Friday, June 30, 2017
Tuesday, June 20, 2017
Thursday, June 15, 2017
The Defenders Is Hopefully What We'll Get From Netflix
As much as I enjoy my television programs taking a break this time of year so I don't have to worry if I'm caught up on Arrow, not all shows are on summer vacation. I'm looking forward to diving into the newest season of Game of Thrones and also intrigued as to how Marvel's The Defenders will be.
When Netflix first announced to add a piece of the Marvel Cinematic Universe to their programming I was excited. Fast foward a few years later and we've gotten some great hours of viewing, and a few not that great. But in a few months the pay-off will be here. Much like their big screen adaptations, all the heroes of New York will team up in one series; The Defenders. And much like with X-Men or Spider-Man, Marvel is hoping to sell more books by syncing the characters continuity with what fans will know having just watched the character in another form of media.
The original Defenders consisted of Dr. Strange, Hulk, Namor and Silver Surfer in 1972 and has slowly morphed into a street-level team. While I enjoy the spectacle of The Avengers saving the world, someone has to save the neighborhood. And that's what The Defenders have become. They're not super soldiers, gods, or genius billionaires. Just enhanced individuals who are more accustomed to fighting a street gang than Thanos.
In issue #1 of this series, Luke Cage, Jessica Jones, Iron Fist, and Daredevil are all attacked, which leads to Jessica being shot and put into the hospital. After the gathering of the team, Jessica reveals that Luke's old-time rival Diamondback is behind it. While the crew hunts down Diamondback, he's making his own plans by trying to recruit Black Cat into his fold. Luke shows up and Diamondback sprays him with some gas that allows him to kick Luke's ass while Black Cat just watches in shock.
It wasn't a terrific issue, but it's a decent set-up for what could be a good story line. My favorite scene is when IF, Jessica, and Daredevil are in the bar talking about their new found cooperation. "If The Avengers, and whatnot, are up there, we need to be down here." Again, the DD quote sets-up the theme of the team and (hopefully) the upcoming Netflix series. After reading this first issue I just want the dynamic of the characters to be this good in the Netflix series. I knew very little about Jessica Jones before watching her show, and I hope showrunners severely correct Iron Fist's personality going forward because, while I don't think Finn Jones is a bad actor, that was not Danny Rand.
These are Marvel the heroes who don't have enough power to take on cosmic threats like Thanos or even Ultron. They could probably hold their own for a bit, but won't make too much headway by themselves. While Galactus is eating the world some mob boss, or secret ninja clan, is looking to take advantage of the situation; and that's where The Defenders will be.
Tuesday, June 13, 2017
Tuesday, June 6, 2017
Thursday, June 1, 2017
Wonder Woman: Year One
Tonight, many fans will get to see Wonder Woman in theaters, but before I go experience the newest DCEU film I thought it would be best to get more acquainted with WW's mythology since, I confess, I'm not a long-time reader of Diana Prince. The only Wonder Woman story line I've truly ever enjoyed was Brian Azzarello's New 52 take on the Amazon Princess. It was deep in Greek mythology and, I felt, added another layer to Diana's personal story.
I tracked down the newest interpretation of Wonder Woman's origin story; Wonder Woman: Year One. This way, I can gripe about all the stuff the filmmakers got wrong in the big screen adaptation. The new take is set in modern times and is written by current WW writer Greg Rucka as part of DC Comic's Rebirth marketing campaign.
In Year One, a mysterious plane lands on the island of the immortal Amazons. The only survivor is Colonel Steven Trevor, who is to be returned to where he came from. But it is a task no Amazon will volunteer for because it means never being able to return to Themyscira and losing their immortality. A tournament is held to decide who will fly Colonel Trevor back(using an invisible jet) and naturally, Diana is the winner. So, she takes Steve back home where she is quickly met by skepticism from the US government. While imprisoned, Diana is visited by animal manifestations of the Greek Gods who grant her "gifts" for taking on this crusade such as strength, flight, etc. Diana and Steve soon begin working together to uncover the terrorist organization know as SEAR, which has a close tie to one of the Amazon's old enemies.
Again, I sought out this book to be a littler more prepared when entering the theater tomorrow night. While at the library, I also found another recent Wonder Woman origin story, The Legend of Wonder Woman: Volume I: Origins. This puts Diana in World War II fighting a disciple of Ares and Hades, and goes much more in depth to Diana's childhood, training, and her journey to becoming the hero known to the world as Wonder Woman. The art is beautiful and it's got a lot of depth to it, but I also felt like it had a little too much "filler" characters and subplots that bogged down the real story. Year One on the other hand had almost the opposite problem where I don't think it explored the characters enough. I guess that's the difference between telling a 6-part story and a 12-part story. Although, Rucka does give Steve more background to make us(and Diana) want to care about him more.
I also kind of admired Rucka's decision to make the Amazons be lovers. In ancient times, the warriors would "comfort" each other, and their leaders allowed this because it made them fight harder to protect the soldier next to them. So, it would only seem natural that on an island with only women, Love Is Love.
Year One doesn't go into the circumstances of Diana's birth so I'm curious if the film will go into the the original origin of Wonder Woman, with Zeus making her out of clay, or the New 52 version where her powers come from the idea that she is a true demi-god. Then again, maybe Rucka is just saving that for Year Two.
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