Malpractice

That's a pretty good theory about Eric not dying in the comic Mike. While there is a lot of evidence that Eric actually never died, there is actually just as much evidence to the contrary. My personal take on it is that it is intentionally supposed to be ambigious. Almost as if the book is trying to say that alive or dead this man is incomplete, and justice needed to be served before he could be at peace with himself. It's kind of like the "is Deckard a replicant or not" argument. Although, Eric not being dead does make more sense considering that this book is basically James O'Barr's metaphorical revenge fantasy for the drunk driver that killed his girlfriend, and he needed to write/draw this in order to be at peace with himself. I have to say i think it's kind of funny that you guys basically boiled the comic down to "one gun fight after another gun fight", and that it didn't have much depth, but when this comic was released it was praised for having so much depth, and not just being "one guy in cape and tights fighting another guy in capes and tights". I am not saying you guys are wrong, but i just thought it was kind of ironic. I haven't read the book in years so who knows i might actually agree with you guys now, but I just remember this book completley flooring me when i was younger. Nine Inch Nails "Dead Souls" is played as well. This episode just keeps getting better. In relation to The Crow sequel City Of Angels, the movie got seriously botched by the studio, and they edited it so that the story ran parallel to the first movie in sequence structure, and they cut out important scenes, etc. I am not saying it would of been a great movie or anything but it never really got a fair shake in the first place. I have been trying to get my hands on the original cut or the workprint of the movie for years, but haven't had any luck, even David Goyer's script is hard to find. I always will have a soft spot for that movie though because it has my favorite band the Deftones performing in the Day of The Dead sequence towards the end of the movie.

In relation to Jame's O'Barr's opinion on The Crow movie, i believe he enjoyed it quite a bit, and thought Brandon Lee's performance completly brought his creation to life.

That was a pretty cool prize package, wish i had entered. It would of been worth it just for the Surrogates trade, and the Suicide Girls subscription alone. "Burn" by The Cure is played in this episode so it's awesome factor goes up by many points.

because he's awesome.

I think stuff like how Sunnydale High School is run, and the body count of students and teachers that no one ever seems to mention again or be suspicious about. There is also some logic, and plot stuff that might grate on your nerves. I could be wrong though. Firefly on the other hand i think you would definetly dig.

As a huge Buffy/Angel fan, I thought he was perfect in The New Frontier, and didn't he was just playing the same character again. I have to say i don't know if Buffy would quite be your cup of tea Mike. Many of the things you would complain about on World's Finest about B:TAS, S:TAS, etc. happen in pretty much every episode of Buffy. I hope you do enjoy the show since it's one of my favorites but i would say brace yourself to really suspend your disbelief lol. btw you haven't seen Firefly/Serenity either ?

With the exception of Mickey Rourke who really became Marv on the screen, and i guess i will give props to Elijah Wood too (although i think the fact that it was Elijah Wood playing the character made it creepy as opposed to him becoming the character, but it worked so i'm not complaining), everyone else was still terrible, and no amount of props were going to hide that, and Jessica Alba was the worst of all. So by that logic movies like "The Public Enemy", "Sunset Blvd.", "Touch Of Evil", "The Maltese Falcon", and "Out Of The Past" are bland looking movies ???? Whatever you say, man. Even so, if Black and White is so bland to you, they could of shot it in color but with a very dried out look, and could of later further pronounced colors in a digital intermediate using digital coloring. How did they do that when they didn't bring anything new to the story by bringing it to another medium. I think you need to look up the word adaptation ad·ap·ta·tion - a form or structure modified to fit a changed environment. Sin City didn't do that at all. If anything it did everything in it's power to not do that. In relation to your CGI question, you can make a movie look like a comic book without using CGI, look at the sets on 30 Days Of Night which look exactly like the book, look at the rooftop sequence at the end of the first Teenage Mutant Ninja Trurtles movie which look's exactly like the book, look at certain scenes in Batman Begins that look exactly like Batman: Year One, look at the sets on The Rocketeer which look exactly like the book. All of these were real sets and locations which they filmed on, and in turn made them better movies because of it. If any CGI is used it's just augment a few things here and there, and if it's good CGI you wouldn't even notice it's there. Which begs the question, If they really needed to use as much CGI as they did in Sin City, why didn't they just animate the whole thing including the characters like they did in Beowulf???? That way it would be a fully formed world as opposed to just a bunch of actors standing in front of a green screen. As long as Saw is a succesful franchise, my point still stands. You're twisting my words. I am just saying that regardless of the quality of the movie, fanboys would rejoice in saying that it's such an amazing movie because it's exactly the same as the book. I am not saying that they were the key to it's success but they didn't hurt it's success. Also keep in mind that Sin City was not a box office success, and it wasn't as well received by critics as people like to think it is. It's more of a cult film than anything so saying it won fans from a mass audicne is a little misleading.

I feel Sin City is the worst of Frank Miller's otherwise flawless body of work. Even with that said, the dialogue could of been tweaked a bit to suit the actor saying it or they could of cast better actors to maybe read the lines with some sort of feeling (with the obvious exception of Mickey Rourke who was the only bright spot in this otherwise dreadful mess of a film). Enough about Sin City though, this topic is about The New Frontier, and Witchblade #116.

there was a script ???? coulda fooled me.

I guess that's just a difference of opinion then. I felt Sin City as a movie didn't work at all. The acting was very wooden and the use of big name actors as opposed to character actors did more to hinder the intent of the filmmaker since you weren't able to see the characters just the actors attempting to portray them. Not to mention the actors weren't very good, and really weren't right for the roles they were trying to portray (the notable exception being Mickey Rourke). The look of the film was also very distracting, and the film would of been more well-suited being shot in black and white on 35mm film using a stylized set design with actual sets, and very distinct lighting. That would have been a far better tribute to the film noir movies that they were trying to evoke as opposed to the dreadful green screen CGI laziness that was used. My personal feeling on adaptations are that you should think long and hard about why you feel you have to transfer something to a new medium, and what is something new you feel you can bring to this story by bringing it to another medium while still staying true to the spirit of the source material. Sin City didn't feel like a director's vision brought to the screen, it just felt like a $40 million dollar book on tape. The movie was successful because it had a bunch of people getting killed in slow motion, and you know how the kids of today get a kick out of that. Plus it's exactly like the comic so the unimaginative fanboys are going to have a wank fest over it. It's a no brainer why it was a success, and it had nothing to do with the crossover appeal of the source material, or Frank Miller's strength as a writer, or Robert Rodriguez's strength as a director.

Sin City is not the best adaptation of a comic book to a movie. An adaptation requires that you change the source material into something else that suits the medium that you are translating into. Sin City does not do that at all. It's also an awful movie. Granted that's your opinion, but i figured it couldn't hurt to throw in a counterpoint. In relation to The New Frontier as an adaptation, i'll just post what i wrote on the CGS board I really dug the movie a lot, and i am little pissed how the movie is just getting the complete shaft by the general public, and even from a lot of comic fans. This movie should be nominated at the next Oscars for best animated film, and it should win. Even though that will never happen, and whatever talking car, talking toy bullshit Pixar throws out will win instead. It's such a shame.

This movie looks terrible. I like Ed Norton but nothing else about this movie seems intresting whatsoever.

I have to disagree with your view on the 50's in relation to The New Frontier. Yes it does show that it wasn't a perfect time, and there was a lot of fear in the air but at the same time The New Frontier shows that it wasn't that bad of a time either. People were still a little more carefree, and were able to still have a good time even in the face of the war. Not to mention Darwyn Cooke's love affair with the style of the time which is draped over every panel of the book. There was a real visual identity to the 50's that we really don't have today, and you can feel Darwyn Cooke's appreciation of it throughout both the book and the movie. It's kind of funny that you guys both praised the movie for it's "realism" considering that if anything the book was about embracing the fun of the silver age. A little ironic when you think about. The scene at the beginning of the movie where Hal shoots the korean kid was in my opinion used more to show that even though the war was over, more blooshed was to come since they were all about to fight a bigger enemy. The irony of Hal only having to shoot someone after the war was over isn't really neccasary since the scene is used more as a cue to the audience that worse things are to come.

Great review, Mike. Was happy to see you tackle the book on more of a metaphorical level on this review because i feel that is usually lacking in your reviews (and many reviews in general). I also agree with you that The New Frontier is very much the next Watchmen but unlike crap like Civil War it didn't set out to be the next Watchmen, it became the next Watchmen. The New Frontier is also very much the spiritual prequel to The Dark Knight Returns in many ways too.

While the movie does look terrible, it dosen't look as terrible as i thought it would be. I thought it was pretty cool that the movie looks like your typical teen horror movie that's been coming out for the last ten years or so, but then Edgar Frog walks in lol. It's almost like on a meta level, Corey Feldman looking like he stepped literally right out of Lost Boys is coming back to reclaim the throne, and show these punk kid filmmakers how it's supposed to be done. It will probably suck, but i still hold out some hope that it might be good.

alright, just placed my order for this month. It's pretty much the same as the above except i subtracted a few and added a few to the list - USAGI YOJIMBO TP VOL 22 TOMOES STORY (C: 0-1-2) *Special Discount* - BIRDS OF PREY #118 - DC UNIVERSE SPECIAL JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA - DC UNIVERSE SPECIAL SUPERMAN MONGUL - LEGION OF SUPER HEROES #42 - TEEN TITANS #59 - HELLBLAZER FEAR MACHINE TP (MR) - Y THE LAST MAN TP VOL 10 WHYS AND WHEREFORES (MR) $8.99 - LOST BOYS REIGN OF FROGS #1 (OF 4) (MR) *Special Discount* - X-MEN DIVIDED WE STAND #2 (OF 2) - HEAVY METAL SUMMER 2008 (MR) - ANGEL AFTER THE FALL #7 - STRANDED #4 (RES) (C: 0-1-0) + FIREBREATHER SERIES #1 *Special Discount* + PRETTY BABY MACHINE #1 (OF 3) (MR) *Special Discount* + SUBURBAN GLAMOUR TP VOL 01 *Special Discount* + BACK ISSUE #28 (C: 0-1-2) *Special Discount*

I didn't see anything posted on this subject on the site, so i figured i might as well start a topic. Well, Dave Stevens who created one of my favorite characters The Rocketeer, and was just one hell of an artist, passed away yesterday at age 52 of Leukemia. You can read more about it here, and here. Dave was one of my heroes in the comic medium, and he will be greatly missed.

Much of what made the original Nightmare On Elm Street so chilling was that the film was a reflection of America's growing fear of child abduction, and child molestation that permeated the media throughout much of the early 80's due to the Adam Walsh abduction and murder in 1981. The film plays to parents greatest fear of not being able to protect their child, while at the same time visually representing a child's greatest fear "the boogeyman". I think this film struck a chord with the public and it's growing paranoia of the subject at the time which in turn made it as effective as it was as a horror movie. I am not saying that this fear isn't still relevant today but it just dosen't seem to be at the same level it was in the 80's. Today it seemed to have shifted to internet predator's spying on teenagers which you could possibly translate Freddy into, but i don't think i would want to see it. Also, I am sure the people involved in the remake aren't even aware of the subtext of the original, and will make the mistake of delving into the characters backstory, and motivations while trying to create a somewhat sympathetic portrayal of the villian.

See my problem is i start discussions and then forget about them. I would have been happy to continue arguing over why the first Turtles movie is one of the best comic book movies, if i had just remembered posting there lol. Maybe i'll do a write-up piece one day and explain my position a little bit more. business, but I don't think you can say the film is too faithful to it's origins - the creator himself wanted the film to be more Tex Avery-style than horror-based. I guess we just have different opinions on what the word "faithful" means. To me, The Mask is a faithful adaptation of the comics because the movie also treats the mask itself as a character, and what that character can do to any person when they wear it. That's the message that i pretty much got out of reading the comics, and like the comics the movie also shows that the mask will get passed on to other people, so Stanley Ipkiss isn't The Mask, but anyone can be The Mask. Stanley Ipkiss, and Lt. Kellaway in the movie are pretty much the same characters off the page, except of course that the narravite is toned down a bit. It also should be noted that people tend to say that Stanley as The Mask was just this big goofy character that really caused no harm, but if you watch the movie you can see that Stanley as The Mask was a pretty dangerous guy who did KILL people. It might not be as graphic as the book, but it still happened. The ending of the movie was a departure, but it didn't really bother me. I felt overall it kept the spirit of the material intact, and while not the same tone throughout, it was "faithful" enough imo. btw since you are obviously a Mask comic fan like myself, i am assuming you are just as excited about this upcoming June solicitation for All I can say is it's about damn time!

Ian, i know we have had our disagreements in the past but i gotta say for once i pretty much completly agree with your reviews on this episode, and i thought this segment was easily your best, and most entertaining as well. On the contrary though, i actually felt that both I Am Legend (ending nonwithstanding), and The Mask are fairly faithful to their source material.

I'll see if the library has it. The Twelve just seemed like more deconstructing superhero crap, and do we really need another Watchmen clone. I will probably check that out at the library at some point as well, but it still seems kind of "meh" to me.

Of his more recent work i have read Ultimate X-Men (which i was unimpressed with), Youngblood: Bloodsport ( the less said about this, the better), Superman: Red Son (which i enjoyed for the most part), Wanted (intresting concept, but an overall an unenjoyable read), and Civil War (i have already stated my feelings on that series). Isn't that enough?? How much more of the dude's work do i need to read before i can have an opinion on him ?? Why would i continue to buy and read books from a writer who's current output that i have read hasn't really been to my liking ?? The best stuff he has done in my opinion are his run on Swamp Thing, Skrull Kill Krew, Aztek: The Ultimate Man, The Flash, Superman Adventures, and his early work on Judge Dredd, and most of that stuff was co-written by Grant Morrison so i don't know how much of the credit i can give to him. The best Wolverine story ever is the mini-series by Chris Claremont, and Frank Miller. 'Nuff said. I didn't say it was a dumb action movie, i said i "heard" it was a big dumb action movie. Big difference.

Never read any of The Authority except for those two issues by Grant Morrison from 2006. The concept alone never did anything for me though, it just seemed like more deconstructing superheroes garbage. I quite enjoyed what i have read of this, but i have a suspiscion that Grant was more responsible for the greatness if anything. One of the worst things to happen to mainstream superhero comics in recent years. Not to mention a very clumsy allegory at that. Pretty good stuff, but not the best Superman story ever. Not even the best Mark Millar-penned Superman story, that would be his work on the Superman Adventures comic. I'll take your word for it. No intrest in reading either of those. I've never actually read this, but from what I hear it's supposed to be like a Michael Bay movie with the Marvel characters. Now if he uses that to a subversive effect i can see how that would be intresting but if it's basically a big dumb action movie, what's the point ? I guess i'll have to see for myself one day. I have heard good things about this, and plan on checking it out one day. I am sure it isn't the best Wolverine story ever though.

Oh, and on the topic of Final Crisis, and DC Universe: Zero, definetly pick both of those up. It's a little over $1 total for both issues (even cheaper if you use the crisis8 code on your order). If you wind up not digging it, well you only lost a buck. Although i don't see how it can be bad it's Grant Morrison writing it. I'll tell you what Mike, if you buy the 2 issues and wind up not digging it, I'll send you the damn $1.12 lol.

first pass through, and i think it's my smallest order yet. I still want to look through the indie stuff some more, and might still cut a few things. PREVIEWS VOL XVIII #5 (NET) *Special Discount* Limit 1 at 75% off ABE SAPIEN THE DROWNING #4 (OF 5) BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #14 GRENDEL BEHOLD THE DEVIL #7 (OF 8) SERENITY BETTER DAYS #3 (OF 3) USAGI YOJIMBO TP VOL 22 TOMOES STORY (C: 0-1-2) *Special Discount* BATMAN #677 $1.79 BATMAN DEATH MASK #2 (OF 4) BATMAN GOTHAM AFTER MIDNITE #1 (OF 12) *Special Discount* BATMAN JEKYLL AND HYDE TP BATMAN VS THE SCARECROW CATWOMAN #79 DETECTIVE COMICS #844 GOTHAM UNDERGROUND #8 (OF 9) HUNTRESS YEAR ONE #1 (OF 6) *Special Discount* HUNTRESS YEAR ONE #2 (OF 6) *Special Discount* JOKER THE GREATEST STORIES EVER TOLD TP NIGHTWING #144 ROBIN #174 SIMON DARK #8 BIRDS OF PREY #118 BOOSTER GOLD #9 DC SPECIAL RAVEN #3 (OF 5) DC UNIVERSE SPECIAL JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA DC UNIVERSE SPECIAL SUPERMAN MONGUL DC UNIVERSE ZERO *Special Discount* Limit 2 at 75% off FINAL CRISIS #1 (OF 7) *Special Discount* Limit 2 at 75% off FINAL CRISIS SKETCHBOOK *Special Discount* LEGION OF SUPER HEROES #42 SPIRIT #17 TEEN TITANS #59 TEEN TITANS YEAR ONE #5 (OF 6) TINY TITANS #4 ALL STAR SUPERMAN #11 HELLBLAZER #244 (MR) HELLBLAZER FEAR MACHINE TP (MR) HOUSE OF MYSTERY #1 (MR) *Special Discount* Limit 2 at 75% off Y THE LAST MAN TP VOL 10 WHYS AND WHEREFORES (MR) $8.99 LOST BOYS REIGN OF FROGS #1 (OF 4) (MR) *Special Discount* ASTOUNDING WOLF-MAN #7 DARKNESS #5 KEOWN CVR A (MR) DEAD SPACE #3 (OF 6) TRANSHUMAN #3 (OF 4) WALKING DEAD #51 (MR) CAPTAIN AMERICA #38 DAREDEVIL #107 IMMORTAL IRON FIST #15 LOGAN #3 (OF 3) UNCANNY X-MEN #498 X-MEN DIVIDED WE STAND #2 (OF 2) X-MEN LEGACY #211 X-MEN LEGACY #212 JUDENHASS GN (MR) *Special Discount* TERRY MOORES ECHO #3 NARCOPOLIS #4 (OF 4) (MR) SIMPSONS COMICS #142 RASL #2 ZORRO #4 BODY COUNT SC (MR) (C: 0-1-2) HEAVY METAL SUMMER 2008 (MR) ANGEL AFTER THE FALL #7 TALES OF TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES #46 DAN DARE #6 (OF 7) (C: 0-1-1) STRANDED #4 (RES) (C: 0-1-0) (might be cut) ESSENTIAL BATMAN ENCYCLOPEDIA TP (C: 0-1-2) *Special Discount*