I had impossibly high expectations for Guardians of the Galaxy. Honestly, I don’t remember ever expecting a movie from Marvel Studios to be so good. With Captain America, Thor, and Iron Man I generally just hope the movie is great, and then I’m thrilled when it exceeds expectations (see: Iron Man 3, Captain America 2: The Winter Soldier), and not altogether depressed when it flounders (see: Iron Man 2). With Guardians, though? I just knew it would be great. This is a surefire way to assure you leave a movie theater disappointed, but amazingly Guardians actually exceeded my high expectations. Even with surprising characterization changes, and a wasted Thanos appearance, Guardians of the Galaxy is the funniest Marvel movie of all, and in my top three favorites. [Read more…] about Guardians of the Galaxy Movie Review! The Best Marvel Movie Yet?
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Gambit Reading Order Part 1: Uncanny X-Men #266 – #280
Here at Comic Book Herald, we like to respond to reader requests! And so, stepping aside from my X-Men chronologies, I’ve been asked to do a walk-through of the life and times of everybody’s favorite Cajun charmer, Gambit! I’m going to break this into eras, with the obvious starter being from his first appearance, Uncanny X-Men 266, through to the end of the Muir Isle Saga in Uncanny X-Men #280. [Read more…] about Gambit Reading Order Part 1: Uncanny X-Men #266 – #280
Old-School X-Men with Lincoln Crisler: Uncanny X-Men #194
Last week’s installment gave us a glorious stand-alone 100th-issue anniversary of the X-Men team debuted in Giant-Sized X-Men #1. The following issue gives us a similarly awesome experience, also written by Chris Claremont and pencilled by John Romita, Jr. with inks by Dan Green and Steve Leialoha, which opens with a layout of five horizontal panels, each taking up 20% of the page. In each of them, a large, red-haired figure in civilian clothes looms ever closer as he walks through a New York City street. There are sirens, and a police officer giving calming words to nearby citizens. The big man asks what the problem is, and on the next page, we get the answer–THE JUGGERNAUT’S BACK IN TOWN! [Read more…] about Old-School X-Men with Lincoln Crisler: Uncanny X-Men #194
Cosmic Catch-Up: The Beginner’s Guide to Marvel Comics in Space
So you want to get to know Marvel Cosmic, the branch of Marvel comics that expands to the spaceways and includes characters like the Guardians of the Galaxy, Thanos, and Pip the Troll (primarily Pip the Troll). Marvel Studios has made a big deal of introducing the cosmic extension of their universe in this summer’s Guardians of the Galaxy, but there’s plenty of excellent reading you can do to familiarize yourself before the film. Yes, I have a comprehensive modern Marvel cosmic reading guide, and I’ve already covered the essential Guardians of the Galaxy reading, so this guide will focus on larger, more all-encompassing cosmic events. [Read more…] about Cosmic Catch-Up: The Beginner’s Guide to Marvel Comics in Space
Batman Day: 75 Years of Batman Comics – What’s Your Favorite Issue?
This past week, in addition to San Diego Comic Con (coincidentally), was Batman Day, the focal point of the Dark Knight’s 75th anniversary. Being unable to attend SDCC due to my day job (damn you, bills and responsibility!), I looked book on my love of the Caped Crusader, remembering where I discovered the world of Gotham. [Read more…] about Batman Day: 75 Years of Batman Comics – What’s Your Favorite Issue?