I Am Legion

I saw I am Legend Friday night and I have to say I was both impressed and disappointed by it. Here's the thing, I really like Omega Man, and though I've never read the original novel by Richard Matheson I have read the graphic novel version which I enjoyed. I read it while sipping hot cocoa in the cafe at Border's, however, which always tends to heighten my enjoyment of whatever it is I happen to be perusing at the time. For instance I can recall thoroughly enjoying an issue of Ultimate Elektra I read whilst sipping said cocoa in said Borders cafe. Suffice to say, that environment may not lend itself to critiquing comics. What the heck am I on about now anyway?

Right, I am Legend. It's a good movie. Not great, not especially memorable, and certainly not the best apocalyptic or zombie movie ever made, but still, I enjoyed it. Willy gave a great performance, it was directed with style, and the script was what I would call "serviceable". Where the movie falters most is during the final act. The anti-climactic ending of our heroes story, and the absurd twist the story takes in the finale both detracted greatly from the overall movie.

(SPOILER ALERT! DANGER!)
Okay so, I was well aware going into this that, despite what the ads were claiming, Will wasn't really the "Last Man on Earth". However, the whole woman-and-her-little-buddy showing up and suddenly informing Will of an entire colony of survivors was just kinda silly. Plus, the ending where he gives his life in a Bon Joviesque Blaze of Glory was a little too abrupt. I mean here we just sat through two hours of following this character, coming to like him and enjoy his zany last man alive lifestyle and then BLAMO! he pulls the pin and blows himself up. Which is followed by that ridiculous epilogue.
(END SPOILERS! NO DANGER!)

In retrospect I did enjoy the pacing of the movie and have to give some respect to the crew behind the movie for not making some sort of Michael Bay style zombie film. I liked the fact that we focused so much on the day to day existence rather than having one brainless action sequence after the next. Having said that, the movie never had enough action in the few sequences it did serve us to carry us through the duller moments of the film. I did find a few scenes exceptionally well done though, in particular the scene with Sam in the lab. I also loved the build up of the scene where Fred is mysteriously across town. That was just a fantastically paced part of the movie.

In closing I'll say that obviously I'm no film critic but if you care I am Legend is worth wasting your 8 bucks on. Watch it preferably on a weeknight or after the crowds have died down some though. I wish I could have watched it in a theater not filled with loud teenagers.

Looking Back at 52

I was bored, and looking for something substantial to read rather than the usual six issue story arcs I'd been mulling through lately. You know, the made for trade work of Bendis and Brubaker and pretty much everyone out there these days. I'm not faulting these guys, just saying I was looking for a big story to read.
I'd read 52 last year almost entirely in one two day period when I was sick in bed. You see, for a few months after getting married I was just too darn broke to go get my pulls. When I finally did I managed to pick up about four months worth of 52 in one offing and combined with the fact that I'd been holding off on reading most of the previous months issues I had nearly 40 some odd issues to read. I remember enjoying it thoroughly but something about rushing through a series in the way I did just didn't let it stick at all.

Now here I am almost a year later, and I stumble back to it. Upon reading through the first 40 issues I am shocked at just how good this series really is. I shouldn't be, I know. It was written by four of the most creative minds in comics. Still, the plotting, the dialogue, even the art is of such a high quality (especially when compared to it's offspring; the utterly dreadful Countdown) it's hard to believe they pulled it off on a weekly basis.
Each separate story is fascinating to watch unfold. I believe there are really only six main characters with other stories drifting in and out but never creating a sense of disorder. Steel, Renee Montoya, Animal Man, Ralph Dibny, Black Adam and Booster Gold are the leads of each of their separate stories with multiple characters in each filling in supporting roles. The fact that the writers managed to juggle as many characters as they did speaks volumes about the professionalism and talent involved in putting this thing together.
As I said there are a lot of other characters drifting in and out of 52 like Nightwing, Oracle, Batwoman, The Suicide Squad, Bruce Wayne, Clark Kent, and a metric buttload of others. Also, one of the story lines that takes over the series around the midpoint is that of Will Magnus and his wacky adventure on Oolong Island with the Mad Scientists creating means to achieve world domination. Its a brilliant storyline, and one of my favorites. Also, its because of the abominations created by the scientists on the island that bring about the start of World War 3 in the latter issues of 52.

I love the more B, C, and D-list characters being made the star of the series. I've always loved Black Adam, and Booster Gold but before 52 I hadn't gotten to know the rest of these characters very well. By it's conclusion I had grown to love Animal Man and Steel, not to mention the Metal Men. It's this focus on these lesser known characters that I think drives this series. There's a lot of heart in it. Steel's sadness over Natalie's going over to Luther's camp in the early issues of the series, the Question's battle with cancer and the way in which Renee deals with it, not to mention the entirety of Animal Man's story are all deeply affecting. Like I said, after this series I'd grown to love Animal Man.
Black Adam also has a brilliant character arc as he goes from egotistical dictator, to love struck king, to maniacal murderer. His story is especially tragic in a Shakespearean way. I've always liked Black Adam more as an essentially decent guy who just goes too far in his quest for justice but after what happens to him here something tells me he may not be coming back to the light anytime soon.

Again on the creative side, I've already mentioned how strong the writing is, and I don't really think I can stress this enough. This is serialized storytelling taken to new levels. When read as a whole rather than spread out over the course of a year this is like a superhero version of War and Peace. I especially admire the character's separate journeys and the ways in which each has changed by the end of this story.

Also, the art is strong here. Obviously the issues drawn by Phil Jiminez and Dale Eaglesham were especially strong but Joe Bennett, Pat Olliffe, and Chris Batista turned in solid work too. The covers by J.G. Jones were exceptional as well.

I realize it's a little off to write about a comic series nearly a year after it finished but this is one series that deserves to be rediscovered. If you haven't had the pleasure of picking this one up I'd suggest you run out and buy the collected editions. Although, I have to say I've been going through my back issues of this one and something about reading this one in floppies just makes it connect that much more. I love this series. Simple as that. Read, and enjoy.

Opening Salvo

I imagine I will be using this spot to blab about different forms of entertainment and my own personal quest to become a published author. Hopefully, I don't end up boring anyone who stumles upon this nook I am creating for myself, into never returning but if so, so be it.

I don't really feel like posting anything at this time other than what I already have so adios for now.