Episode #13: Of Foxes and Dicks

Today we have our first returning guest, the Perpetual Punching bag! It's good to have him back. It is also the first appearance of Dobbs. He kind of looks like Doakes from Dexter if you don't know him. We talk a little bit about comic book news, interesting apps, and a Norwegian music video. Steve and Matt also both talk about how they have thought about doing stand up. Key word: thought.

Episode #12 : The Rankiest Episode Ever

Today, we have another special guest, our good friend, Rich Rank. He came here to talk about the news that Ben Affleck will be Batman. We mostly talk about this among other comic book related things. We also get into a discussion about how to tell if you're an Aussie or a Kiwi. We couldn't figure it out.

Episode #11: The Perpetual Punching Bag

Today's episode we have another guest. It is the infamous Jordan Gonsalves. Chip Brady would be pleased. We shoot the shit about shit. It's fun.

Episode #10: The Wolverine, Kind Of

On today's episode we finally get around to discussing The Wolverine. However, we get distracted by other things, so we really only talk about it for a little bit. Then we get on other topics with wonderful segues. Yeah, segway doesn't look like it should be spelled like segue. The English language.

Episode #9: Flight of the Lances

On today's episode we have another special guest, Lance Sorisho. He's back from the Mediterranean and wants to talk about Robert Zemeckis' Flight, among other things, but mostly Flight. We also talk a little about Doctor Who, Grant Morrison, and, of course, Flight.

Episode 8 : A Friendly Game Between Friends

This special episode we have 2 amazing guest DDRCHAMB and ThE hAlFiNg. We play the Meta Game and it quickly devolve into a near race war! GOOD TIMES!

Episode #7 : The Long Con

On today's episode we talk about Comic-Con! Yay! We mostly talk about comic book movie news with a few other things like Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Emmy's embracing Netflix, the state of television, among others. If you missed Comic-Con, we have you covered. No need to read anything else. We covered everything. Everything.

Reviews 7/17/13

here we are another week and another round of reviews!

Avengers #16
6/10
another two weeks have past with another setup issue of Jonathan Hickman's Infinity crossover event. i would love to tell you what happened in this book, but I'm not too sure. The Avengers got their collective asses handed over by a robot. I will say, that fight did deliver one of my favorite moments of this series so far when the mega robot throws captain america face first into a wall, nothing stellar. just really cool to see some heroes get beat up once and awhile.



Animal Man #22
9/10
BOOK OF THE WEEK
the Vultures only like to pick from the dead. this story is really something, telling the tale of our hero, Animal Man, at his darkest moment after feeling responsible for his son's murder. But, just when he thought nothing could get worse he gets nominated for an oscar for his portrayal in the indie movie, 'tights'. there's significantly more, but for time, i'll leave you with that. if you're looking for a DC book look no further. Jeff Lemire has such a good handle and clear direction he wants to steer this character. the art matches the tone perfectly reflecting the horrors of a animal serial killer. i will say though, if you're squeamish, don't engage in this book. not a issue goes by where i clutch my cat and hope nothing happens to her like in this book.

Superman Unchained #2
7/10
Now why doesn't Scott Snyder write more Superman? He seems to have more of a handle on the character than he does the bat. I'm liking this more sci-fi take on Superman, as he  fights a group of hackers akin to Anonymous. Eventually throwing him in front of General Thunderbolt Ross, oh i'm sorry, Lane... the book has a good cliffhanger. but i got to say, Jim Lee is one of the best artist of this generation, but his Superman has always been lacking. he just doesn't have that good hopefully vibe that Superman should have.


Ultimate comics: Spider-Man #25
8/10
Spider-Man no more continues in a dramatic fashion as Miles realizes that he can't continue to ignore his responsibility as Spider-man anymore. after losing his mother in a spider-man vs venom fight, he gave up the mask for a solid year. after 4 issues of updating us on what happened in this year, Miles finally dons the mask again. But, even with that i have to say that it was the final three pages with Jessica Drew's (spider-woman) monologue that stole this show. I swear, if i ever do another monologue again in my life, I'm choosing this one. David Marquez still shows that he has the chops to be a top tier spider-artist. i mean for god sakes look how cool that cover is?! I MEAN, C'MON!?!?

Justice League of America #6
7/10
Follow the events of Justice League #22, we start off with an all our brawl of heroes kicking the teeth out of other heroes. the action gets halted though when a panicked Superman yells for his own lockdown which ended being one of the cooler looking moments in the book. with supes lockdown, i can only imagine of his own volition, the finger pointing begins as wonder woman starts the search for the woman she thinks corrupted him, Pandora. which leads her head first with the justice league dark, its a good second act, but i don't think that Doug Mahnke had enough time or handle on this book. his pencils is usually pretty clean and precise, this, not so much.

X-Factor #259
8/10
gonna be honest, my heart breaks everytime i see a new issue come out. knowing that the end is nigh for one of my favorite books is always rough. But, in my time reading comics in 20 years, i've seen this book come and go so frequently that its almost moot. but the way they are handling this time. it seems final. with that, we finally get an explanation as to how exactly shatterstar and longshot are related. this was a mystery that nobody was really asking anymore, but that's whats so scary. why answer that question if you're going to come back to these guys. its a bittersweet ending with only 3 more issues left to go.

Nova #6
6/10
This book catches us up to current events in the Marvel U, with Nova being away from his family for a few months saving the world from the Phoenix and all (that takes place in Avengers Vs. X-Men) this was a good issue. not much happens but it's got a great handle on dialogue and the exchange between Sam and his Mom was just fantastic.





All-New X-Men #14
8/10
HOLY FIGHTING MUTANTS! It's been almost a year of talking about how our favorite original five time-displaced X-Men shouldn't be here. this is the first time we talk about why they shoudl be here. and the answer is because they are badasses! this was the first real action book we've had in the series of actual bad guys fighting the good guys. it was fun seeing Sabretooth get taken down by someone else than Wolverine. but, the scene stealing moment happened when the Uncanny Avengers showed up and Iceman trying to confirm that they were real, throws a snowball at Thor's face... oh, Young Bobby Drake, you so crazy, and terrified.

Green Lantern: New Gaurdians #22
3/10
SNORE! wow, i'm really trying here on this book, but there's a good chance this was my last issue of New Guardians. its just such a boring book. even with it being the first appearance of the new big bad guy for all the GL books. i just can't find it a giant space dude with a light vacuum strapped to his back all that threatening.





Fantastic Four #10
7/10
Well, this cover pretty much spells everything out for you. its the FF vs. a Ben Franklin skrull while trying to make slavery last longer in the US. it's a bold move by the writer, Matt Fraction, to take such a hard stance against slavery, but at least finally someones standing up against it!




Batwoman #22
5/10
ever buy something that just looks really pretty but doesn't really serve any other purpose. that kind of sums up the last few issues here. they are setting up a big showdown between Batwoman and Batman soon, but, other than that, i really couldn't tell what else was going on here. but damn, this book looked good.





Savage Wolverine #7
7/10
excited for the upcoming wolverine movie? well, nothing will wet your whistle quite like this. Wolverine kills a bunch of ninjas, like a bunch! he even comments about how tiring it is that he only ever really get to cut loose on ninjas. but, Joe Mad is really what you should be buying this book for. his characters look great and he really has a good handle on the toon style that comics need.





FF #9

8/10
a sequel to a Fantastic Four book from earlier, we meet up with an alien julius caesar, and he ends up giving the FF a time machine to save the Fantastic Four. but that's not what made this book good, in fact it actually got in the way. the real core of this book was the kids at a pool party. you really get the sense of chaos that kids at pool party can cause, particularly those that have super powers. this was just a delight to read.

Episode #6 : Giant Robots and Mild Heart Attacks

On today's episode, Steve and Matt talk about Pacific Rim, the best movie of the summer. It is exactly what we were looking for in a movie. Giant robots fighting monsters. I mean, what else do you need? We also get sidetracked and talk about the general state of movies and how original movies don't do well. Steve hasn't seen a handful of original sci-fi movies and Matt hasn't played the last traditional Ratchet and Clank. We're both sorry excuses for geeks.

Matt's Soapbox : Eric Snowden and the Surveillance State

 
You can say many things about Eric Snowden. You can say that he did a great public service to not only Americans, but citizens of the world. You can say that he put lives at risk with his release of sensitive material. I don't think you can say, however, that he is a coward. Sure, he's hiding in Russia at the moment, but it's not like that's a secret. It's a funny story that someone would choose to stay in Russia over the United States for almost any reason. The posturing by Russia is obvious, they really don't care about Snowden, they just want the U.S. to look bad. But, it looks to me, they have done that to themselves.

"They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety." - Ben Franklin

The whole Snowden case is really about America's willingness to do anything for safety. After 9/11, the Patriot Act was hastily passed, overwhelmingly I might add, by Congress. This was the first step in a downward spiral of freedoms being taken away for safety. Everything that is happening now is a result of this passing. George Orwell once wrote a book that showed what it may look like when governments are suspicious of their own. I'm sure he didn't intend on it being an instruction manual when he finished it.

The surveillance state that America, and, the world has become is very disheartening. Sure, maybe we can't truly be "free" from invasion of privacy, but the extent to which it has been breached today is overreaching. I don't think anyone expects to be completely anonymous in today's world, it is just too connected. There are just so many people who have accounts stretched from Google to Facebook that it's not too difficult for governments to really find out everything about us. What Snowden did was leak information, which he claims was basic as to not harm anyone, that just asked a simple question, do we really need this extensive network of surveillance? That question was answered rather quickly, with a resounding yes.

"Individuals have international duties which transcend the national obligations of obedience. Therefore individual citizens have the duty to violate domestic laws to prevent crimes against peace and humanity from occurring." - Declaration Made at Nuremberg

Snowden made that comment very recently when talking about his situation. He said that after all the information he released seemed to upset people throughout the world. For instance, after it was revealed that the NSA had a program, called PRISM, it upset even the United States closest allies. I mean, why would you want to be in a relationship when the other country (person) cannot really trust you. I think their claims are justified. It wasn't just our allies that got upset, other countries, mainly Latin and South American countries got livid. Apparently, Evo Morales, president of Bolivia, was re-routed when it was believed Snowden was on his flight. He didn't like that. Not one bit. Other countries south of the border offered asylum to Snowden shortly after that debacle. The thing is, that many of these countries grow tired of America's "imperialistic" games. These countries grew out of imperialism, and only recently (in historical terms) have these countries been given a sense of self. They do not want to go back to when they were just slices of their European masters. They believe that standing up to Snowden is standing up against the global footprint that is the United States.

The funny thing about this whole mess is that Snowden just confirmed what many Americans have thought for years. They were fine when they were kept in the dark about these programs. Once they are enlightened, they freak out. Doesn't make much sense really. Maybe they're less freaked out about what was told to them and more freaked out about what they don't know. The floodgates are open and Snowden has more information to give. Are people really mad as hell? Are they not going to take it anymore? Probably not, for now. Eventually, things will settle down and people will go about their lives like they always have. Oblivious to all that is happening around them. Even with all the information in front of them, they choose to remain in the dark. Maybe it's easier to live in the dark than to walk in the light.

"the person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses."
-Alfred Nobel

I guess the reason I started writing this is because I read that Snowden should get the Nobel Peace Prize. According to the quote, he definitely deserves consideration. Has he done enough to truly warrant the prize though? I mean, this is the prize that has been given to Henry Kissinger and Yasser Arafat. It is the prize that was never given to Mahatma Gandhi, whatever your opinion of him. Like all awards, it is extremely political. I mean, they gave one to Obama, and he really hadn't done anything. For many, the award doesn't really mean anything or mean what it used to, if it ever did. Giving it to Snowden wouldn't be the worst thing that the committee has ever done. There are probably countless other people or organizations that may deserve the award more. Many of the winners were given the prize only after years of hard work. Others, like the above mentioned, were very reactionary to the times. If Snowden wins this year, which I think unlikely, it is because it is the popular choice. If he wins down the road, it is because what he did was a catalyst to making the world reevaluate the way it does business.

Brace yourselves, winter is coming. And everyone is going to get Snowden.

Reviews 7/10/13

Hello all! I'm changing up the format a little on the the reviews, mostly because i want to write about all of them, but i go to work in an hour so i'm pressed for time! oh! and i'm putting numbers in! there's no science to it. just how i think this book ranks

BIG TIME SPOILERS

The Indestructible Hulk #10
8/10
Sometime after the avengers film, somebody realized that people give a shit about Hulk, and people want to give a shit about Hulk. this book brings that quality. every issue reads like its a summer blockbuster. with giant action, quirky jokes, and a level of destruction that i always thought was required for hulk, this book in particular brings out all those qualities. the hulk goes blind and rampages, daredevil makes some smarmy remarks about how the Hulk is a little dumber than usual, and the bad guys nearly destroy hells kitchen trying to stop a blind hulk. if you liked the avengers film, this is a great follow up.

Justice League #22
6/10
this starts as the opening act to the much talked about, long awaited, and much hyped, trinity war. in it we have a Shazam (or captain marvel if you're more comfortable with that) trying to spread the ashes of his fallen foes, Black Adam. Shazam says one of the best lines i've read in comics in a while when asked why he had to bury him. "because even "bad guys" deserve to be buried" and after getting to the end of this book its nice to read that there is still some heroism left in comics.

you see a basic setup for what you would expect from a JLA crossover. A rookie making a rookie mistake (shazam crossing a middle eastern border, making it look like an invasion). A bunch of people meeting for the first time (justice league/ justice league of america) and superman murdering the newly inducted JLAer. wait, what?


Quantum and Woody #1
8/10

OH YES! I have been looking froward to this book for a while now. this is the revival of the first "comedy" comic book i was ever given. I was a little let down that the jokes were few, I forgive it because they are setting up a new status quo for a book few know about. but should be reading.



Batgirl #22

9/10
Oh Batgirl, you are the crowning jewel of a diminishing batline. this book is to set up to what is going to be writer Gail Simone's next big arc "Batgirl: Wanted". and this book is what i love about this series, it acts as a decompression issue. Babs goes on a date with a failed former car thief, who's actually a great guy! they get mugged and instead of just one of them defending the other they go at them together and you really see that there might be more to this relationship than you think. you feel the drama and the weight of what Batgirl has gone through in the last year.






Superior Spider-man #13
8/10
this finally wraps up almost everything left dangling from Dan Slott's (soon to be legendary) Big Time arcs. Dr. Connors outs himself as his mind has been hiding in the lizard's body in jail, serving his penance. and Spider-man kills again! but there is more brewing under the surface here. This book lays the groundwork for what will be the superior spider-man's greatest (evil?) achievement!




Young Avengers #7
9/10
on the run from their parents and tweeting all about it. the writer/artist duo really seem to actually understand how this next generation interacts with each other and has a whimsical voice that is missing from certain other teen superhero books (looking at you teen titans).






Batman #22

4/10
boy, this whole book feels like a train wreck. Snyder, you're missing the point of the bat. if this book didn't look so damn good it would've been graded lower!







Uncanny X-men #8
6/10
this was a fun read, but i didn't think fun read should be in this book. following a team of outlaw X-Men I would be more interested in seeing how they run a school in the middle of Canada and still evade the government. there's a lot of promise in this book. but it just feels like Bendis (writer) is just biding his time with the reader

Daredevil #28

8/10
This issue starts off as Matt working out what has happened to him these past couple months and instead becomes about him facing his long lost bully. it gives you the other side of bullying. Grant it, I think the way they try to make you empathize with him is lacking, but i think that's mostly my own hang ups with bullies. but the end of the book really sinks it teeth into you and you just have to know what's going to happen next!

Hawkeye #12
7/10
another piece of the puzzle is unfolding. follow the unconventional story telling Fraction is adapting these past 4 issues. focusing on the same day, but following different points of view. here we see the jealous older brother/failed super villain, trick shot, down on his luck, homeless, willing to take a punch in the face for 5 bucks. its a very hard up book that makes you think about how desperate people can get just to eat. this has a happier ending than the last few issues, but still very dark.



Astro City #2
9/10
BOOK OF THE WEEK
Mr. Busiek, you are a gift to all of superheroes. It's a shame that mainstream comics don't handle superheroes as well as you do. If Man of Steel felt half as hopefully as this book does it would be oscar worthy! i would say more about this story but i would just be gushing. The art is simply great, the perfect amount of cartoon layered over realism. a must read.



Nightwing #22
3/10
Man, i really want to care about this book. but reading it feels like such a chore. It's always last in my stack and it takes me an hour because i would rather be doing something else. at least the art is improving, but this story lacks so much heart that it feels like a rehashing of the dark knight, but, like, the transmorphers version of dark knight.

Episode #5 : Technical Difficulties

Here is latest episode. We had originally created the best podcast ever. Not just for us, but in the whole world of podcasting. In the new and improved episode five we talk about comic-con and learn why Steve shouts and knows how to read. We learn nothing about Matt.

The Superior Foes of Spider-Man #1

Book of the week

Woo boy! this has been quite a busy week! but i'm still making time for the blog and trying to get the reviews out in a timely manner.

I'm going to prefix this whole review by telling you i love villains. they are the lifeblood of comic books. without them there are no heroes to fight, no morale high ground or low ground, and at the end of the day, no punching or action. And when a book like this comes around that focuses solely on the villains of Spider-Man i can tell you 2 things. 1) its not going to sell well, and 2) its not recomended for children.

The book focuses on the new Sinister Six, Shocker, Speed Demon, Overdrive, The new Beetle, and their fearful leader (and our narrator) Boomerang! Yes, I know that's only five people, but this book does a great job of building up a mystery behind who the sixth member is. something that I think that comics has been missing this last decade.

early on Boomerang get thrown into jail and he has to convince his only two friends, (well, what he has to settle on as friends) speed demon and shocker, to feed his bird. and not even feed the bird, but just deliver bird food inside the apartment. after 3 pages of dialogue that could've been directly from pulp fiction. they decide to do get the bird food.

of course they do this in the only way two z-list criminals with superpowers know how to do. Rob the pet store, steal a puppy from a little girl and of course, the bird seed. Its a issue of mundane activities, but how terrible awful people with powers would handle them.

The only issue i had was when the new Beetle was robbing a store that originally looked like a record store, but ends up being a comic shop. they make a few easy pot shots at the industry but it all comes off as pandering. which is always just tough to read.

all in all. this was a great first issue that makes you root for the villain, but still makes you want to just pound his face in!

Episode #4 : First Guest and Getting Sidetracked

Today's episode brings us our first guest, Mike Frontera. He is the brother to Steve. We initially wanted to talk about summer movies, but instead ended up talking about comics. Typical Steve and Mike behavior. It's difficult to get a word in with these two.

New to Comics? The Avengers

This is a new column i'll be writing if you're interested in starting a collection or just reading some really good comics of your favorite heroes. I was originally going to do this on Superman considering that they made a film loosely based on the character. BUT! Then i thought i'll start off with something everyone and their mom likes right now. THE AVENGERS!

Avengers: The Korvak Saga

Avengers Vol. 1: 159, 167, 168, 170 - 177

Oh, the place you will go Michael Korvak. from a lowly slave-like computer tech to god. literally  he become god. imagine god. now imagine he has an early 80's feathered haircut and is completely bonkers because he was tortured by a bunch of idiot aliens that have no idea what they were doing when they gave him his god like powers. keep in mind, this all actually happened, i'm only being 5% snarky.

so, what does a god do when he obliterates his captors, and returns to an alternate universe earth (that would be the marvel earth that we know and love) and remake it into a utopia of his own design. so, the Guardians of the galaxy (not the guys that will be in the movie but a time displaced superteam that consist of The Vision as their spaceship and captain america's shield as an ancient relic (again not trying to be snarky)) pursue korvak and warn the avengers of his plans to rewrite reality.

so, in classic avengers form they punch their problems away. and all get murdered in the process! i won't ruin the ending because as ridiculous as this story sounds it is absolutely timeless and a defining moment for the team and everyone that makes it up.

Avengers: Once an Avenger...

Avengers Vol 3: 1-3

what does it take to be an Avenger? after a reality wrapping adventure that took the avengers back to when they first formed and some of the worst story telling to ever plague marvel and the Avengers. they got back together to decide who has what it takes. then Morgana Le Fey comes in a just does a reality punch sending every single Avenger back to the time of swords and sorcery! yup... they followed a reality warping story with another reality warping story. only this one is good.

after being sent back, everyone goes about business as usual, except the ultimate Avenger, Captain america. he starts to recruit people he knows have dedicated their lives to the team. first being Hawkeye where he probably says one of the best lines in the story.

after recruiting a small rag tag team together, its off to war against Le Fey and her loyalist. obvious things get switched back, but the how and who pulls it off is what i'll leave to your imagination. of read the book. both work.

In this who's who of avengers,it's hard not to find someone in these issues and not go down the internet rabbit hole with them. the A-listers are good but if you want to see how deep the bench is on the avengers goes. this is the book to read.

Avengers: Disassembled/New Avengers: Breakout

Avengers vol 3 500-504/New Avengers 1-6

Think of this as The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi for Avengers. with part one completely destroying everyone's hopes and dreams on the team that the other instilling you with hope.

Disassembled start Brian Michael Bendis's run on the Avengers. And he started it with a simple idea. what if the avengers just had a really bad day. now a bad day for you or i would classify as stubbing your toe and having your boss yell at you. but a bad day for the avengers would be a zombified version their recently deceased friend returning from the grave and exploding. then the vision would melt as he crashed a quinjet into what remained of Avengers Mansion. oh wait, She-hulk just went feral and is now rampaging! but hold on shouldn't Tony Stark be able to fix him, well, if he wasn't drunk he should be. and guys that was the opening act. there's an alien invasion, a death of one of the core members and an even bigger betrayal that literally fractures the team into pieces

But, when there are pieces their are always people there to put it back together. and that's where this book picks up. with no avengers, the B-list Spider-man villain electro, decides to stage one of the largest super villain breakouts of all time! that's when you see one of the coolest assembly of a team ever. With different heroes coming together for different reasons trying to contain a island of super villains from getting to New York. these 2 stories laid groundwork for the next 10 years of avengers comics. but, breakout still stands out as the star of a killer series.

also, Spider-Man is just really funny and Luke Cage just busting skulls is a blast to see.

Young Avengers

Young avengers 1-12

oh, 2005. you gave us so much good avengers. its hard to keep track.

while not being a true avengers books. This is the pinnacle of good comicery (yeah, i made up words, what, do something about it internet!) This book takes place after Disassembled and is about a bunch of Fanboys of Avengers being told that they were next in line to succeed the Avengers. basically every teenage nerds dream! with scarlet witch's son, an alien prince (oh, an they're gay, and adorable), a black bucky that gets his powers in a way that is under much scrutiny, one of the best female characters ever written, a snarky speedster, and Ant-man's daughter, and a time displaced iron lad. they made up the coolest team you could ever hope to see. this book is a prime example that characters drive story not the other way around. 

i cant tell you how much of this book just works.I know this a big leap for you internet but, this is a must read if you just like reading in general. I want to give more specifics but i would hate to deprive you of the journey that these kids have. its heartbreaking/warming/maddening. just... just stop reading this and start reading that!

Episode #3 : Last of Laurence Fishburne

Naughty Dog's newest game, The Last of Us, divides Steve and Matt. Steve does not think it's fun, and is not interested in the characters. Matt begs to differ. We talk about that for a little. We also discuss Will Smith's failing career and his first son, Trey. What ever happened to him? Laurence Fishburne and Bonnaroo are also talked about. Matt listens to bands that Steve doesn't think exist.

This Is the End Review : It's the End of the World, and I Feel Fine

If you are looking for vulgarity, look no farther than This Is the End. This movie will also make you laugh, hard. The basic premise of the movie is that Jay Baruchel is visiting his friend, Seth Rogan, for a fun filled weekend of getting blazed and playing video games. It's a pretty simple premise. Unfortunately for Jay, Seth has plans to go to James Franco's for the most epic of parties.

During the course of this party, Jay feels uneasy around all the famous people hanging at Franco's. He did not really want to go in the first place, but, because he's such a good friend to Seth, he tags along. It's at this party where we meet James Franco, I mean, it's his house after all, Jonah Hill, and Craig Robinson. Jay does not like any of these new people because he feels they have changed Seth for the worse. Jay's night at the party ends with him leaving to buy cigarettes.

This is where the shit hits the fan. Or, where a fan (an air conditioner really, but, they have fans) falls on a woman for being a bitch. So, Jay and Seth are in this gas station, minding their own business, having a serious talk about their friendship and this cashier tells these nice people they cannot use the bathroom. Stupid gas station people. Anyways, giant earthquake, blue beams of light, and falling air conditioners will soon be the least of the crew's worries.

Jay and Seth manage to get back to Franco's, where, everything still seems normal. It's not long until a giant sinkhole appears in the front lawn, pretty much taking down every last celebrity you can think of. Aziz Ansari, Kevin Hart, and Michael Cera meet their demise. It's funny to think that when all hell breaks loose it's the celebrities that are left behind. Not sure what that says about celebrities in general or if it's what Seth Rogen (since he wrote and directed the movie) thinks. Sure, a lot of people probably think that celebrities are these vapid, narcissists. But the movie plays into these stereotypes in a very comedic fashion. Still, there's not many things better than watching Michael Cera get stabbed with a light pole. Not because I hate Michael Cera, but because how else are you going to see George Michael get killed.

Anyway, crazy shit is going down. Everyone is in the house, bogged down and scared like a bitch. It's also funny how the movie portrays actors when shit is going down. They all admit to being pansies and good for nothings. Some of the movies best comedy comes from them being scared and practically useless. As the movie progresses, Jay and Seth's relationship take a toll. Finally, they both blow up at each other because Jay feels that Seth sold out to the LA lifestyle while Seth feels embarrassed for Jay for not changing at all. It's actually a good way to divide these two characters against one another.

Other stuff that happens is that Danny McBride shows up the morning after and wastes pretty much all their food and water because he is oblivious to what is going on outside. The group, especially Franco, all hate him. He eventually leaves the house because he was essentially voted out. But it's not until after he mentions to Franco that he will practically cum anywhere he wants to. The cumming scene probably takes the cake for the best laugh out loud moment. He reappears later in the film as a cannibal, and has another very good scene.

So, eventually, Jay realizes this is the actual apocalypse and that nobody in the group was saved. It gives the characters time to reflect how they each have lived their lives. The movie manages to balance comedy with touching moments very well. The group finds out that they can still be saved if they do something selfless. Craig Robinson is the first to really embrace this idea of selflessness as he confronts a demon head on to give the others time to get away. Before he can meet his demise, he is enveloped in the blue light from earlier in the film. He's moving on up, so they say.

One of the better moments is when the group, fully aware of this knowledge, try to each get themselves saved. Of course, Franco decides it's his turn, but manages to fuck it up because he is a cocky bastard. That was probably my personal favorite moment of the movie just because I thought to myself, that I'm pretty sure that blue light is going to just drop him back where it found him. It did. Cannibals ate him. I wonder what Green Goblin tastes like?

Jay and Seth are left and they are met by none other than the devil himself. I'm sure his hands are not idle playthings in this reality. Anyway, when death is slowly approaching, Jay and Seth reconcile their relationship. They both feel guilty for losing sight of what's important. Jay gets encased in the blue light, but Seth does not. As the devil gets nearer, Jay grabs onto Seth and starts racing toward the sky. However, the path gets slower and eventually Seth is bringing Jay down. This is Seth's redemption, he convinces Jay to let him go so he can get out of here. In one of the better uses of a song for a comedy, Seth falls, but, you know the drill by now, blue light special on Seth Rogen.

The movie says a lot about what it means to be in a friendship without actually saying much. It's the tale of two people who grow apart and live different lives. It's the story of how change, or the lack of, effects your friends perception of you. I would say that even though the movie is mostly non-stop laughing, at it's core it is a tale of redemption. Not only for Jay and Seth, but for all those who seek to right the wrongs of their past.

Nova #5 Review

oh Sam Alexander. How I would love to hate you... but I just can't! <br/ >

It's no secret to those that know me that I'm a huge Nova fan. and in the entire career of nova there has been one guy, Richard Rider. I cried when Rich and his best friend, speedball, broke up the new warriors. but not as hard when he died, It was a comic book death so those always feel more like breaks than actual finality. it wasn't until this new kid, this Sam, came along that i felt. "B-B-B-But where's Rich? why didn't rich come back?" that's when i felt the scythe of death come to my favorite human rocket. So, the debate to pick up this book was more in memory if Rich and the hopes that he'll show up. we're five issues in and i gotta say... I'm not missing Rich... <br/ >

I really sold on Sam! it's the type of comic book that just works. what would you do if you were 13 and suddenly had the power to go to the moon. well, you would probably go to the moon! <br/ >

but i gotta say, with all thats going on in the story. the art is what sells this book. i used to hate Ed McGuinness, i thought his over cartoony look had no place in comics and they were solely for serious artist. i was a stupid kid. i usually complain when i see 3 splash pages and 1 double splash, but here i don't mind it at all. it's polished and works on every level. With the creative switching up on this book next issue they'll have big shoes to fill. but for the time i look forward to seeing how a this kid deals with secret identities, girls, and just being an awkward teen with the power to crush suns.

Podcast #2 : Comics and Some Deep Shit

Today on Ermahcerst we discuss Man of Steel and Superman in general. We also talk about general comic book things that have happened. This all leads up to the major discussion of the day regarding the "M word" bomb that was dropped in Uncanny Avengers. We solve racism today.
Listen Here!

Hawkeye #11/Pizza Dog #1 Review

BOOK OF THE WEEK Guys, i can't tell you enough how good these past 11 hawkguy issues have been. before i delve into this particular issue here's a quick run through on what the book is about. what does hawkeye do on his days he's not avenging. drinking coffee mostly. well, Matt Fraction's writing differently guided the issue through our small tale. it was David Aja's absolute masterful art that sold the issue of how a superheroes dog sees the world this almost was a silent book the way the panels flowed, also, dogs don't speak english. but they can understand a few keywords, which was illustrated in a great way which all words scratch out but a few words (mostly pizza(this dog loves pizza)) but what sold this book to me was David Aja's way of showing how a dog thinks and processes information, using icons to show what a dog smells and hears. how he's able to connect that to certain people he's familiar with. i think what did me in on this book was when he faced his former owners who were abusive to poor pizza dog (his actual name is lucky, but his superhero name is totes pizza dog). seeing a dog know and recognize his former tormentors was great. but him attacking and be able to get revenge by pushing them off a ledge is something that i like to think ever rescue pet has wanted to do. run do not walk to your nearest computer and buy these issues. sure you could download them. but seriously this book deserves your money!

Age of Ultron book 10 A.I. Review

oh, Age of Ultron what a strange terrible journey you have been. this companion piece/epilogue was far an away the best issue, and may be the best solo Hank Pym book there's been since the 70's. in the book Hank wallows and has to decide who he ultimately will be. they tell the story of a fractured genius. a scientest who decided to fight crime, a superhero who hit his wife, a shrinking man who defeated a god, a man who fathered the worst enemy the Avengers ever faced. And i have to say Mark Waid (writer) tackles a part of his life I've never even thought of, his childhood. and he makes the internal conflict of Hank Pym a parental issue, with his overly-practical parents wanting their genius son to invent something that can make the world a easier place to live. but all the while his grandmother, a B-tier writer of science fiction books, tells him that he should focus on making the world a more beautiful and colorful. and that is one of the coolest ways to demonstrate the unclear writing that has plagued our beloved Ant-man/Giant man/Goliath/YellowJacket/Wasp (and yes, he has gone by all those names at one time or another, sometimes more than once). the practicality of comics has always been at odds with the more whimsical side, Hank Pym has been at the center of that most of his life. and as a reader and a fan of the character i love seeing that. With the Ant-man film coming down the pipeline, Marvel will be pushing Hank into the forefront. which this book does quite well, setting a new status quo for the character, taking himself out a costume and mask, giving him his own team of avengers made up of seemingly only robots (which just sounds awesome!) and make him a more likeable guy instead of the sad sack he's been since the 80's.

First Episode : E3 and Beyond!

First Ermahcerst episode. Today we talk about E3 and beyond. Steve talks about his love for Kingdom Hearts 3 and his hatred for Xbox Live advertisements. Matt just talks in a calm fashion.

Listen Here!