Sunday 2 November 2014

Wotan- Earth 2- (Earth 2 2012): The New 52

First Appearance: Earth 2 (2012) 9


In issue 9, While Khalid Ben-Hassin is telling Jay and his mother about who he is after they are transported to Nabu's realm, Wotan interrupts him, saying that he resents the remark that Nabu was the greatest Egyptian mage. Jay asks who he was, but he says he'll come to that and asks whether or not Khalid really did know where they were. He verifies that they are indeed in Nabu's realm and tells them that his name was Wotan, a mage who was part of an organisation that wanted to augment it's control of the world's magic by using Nabu's power, which Khalid had sealed away in the Tower of Fate and he alone could enter.

In issue 10, Wotan proceeds to state that magic is real and that it is nothing more than energy that is meant to counter natural patterns and that “logic becomes illogic. Order becomes disharmony. Calm becomes chaos.” He changes his form to a female and continues his speech, claiming that all you need to do is master the energy. He then resorts back to his original form and explains the history of Nabu and although he died his powers were lost, until they were found and banished by Khalid. He reveals that his true name is Karel Wotan and that he was going to obtain the power of Nabu despite him saying that it was impossible. Mrs. Garrick tries to address Wotan, but Jay quickly quiets her down, saying she will make things worse. However Mrs. Garrick continues stating that she wanted to know why they had been abducted and the where she was. However Wotan calmly answers that he was going to reveal this before she had not interrupted her calling Mrs. Garrick a “good lady.” He goes onto say they are in a place that has been removed from Earth, but was not Heaven, Hell or Limbo “yet all of them at once.” He goes on, saying that it is a place of magic and contemplates the fact that is all the information she needs to know. Jay asks “Mr. Wotan” to send his mum home, but Wotan dismisses the “mister” and says that Mrs. Garrick will have be staying. Jay continues to beg that she has nothing to do with it. Wotan acknowledges this and that Flash was not either, but the fact he was a wonder made it seem reasonable as it is the road that he was meant to walk. The Flash attacks him, shouting that he is going down, but Wotan uses magic to turn him upside down, before shocking him with red electricity. He asks if the hex he used on him him hurt using it's title “The Angry Spell of the Dark Heart” and muses that it must be excruciating. Mrs. Garrick begs her to stop. Wotan snarls that behind what he had hoped to be a pleasant demeanour and that he is not a nice person, stating that “in words of one syllable that an idiot might understand... Do. Not. Mess. With. Me!” before throwing him to the ground. He contemplates that the Flash may be use beyond that of a hostage. Mrs. Garrick demands to know what he means by hostage and calling him a freak. Wotan tells her that there is no need to be rude as this is his nice and “bright” side, before transforming himself dragon and yelling that she defiantly did have a dark side. However this was only used as an act for intimidation and tells them that this only concerns is “my demure knew friend Khalid.” Khalid understands what he is after, asking if he is after the Helmet of Fate. Wotan addresses Mrs. Garrick, explaining that fate had caused Khalid to find Nabu's power, but corrects himself stating that Khalid was a suitable vessel for Nabu's power, but due to Khalid being nervous something happened. Wotan suggests that Khalid should tell them in his own words.

After Khalid finishes telling them about his experience with the helmet, Wotan comments on the fact that he doses have some magic imbued with him. After explaining the fact that the tower was used to keep Nabu's power contained and safe. Wotan explains that the organisation he worked for wanted the power of Nabu and that she has something vested in Nabu, but says that is was long in the past and they didn't need to know this. Wotan used his powers to read who is able to pass the tower's defence and sates that as the Flash's power derived from magic he is able to go with Khalid to retrieve the helmet. Khalid asks why he would go into the tower and Wotan replies that he will kill Mrs. Garrick without hesitation if the former refused. Flash demands to go in by himself, but Wotan calls him a “silly, stupid boy...” blasting both Khalid and Jay with more red lightning and is amused by the fact that the Flash thinks it is a negotiation and forcibly sending them into the tower.

Friday 31 October 2014

Detective Comic (2011) #23.4 Review

A very descriptive piece on the problem of substance abuse and obsession.

This issue focuses on Kirk Langstrom, first fighting against his wife, who has stolen his formula and become She-Bat and then goes on to have him work obsessively to make himself into a better, faster and stronger Man-Bat in order to fight crime and corruption with the Batman gone.

I do love the descent Langstrom has into madness and the way he becomes addicted at the end, turning into the very thing he wanted to protect the world from... a "monster." The characterisation is strong as well, giving us a new and darker look at Francine Langstrom, who when she first appeared seemed to be neutral, having connections to people stealing Langstrom's formula. 

I do think the formula is a meant to be a reference to the powerful nature of drugs and the long term affects on the user and if it it, I think this comic is both entertaining as well as being a positive educator without being blatant and in your face. 

Overall I would rate this comic highly. It has one of my favourite characters and the story is simple, strong and effective in it's portrayal.

Aquaman (2011) #23.2 Review

Hey everybody, before I do this review, I  wish you all a very happy Halloween.

Okay, so I absolutly love this comic and love what The New 52 has done with the Ocean Master.

The premise of the story is Ocean Master's journey back to Atlantis after all the criminals are broken out of Belle Reve Prison by Deathstorm and Power Ring (chronologically before Forever Evil #1.)

This comic is rather slow pace as he makes his way to the sea, but it also gives a more genlte and "human" look on Orm.It also has some great dialogue and a surprising twist at the end that will surprise the reader and possibly make the charcter more likable, without making him repent and turn to a superhero. I like slow pace when it is worthy of the speed, choosing to go down a diffrent route to the more action packed Forever Evil central series and I feel the speed and tone of this issue is just perfect for the story it's trying to tell. This is Orm learning about both humanity and the act of humanity.

I would recommend this title for fans of the original Ocean Master in the early Aquaman comics, but would suggest for a tiny bit of back story to read Justice League: Throne of Atlantis, just to learn about the Atlantean attack on America.


Wednesday 29 October 2014

Dc Comics: The New 52 Villain's Month (Review)

I am going to review each one individually, but as I haven't read them all I will just to a collected on my thoughts so far of this event.

For those of you who don't know, the Villain's month is a group of comics that were dedicated to the villains of the Dc Universe last Halloween and lead into Forever Evil and I must say I wish they continued with other villains, because from what I have read currently, it is nice to see what goes on in some of the greatest evil minds in Dc Comics. They also are single issues that you don't need to know read any other issues and recaps what has happened in Forever Evil and the Crime Syndicate's pledge to the villains and chilling message to the world.

The idea is also great as comic books focus too much on the heroes, so giving the villian/ anti-hero a chance to take the spotlight is both exciting and fascinating.  Out of the ones I have read, I must say my personal favourite was either Ocean Master or Man-Bat, with stories that is both consice and fast paced with some very good charaterisation and a specific character doing something both heroic and sweet that it touched at my heart.

Overall I must say I am thourilly enjoying the set and I love this concept of bad guy being the front and center of a title.

Individual review titles will be posted as soon as I have done with them all (most likely as my Halloween posts)

Earth 2 (2012) #15.2 Transcript

WHERE THE RIVER RAN RED

SCENE #1: Earth 2: Now

AN R.V IS DRIVING THROUGH THE DESSERT IN THE DARK. A CHILD HAS HIS HANDS PRESSED AGAINST THE GLASS, LOOKING INTO THE NIGHT SKY.

BOY:
Holy cow! Look at that, mom!

HIS EYES AND MOUTH WIDEN IN EXCITED ASTONISHMENT. HE CAN SEE A BALL OF FIRE HURTLE THROUGH THE AIR.

BOY: (CON'T)
That's the brightest shooting star I've ever seen!

SCENE # 2:

A YOUNG COUPLE ARE LYING ON THE BONNET OF A CAR. THE MALE HAS HIS ARM SUPPORTING THE FEMALE'S HEAD BEHIND HER AND SHE IS RESTING ON HIS SHOULDER.

THERE FACES CHANGE TO EVEN MORE PLEASURE AT THE SIGHT OF THE FIREBALL, MOVING TOWARDS THEM.

YOUNG FEMALE:
Oh, my god! Look! A shooting star! Quick make a...

THERE FACE'S TURN TO FEAR AND ALARM AS THE FIREBALL CONTINUES TO HURTLE TOWARDS THEM AND THEY GRAB EACH OTHER IN TERROR.

YOUNG FEMALE: (CON'T)
...wish.

THERE IS A BIG EXPLOSION AS THE FIREBALL HITS THE CAR, KILLING THE COUPLE. A TYRE IS SENT ROCKETING FROM THE WRECKAGE, BOUNCING AND ROLLING AWAY. A CRATER HAS FORMED AND SUDDENLY A HAND ERUPTS FROM THE SMOKE AND FLAMES, HAULING THE OWNER OUT. THE SMOKE CLEARS TO REVEAL... GRUNDY.

HE MAKES SLOW MOVEMENTS TOWARDS A LONE CACTUS, THE ONLY SOURCE OF LIFE AROUND IN THE DESSERT.

GRUNDY:
Life.

IT PUTS HIS HAND AROUND THE CACTUS, TURNING IT TO GREY DUST ALMOST IMMEDIATELY, CRUMBLING AND TURNING INTO DUST IN HIS HAND.

GRUNDY: (CON'T)
Rot.

Tuesday 28 October 2014

Gotham: (2014) Season 1 Episode 4 Review: Arkham

A game changer in the crime underworld and we see the job interview of a lifetime that would put "the Apprentice" to shame.

The premise of this episode is the fight between Maroni and Falcone for control of the "Arkham" project, that had also been in the interests of the Waynes. Penguin is trying to rise up in the ranks and has to deal with a very irate Gordon, who isn't too pleased to see him. Meanwhile Fish Mooney is looking for a "secret weapon" in her own personal mission to take down Falcone.

I do like this episode, but I'm not to fond of the villain. This sharp spike weapon freaked me out, but I can look past this and say it is great to see the dynamics between the crime bosses and their mobs. The auditions for the singers "Mooney's weapons" are really quite interesting to observe how well she has planned to take Falcone out. As for the dock scene near the end of the episode, it made me laugh and remember the scene in The Dark Knight, where Joker has two people fight for the position in his gang with a halved pool cue. Nygma is getting more lines and I'm loving the condescending and patronising tone he uses when he talks to Bullock. 

What I am also enjoying is the progression Cobblepot is taking to become the crime boss we know he is in the comic books. Last episode it was blackmail, this week it's manipulation. He is moving people in a game that will cost the city dearly and it is just so flawless. He is one of the best characters in the show.

Overall, despite my complaints about the assassin and his method of killing (due to me being a wuss), this episode is strong and is getting to be quite the remarkable series.

Gotham: (2014) Season 1 Episode 5 Review: Viper

A story that introduces an already twisted dark plot-line into a new war.

This episode is really interesting as it not only focuses on "the villain of the week", but also the bigger picture and tension between the Crime Famalies and the possible upcoming war between Falcone and Maroni. They are going tit for tat on each other, trying to one up themselves in who can do as much damage to the other without killing them and it is really brilliant to see the depths they go to .

Edward Nygma is starting to creep from the shadows and we can start to see a very Riddler-esk style to him and finding it fascinating when things turn quite grizzly. I am also really enjoying the Penguin's rise through the ranks of Maroni's inner circle and think this will be an exciting lead to battle.

I do like the "Viper" drug and love how the episode is foreshadowing the arrival of "venom" and Bane. As for other aspects of the episode, it was a pretty firm job as is starting to pick up a fast pace rhythm that is doing a great job at characterisation. I personally love the scene with the Crime Family meeting together and can't wait to see how long it takes before they turn on each other.

Overall I think this episode is great and is part of the reason I am hooked to this series. The ending scene is also pretty cool, as it shows a nice side to Falcone (proves there is humanity to everyone deep down.)