A Comic Book Reading Order Guide For Beginners & Fans
There is something both incredibly heartwarming and deeply frustrating about Across the Spider-Verse‘s transness.
Let’s start with the heartwarming part: as a trans woman myself, as well as a Spider-Gwen fan who has for many years now interpreted the character as trans, there is a deep joy in seeing that the people who made this movie share the same vision, at least on some level. [Read more…] about Spider-Gwen & the Trans Subtext of Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
The films of Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight Trilogy – Batman Begins (2005), The Dark Knight (2008), The Dark Knight Rises (2012) – are often cited among some of the most influential films in recent memory, certainly responsible for revitalizing the superhero genre in the public consciousness, but perhaps also changing the landscape of big-budget blockbuster Hollywood filmmaking. Nolan’s grounded approach to superhero films, seeped with realism, has influenced every franchise since, for better or worse.
It is easy to note and cite the influences these films have had since their release, but art is not born out of a vacuum. And while I do think “everything is a remix” can be a rather pessimistic way to look at things – if nothing is truly “original,” what is even the point, right? – it is important to look back, not just to gain a deeper understanding of a work, but also to acquire a new outlook with which to look forward.
So, what are the influences of The Dark Knight Trilogy? It is, of course, a marriage of two mediums, taking a character predominantly associated with comic books and bringing him onto the big screen, so it must have had influences from both films and comic books. What films informed the cinematography of this trilogy? And what stories from the character’s rich publication history were mined to tell the tale Nolan et al. were trying to tell with their films?
[Read more…] about The Dark Knight Trilogy 15 Years Later: Film & Comic Influences!
Last we saw Stephen Strange, he was de-supremed (the Sorcerer Supreme mantle passed to Wong during the 5 year Blip), sporting a rare hoodie-cape combo (would love to see more of this in the world), and engaging in casual magic malpractice with Peter Parker in Spider-Man: No Way Home. Saying the good Doctor handled Peter’s request to re-bottle the world’s knowledge of his secret identity badly is like saying Chris Rock’s jaw seems kinda strong. Doctor Strange didn’t ask the hormonal, emotional 17 year old ANY questions before diving into a multiverse-breaking spell, let Peter distract him to the point of implosion during the spell, and Chris Rock’s jaw is clearly made of adamantium.
Worse, throughout “No Way Home” Stevey took ZERO responsibility for his involvement in the multiversal Sinister Six incursion, and near breaking of all reality. He constantly blames Peter, and is only forced to acknowledge his significant role in the mess a single time, when MJ calls him out on it. Dr. Strange’s origin journey is about replacing his insufferable arrogance with enough humility to learn from the Ancient One, but here it’s clear that the arrogance has returned in force. Heading in to the second Dr. Strange movie in the MCU, it’s clearly time for Stephen to relearn what it means to be a hero. [Read more…] about Doctor Strange: Multiverse of Madness Pre-View!
It’s 2002 and I’m in Junior High, sitting front row (but too nervous to slide four seats over next to my crush) for the debut of the first Spider-Man movie of my life. I’m way too shy to talk to my crush after, but I can’t stop talking to anyone within earshot about Spider-Man. From this point forward I will refer to Spider-Man as my favorite comic book character (sorry Wolverine and Nightcrawler).
It’s 2012, and I’ve been married just over a year, and I’m watching the rebooted Amazing Spider-Man on DVD in my Chicago apartment, gin and tonic in my hand. I’ve started a comic book website recently, but it’s a fledgling little project. I won’t even cover the film there. I’m quite unsure of where my life is headed professionally, stressed out and aimless, but nonetheless I have a great time watching.
It’s 2021 and I have a rare night out without my three young boys, watching Spider-Man: No Way Home in a theater screening that required proof of vaccination against a virus sweeping the world yet again. Today I’ll worry about all the maskless moviegoers around me enjoying their popcorn, but for nearly 3 hours, I’m fixated on the webbed mask Steve Ditko designed so perfectly in the early 60’s.
A lot’s changed for me in two decades, but one relative constant is that I’m more likely than not to enjoy a great Spider-Man movie, and Spider-Man: No Way Home is no exception.
[Read more…] about Spider-Man: No Way Home Review!
Above everything surrounding Eternals – the reports of global bans for Marvel Studio’s (woefully belated) attempts at queer representation, the most rotten critical reception any MCU movie has seen, the debates about MCU fandom’s respect for Eternals creator and Marvel Comics King, Jack Kirby – there’s one element I was most excited to figure out: What’s the strategic thinking behind Eternals at this particular moment of MCU Phase 4? Why Eternals, and why now?
* Spoilers For Eternals Will Follow*