Fanboys Anonymous

Nightcrawler #9 cover by Nauck and Rosenberg

Shadow-X

Nightcrawler is up against the heroic teachers from the Jean Grey School, who have been possessed by an old and deadly foe: the Shadow King. On top of this the Crimson Pirates are thrown in the mix for a bit of fun.

Issue #9 of Nightcrawler continues the story set up in the previous issue but is spliced with flashbacks to the Xavier School for the Gifted days of the X-Men. Approaching it in this manner, writer Chris Claremont uses familiar territory to flesh out more of the plot. I am not entirely convinced that this adds a lot for the audience, but it does feel fondly nostalgic.

As a series, Nightcrawler has a lot of action and appeals to a wide audience. It is a straightforward and uncomplicated story, involving a large number of recognizable X-Men characters. In addition to the diverse cast, Claremont's story continues to be dialogue heavy, giving letterer Travis Lanham plenty to do in this issue. Despite the unsubtle approach to narrative, the plot is quite linear, clear, and holds itself together well. Given this, artist Todd Nauck streamlines an aerobatic and swashbuckling adventure around the character rapport.

Nightcrawler trains with the X-Men

I could be reading more into it than intended, but it's possible that Claremont is slightly lamenting the current state of affairs for X-Men comics or stories in general, which haven't panned out as he thought they might. The last panel dialogue on page 13, where a flashback takes place with Nightcrawler and Kitty Pryde, reads, "true, this isn't the future we dreamed of, but power comes with responsibility. I suppose it all comes down to faith. What we do, what we sacrifice, I pray makes the future better." Claremont has been trying to link the past X-Men and the new throughout this series, both in some overtly open ways and some not as apparent.

Nauck continues a strong run of form for the series. His style is complementary to Claremont's approach to the story. As a result, pages of art flow in a consistent manner with an even balance. A nice standout in this issue, Nauck's work on the flashback settings has the right feel and pays homage to past interpretations of X-Men characters. To bring the art to life, Rachelle Rosenberg provides vivid colors that are sharp and crisp.

A possessed Psylocke tracks down Bess

Rosenberg focuses on characters, with their colors the dominant feature on each page; the backgrounds, while beautiful, are thus relegated to a lesser role. By doing this, Rosenberg works well with Nauck and Claremont to make this a character-driven story, which is where Nightcrawler hits the mark as a series.

What do think of how the characters are driven in Nightcrawler?

What do you think the strengths of the series are?

Leave your thoughts below or post a message on our Facebook page, and come back next time to see our response.

Amazing X-Men #14 cover by Kris Anka

The worst of us.

After the high of last month's issue, Amazing X-Men is back under the regular creative team, but this time seems a little different.

Don't worry, this is a good thing.

When the World War Wendigo arc concluded, the story, while still fun to read, was a little flatter than when it had begun. However, things seemed to be changing for the better in the series now, as this issue solidifies the keen storytelling dynamics that helped launch the series last year.

So what is this change?

Amazing X-Men #14 has heart. There is feeling behind the storytelling and art, and it leaves the reader with the distinct experience that comes from feel-good comics.

The inversion spell shakes things  up for Nightcrawler and Mystique

In this issue we have two iconic characters, Nightcrawler and Mystique, head-to-head yet inverted. The story's events are direct fallout from the events of Marvel's AXIS. Much like the previous issue in the series, it has a story to tell and just gets the job done. Contrast this with the Nightcrawler series, which again is fun but draws out the story in an elongated manner that feels unnecessary. On top of this, we get to pick up the family feud last seen in issue #6 of Amazing X-Men, the penultimate issue by Jason Aaron in his run on the series.

It is great to see Chris Yost pick up some of the threads unraveled in the first arc of the series. The implications of Nightcrawler trading his soul to return to the land of the living haven't yet been fully explored by Marvel. In issue #14, we begin to see the peril of this dawn on Nightcrawler's mother, Mystique. Her own new sense of morality comes from the inversion caused by the spell from the Scarlet Witch and Dr Doom in AXIS. As with any big publisher's comic event, it is sometimes the stories on the periphery that turn out to be the most interesting. This issue is one such example.

Nightcrawler in the moon light

Because it is a self-contained story, Amazing X-Men #14 feels complete. It provides a reading experience that has a certain sense of closure. On top of this, the art spotlights some fantastic work by Carlo Barberi and Iban Coello. The splash page of Nightcrawler atop the cathedral demonstrates the moody resonance found in the story. The depiction of main characters has also being considered, as Mystique has been softened in style to match her inverted personality, while Nightcrawler seems to be sharpened in detail. The colors by Rachelle Rosenberg enhance these traits and remain resolute for this issue.

The combination of the past couple of issues and the quality of the artistic team bode well for the next arc of Amazing X-Men. I hope that we see the continuity issues sorted out that hindered the previous arc, because the "Once and Future Juggernaut" has the potential to be a great story.

With the fallout from AXIS spilling to various corners of the Marvel Universe, what did you think of Amazing X-Men #14? The current artistic team seems to have settled in now, do you like their style? What do you want to see from next month's issue?

Hit us with your thoughts down below, or follow us on Twitter and Facebook and leave a comment there.

2014 has certainly seen its high and low points in terms of the gaming industry. From exhilarating successes to abysmal disappointments, 2014 has been a memorable year.

The crew at Press Start decides to take to the discussion lounge one last time this year in order to chat about their experiences with this year in gaming. They also go over what they're looking forward to seeing in 2015! Warning: Opinions ahead!


What are your thoughts about the year 2014 in gaming? If you ask this producer about what the best titles of 2014 are, I'd have to say (in no particular order) Bayonetta 2, Dark Souls II, and Shovel Knight are the top three title released this year! What about you? Let us know in the comments below.

Press Start films weekly and can be followed on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Hey, hey, hey, Dacetacular nation! Check out Episode 78 of The Dace Man Show with hosts Dace, Gibby, Nicholas Andrew, and Tricia Bell.

::SPORTS NEWS::

• NHL Rankings
• NFL week 15 is in the books!
• Plus more

::WEIRD NEWS WITH GIBBY::

• Dropped his briefs.

::FRANK'S CORNER::

• Top 10 Colbert Report Moments according to EW Online.

::CELEB NEWS::

• The Colbert Report Final Show on the horizon
• Spiderman to Marvel?
• Plus more…

::Who Said It::


Plus Gibby Sings! All that and more, only on The Dace Man Show.



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 of the other bloggers here at Fanboys Anonymous. Remember, keyboard warriors: leave your feedback! Until the next time, for the few, the proud, and, of course, the Dacetacular, grab a beer—and in this case a comfy seat in front of your computer—and check out what's going on here in the Dace-Sphere. See ya next time!





Follow on Facebook: Mega Powers Radio | Fanboys Anonymous | The Dace Man Show | Nerd Court | Sports Talk Weekly | Addicted to Anime

On episode 13 of the Fanboys Anonymous FanTracks podcast, the panel continues its Christmas-themed television shows series by providing commentary for perhaps our shittiest episode of FanTracks yet:

After a short introduction, you will be told when to sync up your copy of the episode so you can follow along with our commentary. Follow the links below to listen to the podcast on either YouTube, iTunes, or Stitcher. Make sure to subscribe!

Subscription models have rapidly dominated the entertainment market with Netflix leading movie and television streaming and Spotify leading in music. The pay-per-month deal is an attractive offer for those who frequently binge-watch movies and whole TV series late at night where no one can see their baggy eyes and mounds of junk food (one more episode, I swear!). Now, in an attempt to lure movie lovers off their couches and back into the theater, AMC will pilot their own monthly subscription service: unlimited movies for a flat rate of $35.

AMC, the second-largest movie theater chain behind Regal Entertainment with close to 5,000 movie screens around the country, has partnered with MoviePass to test run a subscription service that allows members to see one film a day for a monthly fee of $35 for standard films and $45 for IMAX and 3D.

According to the Denver Post, AMC Theaters and MoviePass will test market the service, called MoviePass Premium, in metro Denver and Boston AMC theaters in hopes to revive the steady decline in theater attendance. With the box office reaching an all time low in summer ticket sales since 2001 (no movie topped $300 million), MoviePass Premium may drive extra traffic to theaters. It's an ambitious plan, but like both the music and news industries, film is fighting a tough battle with the Internet.

Since 2007, moviegoing has seen a downward trend among young adults, as reported in Nielsen's 2014 Moviegoing Report released last week. Audiences between the ages of 12 and 24 years old had a 15.5 percent decrease, seeing an average of 7.1 movies a year, one point less than the relatively stable 25 to 44 age group.


"Millennials are consuming things differently, and that includes going to the movies," Stacy Spikes, MoviePass's chief executive and co-founder told the New York Times.

Streaming content instantly appeals more to young adults, initiating the decline as an unlimited amount of movies are readily made available for just $8 a month on Netflix or found for free elsewhere on the Internet. According to the Nielsen Report, 87 percent of young adults say they stream movies or TV shows, with more than 60 percent stating they've streamed at least two films in a single day. That same age group are reportedly more likely to see a movie in a theater as a group and rely on social media as a trusted source of movie information.

To combat that trend, AMC's average ticket prices increased 5.3 percent this year to $9.48, according to the New York Times, and reach as high as $15 in New York City, making this is a great deal for film enthusiasts that will take full advantage each month—even if you see at least three movies each month, it still saves you enough money for popcorn.

This isn't the first time AMC attempted to gauge consumer interest; last month they offered unlimited viewings of Interstellar to AMC Stubs members for $19.99. However, while theaters will be paid full price for every admission, they will need to rely on moviegoers to not actually increase their attendance. It's a simple economics trick that works similar to gym membership: "Some overuse, a lot underuse," Spikes told the New York Times.

The subscription service is expected to launch Jan. 5 and will be available on a limited basis, allowing subscribers to see any movie only once. Additional cities will be added based on the success rate of the service. "This is something we'd have to figure out and road-map together," Spikes told Denver Post. "We will follow whatever patterns we see."

Hey, hey, hey, Dacetacular nation! Check out Episode 77 of The Dace Man Show with hosts Dace, Gibby, Nicholas Andrew, and Tricia Bell.

::SPORTS NEWS::

• NHL Rankings
• NFL week 14 is in the books!
• Plus more

::WEIRD NEWS WITH GIBBY::

• Lots of hate crimes going on in the world.

::FRANK'S CORNER::

• The Dace Man takes over the segment and gives you the Top 10 states where hate crimes are committed.

::CELEB NEWS::

• Sony Hacking Crisis! 
• P-Diddy takes a swing at Drake
• Plus more…

::Who Said It::


Plus Gibby Sings! All that and more, only on The Dace Man Show.



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 of the other bloggers here at Fanboys Anonymous. Remember, keyboard warriors: leave your feedback! Until the next time, for the few, the proud, and, of course, the Dacetacular, grab a beer—and in this case a comfy seat in front of your computer—and check out what's going on here in the Dace-Sphere. See ya next time!





Follow on Facebook: Mega Powers Radio | Fanboys Anonymous | The Dace Man Show | Nerd Court | Sports Talk Weekly | Addicted to Anime

Fanboys Anonymous hosted a special Group Meeting retrospective podcast dedicated to The Colbert Report in honor of the series finale.

Strap in and Better Know A Colbert Report, as Chris "The Dace Man" Dace and Mike Paden  give you all the truthiness the nation can handle.

After nine years Stephen Colbert will be signing off on Comedy Central one last time but before he gives his final word, join us as we look back at the memories Stephen has left for us.


After serving a grateful Fanboy Nation, we the Fanboys, salute you for your service. Thank you for the memories and best of luck at CBS!


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 of the other bloggers here at Fanboys Anonymous. Remember, keyboard warriors: leave your feedback! Until the next time, for the few, the proud, and, of course, the Dacetacular, grab a beer—and in this case a comfy seat in front of your computer—and check out what's going on here in the Dace-Sphere. See ya next time!




Follow on Facebook: Mega Powers Radio | Fanboys Anonymous | The Dace Man Show | Nerd Court | Sports Talk Weekly | Addicted to Anime

Uncanny X-Men Annual #1 (2014) cover by Andrea Sorrentino

Let the X-Men take you on a journey through time and space.

Marvel has been using time travel and its effects for altering past, present, and future to maximum effect throughout their comic universe. This is nothing new, but it is slowly building to a big event. Uncanny X-Men Annual #1 is a snapshot examination of how time travel effects an individual mutant, with some wider ramifications for audiences to consider

In this issue, Eva Bell (aka Tempus), a new young mutant in training, is caught in a time tempest and lost to the eons, when she can't control her time-traveling abilities.

The story follows the missing events from Uncanny X-Men #17, where Eva went missing during the group's training exercises in Tabula Rasa. For a person such as Eva, with the ability to traverse time, her existence is always in the here and now. However, as part of Cyclops' new wave of powerful mutants, this is a good setup for a character who has been teased to have a big future in the pages of X-Men comics.

Eva Bell jumps through time to an apocalyptic future

Eva was first introduced in the launch of the All-New X-Men #1 by Brian Michael Bendis and Stuart Immonen in 2012. We have seen the character progression from a frightened teenager to a strong-willed young woman, though the later stages of her advancement were saved for the special releases this month. Bendis has been talking up the Uncanny X-Men and All-New X-Men Annuals for the past few months. Despite such hype, the first part of this story has lived up to most of my expectations, but not in the way I anticipated.

The star of this show is first and foremost the wonderful art by Andrea Sorrentino and colors by Marcelo Maiolo. Both artists work in a collaboration that provides gripping and memorable images. The layout from Sorrentino is dramatic, but the hues from Maiolo add a depth to the art that could have been lost in other hands. Of course, Bendis provides a strong story around which such artistic abilities can flourish. Although, without the second part of this story, it is difficult to gauge the lasting impact of the story itself.

Eva meets the Rawhide Kid

Bendis does offer some nice little touches worth further mentioning. The cameo by the Rawhide Kid was a great story interaction to bring a historically significant Marvel character to some new level of resonance. The foreshadowing of Illyana Rasputin (aka Magik) as a Sorcerer Supreme and training alongside Dr Strange in earlier issues of Uncanny X-Men finds some fruition in this issue also.

Sorrentino's depiction of Eva's mutant ability to create time pockets is one of the most artistic expressions I have seen lately to show off a superhero power. It is great to see such an interpretation given. Sorrentino and Bendis have the reader following along at a nice pace through this issue. There is a natural rise and fall of tempo, with some dramatic scenes at the end, to provide that crucial cliffhanger as we anticipate the next installment of the story.

Eva makes it to 2099

Ultimately this is an issue of Uncanny X-Men worth checking out. It is a strong story, paired it with a unique artistic style that produces an intriguing experience.

While this story has filled in some of what happened to Eva, I did come away with more questions than answers. Hopefully these will be answered with the follow-up in next week's annual.

Did you get what you hoped for out of this issue? What did you think of Sorrentino's art? Where do you think we are heading next in the All-New X-Men Annual?

Leave your thoughts and comments below and make sure you come back next time for the concluding chapter of this two-part story.

On episode 12 of the Fanboys Anonymous FanTracks podcast, the panel continues the series of Christmas-themed television shows by providing audio commentary for:

After a short introduction, you will be told when to sync up your copy of the episode so you can follow along with our commentary. Follow the links below to listen to the podcast on either YouTube, iTunes, or Stitcher. Make sure to subscribe!

Sony Pictures has officially cancelled the release of the highly controversial The Interview—a movie that stars James Franco and Seth Rogen in a wacky adventure to assassinate the leader of North Korea, Kim Jong-un.

This comes after hackers made threats that they would perform a cyber-terrorism attack equivalent to those of 9/11 on any theater that shows the film. Whether North Korea itself is responsible for these claims has not yet been confirmed.

Was this the right decision to pull the movie and not release it? In my opinion, I'm surprised they didn't do this sooner. North Korea made threats months ago when reports of this movie came out. Any kind of threats like this shouldn't be taken too lightly. 

Sony will definitely have to suffer some backlash from people for doing this. I honestly wasn't a fan of Zero Dark Thirty because it took place so recently after the Osama bin Laden killing and I'm surprised it didn't spark a bigger controversy in the Middle East. At the end of the day, Sony is making the right decision for themselves and possibly the safety of others. I personally wanted to see the movie, but I guess I'll have to wait for a bootleg or a leak of some kind to show up online.

What do you think of Sony's decision? Leave your opinion down in the comment section below

Hey, hey, hey, Dacetacular nation! Dace Man here with the 24th edition of The Dace Man Plays!

Going forward, yours truly will play a game here and there usually for about 10–20 minutes because, frankly, anything longer and you all would lose interest. Hear my commentary as I take on some of the classics and some of the new-age stuff I don't quite understand!

In this installment, my nephew John teams up and loses track of time with fellow Dace Man Show co-host Gibby. This time we play PlayStation 3's Twisted Metal and the fourth level in the Sweet Tooth Campaign. See how delusional and deranged we get while playing for over an hour and with my nephew, who is clearly better than us, in part four.



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 of the other bloggers here at Fanboys Anonymous. Remember, keyboard warriors: leave your feedback! Until the next time, for the few, the proud, and, of course, the Dacetacular, grab a beer—and in this case a PlayStation 3 controller—and check out what's going on here in the Dace-Sphere. See ya next time!


Follow on Facebook: Mega Powers Radio | Fanboys Anonymous | The Dace Man Show | Nerd Court | Sports Talk Weekly | Addicted to Anime

On episode 11 of the Fanboys Anonymous FanTracks podcast, the panel kicks off its series of Christmas-themed television show editions by providing commentary for the first of several X-Mas stories from the 31st century:

After a short introduction, you will be told when to sync up your copy of the episode so you can follow along with our commentary. Follow the links below to listen to the podcast on either YouTube, iTunes, or Stitcher. Make sure to subscribe!

Hey, hey, hey, Dacetacular nation! Check out Episode 76 of The Dace Man Show with hosts Dace, Gibby, Nicholas Andrew, and Tricia Bell, and special guest Miss Abigail Rich.

::SPORTS NEWS::

• NHL things
• NFL week 13 is in the books!
• Plus more

::WEIRD NEWS WITH GIBBY::

• Short but fun…like a gherkin.

::FRANK'S CORNER::

• Frank's gone again, and Fun bags is back in charge.

::CELEB NEWS::

• YouTube Crashes
• Flash/Arrow Crossover
• Plus more…

::Who Said It::


Plus Gibby Sings and The Douchebag of The Week! All that and more, only on The Dace Man Show.



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 of the other bloggers here at Fanboys Anonymous. Remember, keyboard warriors: leave your feedback! Until the next time, for the few, the proud, and, of course, the Dacetacular, grab a beer—and in this case a comfy seat in front of your computer—and check out what's going on here in the Dace-Sphere. See ya next time!





Follow on Facebook: Mega Powers Radio | Fanboys Anonymous | The Dace Man Show | Nerd Court | Sports Talk Weekly | Addicted to Anime

On episode 10 of the Fanboys Anonymous FanTracks podcast, the panel kicks off its series of Christmas-themed television show editions by providing commentary for the first episode of what many of us consider to be our favorite TV show of all time:

After a short introduction, you will be told when to sync up your copy of the episode so you can follow along with our commentary. Follow the links below to listen to the podcast on either YouTube, iTunes, or Stitcher. Make sure to subscribe!