Friday, March 29, 2013

Podcast Via Skye: Pop Culture Talk Episode 5

You can listen to The Illumi-Nerdi: Pop Culture Talk on PodOmatic or you can download and listen to our episodes on iTunes
 






00:30- We begin our discussion on comic books that we have read in the last two weeks.

     00:34- Did Vision betray the Avengers in Age of Ultron #3?
     02:59- Brian explains why you need to read Five Ghosts #1.
     05:42- If you're not reading Saga than you're being silly.
     09:00- Why was Batman #9 > Batman #8?

12:02- Two Marvel characters that we want to see in the second "Marvel Now" wave.

16:42-What was Marvel's one major mistake during "Marvel Now"?

17:21-Did you see the trailer for "The Wolverine"? We discuss it here.

21:31-Our predictions for The Walking Dead season finale.

27:00-Robert Redford + GSP = news on Captain America: Winter Solider.

30:58.-Why does Brian have a problem with former WWE wrestlers/UFC fighters being actors?

33:37- R.I.P Don Payne.

34:37- Is Joss Whedon happy or upset about the ending of Iron-Man 3?

39: 26- Godzilla movie news.

42:29: Director of the week: David Fincher

     42: 59- Seven
     47:12- The sequel to Seven??? What? Yeah, it is sort of true....kind of.
     48: 19- The Game reminds Phil of  "A Christmas Carol".
     50:48 Phil might be overreaching but he believes that Tyler Durden did not die.
     54:57-Brian thinks Panic Room is David Fincher's most underrated movie.
     56:40- Who was the Zodiac Killer?
     57:37-Even though Benjamin Button was a dry movie it reminded us of Forrest Gump.
     59:35-What is David Fincher's next movie?
     62:04- Phil was bored by the Social Network.
    66: 20-If you can't remember all the twists and turns in The Girl with The Dragon Tattoo, we explain them all.
    69:38- Phil and Brian are Team Russo in House of Cards.

77:24- Our "Must Buys" for next week's comic books.

Saturday, March 23, 2013

The Illumi-Nerdi: Pop Culture Talk Episode 4- Theories





1:15 Have you seen our new banner? It's great, right? We give a nice solid shout out to Mike Lombardo for its creation.

2:22 We talk about the hardly advertised new digital comic "The Private Eye". The writer is Brian K. Vaughan and we talk about why it is phenomenal.

11:30. Fox is calling the sequel to the last X-Men movie, X-Men: Days of Future Past. With Blink's arrival, we are beginning to think that should not be the title. Maybe, it should be called X-Men: Age of Apocalypse.

16:04. We have Guardians of the Galaxy news and Phil sort of...almost tripped Batista or John Cena.

20:03. Our discussion on Christopher Nolan movies begin here.

      25:23 Memento
      29: 52 The Prestige
      33:49 The Dark Knight Trilogy
      39:24 Inception (Brian gives his theory about the real ending of "Inception")

44:50 Is Harry Potter immortal? Brian tells the listeners how that could be possible.

47: 42. Check out the cover of Batman #19. Phil thinks Jim Gordon has figured out that Bruce and Batman are one and the same.

59:04 News on Star Wars: Episode VII.

74:00 Our picks for  3/27 comic books.

78:00  Have you heard of Marvelman? He's a lost comic book character that will be appearing in Marvel comics for the first time EVER. Phil thinks he will be appearing at the end of Age of Ultron.

84:00 We discuss Shadowline's Dia de los Muertos #1-2

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Two Huge New Announcements from the Illumi-Nerdi!

We have two pretty damn cool announcements!

First things first: we officially have a new banner provided by our good buddy Mike Lombardo. Check out some of his absolutely gorgeous stuff at his WEBSITE. Also, special thanks to Jess Allan for inspiring the idea!

Second things second: we're officially announcing that we're working on our second comic entitled 617.

Here's a brief tentative synopsis: A plane collides with another in midair and the group of survivors crash into the Rocky Mountains. From there, it is something of a road story; the group trying to get back to society and what happens when they get back to “civilization” (it’s extremely crucial that "civilization" is in quotes). As they are attempting to trek down the mountain the group splits apart and comes across survivors from the other plane as well as many characters who know much more about their predicament then they are letting on . It’s sort of a mix of Y: The Last Man meets Christian and Norse mythologies. It is also (perhaps most importantly) a literal clash of Technology vs. Religion. You’ll see Valkyries, The Four Horsemen (who are evil/questionable historical figures you’ll certainly recognize who are attempting to earn their way back into God’s good graces,) Fenrir the Wolf, a few choice Angels and the good ol' Antichrist makes an appearance (who may not appear as you might typically think about the Antichrist). We blend a lot of different mythologies and attempt to find the answer to "Life, the Universe and Everything" (hint: it's not 42).




Tuesday, March 19, 2013

New 52 #19's Gatefold Cover formely known as "WTF" Month

A few months ago, DC planned planned to mark April as "WTF" month. Sounds like a catchy idea, right? We thought so but everyone else hated it. So when "WTF" month went viral, people pretty much bashed it. At one point it looked like "WTF" month was going to be "What the Fifty-Two" month but that idea fell flat with the comic book market. For the past week and a half, covers have been leaked on Bleeding Cool, Newsarama and Comic Book Resources. 




















It looks like Superman is wrapped in vines, angry and maybe being mind control. Are Poison Ivy and the Scarecrow working together? 






















































Did you read Batman #0? Before Bruce was dressed up as Batman, he was fighting crime and doing Beta-Batman stuff. Gordon noticed a connection between Bruce's return and the sudden appearance of Gotham's vigilante but Bruce denied all accusations. Now that Robin is dead, we can all expect Gordon to start connecting the dots again and Bruce can't have that.   



































Batman #19 is technically Batman #900. 




















One of the few disappointments in Batman's "Death of the Family" was that the story had zero major repercussions. However, that is not in case in other Bat-family books. In Red Hood and the Outlaws, Joker left one final joke for the Bat-family post-disappearance. Joker put together a serum, sneaked it into Red Hood's helmet and now he's in a comma. On the last page of #18, the bottom of the page said RHATO #19 "This is your life, Jason Todd". Was his memory erased?  It hints at that. However, the "WTF" cover for #19 has half of Todd's face burnt off. Oh, and kinda looks like Two-Face



    

















Looks like April is bringing the return of Darkseid's #2, Desaad.


     




















Is the Reserves Flash and Wally West the same person? That looks likeWally's dad in Flash's hand.
























Monday, March 11, 2013

Batman Earth 1: Vol. 2 News

Guess what? We have very exciting news for you. Everything we are about to tell you happened on the latest episode of  Kevin Smith's Fatman on Batman.  In Part 2 with Geoff Johns, the creators discussed Johns work on Batman: Earth 1 Vol. 1 and Vol. 2. In the Summer of 2013, DC Comics announced that the villain for Vol. 2 will be the Riddler but there is more.

For those who don't know, Earth 1 books are the new Esleworlds books for DC. Instead of taking the on going series route that Marvel did with the Ultimate Universe line, DC decided to publish graphic novels that focused on the origin stories but with drastic changes to the characters' mythologies. In the podcast, Johns described his version of Batman perfectly by calling it "Beta-Batman". For all of Batman's history, Alfred as been portrayed as a former actor and a fail old man. That's not the case anymore. In Earth 1, Alfred is an army buddy of Wayne Thomas, becomes head of security for Wayne Manor and he's a badass. Also, Geoff Johns does something different and radical. The madame name of Bruce's mother is Arkham. For new comic book readers, Arkham is now an Asylum and the home for Batman's rogues gallery. On a really fun note, Penguin is Mayor of Gotham and (Spoiler Alert) Alfred kills him at the end of Vol. 1.


 New Info on Earth 1: Vol.

Along side the Riddler, Johns will be introducing Earth 1's version of Killer Croc.

Yes! I am excited for Johns to work on Batman's scrubs. Besides Loeb's Hush, I've never seen the Riddler as an A lister. In my opinion, an A Lister villain always has the ability to beat Batman. Also, my fingers are crossed because I do not want to see Killer Croc as the crocodile version. I want the Killer Croc from the Animated Series. Yes, it's true. I am very conservative when it comes to hero and villain costumes/appearances.

Since Vol. 2 is still sort of an origin story, this is not your Batman. Johns describes a scene where Batman appears from the shadows and is standing on evidence. Detective Gordon notices that and says "You're stepping on evidence". Batman steps back and Gordon says "You're not much of a detective, are you?"

When was the last time we've seen a "Beta-Batman"? The answer might be "Year One". By writing Batman during this period in his life, Johns can accomplish so much. Yes, Snyder is writing a brilliant Batman but the character is flawless. Earth 1 Batman is unpredictable and far from perfect. Johns' Batman gets into a fist fight with Alfred and he does not know how to jump from roof to roof. If you're tired of the same old Batman stories then you WANT to buy Earth 1.  

Along with Gordon and Bullock, there will be several new characters joining the cast. There are several volumes planned and Robin, Catwoman and Clayface will be introduced. Johns' plan is to do one volume every fourteen months.





Friday, March 8, 2013

The Illumi-Nerdi: Pop Culture Talk Episode 2

For our second podcast we talk about some Star Wars Episode VII news, some of our theories on X-Men: Days of Future Past, who Joss Whedon is going to kill in The Avengers 2, Guardians of the Galaxy 0.1, who should stay dead in the comic book world, we discuss every Quentin Tarantino movie ever made and close with our picks for the cast of the Justice League as well as discussing Guillermo Del Toro's Justice League Dark film.  You can listen to us on ITunes






 00:21 We discuss the return of Princess Leia in Episode VII.

6:16 Omar Sy signs up to be in X:Men Days of Future Past. Will Omar play Bishop?

10:33 According to Joss Whedon, Avengers 2 will be full of Death. We are making death predications.

14:00 Should Joss kill Tony Stark? It would be different but can they afford to do that.

15:32 We discuss Guardians of the Galaxy #0.1  and why it was so awesome.

18:00 Jason Momoa will not be in the Guardians of the Galaxy movie because he wants more money. What is that abouttttt?

20:05 DC has gone on a killing spree. Find out how many characters have died in the last two weeks.

20:30 Shout out to Max Landis' Death and Return of Superman.

22:15 Who will die next in DC?

26:53 Jean Grey is back and it looks like Marvel is making her into a villain

28:45 Phil has never ever watched a Tarantino movie until Django Unchained. Brian and him discuss why he's an idiot for not watching any of the movies sooner and the links between all of Tarantino's movies.

55:47 Our cast picks for the Justice League movie.

1:20 Our alternative characters for the Justice League movie.

1:23 Is Justice League Dark happening???



Monday, March 4, 2013

Comic News from ECCC 2013

This weekend was the Emerald City Comic Con (Seattle) and we are absolutely jealous of everyone that attended.  Even though ECCC might not measure in size next to SDCC and NYCC, it is a fan favorite. It's not too big, not too small, just the perfect size. Since Brian and I could not attend, we relied on sites like Bleeding Cool, Newsarama and CBR to fuel our comic needs. Everything that is highlighted is news coming out of ECCC and below the highlighted are our opinions.


DC

Batman #18-20 stories will consist of the fall out from "Death of the Family" and "Robin's Death" in Batman INC. #18 is a Harper Row POV story and #19-20 is a two part story. Starting with #21, Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo will be putting together a 9 part arc. Snyder has stated the story will revolve around Riddler and a few new villains. Nightwing has lost his circus and his former sidekick is dead. Now that there is nothing left for him in Gotham, he will be permanently fighting crime in the Chicago. Ventriloquist will be returning to the Bat-universe as a female and she's fighting Batgirl.

I'm a little worried that Harper Row will be the next Robin. I was hoping she would be the new Oracle or be Batman's new Harold. I do believe a nine part series is long but Snyder knows what he is doing and I trust him. Also, the comic market community is very happy to see The Riddler make a strong return to the New 52. The Riddler has not been used properly since the Hush storyline.

Is anyone else a little bummed out that Nightwing is going to Chicago? I was really hoping for the return of Bludhaven.


I was just a bit disappointed with the ending of "Death of the Family". I loved the writing, art and the direction it was going but I wanted something huge to happen, and in the end the status quo was more or less maintained. I thought "Death of the Family" deserved at least one death (it would have been great to see Bruce's downfall after his best friend and confidant, Alfred got killed) but we got it in Batman Inc. It was good to see something really changing, and I think for the best. Comic book characters have to have real stakes, we have to fear that something awful could happen to them at any moment and it was great to see Grant Morrison allow the worst to happen. I'm excited to see where they go with the next story line and trust the Snyder/Capullo tandem more than anyone since Miller's "Dark Knight Returns".

100 Bullets is coming back....sort of. The original team on the book are reuniting and telling us new stories. Don't worry, they are not pulling a "Before Watchmen" stunt. Brother Lono will be told after the events of 100 Bullets #100.

In May, Snyder and Sean Murphy are collaborating on a new vertigo series, The Wake. Newsarama- "There's a discovery at the bottom of the ocean that unlocks the mysteries of the sea. "There's a post-apocalyptic element, horror, and more science-fiction," Snyder said. "It's definitely different from anything you've ever seen from us."

It looks like The Wake is Michael Crichton's Sphere but add a decent amount of awesome.

I'd say it looks more like They Abyss, but that's only to be different from Phil. It also reminds me a bit of the works of HP Lovecraft because it blends horror and sci-fi in an apocalytic setting which just says Cthulhu to me. Which makes me extremely excited. I love Snyder and Sean Murphy's "Punk Rock Jesus" was wonderful.

Now that "Rotworld" has ended, Snyder is leaving Swamp Thing and Lemire will be focusing on Buddy Baker's A list celebrity status in Animal Man. In Animal Man #18, Baker wins an Academy Award and something terrible happens. In Justice League Dark, Lemire will start exploring what the typical DC superheroes think of the DC's Magic World.

If something terrible happens to Buddy Baker, it better not be about his family. The first 17 issues of Animal focuses on his family a lot, so I definitely want to see something different. 

When I learned that Lemire will be exploring what DC's typical superheroes think of DC's Magic World, I jumped in joy. If done right, DC will be pushing a sibling rivalry between the two different types of heroes. Maybe we will see a John Constantine vs Batman and Swamp Thing vs Superman. 

Anything Justice League Dark is exciting to me. Can't wait for Guillermo Del Toro's movie. Can we get some news about that please???

A Secret Six book is not on DC's agenda.

This sucks but I'm ok with DC not rushing it. Today on Twitter, I  mentioned I wanted to see a brand new Catman origin. It could be interesting if Batwing was not the first Batman of Africa. Instead, Batman recruited Catman but he was a failed Batman INC experiment and Batman tried to shut him down which forces Catman went into hiding.

A Pandora on-going is happening. The title is Trinity of Sin: Pandora

Cheshire will be making her New 52 in Red Hood and the Outlaws.

I want her to be everything that Starefire is not. Even though Starfire at times is linked to both Jason and Roy, she has not ended their bromance. I want to see Cheshire be RHATO's Yoko Ono.

The next big Flash story will take over the rest of 2013 and it will be all about the Reverse Flash. His powers and identity will all be new.

In Flash #11, Reserve Flash returned. I believe Reserve Flash is from the future and he's Wally West's Dad.

Earth 2 # 11 will be the first appearance of two very unexpected characters.

Marvel

West Coast Ultimates will be seen in 2013. Members of the West Coast will be Ultimate Wonder-man, Vision and Black Knight.

I thought the Ultimate line was being canceled.....

Samesies. 

Age of Ultron #1 will not show the battle between the Avengers and Ultron. #1 starts with the Avengers already defeated by Ultron.

For the past five years, Marvel has had way too many crossovers. Most of the crossovers are too expensive and take way too much time. AOU better be 1.2.3 finished.

I like the idea of it showing the Avengers already being beaten up by Ultron. Let's see where it goes. 

Hawkeye plans: #9 is everything that happened in #8 but in the perspective of the women in his life. #10 introduces a new villain and #11 involves a mystery and Hawkeye's Pizza Dog. Fraction also plans for an entire issue to be done in sign language. 

I love fiction where we show the same scene through a different perspective. I love seeing different angles and what another perspective can show us about something we have already seen. 

Image Comics

The Walking Dead introduces a new character, Ezekial in #108. #109 sees the return of Maggie. It was confirmed there will be no Waking Dead book spinoffs.   After the events of Invincible #100, fans will see the return of Angstrom Levy. Future issues of Invincible will focus on the Golden Age team up of Allen the Alien and Oliver.

The Walking Dead #100 was sad, shocking and paved the road for the next few years. Overall, I was very disappointed with Invincible #100. Kirkman pulled a page from Marvel's Ultimatum and tried to drown the world.  

In 2013, we will see a new Image comic book, Ghosted by Joshua Williamson and art by Goran Sudzuka. According to Williamson, Ghosted is Ocean's Eleven 86 the casino sub haunted house. It is a five book mini series and it's already finished which means it will be shipped without delays. Thanks to Comic Book Resources - " The series focuses on a thief named Jackson T. Winters who is broken out of prison by a collector intent on capturing a ghost. Winters puts together a dream team of ghost hunters including a magician, a psychic, a skeptic and others."

You say the words "this comic is Ocean's 11 meets-" just about anything and I'm on board. Though I'm instantly doubtful it can maintain the charm of either George Clooney or Brad Pitt. Or Matt Damon. Or Casey Affleck. Or... forget it. But when you throw in "haunted house", just tell me where to sign up.


Fraction will be collaborating with Chaykin for a book titled, "Satellite Sam". The book is set during the Golden Age of Television and its a noir story that involves drunks and sex. Another Image book, "Sex Criminals" written by Chip Zdarsky involves two lovers that can stop time when they are intimate.

Prior to ECCC, one book that has been getting a huge push in the comic market is Paul Casey's Sex. Casey describes Sex as "50 Shades of Grey meets Batman". The plot is a superhero stops fighting crime after his mentor's dying wish is that he hang up the cape and start a new life. According to Casey, the main protagonist is emotionally stunted as an teenager and he's forced to enter the "real world" at the age of 35 but with the attitude of a teenager.

In Other ECCC News:

IDW: Joe Harris will be writing X-Files: Season 10. #1 will be picking up sometime after the last movie ended. Michael Walsh (Artist on Comeback) will be the artist on Season 10.

I love the team on this book but I'm worried for one major reason. Does Season #10 mean we will never see a X-Files movie???? 

David Duchovny has been trying to get fans to sign up for a new X-Files movie. I hope he didn't get his wish here in a continuation of the series via comics because this story deserves live-action accreditation. That being said, if you're not reading "Comeback" you're missing out. It's a truly unique series and Michael Walsh's art is absolutely fantastic. So I'll certainly be buying this comic even if it means no new movie. 

Dynamite Entertainment: Gail Simone has been officially announced as the writer of Red Sonja. Mark Waid will be writing a Green Hornet story which follows the radio show continuity.

In News Outside ECCC

Announced on Kevin Smith's Fatman on Batman, he and Geoff Johns are working together. It has not been confirmed whether or not its a book or a movie.

The Illumi-Nerdi has a Podcast. You can find it on ITunes, under the name "The Illumi-Nerdi: Pop Culture Talk".