Fanboys Anonymous

Last week, I made it quite clear that I was not very satisfied with Frank Cho's Savage Wolverine #1. While the artwork was top-notch and the plot was intriguing, there was just a part of me that said "This is not Wolverine. This is not the Logan that I know." Still, being the Wolverine fan boy that I am deciding to stick with the series and see what this second issue of the series has to offer.

The book opens up by introducing a brand new character. Well, perhaps "introduce" isn't the best word to use. We're shown a character that remains largely unidentified for the majority of the book. There are hints at who the character is, but it actually took me some research to figure out that the character was someone named Amadeus Cho. Allegedly the one of the ten smartest people in the world, Cho, who not-so-coincidentally shares the same surname as the book's writer, finds himself mysteriously transported to the same island that Wolverine and Shanna are trapped on.

I will admit that the interaction between Cho and his A.I. program Calvin was quite well written. Furthermore, the sequence that follows his initial arrival on the island is also equally filled with light banter and clever writing. Then, of course, we get to Wolverine again. This is where the disappointment mounts. As with the previous issue, I have a problem with the way that Frank Cho is writing Wolverine, particularly how he is writing the internal monologue. For example, during a fight sequence, Wolverine thinks to himself, "I try to catch my breath. Instead, I cough blood. They close in, acting as one, giving no quarter. Nor do I." "Giving no quarter?" "Nor do I?" Are these things that we expect Wolverine to think? No. While Logan is certainly an expert at combat, the man has historically been known to put things rather bluntly. Did I miss something? Did Wolverine go to grammar school?

Ultimately, the way Logan's dialogue and monologue is written detracts from the rest of the writing, which, for the most part, was pretty good. Some of the humor (including a shout out to Hugh Jackman) seemed a little forced, but I can see this particular style of comedic script working for these characters.


Maybe I'm being a bit too critical... or maybe not. I'd like to think that it's the latter. Savage Wolverine #2 provides some satisfying action, an interesting plot, and beautiful artwork. Despite this, however, the foundation of this book is still not to the level that I would have hoped. Wolverine is having an identity crisis here, and I sincerely hope that this issue is somehow resolved as the series progresses.

Score: 6.5/10

Evening Dace-itonians!! Chris "The Dace Man" Dace here with another article for you FanBoys! Every once in a while there is an event so awesome that even the legendary Barney Stinson is left speechless. This had the potential and title to be one. It pits Marvel's Superhero Squad versus The DC universe's power houses. Justice League of America squares up against The Avengers for the first nerdgasim of the 22nd century. Kurt Busiek hot off of a stint writing for The Avengers undertook this monumental task of taking two of the largest groups in the FanBoys nation and pitting them against each other. Was it a success? Lets take a look.

Considering the Marvel Universe takes place on an Earth that is exactly like ours, geographically, and the DC universe takes place on a slightly larger planet with cities that do not exist on our planet, Busiek had the task of making the two power groups cross paths. Enter The GrandMaster and Krona. Krona an exiled Oan is hell bent on finding the answer of who was present at the time of the Big Bang, which happen to be Marvel's behemoth....Galactus. In an effort to sway the attention of Krona, The Grandmaster concocted a plan to pit his Universe Ultimate heroes v.s. a team of Krona's choosing. The team of the Justice League was selected and seeing the confidence of the Grandmaster, Krona switches teams. The GrandMaster then informs the JLA they must collect 12 of the most powerful items from both universes (The six DC items are the Spear of Destiny; the Book of Eternity; the Orb of Ra; the Psycho Pirate's Medusa Mask; the Bell, Jar and Wheel of the Demons Three; and the Green Lantern Power Battery of Kyle Rayner. The six Marvel items are the Ultimate Nullifier; the Evil Eye of Avalon; the Wand of Watoomb; the Casket of Ancient Winters; the Cosmic Cube; and the Infinity Gems.) His ally Metron, to make things interesting, tells The Avengers they must stop the Justice League in order to save the universe. So begins the fight.

After much fighting and the awesome Team-up of Batman and Cap, the two teams eventually team up to take on Krona. This leads to one of the most Iconic pictures in comic history, Superman holding Mjölnir and Cap's Shield. An epic battle ensues in the fourth and final book. To me it was an awesome read cause I love the idea of the two power teams actually squaring up and teaming up. I feel as if though it could have been longer and wish Marvel and DC would have struck a deal to have The Avengers and JLA  series to build up to this Mega Cross over. Definitely worth a read....don't know if its worth the asking price of Amazon.com though, (10$+per volume or around 60$ for the collection, for those interested).


As always check back regularly to see what  Chris "The Dace Man" Dace is looking at, and no not just porn, as well as all other bloggers here at Fanboys Anonymous. So for The Few, The Proud, and of course The Dacetacular, grab a beer, or in this case the twelve power items of multiple universes, and check out what's going on here in the Dace-Sphere. See ya next time!

About a week ago today, the newest Eevee evolution and Pokemon from the 6th Generation was released to the public: Sylveon. We didn't know it's name translated in English until February 14th but we got the first look at some pictures of the Pokemon on the 11th. As of this article, Sylveon's type hasn't been revealed, but that is one of the things we'll speculate about in this article. So far, we've seen some videos of a few of the attacks it will know as well as multiple pictures of the little guy but that is all. Regardless of how much of this article will be speculation, that is half the fun of these kinds of things so let's jump right into that.

The first thing we are going to do is speculate a little bit on what type the Sylveon may be in the 6th generation Pokemon games X and Y. I think there are 3 realistic options here for what it might be with one sticking out a little more than the other two. They are all new types to the Eeevee family at least for the evolutions, and they all have solid reasoning behind them.

1) Ghost Type: See those eyes? Those soul less pools of teal blue? They're scary if this thing is a Ghost type. Sure, if it is just a standard normal or flying type Pokemon then it is no big deal. Its eyes are just pretty baby blue and this thing is cute. But imagine for a moment that it is the first Ghost-type Eevee Evolution. Imagine this thing with a terrifying maniacal look on it's face. Those eyes empty and pupilless. Those teeth, that face. This thing is a monster when looked at in the right light. Then again, the cutest things can sometimes be the most terrifying.

2) Flying Type: Another would be brand new type to the Eevee Evolutionary line. The ribbons that are coming out of Sylveon's bow could come out to be some type of wings allowing it to fly about It would be interesting to have your Eevee evolve into the Pokemon you could spend your Fly HM on as well so it would serve a purpose on any team trying to become the champion in Pokemon X and Y regardless of it's to be determined stats. One of the big factors causing me to lean towards Sylveon potentially being a Flying type is the fact that it's color scheme and overall appearance are very reminiscent of the Mistralton Gym Leader Skyla from Pokemon Black and White who happens to be the Flying Type Gym Leader. Coincidence? Probably, but it's a good enough reason to speculate on regardless. Plus alot of Pokemon particularly members of the Eevee family's types have been determined by their color patterns. Look at every Eevee evolution before this one. They were all typed based off their appearance or their appearance fit their type. Jolteon was Yellow and Lightning. Vaporeon was Water and Blue. Flareon was Red and Fire. Umbreon was Dark and Black. Espeon was Pink/Purple and Psychic. Leafeon was Green and Grass, and Glaceon was Blue and Ice. So if this Pokemon follows this pattern it will either be Flying or...

3) Normal Type: The most likely of the potential types to me is Sylveon. Look at that bow, look at the adorable appearance. This thing screams normal type. I know some of you are saying but Eevee is a normal type why would Eevee evolve into another normal type?! That ruins the beauty of elemental evolutions! and I kind of agree with you. But to the naysayers  I say hey! Maybe that is what makes Sylveon unique? We haven't even heard how Eevee evolves into this new evolution yet so let's give it a chance first. I'm going to attach some photos I got off Pokebeach.com now that further suggest Sylveon is indeed a normal type Pokemon. In this images it is using swift attack, a fire type move, and what appears to be  tri attack. Anyone that has been following Pokemon since the beginning knows that these are traits characteristic of a normal type Pokemon. Regardless of whatever type Sylveon ends up being though I will give the People at the Pokemon Company and Nintendo the benefit of the doubt until we see what they have in store. They rarely let the diehard Pokemon fans down.



Will there be a movie tie in to the next Pokemon movie Extremespeed Genesect and Mewtwo's Awakening? Maybe. We haven't gotten any word yet if there will be any 6th Generation Pokemon in that movie or if it will be the last of the 5th generation movies, but knowing Pokemon they will slip something in the middle of the end. Also being an Eevee evolution this Pokemon is going to get marketed hard, so I wouldn't doubt it. Will it see competitive play in the video games or card game? As far as the card game that is literally a crap shoot as some obscure odd Pokemon have seen competitive play in the past like Muk, Dodrio, Weezing,  etc. So you can never count out any Pokemon having a playable card. The most recent Eeveelutions are all decent and the Eevee even has a built in search attack for it's evolutions so I could definetly see it seeing fringe play in a tier 2 deck at the very least in combination with the other Eeveelutions. As for the video game I don't see it making much of a splash at all. Vaporeon, Jolteon, and Espeon  have stood the test of time as the only Pokemon so far in the Eevee family to be used competitively and normal Pokemon usually get the bad end of the stick as far as moves, being bad against popular types and in this things case more than likely having zero bulk like a Snorlax or Blissey. So no I don't see it being competitive on the VGC scene.

All in all we don't really know alot about Sylveon yet. In the next few months leading up to the big worldwide release of Pokemon X and Y we will learn all kinds of things about many of the new 6th generation Pokemon including Sylveon. Most of this article was speculation but hopefully we get some more news on the newest member of the Eevee family in the next few weeks. There is alot going on in the Pokemon world right now and it is honestly an exciting time for Pokemon fans. Another movie was announced recently Extremespeed Genesect and Mewtwo's Awakening. Our next English set for the TCG Plasma Freeze was announced yesterday. X and Y have a worldwide release date in October and we are learning more and more about the 6th generation every few days. So there will be plenty for me to write about and plenty for you to read. Thanks for reading :)

Episode 12 of the I Got Gameplay podcast is now online. On this episode, Michael, Braeden, Sean and Nick discuss reboots and remakes and take a look at games they would like to see remade for next generation consoles.

The group also discuss the Chitahmen 2 Kickstarter debacle and if James Rolfe (the angry video game nerd) is truly to blame.

You can check out this episode and all previous episodes by using the following links:

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(Note: the links use adf.ly, just clink skip to go to your required destination.)

Without a doubt, Scott Summers has become one of the most hated Marvel protagonists of all time. Having betrayed the X-Men in an attempt to save mutant-kind, the former leader of the X-Men has fallen a long way. The new volume of Uncanny X-Men walks a fine line between your distaste for Scott and your curiosity for what he'll do next. Who else could write such a tale other than Brian Michael Bendis?

Marvel interviews had revealed recently that there would be a traitor among this new group of X-Men, and, right off the bat, we find ourselves in a S.H.I.E.L.D. base, where an unknown mutant is giving intel to Maria Hill. Both the writing and the art keep the identity of this character ambiguous, and I found myself bouncing back and forth between possibilities given the clues that were occasionally dropped throughout the book. The informant informs Maria of what most readers are aware of already: Scott's powers are not the same. In fact, several of the X-Men associated with the Phoenix Five events have had their powers altered. Scott has a new, uncontrollable form of his optic blasts, Magik is seemingly more powerful than ever, Emma has lost her telepathy, and Magneto's powers are a fraction of its former glory.

For the most part, the writing of these characters is pretty spot on. At this point, I have come to accept the fact that Scott truly believes that what he is doing is the right thing. The only real issue is both the writing and visual portrayal of Emma Frost. Long been known as more or less a sex icon, Emma is being written in a much more reserved and conservative fashion. Her dialogue doesn't quite fit, and her new look is hardly a representation of the White Queen. This may partially be due to her being knocked down a few pegs after losing her telepathy, but I would have expected at least a remnant of her former domineering personality to shine through.


When all is said and done, Uncanny X-Men #1 is certainly an intriguing tale. A mutant civil war is undoubtedly in the midst, and it will be interesting to see how relationships will be strained, alliances will be made, and loyalties will be tested. You may not like Scott Summers right now, but I can guarantee you that this opening issue of Uncanny X-Men is a pleasure to read.

Score: 8.5/10

Episode 11 of the I Got Gameplay podcast is now online. On this episode, Michael, Braeden, Sean,Nick and special guest Tony Mango discuss gaming's acceptance by Hollywood and why studios rush to get the next big thing. The group highlights the ups, the downs and the tragedies of game movies, don't miss out!.

You can check out this episode and all previous episodes by using the following links:

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iTunes:https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/igotgameplay/id570120518

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My, my Jonathan Hickman, what a story you are telling. Last week, New Avengers did nothing but please. With an engaging story and a haunting air about the book, this Marvel NOW series is perhaps the strongest among the throng of nascent series.

New Avengers #3 does not disappoint. The same tension present in the first two issues continues to be woven into the fabric of this story, as the characters that have gathered contemplate issues regarding character, morality, and, of course, the end of the world. This issues starts off with a powerful “passing of the torch” moment as Charles Xavier bestows upon Hank McCoy the secrets of the Mind Gem. As you might expect, Beast is Charles Xavier’s replacement in this gathering of the Iluminati, and, while reluctant at first, he fits in perfectly with the group.

Conflict of morals is a key focus in the New Avengers series, and the characters constantly are at odds with each other, debating that fine line between philosophy and practicality. The strife is especially apparent through Captain America, whom has always been a beacon of pure justice and morality. He feels uncomfortable (as he should) in this group, but he holds his ground, refusing to let imminent destruction cloud his moral compass. The dialogues and exchanges between the characters are spot on. Hickman truly has a way with words and drama.


Tragic, tense, and dark, New Avengers #3 joins the ranks of its predecessors as another gem (pun intended) in the Marvel NOW hall of fame.

Score: 9.5/10

All-New X-Men is, by far, my favorite Marvel NOW series to date. Brian Michael Bendis has done something great, and, while the idea is not entirely novel, the plot that he weaves is surprisingly satisfying, especially for long-time X-fans like myself.

All-New X-Men #7 picks up where the last issue left off, as Bendis expands on Scott’s exploration of the new world that he’s in. Barring the appearance of a certain invitation to a certain wedding that Scott stumbles upon, the character development that Scott undergoes in this issue is, quite frankly, a little dull. It pales in comparison to, say, what Jean Grey is going through. Bendis has been doing a wonderful job of showing Jean’s struggles and development after being pulled from the past. I find that I am left wanting when we have the same experiences with Scott. He seems annoyingly brooding and flat, and there are rarely any truly poignant moments that express how Scott is handling it all.

Besides that, I also find Mystique’s role in this issue a little hard to swallow. She presents herself to Scott as a friend, subtly hinting at the idea that the Jean Grey School is headed in the wrong direction. While not clear at first whether or not an ulterior motive is present, that issue is quickly resolved at the end of the book. Through this exchange between the two, Scott seems a little too unsuspicious; you would think that Charles Xavier would have trained his X-Men better than that. That being said, perhaps there is a role of inexperience playing into this, which I guys I would have an easier time buying.


I’m sad to say that All-New X-Men #7 was a fairly mediocre read. While we see the beginnings of a plot that will no doubt begin unfolding as we move on, the character development and storytelling in this issue seemed a little static.

Score: 5/10

Hey Hey Hey!! Fanboys it's yours truly Chris "The Dace Man" Dace coming to you from my soapbox within the Dacesphere. Today I'm looking to talk about three things that I'm looking forward to and am concerned about the upcoming Iron Man 3.

The first key aspect of Iron Man 3 we need to analyze is the introduction of The Mandarin. Arguably Iron Man's greatest enemies and ranked #81 on IGN's greatest villains of all times. Portrayed by Oscar winner Ben Kingsley, better known for his role as Gandhi. The tricky part to The Mandarin is his 10 rings of power and his elite Martial Arts expertise. Granted he doesn't necessarily have to engage Iron Man in hand to hand combat but he may engage Tony Stark. Unfortunately I can't see Sir Kingsley being the most limber and quick when it comes to hand to hand combat....can't really see Downy Jr. either but it works for him. I've been dying to see The Mandarin introduced into the Iron man franchise but lets hope for the sake of us comic book fans it's done right....Aint nobody got time for that X-Men Origins: Wolverine Deadpool crap....had to get a Deadpool reference in.

The next of my concerns/excitement is the bits and pieces we have seen of the Iron Patriot. Now with Sony currently owning the rights to Spider-man, and all his amazingness which includes one of Marvel's greatest enemies Norman Osborn, the continuity looks bleak for this character. Now for those of you unfamiliar with Mr. Osborn you may remember him from the original three Spider Man movies portrayed by Willem Dafoe. Well Mr. Stark and Mr. Osborn have a rather heated rivalry in the comic book world. Considering both men are two juggernauts in the advanced weapon and defense technologies departments they have ran into each other on multiple occasions. The Iron Patriot is spawned from Norman Osborn's Avengers after Osborn assumes control of S.H.I.E.L.D and converts it to H.A.M.M.E.R. Osborn would relentlessly hunt the form S.H.I.E.L.D. Commander, Tony Stark, for the knowledge he had concerning the identities of Marvels greatest Superheroes...i.e. Peter Parker equals Spider-Man. Now that's a lot of back story and cross overs to throw into a 2 hour film so it will be interesting to see what they do with the red white and blue Iron Man.


 
 Lastly, and probably my largest concern, is the Avengers Movie just occurred last summer. Now you're probably saying "Duh, Chris we know this." but do you really. Sure the Iron Man preview we saw has the quote "Since New York nothing has been the same." but will it no longer be the same? Joss Whedon and Marvel have broke the walls down on the Marvel Universe. To me after how huge The Avengers was in 2012 there is no excuse for not acknowledging the Marvel Universe in some grand fashion. What would that mean for Marvel fans such as you and I? I say introduction of other Avengers. We know Captain America will introduce Falcon why can't Iron Man plant some seeds and introduce to us some characters. For starters one of Stark's rivals in Applied Sciences is none other then Mister Henry Pym and with him of course his lovely wife Jan, Wasp, two original Avengers... Better then the damn Falcon. I think it's also time we start laying some ground work for an Ultron villain in Avengers 3....yeah I'm thinking very far down the line but I think we need to in order to do this right! Hell since we have Rhodey and now an Iron Patriot that seems to be military driven why not a cameo from the smokin' hot Carol Danvers a.k.a Ms. Marvel. Maybe Tony has some kind of interaction with the U.N. which would lead some interaction with another scientist and world leader...enter T'Challa The Black Panther. Hell, Banner road off into the sunset with Stark so we better at least see a brief Bruce appearance. As you can see the opportunities are endless and at least one of the aforementioned should be put into play.




As you can see there are endless possibilities for the next installment in the Marvel Universe...Lets hope they do it right....As always check back regularly to see what  Chris "The Dace Man" Dace is looking at, and no not just porn, as well as all other bloggers here at Fanboys Anonymous. So for The Few, The Proud, and of course The Dacetacular, grab a beer, or your briefcase armor, and check out what's going on here in the Dace-Sphere. See ya next time!

Hello my Dacetacular Fanboy Nation. It is I, Chris "The Dace Man" Dace returning to you with some more comic reviews. Yes it's been a while but Ive been a busy man but not to busy to read comics. I'm coming to you today with the Deadpool Corps collection, including Prelude to Deadpool Corps #1-5 and and Deadpool Corps #1-12. The series was written by Victor Gischler of x-men fame and Comic book industry legend Rob Leifeld. So immediate thought...Deadpool it's gotta be great right? Well multiply that by five and you have gold my friends. The original Deadpool is sent on a mission by The Contemplater to save the multi-verse from the awareness. The only way to fight organized conformity is obviously mass chaos...enter Deadpool.

Deadpool recruits the hot female version of himself from a parallel universe and helps her in a conflict with General America, Captain America's parallel self. After picking up the smoking hot Lady Deadpool, Deadpool stops by and picks up Kid Deadpool. I personally enjoyed the Kid Deadpool universe and wish they would do more of this, Quesada you need to get on this with a Kidpool Spin off....ay yo Tito!! He then picks up Dogpool and the surprisingly rational Headpool...go figure Wade without a body has a bigger brain!

Once the team is together they use their unorthodox ways to piss off multiple immortals, save the multiverse and manage to start a revolution on a foreign planet. I thoroughly enjoyed taking the ride across 17 issues of pure entertainment. I'd spoil it for you but I'm a firm believer of go get the comic yourself and enjoy it. Don't let me read it to you word for word. Like I said earlier it's typical Deadpool but multiplied by five. The only negative thing against the series is it's only 17 issues and ended so abruptly it left me wanting more. The "Well you did this so that's enough of this collaboration." was disappointing to me...I was hoping I'd have to go get more... but nevertheless still a good read. 
As always check back regularly to see what  Chris "The Dace Man" Dace is looking at, and no not just porn, as well as all other bloggers here at Fanboys Anonymous. So for The Few, The Proud, and of course The Dacetacular, grab a beer, or in this case a team of multiverse versions of yourself, and check out what's going on here in the Dace-Sphere. See ya next time!  

 

Episode 10 of the I Got Gameplay podcast is now online. On this episode, Michael, Braeden, Sean and Nick take a look at Sega's rise to prominence in the gaming industry and the companies downfall from the number 2 gaming giant came to be.


You can check out this episode and all previous episodes by using the following links:

Lybsin: http://smarkoutmoment.libsyn.com/rss

iTunes:https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/igotgameplay/id570120518

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If you'd like to join the discussion, like us on Facebook and comment on our page here: https://www.facebook.com/igotgameplay

You can also subscribe to the podcast's YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/igotgameplay

They've tiptoed around it but it's official, Young Justice has been cancelled. Why, you might ask? Well, the best that everyone has been able to surmise is that the ratings weren't good enough to justify the lack of toy sales.

Kids...they ruin everything, don't they?

Now before we get into the complaints, let me clarify one thing: I understand that television networks are a business that in the grand scheme of things exist to make money, so I can't fault them for not being proponents of the products that don't generate a ton of revenue.

That being said, WHY it failed is almost entirely their fault and the way to fix it is within their means of operation. A stubborn inability to admit one's own failures is going to prevent this show from continuing to please its fans.

The reason why Young Justice didn't sell a lot of toys is because of the ratings which are a result of the Cartoon Network's own marketing problems. Everything that is popular enough expands its popularity to capitalize on it. That's why Super Bowl ads cost so much and why a popular (for some reason) show like Jersey Shore was able to make celebrities out of jackasses like Snooki who in turn promoted products that received bumps in their sale by having their likeness attached. If the ratings were higher on Young Justice, kids would want to buy the toys.

If ratings = money, then let's examine what results in ratings. First off, there's the subject matter, which is perfectly fine as superheroes never go out of fashion AND they want to replace Young Justice with other superhero programming, so we know that's not the problem. The second is the quality of the show. This one sometimes doesn't play the biggest role, as there are popular shows that everyone agrees are awful and there are good quality shows that never become TV giants. However, it seems like most people would agree that Young Justice was good. The rest of the ratings depend on the marketing side of things. It's the responsibility of the network to make sure a program has the right time slot, the right commercials to advertise for their show, and so on and so forth.

What time slot, you say? Well the biggest fault of Cartoon Network and the biggest reason why the ratings aren't higher for this show is that they could not for the life of them commit to a schedule. Here's an inclination of how they decided to run things for the lineup:

• November 26, 2010 - the first 2 episodes air
• *hiatus
• January 7, 2011 - the first two episodes re-run and we continue running the rest of season 1
• March 11, 2011 - episode 9 airs
• *hiatus
• September 16, 2011 - episode 10 airs [this right here killed the show as it was too much time off after not airing enough episodes]
• November 18, 2011 - episode 18 airs...season 1 is still not done after an entire year from the first airing
• *hiatus
• March 3, 2012 - episode 19 airs [again, too long of a gap...they should have had all 26 episodes of season 1 done by the winter hiatus]
• June 9, 2012 - episode 7 of season 2 airs. [That's right, they broke up the first season that much but went immediately into season 2, ignoring the obvious normal time to take a hiatus after a season ends / also, take note that this season starts with a 5 year time jump which alienates the audience and makes them feel confused and lost / also take note that this gap in time was supposed to be explained by a video game that as of this post's writing has still not been released]
• *hiatus #4
• September 29, 2012 - episode 8 of season 2 airs
• October 6, 2012 - episode 9 of season 2 airs
• *hiatus #5
• January 5, 2013 - episode 10 of season 2 airs

Then we had to hear them continually not tell everyone that they were going to cancel the show, but dance around the issue until finally just admitting it.

No show can survive that schedule seeing as how nobody can plan to watch the show when things are this sporadic. If fans that actively look online aren't able to find out when to watch the show, how can you expect other people that are outsiders to check it out?

It wasn't the serious tone, as that worked for Bruce Timm's multiple series. It wasn't the younger cast, as that worked for Teen Titans. It wasn't the quality of the writing, as you don't hear people complaining about Young Justice the same way they are about Ultimate Spider-Man. It's a problem of Cartoon Network pretty much sabotaging it with their horrible planning and hacking the show up so much.

What's annoying is that they'll probably learn from this and do the polar opposite with Beware the Batman and the new Teen Titan's Go show and then tout them as successful as if they're better shows, rather than just being treated fairly. This isn't about being given special treatment but instead, NOT being given standard treatment. A handicap on anything results in more struggle.

Young Justice isn't without flaws from the writers and producers themselves, and I could point out problems that I had with the two seasons such as how often we were "told" something rather than "shown" it (mostly due to the time skip just telling us to be ok with losing 5 years worth of character growth in favor of a generic invasion story about the Reach), but as evidenced above, that's not the primary reason this show isn't going to have a season 3.

If you'd like to sign the petition to try to keep Young Justice on the air, do so here: https://www.change.org/petitions/cartoon-network-warner-bros-bring-back-young-justice-and-green-lantern-the-animated-series but don't get your hopes up.

Episode 9 of the I Got Gameplay podcast is now online. On this episode, Michael, Braeden, Sean and Nick  take a look at the pro's and con's of pre-owned gaming, if you've ever been on the fence about buying used games this is the episode that will change your mind!.

You can check out this episode and all previous episodes by using the following links:

Lybsin: http://smarkoutmoment.libsyn.com/rss

iTunes:https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/igotgameplay/id570120518

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If you'd like to join the discussion, like us on Facebook and comment on our page here: https://www.facebook.com/igotgameplay

You can also subscribe to the podcast's YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/igotgameplay

The Witch Doctor series does not have new releases nearly as often as I would like. Brandon Seifert and Lukas Ketner are simply geniuses that have created a truly novel group of characters set in a unique and ever-intriguing world. Witch Doctor Mal Practice #3 hit shelves today, and I could not have been more excited to pick it up and flip through it.

In the beginning, we find Dr. Vincent Morrow recording his will. Although the scene is mostly light-hearted and humorous, we find a key aspect of Dr. Morrow’s character coming through: the fondness he has developed towards Penny and Eric. The thought, however, is fleeting, and the scene quickly changes to Morrow and his crew preparing to meet with the opposition. What happens next is a brilliant exchange between the doctor and his enemies. As usual, Seifert is a master of humor both subtle and overt. Even in the face of danger and death, Morrow still manages to maintain an air of sarcastic wit about him.

Ketner’s art has been spot on since the very beginning and augments the writing even further. Things as simple as a raised eyebrow or a wide-eyed look work in unison with the writing to create an extremely cohesive story and an absolutely enthralling experience. It’s a match made in heaven.

Maybe it’s because I’m training to be a doctor myself, but I find Witch Doctor to be one of the best books out on the market today. Witch Doctor Mal Practice #3 is no exception. The dialogue is smart, the art is luscious, and the story is simply captivating. The only problem I have now is that I don’t know how I’ll survive until the next issue comes out. *sigh*


Score: 10/10

A lot of groundwork has been laid for the story that unfolds in this week’s installment of Uncanny Avengers. While I admittedly found the first two issues a little slow-paced, Uncanny Avengers #3 has no problems on this front and presents readers with fast-paced and jaw-dropping action.

Writer Rick Remender gives a third-person narrative of the tragedy that ensues in this third book. It is a hauntingly detached account yet truly highlights the gravity of the situation. Having fused the late Charles Xavier’s brain with his own, Red Skull uses his newly found telepathic influence to incite a mutant massacre in the heart of New York City. Through his powerful influence, ordinary humans do the unspeakable, seeking out and killing innocent mutants all in the name of one man’s hate and lust for power. Unfortunately, some of our would-be heroes also fall under this influence, stacking upon pre-existing distrust and ultimately adding up to a disjointed and uncoordinated rescue effort.

The artwork appropriately matches the chilling tale, showing the violence that takes place without being too overly gruesome. Facial expressions were especially strong in this issue, showing pure and raw emotion. The message is well-received and has the desired impact on the reader. Combined with the accompanying text, the last few panels have an especially frightening effect and are a perfect ending to an issue like this.

Without a doubt, Uncanny Avengers #3 is the strongest release by Marvel this week. The powerful prose presented in this telling of events drives the reader on, while the brilliant artwork draws the reader ever deeper into the action. The situation is unquestionably dire and the heroes are conflicted. It’s a situation that we all recognize. Admittedly, it’s a little cliché, but I don’t think the cliché factor will come much into play when you eventually witness Red Skull get what’s coming to him after this is all said and done.


Score: 10/10

Admittedly, I have about zero experience with the characters involved in this new Young Avengers series, so I’m essentially writing this review based off of a first-time read and a blank slate. Still, Marvel NOW is all about new starts and accessibility after all, so I decided to give this week’s Young Avengers #1 a chance. 

My absolute favorite style of narrative in a comic book is first person, and this is what writer Kieron Gillen does. Despite having no background on any of the characters, I very quickly get a feeling of each individual’s personality, which, in my opinion, is a key component to drawing new readers in. Furthermore, being the “young” Avengers that they are, the prose is written stylistically in a youthful manner. It’s not easy writing the voice of a teenage girl when you’re a middle-aged man. Each character has a very distinct air about them, and it will certainly be exciting to see how these kids mesh when they inevitably come together to battle the forces of evil. Kudos.

The same sentiments apply to the artwork in this issue. The character designs are simple but are accented by vibrant colors and bold page designs. The title tagline “Style > Substance” applies perfectly here.

Gillen does a great job of laying the groundwork for the action to come. He gives each set of characters their own mini-exposition. This works somewhat against the overall book, however, as very little progress is made in terms of plot movement. That being said, this is the first book, and I wasn’t expecting an all-out brawl right off the bat. Still, there was a lot more that I wanted to see by the time I reached the end. The book seems shorter than it actually is which is unfortunate.


Jumping into this book blind, I was pleasantly surprised when I reached the end. The fun and youthful writing combined with the simple and vivid artwork coalesce to give Young Avengers a truly stand-out feel. The groundwork has been set, and I am prepared for the action to come in the next couple of weeks.

Score: 8/10

Throughout the years, mutant-kind has experienced a great number of hardships. From massacre, to genocide, to decimation, mutants have been through it all. Recent events haven’t been any less brutal, and there are characters that have (literally) been through Hell and back. These things change people, sometimes for the better and sometimes for the worse. Then there’s the kind of change that is neither for the better nor for the worse; it’s an uncertain shade of gray. Enter Uncanny X-Force.

Writer Sam Humphries opens Uncanny X-Force #1 with a line that sets the tone for the whole series: “Betsy Braddock was the kind of mutant who could never have nice things.” Right from the beginning we are thrust into the action, seeing a vivid and dynamic panel with Psylocke holding Spiral hostage in a nightclub. We immediately are brought into a series of flashbacks that explains the current situation. After having been “kicked out” of the Jean Grey School, Wolverine subtly directs Psylocke on a covert mission. She then teams up with Storm to meet up with their contact, Puck, and the mutant-drug-busting action ensues.

I think a lot of people would describe this book as “hectic,” and I would wholeheartedly agree. That being said, I think “hectic” is just the kind of thing that a book like this needs. It’s a good kind of disorder. The characters highlighted in Uncanny X-Force have been beaten down and come out fighting even stronger. The book has a gritty feel about it and is a departure from your typical “save the day” sort of superhero book. The art, by Ron Garney, complements the feel of this book perfectly. The use of negative space, shadows, coloring, and framing give you the very distinct impression of a dark underbelly of the so-called “good guys.”

Perhaps my only complaint about this book is the fact that at the very tail end of the book, the plot quickly jumps to two other seemingly separate plots with other characters. Obviously, they will tie in somehow, but there is really no hint as to how that will come to be. The changes of scene detract from the story that initially draws the reader in and results in the book ending on a somewhat confusing note. This is a bad kind of disorder.


Still, this first issue of Uncanny X-Force is a nice start to the series. The writing and the artwork are strong and complement each other. For the most part, the writing style sets a unique tone to the book, and I look forward to seeing what else Humphries and Garney have to offer in future issues.

Score: 8.5/10

As many people may know, I work for Geek Squad. This means that I need to be up-to-date and familiar with all things tech. So to get acquainted with Windows 8 before its imminent release, I downloaded the beta. But before the release of the beta, many people had their doubts that Windows 8 would a good operating system. Why? How could they have doubts without even using the OS for themselves? See the picture below.

Funny, but accurate. Windows was set up to fail, so it seemed. So, what did I think of the beta? It was SHIT. It felt and looked very cheap. The things they borrowed, or straight up stole, from Apple and Linux left me to believe that Windows can't do anything original anymore. The new Start Menu felt clunky and obviously designed for a touch interface. How could this possibly be enjoyable to people who use a good old fashioned mouse?

Made with  the Meme-Generator app for Windows 8.

The day had come. My heartbeat beat heavily in my chest as I opened the optical drive's disc tray and inserted the 64 bit Windows 8 installation disc. I almost wasted my body's water and salt from a single tear drop as I completed the start up process. I felt like I buried my favorite dog and immediately signed adoption papers for an annoying, yappie, lapdog.

My mood started to lighten as I began customizing my account. I set up my lock screen picture, password, picture password, pin number. I browsed and downloaded apps from the app store. I organized my live tiles to my liking, which actually took some time and effort. After a few hours of using Windows 8 for myself and for the things I wanted to use it for, I didn't feel so terribly about this OS as I previously did. I realized that the beta I based my opinion on was unfinished. Sure, Windows still looks cheap and clunky, but with a little time and customization, it's really not bad.

My Start Menu.

For the people who don't have a touch screen, Microsoft added a series of keyboard functions to make it easier for those users. It's not all that difficult to use a mouse and keyboard. And the new OS may seem complicated and confusing, but take some time to learn it. It's actually an easier OS to learn than previous versions of Windows was for new users. For instance, if you need to find something, a file or settings feature, just simple start typing what you're looking for when viewing the Start Menu.

And for people are reading this and haven't used Windows 8 and think that Windows 8 is just the new Start Menu, fear not. There is still the familiar old Desktop. There's still the familiar old File Explorer. It is basically Windows 7, but they took the Start Menu and made it the main interface for the user. It's easier to navigate and more useful in ways than the old Start Menu.

In my opinion, Windows 8 is a fun operating system. There is a lot of customization involved to tailor it to your needs and wants. It's not the monstrosity that I once thought it was. There are a lot of negative reviews online about the new OS. This is one of the few positive reviews. All I can say is, this is my opinion. Everyone is entitled to their own. But don't be afraid of Windows 8 like I was. It's very easy to pick up and learn to use. At the very least, go to your local Best Buy and try it out. See for yourselves if you like it. If you don't, stick to your older version of Windows, Mac OS, or Linux and hope that the next version of Windows doesn't suck.

Episode 8 of the I Got Gameplay podcast is now online. On this episode, Michael, Braeden, Sean and Nick  take a look at the First Person shooter genre, a genre of gaming that is embraced by modern culture, does the genre have staying power or will it eventually be forgotten.

You can check out this episode and all previous episodes by using the following links:

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Since 2006, the Gears of War series has been one of the strongest titles exclusive for Microsoft products, following a close second to the Halo franchise. For those who have never played Gears of War, it is a notorious third-person shooter with a military grade and science fiction theme throughout the series. Gears of War takes place on the Planet Sera, a planet that has been in conflict to the brink of destruction for years. When a new species called the Locust Horde wipe the bulk of the population off of the planet (Also known as Emergence Day), The The Coalition of Ordered Governments (COG) evacuates the remaining survivors to Jancito Plateau, and orders the troops Delta Squad "Gears" to continue to protect the Plateau while finding ways to rid of the Locust threat entirely. With each game continuing the storyline and following a corresponding plot unique to each game, the series has been quite successful, but since the new addition to the franchise has been announced last year, many questions have been thrown in the air: How will this tie into the series successfuly, and will it live up to expectations?

In 2012, Gears of War Judgement was confirmed that it will be a prequel to the previous game, taking place 14 years before the first Gears of War, showing the series' main characters entering war. It shows the setting taking place at Halvo Bay, which was overrun by the Locust. The setting also seems to be pointing at San Francisco for the inspiration. Baird and his Kilo squad stand trial for transgression against the COG. Testimonies are heard by COG leader Colonel Loomis, who accuses Kilo of desertion, cowardice, trespassing, theft of military tech and treason. The gameplay shown in trailers has shown an almost entirely different setting, where the settings in the games following show what seems to be post-apocalyptic. During the Campaign and the storyline of the game, you seem to find many signs showing the celebration of the end of the Pendulum Wars, which has ended prior to this.

At the end of 2012, Microsoft announced that the games will have a Free-For-All mode, which is basically what it's describing. With this new multiplayer mode, it's asking for each soldier to take on one another. Basically, it's every man for himself. It's also introducing a class-based multiplayer, which is new for the series. For COG, the classes are the Engineer, Soldier, Medic and Scout. With the Locust Horde, the classes are the Wretch, Ticker, Kantus, Grenadier, Bloodmount, Mauler, Serapede, and the Corpser. The new Overrun Mode consists of two timed five versus five rounds where one troop defends a pair of objectives from the opposing players. As the COG, you protect two sealed Emergence Holes and a Hammer of Dawn beacon. There is progression for the player as well as levelling up of single characters.

With these new features, and the unvieling of some riviting and important information regarding the storyline of the series, Gears of War judgement should live up to its expectations. Judgement is expected to be released on March 19th. My name is Nikki Mills, and I am a Fangirl.