Superman Costume-NCCW

It is Wednesday so it is time for new comic content.  Today we get a look at the new Superman costume. The jury is still out as stills can't show what the costume will look like in action.  Ma Kent apparently had access to some really hi-tech materials and had a flare for design.  Enjoy the picture.

X-Men First Class, Why I am Leary



Fake First Class

 No, it isn't because the last two installments of the X-universe have been sub par and the first two only really par, trying to force more movie into the movie than they could possibly hold.  No, I am leary because the story isn't cannon.  I have heard the arguement that comics discard cannon at will and that no one really knows what is cannon anymore.  While that is somewhat true it is also a lie. 

Origin stories are generally well established and not ignored or rewritten (unless there Crisis is in the title somewhere).  People who read comics that tell an alternate universe version or retelling of a story, usually understand what is being undone and sometimes they even get why.  Movie audiences who, by the number of comics marvel sells every month, are not buying comics, may not know the "real" or "going" history of the characters.  The movie then becomes the established origin and the comics, in order to sell to the newly interested movie goers, have to change so that the new readers won't get confused.  We saw it when the original X-Men came out and all of a sudden Wolverine's claws started popping out at a different spot and all the costumes got changed (that happened to be one of the times that I threw down comics vowing never to read them again).

real first class

The Wolverine movie was an especially hard slap in the face.  Marvel had done the Wolverine Origin specifically so it wouldn't be done in movie form first.  The Origins story was excellent and lead into a history of both Wolverine and Sabretooth.  Then the Wolverine movie comes out and covers this awesome work, poorly, with a 5 minute montage.  The name of the movie by the way was X-Men Origins: Wolverine.  It could have been excused if the movie would have just been the origin of how he joined the X-Men, but that was done in the first movie and this was just a vehicle to introduce about a million additional mutants.

Let me put it to you this way.  Say they remade Superman (I know, a stretch).  In this remake they decided that Lex Luthor was also from Krypton and that no one knew Lana Lang so they made Lois his high school sweet heart.   It completely changes the story. 

Well, X-Men: First Class doesn't involve the first class as was written.  Although 20 some odd years younger than Superman, the X-Men origin is firmly grounded in the psyche of the comic reader.  Why do screen writers think that they need to rewrite this.  If you are going to rewrite the origin, why would you do it with seemingly random characters from all over the X-Men continuity.  Why not just make up mutants specifically for the movie.  Why not tell the classic stories in a way that does them honor. 

Yes, I am sceptical of first class.  It is getting positive reviews, but I don't know that these reviewers read comics.  It being a good movie is completely different than it being a good comic book movie based on a franchise that I grew up with and love.  I am not asking for a recreation of the source material, I only want it shown respect.  Stop irresponsibly milking my youth for money. 

Friday Quiz-Superman- A to Z

All answers must be in the form of a question, answer in the comments, and no cheating. First person with all the correct answers or the most correct answers by Monday will get a coveted SciFi Media "no prize" button to display on their website.


This week's theme: Superman
Next week's theme: Arthurian Legend

1.  This is Superman's birth planet.
2.  This is Superman's birth name.
3.  Superman is "killed" when fighting this monstorous weapon.
4.  This is the miniature city that Supes keeps in Fortress of Solitude.
5.  Before Lois Lane, Clark shared his secret with this alliterative beauty.


Bonus:  Name 3 actors that have played Superman.
Geek Cred:  These are the creators of Superman. 

Spiderman 2: Best Comic Book Movie?

Things That Don't Suck is doing Raimifest this week.Here is my contribution.  Make sure you go over to Bryce's site to check out all of the Raimicentric content. 

Spiderman 2 is, in my opinion, the best comic book movie there is. The now defunct Wizard Magazine actually called it the best Batman Movie (this was before Nolan took on the Dark Knight). This movie set the standard and surpassed the original Spiderman movie, which was a game changer in its own right.

What sets Raimi's Spiderman 2 apart is characterization. Peter Parker is a separate person and separate personality than Spiderman. Peter Parker's life completely sucks because of Spiderman. Pete has hopes, dreams, and ambitions that don't include putting on spandex. This appeals to the rational mind. In the back of our minds, in every superhero movie, we are thinking, "why doesn't this interfere with his personal life more." Spiderman 2 shows us that it isn't just being late, but that it can take much more of a toll.

In Superman II, Superman hangs it all up to become mortal. Mythology is full of these kinds of stories. In Superman II, Supes stays human for all of a day or two, until he has to defeat Zod. In other words, it was a whim and we don't get to see the results. Spiderman 2 is different. Peter Parker's life improves after giving it all up and he is gone long enough that people notice. He still can't help but be heroic even without powers, but it is Peter Parker and not Spiderman. Parker much like Kent is forced back into the costume. Yes there is a part of him that enjoys it, but the audience understands what Peter is giving up by going back behind the mask.

Driving it all home is the train scene. The crucifixion imagery comes to mind. Arms outstretched, head turned to the side, stood a man willing to pay for the lives of strangers with that of his own. I saw this movie in theaters and I have to tell you that while Spidey is trying to stop the train my hands started hurting. I looked down to realize that I was gripping the arm rests with everything I had. Then as Spidey is passed mask-less through the train and they comment about him being just a kid, it hits you. He is just a kid, or he is supposed to be, but fate has gifted/cursed him with powers that allow him to be so much more. The catch is that he has to sacrifice himself. Not vital life force, but personality and dreams. The audience is shown that Peter Parker doesn't really have a choice. He has to be Spiderman. Rami turns this action scene into something emotional and makes Spiderman real.

With great power comes great responsibility. What old Ben Parker forgot to mention was the cost that comes with fulfilling that responsibility. Sam Raimi shows us that cost.

This Room is Super!

Thanks to Pop Culture Safari for leading me to this.  

This room is absolutely insane.  Check out the link at comic book resources for even more pictures of this insane collection.  My wife has shot down this idea as our new living room remodel, but I am sure she will go for the Batman or Wolverine versions.

It is an amazing collection and I am sure that the collector, Jason George, is extremely proud of it.  I think he needs a bigger house, and I hope he is already married.   



Final Crisis

Every once in a while a story comes along that is so bogged down and full of itself that it is almost incomprehensible to the people reading it.  This, my friends, is one of those stories. 

Take the entire DC universe and unite them into one storyline.  No wait, create other universes and unite them as well.  Make the evil be spread out so that everyone is everywhere.  Then create some kind of temporal disturbance so that the world is overrun by baddies instantly.  Now put superman everywhere. 
Now have the flash randomly run around.  Put the Green Lanterns in space moving slowly towards the Earth for the entire series. 

Super Hero Cufflinks

I work in a pretty formal office environment.  I find it hard sometimes to express myself while wearing a button up shirt and tie.  I could go with outrageous novelty ties, but my goal isn't to bring attention to myself.  The novelty ties would be looked down upon as well.