Review - Avengers vs. X-Men #9

Marvel has really been taking their time with this crossover. I haven't seen a story arc this panned out since Civil War. While I'm not the biggest fan of Adam Kubert, he nailed it this issue.

.: SPOILERS AHEAD :.

As Hope Summers continues her training in the mystical city of K'un-Lun, Spider-Man gives her some words of advice about what it means to be an Avenger. Elsewhere, the Wakanda is devastated by Namor's attack on the city and is in ruins. Storm, who sided with the X-Men, returns to her home and husband Black Panther. The the latter delivering some pretty harsh news. Now that Namor has been defeated, the Phoenix Force inside him is divided up among the remaining four hosts: Cyclops, Emma Frost, Colossus, and Magik. Pretty much they're more powerful than ever.

With the Avengers broken, beaten, and thinned out, the siblings Colossus and Magik carry out an attack on the team. So this is the best part of the entire book, and for me a highlight in the series. Spider-Man gives the team a chance to escape by taking on the Phoenix-powered Colossus and Magik by himself. The hero, who's actions parallels the advice he gave Hope earlier on in the issue, takes probably the most brutal beating I've seen anyone take in a Marvel book in a long time (Punisher books not-with-standing).

This moment of self-sacrifice is totally in character with Spider-Man and something that's been missing from previous blockbuster cross-overs. I won't tell you how it ends, but this book has been a major turning point in the series. I am most excited and anxious to see what happens next in a few weeks.

5/5

Editorial - Next Batman Franchise

The Nolan Batman movies have finally come to their epic conclusion with the Dark Knight Rises. With Hollywood throwing out reboots of films like it's Halloween candy, maybe it's time to have a fresh new take on the Batman story. Everyone is still in love with Christopher Nolan's interpretation of the Dark Knight, what director in their right mind would want to follow that?

Here's my pitch: Batman Beyond.

It'd be great to see the cult television cartoon that appeared at the end of the 90s on the big screen. It's fresh enough that we can get a entirely new Batman experience, but with the same themes and elements that we have all come to love from the Batman character.

Set in a Neo-Gothic future, a new Batman takes the mantle as Bruce Wayne's successor. Batman Beyond can be the new film we need to tide us over until the next appropriate reboot of the Batman franchise.

Joseph Kosinski, the director of Tron: Legacy, would be a perfect candidate to direct this futuristic take on Gotham City.

Something to think about.

New CW Series - Arrow

We all know that this fall, CW will be premiering their new series: Arrow. The show will be based on the Oliver Queen/Green Arrow character. The incarnation had previously appeared on Smallville, played by Justin Hartley. But the CW has made it adamantly clear that the show will have no ties to one another and that the new Oliver Queen is a completely different and new character.

From the trailer, it looks like we'll be getting a much darker version of the Emerald Archer. Most people on the message boards are hoping it will be more closer to the Mike Grell version of Green Arrow, where he's more of a hunter than a superhero. From the looks of it, it will be. 

What I'm most excited for is that they're bringing in some of the most bad-ass comic book villains in the DC Universe pretty early on in the show (Deathstroke, Deadshot, and Constantine Drakon). The first two being a complete waste of an opportunity when they appeared on the final season of Smallville. 

The only thing I'm worried about is that they seem to be calling him "Arrow" instead of "Green Arrow" and that crappy face paint mask he has.

Other than that, I'm pretty stoked to catch the premiere. 

Trailer - The Dark Knight Returns Pt. 1

Hot off the release of The Dark Knight Rises, DC Universe Original Animated Movies have officially released the trailer for the next installment of their animated film franchise, The Dark Knight Returns. Adapted from Frank Miller's legendary graphic novel, the story focuses on an elderly Bruce Wayne returning to a life of crime-fighting as the Batman. The movie is to be split in two parts, with the first releasing on DVD and Bluray on September 25.

With the commercial success of The Dark Knight Rises, fans are probably eager to get their next Batman fix. Peter Weller, better known for his role as RoboCop, will provide the voice of Batman. DC animated movies have been pretty hit-or-miss, but they have more or less hit a consistency of good storytelling when it comes to Batman.

Very excited for this!

Smallville Season 11

As all of you know, Smallville ended it's tenth and final season with Clark taking to the skies as Superman. Earlier this year, it was announced that an eleventh season would be picked up. In comic book form.

As a fan of Smallville since the very first episode (I was in eighth grade), the thought of furthering the adventures of the characters I grew up with sounded amazing. I didn't have to say goodbye just yet. Thankfully, Smallville Season 11 still has most of the heart of the TV show. The pacing is a bit faster since each chapter is only a handful of pages, but the story and medium allows for much more action than the television show. It's great to see Superman in costume flying around in action.

The art is pretty spot-on when it comes to making the characters look like the actors that once portrayed them, also giving them the freedom to do things in the book that the budget on the show once would not allow. As far as the writing goes, it's pretty hit-or-miss depending on the chapter.

But then again, that's Smallville.

The best part is, there's no summer break in between as this is a comic book. Definitely worth checking out.

Under Rated Movie: Meteor Man

Does anyone remember a time where a comic book movie didn't come out every other month? Back when comic book fans took what they could get in a superhero flick? 

Back in 1993, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer gave us Meteor Man. Starring Robert Townsend, the film focused on shy educator Jefferson Reed. Reed lives in a neighborhood that is under the thumb of a local gang: The Golden Lords. After a rough encounter with them, Reed is struck by a meteor and gains superpowers. He then uses those powers to become Meteor Man, defending his neighborhood and standing up for it's residents. 

Now as much crap as the movie got back when it came out, it still holds the spot for one of my favorite superhero movies ever. The Meteor Man pretty much has everything you could ask for: action, comedy, family, heart, and James Earl Jones in a high-top-fade! 

Now, if you do manage to find yourself a copy, I'm not promising The Dark Knight, or even Spider-Man 2, but I am going to promise that you'll get a laugh or two with this light-hearted superhero comedy. 

Review - Hit-Girl #2

Taking place after the events of Kick-Ass vol. 1 and Kick-Ass vol. 2, Hit-Girl bridges the gap between what happened after Dave and Mindy took down the Genovese crime family and before the Red Mist's rose to power. Mindy is secretly training Dave to be a better hero, and Dave is teaching Mindy how to be a regular 12-year-old girl.

.:SPOILERS AHEAD:.

Not much takes place as far as the story goes. We get a bunch of hilarious scenes of Kick-Ass and Hit-Girl training. She's toughening him up after what she saw in vol. 1. Mindy, who can kill men three times her size, is having the hardest time adjusting to a normal life. She's unpopular, and ridiculed and she doesn't understand why. Her home life isn't going too great either as her step-father, Marcus, makes her promise to give up the superhero life.

But come on, we all know better.

Not much of Red Mist in this issue, but from the ending, it looks like he's going to start his war against superheroes first thing the next issue.

Mark Millar and John Romita Jr. deliver the same consistency and quality that they put into Kick-Ass 1 & 2. The dialogue is natural, ridiculous, terrifying, and hilarious all at the same time. The Hit-Girl series is the perfect transition between the two Kick-Ass books. Romita's art is great in this book. Though I'm not a fan of his work on Avengers, I'm happy with the quality and real-life vibe he puts into Hit-Girl.

Stay tuned! 4/5

Man of Steel Teaser

A few days ago, the Man of Steel teaser trailer was released online.

Two different versions of the trailer were released depending on what part of the world you lived in. The domestic trailer featured a voiceover from Kevin Costner's Jonathan Kent, while the International trailer was voiced by Russell Crowe's Jor-El. Like every teaser trailer, it doesn't show much of the movie. Just a few quick snippets of Clark traveling and a concludes with Superman breaking the sound barrier.

What's great is that this is literally the first movie to have nothing to do with Richard Donner's Superman movies. The last Superman movie was released six years ago in 2006, and was a loose continuation of the Donner films. Don't get me wrong, they were great, but I think it's time we get a new take on the Man of Steel. Hopefully, that's what director Zack Synder and producer Christopher Nolan will deliver.

Exclusive Interview with Philip Tan!

The Phamtom Zone has landed an exclusive interview with comic book artist Philip Tan. Tan is known for his work on Spawn and recently some cover work for DC Comics.

PZ: You have a very impressive resume in comics. What was your most memorable experience in the industry?

PT: There are quite a few, but one of them got to be meeting Stan Winston and visiting the creature effects production house, when I was drawing his book for him. Getting lessons from Todd McFarlane is another!

PZ: Fans may recognize your work on Spawn for so many years and more recently your work in DC Comics. Do you draw your inspiration from any particular styles?

I love the majority form of comic mediums, Asian to American to European.. they all influence me a lot.

PZ: Do you any major projects coming up that you are allowed to talk about?

PT: For DC? Not really, sorry. Although I am working away slowly on my own book. Hopefully to be published someday

PZ: Lastly, if you were to host a meal with three fictional characters, who would they be and what would you serve?

PT: Kinda tough, never thought about it. Probably give Jiraya nude sushi?

Exclusive Interview with Batman Artist: Dustin Nguyen!

Here it is folks, an exclusive (albiet quick) interview with DC comics superstar, and the current artist for Batman: Streets of Gotham.

Phamtom Zone: When and how did you get your start in this business?

Dustin:I broke into comics the summer of 1999 through the DC/Wildstorm portfolio review lines, somewhere between the SDCC (San Diego Comic Con) and the Chicago one.

Phamtom Zone: Your work on the Batman titles have been amazing. Do you have any plans for major projects afterward?

Dustin: Thanks! And yes, this fall. We should be able to announce if not at least talk about it more around this year's major SDCC. It will still have Batman, of course.

Phamtom Zone: If you could host a meal with three superheroes, who would they be and what would you serve?

Dustin: Definitely be Dr. Doom, Bruce Banner, and The Flash ( Wally West one, not
the scientist), and I'd serve them nothing but ice cream.

Phamtom Zone: Thank you so much, sir!

Dustin: Thanks, Peter!