Posted by
Orion Petitclerc
- Monday, June 9, 2014
Hey, peeps! I'm back to review yet another comic book series that has nothing to do with Venom or Moon Knight. Shocker, right? (Wrong; it's not about the Shocker, either.) About a year ago when I started branching out beyond my comfort zone with comics, my eyes were set on Image with its rise in power against the Big Two of the industry (Marvel and DC). I picked up a few interesting titles here and there from Image, including Revival and Saga—both of which are beyond-amazing books that you should be reading. I wanted to stay within my superhero comfort zone as well, though, so I decided to subscribe to The Bounce at the beginning of the series, and I have stuck with it to the end of its 12-issue run.
Written by Joe Casey and with art by David Messina, Giovanna Niro, Sonia Harris, Gaetano Carlucci, and Claudia Scarlet Gothica (there are a ton of art credits throughout the series, so I apologize to anyone I haven't listed), the series' selling point was that it's about a slacker, stoner superhero called the Bounce whose superpower was literally just that—he bounces like a superball. What the series eventually transformed into, however, was something much larger than another superhero story.
The book follows Jasper Jenkins, your run-of-the-mill nobody who has no career ambitions; a tough-as-nails older brother, Jeremiah, who's also an Assistant District Attorney for New York City; a cross-dressing roommate, Terry; and a secret life as, seemingly, the only superhero in a world that just doesn't feel right. That's the ultimate main point of the story: he's actually one of a handful of new super-powered individuals popping up in New York, and none of them feels like he or she has a place in a truly screwed-over world. War, famine, and misery reek in Earth's atmosphere, and nobody has any time or patience for the Bounce and his villains' bull. That is, nobody but the mysterious Darling and his secret, US military-run organization.
Both the Darling and the seductive Silver, a fortune teller who professes to live in two worlds simultaneously, have their own plans for Jasper as he's thrown into an interdimensional fantasy adventure and expected to play a part he has no idea he was assigned. Who knew some loser with one of the lamest superpowers would become the epicenter of a cosmic revolution?
Casey developed this complex story and universe in such a fluid way that the reader follows along with Jasper, thinking "what the heck is going—OH!" What really sold the book for me, however, was the tantalizing artwork. The Bounce utilizes every color of the psychedelic rainbow to deliver a visually stunning series, especially in the final book, which explodes in color along with the story.
There were a few instances in which the panel layout confused the order in which the panels were supposed to be read across a double-page spread, and the dialogue cues that could've dictated the flow of the narrative were nearly nonexistent, so I sometimes would have to reread a two-page spread in alternate orders to find the right directional flow. Another detractor from the story is the point at which Casey lets us in on the Darling's background, which also suffered from the double-page panel layout issue. I got the gist of how his back story relates to the present events, but there were several elements that just didn't seem to fit with the overall narrative. And don't get me started on the apparent deus ex machina ending, which left me scratching my head a bit and wondering, is that really how he's going to end it?
The Bounce was really a fun, mind-bending read with superb art. It has its flaws, but what book doesn't? It gets 3.5 stars out of 5 for the writing, and 4.5 stars out of 5 for the art. Definitely pick the book up if it sounds interesting, but I'd wait for the trade paperback release if I were you.
Read the book? What do you think of the series? How about those superhero designs from the Sauterne? Seemed familiar, eh? Tell me about it in the comments section below!
Posted by
Michelle Quillen
This is the first time in 4 years that I won't be able to attend E3. The times I have attended certainly proved to be memorable; I wasn't there to work, so my exploration of its technical playground abounded. If an E3 noob were to ask me something about the event they wouldn't have guessed, chances are, my answer would entail a personal experience. I've never left an E3 without a story to tell.
After all, it's where I had the pleasure of sharing drinks with PodCRASH host and former G4 personality Chris Gore. In 2012, I was able to meet writers for the gaming site I then wrote for, just long enough to become friendly yet briefly enough to avoid the inevitable awkwardness of meeting Internet strangers. At E3 2013, I met Jeromy "Doc" Adams, the founder of Extra Life (an annual gaming charity event I've participated in since 2010). Being recognized by Razer's CEO, Min Liang Tan, as someone he followed on Twitter was also pretty cool.
Yet there are other things about E3 to which I'm sure most of its attendees don't pay any mind—more unusual facts that could only be brought to us via this month's issue of the Entertainment Software Association's newsletter. Unlike the sights and sounds available to everyone on the exhibit floor, the ESA has provided us the following 10 behind-the-scenes, IMDb trivia-esque facts about just how much goes into the production of this annual southern California convention:
1. The Ethernet cables used at E3 could stretch from Los Angeles to Salt Lake City, from New York City to Chicago, from Denver to Dallas, or from Madrid to Paris. In total, these cables weigh more than two tons.
2. E3 features more than 35,000 video monitors and more than 6,000 pieces of furniture.
3. The meeting rooms and exhibit spaces at E3 could fill nearly 8 U.S. football fields, approximately 34 Olympic-sized swimming pools, or more than 7 White Houses.
4. Truss and hoists at E3—used to suspend lighting and hanging decorations—weigh the equivalent of 26 African elephants, 54 mid-sized SUVs, or more than 7 F-18 fighter jets.
5. The amount of bandwidth required for 3 days at E3 is more than most U.S. cities require in a year.
6. E3 employs more than 3,000 people during the course of producing the show, including an army of 45 network engineers who work to complete the on-site Internet/Ethernet installation in the 3 weeks leading up to the big event.
7. If the total quantity of data moved over the Internet at E3 was printed on size 8.5 x 11 paper and stacked vertically, it would be taller than the Empire State Building.
8. More than 55 miles of fiber optic cable is used at E3, enough to reach the mesopause—the coldest part of Earth's upper atmosphere.
9. The LACC's electricians use nearly 10 miles of extension cords at E3 and nearly 5 miles of duct tape to secure cords to the floor. The show also installs approximately 5 miles of carpet throughout the LACC.
10. For the first time, millions of gamers from around the world will be able to experience E3 by tuning in to Twitch.TV's live stream of the expo floor. Viewers can also watch press conferences, original interviews, and behind-the-scenes footage of the event.
Will you be heading to Los Angeles this week to go to the electronic software industry's global premiere trade show? Tell us in the comments what you're looking forward to, and even if you can't be there, head over to http://www.e3insider.com starting Monday at 9:30 AM PST to catch live coverage of this year's press conferences.
Source: ESA
Photo credits: Michelle Quillen
Posted by
Anthony Mango
- Sunday, June 8, 2014
On episode 2 of the Fanboys Anonymous Reviewpoint podcast, the panel has a roundtable discussion about the retelling of Disney's Sleeping Beauty, entitled Maleficent, and breaks down not only what worked in the film (Hit) as well as what didn't (Miss).
Hosted by Tony Mango along with Tom Jackson & Caitlin Dooley.
You can watch the podcast below. Make sure to subscribe!
Posted by
Unknown
- Saturday, June 7, 2014
After weeks of fan casting and a whole colony of potential candidates, Marvel has announced today that Peyton Reed will replace Edgar Wright as the director of Ant-Man. The news didn't stop there, however, as they also announced that Adam McKay, of Anchorman fame, will tune up the script for Reed.
Reed is an interesting choice whose resume certainly fits the comedic tone Ant-Man seems to be going for, although he hasn't done much high concept work. His previous credits are a smorgasbord that include everything from episodes of the popular New Girl to the original Bring It On film. McKay has directed two legendary combat sequences in the Anchorman franchise, so the two in tandem could make for interesting cinema.
What do you think of the selection of Reed? Will he be able to fill the void left by Wright? Let us know in the comments section below!
Posted by
Orion Petitclerc
- Friday, June 6, 2014
Hey-hey! It's your favorite Symbiote/Moon Knight Fanboy again, here to give you another glimmering review of the next chapter in the Moon Knight saga by Warren Ellis, Declan Shalvey, and Jordie Bellaire. I also have some bittersweet news to report after the review of Moon Knight #4 concerning the future of the book, so stay tuned.
Our powerhouse creative team continues to steam this wow-train along its weird tracks with the latest installation in the Lunar Crusader's one-shot adventures, this time called "Sleep." The one thing I've loved about this series so far is Ellis' attentiveness to Moon Knight's rich history, and in this issue he touches upon another classic story: the strange tale of Robert Markham, a.k.a. Morpheus, a mutated victim of eternal waking.
The issue explores a mysterious string of sleep-related attacks, for which Mr. Knight (Marc Spector's suit, tie, and masked persona) is contracted to investigate because of his experiences with Morpheus. It's also nice to see the late Dr. Peter Alraune's name mentioned—the older brother of Marc's once-long-time love interest, Marlene, and the man who accidentally created and tragically perished at the hands of Morpheus. Alraune is the second familiar name from Marc's supporting cast to show up in this new series, too, after Detective Flint.
The story takes a bizarre and colorful turn for the psychedelic as Mr. Knight explores the cause of the sleep-related attacks, and both Shalvey and Bellaire really get a chance to flex their artistic muscles. Up until this issue, their art has been very gritty and street-level, which works very well for a Moon Knight book. This time, though, Moon Knight is cast into a very strange fungal wonderland, and the pair comfortably stretch the limits of his supernatural pedigree, especially on a full-page spread that is bound to make you go "WTF? It's pretty, but…WTF?"
Perhaps the only criticism I have for this issue is another of Ellis' trademark abrupt endings. He did the same thing back in issues #1 and #2, and once again I felt like there was more to the story that just didn't make the cut. Admittedly, every issue always feels too truncated—even with issue #3, whose ending wrapped up quite serenely—but that's what you get with these one-off stories that have to fit within a 21-page limit.
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| THE BACON! |
Despite the abruptness and a lack of movement on Marc's overarching story, this was a solid issue for the entire creative team. Moon Knight #4 receives 4.5 stars out of 5 for the writing and 5 stars out of 5 for the art, meaning Shalvey and Bellaire's track record remains solid as they knock each issue out of the park.
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| Just another day at the office. |
Now, as for that bittersweet news I have to report: for a few weeks now, the fate of the book's creative team seemed uncertain, yet inevitable, but as of Wednesday when issue #4 released, Marvel and Newsarama broke the news that, yes, issue #6 would be the final one with the current creative team. Bellaire will remain to carry the torch with writer Brian Wood (Demo, DV8, X-Men) and artist Greg Smallwood (The Dream Thief) respectfully replacing Ellis and Shalvey.
It will definitely be a sad departure; Ellis and Shalvey have done an outstanding job at shining the much-needed spotlight onto Moon Knight, and the book has seen some new readership because of the all-star creative team and the truly epic books. Wood and Smallwood ensure readers, though, that their Moon Knight will bear many resemblances to Ellis and Shalvey's Moon Knight in style and format with Bellaire being the unifying element.
Check out Newsarama's interview with the new names for the full details, then head over to CBR to read Ellis and Shalvey's reasons for leaving the book. You can darn well expect to see more Moon Knight reviews from yours truly as the issues come out, regardless of creative change-ups. Don't forget to leave a comment below telling Fanboys Anonymous about your favorite moments in the book and your hopes and fears for the future of Moon Knight!
Posted by
Michelle Quillen
E3 2014 is four days away, and as per usual, social networks are abuzz with excitement for what this year’s Electronic Entertainment Expo will bring us. Among what’s ahead are the latest titles from Capcom, which were just announced, along with the lineup of playable games that will be available to us at the Capcom booth.
Dead Rising 3, one of the exclusive launch titles for Xbox One, is making its way to PC gamers as a digital download on Steam. Slaughter the undead in widescreen and high resolution and witness the characters, surroundings, and in-game objects with an upgraded texture. Dead Rising 3 for PC will come with Steam platform support, Steam Achievements, Steam Cloud, Steam Trading Cards, global leaderboards and full game controller compatibility.
Monster Hunter Freedom Unite introduced PSP players to the world of eliminating monsters, from the early stages of attack planning to the consequential combat. This month the game will be arriving on the App Store for iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, iPad mini, and iPad Air. The ultimate reward is achieved using complex fighting systems and teaming up with the most experienced hunters to improve one’s skills. This mobile version will feature higher definition graphics, support for MFi controllers, and co-op multiplayer quests accessible by wi-fi for up to four hunters.
In keeping with the Monster Hunter vein, Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate is coming to Nintendo 3DS for us here in the US early 2015. For this portable gaming version of the latest series installment, the Nintendo Network will allow players to join up, create teams, and take out—or even ride atop—the monsters together. New features include more vertical and lateral movement, two weapon classes, and versatile climbing abilities.
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy is also making its way to the Nintendo 3DS this winter on the Nintendo eShop. All three games featuring the courtroom character will feature sharp high-res graphics and 3D visuals built for the 3DS, while players investigate crime scenes, gather evidence and interact with witnesses. Defend your client with what you see and hear in a series of classic cases to expose the truth.
Fanboys Anonymous brought the news of Ultra Street Fighter IV’s release for the PS3 and impressive cast of characters this week. Take another look at what’s in store with this title by checking out screenshots and our report of the latest features here.
FA also brought you the details of Capcom Pro Tour, the Street Fighter-based fighting league, back in March. E3 will be the third among its ranking event destinations, where players from all over the world will go head to head for Capcom Cup final victory. Look back at what the CPT is all about and Capcom’s partnership with Twitch here.
All of these titles will be on display at the Capcom booth #2001 in the South Hall of the LA Convention Center from June 10th to June 12th. Which game would you wait in the inevitable line to try out? Let us know in the Comments below!
Posted by
Jonathan Jackson
May 23rd marked the official 30th anniversary of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, and there's a fun little purchase that any true fan of Indiana Jones would probably like to add to their desk or dining table.
In Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, the trio receive a warm welcome from the residents of Pankot Palace, during which they attend a lavish banquet attended by the Maharajah. On the menu were local delicacies including baby snakes, beetles, eyeball soup, and chilled monkey brain for dessert. The monkey brain scene is one of the most iconic moments in the Indy films (along with the opening of the Ark of the Covenant in Raiders of the Lost Ark). This item can be bought from Firebox for around $60, who describe their product thus:
"Roast chicken and Shepherds pie just won't cut it any more. Your body is a temple, a temple of doom, and it deserves to be fed something far more exciting.
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| Firebox's monkey brains bowl, not for the faint of heart! |
So why not liven up meal times with this Monkey Brains Bowl and scoop chilled cerebral delicacies straight from its hairy gaping cranium. If this fine piece of severed simian storage is good enough for his Supreme Highness, the Maharajah of Pankot (and he knew how to party), then it's certainly good enough for you. You can fill it with all sorts of exotic delights like crispy Coleoptera beetles, Eye-ball soup and "Snake Surprise" ...or something more boring, like cornflakes.
It's an undeniably tasteful dining vessel, though the sight of it may cause more squeamish dinner guests to roll their eyes back and faint melodramatically."
Would this be something you would buy to serve up dessert to your guests? Or how would you use yours? Let us know in the comments below!
Posted by
Michelle Quillen
- Thursday, June 5, 2014
Get ready for some more rounds, Super Street Fighter IV fans! Capcom has released Ultra Street Fighter IV on the PlayStation Network and Xbox Live for console players who are pumped for an upgrade.
The new digital content was released to PS3 and Xbox 360 owners across the US this week to beef up their versions of Super Street Fighter IV or Super Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition. The download is available for $14.99 and comes with a slew of new features for yet even more fisticuff fun.
Ultra Street Fighter IV boasts an impressive cast of 44 total characters, thanks to the addition of Poison, Hugo, Elena, Rolento and Decapre, each with fresh play styles of their own. For a change of scenery, take on opponents against six awesome new settings such as Cosmic Elevator, Half Pipe, Pitstop 109, and other representations of futuristic battlegrounds.
Capcom kept the interest of the fans regarding Super Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition’s original 39 characters and integrated it with USF IV’s latest game mechanics in order to maintain the integrity that has perpetuated this title’s franchise.
The retail versions of Ultra Street Fighter IV will hit shelves for $39.99 MSRP on August 5th, as will the full digital bundle on PS3 for download. PC players will have to hold onto their mice until August 8th, when both the digital upgrade and the full digital bundle will be available on Steam for $14.99 and $29.99, respectively.
Can you wait until August until you can get your hands on those hot little cases? Are you a 21st century digital Fanboy? Let us know the character you can't wait to play in the Comments below.
Written by Joe Casey and with art by David Messina, Giovanna Niro, Sonia Harris, Gaetano Carlucci, and Claudia Scarlet Gothica (there are a ton of art credits throughout the series, so I apologize to anyone I haven't listed), the series' selling point was that it's about a slacker, stoner superhero called the Bounce whose superpower was literally just that—he bounces like a superball. What the series eventually transformed into, however, was something much larger than another superhero story.
Both the Darling and the seductive Silver, a fortune teller who professes to live in two worlds simultaneously, have their own plans for Jasper as he's thrown into an interdimensional fantasy adventure and expected to play a part he has no idea he was assigned. Who knew some loser with one of the lamest superpowers would become the epicenter of a cosmic revolution?
