Widening Gyre!

Read this last night and am a bit undecided whether I liked it or not - strange! I was disappointed with Kevin Smith's previous effort (Cacophony) and wrote a review on it on Comicvine (I will transfer over to here at some point), but there were flickers of Smith's Green Arrow run 'genius' in Cacophony and I hoped that maybe said 'genius' would appear in Widening Gyre. Walter Flanagan is on art duties and for the most part I like his work (accompanied by the two Arts). It does seem to work with Smiths lengthy script.

What I liked (4 things):

1. I know that some hardcore fans will disagree, but I mostly enjoyed the dialogue between Batman and Nightwing. At first I wasn't convinced as Batman, specifically Bruce Wayne, is painted as someone with the character of a Gnat. However, after some nice writing, the 'disappearing move' that Nightwing pulls is sweet and you feel Batman becoming more comfortable between the pages.

2. The range of characters. Smith does seem to bring past characters into his stories or certainly makes reference to them and in some cases parodies past styles (i.e. the opening Batman and Robin scenes smack of classic 60's style comics). You get Poison Ivy, Demon, Killer Croc, the Joker and a few others. It works, bringing these faces into the backdrop.

3. Poison Ivy- not a character I am massively keen on, (although I did enjoy the two opening issues of Gotham City Sirens) is drawn with a fair bit of seduction and attraction. The character definitely intrigues. The question is, what her part will be going forward - you get the feeling there is more of her to come.

4. The mix of fantasy and horror. There are a couple of scenes that would definitely fall into the horror/violent category and you are not really expecting them, which I liked. I hope this remains a theme throughout. It gave the story a matter of importance.


What I didn't like:

1. The ending. I know it runs for 6 parts, but you need that hook at the end to make you want to read the next issue, and issue one had a hook of sorts, but I felt a little cheated I guess.

2. The name. Just don't like it. What is a Gyre? A round shape formed by a series of concentric circles (as formed by leaves or flower petals) or a spiral oceanic surface current driven primarily by the global wind system?

So more in favour than not. I think however, Smith has a fair bit left to do to prove himself. I hope he nails it.

New TV

The decision has been made, it is time for a new tv. I have been deliberately holding off, thinking I can make do with the existing set up. I was wrong. I need a fuckoff flatscreen. And so the search shall begin.

Before MP3, I was really into my Hi-fi equipment. It was all about separates and although I now have a set up I am very happy with, I don't spend the same time devoted to getting the perfect sound. Instead an iPod is plugged into the hi-fi and Robert is your fathers brother. Anyway I digress. The point I am trying to get to (this blog is being written in the pub on my phone - go me!) is that a lot of research would have been employed back in the day re hi-fi separates. I would start with the magazines and then spend a few days in the specialist stores listening to the various combinations of separates. Usually I would completely disregard all the research and buy something entirely different (I did this twice).

So. What research is required for the tv and can I be arsed doing it?

I spent 30 mins trying to work out which magazine to get. Vision this, LCD that, What blah blah. Eventually I found the 'dedicated' tv magazine and turned straight to the buyer guide. Look for 5 stars and a good price. It was 60 bloody pages long. This was going to take some time. I ditched the magazines and headed back to the office. Google would provide all th answers and soothe my aching head. Well this wasn't any better. Too many things going on. Too many questions. Returning home I re-measured the space to see if I could fit a larger screen. Ok it was getting a little silly. So where have I got too? I need to make a trip to a store and actually play with the tv's. I will report back once I have done that.

Year 2 - part 2

Finsihed it and to my surprise was not as impressed as first time round. In fact, really disappointed. I completely forgot about the whole Joe Chill episode. Bruce Wayne was really wet and the only good thing was the fight scenes between him and the Reaper. Not how I remembered it at all. Year 1 stands the test of time. Unfortunately this doesn't.

Web 2

I am still looking for the perfect browser that will allow me the opportunity to do all of the following: post up my own thoughts, link to ALL external sites I want to, access my personal email account, keep in touch with friends and allow others to comment on my thoughts or posts. It would also allow me secure areas and public areas and provide the benefits of social networking sites but allow me to customise as I see fit Does this already exist? Is it free? Well it would combine facebook with igoogle, with some Twitter and blogger thrown in for good measure.

I think the problem we now have is the fact that content is so easily found and so easily created. I can blog on the phone or Twitter on my laptop. As long as I have Internet I am good to go. But, right now I have to go to various sites to update everything I want to. I have to go to Twitter, facebook, blogger, igogle, comicvine, cbr, gmail and hotmail to make sure they are all up to date (and I don't use myspace or bebo). So you get my point!

So I'd like one site that would do all this for me. I'd like it to be one URL and all content is managed by me. I want a mobile version so I can do it on my phone. Am I asking to much?

Igoogle is probably the closest thing in so far as you can link things so it is all displayed in one page. But you can't update everything in one go. I'm sure google is already there. They just haven't made it avaiable yet. In the meantime I will keep hunting.

Lists

Great things lists. I write them, but I never score sh*t off them. Kinda makes them redundant!

Batman: Year 2

Was thinking about how Year 2 doesn't really get the credit that maybe it deserves? I was on CBR the other day reading in their forums a list of the best Batman trades and there was some debate on Year 2. As I understand it, it was written in line with Year 1 and at one point DC were going to release them simultaneously, with one in Detective and the other in Batman. It was deemed that actually this wasn't the best idea and that it made sense for them to be released apart.

The team for Year 2 was pretty sweet with Muke Barr and Alan Davies. I originally read this about 15 years ago and I remember really liking it. I think I found it gritty and fast moving. Well I pulled it free of it's restraints yesterday and am intending on re-reading it. Will I find it as enjoyable as I did the first time? Does it live upto Year 1? I'll let you know.

A new Logo for DCU

In my quest to catch up on stories that I have missed over the last decade or so, I got hold of the four parter 'The Return of Donna Troy' and started reading it the other week. Now due to various things I have only got to part 2 of the story, but what I found really quite interesting wasn't the story (although I am enjoying it), it was the 'Note from the Publisher' on the back page of the first issue. I have been guilty of passing over these in the past but find myself now reading them without a second thought. This particular one was written by Paul Levitz (President and Publisher)- this was published 2005. The opening line was 'Welcome to one of the most exciting times in DC's History.' The ensuing words ultimately listed all things great about DC and actually the list was impressive - Countdown to Infinite Crisis, all-star projects (All Star Batman and Robin, All Star Superman), Justice by Alex Ross and then they got to the movies. Batman Begins was due out out that summer and clearly DC were wetting their pants with excitement (so was I). There was also Constantine and V for Vendetta (both Vertigo) due out too. The former was poor in my opinion, the latter I really enjoyed. But Mr Levitz went on to say '...- and we're staying on the silver screen with a steady stream of surprising and great DC-based films.' For me, I have to think hard about the 'great DC-based films' that have been released. The second Batman was awesome - granted. The Superman film was good, but not great. The spirit? Does that count? It was released by Lions Gate and sucked. Watchmen - I can't comment on this because for all my ramblings that I am a massive comic fan, I haven't seen it. Events conspired against me - but I will be viewing very soon. But my point is that since 2005, other than the two Batman movies, there hasn't been anything exceptional or to use the words of Mr Levitz 'Great'. Going forward, we have another Batman movie, another superman reboot and Green Lantern. Oh and Jonah Hex. Both the Batman and Superman movies have a lot to live upto (for very different reasons). Green Lantern could be very cool if they get it right. Jonah Hex - not really fussed at this stage. Have DC done all that they can to turn such great source material into movie magic? Personally I think they need to take a leaf out of Marvel's book.

I was also interested to read that DC were announcing that there Logo was to change after 25 years of the old one. They really were excited about the future. I have to say, the comics are good, the animated stuff is pretty good, but they are missing a trick on the big screen. Do you think I am being unfair? Are they in fact doing a sterling job?