Intergalactic Comics: 11/15/17

Wednesday, November 15, 2017

Ranking the DC EXTENDED UNIVERSE Films

The DCEU is about to grow again - but how will JUSTICE LEAGUE stack up to its predecessors?

via The Nerd Machine

https://www.newsarama.com/37353-ranking-the-dc-extended-universe-films.html

MARVEL HEROES Shut Down by Disney

The MMO will end its run at an unspecified date.

via The Nerd Machine

https://www.newsarama.com/37384-marvel-heroes-shut-down-by-disney.html

How To Understand Gender Neutral Pronouns, The ONI/LIMERENCE Way

In the upcoming ogn A QUICK & EASY GUIDE TO THEY/THEM PRONOUNS.

via The Nerd Machine

https://www.newsarama.com/37383-how-to-understand-gender-neutral-pronouns-the-oni-limerence-way.html

Best Shots Reviews: PUNISHER #218, BATMAN WHO LAUGHS #1, More

Along with DOCTOR STRANGE #381 and HAWKEYE #12.

via The Nerd Machine

https://www.newsarama.com/37380-best-shots-reviews-dr-strange-381-batman-who-laughs-1-punisher-218.html

Image's DARK FANG Sinks Its Teeth Into Climate Change Concerns

"The horror comes from the truth behind the neon lights. It's not vampires we should fear but politicians, corporations, and lobbyists," said Kelsey Shannon.

via The Nerd Machine

https://www.newsarama.com/37375-image-s-dark-fang-sinks-its-teeth-into-climate-change-concerns.html

Call of Duty WWII Video Game Review

By: Thomas Riccardi

The Call of Duty series has taken players from the past and present to places all around the world, fighting in war-torn cities in a harsh winter in Russia to in modern engagements in the Middle East. The series has also gone into the future with various campaigns taking place in futuristic locales, alternate histories, and even the depths of space itself. Activision has turned the tide once again as they have released their latest in the long line of shooters: Call of Duty WWII. But is this the game that can turn the series around or is it going to be just as bad as the last one was?

In the campaign mode, you play as Red Daniels, who is straight out of Texas and looking to join the fight against the German war machine. Before you even start playing the game, you feel as if you are bonding with these characters. You talk about trivial things as you’re on a ship heading towards beaches of Normandy. This might sound a bit trite as the game starts off with the D-Day invasion, but I can tell you this is done just as good if not better than its previous incarnations. You feel as if you are in the thick of battle as bullets go whizzing past your head as you sprint from cover to cover. Speaking of cover, the mechanic of taking cover so your health can regenerate is gone. If you lose health, the only way to recover it is through health packs that are spread out throughout each level. I find this to be a better approach as you can use these health packs when you need to instead of just using them when you pick them up. There are also heroic actions that can be located and performed throughout the levels and completing these gives a boost to your squad mate’s abilities. This could mean anything from giving you more ammo to giving you a health pack when you need it most. I really do not want to give away a lot of the campaign, but I can tell you there are going to be moments when you feel for these characters and you hope that they make it. I love how they gave this campaign a sort of a cinematic feel, as if you were taking part in your favorite world war two movie.

The multiplayer side of Call of Duty WWII has also been upgraded as well, but let’s go over the basics first. Sure, there are a variety of modes to choose from, including team deathmatch, free for all, domination, etc. There are even hardcore modes as well, and the chat is always on for these modes so you can hear every jeer and taunt from your opponents as well as your teammates. There is a new multiplayer mode called War and the objective of these modes vary slightly from mission to mission. In one mission, you try to destroy flak cannons that are shooting down US bombers. First, you need to capture the enemy command post, construct a bridge, destroy an ammo dump for the flak cannons, and finally lead your tank to destroy the flak cannons. It is an amazing piece of work and breaks up the monotony of the multiplayer deathmatches. There are also five divisions that have different specialties: expeditionary (incendiary shotgun shells), infantry (bayonet charge), mountain (sharpshooter hold breath for steadier shot), airborne (suppressor hides firing on mini-map but less range), and armored (bipod allows you to steady your machinegun against various surfaces). But to me, the biggest upgrade to this game has to be the headquarters mode. This is a social space where you can hang out with other players, claim supply drops, and take on missions that you complete in the game (ex: get a certain number of kills with this weapon or get a number of headshots). There are also places to hone your multiplayer skills by testing out your weapons in combat as well as your score streaks. This will prove invaluable as you go out onto the battlefield ready with the knowledge on how to use your score streaks to drive the enemy back.

Zombies is also back for another round in Call of Duty WWII and this time it finds you as a small detachment sent to a small village in Mittelburg, Germany. Your team has been dispatched there in order to recover some works of art that were stolen by the Axis and it is your job to retrieve them. Like other zombie campaigns, you have a choice between four classes: offense, control, support, and medic. However, unlike other campaigns, you have the ability to pick your character! Yes, you heard right – for the first time, you will not be assigned a random character and you can pick the character you like to play. Unfortunately, there can only be one of each type during a match so you need to choose wisely.

As with other iterations of this series, there are some great voice talents being lent to the characters. You have Ving Rhames as Jefferson Potts, David Tennant as Drostan Hynd, Katheryn Winnick as Marie Fischer, Elodie Yung as Olivia Durant, and Udo Kier as Doktor Peter Straub. Usually when I play the Call of Duty games, I skip on the zombies section, but this makes me want to play it even more.

The only drawback I can find in this game has to be the glitches and errors that are found throughout the game. There are times where this game loves to either crash or just hang while you are either loading into multiplayer or going from one area to the next. I had a mission to go ahead and practice some of the score streaks and I did. But when I was done (and I am playing on the PC), the game hung up as it tried to go back to headquarters mode. I thought it was just a one-off so I went to see if I could repeat the problem and sure enough, it happened again and again. This should have been caught as this was a basic bug that can be easily fixed. This also makes me wonder what else can and will go wrong while playing either the campaign or in multiplayer mode. Hopefully Activision will go ahead and address these issues and get them fixed as soon as possible.

If you are a fan of the Call of Duty series and are tired of all the wall running and double jumping, you need to get this game. With a great single player campaign and enriched multiplayer modes, this has to be one of the best Call of Duty games to date. For more information on this game, head over to the game’s website and get ready to get back into the fight, soldier!

admin
via The Nerd Machine

http://www.nerdhq.com/call-of-duty-wwii-video-game-review/

SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN #300 Will Re-Reveal His Secret Identity

And be over-sized, to boot.

via The Nerd Machine

https://www.newsarama.com/37379-spectacular-spider-man-300-will-re-reveal-his-secret-identity.html

50+ Stills from RUNAWAYS Series Premiere 'Reunion'

Ahead of its November 21 debut.

via The Nerd Machine

https://www.newsarama.com/37371-50+-stills-from-runaways-series-premiere-reunion.html

JENNA ELFMAN Cast in FEAR THE WALKING DEAD Season 4

JENNA ELFMAN has reportedly joined the cast of FEAR THE WALKING DEAD in an unnamed role.

via The Nerd Machine

https://www.newsarama.com/37378-jenna-elfman-cast-in-fear-the-walking-dead-season-4.html

Skin & Earth #5 (of 6) - Lights

Skin & Earth #5 (of 6)
Lights
Genre: Graphic Novels
Price: $3.99
Publish Date: November 15, 2017
Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment
Seller: Dynamic Forces, Inc.

Exhausted by the hopelessness of her surroundings, En considers a strange offer to enter Mitsuki's world. Is this experience a temporary lapse in reality or is it truly a portal to a better place? What might be the consequence of leaving her existence behind?

get it now at https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/skin-earth-5-of-6/id1312926762?mt=11&uo=2&partnerId=11&at=1010ldoE

ETHAN YOUNG Returns With 2 New DARK HORSE Projects In 2018

via The Nerd Machine

https://www.newsarama.com/37367-ethan-young-returns-with-2-new-dark-horse-projects-in-2018.html

DINI & ALVAREZ Refine the Cartoon Cat & Mouse Dynamic for BOO & HISS

With a first look at one of the stories.

via The Nerd Machine

https://www.newsarama.com/37369-dini-alverez-refine-the-cartoon-cat-mouse-dynamic-for-boo-hiss.html

Indie Comics Spotlight: Betty and Veronica Vixens #1, Stain the Seas Scarlet #1, and Port of Earth #1

By: Jonathan Pilley (@omnicomic)

Betty and Veronica Vixens #1

“…it means we’re about to kick some ass.”

Betty and Veronica are an example of one of the most enduring love/hate relationships in all of media. The two of have moved from best friends to worst enemies at the proverbial drop of a dime. In Betty and Veronica Vixens #1 from Archie Comics, the two take their relationship to a new place as members of an outlaw biker gang. The issue is written by Jamie Lee Rotante, illustrated by Eva Cabrera, colored by Elaina Unger, and lettered by Rachel Deering.

The toughest gang in Riverdale is one you’d least expect: the Vixens, led by Riverdale High’s own Betty and Veronica!

Betty and Veronica have the frenemy angle locked down pretty tight and that’s what Rotante leverages to great effect in Betty and Veronica Vixens #1. Rotante reimagines the two female leads as something more than just bookworm and the most popular girl in school; instead, they’re both intent on becoming a biker gang. It’s a pretty radical departure for the two characters for sure, but Rotante works in enough of their primary characteristics that it doesn’t feel that far-fetched. Rotante’s dialogue is a little sassy for a comic in the Archie universe, but considering Betty and Veronica are going up against the Serpents it’s to be expected. And there’s a focus on making Betty out to be more than meets the eye; in fact, Rotante ensures that the reader knows there’s a lot more to Betty than just her intelligence.

Cabrera’s art style in Betty and Veronica Vixens #1 is a modern take on the old school Archie comics. The characters are illustrated in a way that hearkens back to the comic strips boasting the same characters while at the same time looking as if a fresh coat of paint has been applied. Cabrera focuses on the details with thin, wispy lines that sport heft and allow the characters to stand out. The panel layout is very formal and grid-like, leaving the reader to wonder if maybe a few insets and overlays would’ve better matched the burgeoning rebel personas of Betty and Veronica. Unger’s colors are rich, striking the right balance between being bold and not going overboard.

Betty and Veronica Vixens #1 is a departure for the main characters that a lot of readers probably weren’t expecting. Betty and Veronica are reinvented in a way that upends what people typically think of the two leading women. Rotante’s script is evenly paced and effective in giving readers a glimpse at new versions of the iconic characters. Cabrera’s illustrations are a great mix of classic looks and a more modern, slick approach. Betty and Veronica Vixens #1 is a fun reimagining of the new characters that gives them a lot to contend with, but they’re surely up to the task.

Betty and Veronica Vixens #1 is available now.

Stain the Seas Scarlet #1

“We will stomp your face in until the noises are onomatopoeic of rainfall into a filth clogged gutter. You realize this, yes?”

History is rife with civilizations and societies that have been subverted by a more powerful and aggressive group of individuals. In some instances those oppressed simply roll over, but in some cases they actually fight back and make a stand. One such instance occurs in Stain the Seas Scarlet #1. The issue is written by Ryan K. Lindsay, illustrated by Alex Cormack, and lettered by Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.

When Yelena’s planet has just about been successfully driven beneath the boot heel of the scumbag robot terraforming army, she throws a Hail Mary play. She takes the fight to them, via her diplomatic sell-out sister, and she fails. Or does she? What comes next is a wild ride of spacesuit noir that’s a take on a 70s revenge flick with our wandering hero loose in space.

On the very first page of Lindsay’s script, the reader gets a sense of two things: tone and attitude. Lindsay infuses all the characters with an abundance of brashness that seems a little jarring at first, but after getting settled in, the reader starts to appreciate the coarseness of the dialogue. The overarching plot isn’t exactly new per se, but Lindsay puts his stamp on it through characters who hold nothing sacred. It’s appreciated that Lindsay took the relatively boring, space domination theme and really made it his own with strong characters and a violent timeline. There are some back-and-forth jumps in time that allows Lindsay to let the reader know why things are the way they are in the present – the flashbacks are just as vitriolic as the present.

There’s a ferocity to Cormack’s illustrations in Stain the Seas Scarlet #1 that accurately reflects the fiery personalities of the all the characters involved. Cormack’s style is very frenetic and his linework is equally as emotionally charged. There are numerous pages where Cormack bathes the artwork in debris; for instance, a page with the characters in a downpour covers the page in rain drops. That approach feels a little overwhelming at first, but Cormack doesn’t let it take over the book’s look and uses it to great effect. His colors are sharp throughout as well, and tap into the same visceral approach that the linework takes.

Stain the Seas Scarlet #1 is one of those books that more or less lives up to its namesake. Yelena is clearly throwing caution to the wind in her newfound approach and it’s that recklessness that makes the book work. Lindsay doesn’t pull any punches in Stain the Seas Scarlet #1, throwing characters at the reader who are unapologetic about their decisions and actions. Cormack’s artwork is the right kind of dangerous in its approach as it’s the perfect representation of the script. Stain the Seas Scarlet #1 is a thoroughly enjoyable issue that refuses to play it safe.

Stain the Seas Scarlet #1 will be available soon.

Port of Earth #1

“We always knew we weren’t alone.”

Earth’s place in the galaxy is one that seems pretty inconsequential in the grand scheme of things. That could – and will – definitely change as we make more advancements in rocket technology, but for now, we’re left to dream. In Port of Earth #1 from Image Comics, that dream becomes a reality of sorts. The issue is written by Zack Kaplan, illustrated by Andrea Mutti, colored by Vladimir Popov, and lettered by Troy Peteri.

Imagine if aliens came to Earth not in war or peace, but with a business deal: open up a spaceport here on Earth in exchange for advanced technology. But when our alien visitors break port restrictions and wreak havoc in our cities, it falls to the newly formed Earth Security Agents to hunt down and safely deport the dangerous rogue aliens back to the Port of Earth.

Kaplan taps into a lot of pent-up frustration surrounding immigration and uses that as the crux of Port of Earth #1. To get to that point, though, Kaplan crams a lot of expository in the first half of the issue to get the reader up to speed with what’s going on. It’s a little jarring because it’s essentially an information dump, but Kaplan does it pretty well and it provides plenty of context for the remainder of the issue. Because of all that information front-loading, Kaplan doesn’t really do much in the way of dialogue until the second-half of the issue – that dialogue is pretty straightforward yet effective. The concept as a whole is pretty sound, though, and Kaplan does great to make it seem like a not-to-distant future for Earth.

The artistic approach in the issue affords the work something of a future, dystopian feel. Mutti captures an otherworldliness in Earth through a seemingly scratchy approach, illustrating the Port of Earth and its surroundings with an emphasis on rough textures. Mutti’s linework is clean for the most part, but the understated approach dulls the impact of the overarching message somewhat. Because Mutti uses perspectives that are seemingly removed from the action there’s a sense that the reader is observing all the events unfold as opposed to being part of them. Popov’s colors are muted and washed out which, again, belies the ambitious narrative beneath.

Port of Earth #1 sets its sights pretty high and is slowly building its way up to that. The Earth Security Agents are tasked with preserving the safety of Earth in the path of interstellar vessels seeking to refuel and things continue to escalate. Kaplan’s script is front-loaded with information and doesn’t really give the characters much room to develop, but that should change in future issues. Mutti’s artwork is loose in its approach and captures the essence of the Earth’s future as the aforementioned refueling station. Port of Earth #1 starts off very slowly even if it appears to just start scratching the surface.

Port of Earth #1 is available now.