Waiting For The Trade – Superboy: The Boy of Steel

Writer: Geoff Johns
Artist: Francis Manapul
Colourist: Brian Buccellato
Letterer: Steve Wands

Collects: Adventure Comics #0-4

After the shocking and cataclysmic events of Infinite Crisis—at least from my point of view—I was in a snit with Geoff Johns. He had killed Conner / Kon-El / Superboy, and my heart was broken. Not even the oft-mooted, “At least it wasn’t Nightwing” could appease me. Sure, I knew why; that court case and also the symbolic need to kill off a member of the Superfamily in each Crisis, but still… Geoff Johns killed Superboy and made me cry.

And then came Legion of Three Worlds, wherein Geoff Johns made me cry again, but for a happier reason this time (reviewed in a sadly Ang-less episode of Waiting For The Trade), And this brings me to the actual meat of this review, the return of Superboy to his proper time and his own title, the second volume of Adventure Comics and his adjustment from being well…. dead to being very much alive. A lot can happen in a year and having missed Final Crisis and Batman R.I.P. Conner has a lot of reading catching-up to do.

Conner Kent is once again living in Smalville with Martha Kent and Krypto. The death of Pa Kent has clearly affected him, and Conner seems rather humbled and grateful for every sunrise, which is a nice little touch. He’s re-enrolled in Smallville High and has embarked on a mission (for want of a better word) to understand both of his heritages better. Superman is easy… live with Ma, go to school at Smallville High, help people, but understanding Lex Luthor is much more complicated. This does re-tread old ground as Conner went through similar in Teen Titans after discovering that Luthor was his other “father”, but I can forgive Johns as it’s got to be pretty traumatic to have Lex Luthor for a father.

We see Conner reconciling with Cassie (Wondergirl) with a moonlit floating picnic—why has no one ever taken me on a date like that?—and also catching up with Tim (now Red Robin) in Paris. Both of these relationships are given a gratifying amount of page-space and provide a real ‘feel-good’ element to the book.

While all the schmaltzy stuff is going on, Lex Luthor and Brainiac have escaped their incarceration and have come to Smallville at Luthor’s behest to find Conner, as Luthor wants to retrieve his ‘property’. This leads to some interesting character development and some discoveries about Luthor’s early life in Smallville which I won’t spoil you for.

I must talk about the art for a moment. The pencils are glorious; light, fluid and dynamic. Extra-special kudos to Brian Buccellato whose colouring has created a beautiful book—I love the wistful, nostalgic colouring used in flashbacks or memory sequences. It’s just a beautiful book in terms of art.

All in all, this is a superb new beginning for Superboy in the current DCU and I’m really looking forward to seeing more of him. And for the record… this time Geoff Johns made me smile lots.

Rating:
Reviewer: Angela Williams

The Other Guys – Trailer and Images

New York City Detective Allen Gamble (Will Ferrell) is a forensic accountant who is more interested in paperwork than fieldwork. Detective Terry Hoitz (Mark Wahlberg) has been stuck working with Gamble since an embarrassing shooting. Gamble and Hoitz both admire top cops Highsmith (Samuel L. Jackson) and Danson (Dwayne Johnson), but when Gamble and Hoitz’s chance to prove themselves arises, things don’t go as planned

The last time I really enjoyed a film with Will Ferrell it was Anchorman since then every film he’s done he’s pretty much been the same (with varying levels of shouting) I hope he can return to form with this but after seeing the trailer not so such.

Still the central premise is a funny one and having Dwayne Johnson aka The Rock and Samuel L  Jackson cameo as Super cops may steal the film out from under the collective noses of Wahlberg and Ferrell.

GS Reporter: Nuge

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Trailer

“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows”, the seventh and final adventure in the Harry Potter film series, is a much-anticipated motion picture event to be told in two full-length parts.

Heading the cast, Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson reprise their roles as Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger.

The ensemble cast also includes Helena Bonham Carter, Robbie Coltrane, Tom Felton, Ralph Fiennes, Brendan Gleeson, Richard Griffiths, John Hurt, Jason Isaacs, Helen McCrory, Bill Nighy, Miranda Richardson, Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith, Timothy Spall, Imelda Staunton, David Thewlis, Julie Walters and Bonnie Wright.

“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” is directed by David Yates and produced by David Heyman and David Barron, with Lionel Wigram executive producing. Steve Kloves wrote the screenplay, based on the book by J.K. Rowling.

Warner Bros. Pictures presents a Heyday Films production, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,” which marks the latest installment in the most successful film franchise of all time.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 will be released in cinemas November 2010.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 will be released in cinemas July 2011.

GS Reporter: Nuge

New DC Universe animated original movie Superman/Batman: Apocalypse coming soon

The most important thing about this press release is that both Tim Daly and Kevin Conroy are back doing the voices of Superman and Batman. I know there’s an all-star cast that DC have lined up and all that but I would just rather have folks who are going to be great voice actors and that isn’t always the case with these films.

Andre Braugher has signed on to play the voice of Darkseid in this film. Now I rate Braugher I think he’s a great actor but for me whenever I think of an animated Darkseid I think Micheal ‘badass’ Ironside. I sure Braugher will do a good job (at least I hope he will) I would have just rather had Ironside reprise the role.

I’ve enjoyed the DC Universe animated stuff so I’m going be really surprised if I don’t enjoy the hell out of this latest release. There’s also a short Green Arrow animated feature included on the disc which should be cool as I’ve alway liked the way Green Arrow was portayed in the JLU animated series.

THE END IS NEAR

WORLD’S FINEST WAGE WAR WITH DARKSEID IN ALL-NEW DC UNIVERSE ANIMATED ORIGINAL MOVIE SUPERMAN/BATMAN: APOCALYPSE AVAILABLE FROM WARNER HOME VIDEO

SEPTEMBER 28, 2010!

Andre Braugher, Summer Glau, Ed Asner join popular voices Kevin Conroy & Tim Daly;New DC Showcase GREEN ARROW on Special Edition Blu-ray & 2-Disc Special Edition DVD.

BURBANK, CA, (June 29, 2010) – To save an earthbound Kryptonian, the Man of Steel and the Dark Knight unite once again – this time to battle the powerful forces of Darkseid – in Superman/Batman: Apocalypse, the ninth entry in the popular, ongoing series of DC Universe Animated Original PG-13 Movies coming September 28, 2010 from Warner Premiere, DC Comics and Warner Bros. Animation. The highly anticipated, full-length film will be distributed by Warner Home Video as a Special Edition Blu-Ray™ and 2-Disc Special Edition DVD as well as single disc DVD. The film will also be available On Demand and for Download.

Fan favorites Tim Daly (Private Practice) and Kevin Conroy (China Beach) return to their seminal roles as Superman and Batman, respectively. The celebrity-laden guest cast is headed by Andre Braugher (Men of a Certain Age) as the daunting Darkseid. Sci-Fi heroine Summer Glau (Serenity/Firefly, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles) provides the voice of Supergirl, and seven-time Emmy Award winner Ed Asner (Up) reprises his Superman: The Animated Series/Justice League role as Granny Goodness.

Based on the DC Comics series/graphic novel “Superman/Batman: Supergirl” by Jeph Loeb, Michael Turner & Peter Steigerwald, Superman/Batman: Apocalypse is produced by animation legend Bruce Timm and directed by Lauren Montgomery (Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths) from a script by Academy Award-nominated screenwriter Tab Murphy (Gorillas in the Mist).

After a spaceship splashes down in Gotham City Harbor, Batman and Superman encounter a mysterious Kryptonian with powers as great as those of the Man of Steel. The Kryptonian is soon revealed to be Kara, cousin of Superman, who takes her under his wing to educate her about the ways of Earth. However, the villainous Darkseid has other plans. Seeing an opportunity to finally defeat Superman, Darkseid abducts and gains control of Kara, utilizing the powerful Kryptonian to do his bidding. It’s up to Batman and Superman to save Kara, but they’ll have to take the fight to Darkseid within his hostile world – where unknown, deadly threats lurk around every corner, including a brainwashed Kryptonian able to match Superman blow-for-blow.

In addition to the feature film, the Superman/Batman: Apocalypse Special Edition Blu-Ray™ and 2-Disc Special Edition DVD include the third DC Showcase animated short, Green Arrow. Screenwriter Greg Weisman’s story finds Oliver Queen at the Star City International Airport to pick up his girlfriend, only to be forced into action as Green Arrow to protect the 10-year-old Princess of Vlatava from his old nemesis Merlyn the Magnificent and the League of Assassins. The short features the voices of Neal McDonough (Desperate Housewives) and Malcolm McDowell (Entourage). Bruce Timm is executive producer.

FAA Approve Flying Car

they’ve just approved the Terrafugia Transition, a $194K street-legal car that can fold out its wings and turn into an airplane.

It only takes 20 hours of flying time to get the proper license to fly this, a “light sport” aircraft. – DVICE

This looks like someething out of a bond film and I thinking Moore not Connery (and no that’s not a good thing) personally I’ll wait until someone builds a hover car Back to the Future style…oh and if it could travel through time please that would be great thanks.

GS Reporter: Nuge

Source: DVICE

Learn who’s been cast as Howard Stark in Captain America: The First Avenger

Marvel are continuing the trend in the latest films to build in links between it’s films. In Iron Man 2 we got the brief appearance of Tony Stark father Howard Stark but in the upcoming Captain America film we get to see Howard Stark in his youth and I’m guessing, given some of the revelations of his past in Iron Man 2 we’ll get a little more screen time in this film.

Check out below to see this latest casting news.

Wonder Woman new outfit is revealed

As J. Michael Straczynski starts his run on the first lady of DC Comics with “Wonder Woman” #600 he decides to give our Amazon Warrior woman a makeover with a brand new outfit. Personally I like the new look but the jury is still out as to whether this is a permanent change or not. I’m not sure it will be as we all remember how well it went down with the fans when they tried to change superman’s outfit.

Check out the outfit and let us know your thoughts!

GS Reporter: Nuge

Source: New York Times/ Comic Book Resources

Paranormal Activity 2 Trailer hits

Whether or not you loved or hated the first film I think some respect must be levied at the filmakers for using low-budget tricks to create scares for the audience (yes I was one of the scared ones).

On the whole I enjoyed the film but as I scare extremely easy I was not in a rush for a second viewing. I also found it really difficult to scare up (I know lame joke) any sympathy for the boyfriend as rule number 1 of any supernatural encounter is you don’t start hurling  abuse at an evil spirit as that will never end well.

You can take a look at the brand new trailer here

GS Reporter: Nuge

George Takei to attend SFX Weekender 2011

It seems that the guys and gals over at SFX have begun signing up of big names for their second SFX Weekender which will be held in Camber Sands in Feb 2011.

George Takei is the first big-name guest to be announced for next-year’s SFX Weekender

With more than 40 films and 100s of TV roles to his name, including a regular role in Heroes, George Takei (Star Trek’s Mr Sulu) will be one of the top guests meeting the fans at Sussex’s Camber Sands on 4th and 5th February next year.

We attended SFX weekender last year and had a great time so fingers crossed we’ll be putting in a return appearance at next year’s convention. If your after a weekender where you can immerse yourself in Geek culture and like-minded folk then this is worth checking out.

GS Reporter: Nuge

Source: SFX

LEGEND OF THE GUARDIANS: THE OWLS OF GA’HOOL – TRAILER

LEGEND OF THE GUARDIANS: THE OWLS OF GA’HOOLE” – released in cinemas in 3D 15th October 2010

Acclaimed filmmaker Zack Snyder makes his animation debut with the fantasy family adventure “LEGEND OF THE GUARDIANS: THE OWLS OF GA’HOOLE” based on the beloved Guardians of Ga’Hoole books by Kathryn Lasky. The film follows Soren, a young owl enthralled by his father’s epic stories of the Guardians of Ga’ Hoole, a mythic band of winged warriors who had fought a great battle to save all of owlkind from the evil Pure Ones.

While Soren dreams of someday joining his heroes, his older brother, Kludd, scoffs at the notion, and yearns to hunt, fly and steal his father’s favor from his younger sibling. But Kludd’s jealousy has terrible consequences—causing both owlets to fall from their treetop home and right into the talons of the Pure Ones. Now it is up to Soren to make a daring escape with the help of other brave young owls. Together they soar across the sea and through the mist to find the Great Tree, home of the legendary Guardians—Soren’s only hope of defeating the Pure Ones and saving the owl kingdoms.

The film features the voices of Emily Barclay, Abbie Cornish, Emilie de Ravin, Ryan Kwanten, Miriam Margolyes, Helen Mirren, Sam Neill, Geoffrey Rush, Jim Sturgess, Hugo Weaving and David Wenham.

Snyder is directing “LEGEND OF THE GUARDIANS: THE OWLS OF GA’HOOLE” from a screenplay by Emil Stern and John Orloff, based on the Guardians of Ga’Hoole novels by Kathryn Lasky. The film is being produced by Zareh Nalbandian, with Donald De Line, Deborah Snyder, Lionel Wigram, Chris DeFaria, Kathryn Lasky and Bruce Berman serving as executive producers.

Release date: 15th October 2010

Cast: Emily Barclay, Abbie Cornish, Emilie de Ravin, Ryan Kwanten, Miriam Margolyes, Helen Mirren, Sam Neill, Geoffrey Rush, Jim Sturgess, Hugo Weaving and David Wenham.

Certificate: TBC

Running time: TBC

Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Legend-Of-The-Guardians-The-Owls-Of-GaHoole-official-UK-page/135837133095201

Official site: www.legendoftheguardiansmovie.co.uk

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X -Men First Class finds it’s Emma Frost

Casting is moving a long nicely for the long awaited X-men Prequel. Soon after Micheal Fassbender was announced as taking on the role of the young Erik Lehnsherr aka Magneto a young Emma Frost has now been cast.

Alice Eve, most recently seen in the film “She’s Out of My League”, will be taking on the role of the White Queen herself Emma Frost.

What do you think about this casting folks…good or bad?

GS Reporter: Nuge

Tommy Lee Jones joins Captain America cast

Looks like they’re going all out for this film.

Official Press Release

Marvel Studios announced today that Oscar® winning actor Tommy Lee Jones has been cast to star as US Army Colonel Chester Phillips in the studio’s highly anticipated movie CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER opposite Chris Evans, Hugo Weaving, Hayley Atwell, Sebastian Stan and Stanley Tucci. In the early comics, Phillips recruited Steve Rogers to join Project Rebirth, the secret experiment that created the Super Soldier known as Captain America. The character will be updated for the film. Joe Johnston will direct the film penned by Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely.

Marvel Studios’ Kevin Feige will produce CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER. Alan Fine, Stan Lee, David Maisel, Nigel Gostelow and Louis D’Esposito will executive produce. The film will be released in the US on July 22, 2011 and distributed by Paramount Pictures.

CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER will focus on the early days of the Marvel Universe when Steve Rogers volunteers to participate in an experimental program that turns him into the Super Soldier known as Captain America.

Tommy Lee Jones’ will next be seen in THE COMPANY MEN and is well known for starring in NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN, THE THREE BURIALS OF MELQUIADES ESTRADA, the MEN IN BLACK franchise, and THE FUGITIVE for which he won an Academy Award®.

In addition to CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER, Marvel Studios most recently released the highly anticipated sequel, IRON MAN 2, starring Robert Downey Jr. and Gwyneth Paltrow on May 7, 2010, and will release a slate of films based on the Marvel characters including THOR on May 6, 2011, and MARVEL STUDIOS’ THE AVENGERS on May 4, 2012.

Tommy Lee Jones is represented by CAA and attorney Bill Jacobson.

Oscar® and Academy Award® is a registered trademark of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Lets us know what you think about this lastest piece of casting news.

GS Reporter: Nuge

Expendables – Stills and Synopsis

They’re billing this as ‘the action movie to end all action movies’ and I think they’re about 95% right. If they could have got Chuck Norris to sign on the dotted line then maybe I’d score it the full 100%. As it stands Stallone has done a hell of a job putting together so many old school bad asses into one film. I shudder to think what the bad guy death toll and the number of one liners is going to stand at when the credits roll.

The film is due to be released on August 19th with previews on the 13th, 14th, 15th August.

While we’re all waiting for the film’s release check out some stills and a synopsis (yes it actually has a story) below.

Expendable: capable of being sacrificed in order to accomplish a military objective.

Return to your action roots this summer as legend of cinema Sylvester Stallone (Rocky, Rambo) takes you on an explosive adventure of a lifetime. On August 20th this is your chance to experience the much celebrated action movie institution in its most glorious form.

Modern day action heroes Jason Statham (Crank 2, Death Race, The Transporter Trilogy) and Jet Li (The Forbidden Kingdom, Unleashed) join forces with Rocky Nemesis Dolph Lundgren (Rocky IV, Universal Soldier, Masters of the Universe) and Bafta Winner Mickey Rourke (The Wrestler, Iron Man 2) alongside timeless heroes Bruce Willis (Die Hard) and Arnold Schwarzenegger to make the cinema a dangerous place to be this August. Rounding out the cast is wrestling superstar ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin, Eric Roberts (The Specialist, The Dark Knight), Terry Crews, Randy Couture, David Zyas and Giselle Itie.

Barney Ross (Stallone) is a man with nothing to lose. Fearless and void of emotion, he is the leader, the sage and the strategist of this tight-knit band of men who live on the fringe. The team behind him is made up of Lee Christmas (Statham), former SAS and a savant with anything that has a blade; Yin Yang (Li), a master at close-quarter combat; Hale Caesar (Terry Crews), who has known Barney for ten years and is a long-barrel weapons specialist; Toll Road (Randy Couture), a skilled demolitions expert and considered the intellect of the group; and Gunnar Jensen (Lundgren), a combat veteran and an expert in precision sniping who struggles with his own demons.

When the mysterious Church offers Barney a job no one else would take, Barney and his team embark on what appears to be a routine mission: overthrow General Gaza (David Zayas), the murderous dictator of the small island country of Vilena and end the years of death and destruction inflicted on its people. On a reconnaissance mission to Vilena, Barney and Christmas meet their contact Sandra (Giselle Itie), a local freedom-fighter with a dark secret. They also come to learn who their true enemy is: rogue ex-CIA operative James Monroe (Roberts) and his henchman Paine (Austin). When things go terribly wrong, Barney and Christmas are forced to leave Sandra behind, essentially giving her a death sentence. Haunted by this failure, Barney convinces the team to return to Vilena to rescue the hostage and finish the job he started. Perhaps, also, to save a soul: his own.

The Expendables – the action film to end all action films!

GS Reporter: Nuge

A brand new Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Trailer comes to Facebook

As much as I was a fan of the Harry Potter books I’ve been less impressed with the films apart from  a notable exceptions (Prisoner of Azkaban). On saying that I can’t help be impressed that they’ve managed to adapt all the books to film as I never thought the studio would stay the course.

To celebrate the fact they are turning the last book into a two part adventure (still not sure why we need two films) they have released the brand new trailer for both films onto Facebook.

I clicked on the link not really expecting anything. I ‘d seen some of the earlier teasers and thought they looked ok but I wasn’t expecting such an epic trailer. As a Potter  book fan the last shot of the trailer pretty much guaranteed my cinema ticket to see the second part on the big screen even if I wait for the DVD for part 1.

We’ll have the trailer here tomorrow but in the meantime if you head to the Official Harry Potter UK Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/HarryPotterUK and click the trailer tab you should be able to watch the brand new trailer or try this link

GS Reporter: Nuge

Waiting For The Trade – The Question: Peacemaker

Writer: Dennis O’Neil
Penciller: Deny Cowan
Inkers: Malcolm Jones III, Carlos Garzon
Colourist: Tatjana Wood
Letterer: Willie Schubert

Collects: The Question #31-36

I’ve not reviewed a trade of The Question on the blog before although we’ve talked about the character on the podcast a few times. This trade collects the end of the The Question series (not counting the Blackest Night #37 from this year) and what an end!

As Hub City continues to deteriorate Vic Sage struggles to maintain his sanity, he isn’t a campaigning superhero, he’s not even really out to see justice triumph, most of the time he’s just trying to survive. But there’s a real heart to this book but it’s hidden away under layer upon layer of darkness but those layers peel back as the series closes and we finally get to see a Question who is at peace with himself and those who he calls friend.

The darkness I mention above includes some really harrowing scenes, one in particular which features the corpse of a baby is something which struck me cold. Without the glossy veneer that current comics seem to have and with the grittiness that seems to be the hallmark of this book the impact of these events feels multiplied. What’s more it doesn’t feel to me like O’Neil was just playing this for shock value in the way that an Ennis, Millar or Ellis might.

I don’t know if Denys Cowan has any sort of martial arts training or what sort of personal experience he brings to the action scenes but his fights are amazing and kinetic. Here fighting isn’t glamourous it’s brutal, there’s consequences to each blow and the varied use of angles and points-of-view help heighten this to the point where you can almost feel the heel of a shoe connect with an unprotected jaw.

Another great artistic touch features in the last story as Vic morphs between his adult and child selves as he hallucinates about his upbringing, simple but amazingly effective.

I can sense I’m getting effusive in my praise so I will call things to a close with a hearty recommendation that if you haven’t read this series you owe it to yourself to do so.

Rating:
Reviewer: Dave Williams