Category Archives: Movies
New Image from “The Avengers”
Marvel released some new photos today of Cobie Smulders (“How I Met Your Mother”) as S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Maria Hill. More importantly, look at the screens in front of her. That’s right, it’s the Helicarrier!!!!
The Avengers and The Amazing Spider Man
This summer is going to be awesome! And here are two of the reasons why:
First up, The Avengers! Earth’s Mightiest Heroes! This movie is going to be so much fun.
Then there is The Amazing Spider Man! It seems too early for a reboot, but this looks like they are going a new and exciting way.
This is going to be one heck of a year!
What To Read After: Green Lantern
After seeing “Green Lantern” on the big screen, it’s time to sit down and get to know The Corps a little better. Here’s a good place to start. This post may contain movie and comic book spoilers, so be warned!
Green Lantern Secret Origin
Green Lantern Vol. 4 #29-35 It seem like issue #29 is a strange place to start, but is the most recent re-telling of Hal Jordan’s green beginnings. These 6 issues are the basis for the movie, but go much deeper into story of Hal and the Corps. Lots of character you saw in the movie are here, including Hector Hammond, Tom Kalmaku and, of course, Carol Ferris and Sinestro. Written by the man responsible for reviving Green Lantern (among other characters of the past few years) and DC Comics Chief Creative Officer Geoff Johns, with art by the equally talented Ivan Reis.
Green Lantern Emerald Dawn
Green Lantern Emerald Dawn # 1-6 An earlier and slightly different take on the origin story of Hal Jordan. It is a little more gritty than the more recent telling. There are elements from the movie, but this is before Parallax was introduced to the DC Universe, and also when the Green Lanterns could not control the color yellow. The bad guy is Legion, a sort of mechanical hive of a dead planets consciousness. Written by 1990’s icon Keith Giffen, Gerard Jones and Jim Owsley, with art by M.D. Bright and Romeo Tanghal.
Green Lantern Emerald Dawn II
Green Lantern Emerald Dawn II #1-6 The sequel to Emerald Dawn, this mini-series deals with the training of Hal Jordan to become the Green Lantern of Sector 2814. It also introduces Hal and Sinestro, his trainer. Hal begins to discover the ways of the Green Lantern Corp…and the ways of Sinestro. This sets the stage for a very long and rough relationship between these two. It also introduces Guy Gardener, a future Green Lantern. Also written by Keith Giffen and Gerard Jones with art by M.D. Bright and Romeo Tanghal.
Green Lantern Corps: Recharge
Green Lantern Corps: Recharge #1-5 This is a great place to learn about the Green Lantern Corps itself. It follows the selection and training of several new recruits from all corners of the galaxy. Hal Jordan isn’t featured much in this story, but Earth Lanterns Guy Gardener and Kyle Rayner, along with drill sergeant Kilowog. This limited series later turned into the ongoing monthly series by the same name. Written by Geoff Johns and Dave Gibbons and drawn by one of my favorite artists Patrick Gleason.
Plus, here’s a bonus: DC Comics online has a special Green Lantern 101 digital issue to catch you up. It explains the Green Lantern Universe and has a few other cool stories. Also, coming this September, DC Comics is rebooting their entire line of comic books, with all of them starting at issue #1. This will be a great time to jump on board Green Lantern and 51 other DC Comics!
What To Read After: X-Men First Class
You saw “X-Men: First Class” and liked it. So, now what? Where do you start? Fear not, I’m here to help. This post may contain movie and comic book spoilers, so be warned!
X-Men First Class #1
X-Men First Class (Vol. 1 – 8 issues, Vol. 2 – 16 issues, Finals – 4 issues) The name of these limited series are the same as the film, but the stories are different. It is a modern take on the early days of the X-Men. The role call is different from the film: Cyclops (Scott Summers), Marvel Girl (Jean Grey), Iceman (Bobby Drake), and Angel (Warren Worthington III) who should not to be confused with the Angel that appears in the film. Only Beast (Hank McCoy) was in the original line up of X-Men and is both in the film and this series. Written by Jeff Parker, with art by Roger Cruz.
X-Men #20
X-Men #20 An early story of the X-Men, in which they battle the evil alien Lucifer. During the course of the story, Professor Xavier reveals that it is Lucifer that is responsible for his paralysis. The Professor and Lucifer fought years before in Tibet, where Lucifer crushed the Professors legs with a boulder. Written by Roy Thomas with art by Werner Roth.
X-Men #129
X-Men #129 There are many firsts in this Marvel Milestone. It contains the first appearance of Sebastian Shaw, Emma Frost and the Hellfire Club. The story, however, has nothing to do with the movie. Which is good, because you don’t want to just re-read the movie. The down side is none of the X-Men you saw in the movie are in this issue, with the exception of Banshee and Havok who are only on one page. It is written and drawn by the classic X-Men team of Chris Claremont and John Byrne, who dominated the 1980’s and set the bar for which all X-titles will be judged. This first storyline featuring the Hellfire Club runs through issue #134, but continues without Shaw and company through issue #137.
X-Men #150
X-Men #150The are elements in this issue that we see in the film, with Magneto being the central focus. The Russians attack Magneto’s island with a submarine, the X-Men arrive in the Blackbird and Magneto talking about his past are all pieces that inspired the film. Again, another Chris Claremont story, with art by Dave Cockrum.
X-Men #161
X-Men #161 A flashback issue that tells the story of Charles Xavier first met Magnus, a.k.a. Erik Lehnsherr, a.k.a. Magneto. The surrounding story is that of Professor Xavier unconscious after an encounter with the Brood (a hostile extraterrestrial life form that are not unlike alien from the movie ‘Alien’). Their meeting is different than in the film, but it does involve fighting Nazis and discussing their philosophical differences. Story by Chris Claremont and art by Dave Cockrum. There are, of course, 46 years of other X-Men exploits to read, with many, many other titles and limited series.
