No Cape, No Tights, No Wonder Bra

Not a single luxury...

Y'know, some of my favorite comic book movies aren't superhero stories. Very, very few superhero movies live up to what can be done in the comic. Special effects are amazing, but too much of them (which is often required to make the powers work) can sap the emotional life from a story. The producers paid a lot for those FX, so they better get some serious screen time, capice?

So although I love The Dark Knight and Iron Man (and really liked Spider-Man 2 and Hellboy), it isn't the upcoming Green Lantern movie that has me stoked. No, my love for comics movies veers into more mainstream territory, like American Splendor and Road to Perdition. (Heck, even Men in Black, which is one of the finest comics-based comedies ever -- though I enjoy it enough not to want to ever see the sequel.)

So, although these two films will undoubtedly be more action-based crowd-pleasers than more introspective fare like Ghost World, it's these films that will have me heading to the multiplex like Pavlov's Fanboy.


Although with Megan Fox involved in Hex, I might have to take back what I said about the Wonder Bra.

Rob

Now See This

If this isn't as fine and inventive a page of comics art as was produced in 2008, I'll eat my hat. (Which I'm very protective of, as it keeps my bald head warm.)


From Jonah Hex issue 35, written by Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray, with breathtaking art by J.H. Williams III. Click to make big and even more wonderful.

Rob

Comics for April 9

What the hell -- here’s a rundown of my comic purchases for this week.

Castle Waiting: I love this comic, and the monthly installments are almost certainly not the best way to read it. But it’s so darn pleasant, it’s hard to argue with. I’d hate to wait years before dipping into this world again. It’s real good-feelin’ stuff, done at the very highest level.

Criminal: The exact opposite of Castle Waiting in everything but quality. Hellish noir, real enough to give nightmares. Plus there are always great movie and book recommendations in the back -- essays from Brubaker’s crime-lovin’ writer friends. One of my favorite books on the stands right now.

Justice Society of America: Boy, this book is good and crowded. I imagine that will be coming to a head real soon -- and just the same, there aren’t too many character’s I’d want to drop. And have I mentioned I love the new Amazing Man? Yes I have. Anyway, this issue is the beginning of a massive throwdown between the Society and Gog.

Wonder Woman: Every bit as cool as last issue. A kickass fight with a Green Lantern, and ideas of revenge and justice play out on several levels. Couldn’t ask for more.

Young Liars: To be honest, I need to read this again after refreshing my memory about the first issue. But it’s gripping all the way through, even though I’m not certain I caught all the resonance for the long-term story.

Booster Gold: Let me get this straight. Wild Dog throws a loaded automatic weapon to Booster, without even warning him, and when it lands on the ground and discharges, he complains that Booster doesn’t know how to handle a gun? That Wild Dog really is crazy, isn’t he? Solid alternate-reality fun.

Jonah Hex: I’ve never seen the words “The End” seem so loud before. It was like the end title on an episode of Lost. Nice work this time. Jordi Bernet can draw the hell out of anything.

So that's what I got. Didn't think there was a bad one in the bunch, so it was a helluva good week in that respect.

Rob