Jupiter's Legacy #3 Review

Writer: Mark Millar
Artist: Frank Quitely

This series has been brilliant so far, with the first two issue being amazing. It has however still to kick into a higher gear, as although the series has been very dramatic and suspenseful so far, with brilliant character development and interaction, it has been setting up something bigger, which has slowed it down a bit.

Plot

As the Utopian has a word with Hutch, Walter puts his plan into action.

Review

This was a phenomenal issue, and easily the best in the series so far. Mark Millar has produced some of the best work he has done in the last couple of years in this issue, showing just why he's one of the best writers in the business today. Millar managed to make this not only very exciting, but also extremely dramatic and suspenseful, with the big explosive moments being very intense. The pacing of the issue was also perfect, with each sequence flowing brilliantly into the next. On top of that Millar also did an amazing job of the dialogue in this issue, with it adding a lot more depth and tone to the issue, also being very emotional at times.

The artwork from Frank Quitely was also once again astonishing, and I have been very happy that he's worked on this series. The detail was once again amazing, being extremely consistent throughout, with even the minor details shining out. Quitely also did a fantastic job of laying out his artwork, as although it isn't the most unique style, with the backgrounds mostly being plain, it does help to add more depth and tone, adding more atmosphere to the character interactions. The best thing about this issue however was the way he handled the brutal development points, with his art being very graphical. On top of that Quitely once again showed the character emotion brilliantly, adding a lot more intensity and realism to the issue.

This issue would start with the Utopian, in his secret identity of Sheldon Sampson having a discussion with Hutch about his relationship with his daughter Chloe. Now the latter sequences in this issue would overshadow this sequence, but I personally enjoyed it, and liked seeing the interaction between these two characters. I also liked seeing Hutch try and persuade Utopian that he's willing to change for Chloe's sake, and the typical Utopian response made this even more interesting, showing the differences in characteristics, as well as age.

WARNING: SPOILERS FOR THE REST OF THE REVIEW!

The spoilers that follow will be major spoiler for the issue, as well as the series going forward, but they were in my opinion that impactful that I had to give my opinion on them, even though I dislike giving away spoilers. Now the first major development point in this issue would see Walter and a group of heroes coming and brutally attacking the Utopian's wife Grace. Now I'll not spoil the outcome of the sequence, but the sequence itself was very intense, being very dramatic. I also liked how this would show Walter's true motives, as although he has always acted the hero, he has always had a mysterious nature towards him, and I'm not surprised that he's turned into somewhat of a villain.

This would be directly followed by another group of heroes, along with Brandon attacking the Utopian. Now again I won't reveal the outcome of this sequence, but I will say my thoughts on it. Following the interaction between the Utopian and Brandon in the last issue it was just a matter of time before they fought, though I wasn't expecting it to happen quite as quick. Besides the amazing artwork in this sequence, the dialogue and emotion would be what made it so brilliant, as it would be very intense and exciting, as well as emotional, continuing to show the pain that Brandon feels about his fathers lack of pride in him.

Final Verdict

Easily the best issue in the series yet, this issue would take the series to another level, having some shocking developments and graphic artwork. There was also a lot of drama and suspense throughout the issue, with some very emotional sequences, with the issue being very intense throughout. Due to all this I'd highly recommend this issue, as well as the series so far, as it's shaping up to be some of Millar's best creator owned work since the first Kick-Ass series.

Rating: 10/10

Jupiter's Legacy #2 Review

Writer: Mark Millar
Artist: Frank Quitely

This series had a very good opening issue, as although it wasn't as brilliant as I hoped, it did a great job of introducing the characters and the world they live in. Mark Millar also did a great job of setting to tone of the series, and I'm sure it will get even better with time.

Plot

Brandon tries to act the superhero, but when his actions cause more trouble than good his father the Utopian has to step in. Meanwhile Chloe is in the hospital recovering from her overdose, and coming to grip with the news that she's pregnant.

Review

This was yet another brilliant issue, and although not much better than the opening issue, it flowed much smoother and Mark Millar has started to give some proper series development that show where the story is heading. Millar also did a brilliant job of giving more depth to the characters in this issue, as although I'd have loved to have seen some action it was good to see more emotion from the characters. Millar also did a wonderful job with the character interaction in this issue, with the dialogue being one of the best things about the issue, being very dramatic and suspenseful, adding a lot of tension to the story. The series has however still to find it's feet, and is still in the set-up stage, which slows the pace down a bit.

The art from Frank Quitely was once again phenomenal, with the detail in his artwork being simply astonishing. Quitely's unique and quirky art style has really grown on me over the years, and it suits the adult nature of this series perfectly. The layouts are also brilliant, as although some of the backgrounds were once again a bit plain, the layouts still managed to give a lot of drama and depth to the issue, also helping to add tension during some of the more explosive interactions. Quitely also did a great job of showing the characters facial expressions and emotions in this issue, as although there were a few awkward moments in last issue, there were none in this one, with it adding more tone to the issue.

This issue would start with Brandon trying to live up to his fathers expectations by helping a ship move to it's destination sooner, though things don't go too smoothly. Although it was a sudden start to the issue, it was nice to see more of Brandon, and how that despite not showing it in the last issue that he wants to live up to his father's expectations. It was however also entertaining how everything went wrong, and that despite his good intentions Brandon was doing more harm than good. The sequence would also be more entertaining with the interaction that Brandon would have with both the captain and his friend.

Due to Brandon's catastrophic actions his father the Utopian would come to save the day, giving his son a lecture in the process. Now this was probably my favourite part of the issue, as the differences between father and son haven't been very noticeable, so seeing this confrontation was brilliant. I also loved the emotion and intensity in the dialogue, and how it would show that despite all the good that Utopian has done, that he's not been their for his children as much as he could have, which won't have helped with the way Brandon has turned out.

The issue would also show some development for Chloe following her almost overdosing at the end of the last issue. It would however be the development of her learning that she's pregnant that would make this even more interesting. What I enjoyed most was the realism that Millar added to this, with her shocked reaction being easily noticeable. I also liked how this would affect her reactions, with the smallest of annoyances making her angry

Final Verdict

Another fantastic issue, and although this series is still in the set-up stages it is still very exciting and dramatic, having a lot of suspense and emotion. It also had a brilliant tone and atmosphere throughout it, with the character interaction being amazing. Due to all this I'd highly recommend this issue, as well as the last issue, as they are both fabulous reads.

Rating: 8/10

Jupiter's Legacy #1 Review

Writer: Mark Millar
Artist: Frank Quitely

Mark Miller is my favourite writer so I was naturally really looking forward to this series. I have however not managed to find time to review any of the issues so far, but am doing so now. The reviews will be done as if I've not read any of the issues preceding them, letting the story and development until then speak for itself.

Plot

In 1932 Sheldon Sampson had a dream about an island, leading a team their. They would return as superheroes, and now in the present they hope that their children will follow in their footsteps.

Review

This was a fantastic issue, and although it wasn't quite as good as I hoped it would be it was a brilliant start for the series. Mark Millar did an amazing job of creating this new world, and introducing all the characters, whilst keeping the gritty style that he usually does. Millar also added a lot of drama and suspense in this issue, also having some exciting moments as well. It was however at certain points slightly slow, but that's expected from an opening issue, especially when it's introducing a brand new set of characters. Millar did however also produce some brilliant dialogue in this issue, with the character interaction adding a lot of depth and tone to the story.

The artwork in this issue was however simply phenomenal, and Frank Quitely did an outstanding job. The detail of Quitely's art was simply amazing, being very consistent throughout. The layout of Quitely's artwork was also brilliant, as although not the most unique style, with the backgrounds also being a bit plain for most of the issue, it still managed to add a lot of depth, also giving more drama as well. Quitely also did a superb job of showing the characters facial expressions and emotions throughout this issue, as although some of the expressions were slightly awkward looking, it added more drama and suspense to the rest of the issue, also making the story feel more realistic.

This issue would start 81 years in the past, with one of the main characters in the series Sheldon Sampson having a dream about an island, and leading a group of people their, with them returning with superpowers. I was very happy that Millar added this sequence to the issue, as it showed how all these characters got their powers. At the same time the transition between this sequence and the present wasn't one of the smoothest that I've ever seen. I did however enjoy the contrast in styles between this sequence and the present though, as it added a bit of variety to the issue.

The issue would quickly move to the present, showing Sheldon's children Brandon and Chloe. They would also have superpowers, though unlike their parents they didn't seem as eager to become superheroes. This part of the issue would also show the why Millar's work is for mature readers, being gritty and having some suggestive dialogue. It was however the dialogue as a whole that made these sequences as dramatic as they were, also helping to give the tone and atmosphere that this issue needed.

We'd also get to see how some superhero work during this issue, with Sheldon, now being called Utopian, his wife undefined Grace, his brother Walter and other heroes battling a villain called Blackstar. Now apart from this being a very exciting sequence, it would also show how much these characters have changed from the opening sequence. I especially enjoyed the interaction between Utopian and Walter, and how much they differed in opinion, with this adding yet more drama and suspense to the issue, as well as more depth as well. I also found their superhero costumes to be very interesting, as although not as slick as the Marvel or DC heroes, they had a very unique style to them.

Final Verdict

This was a brilliant start to the series, as although not quite as good as I initially hoped it would be, it introduced the characters and the situation of this world perfectly, having some very dramatic moments throughout. The character interaction was also amazing, with some suspenseful moments as well. Due to all this, as well as the fact that Frank Quitely's on the artwork makes this easy to recommend.

Rating: 8/10

Civil War Review

Writer: Mark Millar
Artist: Steve McNiven

Civil War was one of the first stories that I ever read, with it, and Batman: Hush helping persuade me to collect comics. The concept alone is intriguing, and the impact it would have in Marvel's future was also brilliant.

Plot

After the New Warriors, a group of inexperienced teen superhero's cause the death of hundreds of innocent people the Super-Human Registration Act is about to be put into place, which would mean that superhero's would need to reveal who they are, and work for the government, and when this doesn't go well with Captain America, and other hero's it starts the superhero Civil War, with Captain America's Secret Avengers going up against Iron Man, and the registered superhero's.

Review

This was a truly phenomenal story, and one of my favourite stories of all time, being my favourite Marvel event to date. Mark Millar simply did an amazing job on this story, and although his other work such as, The Ultimates, Kick-Ass, and Old Man Logan were all brilliant, this has to be his best work to date, showing why he's my favourite writer. Although I never read this story when it was released in comics, it was however one of the first graphic novels I read, and was the first that I classed as phenomenal. When reading the story I did however question to myself why nothing like this had happened before then, and although I'm happy it didn't, as we may never have had this great story, I do have to say that I believe this shows the levels that comics have developed in stature over the years, and why modern comics are a much more deeper form of storytelling than they were in the 60's-80's. Besides all that Millar made something that wasn't just thought out, and deep, but epic, and exciting, and it almost feels like you're watching a film when you read this, as the drama, and action, as well as the depth are off the scales. Although I didn't expect this kind of level when first reading the story, having not known who Millar was, since then I have read many of his stories, and to be honest it's no surprise that this was epic, as nearly everything he's done has been amazing to a certain extent. I also loved how Millar build up the animosity between the two warring teams, as it produced a brilliant atmosphere, allowing these character's to not hold back. There is however only one minor hint of negativity in this story, and that is the ending, as although I won't spoil it, it did feel slightly anticlimactic. At the same time I also saw perfect reasoning for this ending, and although slightly disappointing it in no way spoiled the quality of the story.

The art from Steve McNiven was just as phenomenal as Millar's writing, and although I've seen him do tremendous work in other series including, The New Avengers, Millar & McNiven's Nemesis, Old Man Logan, and Guardians of the Galaxy to name a few, this has to be the best artwork I have ever seen from him. The art in this book was simply splendid, and McNiven deserves to get a lot of praise for it, as although I'm sure Millar's script would be brilliantly detailed, describing the sequences, it's still up to the artist to make it come alive, which McNiven more than done. The dramatic tone of the art was immense and it truly felt like watching a film, but in a book, as everything felt so exciting, and vibrant. The detail in McNiven's art was also outstanding, as everything was perfect, whether it was the small details, or the explosive action, and it really made the art much more sleek, and appealing. The way McNiven drew the character's was also amazing, as although there were so many different types of character's, with different looks, they all looked brilliant, and although there was obviously some that looked better than other's, they all looked spectacular. The character's facial emotions were also pretty good, as although probably the weakest part of McNiven's artwork (and that's saying something as it's also brilliant), when he does show emotion it's phenomenal, and I especially loved the anger that came from Hercules throughout certain battles. Talking about battles the action was also outstandingly brilliant, and truly epic, as it was the perfect mix of disaster, and brawling, as there were times were the fighting was very elegant, and other's were it was down right brutal, which gave more depth, and drama.

This story started with the New Warriors tangling with Nitro, causing a massive explosion which caused the death of hundreds of people, including children. Now what a better way to start this type of story off, as to be fair if it was someone like Captain America that fought Nitro at the time there wouldn't be as much done about it, but due to the fact that these are inexperienced hero's, it made perfect sense. Another thing I liked about this was that having these young hero's in the form of the New Warriors added a level of fun, and lightness to the story, which is perfect considering nearly everything since that point will be gritty, and suspenseful. The fact that the New Warriors only really seemed to care about TV ratings also wouldn't have helped, as it showed that these young hero's had little concern for the public, and although that's slightly morbid, it make the start that much more amazing.

The aftermath of this would obviously be the Super-Human Registration Act, which would make anyone with superpowers have to sign, and register with the government, and S.H.I.E.L.D., also revealing their identities. Now this was a thing that had been building up for some time, ever since Nick Fury's Secret War, and the Scarlet Witch causing the House of M, also being mentioned in The New Avengers prior to this. Now although this caused a controversial debate over who's right, and who's wrong, I felt that it was great, as it would have changed certain readers opinion on certain character's, as with them being on different sides of the fence, some people will most likely class one side as bad, and the others good, whereas before that they'd all be good. I personally didn't have much of a change in opinion over character's, but at the same time I did find some of the characteristic changes shocking, whilst also overall finding it perfect for Marvel, as it would lead to a very interesting time.

Now the main question in this book was, "Who's side... are you on?" as Cap, and Iron Man square of against each other, with Iron Man supporting the Registration Act, and Cap against it. The way that Iron Man was swayed into making his decision was brilliant, and it really added another level of emotion, and meaning to the story, as although most people, me included would have seen him as a jerk, his morales were good, and he did honestly believe that this was the right thing, which in a way it was. The fact that Cap went against the Registration Act however was a little bit of a shock at first, but I quickly came to realise that it made perfect sense, as although he's worked for the government all his life, with people knowing who he is, that doesn't mean that others should be deprived their freedom of choosing. The other character's that chose what side they were on were pretty predictable, as with Fantastic Four being open, and Mr. Fantastic working with Iron Man on ideas to help humanity it made perfect sense, as did government workers like Ms. Marvel, Hank Pym, and others. The same could be said for Cap's side, as people like Luke Cage, Daredevil, and Hercules, who are all open minded, as well as for the people would naturally follow Cap. There was however one exception to this, and that would be Spider-Man.

WARNING: SPOILER AHEAD!

This is a spoiler for the story, but most people should know about this anyway, unless you're completely new to comics, but I thought I'd give the spoiler warning anyway. Normally you'd think that Spidey would never go for the Registration Act, as he holds his secret identity as a close guarded secret, more so than nearly any superhero, but at the same time, as he's been pals with Iron Man over the recent times it's natural that he'd side with him, but all the same when I first read this, the fact that Peter revealed himself to be Spidey it was a shock. I did however love the fact J. Jonah Jameson fainted at this news though. Anyway besides the Registration Act this would probably be the biggest change to happen in this story, as now that everyone knows who Spidery is it'd change his life, but I won't go into details as that would be too big a spoiler. The fact that Peter had a dilemma after revealing himself was however more interesting, as you'd have thought the fact of revealing his identity in the first place would do that, but it was actually the question of whether he did the right thing that lingered over him, which was brilliant, and really interesting.

This story would also feature the Punisher, which is a strange thing, as he usually stays out of the main part of crossover events, and only really deals with superhero's occasionally, so to have him in this story said a lot. I won't go into details as to why he was involved, or some of what he did, as it would give too big a spoilers, but I will say on what I though of this, and more importantly the interaction he had with Cap. Now to be fair Cap, and Punisher are very similar character's, if you take away the fact that Punisher kills villains, as they are both soldier's, and to certain extent patriots. The way they'd react would however be interesting, as although I can see why Cap couldn't get over the fact that Punisher was a killer, I'd have thought that knowing his story, and background that he'd be slightly easier on him, and try to help him rather than class him a lost cause. Besides the interaction Punisher had with Cap, he'd also pull his weight during his time in the story, and he was used perfectly, and overall the decision to add him was good, even if mainly to launch a then new series (Punisher War Journal).

A character that I always find interesting is the Watcher, as although he's not the most developed character, he's still very interesting, and always makes things exciting. For anyone who doesn't know who the Watcher is (probably not many) he's a being who watches the changes in the universe, never interfering and mainly appearing during times of great change, and disaster. This is what makes him interesting, as it usually doesn't bode well for the superhero community if he shows up, which means that there's a good chance that the story will be exciting. This was also one of the more rarer occasions, as the Watcher actually interacts with a character, and although I won't name who, as to avoid spoiling, it did make things more interesting, and unique, and his overall appearance in this went to show why he's interesting, even though he himself isn't exciting.

WARNING: SPOILER AHEAD!

Again this spoiler only really relates to people who are completely new to comics, as most people will probably know this, and although I do try to avoid spoilers at all cost, this was an addition to the story that I personally found very interesting. This story would see the return of Thor, or so it would seem, as when Iron Man's group were in trouble a being who looked exactly like Thor would show up. It would be revealed that this was actually a cyborg clone of Thor, being created from a particle of hair that Iron Man kept. The cyborg would later be known as Ragnarok, and would also be very different than the real Thor. To be honest when I first got this story I wasn't keeping up with comic events, so I didn't even know that Thor disappeared, but to see this cyborg clone was brilliant, and would also add shock, drama, and suspense to the story. The aftermath this character would cause in later stories would also be very interesting, as although I won't go into details as to avoid unnecessary spoilers, this introduction would turn out more important than just his role in this story.

This story would also see S.H.I.E.L.D., and Iron Man go to drastic lengths, using it's newly acquired Thunderbolts team in the capturing of rogue superhuman's. Now I don't know a great deal about the Thunderbolts prior to them working for the government, and S.H.I.E.L.D., but I believe that this was the first time they would, having worked for Baron Zemo prior to that. Anyway, the use of them in this story was brilliant, as besides the fact it would be the start of a new era for the Thunderbolts, it also showed the lengths, and levels that S.H.I.E.L.D. were going to to make their Registration Act stick. At the same time I also found it slightly ironic that leashed criminals would be hunting down hero's in the name of the law, and overall this was a very interesting, and a brilliant addition to this story.

Final Verdict

A brilliant story, and probably the best Marvel event of all time, this saw a dramatic change in the way the Marvel Universe would operate, as well as how it's character's would live. The action, and excitement in the story was outstanding, and the dramatic film like atmosphere that it gave was just phenomenal, making this a must read story. I would highly recommend this story as like I've said in my review, it was truly amazing, and well worth the read.

Rating: 5/5

Wolverine: Enemy of the State Review

Writer: Mark Millar
Artist: John Romita Jr.

I've been trying to get through as many of my graphic novels, and comics series as I can, reviewing them along the way, whilst also reading the Marvel events that fall in between. I also plan on reading the series at the same time, reading each story that falls in line (e.g. a Spider-Man story followed by an Avengers, followed by something else, then back to Spider-Man). I've finally come to start re-reading my Wolverine collection, with this being my fourth review from it.

Plot

When Wolverine travels to Japan to try and save the life of a friends son, it turns out to be a trap to lure Wolverine out, as HYDRA, who are now working with The Hand, and the mutant group known as Light Dawn of the White Light, lead by Gorgon, killing him, and resurrecting him as their brainwashed assassin to fight S.H.I.E.L.D. and a list of other superheroes.

Review

This was an amazing book, and probably one of the best Wolverine stories to feature Wolverine getting brainwashed, and Mark Millar did a tremendous job. Now with Millar being my favourite writer it's sometimes hard to not be biased, and I try to be as fair with his stories as possible, as things like Kick-Ass, ans The Ultimates was amazing, yet other works like Supercrooks, and his run on Fantastic Four although good, weren't brilliant, but this has to be up their with his best work, and although it's not as good as the Ultimates, or Kick-Ass, or even Millar's other Wolverine story, Old Man Logan, it's not far off. Now as I was saying this was probably the best brainwashing Wolverine story I've read, which I was happy about, as although there have been ton's of stories to feature Wolverine getting brainwashed, most of them are mediocre, whereas this was unique, interesting, and entertaining. Also with the story being spread over 12 issues it would be easy for it to start getting a bit dull, and boring, and at some point start to drag, whereas the way Millar has wrote this story that isn't the case, as he's kept it interesting by splitting it into two halves, but in a very unique way were it feels like two stories, but also one. I say this as most long stories are broken into acts, whether just the two, or more, in an attempt to make the overall story flow smoother, not always working, whereas Milliar's managed to accomplish this. Besides the divide, the overall pacing of the story was brilliant anyway, with it being exciting, and dramatic, knowing when to add action, and when to slow the pace down a bit, to allow room for development. I also loved how Millar made this an emotional struggle, having Wolverine fighting to control his actions, whilst still making it exciting, and action packed. I also loved how Millar handled all the other character's in this story, as although this remained a Wolverine story, the side character's were still amazing, being used perfectly.

Like usual I'm not 100% sure on what I thought of John Romita Jr.'s art, as there were parts that looked like his best art ever, and other parts that looked plain terrible. I've recently been seeing Romita Jr.'s art in The Amazing Spider-Man by JMS Ultimate Collection, considering his work on that some of the best he's ever produced, and that left a lot to live up to in this story. Now when I started reading this I thought that I'd went from seeing Romita Jr.'s best art, to his worst, as it looked plain horrible, and messy, but as I progressed through the book I began to change my mind, as it became truly amazing. I think it started when Wolverine changed into his yellow spandex, as Romita Jr. really excels in drawing masked hero's. Even with this his art still wasn't without it's faults, as like usual there's something that puts a blemish on his art, and it came in the form of the X-Men, and Elisbeth Von Strucker, as although certain X-Men like Kitty Pryde, Emma Frost, and Storm looked alright, others like Cyclops, and Beast looked a bit weird, and the wrinkly Elisbeth looked down right weird (although his later art on the character looked more realistic). The way Romita Jr. handled the action in this story was also brilliant, and alone with the dramatic way he laid his art out, it was probably the best part about his art, as although the facial injuries sometime looked weird, and unrealistic, the fights themselves were epic, and overall Romita Jr. did a decent job on the art for this story.

This story centred mainly on Wolverine being brainwashed, and used to work for HYDRA in attacking certain superhero's. As I said I felt that this was probably one of the best brainwashing story to involve Wolverine, but besides that the fact that Wolverine was working with HYDRA was interesting in itself. Added to that the fact that HYDRA's working with the Hand, and the Light Dawn of the White Light, this story just screams to be epic, and it didn't let me down. The way HYDRA use Wolverine as if he's both their best weapon, but at the same time expendable was brilliant, and it really showed the mentality of HYDRA, as although they have this powerful weapon in Wolverine, they're not that bothered if they lose him, even if they're trying to avoid that at the same time.

With Wolverine now working for HYDRA, all be it involuntary, this meant that S.H.I.E.L.D. would be trying to take Wolverine down before he did any damage, and what person for S.H.I.E.L.D. to hire than Elektra. I said that having HYDRA working with the Hand, and the Light Dawn of the White Light screams to be epic, but then Millar goes and adds Elektra, making this story even better. It just seems that Millar has decided to add as many big, violent characters, and put them in a really violent situation, and although a lot of the time when this is attempted it fails, that isn't the case when Millar works on a story. Elektra just kicked butt in this story, and to have her track down Wolverine, and fight him was brilliant, and Millar did this perfectly, and although I already knew that Millar was brilliant at action, this just goes to remind me.

Now Elektra wasn't the only additional character besides the villains in this story, as there were also the X-Men, Fantastic Four, Daredevil, Captain America, and other Avengers. The best out of these additions was probably between the Fantastic Four, and Daredevil, as although these were two of Wolverine's targets, the interaction between Wolverine, and them was also brilliant. I know Millar can write Fantastic Four well, even if his run on the series wasn't his best piece of work, and to see him unite this with Wolverine was brilliant, as the chemistry between the character was perfect, and this proves that Millar really knows how to write superhero's brilliantly, as well as writing amazing violent stories. I also loved how this added a little bot of suspense, and fun as well, especially with the Fantastic Four, as with Wolverine going on a violent rampage, it's not the easiest thing to find time to add in some humour, even if with generally funny character's, but Millar's managed to yet again amaze me, by making this story even more versatile and dynamic.

As I said earlier, this story saw the return of Wolverine in the blue, and yellow spandex, and that made me happy. Now I loved seeing Wolverine with the whole rebel look, and it really suited Greg Rucka's grittier, crime stories, but with a story that sees Wolverine taking out certain superhero's he needs to be in spandex (which isn't worse than leather Cyclops (X-Men film fans will get that)). I also loved how the character's that surrounded Wolverine in this story would mention this, with a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent saying that he stuck out like a sore thumb in it, which although in a serious context was still a bit humorous.

WARNING: SPOILER AHEAD!

I try not to add spoilers if possible, but there was one point in this story that I couldn't not mention, and that involves revealing a huge spoiler, so let this be a warning (skipping to the next paragraph should be safe). Wolverine is eventually captured by S.H.I.E.L.D., and deprogrammed back to being a good killer (is there such a thing?). Now working for S.H.I.E.L.D., Wolverine seeks his revenge. Now this was what I meant when I said that Millar managed to split this story into two, and continue to make it interesting, as by showing both sides of the field, it made the pacing so much better. The fact that Wolverine worked for both HYDRA, and S.H.I.E.L.D. in this story also interested me, as it was kind of like an advantage in a sports match that was swapped half way through the game. I also loved how we get the usual angry Wolverine, that's embarrassed as well as raged about being used against his friends.

The final issue in this story was set during 1942, with Wolverine in a concentration camp in Poland. This was a brilliant issue, and although it doesn't quite top the actual Enemy of the State story, it was still awesome, and the way that Wolverine never said a word really made this story much more eerie, almost like a ghost story. The art from Kaare Andrews on this issue was also perfect, and having Wolverine silhouette like, with only his white vest sticking out really helped to add to the eerie tone of the story. I have to say that although I enjoyed the story on the first read through, it wasn't until I read an article at the back of the second volume written by Millar, talking about a discussion he had with comic book legend Will Eisner, and how he managed to change this story from what he considered would be slightly ill taste from a certain point of view, and changed it into this masterpiece, which really interested me, and added a lot of perspective.

Final Verdict

This was a truly epic story, and a must have for Wolverine fans. Although the whole brainwash thing has been done to death on Wolverine, this has to be the exception, as it's one of the best out of them, and full of action, suspense, and drama, as well as being very gripping, and entertaining. The back-up story was also amazing, and overall Millar has shown why he's my favourite writer, and I'd highly recommend this story.

Rating: 5/5

The next Wolverine book I'll be reviewing will be House of M: World of M Featuring Wolverine.

Kick-Ass 2 Movie Review

This has been a film that I've been looking forward to ever since seeing the first film in cinema, as with the second series of the comic being announced I had a strong feeling that this sequel would be made, and was really excited when it was officially announced.

Plot

SPOILER FREE

With Kick-Ass just returning to crime fighting, and Hit-Girl quitting Kick-Ass looks for other superheroes to team-up with, joining Justice Forever. Meanwhile The Red Mist becomes a villain now called the Mother F***er, creating his own villain army.

Review

This was a great film, and although it wasn't as good as the first film, it was still very good. This film was a bit slower than the first film, as it would develop the characters more, showing how they are coping in this new world that they have created. There was a few positives to this, as it added depth, and emotion, but at the same time it took a bit of the energy out of the film, making it feel less lighthearted than the first, and more serious. This film would also see a different directer, as with Matthew Vaughn not being able to direct (opting to work on an adaptation of another Mark Millar comic, The Secret Service), Jeff Wadlow would take over directing duties, also writing the script for the film. Wadlow did a good job of directing this film, but it wasn't quite as good as Vaughn's directing from the first film, not feeling as explosive, or unique.

The cast in this film was great, with both returning, and new cast members being brilliant in their roles. Aaron Taylor-Johnson once again did a brilliant job as Kick-Ass, as although I felt it a bit of a sudden change to have him bulked out, he got back into the character perfectly, doing an awesome job. Chloë Grace Moretz also once again did a great job as Hit-Girl, especially with the changes in this film, as did Christopher Mintz-Plasse with Red Mist/Motherf***er. New cast members included Jim Carrey doing an amazing job as Colonel Stars, Lindy Booth as Night-Bitch, John Leguizamo as Javier, Donald Faison as Doctor Gravity, as well as others, who were all tremendous in their respective roles.

Hit-Girl or Normal-Girl?

One of the main changes in this story was Hit-Girl giving up the superhero lifestyle, and trying to lead a normal life, as well as trying to fit in at school. This was something that interested me in the comics, as although I loved seeing Hit-Girl go about decapitating criminal, considering the circumstances of the end of both the first series, and film it'd make sense to go in this direction. I also found it slightly amusing seeing her adapt to this new life, and how she went the extra lengths to fit in with the girls at her school, even if though these scenes dragged on at times. It was however also interesting to see her still have the Hit-Girl mindset in the background, and that although she's trying to change, deep down she's still Hit-Girl.

The other transformation in this film was of Chris D'Amico who would transform himself in this film from the superhero that he was, named Red Mist, to the supervillain that he now is, calling himself the Motherf***er. Now I felt that the transformation in the comics was handled brilliantly, and although it was still good in this film, it was totally different, at times feeling like a complete joke. I did however feel that this played to Christopher Mintz-Plasse's acting skills, as it seems much more natural seeing him in a comic state, opposed to a serious one, and although I would have preferred this transformation to be closer to the comics, doing that may not have worked on film. The group that he would form was also interesting, and I especially loved seeing Mother Russia in this film.

The main new character in this film was Colonel Stars and Stripes, the leader of the superhero team that Kick-Ass would join named Justice Forever. When I heard that comic legend Jim Carrey would be playing the Colonel I was a little sceptical, as I couldn't imagine him playing the part, and his last few movies have been very poor. I have however changed my mind after seeing this film, as he was perfect in the role, managing to play this cool, and serious guy, whilst also being able to add some great comic relief. I also loved how he change his voice for the film, as he felt more like the character that way. The only gripe I had with the Colonel in this film however was that it would have been nicer if he actually did more, as he didn't really do much. I am however very happy that Carrey played this role, as despite all his controversial complaints he was surprisingly the perfect choice for the role.

Colonel Stars and Stripes and Justice Forever

One of the things that I really enjoyed about the first film was all the action that it had, and although this film was slower than the first, not quite having as many action scenes, the ones that it did have were amazing. Everything from Kick-Ass teaming with Doctor Gravity, to Justice Forever roaming the streets, and right to the final showdown between Kick-Ass and the Motherf***er was amazing, but that last scene with Kick-Ass' army against Motherf***er's was amazing, and very explosive, and exciting. I especially enjoyed seeing Hit-Girl take on Mother Russia, but the Kick-Ass/Motherf***er fight, and all the other carnage between was amazing as well, making for a cool final fight scene.

Heroes and Villains

There is also a post-credit scene in this film, so don't leave when the credits start (unless you don't care for post-credit scenes).

Final Verdict

This was a terrific film, and although not quite as good as the first, being a little slow, and not as unique, it was still very humorous, with some amazing action scenes. It also had great character development as well, and was really enjoyable. Due to all this I'd recommend seeing this film, but if you are expecting it to surpass the first then you may be disappointed.

Rating: 4/5

Kick-Ass Movie Review

With Kick-Ass 2 hitting cinemas a few days ago I decided to re-watch the first film prior to seeing the new one, as having loved the comics from Mark Millar, I'm hoping that Kick-Ass 2 lives up to expectations, getting into the mood with this film.

Plot

SPOILER FREE

When David Lizewski wonders why no one has ever tried to become a superhero, he himself becomes one in the form of Kick-Ass, but when Big Daddy, and Hit-Girl cause trouble for Frank D'Amico, D'Amico targets Kick-Ass. blaming him for his problems.

Review

This was an amazing film, and one of the best comic book adaptations that I have ever seen. It had a very fun, and humorous tone to it, with plenty of witty dialogue that did the amazing comic script justice. The film also had a lot of excitement, and was brilliantly paced, never becoming boring. It also had a lot of drama, and felt very realistic like the comic tried to be, which was nice. It was also brilliantly directed by Matthew Vaughn, who would go onto direct X-Men: First Class. Vaughn's storytelling in this film was perfect, and although working on the film at the same time as Mark Millar was writing the comics was bound to help, as he'd be able to dive into his thoughts.

The cast in this film was very well chosen, as although it wasn't quite perfect, there are a lot worse actors that could have been placed in the roles. I'll start with Kick-Ass who was played by Aaron Johnson. I loved how Johnson managed to keep the character to his basics, being able to portray this comic geek turned crime fighter in a humorous, and realistic manor. The actor who I was most impressed with however was Chloë Grace Moretz, who just owned the Hit-Girl role, playing this foul mouthed, 11 year old that literally kicked ass. I also loved how there was a small amount of innocents behind her portrayal of the character, whilst still showing how dangerous she really was. Hit-Girl's partner, and father, Big Daddy was played by the legend that is Nicolas Cage. Now I'm a huge Nic Cage fan, but his acting hasn't been brilliant over the last few years, and although this was one of his better performances, I wasn't 100% happy with him as Big Daddy, as he felt a more crazy, than mean, and dangerous. The final cast member I'll mention is Mark Strong as crime boss Frank D'Amico, who was called Johnny G in the comics. Strong is so good at playing a villain, and he showed that in this, being vicious, and sinister at times.

The main star of this film was obviously Kick-Ass, and although he didn't look as weak as the comic book version I felt that this film showed him perfectly. everything from the monologue, to the idea to become a superhero, and beyond was brilliant, and I just loved how it was shown in the film. I also loved how he reacted to his life as a superhero, from the moment he first got seriously injured, until the moment he realised quite how deep he had gotten himself into. Another thing I enjoyed about Kick-Ass in this film was that they spent plenty of time developing him as Dave as well, showing his relationship with Katie Deauxma, and how he socialised with his friends, showing that he's more than just a superhero.

The other two characters that stole this film would be Hit-Girl, and Big Daddy, with Hit-Girl in particular stealing the spotlight of this film. I loved both characters in the comics, and the film portrayed them perfectly. Now I may not have been too happy seeing Nic Cage in a Batman like costume, feeling that it took away from the individuality of the story, but I did understand how this makes an impact. I also enjoyed seeing Hit-Girl, and Big Daddy's ruthless solution to criminals, and their background story although slightly different from the comics was still amazing.

Big Daddy Movie/Comic Comparison

Now not a lot of comic book films take their story directly from a comic book story, usually using certain comic book stories as inspirations. It is however nice whenever you get a comic book film based on a story, especially when they stay true, which this film did. I have to say that besides a few alterations, and additions this was as close as you can get to the perfect close adaptation of a comic book story, and the only film that I can think of that can top it would be Watchmen. There was however one key alteration from the comics that I didn't like, as although it worked well in the film, the comic alternative was much funnier.

Another thing this film had plenty of was action, as although it wasn't as much as some comic book films, it was still a lot, with each and every scene being dramatic, and exciting. My favourite action scene however would come near the end of the film, when Kick-Ass, and Hit-Girl would infiltrate Frank D'Amico's headquarters, with Kick-Ass entering in a jet pack that was fitted with mini guns, which was awesome. Besides this I also loved seeing the change in Kick-Ass' fighting style, from novice, to good, showing that with practice, even a weak comic book geek could do some damage. It was also cool seeing Hit-Girl running around with her double sided sword, which was simply cool.

Jet Pack Fire

Final Verdict

A brilliant film, and although I still prefer the comic, it was a very close adaptation, having plenty of action, and comedy. It also had brilliant character development, and a great story, which was dramatic, and dynamic. Due to this I'd highly recommend this to anyone, and especially if you know how good the comics were, and I for one can't wait to see Kick-Ass 2 now.

Rating: 4/5