Injustice Gods Among Us: Year 3 (2014)- Overall Series Review

Four issues in and I'm hooked. To be totally honest I have been obsessed with the last two series that are the pre-curser of this title and the Injustice Gods Among Us Video Game.

Year 3 follows the events after the Green Lantern Corps war with Superman and the Sinestro Corps. A new hero has risen up from Liverpool to bring the powerful magicians together in an effort to hamper and stop the One Earth Regime that Superman is using to oppress the world and hunt down the "fugitive" Batman.

I seem to see a pattern with each year that passes, where first year of the comic uses meta-humans and criminals, the second year used some of the most well known extra- terrestrials of the Dc Universe and know in the third year we have the the magic useres. I don't know if this is just coincidence or if there is an actual reason for this, but I happen to love the occult world of Dc.

It is well worth reading, with some very familiar faces and several of my favourite characters including Harley Quinn, Teekl and Klarion.

(This will be updated at the end of the series with verdict of the series as a whole.)

Pride (2014) Movie Review

This movie is just breathtaking and a brillaint example of cinema and film experience.

Set during the days of the 1984 Miner's Strike, the story follows the relationship between a Welsh minning community in and the L.G.S.M (Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners), who are campaigning to help raise money for striking miners. 

I had not heard about this before watching the trailer and reading about the film in Attitude, so it was great to go into the film to learn about a new topic in British history. It has a very classic feel, similar to movies such as Billy Elliot, the Full Monty and Brassed Off, withthe gritty realism of the same time period and the warmth and laughter to mark some scenes more jarring.

The cast is just fanominal with a group of characters that you can relate to and can have an emotinal attachment with. Scenes between Bill Nighy and Imelda Stauton are just so tenderly done and Staunton also steals multiple scenes she is in. Andrew Scott gives a powerful and spellbinding perfomance and Jessica Gunning plays a young Siân James (the first woman to represent Swansea East in polotics) with a fiesty and amazing prowess. But I think it is Ben Schnetzer and George MacKay, who are stand out in a cast that is so flawless. Schnetzer plays the main protaganist, Mark Ashton (socialist and gay rights actavist) with real beauty, while MacKay plays an original character so perfectly you could hardly tell he was fictional. The addition to a made up character gives us an  additionl gateway and makes you feel you are there in the film.

The soundtrack was a blast back to the classics and give way to very impressive dance scene with Dominic West.

Overall I love this movie and think it is a must see movie for all, as it is a genearl feel good film with a great script and real emotion.

Batman Arkham City (2011) Overall Series Review

A five part series that shows a segment of what happened during the year long gap between Arkham Asylum and City. This is a good series, however I feel it lacks the same punch as Batman Arkham Unhinged, which focuses on more current sections of the universe.

To give a synopsis, the Joker is broken out of prison after an assassination attempt was made on his life by security guards, who survived the Arkham riots. 

Arkham City has been improved and prisoners are being rounded up and and incarcerated and Hugo Strange is revealed to be the big shadow that is pulling the strings to Arkham City.

I do like the character interactions, most notably the dialogue between Catwoman and Batman and the idea that Batman disguises himself to find out what is happening amongst the Penguin and Joker's gangs are fascinating, but it doesn't stop me wishing it expanded further on some of the elements that are left unclear or are mentioned in the in-game stories of Arkham City briefly.

But that is my personal opinion, I do like the series but it is not my favourite of the Arkham tie-in comics available. I would recommend it if you are interested in learning the "Arkham lore" or want to read a new comic but would say that Batman Arkham Unhinged (2011) is better in both storyline and information.

Jonathan Crane (Batman Arkham Origins)

First Appearance: Batman Arkham Asylum

Jonathan Crane was a psychologist, who specialised in fear and over coming it. 

He often frequented Blackgate Prison, signing in to the visitors book using the official channels. During his sixth visit to the the pentitentiary, Black Mask (The Joker) had broken into the prison on Christmas Eve in order to release Calendar Man and kill Gillian Loeb. 

It is unclear whether he was taken hostage or escaped in the panic as he had not signed out when Batman searches through the book.

During this period of time he was looking for candidates for a clinical research trial, sending out flyers to diffrent places including the Final Offer. 

It can be asumed this was the first test of his Fear Toxin and he was scoping Blackgate for prisoners to take part in the trials.

Batman Arkham Origins (2013) Video Game Review

Well this game is certainly another amazing game, this time set five years before the Arkham Asylum Riots. 

The map has increased further with the entire of Gotham becoming your scope. It has more puzzles for Batman to solve from a young Edward Nigma (Eddie Nashton), taking the name Enigma in his battle to bring down the city with leaking information.

The main story on the other hand involves Batman having to hunt down and stop Black Mask from trying to destroy Gotham, whilst having to deal with eight of the world's finest assassins. The twist... the Black Mask is Joker and he is the craziest villain that Batman has ever met. 

The story also has several side mission including an appearance from Mad Hatter and my favourite vigilante, Anarky.  With a large number of crime scenes, case files and collectible pieces to find this game takes a long time to complete, but is well worth it.

If the main game is not enough the DLC gives you the character of Deathstroke to play as, one challenge bundle called Initiation, where young Bruce Wayne is training with the League of Assassins and an additional story called Cold, Cold Heart, introducing Mr. Freeze to the world with a chilly flourish. It also introduces a multiplayer, where you can play as either Joker, Bane, Batman or Robin to fight real players online, almost like a Halo, C.O.D style of game.

I'm  impressed with this game as much as the others, but the controls are a bit hard to master after playing the Asylum and City. That being said a great game and I await the next game with just as much enthusiasm.

Batman Arkham City (2011) Video Game Review

Better than the first one and I didn't think that would be possible.

Arkham City has a much larger game map than the first game, meaning more hours to fight crime, gain experience and solve more of Riddler's puzzles.

The story continues one year after the Asylum riot and criminals have been locked away in a maxiumum security facility, which used to be an old part of Gotham.

Inside the criminals are fighting for survival and Batman determines to find out what is going on and stop it (after being taken prisoner by Hugo Strange and his Tygers.) 

The game has some great battles, but it is the twist that just blows the mind. 

DLC content allows you to play as Robin, Catwoman and Nightwing, with an array of maps and challenges, 4 side missions as Catwoman and Harley Quinn's Revenge, an added story of the events after the previous game.

To top off this game, characters like Talia al Ghul, the Mad Hatter and Harley Quinn just steal the scenes they are in.

This game is just... well out of this world.

Forever Evil (2013) Overall Series Review

A comic book devoted to the bad guys,  what can I say other than refreshing.

Spinning off from the events of Justice League (2011) #23, the story follows the Crime Syndiacte of Earth 3 in there mission on conquering Prime Earth, with the opposition of some very unlikely individuals.

When you think Lex Luthor, Captain Cold, Black Manta, Black Adam, Bizarro and Deathstroke, you think villains down right. In this they are more anti-heroes, giving them a more human side and showing there is some good in them (Cold is the most human even before this event anyway.)

With the Justice League "dead" imagine the surprise when Batman and Catwoman turn up to join the party. The  counter parts are all truly evil and I love the stark contrast between Earth 3, criminal haven and Prime Earth with heroes fighting to stamp out crime.

This entire event has just been amazing, leaving the question what can Dc do to top off this. 

If I had to choose a favourite character I would probably go for either Superwoman or Johnny Quick, who take bad to a whole new level and gives us a fine twist during the series finale.

 Overall I would recommend people read this comic to go alongside the current heroe's titles as it proves that you don't have to be "good" to save the world.

Arrow (2012) Season 2- Overall Series Review

This is just amazing and I would recommend it to anyone.

After the powerful and moving ending of Season 1, Arrow hits back even harder with Season 2 with the arrival of new vigilantes and villains.

Sara Lance is back from the dead as the kick ass Canary, bringing with her the big reveal of the League of Assassins and the Heir of the Demon.

Who elese is back?.... Malcolm Merlyn (John Barrowman), who everyone believes to be dead looks very much alive during fight sequences.

The story has several plots: Sara's return, Brother Blood and the Mirakuru and the biggest plot of the series, the revenge of Slade Wilson and his taking up the mantle of Deathstroke.

The characters are all just brillaintly acted, with Canary stealing many of the scenes she is in with a darker tone that even puts Oliver's brooding in the show to shame. But for me the most exciting part of the series was the reveal of the Suicide Squad and it's one shadowy member that we can only hear.... None other than Batman's own Harley Quinn!

Quinn, Canary, a bunch of killer assassins and the return of the Count to his old self as the newly christened Count Vertigo, Arrow is truly making it's name as one of the best adaptaions from comics to tv in this decade.

Series 2 also acts as a gateway to the Flash tv series and brings the fantastic Flash cast to Arrow and vise-versa.

Arrow (2012) Season 1- Overall Review

Slow starting, but picking up pace with a bang, the first series of Arrow finished so strongly. I'm not saying that slow is bad, because the show was setting up the characters, giving them rather a lot of development... shaping them into the characters we see in later series or later on in the particular series.

Season 1 focused on Oliver's life after returning from Lian Yu (Pergatory in mandarin) and the begining of his career as the Hood. The villains he must overcome are The Count, the Huntress, the Royal Flush Gang and the series big bad guy... John Barrowman as the intense and violent Dark Archer.

The Count has to be my favourite character, with his flamboyance and creepy mannerisms but I like many of the characters. Arrow also does a good job with strong female lead characters, mainly with Felicity Smoak.

To conclude series 1 is brilliant and with series 2 it is a great comicbook adaptation for the tv.

The Flash (2014) Overall Series Review

Wow, this show is epic and I mean EPIC.

 I have only seen three episodes and I am just craving more. The show has everything I like in a  tv show, C.S.I style forensic work, heroes and fast paced action with a good set of characters... all of which are well developed and rounded. N.B: Apologises for the pun.

I love the fact that the Arrow and the Flash world interlink, giving the characters the ability to pass onto both shows. So for those haven't seen any Flash episodes, you will already know Barry Allen and how he got his powers, as well as Caitlin Snow and Cisco Ramon from just watching last season's Arrow (if you have seen them.)

There are many easter eggs and comic book refrences that I love.

 The show has already given me a  favourite character in the form of Caitlin Snow, who is both funny when she is having a go at Barry, but also has a lot of secrets that make her character interesting.

I don't think there is a weak link among the main cast and with the announcements of new characters on the way, I don't think it will take as long as Arrow did (this isn't a critism to Arrow) to kick start into real comic book action.

In conclusion it is a brillaint show and I am looking forward to seeing what else will come from it... Perhaps even a Justice League? (I know the answer to the last question and what ever it will be, I'm psyched.)

Injustice Gods Among Us (2013) Video Game- Review

For me I find this game to be fantastic. I'm not much of a gamer, so this game has got me into a section of games like Mortal Kombat (same game desginer.)

The game has several diffrent modes: the story, a multiplayer, a mission section and a solo training/ fighting against the computer.

To give a brief discription of the story, Superman has become a threat to the world after the death of Lois Lane, his unborn son and Metropolis, all at the hands of the Joker. He has formed a group called the One- Earth Regime in order to stem crime, but is more like a fascist dictatorship, were people are living in fear and oppression. 

Batman uses a machine to transport an alternate version of Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Green Arrow and Green Lantern to his Earth in an effort to stop the Regime and leads to the ultimate stand-off, where they will end the war... or die trying.

The game has a fabulous array of characters from Ares (the God of War) to Sinestro and Shazam, all with amazing abilities. Also if you pay for DLC you can enjoy using five additional characters to the ones the game provides as well as classic comic book costumes from The New 52, Flashpoint and the Blackest Night.

It is also has a I.O.S version, where Darkseid has  been given his own character to play with. 

This game is for fans of Dc Comics, super-heroes or just gamers in general, who like playing the Mortal Kombat style and I couldn't recommend it more highly.

(If you want additional backstories of the game, Dc are bringing out weekly titles of the rise in Superman's Regime. So far Dc are in it's third year of the title (comic, not real) where there has been many shochs and deaths... pages to these comics and characters will also be addedd to this blog in due course.)

Earth 2 (2012) Overall series Review

This is The New 52's first comic to be set outside of Prime Earth and is the first time we see a former multiverse planet.

To give a brief synopsis of this series: the world has been invaded by Apokolips that raged for years, until the sacrifice of Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman.

Five years in the future Alan Scott and Jay Garrick get super powers along with Hawkgirl and Dr. Fate. This leads them to clash with Grundy (not sure if he ever uses his first name), Wotan and also marks for a second war from Steppenwolf, the man responsible for the first war. 

Earth 2 also takes part in the month long "villain month", where it explores the history and origins of Grundy and everyone's favourite sadistic torturer... Desaad.

This series uses many of the classic "Golden Age" characters and takes it's own unique spin on the characters, basically forming the New 52's version of the J.S.A (Justice Society of America.)

I really do like this series and it isn't that hard to get into. Being it's own Earth, it has it's own history, so you don't have to stem too far in comicbook back issues. 

Overall I think this is one of my favourite titles in the current Dc: The New 52. I love the updated versions of Green Lantern and like how they have made James Olsen and I am waiting with keen interest to find out how everything falls into place for the next installment... Earth 2: World's End (2014)

Dc Comics: The New 52- Review

Now the New 52 is basically a recon of history for the Dc Universe, bringing the story back to the beginning and changing the origins and histories of the characters as well as the ability to bring back characters that haven't been used for years.

Over the last three years since 2011, the New 52 has dealt with attacks from Apokolips, Atlantis, the greatest conquest of a planet from a group (the Crime Syndicate), since the Blackest Night event and now is in a future where you can't get too comfy about who lives and who dies (think Game of Thrones.)

For all those who have an interest or want to get interested in comic books, I recommend you do invest in these. The stories are great with some very moving and tense issues. You would have to start from Justice League (2011) #1, to get the back story, however if you don't there is usually a help in the dialogue (usually), which would clear up anything missed in previous issues.

If you are interested in checking out the New 52 from issue #1 of Justice League, check out the link below, where you will find a large number of comics that you can view digitally.

I happen to like this new time-line and current set of events, but it is leaving me slightly perplexed what will happen after the "Futures End" ends and if the comics will stay in that time zone with all the decisions made for the spin offs. Personally I hope these events will be restored back to normal, but with everything that is and will be going on, it is hard to say, but I will enjoy fining out when it comes.

https://www.youtube.com/user/7he1With7h3F0RC3