Marvel’s Cinematic Universe is currently hip-deep into its third phase of films with seemingly no end in sight. The next film to be released in that increasingly fleshed-out universe is Doctor Strange. As mentioned previously, the character is no stranger (oh god, I’m so sorry for that) to adaptation, however few seem to remember the first time he graced screens. And those who are aware (usually by screenshots or on-set pictures) tend to regard the original film with snickering animosity.
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Vampirella (1996 video)
Posted: October 19, 2016 in Guest ColumnTags: Vampirella, Warren Publishing
**Author Brian C. Baer braved the world of 90’s direct-to-video horror to review this adaptation of horror vixen Vampirella. The things he does for you people…**
Compared to most of her four-color competition, the classic horror heroine Vampirella is perfectly suited for the big screen. She debuted in Warren Publishing’s Vampirella #1 in 1969 as a jokey, Crypt Keeper-style host for various short stories, but she was also featured in solo adventures to explain her origin and power-set.
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CBM PROFILE: Ghost Rider
Posted: September 12, 2016 in CBM ProfileTags: Agents of SHIELD, Fantastic Four, Ghost Rider, Marvel
Ghost Rider is best known as a Marvel “gimmick” character with a remarkable amount of staying power. This is largely due to his iconic look. I mean, who can deny that a dude with a flaming skull for a head, clad in leather and sitting atop a motorcycle looks pretty freaking cool? While that may be the most recognizable design for the character, that is by no means his only look. Nor was it his first.
This profile will examine the history and characters who have taken the mantle of Ghost Rider and how each of those individuals has been adapted in popular media. To start, we’ll look at the first incarnation of the character, before any supernatural elements were folded into his backstory.
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CBM INTERVIEW: Punisher: L’histoire Secrète
Posted: September 6, 2016 in CBM InterviewTags: Baer, CBM Interview, Marvel, Punisher
**Frequent collaborator Brian C. Baer used his influence as a He-Man scholar to score this interview with Jérémie Damoiseau, the world’s foremost expert on all things Dolph Lundgren. Here, Brian gives some insight on Lundgren’s turn as The Punisher and discusses Jérémie’s new book. Enjoy!**
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The Tick is a character who has been around since the mid 80’s. But I’d be willing to bet that there is a good number of fans of his who didn’t realize that he was a comic book character for a long time (or maybe ever). I know my first encounter with the character had nothing to do with comics. However, completist that I am, once I discovered his black and white origins, I quickly went to the source and voraciously consumed as much of his comic series as my little eyes could take.
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CBM Profile: Amanda Waller
Posted: August 17, 2016 in CBM ProfileTags: Arrow, DC, Justice League, Suicide Squad
Who would you consider to be the biggest badass in the DC Universe? Would it be a dark, brooding hero like Batman? Maybe an unflinchingly cool mercenary like Deathstroke? Both are decent choices and both are wrong. There is, in fact, a simple and objective answer to this question.
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Within the last few decades Batman has been defined by the villains he faces more than just about any other character in comics. He has a gallery of nemeses that are more recognizable to the average person than any two or three heroes combined. Among that collection of foes, one stands head and shoulders among the rest, The Clown Prince of Crime: The Joker.
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COMMENTARYCAST: Superman Returns
Posted: June 30, 2016 in CommentaryCastTags: CommentaryCast, DC, Man of Steel, Superman
This week, we celebrate the 10th anniversary of Superman Returns. In many ways, this movie is the complete antithesis of the current slate of DC’s films. It’s a quiet, somber story about a hero trying to find the MAN amid the SUPER. Director Bryan Singer famously stepped away from the X-Men franchise in order to direct it and his love for the character shines through. At the time of it’s release, it was a critical darling but a point of contention among fans. Some saw it as a suitable love-letter to the Richard Donner age of Superman past while many viewed it more as a boring slog without enough punching. Well, now we have a meat-headed, murderous Superman, so be careful what you wish for. While underperforming at the box office, a lot of that had to do with expectations derived from past, scrapped attempts at this iteration of Superman which cost the studio up to $200 Million. Both Brian and I (as well as Quentin Tarantino) agree that is probably the best take on Superman that modern audiences are likely going to see and a well-crafted, poignant, heart-felt film. Now enjoy listening to us curse through watching it.
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With a year and a half until its release date, the filmmakers behind Justice League have made the unprecedented move to roll out a full blitz of information and interviews regarding the not-so-coming-soon feature.
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PILOT LITE: 2015-2016 Season in Review
Posted: June 13, 2016 in Pilot LiteTags: Agents of SHIELD, Arrow, DC, Flash, iZombie, Legends of Tomorrow, Lucifer, Marvel, Pilot Lite, Supergirl, Walking Dead
This television season saw some great strides in comics on TV, but also a bit of stumbling. New series, for the most part, premiered strong while many of the returning shows seemed to have a bit of trouble maintaining their footing. Without going into it too much, here’s my ranking for this year’s comic book television shows: Read the rest of this entry »
