much when I first saw it, but it has since grown on me, mainly from its use in the Justice League cartoons. They did a good job of reconciling the various types of Luthors that we had seen over the decades in the comics, from corrupt executive to ringleader of fellow villains and even to his Presidential aspirations. The writers, along with Clancy Brown's excellent vocal work, always kept Luthor fresh and exciting throughout the various animated shows that he starred in.
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