Hello everyone! As some of you may know, I am writing for the website COMICONVERSE. I have been covering the current comic books from Marvel Comics Guardians of Infinity and Doctor Strange.
For myself and anyone else interested I am documenting each of my articles here at Blood Work.
If you haven't checked out this latest article here you go!
The cosmic maestro JIM STARLIN is back with a bridging story connecting his original graphic novels THANOS: THE INFINITY RELATIVITY and THANOS: THE INFINITY FINALE.
Adam Warlock takes point in this four issue mini series exploring the rarely traversed deep end of the Marvel Universe. This story is a wonderful bridge between the graphic novels but not really a stand alone story. This one requires the reader to do a bit of homework first.
As always feel free to comment and drop me a line of your own thoughts!
Hello everyone! As some of you may know, I am writing for the website COMICONVERSE. I have been covering the current comic books from Marvel Comics Guardians of Infinity and Doctor Strange.
For myself and anyone else interested I am documenting each of my articles here at Blood Work.
If you haven't checked out this latest article here you go!
I do like what writer Jason Aaron is doing in this book. This has been a fun and consistent read for the last several issues. Jason Aaron has set the bar for this book very high. By this coming October we'll find out if the writer can deliver.
Issue #7 drops off a bit from the momentum but overall it is still a good issue.
As always feel free to comment and drop me a line of your own thoughts!
Hello everyone! As some of you may know, I am writing for the website COMICONVERSE. I have been covering the current comic books from Marvel Comics Guardians of Infinity and Doctor Strange. For myself and anyone else interested I am documenting each of my articles here at Blood Work.
If you haven't checked out this latest article here you go!
I gave the issue 2 out of 5 stars. To be clear, I love this book. It is my favorite current book from Marvel. But the way Marvel chooses to format this book is a travesty. The people who buy this book buy it for the Guardians of Infinity by Dan Abnett and Carlo Barberi.
Marvel charges us an extra buck for this book and cuts it in half. We're paying more and receiving less. That is why I gave this book 2 stars. It's not the content that's the problem, it's the format.
I am so grateful to have new stories about the Guardians of the Galaxy written by Dan Abnett. But what Marvel is doing to this book and to the people who buy it is wrong.
History: The existence of the strange beast known as Gabara has yet to be confirmed. All known information on the creature Gabara comes from preeminent kaijuologist Ichiro Miki. Dr. Miki is perhaps the foremost expert in the field of kaiju studies, much of what we know of the kaiju is due to his lifetime of research. Dr. Miki's interest in these monsters began as a child growing up in the 1960's. He spent his childhood dreaming about these creatures, imagining himself as a young boy on Monster Island (the Ogasawara Islands).
It is not an uncommon occurrence for the only sighting of a kaiju to been seen by a small group of people. In certain cases the only evidence we kaijuologists have to go on is a testimony of a single individual. In the case of the creature Gabara, Dr. Miki remains the only witness. He insists on the creature's existence upon Monster Island despite documentation to the contrary. There are no native kaiju to Ogasawara. All kaiju existing on the island chain were transported there for containment and study. There is no documentation supporting the existence of the kaiju designate Gabara.
However, Dr. Ichiro Miki is a well respected and valuable contributor in the field. At his insistence we are including this report.
Dr. Ichiro Miki encountered the monster Gabara during his first expedition upon the Ogasawara Islands. The monster appeared from out of the forested area near the center of the main island. Dr. Miki witnessed Gabara's pursuit and subsequent attack of the smaller, younger kaiju on the island. The younger kaiju was able to escape death however and fled the scene.
While the majority of the monsters contained on Ogasawara have learned to coexist peacefully, the kaiju Gabara seems to be the one exception. According to Dr. Miki the monster Gabara even engaged Godzilla in battle. The battle was brief, inevitably ending in Gabara's defeat. Only in one fleeting moment did Godzilla's victory seem in question as his opponent utilized a unique power, that of generating and channeling electric current through its body into its opponent. Through brute strength Godzilla broke free of Gabara's electric assault and quickly defeated the monster. Gabara hasn't been seen since.
Art by Yasushi Torisawa
GABARA'S BIOLOGY
Gabara is a monster slightly taller than Godzilla but weighing in a little less than the king of the monsters. A bipedal creature, Gabara is unique in that it is one of the few documented kaiju without a tail or tail-like appendage. Gabara's physical appearance has a vague reminiscence to classical depictions of Japanese Oni, demons, and ogres. It is theorized by Dr. Miki that the creature has existed for thousands of years, occasionally coming into contact with early Japanese peoples throughout history. It is Dr. Miki's belief that the legends of Oni and mythical ogres came from the kaiju Gabara.
Gabara ~ Concept Art
Gabara is a hostile kaiju by nature, a rogue. Any kaiju that crosses its path is seen as a threat. Gabara possesses tremendous physical strength, not quite Godzilla-level strength, but enough to be a nuisance among the kaiju on Monster Island. Its also possesses a natural ability to generate electrical current within its body, similarly to that of an electric Eel. When this occurs, the central horn atop the beast's head glows. The monster can channel the electricity through its hands as a form of attack. The electricity locks an enemy kaiju's body's in place rendering them helpless to Gabara's attacks.
Art by Matt Frank
As stated above, it is unknown if the kaiju Gabara actually exists or if it is merely the product of Ichiro's imagination and fascination with kaiju.
Review: The one new kaiju to appear in the film GODZILLA'S REVENGE. Gabara is the kaiju-personification of a bully. He's a jerk. Even his roar has a tone of maniacal laughter to it. Interestingly he is the only purely evil earth kaiju on Monster Island. I remember as a kid liking Gabara's design. Now that I'm older I can appreciate the kaiju more as I can see inspiration drawn from Japanese mythology in the monster's design.
Without a doubt, seeing Gabara is the only reason I watch Godzilla's Revenge anymore. He's perhaps the most juvenile kaiju in the bunch but he's still fun to watch. He's not a popular kaiju with me personally but he is far from my least favorite. As of this moment though he has only appeared in the one film. It would be cool to see him in another film in some way and officially confirmed as existing outside of Ichiro's imagination. Doubt it would happen but you never know.
Threat Level: 4 out of 10
Localized Destruction
For more studies in Kaijuology check out the pages below
(skip down to THE GOOD for the beginning of the review)
CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR marks the third major super hero/comic book film of 2016 following after two major worldwide box office successes in DEADPOOL and BATMAN V SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE. Cap 3 kicks off the summer with Chris Evans portraying Captain America for the sixth time in an uninterrupted six year streak since 2011's CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER. This also marks the beginning of Marvel Studios's PHASE THREE of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Will Civil War continue the successful streaks of Deadpool and BVS:DOJ or will it be the first super hero fiasco of 2016?
Trouble seems a likely prospect for Cap 3 as the film is featuring an unprecedented number of characters in a story that pits hero against hero. So far this year audiences have had mixed feelings about their heroes fighting each other and not the badguys. This is also Captain America's third film, a trilogy capper. But Robert Downey Jr is costarring in the film as IRON MAN. Given Downey's previous film portrayals as Tony Stark there is a distinct possibility that Iron Man will hijack the film and Cap 3 will either be Iron Man 4 or Avengers 2.5. Again, this film's prospects seem equal in that it could succeed beyond our wildest dreams or plummet southbound fast.
Captain America may not be the most beloved of Marvel's super heroes and Civil War may not be the most anticipated of Marvel's upcoming films. But Captain America: Civil War will be the most telling of Marvel's upcoming films for what we can expect from AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR, the duo of films that will be ending Marvel's first Phase Trilogy, the culmination of eleven years of filmmaking and a saga spanning 23 films. What does Civil War have to do with Avengers: Infinity War?
Basically Civil War is a scaled down version of what Infinity War will likely be. Both films will be overloaded with characters and directed by Joe and Anthony Russo. The Russo Brothers directed CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER and the film was met with outstanding reviews and financial success, many reviews claiming Winter Soldier to be Marvel's finest film to date. Afterwards, in the wake of Joss Whedon's departure, the pair of directors were given the daunting task of helming perhaps the most important film in Marvel's movie line-up, Avengers: Infinity War. Simply put: If the Russo Brothers can pull off Civil War, producing a film of equal or near equal or greater quality than The Winter Solder, logic dictates that Infinity War should be great.
THE PLOT
The Avengers are torn between doing their job and coming to terms with the innocent lives lost as a result of the ever growing conflicts arising since the alien attack in New York. The governments of the world are demanding the Avengers and all super powered people answer to a higher authority. Tony Stark, guilt ridden after having created Ultron, agrees to place the Avengers under United Nations authority. Captain America views this as another way of shifting the blame and potential for even more problems in the future. The Avengers split into two factions once news breaks of a bombing at the UN naming the Winter Soldier responsible. Cap knows Bucky is innocent but Iron Man's order are to bring Bucky in dead or alive.
THE GOOD
(Spoiler Free)
Cap, Iron Man, Bucky, Scarlet Witch, Ant-Man, Black Panther, Hawkeye, Spider-Man, and on and on. Almost every character in this movie is executed very well, given their moments to shine, with show stealing scenes. This is the largest number of comic book characters ever assembled in one film, a film barely over two hours long (a relative short amount of time). How this movie juggles so many characters, giving just about all of them their due, while introducing new characters, is a miracle.
Truthfully there is so much in this movie that multiple viewings are essential to absorb it all but never does this film feel out of control. If anything, this movie doesn't give us enough. Marvel Studios has never released an extended edition or director's cut of any of their films. I absolutely want an extended cut of Civil War just so I can see more of these characters that the movie executes so very well.
From the initial trailer for the film we learn that Bucky is the focal point of the film. That is true. Cap and Iron Man both see Bucky from two different points of view. These view points extend to the overall broad questions drawn in the film: Should humanity be aloud to brandish deadly weapons under each individual's own judgement or should the usage of weapons be under the authority of a higher power? The film approaches this conundrum from a grounded, personal point of view. It feels real and it feels believable.
THE BAD
The Vision... or lack their of... not the vision for the film, but the character The Vision. When Paul Bettany is on screen he's wonderful. In fact everything with Vision is great. It's when Vision isn't there that there's a problem. Vision is one of the two most powerful characters in the movie, Scarlet Witch being the other (whom I love). When the major throwdown happens the first thing to be established should be what to the two biggest power players are doing. Vision could take out everybody on the playing field by himself except for Scarlet Witch. Those two going head to head should have been the beginning of the fight. With those two in a deadlock, that's when the others fighting each one another decides the outcome.
It's like Fandral said in Thor: The Dark World, "We should start with the big one." You always send in Thor or Hulk first. If they fail (you know you're in trouble) then you send in the little guys (little by comparison). I'm probably making a big deal about something small and some might say I'm nitpicking. But seriously, where was he? I know he was there. What was he doing? He's gone for nearly all of the fight. It's the same as having Hulk or Thor there and asking, "So why is this battle taking so long? Why isn't everybody knocked out already?"
What the directors did with the Airport Battle sequence is truly remarkable but there is a major plot hole that effectively neuters it in my opinion. That plot hole's name is The Vision. It would've been an easy subject to handle too, that's what's so irritating about it. All you would need is to open the fight with Vision and Scarlet Witch squaring off with everybody watching in dread and awe. When the two fall into a stalemate then Cap and Iron Man can take the rest of the teams and go head to head. The Airport Battle is the main action set piece of the film. This is the only aspect of it that keeps me from buying into it all.
THE VERDICT
I need to see the film again as I've only seen it once but upon my initial viewing I did not have the utter joy I felt when watching Iron Man, Avengers, Thor: The Dark World, or Winter Soldier. There is so much about this movie that was done well, really well. It is a true testament to the capability of the Russo Brothers. And maybe I missed it. Maybe they explain what Vision is occupied with during most of the Airport Battle. I'll say it again that I need to watch it once more. I want to watch it again and that is a testament to how good this movie really is. Otherwise I feel this is the next best Iron Man RDJ has done since Iron Man 1. All the actors do some of their best work. I like this movie but I wanted to like it so much more. The plot hole in the airport battle is what I keep coming back to.
**UPDATE**
All
right, I've have now seen Captain America: Civil War a total of three
times in theaters. I am happy to report that this movie gets better and
better every time I see it. Everything is accounted for save for Nick
Fury and Maria Hill (not even a mention of them at all). Aside from that
the directors have crossed all the T's and dotted all the i's.
In
regards to my major qualm, that of Vision's lack of participation in
the airport battle sequence, they still don't fully explain why he hangs
back during the majority of the fight. After talking with many others
who have seen the film I have realized I am one of the few who have a
problem with this. Most seem to have inferred from Vision's earlier
dialog, that of conflict causes catastrophe, as the reason why he
doesn't fight as much. That and possibly being afraid of the Infinity
Gem in his forehead, possibly being afraid of his own power, possibly
being distracted by Wanda the whole time, and not wanting to really hurt
his friends. Others believe he is purposefully holding back for the
reasons above and so I have come over to this belief as well.
One
can theorize why he doesn't majorly take part in the fighting and have
it make sense but the film still doesn't come out and tell you why. Call
it a flaw, call it an oversight (wasn't "oversight" the impetus for the
plot?) or whatever. Maybe I'm simply too dense to pick up what was
clear to everybody else (it's very possible). That aside, upon watching
the movie more and more it becomes strikingly apparent how masterfully
balanced and intricate the plot and characters are. It is literally and
figuratively a Marvel of super hero filmmaking. Thus it earns another
point up the scale and it is easily the best film I've seen all year in a
theater.
**UPDATE**
Overall Ranking: 8 out of 10
**updated after two more viewings**
For more of the Marvel Cinematic Universe check out these other posts reviewing MCU movies and television...
Directed by the original Godzilla director himself, Ishiro Honda gave us many of the best Godzilla films in the entire series. He also gave us GODZILLA'S REVENGE a.k.a ALL MONSTERS ATTACK, a film some fans might consider the worst. But is this accusation justified? I will openly admit that this is probably my least favorite Godzilla film of the Showa Era. But is this film an actual bad movie?
Not at all. This is a different Godzilla film, different in how it approaches the kaiju, different in its focal characters, and different in the narrative its trying to tell. Godzilla's Revenge isn't a monster movie at all and maybe shouldn't be looked at as a Godzilla film. This film's point of view is from the outside looking in. It's a commentary on Japanese society and the changing family dynamics during Japan's Industrial Revolution. It's also a look at where in reality Godzilla and other kaiju actually exist, in our imaginations.
PLOT
Ichiro is a young boy living in the city. His parents work long hours to provide for their family leaving Ichiro to pass much of his time alone. Ichiro loves kaiju, especially Minya, the son of Godzilla. At school Ichiro has been picked on by a bully named Gabara. While taking a nap Ichiro dreams of Monster Island, Minya, and all the other monsters seeking advice on how to deal with bullies. When Ichiro is kidnapped by two bank robbers he calls upon the lessons he learned to escape.
THE GOOD
Greatest Hits. This film always felt like a who's who in the land of kaiju. If you are a child just getting into the Godzilla franchise then this is an informative and fun movie. The main character Ichiro goes down the list showing us a host of different kaiju, telling us their names, and showing us a little bit of them in action. Then we get to see Godzilla throw down with a couple of kaiju too. It's a fun little montage of kaiju action even though it is nearly all stock footage from previous films.
Gabara. Despite being composed of almost nothing but stock footage, the Monster Island sections do give us a new monster: Gabara. Gabara is the kaiju-personification of Ichiro's real life bully of the same name. The kaiju Gabara seems to only exist in the mind of Ichiro although the monster does make appearances in the television series Go! Godman and Go! Greenman (whether these shows and the Godzilla universe exist together is up for speculation). Gabara is a mean-spirited bully of a kaiju whom we all love to see get beat down by Godzilla. He has a interesting mythological Japanese design which is unique to most of the kaiju in Toho's stable.
THE BAD
The Scale. Going from the biggest Godzilla film ever (Destroy All Monsters) on the grandest of scales to
something small and intimate as Godzilla's Revenge is a jarring change of pace. Until this movie the level of scale and conflict within every Godzilla film had been epic. The fate of humanity anywhere from a handful to millions of people, the civilizations we've built, and even on occasion the fate of the world all hanging in the balance: these are the stakes in most Godzilla films and the drama. Here the drama is scaled back to an intimate level dealing with a little boy trying to escape from kidnappers and learning how to deal with bullies. There is room within such a narrative for great drama but this is a children's film and treats the subject matter as such.
My Imaginary friends. Is Godzilla actually in this film? From an actor standpoint yes. The man himself, Haruo Nakajima, is present in the Godzilla suit in all new footage for the film, albeit fleeting new footage. But when looking at the film from a story perspective no kaiju is actually in the film, present only in Ichiro's imagination. The film is ambiguous as to whether kaiju actually exist at all in the world of the narrative or if they're only in Ichiro's mind. This isn't necessarily a bad thing as this could be viewed as film on the outside looking in. In reality kaiju only exist in our imaginations and on screen. The way Ichiro fantasizes about giant monsters being real is something all kaiju fans can relate to as I'm sure we've all thought about it at one time or another.
THE VERDICT
Rampant and unabashed employment of stock footage and a massive tonal shift in scale ultimately make this film a difficult endeavor for viewers. Other than the battle with Gabara I personally find this film my least favorite of the Godzilla series. This Godzilla film takes on many of the aspects typically found in the rival Gamera series, and not the good aspects. In a way this film seems like a response to Noriaki Yuasa's films demonstrating Toho's superiority over Daiei. In doing so this film is more appreciated by children as opposed to the adult kaiju fan. Seeing a new Toho kaiju, that of Gabara, is the highlight of the film.
This isn't a bad movie but the film contains the most stock footage ever used in a Godzilla film to this point in the series rendering it a sub par entry.
Overall Ranking: 4 out of 10
Category: Adolescence
**SPECIAL NOTE**
David Kalat's book A Critical History and Filmography of Toho's Godzilla Series has a very good analysis of the social commentary within Godzilla's Revenge. The book itself is a wonderful and insightful look at the entire Godzilla series. I couldn't stop reading it!
Missed a chapter in the saga? Get caught up as we continue the countdown to number one!
