Hello DC, my old friend… I have come to punish myself with you again.
Boy howdy. Here we are with Aqauman after 5 years of mostly failed DC movie attempts. Last time I saw the character of Aquaman, he was in the totally and completely awful Justice League, and to be fair, he was more of an Aquabro rather than an Aquaman. The lines and presence in Justice League was painful, but is it possible that Aquaman could have a shot at redemption?
Bad lines and kind of an off putting performance by Jason Momoa in Justice League really made me not care about the character at all. He was already a joke being the super hero that talks to fishes, and I did not know how a screen portrayal would work. It seemed like a arc out of the show Entourage, oh wait it was an arc in Entourage. Aquaman, in my eyes, just seemed hell bent on being another bad DC movie.
It should be to no surprise that I spent most of 2018 just piling on Aquaman. Every trailer and poster released had instant reactions from me, where I just could not help myself. I was compelled to pile on this movie with as much negativity as I could muster. As people started to see the film, and reviews started to come in, the word of mouth was mostly positive. I of course, began to construct many tin foil hat theories that these were DC fans in early screenings, and DC fans reviewing it. It had to be!
There was only one way to put an end to this… I had to see it for myself. Now after the Justice League fiasco, I was in a hard refusal mode to give DC any more of my money, and time. Something about our generation has that overwhelming feeling of the fear of missing out… and while I had no fears of missing out on an Aquaman movie, I felt disingenuous to continue my professional career of hating DC, and especially hating on this movie. I needed to find out for myself, and inform my empty hatred.
So there I was, unable to convince a single friend to see this movie with me, and sitting in the theater. DC had done it again; they had gotten my money as well as my butt in a seat. I felt fake, uneasy, and just gross about succumbing to the word of mouth on a DC flick. By the times those credits rolled, I was surprised by how I felt about the movie.
Aquaman ended up being totally and undoubtedly…. fine. There is nothing particularly great about it, but there is certainly nothing overly offensive about it, either. Aquaman hones in on a 80’s cartoon vibe and just lives there comfortably, bringing an element of fun to the DC movies that has never existed before. Don’t get me wrong, there is PLENTY to pick apart about his movie. Logic gaps, dumb characters, the failed attempts at comedy, the long run time, and a hit or miss soundtrack are a few of the cornucopia of issues on display here. Seriously, every time they use that guitar riff when Aquaman does anything, got old real quick. You could tell the creators thought it was a rad choice. It wasn’t.
These issues end up only being surface level because of that before mentioned fun factor. Now the comedy is not part of that fun factor, often leading to groans instead of laughs, but the spectacle of it all is unmatched in the DC shared universe. The effects are great, and step above the awful things we witnessed in Justice League (I will never got over that Superman mouth). They use a de-aging type technology to make actors look younger, and while it is not at MCU levels of perfection, it still good. The underwater effects and all the CG looks great, and it is much more comprehensible than it is made out to be in the very busy trailers. There are some stand out moments with the whole Trench arc, both in spectacle and just cool character moments. They really nail the action, and there were a couple moments I caught myself saying “wow” in a very Owen Wilson like manner to much of the spectacle partaking on screen. The scope and execution of these large action sequences are handled in all the right ways.
The cast is great too! Jason Mamoa really carries the movie as Arthur “don’t call my mom Martha” Curry. While his lines suck, he and the rest of the cast do their best with a wacky script. Amber Herd is good in this as well, acting as a good partner and fiercely capable warrior. Willem Dafoe and Patrick Wilson are great in their roles as well. Wilson really hams up the scenes he is in, but is obviously having fun with the character. This movie deserved an over the top, loud villain, and we got one with Ocean Master. Don’t get me wrong, there is so much ham in this movie, but if anything, the cast softens that blow.
The element of fun was always missing from DC movies of today, and Aquaman finally breaks that trend. This is a step in the right direction for the whole DC franchise, and I am hoping the other movies and projects are able to tap into this. Listen, I as much as anyone want a dark DC movie universe, but they tried it and it is just not working for them. It was time to try something new and you get that with Aquaman.
Now don’t get me wrong….DC has a long way to go to catch up with MCU. I cannot express enough how much I want DC to succeed, as I personally favor their characters more. Marvel just remains ahead, and it’s thanks to that early start and just an understanding of the source material. It is not too late for DC, and Aquaman really displays their understanding of the course correction that is in need. I don’t think it ever reaches the highest moments of Wonder Woman, but I think it has a more consistent quality as there is not an entire act that just falls apart like the third act does in Wonder Woman. While Wonder Woman is very good at many moments, I still don’t know if there is anything that is particularly very good about Aquaman, while at the same time not being particularly bad. I just see the changes and it fills me with a sort of optimism about things going forward.
DC has done plenty to earn the distrust of fans and consumers alike. If you genuinely like the movie, great! This is not to demonize the people who enjoy these movies, but I do hope that the current fans are accepting of the incoming changes. Aquaman is not a perfect film, heck it is hardly even a good one, but it gets a lot of the right stuff correct, and that helps me forgive its many shortcomings. It’s not bad…but it is just fine.
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REVIEW | The Punisher Season 2
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New Star Wars Trilogy in the Works
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Seven years on from the hugely successful Batman Black Mirror, writer Scott Snyder and artist Jock reunite to once again pit the Dark Knight against another sinister killer lurking in the hidden corners of Gotham. This time, however, the killer is not a tragic figure from Batman’s past but in fact Bruce Wayne himself. It’s… complicated.
The Batman Who Laughs is the direct follow up to DC’s 2017/18 event Dark Knights Metal which saw the DC Universe invaded by a group of evil Batmen from a parallel universe. The breakout star of which was, “The Batman Who Laughs”, a Bruce Wayne poisoned and corrupted into replacing a dying Joker. The event had left his fate ambiguous as he was last seen battling the Joker in the catacombs beneath Gotham.
The issue opens with Bruce fondly remembering laughing and playing with his parents as a child before Snyder blasts us into the modern day with an action set piece atop Gotham Bridge, leading to the discovery of an unusual body with worrying prospects for our protagonist. Meanwhile, Arkham Asylum comes under siege from a machine gun wielding Batman, hell bent on reaching the Joker’s jail cell. Both stories converge in the final few pages as Batman considers an unlikely alliance with troubling repercussions.
Snyder’s writing is in top form here as he returns to the type of story where he made his name. Having always excelled at laying out a mystery tinged with unsettling horror and gore, it’s clear that The Batman Who Laughs is a character that Snyder is passionate about. The plot allowing Snyder to dive deeper into the minds of both Bruce Wayne and the Joker and discover what happens to a Batman without limits. While the dialogue is corny at times, in a story dealing with alternate universes and a Batman wearing S&M gear Snyder can be forgiven for having some fun with it. There’s also a 10/10 dad joke regarding insurance that I’d bet Snyder’s had in his back pocket for years and is worth a purchase alone.
The writing is beautifully complimented by Jock’s art, his heavy use of shadow gives this book the same haunting presence as his previous Snyder collaboration Wytches and the aforementioned Black Mirror. The action is fluid, with each punch, kick and explosion having a real sense of impact on the page. The character work is also expertly handled, the panic in the eyes of the unlucky guards at Arkham is palpable and you can feel Alfred’s uncertainty during his exchanges with Bruce. It’s always interesting seeing another artists interpretation of a character, and Jock takes what Greg Capullo created for the Batman Who Laughs and makes the villain his own.
Overall, this a great start to a new series, created by two artists working to their strengths. If the final page is anything to go by, this is going to be a deep dark dive into a war between Batmen. Sign me up.
Check out more of our reviews and let us know what you think on Facebook or Twitter @SubCultured! Don’t forget to join in the conversation on our Discord channel and let us know what you’d like to see next!
REVIEW | Doomsday Clock #4
Review | The Lost Path by Amélie Fléchais
Emerald City Conversation with Jen Wang
REVIEW | Doomsday Clock #2
Top 10 Comics of 2017
Review | ‘Dark Nights: Metal’ #1
After switching to its now bi-monthly release schedule, Doomsday Clock returned last week with Issue #4, which picks up straight after last issue’s cliffhanger ending and focuses on the origin of the mysterious new Rorschach. The story jumps between Rorschah’s previous stay in a mental asylum post-Watchmen and his current incarceration in Arkham Asylum.
Of the two plot lines to follow, the flashback story is the most intriguing. Following the newer Rorschach after the New York attack it’s revealed that not every person exposed to the “alien invasion” died instantly. Many suffered from horrific visions and are left severely traumatized. One of these victims is Reggie, a young man whom writer Geoff Johns wisely connects to the original Rorscach through his relationship to his father. Providing Reggie with an interesting perspective on a character most others consider to be a crazed vigilante.
Symmetry as a theme is present throughout this issue in both the art and writing, with Reggie’s confinement in both timelines mirroring one another and obligatory nods to Walter Kovac’s capture in the original Watchmen. Reggie’s decision to spare Ozymandias towards the end is an example of a man not beholden to the same strict code of his predecessor allowing the character to share many of the same traits but with an added element of unpredictability. Where the story diverges, however, is with the introduction of Mothman.
Mothman is used skillfully by Johns not only to provide a mentor for Reggie, but also as an explanation for how he was able to assume the persona of a new Rorschach and obtain the tools required to confront the man responsible for his parents death.
As a character, Mothman provides a warmth and humour in what would be an otherwise dreary setting. Mothman’s eventual fate is heartbreaking in it’s execution, as are his letters to an estranged sister, which serve as this issues epilogue. This is a character whose inclusion could verge too far towards fan service in another writers hands, but thankfully Johns allows the character to be an essential part of the narrative instead of a throwaway gag or lazy reference.
Another character who arrives in the final few pages is Saturn Girl, something of a reward for fans who have been reading DC Rebirth since its launch. Up until this point, Saturn Girl had only appeared in small cameos, hinting at a connection to the wider Doomsday Clock story. It’s nice to see threads like this finally begin to converge, even if her escape from Arkham could throw up more questions than it answers. The final page delivering an image guaranteed to leave readers discussing its symbolism and implications for the narrative going forward.
It is now a given to say that Gary Frank’s art continues to impress this issue. Mothmans late night flight is the obvious highlight and the overall pacing and detail of each page once again compliments Johns writing perfectly, demonstrating a symbiotic storytelling relationship similar to the one shared by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons. Frank’s smaller details, such as the halls of Arkham resembling those in The Killing Joke, is a delightful example of these two creators weaving a DC universe intrinsically connected to Alan Moore’s previous work.
Doomsday Clock continues to be THE comic book event of the year. If Geoff Johns and Gary Frank continue this level of quality for the entire run, it’s sure to be considered a modern classic.
REVIEW | The Batman Who Laughs – #1
Review | The Lost Path by Amélie Fléchais
Emerald City Conversation with Jen Wang
REVIEW | Doomsday Clock #2
Top 10 Comics of 2017
Review | ‘Dark Nights: Metal’ #1
How do you follow up an almost flawless first issue of Doomsday Clock, that not only established a new status quo for the world of Watchmen but also seamlessly integrated a mystery involving Superman? Don’t forget with art and writing that feels like Moore and Gibbons never left.
Well, if you’re Geoff Johns and Gary Frank, having Rorschach eat Batman’s breakfast isn’t a bad place to start. But we’ll get to that.
Issue #2 of Doomsday Clock picks up right where we left Ozymandias, Rorschach, Marionette and Mime. Sticking with the classic 9 panel grid for most of this opening, we start in Nite Owl’s abandoned basement and are shown two interweaving stories. Mime and Marionette are carrying out a heist gone wrong some time in the past, and Rorschach and Veidt in the present debating the merits of trusting two hardened criminals to save the world.
The arrival of Dr. Manhattan during the heist is a fun unexpected moment that reveals why Marionette is such an integral part of Ozymandias’ plan. Whether or not he’s fully aware of why Manhattan spared Marionette’s life remains to be seen. It certainly appeared that Manhattan was hesitant to kill a pregnant woman. This contrast nicely echoes the Vietnam sequence of the original Watchmen where The Comedian demonstrates he has no such qualms.
Then it’s off to the DC universe without a moment to spare as the Watchmen’s world is nuked into oblivion. This whole segment felt rushed and convenient compared to the rest of the issue. Perhaps I was hoping for a more intricate system for travelling between dimensions than a throwaway of, “Oh, its ok, I’ve installed a new button in the Owl ship”.
However, this is only a minor gripe as I can understand that Johns is more interested in showing how these characters interact with the DC universe than how they get there. What’s more interesting is where the Watchmen initially land, in an almost exact reproduction of the funfair from The Killing Joke. It’s a nice nod to Alan Moore’s other DC work and potentially an indication of the way Johns intends to characterize Batman and the Joker for the rest of the story.
Here is where our team splits, as Ozymandias and Rorschach attempt to recruit Bruce Wayne and Lex Luthor to their cause, whilst Mime and Marionette are restrained aboard the Owlship. At this point, Gary Frank’s art goes from good to great, as we are treated to some brilliant visual storytelling, mixing Watchmen inspired visual cues with Geoff Johns’ humour and wit. The Owlship bursting through the Bat Symbol and Rorschach’s exploration of Wayne Manor are particular highlights. Rorschach being distracted by a free breakfast leading to him notice a tell tale breeze under the grandfather clock is an amusing and appropriate way for that character to unearth Bruce Wayne’s big secret.
Ozymandias on the other hand has less luck convincing Luthor, who has reverted back to his evil business tycoon demeanor that readers have not seen since before Forever Evil. Luthor questioning Ozymandias’ intelligence after having the plot of Watchmen explained to him feels like Johns winking to the reader about the more ridiculous aspects of that series finale.
We are then left with not one, but three, cliffhangers as a seemingly resurrected Comedian attacks Luthor, Mime and Marionette escape into Gotham City, and Rorschach is confronted by a hungry Batman. Hopefully the Comedian’s appearance is not all it seems, as I feel that bringing back this character undermines the importance of his murder in the original Watchmen. Perhaps it’s tied to Ozymandias brain tumor. We can only wait and see.
Overall, this issue continues the high quality established by the first, with John’s doing an admirable job of echoing the writing style of Alan Moore and Gary Frank bringing beautiful and inventive imagery to every page. My only negatives being the protagonists convenient journey to Gotham and the reappearance of the Comedian, though these do not detract from the story overall. I look forward to seeing where this story goes next and how one gruff vigilante will come to terms with another gruff vigilante eating his pancakes.
REVIEW | The Batman Who Laughs – #1
REVIEW | Doomsday Clock #4
Review | The Lost Path by Amélie Fléchais
Emerald City Conversation with Jen Wang
Top 10 Comics of 2017
Review | ‘Dark Nights: Metal’ #1
The comics industry went through a lot of growth in 2017, some of it good and some of it bad. Through shifts in-universe, massive story events such as Marvel’s Generations and Legacy initiatives to DC’s Doomsday Clock, and questionable PR decisions from most of the big publishers, comics as a whole seemed kind of shaky.
Luckily, the year also saw a bevy of new and old voices, many of whom find themselves on our list of top comics of 2017. We left off ongoing series and chose to focus on new stories and creative teams, all of which you can find at your local comic store! In no particular order, here are our top 10 comics of 2017!
Angelic
Art: Caspar Wijngaard
Super Sons
Extremity
Story/Art: Daniel Warren Johnson
Extremity is so damn special. Most issues leave me in my feelings, or swearing while holding my head in my hands, but it’s definitely one you MUST pick up. It’s Mad Max Fury Road meets Avatar the Last Airbender. It’s kinetic and brutal. I actually don’t want to say too much about it because it’s that good and I don’t want a single bit spoiled for you. Bonus: it’s only $10 for the first trade!
Steven Universe
Story: Melanie Gillman
Art: Katy Farina
Fans of the Cartoon Network show, rejoice! This ongoing series perfectly captures the voices of the characters and it’s episodic, meaning you can pick up any single issue off the shelf and have a complete standalone story. It’s great for little ones who may want to get into comics and hardcore show enthusiasts as well. There’s currently one collected softcover out too, just in case that’s your preference!
Batman: White Knight
Art/Story: Sean Gordon Murphy
Yes, I know a lot of you are tired of rehashed Batman stories featuring the same old formula of Batman beating up the bad guy and saving the city of Gotham. HOWEVER, the Batman: White Knight mini-series turns it all on its head in a refreshing, dark way. The series is about halfway through, but it makes a very big impression every issue. Be sure to pay close attention to those busier panels; Murphy tucks details in every corner. Issue #1 may be a little elusive to track down if you’re intent on a first printing, but it will definitely stay on your mind for a while after reading it.
Fence
Story: C.S. Pacat
Art: Johanna the Mad
If you need something to fill the Yuri!!! on Ice shaped hole in your heart, I can’t suggest Fence fast enough. As you may be able to infer, Fence is about a group of young fencers in a private school. There’s definitely going to be some drama, and there’s definitely going to be some romance. Granted, I have some bias as I love stories about tension filled high school slice of life experiences and I have a soft spot for fencing itself, so this was up my alley. Either way, if you enjoy attitude filled boys fighting with swords, check it out!
Godshaper
Story: Simon Spurrier
Art: Jonas Goonface
This was probably my favorite book out of 2017, if I had to choose one from this list. It’s also one of the hardest to try to summarize. In this universe, every person has a god assigned to them, usually bestowing some sort of skill or power. The story centers around Ennay, a queer “shaper” – which is to say, they change the shape of a person’s god. Those without a god are pariahs, like Ennay. It’s a fresh take and beautiful in every way.
Black Bolt
Story: Saladin Ahmed
Art: Christian Ward
This is another title where I have some bias, as I am a hardcore Inhumans fan. That aside, holy crow, please pick up a copy just to look at the art by Christian Ward. The man is a master as space psychedelics and his style is a pretty perfect complement to Saladin’s storytelling. Because Black Bolt can decimate everything ever if he so much as whispers, the dialogue can be a little light, but a glance into the inner workings of the Silent King is always pretty bomb.
Dead of Winter
Story:Kyle Starks
Art: Gabo
Dead of Winter is a popular survival horror board game where you have to complete scenarios and make tough decisions as randomized characters with different abilities. The comic it is based on takes these characters and runs with them in a free-for-all hilarious look at the end of the world. It’s a 4-issue series of pure fun, but I definitely think you’ll enjoy it more if you’ve played the board game! I almost always draw Sparky, a golden retriever who can withstand zombie bites, and there’s plenty of Sparky in this series, thankfully.
Runaways
I’ve missed The Runaways and they’re back in a perfect return of my favorite Marvel teenagers. While I wouldn’t start with this series because spoilers for the television show, I would suggest definitely, DEFINITELY, picking up the 2004 Brian K. Vaughan series first and going from there! Expect some angst because it picks up immediately where we last saw everyone. The creative team perfectly captures every single character and all their hang ups. Hmm, as I reach the end of this list, I realized most of these have some personal bias, but YOU KNOW WHAT, I READ A LOT OF COMICS AND I HAVE A LOT OF FEELINGS ABOUT THEM AND LIKE, 94 OF THEM ARE ABOUT THE GODDAMNED RUNAWAYS.
HONORABLE MENTION: The Family Trade
This is going to be a slow, delicious burn and I know those aren’t for everyone. That’s the only reason it didn’t make my top 10 list, but if you find yourself with a couple extra bucks, definitely pick up a really neat story about a family of assassins, particularly one clumsy one who finds herself in quite the pickle.
That wraps up my list, and it’s pretty varied if I do say so myself. I hope you find a couple of new favorites among them and feel free to tweet my way to discuss them (except Runaways cause inevitably I will CRY and that’s no fun for anyone!). Be sure to check out our other comics reviews and lists!
REVIEW | The Batman Who Laughs – #1
REVIEW | Doomsday Clock #4
Review | The Lost Path by Amélie Fléchais
Emerald City Conversation with Jen Wang
REVIEW | Doomsday Clock #2
Review | ‘Dark Nights: Metal’ #1
It’s that time of year again! No, not Halloween (though that is sneaking up on us faster that I realize). I’m talking about New York Comic Con time! Though not as prolific as San Diego Comic Con, NYCC is the East Coast’s biggest comic and media convention, boasting hundreds of exhibitors and tens of thousands of attendees.
Just like its West Coast counterpart, NYCC attracts countless collectors and, as such, has become a haven for exclusive merchandise. This is where Funko comes in. Over the summer we showed you all of Funko’s SDCC exclusives, the Pop!s, Dorbz, Rides and Vnyls that were only available at the con. Luckily, they’re bringing a pretty strong game to New York Comic Con as well.
Since they’re revealing all of their exclusives in waves so make sure to check back often as we update to see everything you can expect to find at NYCC.
Daku Con 2018 Photo Gallery
Daku Con 2018 Convention Recap!
PAX South 2019: Splitgate Arena Warfare, World of Horror, JackQuest, and Disjunction
PAX South 2019: Jump Force, Skellboy, A Fold Apart
PAX South 2019: Devil May Cry 5, Young Souls, Magequit
