Twilight Guardian #1 and The End League #3

Howdy readers!

I have two new reviews up on Comics Bulletin:

Pilot Season: Twilight Guardian #1

There is a growing desire to answer the question of what a superhero would be like in the real world. You know, some normal person who tried to live the life of a comic book character for real. Kick Ass is one recent example from the mind of Mark Millar and now we have Twilight Guardian, which is Troy Hickman's (Common Grounds) attempt to answer that question...[more]



The End League #3

Astonishman, the greatest of the ten surviving superheroes on Earth is dead and the hammer of Thor is now in the hands of The End League's greatest enemy. Is all hope lost? Is this post-apocalyptic Earth reaching the final chapter in the story of humanity? [more]

Until next time... Marx out.

A Sunday Slugfest Over Star Trek - Assignment: Earth #1

Hello world!

I have a review up at Comics Bulletin. Another Sunday Slugfest, this time it's Star Trek - Assignment: Earth #1. This book was a pleasant surprise.

Sunday Slugfest: Star Trek--Assignment: Earth #1

After a quick recap, we are thrust into a story of espionage in 1968. The futuristic spy, Gary Seven, aided by his sidekick Roberta Lincoln and his cat Isis must figure out what the Soviets are planning for a secret project called Hercules that could lead to a global disaster...[more]

Until next time... Marx out.

Gotham Underground #8

I have a new review up at Comics Bulletin.

Gotham Underground #8 (3 out of 5)

It's Batman versus Vigilante while Gotham City is falling apart from gang war. Johnny Stitches pulls the rug under Penguin by chopping people up, threatening to chop up family and getting a reluctant ally to leave Penguin's side. Things aren't looking good for Penguin or Gotham, but Batman is finally back and I'm left wondering...where the crap did Spoiler go??? [more]

Until next time... Marx out.

'Smallville': Chloe Is In, Supergirl Is Out

Hi world,

Recently I did a Smallville story for SyFy Portal.

'Smallville': Chloe Is In, Supergirl Is Out

A sigh of relief could be heard by "Smallville" fans when Allison Mack's return for next season was finally confirmed. Unfortunately Laura Vandervoort's return as Kara (aka Supergirl) is not so certain. In fact, the recent The CW upfront presentation made it clear that even if Vandervoort is back, it won't be as a series regular...[more]

Until next time...Marx out.

Prepare To Be Adapted: Raiders Of The Creators Rights

Howdy folks!

My column is back yet again:

Prepare To Be Adapted: Raiders Of The Creators Rights

Creator ownership can be a tricky beast. In some media, the ownership of the intellectual property is pretty clear.

Books? The standard is for the author to own the characters. Film and television? There are exceptions from time to time, but usually those who fund it own it. That is why it can be so hard to continue a canceled show. J. Michael Straczynski has been noted saying that he would love to have "Crusade" continue in some fashion, but the rights have been tied up.

But there is a four-color creative medium that isn't so clear: comic books...[more]

Until next time... Marx out.

Supernatural: Rising Son #1

One of my favorite shows on TV right now is CW's Supernatural. Now I can even read it, courtesy of DC/Wildstorm.

Check out my Comics Bulletin review of it over here:

Things aren't going well for John Winchester. Still searching for what killed his wife, he takes on the Beast of Bray Road. You think that would have been the tough part of his day, but then he is fired from his day job because he is always late after taking on demonic forces.

Without income he and his two sons are kicked out onto the road. John learns that one of his wife's relatives, Eddie, has gone missing...[more]

Until next time... Marx out.

Death of the New Gods #8

Hi all,

I've done another Comics Bulletin Slugfest review. This time Death of the New Gods #8 was the title and I gave it a 2.5 bullets out of 5.

"No! It can't end like this!" – Superman

I feel Superman's pain. I can't believe this is how the New Gods die....[more]

Until next time... Marx out.

'Hulk' movie news

Hi world,

I recently wrote a quick story for SyFy Portal about the upcoming Hulk movie.

You can read it over here:

Fans expressed doubt about the purposed live-action Justice League Mortal film that would unite a bunch of DC superheroes, especially when some of them have yet to establish themselves in their own films. It looks like 'The Powers That Be' felt the same way, because the movie was put on indefinite hold.

But, Marvel Studios is determined not to travel down the same path with their purposed The Avengers movie.

Producers Gale Anne Hurd and Kevin Feige told SciFi Wire that the reboot The Incredible Hulk would help lay the foundation for The Avengers...[more]

Until next time... Marx out.

New Comic Book Reviews

Hello world,

I have new reviews up over at Comics Bulletin. The links to them and my score are:

Salvation Run #6 (2.5 out of 5)

I think Joker's sentiment sums up how I feel about this issue and the miniseries as a whole. There are a lot of villains here who seem to have lost their mojo...

Batman and the Outsiders #6 (4 out of 5)

Metamorpho lives! Trapped on a space station populated by "pod people," Metamorpho calls for help. Short a bat moon rocket, Batman sends the Outsiders to steal a rocket in Mongolia. Things don't turn out as planned...

Gotham Underground #7 (4 out of 5)

It's all out war as Penguin's supervillian gang fights Tobias Whale's mask killers. To top it off, a bunch of Bat-family members join in the fight. Meanwhile, Nightwing awakens in a medical clinic to see Riddler rather than Leslie Thompkins as his...

Until next time... Marx out.

Last Defenders #2

Howdy world,

I have another review up at Comics Bulletin. This time it's Last Defenders #2.

It's a wild and crazy ride of action, humor and chaos. I'm unsure what to think of this mini-series, but I do know that it is anything but predictable.

The Defenders, New Jersey's newest protectors courtesy of the Initiative, did not have a good first mission (to put it mildly). Their fight with the Sons of the Serpent took a nasty turn when...[more]

Prepare To Be Adapted: At Stories End, Part 2

Hello world,

My newest installment of my Prepare To Be Adapted column is online at Sy Fy Portal. It is a follow-up to my previous installment that covered endings to TV shows and comic books. Is there such a thing as a good ending?

Prepare To Be Adapted: At Stories End, Part 2

I don't have much to add except that I missed three other good examples of endings: "Jericho," "Babylon 5," and "Flash Gordon"...[more]

Until next time … Marx out.

Titans #1

Hi again,

I have another review up at Comics Bulletin. This time it's a "Sunday Slugfest" with four other reviewers on Titans #1.

Wow, I have some really mixed feelings about this book. I could almost take a lesson from Two-Face and flip a coin.

I've enjoyed most of Winick's past writing, especially his work on Batman, Exiles and The Outsiders. Unlike some, I like Churchill's art style, although I think he needs to tone down the 90's anatomy exaggerating, especially with the female characters. I loved (who didn't) the classic '80s Marv Wolfman/George Perez cast from New Teen Titans...[more]

Locke & Key #3

Hi world,

I have a new review up at Comics Bulletin. This time the excellent horror comic book Locke & Key.

What can I say? At this point I'm hooked and I want to see how things turn out for this damaged family in the supernatural Keyhouse, a mansion located in Lovecraft, Massachusetts.

Reflections are the theme for this issue: One reflection in a mirror helps a psychopathic killer gain bloody freedom; the other reflection is Kinsey's own. She sees only a stranger there, but learns that the only way to move forward from tragedy is to become a reflection that she once again recognizes... [more]

Survivor: The Sci-fi/Fantasy TV Series Edition

Update (April 20, 2008): Fox has renewed Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles!

It is that time of the year again when we find out which of our favorite shows are getting a new season and which are getting the axe.

It gets a little tough to do this since networks and cable channels handle their shows differently, but here is where we stand so far.

I've included my "weather" prediction of those shows whose fates are yet unknown.

Returning
Ashes To Ashes (BBC), Chuck, Doctor Who, Ghost Whisperer, Eureka, Heroes, Lost, Medium, Pushing Daisies, Smallville, Stargate Atlantis, Supernatural, Torchwood

Canceled
The 4400, Battlestar Galactica (currently airing the last season), Bionic Woman, The Dead Zone, Flash Gordon, Jericho, Journeyman

Status Not Officially Known (With my percentage chance of returning.)
Moonlight (75%), New Amsterdam (85%), Reaper (60%), Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles (90%)

Possible New Shows (...but don't be surprised if that changes.)
99 Stories (in development; AMC), Caprica (SciFi Channel), Captain Cook's Extraordinary Atlas (pilot order; ABC), Children of Men, Cupid (pilot order; ABC), Dollhouse (Fox), Eleventh Hour (pilot order; CBS), Fear Itself (NBC), Fringe (pilot order; Fox), Gods Behaving Badly (in development), Inseparable (in development; Fox), Johnny Dynamite (pilot ordered), Knight Rider (NBC), Life on Mars (in development; ABC), The Listener (CTV), The Meant To Be’s (pilot order; CBS), The Oaks (pilot order; Fox), Merlin (NBC), Middleman (ABC Family), Miracle Man (pilot order; ABC), My Own Worst Enemy (NBC), Mythological X (pilot order; CBS), Patient 2344 (pilot order; HBO), Preacher (no news since the WGA strike; HBO), Revolution (pilot order; SciFi Channel), Ripper (rumored; BBC), Rockville 2020 (in development; ABC), Sanctuary (13 episodes; SciFi Channel), Section 8 (6 episodes; ABC), Stargate: Universe (in development; SciFi Channel), Star Wars, Them (pilot finished; Fox), True Blood (HBO), Virtuality (two-hour backdoor pilot; Fox), Wizard's First Rule (syndication)

So, what do you think? Which of the possible new shows sounds best? Check out the details on these at: http://scifi411.com/upcomingtv.html, which is currently being updated.

Which canceled show will you miss the most…or the least?

Like this post? Then please... Digg It!

Buffy The Vampire Slayer: Season 8 #13

Hi world,

One of the sites I review for is Comics Bulletin. This week I reviewed Buffy The Vampire Slayer: Season 8 #13 with two other excellent reviewers.

Yes, in case you haven't heard, the TV series now lives on in comic book format. With a staff of writers lead by Joss Whedon this comic book series is a must read for any Buffy fan out there.

I've really enjoyed this eighth season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Even so, up to this point I have sometimes felt that the original chemistry between the characters had been somewhat lost in the grandeur "unlimited budget" stories of Buffy and her army.

But, you know what? The Scooby Gang mojo is back with this issue.... [more]

Prepare To Be Adapted

Hi everyone,

The last few months I've been doing a column over at Sy Fy Portal called "Prepare To Be Adapted."

Here are the links to my entries so far:

Prepare To Be Adapted... Resistance is Futile
An introduction to the column and a little chat about canon.

Prepare To Be Adapted: Attack of the Writers
I talk about the writer's strike.

Prepare To Be Adapted: Pirates of the Web
I talk about online piracy.

Prepare To Be Adapted: Curse of the Retcon
I talk about the dreaded retcon in both comic books and TV.

Prepare To Be Adapted: At Stories End
What is a good ending to a comic book series or TV series? They are a rare thing indeed.

Thanks for reading and check back for more updates.

Until next time... Marx out.

I'm Back!!!!!

Hello world. It has been a long time since I last posted here, but I want to start up the ol' blogging habit again.

Since last I posted I went to film school. I've worked on a bunch of short films and a few indie films. I also became a writer for SyFy Portal, Rabid Doll and Comics Bulletin.

So yeah, I've been busy.

From now on I'll post here random thoughts and links to my writings elsewhere.

Later

A Conversation In 'The House Between'

Hi world!

Here is my interview with John Kenneth Muir, the creator of the online series The House Between.

A Conversation In 'The House Between'

The Internet is quickly changing how people get their entertainment fix. But only recently have there been stories specifically made specifically for the Internet, rather than the more common route of throwing TV shows or movies from traditional sources onto the Internet.

"Sanctuary," "Battlestar Galactica: The Resistance," "Star Trek: New Voyages," and the list continues to grow. But one Web series that may have been overlooked is John Kenneth Muir's "The House Between," a series about five strangers that awaken in an empty Victorian house "at the end of the universe." Trapped, they have no idea how they got there. They must learn to trust each other and try to find a way out... [more]

Until next time... Marx out.

Television, Video Game In 'Sanctuary' Future?

Here is part II of my interview with Damian Kindler.

Television, Video Game In 'Sanctuary' Future?

The series "Sanctuary" may have gotten its start on the Web, but it doesn't necessarily mean it's going to stay there.

The people behind the Web series, which can be found at Sanctuary For All, say that while their goal was to bring this show to computers everywhere, it doesn't have to stay there.

"You have to think of an idea that works seamlessly across multiple formats," Damian Kindler, the Stargate producer who is the creator of "Sanctuary" and chief executive of Stage 3 Media which produces the series, told SyFy Portal's Marx Pyle. You want "something you can push to mobile phones, to your iPod, to television, to DVD, [and something that] is a good interactive online experience and is a great standalone game. We create one type of entertainment -- different forms of it -- but this is the sort of format. We want to be the pioneers, the innovators, the perfectionists. That is it. That is our goal. That's the plan." [more]

Until next time... Marx out.

EXCLUSIVE: A Trip Inside The 'Sanctuary'

Hello everyone!

Here is part I of my interview with Damian Kindler.

A Trip Inside The 'Sanctuary'

The Internet has had a growing influence on how fans get their entertainment. From online games to downloads onto iPods, the way people are watching shows and movies is changing.

More and more, science-fiction shows have been experimenting with new ways to get to their audiences. "Babylon 5" just released a new straight-to-DVD movie that may lead to an all-new anthology series for the series released only on DVD. And even SciFi Channel recently announced that they are making new episodes of "Farscape" as Webisodes.

But this is a new frontier and pioneers are needed to explore it. Stage 3 Media is one such pioneer that has gone further than anyone else to date with their Web series "Sanctuary."

Damian Kindler is known for his work in the Stargate franchise, but he's also the chief executive officer of Stage 3 Media and the creator of "Sanctuary," which he developed almost on a dare by his agent. [more]

Until next time... Marx out.