Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Batman and Superman Graphic Novel Reboots

http://www.avclub.com/articles/dc-to-revamp-batman-and-superman-for-new-graphic-n,36114/

OK, I'm excited about this one.

I know it's frowned on in certain circles, but I'm a comic book reader that no longer buys comic books and waits for the trade paperback collections. Why? Well, it's cheaper, the quality of the paper is better, and, most importantly, there's not a goddamn full-page ad every other page to interfere with the pace of the story.

I've wondered for some time when a major publisher would finally skip the traditional comic book format and go straight to making original graphic novels. If DC leaves the writers for these two titles alone, I think we'll find that these stories develop in a much more organic, satisfying manner than the traditional format.

Still, do Superman and Batman need another reboot?  Batman's already had one reboot this decade with Batman Begins, and that's a damn hard act to follow. And as Tom De Haven's It's Superman (seriously, best Superman story ever) proved, Superman really only works in the first half of the 20th century.

Still, I'm curious to see what J. Michael Straczynski can do with Superman, one of my least favorite superheroes (he's too powerful and too perfect for me). His work on Spider-Man was, to me, unparalleled in the history of the character.

Can't wait to give these a read.

Monday, December 7, 2009

A Conversation Between Myself and Rock Band 2

ROCK BAND 2: We would like to replace the last song in your setlist with a more challenging song to impress fans.

ME: Do your worst, pal.

ROCK BAND 2: The Who -- Pinball Wizard.

ME: Oh shit...

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

The Black Hole (Potential Remake)

http://www.darkhorizons.com/news/15802/-tron-pair-remakes-disney-s-black-hole-

Mmm... could be interesting. The original was a big part of my childhood, along with Star Wars, Tron, and Star Trek II. It hasn't aged as well as those movies -- even Tron -- but there's a wonderful Gothic tone to the film that still holds up. I've always assumed that the original script was deemed too serious, too intense -- and the suits over at Disney added a bunch of, well, Disney bits in at the last minute. The film's tone is wildly uneven, most of the jokes fall flat, and V.I.N.C.E.N.T. the Robot is just plain annoying. And a woman who shares an ESP link with a robot? The fuck?

Still, the Cygnus feels more like a haunted house in space, the film's greatest success, which still makes it memorable to me today. The optical effects, production design, and John Barry's truly haunting score work together to provide a wonderful spooky vibe...when people aren't talking.

I hope the writers of the remake remember that this film is more of a ghost story, a haunted house movie, than a space opera like Star Wars, its most obvious influence. Few movies actually could be improved by a remake, and this is one of them.

And keep the ending, guys. It's a good one. I have no idea what happens... but it's a good one.