The Patent Dragon's Zone of Soul Retraction

The monthly comics delivery arrived today, and featuring pretty heavily in this consignment was the latest Marvel event "Age Of Ultron" - but three issues in, I'm saying ENOUGH. Please stop with the "put the heroes through the wringer" CRAP. Yet again, their backs are against the wall - quite literally, if you're Captain America. Issue 2 is mostly the silent recounting of Spider-man's tale of woe... and at the end, Cap actually gets up and says something. As issue 3 of this multiple issues a month tale opens, I feel my enthusiasm waning...

Meanwhile, DC's latest Green Lantern epic, "Wrath Of The First Lantern", continues, and whilst it's the most recent in a seemingly continual series of GL events that are increasingly lacking in "wow" factor, this one has a whole bunch more ooomph than what Marvel are doing right now. Yes, our heroes are also, "going through the wringer", this time at the hands of the aforementioned First Lantern, but that wringer is a more psychological dismantling of who the heroes - and anti-heroes - are, and who they MIGHT have been. Only the main Green Lantern title actually advances the main story - combating a potentially reality-altering villain - but the whole thing is a damn sight more intriguing and interesting than "AU".

This is, of course, a personal opinion that some may not agree with - but I think everyone will agree that the new outfit for Gamora of the Guardians Of The Galaxy sucks bollocks. Less "most dangerous woman in the galaxy" and more "generic video-game heroine in a tight space suit".

SIGH.

Now, let's book GI Joe - Retaliation. Saturday lunchtime is looking good...

Yup, it's that time again, as Blockbuster Pre-Season steps up a gear, and this time, maybe the movie was worthy of being a regular season starter...



Once again, Disney's banner is on something BIG: Oz The Great And Powerful. Now, are we due for another grim-fest...?

( Potential spoilers ahead... )

The Final Verdict... A world that should've been revisited a loooong time ago - or maybe now was just the right time. Technicolour bright when it could have been all dark and grim - a shining light in the gloom. 8/10

For the first time this year, it's movie review time!



First up this "Blockbuster Pre-Season" - Disney's Wreck-It Ralph. Now this was fun, in a Monsters vs Aliens way as opposed to a Toy Story way, 'cause there's no hope that you could ever really top Pixar's trilogy. However, the heart that seemed to be lacking somewhat in Brave last year is certainly in evidence here...

( Possible spoiler zone - you have been warned... )

The Final Verdict... A simple concept, an engaging setting - all this, and a villain-cum-hero who's hard to hate. Very well executed, and accompanied by a fabulous short. 8/10

Development News... Okay, the next Mane-of-Night story, Ghosts Of Freeport, can now be officially counted as under way. I haven't added much to the rough first few paragraphs, but the foundations are there, and the framework is in place - at least in my head.

I think I'm shaking off the urge for excessive gaming right now, so perhaps the path is clear for something creative. I would say "fingers crossed", but those fingers really should be typing...

Meanwhile... Oooooh dear - it sounds like A Good Day To Die Hard isn't. Good, I mean. Pity. Guess Blockbuster Pre-Season won't be kicking off this weekend after all.