I've been in a Forever 21 and their clientele doesn't exactly seem like the type that would read a Marvel comic book or even give two shits about Marvel comics in general. And all of this shit is ugly.
Via Marvel
Batman: Arkham Origins Will Have Multiplayer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iURpMKHPZU The new multiplayer mode will be developed by Splash Damage studios and it has been dubbed, "Invisible Predator".
It's an asymmetrical turf war between eight players divided into three groups: three ruffians in Joker's gang, which shoot at three members of Bane's gang, while Batman and Robin stalk and incapacitate criminals on either side.
Not too sure how I feel about this. I won't go down the old road and preach how the series is awesome without multiplayer and it will kill the franchise. I think that's always a bit of a drastic response. I like the idea of this game mode and it sounds very cool in theory but again it's just something I'm going to have to play first to share an honest opinion. Which I will!
Source: DTOID
Review: Sex #5
Review by: Ed Allen For the first time in my life a comic has made me feel like I should be speaking to Dr Phil. After five months of (often unsatisfying) Sex should I look elsewhere or should I adjust my expectations and commit to trying to make it work in the long haul?
Anyone who has been following my previous reviews of Joe Casey’s unique take on the superhero genre will already know that I have had a troubled relationship with Sex. It’s only possible to feel real disappointment when you enter into something with genuinely high hopes and prior to issue #5 the initial promise of Sex was yet to be fulfilled. Several times already it came very close to extinguishing the passion I felt for the series ever since I first set eyes on Piotr Kowalski's artwork and heard of Casey’s concept for a superhero series that replaced the punching and energy beams with sex and more sex. The pacing felt glacial, the main character (Simon Cooke) is almost as alienating for readers as he is alienated from the world around him, the sex isn’t as fun as I’d hoped and the decision to have Simon’s internal struggle be the foreground of the comic while the more interesting supporting characters play . By now we get the picture: Batman is sexually repressed and depressed. So now what?
Has Sex #5 improved on my complaints? Not really. It’s still the same aloof mistress, playing a game of tease and denial with the plot while providing some measure of catharsis with its sexier scenes and violent action sequences in order to keep us on the hook.
What Sex #5 has done is play the role of my personal Dr. Phil and reconciled me to the reality of the series, adjusting my expectations for the future so that I can continue onward in a healthier relationship without worrying over whether or not Sex is ever going to become something that it isn’t. I now see it as a pastiche study of Batman and Gotham City (i.e. Simon and Saturn City), rich in noirish intrigue, layered with multiple intertwining subplots and spiced with a sprinkling of graphic sexual activities.
If I’m being too strong in my criticisms it’s only because I feel the frustration of seeing a comic getting so much right and at moments coming within touching distance of being something truly special, only to slip backwards again in every new issue. There are plenty of comics which are objectively far worse than Sex; comics with uninteresting ideas and inferior craftsmanship yoked to standardized genre plots and tropes, or else it’s the same cast of corporate characters repeating the same safe storylines forever. Against such a backdrop of mediocrity and routine moneymaking, Sex stands out like a beacon. Casey’s desire to push the boundaries of superhero comics should be commended, the art team’s entire aesthetic is superbly well honed and the comics market is made richer with Sex on its shelves.
It’s an impressively beautiful comic, with a holistic approach to the art that gives Sex a very distinct aesthetic. Brad Simpson provides refreshingly non-realist colors, with every page saturated in flat swathes of blazing oranges and reds or sullen blues and purples, and in concert with the refined precision of Kowalski’s line, with its echoes of Moebius and Alejandro Jodorowski’s styles, there is rarely an uninteresting panel on the page. Even the spidery lettering wouldn’t look out-of-place in the pages of The Incal or Metal Hurlant.
I can see a possible disconnect between dedicated superhero genre fans, who may never normally see anything quite so explicitly risqué in a comic as in Sex, and readers with plenty of experience beyond the narrow confines of the genre who are likelier to have seen comics that are more daring and sophisticated in their exploration of sexuality. The former will surely find Sex to be an invigorating experience and should hopefully be introduced to a more European style of art through Kowalski’s efforts, while the latter may not be so impressed by the mere presence of sexual content if they’ve had the pleasure of reading comics by the likes of Milo Manara (which you should, by the way).
Regardless of my personal issues, this is an undeniably unique and well-made comic and I would recommend that anyone who hasn’t already tried Sex should make a point of doing so this week. The story might move slowly but with Kowalski’s art and Simpson’s colors it’s a feast for the eyes and if it tempts you into reading some Milo Manara or Moebius comics then, if nothing else, it will have done a valuable public service.
Score: 3/5
Writer: Joe Casey
Artist: Piotr Kowalski
Publisher: Image Comics
Price: $2.99
Release Date: 7/31/13
Review: The Last of Us – American Dreams #4 (of 4)
The best thing about this series has been the care put into the story. It’s not just a cash in on the name, but rather a great preview leading into the game’s story. If you didn’t already want to play the game then the conclusion to the series should fix that for you. It would pompous of me to say that this is the best video game tie-in comic ever made, but it just might be. In the last issue we saw Ellie and Riley captured by the Fireflies, the very organization that Riley was seeking to find. Ellie begins to wake up and finds the bag on her head slipping off. As the two men that are supposed to be guarding her argue about their bad information on the botched mission, Ellie frees her hands and reaches for some broken glass. A voice rings out at the front of the room telling her not to bother. After a quick exchange of words between the woman that’s entered into the room and the men guarding, the woman cuts Ellie’s ropes and instructs the men to release Riley as well. The woman puts a red envelope in Ellie’s pocket and tells her to read it when she gets back to the school.
Riley chimes in saying that they’re not going back and reveals the name of the woman as Marlene the leader of the Fireflies. Their conversation is cut short as a group of smugglers break into the tunnel system. Marlene tells them to basically eat shit and they open fire. All hell breaks loose and the girls continue their pattern of doing risky stupid shit.
Ah Marlene was the perfect addition to this story! The fact that she knows Ellie and has kept tabs on her was awesome even if it crushed Riley in the process. That’s Riley’s idol and she discovers among other things, that Ellie is more on her radar than she is. Again, she was a great addition to the story and yet another strong female character to the series. She truly made Riley and Ellie look like kids for the first time in the series.
The conclusion was very rewarding and I say that knowing that a bigger story takes place in the video game. Usually when you’re reading a story that in a way is a prequel to the main tale, you tend to get short-changed with the ending because the story has to go on. In this series the story continues, but that doesn’t mean that this mini-series didn’t deliver a very rewarding and complete story to enjoy. I’ve heard good things about the story first hand from a friend and yet these issues made me want to play the game more than anything else. Mission accomplished Dark Horse and the creative team.
The art has been fantastic throughout the series so there’s no surprise when I say that it still is in this issue. I really liked the drama of the opening page as we view Ellie lying with a bag slipping off her head on the ground. The entire page is practically black and it gives a great feeling of anxiety as we wait to see what happens next. Hicks nails the action in this issue as well. It was believable and easy to follow and that’s the most important thing about action in comics.
You still have plenty of options on how to buy this series: back issues, digitally or you could at this point wait for the trade. If you’re been following the series then please continue to buy the book since it would be foolish to miss out on the stunning conclusion. It’s been a fun ride and I will definitely miss reading this series each month now that it’s over.
Score: 4/5
Writers: Neil Druckmann and Faith Erin Hicks
Artist: Faith Erin Hicks
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Price: $3.99
Release Date: 7/31/13
Review: Robyn Hood: Wanted #3
We get no ideas as to who this Sheriff guy is. We also don’t get to see Marian at all. I was curious to see where this story lead us but instead we follow Robyn and Will around. I like when a comic starts a story and then veers off into another story that will eventually blend together. If both can keep my interest and somehow intertwine to find a good climax scene then it is worth the split. Here, I found myself spending most of time reading this comic wondering when Marian was coming back. I almost didn’t pay attention to Robyn and Will or King John’s son’s story at all. I had to go back and reread some parts because my mind was wandering. Robyn and Will get pulled into Myst by Avella. She has no intention of killing Robyn but instead was clearly sent to trap the pair. They do have a battle, but it is very low key. About the only thing that made me laugh is that Avella calls Will the damsel in distress. Will is a little weak. Maybe why I found myself bored with Robyn’s plot is not her so much but Will. Once Avella disappears the two are left in the woods for the night. Robyn decides to confine in Will and tell her side of the story. Nothing else really happens with them.
The main focus in the comic is King John’s son and his guard, Gisbourne. Ya know how movie critics say never to work with children or animals, this comic proves that true of children. The Prince is dumb, I mean clearly he is young and only concerned about avenging his father, but he adds nothing to the comic. I found him and Gisbourne interactions annoying. Gisbourne is good. He makes a great evil guard and he has more power than we think. This part will play out nice and reveal where true powers lie sometimes. The Prince looks like he was just thrown in there because he had to be. He plays a terrible role.
I am excited for issue four because this comic tells us that the Sheriff will be revealed in the next issue. I don’t know why they didn’t tease with the Sheriff’s reveal in this issue. It would have made more of a splash. Plus aren’t we all waiting to see this guy and then there is no mention of him in this entire comic. Weird. Plus Marian was at her life’s end last issue and we got no talk of her either. She has to have a big role coming up. It was like the characters decided all together to forget about the people that matter but to focus on this 9 year-old boy and his issues. Like they matter.
Zenescope stills has a good comic and story on the line. Robyn is such a likable character. You want her to win at all times, but they need to give more show time in order to keep the reader entertained. There are a lot of side stories that I don’t see blending together smoothly. I think they will just all end up in the same room together somehow and start fighting all over at once. Picking sides as they choose. Maybe it will be fun to see play out but in the end it will leave us with a mixed feeling of how they all ended up together.
Score: 3/5
Writer: Pat Shand
Artist: Larry Watts
Publisher: Zenescope Entertainment
Price: $3.99
Release Date: 7/31/13
Review: Bedlam #8
I’m very happy this week because there are a ton of books that I’m excited to read; to the point that I didn’t know which one to start with and which one to save for last. Bedlam returns with its second issue of the new arc and oh man is it good. I’ll tell you right now, the last page is fantastic! Not only does it leave you on an “oh, shit” moment, but it’s gorgeous as well. It’s also disturbing just so that you don’t read it for yourself and think I’m nuts when you think back to me saying “gorgeous.” I also appreciated that it wasn’t a true cliffhanger; sure there will be consequences from the panel dealt within the next issue, but it’s not like a new character appearing on the last page which is common place with most superhero titles. Look at me, rambling about the last page and I haven’t even told you anything about the issue. In that last issue (it’s funny because I’m still not telling you about this issue) we saw four people stand up and basically act as human bombs. They were like sleeper cell terrorists and the how’s and why’s of their actions aren’t known yet. Fillmore and Acevedo arrive at one of the blast sites and are filled in on the information. Acevedo wants to return Fillmore and begin helping, but he discourages her because he says there will be more. Acevedo begins looking for a pattern, but Fillmore continues to tell her that the chaos and random locations are the pattern.
They catch a break when they interview one of the survivors. You may remember him from the last issue as the bomber in the coffee shop. He has no clue that he’s the bomber and neither does Acevedo or Fillmore until they take him to check on the woman he was pathetically flirting with in the previous issue. She begins freaking when he enters her room and Acevedo takes him into custody.
This is a plot building issue. Not a lot happens outside of conversations that progress the plot forward while building the mystery of the newest arc. Who is the person responsible for everything? What’s the deal with the councilman and why does he care so much about the city? What’s up with his relationship with his mom? There are a lot of seeds planted in this issue making it very important, but it might not be as thrilling as previous issues. You just need to enjoy what’s there because it will enrich the future issues just as the first arc did.
Ryan Browne continues to be the prefect replacement for Riley Rossmo on this series. He’s definitely changed up his style since Smoke and Mirrors to better match what Rossmo was doing on the series and frankly it is working. Even if he slowly toned back the style I would continue to say that it works. He really captures the look and feel of the world and of Madder Red’s personality. Red’s personality doesn’t just lie in his dialog or actions, but in his body language as well. It took me two issues to place Browne, but now that I remember where I’ve seen his art I’m excited. He’s very talented and I’m very impressed with his work so far on the series and how versatile he is.
The last issue was really the best spot to jump on the series because the entire issue was built like a first issue or a new series, but Spencer has made sure to make this issue accessible to new readers as well. If you are curious about this series I would still go back and grab issue seven, but if you really only want to make a one issue commitment then go ahead and start here. Spencer does a fine job of recapping the events of the previous issue so it’s not like you’re going to struggle to figure out what’s happening in the issue. I can’t wait for the next issue it’s going to be good!
Score: 3/5
Writer: Nick Spencer
Artist: Ryan Browne
Publisher: Image Comics
Price: $3.50
Release Date: 7/31/13
Iron Man 3 Gets A 16-Bit Treatment... Mandarin Still Sucks
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfiwR1Ermlo It's okay. Not awesome or funny, but a solid effort.
Via Geeks are Sexy
Review: B.P.R.D. Vampire #5 (of 5)
Written by Guest Contributor: Jordan North Thank you Mr. Mignola for taking me somewhere that I never would’ve imagined and capping off this event that I’ve been following since the start, in a clever and memorable way.
The ending to a “run” of a comic can be many things, but so many events these days settle for endings that call up words like “bland”, “fan-servicy” or “just a set-up for the next thing.” what I’m saying is it takes cojones to say, “screw the status quo I’m telling a cool story”, which is exactly what B.P.R.D. Vampire manages to do.
Even though Agent Anders became harder and harder to identify with over the course of the comic, what with the demon-ghost powers and all and certainly more morally murky we figured that in the end of it all he’d see the errors of his ways, get rid of his curse and save the day but... nope. In a brilliant and oh-so-cool move this issue switches perspective to whom else but the Professor himself who is summoned to the little town in Europe where all the carnage went down via his rouge agent. And it’s the Prof we focus on here, see him work. The Prof calmly goes in to check out the situation in the mansion, leading the soldiers who sit apprehensively with their guns behind. Reminding Simon who he is and talking to him without as much as a tremble in his voice; it’s awesome. The writers and artists here manage to make this man, this guy in a twill jacket who weighs 130 wet and doesn’t even carry a weapon outside of a wooden stake, the most badass in the whole comic. He just feels like he’s done this before. It’s his every day. Now he doesn’t trivialize it, it’s clear through the artwork and a couple of conversations that he has (one that is inexplicably and wonderfully with a tsk-tsking china doll in particular) that this type of thing is his cross to bear, but then he just bucks up and does it; awesome stuff.
By the end Anders escapes and nobody can find him. The Prof goes back, has a drink and just... adds his case to the pile. It’s that moment that seals the deal for me, what so easily could’ve been unsatisfying is done is such expert manner as to be staggeringly cool. The Professor, recalling his lost agent sits down with a glass of scotch and just as soon as he begins to drink in his sorrows is told his “team” is waiting in the next room for their assignment. He puts down the drink, “Right, let’s go then. I don’t want to keep them waiting” and goes to make the whole thing an official case. The last shot is of the Profs' desk with all the research on Anders spread all over it.
The Prof. Walks out of the room assuring no one in particular that his team will know about the case soon enough. What’s cool about it all is seeing this guy who up until this issue just seemed like a stuffy, scrawny bookworm actually put his nose to the grindstone and out bad-assed even Anders (who lets remember last issue killed like 50 supernatural beings in one fight) in the mansion, his willingness to go toe to toe with a being that much more overwhelmingly powerful was awesome and telling indeed. Match that with the nonchalant way that he just kind of adds the case to the pile and growing to realize it’s just another day’s work for him and you have a character I can really respect.
It’s things like this, breaking the mold, giving readers a new perspective, working with unorthodox ideas (what if in this last issue we told it from a completely different perspective and made the hero the villain) that keeps this genre fresh and story-philes interested in the medium of comics as a whole. I will add that the plot point tying Anders to the ghosts and the past was a cool idea, but it felt glanced over and kind of tacked on by the end here. Compared to the quality of the project overall it’s barley worth mentioning, as everything else is done in a way that only a guy intimately familiar with his own lore could manage.
This was a book that gave me some of the most fantastic art, memorable moments and intriguing turns than nearly any I was keeping up with. It was a fun ride and I’m sad to see it go. Mike Mignola, Fabio Moon and Gabriel Ba you all have outdone yourselves with your work here.
Score: 5/5
Writers: Mike Mignola, Fabio Moon and Gabriel Ba
Artists: Fabio Moon and Gabriel Ba
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Price: $3.50
Release Date: 7/31/13
Review: It Girl and the Atomics #12
Well here it is, the issue I’ve tried not to focus on for the past few issues… the last one. Since it’s the last issue it doesn’t exactly set up a huge epic story or really even try to change the direction of the current story line. It stays on course and has fun with the series, but also leaves it open to it continuing much like all of Mike Allred’s Mad Man stories do. The big question going into this issue was “how is the art broken up?” The series has had three artists work on it and all three return/continue on this issue. Well it’s simple; the story is broken up into three acts and each artist has an act. You can look at the cover order to figure out who has which act. Frankly I’m not going to talk much about the story because that’s pointless. At this point people should just enjoy the issue and the consistency with the characters.
Rich has done an incredible job on this series and while it’s a shame it’s ending, I think it will stick around in the long run like Mad Man and crew has always done. It was great to see him put It Girl in the lead role and see what he came up with for the character. The inventive use of the powers is something that I’ve never seen in comics and it not only added to the story, but to the comedy as well. This issue manages to give practically every character introduced in the series a few minutes of page time and in that shortened time Rich reminds you why they’re great characters.
Obviously the art is fantastic. How it could it be anything less than amazing? Mike Norton, Natalie Nourigat and Chynna Clugston Flores all in one book is like a Neapolitan ice cream in which Strawberry has been replaced with a flavor that you actually like. Yeah screw Strawberry ice cream it sucks. Anyways, the art is a treat and all of the artists deliver consistent pages. I appreciated that as well. There’s a tendency for artists to take longer on pages when they know it’s going to be their last and that’s shitty. It’s like, “why didn’t you do that in the first place?” Not here, they deliver the same high quality material that each of them delivered previously.
Well it’s over… I’m bummed, but it was a hell of a ride. Their second volume trade will be coming out soon so if you missed this second half of the series you should definitely check it out. If you missed the entire series then I blame you for its cancellation and you must go out and buy the first trade and the second when it releases and follow all of the creators on Twitter. Good job team, you will be missed.
Score: 4/5
Writer: Jamie S. Rich
Artists: Mike Norton, Natalie Nourigat and Chynna Clugston Flores
Publisher: Image Comics
Price: $2.99
Release Date: 7/31/13
If I Was A Zombie I'd Let Her Kill Me: High School of the Dead Cosplay
I've yet to finish watching this series, but I hear nothing but great things about it. I see the cosplay all the time as well and it usually sucks. This cosplay of the character Saya by Alexia-Muller is actually pretty damn cool so check it out.
Via All That is Epic
Dayna Baby Lou Will Terry Bogard Your Ass!
I have no idea what that headline means it was just fun to yell. Dayna Baby Lou is a Pro-Cosplayer and model... you know what, just look at her facebook page, but a lot of her focus tends to be on video games and who's complaining? Not me. Below you'll find her Terry Bogard collection and some Mortal Kombat shots as well. Terry Bogard
Mortal Kombat - Misc
Via Geek x Girls
Who Wants A First Person Sonic Video? Two of You? Here It Is
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlWnShSe6e8 I'll play a Sonic game, but I'm not in love with Sonic. That blue dude can eat a dick for all I care.
Trailer Time: The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
I'm not a huge fan of Ben Stiller like most people, but I do like the look of this movie. People are already saying it's an award contender, but I think it just looks interesting. What about you?
Via Cinema Blend
The Info Zombie - Episode 63: Horror Comics Panel
Rachel Pandich of Skin Crawling Comics, Paul Chapman from the Greatest Movie Ever Podcast, and Gerald Rathkolb of Anime World Order provide a celebrity panel discussion on HORROR COMICS. To listen to part one where the panel discusses HORROR MOVIES, click over to The Greatest Movie EverPodcast. And subscribe to it on iTunes if you haven’t done so already. These guys want to remind you to please help out the Skin Crawling Comics campaign.
Another Music Cosplay Video, This Time From Anime Expo 2013
Sneaky Zebra really set the bar high when it comes to music videos featuring cosplay. SpendthriftMonk gives a decent effort, but the music is really slow which makes the video seem to go on forever. Also Yaya Han has a ton of appearances in the video and I have to say that I'm not a big fan of hers. If you're bored then check it out, but I saw a ton of cool pictures of cosplay from the event and very few of them made it into this video which was a shame. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwYTulal_fU
Via Major Spoilers
Help Valiant and DOW Select the New Look of USA Luge
You may recall that we covered Valiant's sponsorship of the USA Luge team previously, if you're questioning why they're not wearing the X-O inspired suits (see below) then you clearly don't pay attention to the Olympics. Here are the details about how you can help pick their official Olympic uniform.
Official Press Release:
Before USA Luge takes to the ice at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games, you can help decide which Valiant-designed uniform America's luge athletes will wear into competition next February!
Valiant is proud to announce that it has partnered with USA Luge, home of the fastest sport on ice, and USA Luge technical partner Dow for a new online contest to choose the final sled, helmet and suit designs to be used in competition at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games.
Now through August 23rd, fans worldwide can visit www.USALuge.com to vote on their favorite combination of Valiant-designed helmets and racing suits – as envisioned by Harvey Award-nominated artist Khari Evans (Harbinger, Archer & Armstrong) – and Dow-engineered sled! The winning, fan-selected design will join the USA Luge team in competition next February, as they represent the United States at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games.
"A modern, sharp-looking uniform is more than mere aesthetics, as it helps boost the confidence of athletes," said Gordy Sheer, 1998 Olympic silver medalist and Director of Marketing and Sponsorship for USA Luge. "Valiant Entertainment has an incredible design sense, and we're thrilled to have them contributing to the look of the USA Luge helmets and race suits for the Sochi 2014 Games."
"Valiant is incredibly proud to be a sponsor of USA Luge, and the responsibility of overseeing the team's next great suit and helmet designs – to be seen in action at the Sochi 2014 Games – is one that we do not take lightly. It's been an honor to participate in the process, and we look forward to seeing which thrilling design the fans decide to send into action alongside USA Luge's athletes in Sochi this winter," said Russell A. Brown, Valiant's President of Consumer Products, Promotions and Ad Sales.
The newly selected helmet and suit design will be the second Valiant-inspired uniform employed by USA Luge. A corporate sponsor of the team and its athletes since 2012, Valiant also designed the look of USA Luge's race gear for the 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 World Cup and World Championship seasons with a groundbreaking uniform design patterned after the iconic design of X-O Manowar, the armor-clad hero of Valiant's flagship comic series.
Now, with four all-new new designs to choose from – Flagship, Racer, Silver Wave, and Stargate – fans are encouraged to select their favorite look and make their voice heard before the final ballots are cast on August 23rd. Visit www.USALuge.com today to cast your vote and bring the USA Luge team one step closer to glory this winter at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games!
This Captain America Inspired Dress Isn't Half Bad
I enjoy seeing comic book costumes incorporated into every day fashion. Sure more comic fans would spot this and know that it was Captain A-Town, but others would probably just glance at it and think it was a cool design. It was created by AcidDaisy and while I doubt that you'll see it on store shelves, I bet you could check out how she made it and fashion one for yourself if you wanted. Via Fashionbly Geek
On Blu-Ray: Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox
We've got another clip for Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox which is out today. There's also an image gallery at the bottom. This is the last official WB Premiere movie and after that it's rebranded so enjoy. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oltJtZOMf8&feature=youtu.be
Review: High School USA! – Ep. 2: Sexting
After being mesmerized by the first episode of High School USA! I was looking forward to more. There’s always that chance that the pilot episode is actually the best episode, but thankfully that wasn’t the case here. The second episode “Sexting” pokes fun at some many modern-day high school occurrences while still keeping with the wholesome outward appearance. That’s definitely one thing this show has over other animations is that they don’t always hand you the jokes and explain it. A lot of it is hidden in the dialog and yet due to the animation, it’s deceivingly wholesome looking. In this episode there are plenty of visual gags and a few that will be completely noticeable and others not so much, but their dialog hides a ton more.
The episode starts off in “Le American Diner” again as the gang is sitting around their food which they never eat. Cassandra begins busting Amber’s chops about how excited she is about her “boyfriend” Brent returning. He’s described as a beautiful man and even Brad agrees. Amber begins to freak out though when Cassandra mentions his member. Now Amber can’t stop thinking about what his penis might look like and the fact that she hasn’t seen it and so she asks for a picture.
Later that night her mom pops in her room and she opens up to her; pay really close attention to this scene because aside from the visual cues there are some dialog cues about Amber’s mom which made this my favorite scene of the episode. Amber gets the picture and it’s not what she expected.
The next day she drags Cassandra to the bathroom with her and at this point you can cue the next visual gag. She shows Cassandra and she instantly makes a joke about Brent’s doodle, but still asks for a copy of the picture to “study” and give a better opinion. The picture of course ends up circulating to all of the girls in the school which puts Amber and Cassandra at odds with each other.
Marsh feels that he must take it upon himself to fix the problem so that when Brent arrives he doesn’t feel awkward. His solution is that the entire male population of the school should take a “dick pic” of their own and send it to all of the girls in the school. Only by all of them doing it will it show solidarity. Also, if you think that every dude sending every girl a “dick pic” goes by unmentioned then you’re wrong. It’s hilarious.
The episode was quite funny and I found it strange that some people didn’t like it. After all it’s not exactly pushing any envelopes that Simpson, South Park or Family Guy haven’t pushed well before it, but I can see it not being everyone’s cup of tea. It could very well be that Dino Stamatopoulos has created another show before it’s time.
The voice acting still seems like its finding its rhythm which isn’t uncommon with animated shows. If you look back at some of your favorites, the first couple of episodes are always rough and usually don’t resemble what the series becomes or the voices you become familiar with. I do wish there was a better breakdown of who is voicing which character rather than the few on IMDB and from what my own ear can pick up, but I’m sure as episodes progress that will happen as well.
Something I didn’t talk about on my last review was the animation by ADHD. If you’ve followed the site then you know we’ve featured a lot of their shorts on here in the past and I doubt I’m alone when I say that they are a fantastic animation studio. The visual story telling is just as strong as the narrative and it looks great. The coloring is definitely one of the best things and gives the show a modern vibrant look. It stands out compared to other animated shows that are locked into their look from decades past.
If you’re not watching it, you really should be. I’m not going to deny that this show would be better suited for Adult Swim, but I’m also not going to pretend that Adult Swim has had it’s time to shine and squandered it’s potential on syndicated shows over original content. Frankly, as long as it’s funny I don’t give a crap about where I watch it.
Score: 4/5
Writer: Dino Stamatopoulos
Review: High School USA! – Ep. 1: Bullies
Like most people I took one look at High School USA! and thought, “Oh good they’re finally getting around to spoofing Archie.” Only I said it really sarcastically. Well the joke is on me because this show is fantastic. In a lot of ways it reminds me of early Family Guy episodes in which they would spoof what television portrayed as reality and the TV formula in general. With High School USA! the formula is the high school experience boiled down to its lowest common denominator so that it’s transparent and relatable. The episodes are only ten minutes long which means that it follows the Adult Swim outline for the most part. In the first episode we’re just thrown in with the characters with hardly an introduction and no backstory. It’s very easy to pick up on and the writer’s do a fine job of making sure character’s names are repeated often, but without it being so obvious that they’re just saying it for your benefit.
The first episode opens up at a pep rally about Bullying. The teacher that we met (and the only character’s name that I don’t remember) calms down the crowd and goes through why a bully is bad and that they will not tolerate Bullies at the school and if caught students won’t be allowed to attend Friday’s dance.
After the pep rally we spend some time with our main characters: Marsh the “Archie” of the group who was overweight as a child and even though he’s thin now, he’s still obsessed with weight loss. Then there’s Brad, who is the “Jughead” to Marsh’s “Archie.” Instead of being a hollow knock off though he actually represents the typical jock for the most part. Then there’s Blackstein… he doesn’t really compare to someone from Archie in my opinion, but it’s clear that he’s the nerd of the group. There’s more to his character as he represents some typical stereotypes as well, but you’ll see it when you watch. Lastly are the ladies. Amber is of course the “Betty”, but this is in hair color only. She and Cassandra, the “Veronica”, are both very accurate in their dialog and come across like any tween/teen girl that you may have overheard in a mall or just out in public in general. Their charm is that they are so accurate with their dialog and mannerisms that you forget they’re just cartoon characters.
We know the episode is about Bullies and while the gang is hanging out at “Le American Diner”, Marsh points out that Brad is a bully. It’s pretty obvious considering he has Blackstein in a head lock the entire time and calls him “Brainstein” because he thinks he’s dumb, but to the rest of the gang it isn’t as obvious. Brad runs away because he doesn’t want to be a bully; later that night he’s contact about his bullying and asked to meet with the stranger. He follows a Truman Captoe looking dude to a place where jocks are beating up on nerds. Brad unwinds on a nerd who is there because he’s a “pervert” and the Captoe looking dude records it. The next day the video has gone viral and Brad is banned from the dance.
That’s literally like half of the episode, but I haven’t told you any of the jokes. That’s what’s actually great about this show; sure they’ve nailed high school perfectly and managed to even represent the youngest generation in doing so, but the comedy is what shines. In the diner Marsh turns down both girls because he’s going to be home binge eating and after Brad leaves, Blackstein says that he’ll be their date to which Amber gives a hilarious response. I’m not going to ruin any of the jokes because they’ll be completely out of context for you. Brad’s home life delivers tons of great material and his mom might just be the best supporting character of the show.
Not all of the voice acting is amazing. Marsh is okay for the most part, but his golly shucks delivery tends to leave him pretty monotone and lacking any real emotion. I think that’s supposed to be the point, but when he’s mixed with all the other dynamic characters it doesn’t really work and makes him seem like the one that’s out of place. Brad is voiced by T.J. Miller and I recognized him instantly. He’s a bit rough with his lines and it doesn’t come off naturally, but I think as the show continues it’ll get there. It definitely didn’t stop the jokes from being funny. Blackstein is voiced by Nathan Barnatt and he does a great job, but sounds the most cartoonish out of the bunch. I’m not sure who voices Amber, but she does a fantastic job. In a huge surprise, Mandy Moore is the voice of Cassandra. She does a great job, but it’s kind of weird once you know that especially after the second episode. In general the voice acting is good and you can tell that they’re going for a wholesome feel even if they’re being crude at the same time and that works. I just hope that they don’t break from that.
I would definitely say that High School USA! is worth watching. I expected very little from it and was then pleasantly surprised. If you know who Dino Stamatopoulos is, then you’ll definitely want to watch since this is his brain child. He’s written and created some of the best and most disturbing things on television including Moral Orel, which is similar in structure and parody with this show. I’m sure you can find a way to watch this for free considering Fox is backing their Adult Swim block of programing pretty hard, so check it out.
Score: 4/5
Writer: Dino Stamatopoulos