Iron Man 3: A Roundabout Review

Read Away, and know that I will not spoil the movie for you.

The Long of it:

As I begin typing, the midnight showing has begun of Iron Man 3. I have already seen it. The movie theatre of choice had a nine o’clock showing. I and my companion arrived early to an already filling auditorium. The center seats were already filled; it was just a matter of every other seat filling around it. I couldn't wait for this movie. I caught the first preview and refused to watch any other. I was already upset at seeing an army of iron come to the rescue.

The Mandarin was my first Iron Man villain. I started to collect with issue #181 with Jim Rhodes donning the armor with the help of Morley Erwin while Tony Stark was living as a homeless drunk. Finally in issue two hundred the prodigal son returned to battle Obadiah Stane, who donned the War Monger armor portrayed in the first Iron Man movie. I hopped that the third movie in the franchise would portray this villain in a shining light, after all Whiplash was a character I knew about before I collected comic books from Tales to Astonish #97, a book given to me before I was ten.

I watched Iron Man 2 and although I enjoyed it and will probably watch it again after I finish writing this, it wasn't as good as the first. It had after all suffered the sequel curse of not being good as the first. So what could Shane Black do with the third that wasn't done before? How could he make sure that the Mandarin was every bit as the villain he should be portrayed as? Could Sir Ben Kinglsey, a renown British actor portray a “set in stone” Marvel comic book Chinese character. They tried and failed with the late Michael Clarke Duncan in Daredevil as Wilson Fisk.

Can an actor transgress against what people have known for decades? Let’s be honest Samuel L. Jackson made a much better Nick Fury then David Hasselhoff ever did. In fact Marvel Comics changed their whole universe and created a way for Nick Fury to be identical to the character in the movies. I did my best not to read anything, or watch anything to give away what surely could possibly be a flop.  My Junior Mints in hand with a beverage in the cup holder  I sat in the theatre with a few who dared to dress as Tony Stark complete with glowing chest and then the lights dimmed, the previews played, and Action…

The Short of it:

If I knew I would enjoy the movie it that much I would have pre-purchased tickets for the midnight showing too.

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oh and about that secret ending...SHHHHH

Marvel Now: A 2nd Roundabout Review

Is Age of Ultron a Marvel Now title? And when does Marvel Now become Marvel Then? Besides I'm getting confused I don't know when the Avengers are? Iron Man is in space and now part of the Guardians of the Galaxy. The 616 universe, if that's still the universe we are in has finally brought Jim Shooter's New Universe into play. Although I vaguely remember Marvel trying something like this before, both StarBrand and NightMask are intriguing additions.

Mark Waid has been weaving a tale in Bruce Banner's Universe incorporating Sheild. Not to mention Daredevil which technically was started over with a new number one pre-Marvel Now. Both titles are part if my must get list. 

Uncanny Avengers I like the least, while with the Avengers I am waiting for Sam and Roberto to be used a bit more. New Avengers keeps  redefining what an avengers should be, especially in light of Captain America having his mind wiped. And how soon does Hank McCoy become like the Beast from the Apocalypse universe.

All New X-Men and  Uncanny X-Men continue to be the rock of my Marvel Universe. I like how the two titles read together give you more of a feel that you read three. If the universes could be made tighter like a good weave on an expensive oriental rug rather than start over with a new number one maybe their would be less of buying the next big thing and more buying of everything. 

As far as Captain America, FF, Fantastic Four, and a few other Marvel Now comic books, I'm sticking with the ones I mention in more than just name. 

DC added another title that I will give another month to and Valiant is still a short tight universe but I'm afraid with upcoming future titles I might just pass on. 

If I had to recommend one official Marvel Now title I'd  recommend the Indestructible Hulk primarily because you don't have read anything else to enjoy it.

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Indestructible Hulk #2: A Roundabout Review

Indestructible

 Hulk

 #2

 A 

Roundabout 

Review

As a child, everyFriday I looked forward to watching the Hulk. There was something about the wayBill Bixby turned into Lou Ferrigno that appeased my young mind.  It amazed me this destructive force of naturewas always on the run, from all people, a reporter. The show was scheduledsurrounding my mid-hour bedtime, but for some reason I was allowed to watch ituntil the end.  Although, I had alreadyreceived my first comic book, I had yet to start collecting them.

I picked up theIncredible Hulk from time to time, but it was never a title that made it on mymust have list. Quite honestly the Hulk always felt like a strong B-listcharacter.  As atrocious as that soundsit is a compliment. Every time I collected the Hulk, a few issues later Istopped. But, if you threw the Hulk as a character into another book, I lovedthe madness that ensued.

There were some goodruns, like Todd McFarlane’s Joe Fix-It, Peter David & Dale Keown's convergenceof Banner and The Hulk, especially the start of it in issue 377, and myfavorite is the Hulk from the Secret Wars contributing to one of my favoritecovers, issue #4. Then of course Planet Hulk led into World War Hulk which enrapturedme. The combined skills of John Romita Jr. and Greg Pak encroached on my beliefthat the Hulk could seriously gain my respect... And yet, I stopped again. 

The whole Red Hulkfailed to impress me in a financially burdened market. I can only afford somuch. Once again the Hulk fell to the wayside. When it was announced that"Indestructible Hulk" would be hitting the stands, I opted to pass. Iwas wrong to do so.

I picked up issue #1 aweek before issue #2 was due out. After reading it, I finally felt I wasreading a comic book worthy of a new beginning. I have mentioned, loudly, thatI am against the number one craze. Both my Roundabout Reviews were "Marvel Now" #1's. I found them confusing. They threw me into a story I knewnothing about. Indestructible Hulk gave me no such illusions. Mark Waid, also currentlywriting my favorite title, Daredevil, continued to impress me. But wouldissue two of “Indestructible Hulk” be any good by comparison? Can Lenil Yu keepetching personalities on each face? Are his dark shadowed eyes his tribute toRob Liefeld’s white orbs?

I am still trying to figure out a format for myRoundabout Reviews. Do I spoil the book for you, do I hint to entice you to buyit, do I do one single review or multiples, and will I review anything elsebesides Marvel? The truth is after heading to the comic book shop, a day late,I was ready to read and review the latest Locke & Key but with four morebooks to read, Indestructible Hulk #2 was exceptionally good enough I proceededto write leaving the last four books to read until later.

I will retain the right to add spoilers in myRoundabouts but for this one I’ll keep it spoiler free. All pictures are takenfrom issue #1, or from previous incarnations  buy them both and I think you'll be like me and feelcompelled to not only pick up issue #3 but look forward to it.

Thanks for Reading