CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR (review) at FORCES OF GEEK
Produced by Kevin Feige
Screenplay by Christopher Markus, Stephen McFeely
Captain America Created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby
Directed by Anthony Russo and Joe Russo
Starring Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr.,
Scarlett Johansson, Sebastian Stan,
Anthony Mackie, Don Cheadle, Paul Rudd,
Jeremy Renner, Chadwick Boseman,
Paul Bettany, Elizabeth Olsen, Emily VanCamp,
Tom Holland, Frank Grillo, William Hurt, Daniel Brühl
Following up Marvel’s The Avengers: Age of Ultron, Captain America: Civil War is the latest chapter of the Marvel Cinematic Universe from Winter Soldier filmmakers, the Russo Brothers.
In just 8 short years, Marvel Studios has brought the comic book mythology to film, establishing several franchises and then bringing them together. It’s simple to forget how unheard of a concept that was previously; with 2012’sThe Avengers having Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner and Samuel L. Jackson share the screen together.
The Brothers Russo have done it again; with Civil War replacing the action-packed Winter Soldier as the very best in the Marvel filmography. On top of the already large cast, Civil War introduces two major heroes to the Marvel pantheon including the introduction of comics’ first African American hero Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman) and the “They FINALLY Got it RIGHT”! onscreen Peter Parker/Spider-Man (Tom Holland) is as pure perfection as Ivory Soap claims (99.9%, last time I checked).
Captain America: Civil War is pure Ever-Lovin’ Merry Marvel Marchin’ Society joy. ‘Nuff said!
We’re just now coming out of a post-holiday The Force Awakens/Deadpool/Batman v Superman/Supergirl Season Onehibernation that never seemed to end. Except now that it has. Some of that stuff was amazing, some not so much but mostly we fed off of the superhero movies and television send down the pike to us.
After leaving Captain America: Civil War, that all seemed like an appetizer for this souped up thrill ride from Wakanda to Berlin.
With longtime Cap baddie Helmut (Baron) Zemo (Daniel Brühl) as the film’s main foil, the Avengers face challenges more complex than infighting over political differences.
For a brief moment—a very brief moment—I was vibrating on all the right frequencies with this movie. And then I thought of the rights situation at Fox. The only thing that could have made this film more enjoyable for me would be to see Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine take a swat at Cap’s shield and scrape it up a bit. Black Panther does manage to damage the Vibranium shield, so that is something. There are no mutants in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and Bryan Singer is doing a fine job with the X-Men franchise but I can’t help but want to see everyone on screen mixed up with a wise-cracking Peter Parker, a no-good Scott Lang and a beautifully crafted Vision.
Seriously, The Vision looks so cool. I have a note that says only, “The Vision looks cool”. A better writer would have left it at that. While I’m agape at the costumes and visuals, I will also compliment Boseman for his stellar debut as Black Panther and I can’t wait to see more of him. Black Panther costume? Nailed it. Spider-Man? Best one yet.
There are great little bits of humor to break up the high tension, and the Russo Brothers even snuck in a funny visual homage to their former gig as directors of Arrested Development during the fight scene.
Want some romance? Check! Cap finally seals the deal (in a very proper, polite, 1940s way) with Agent 13 (Emily VanCamp), with whom we discover has a special connection to Steve. No spoilers here but this is the clever nod to another established Marvel character.
[READ MORE AT FORCES OF GEEK]
MARVEL'S AGENT CARTER S1E8 "Valediction" (SEASON FINALE review) at FORCES OF GEEK
We begin the final episode of Marvel’s Agent Carter in the radio studio recapping the fall of Captain America over the Sea of Japan.
This radio drama serves as a reminder that this episode is the final chapter, echoing the end of Captain America: The First Avenger.
While this series can lean on being infuriatingly chauvinistic and over the top at points — for and toward great dramatic effect — this time it is accurate.
Great Job, Stacey! XO
[READ MORE AT FORCES OF GEEK]
CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER REVIEW at FORCES OF GEEK
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Produced by Kevin Feige
Written by Christopher Markus, Stephen McFeely
Based on Captain America by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby
Directed by Anthony Russo and Joe Russo
Starring Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Sebastian Stan, Anthony Mackie,
Cobie Smulders, Frank Grillo, Emily VanCamp, Hayley Atwell,
Toby Jones, Maximiliano Hernández, Garry Shandling,
Robert Redford, and Samuel L. Jackson
The First Avenger is back in his blockbuster sequel, joining Iron Man and Thor for in-between The Avengers movies solo ventures. Chris Evans is back as Captain America Steve Rogers, and in contrast to the introduction of the character, the movie is set in present day, after the events in New York in The Avengers.
Flashbacks occur to move the story along, and are welcome callbacks to the WWII story of Cap and Bucky vs. Hydra, but there is much more going on with Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Maria Hill (Cobie Smulders) and introducing Sam Wilson as Falcon (Anthony Mackie) as the Scooby Gang of espionage S.H.I.E.L.D. is on watch.
Former Community/Arrested Development producer and director team Anthony and Joe Russo add humor to the mix in a subtle way, but more importantly pack so much action and tension into this chapter of the Marvel Cinematic Universe that we hope to see more from them with Cap 3.
While closest to Iron Man conceptually, the flavor of this Marvel Movie is all espionage Cap and Secret Avengers—a combination sure to make comics fans as well as Avengers fans excited, intrigued and headed to the theatre more than once for a taste of this non-stop action.
This is certainly the most meaty of stories and filled with the most Avengers since the franchise took off.
Nick Fury and Black Widow have a lot of screen time, and introduction of Stan Lee and Gene Colan’s Falcon as Captain America’s wingman makes for a great team. While this is still a superhero movie, we are taken to the world that Ed Brubaker established in his run on Cap. Throw in the main, practically unavoidable spoiler that Winter Soldier is in fact Cap’s erstwhile partner in justice Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) and you have a complicated past mixed with a technologically advanced future.
[READ MORE at FORCES OF GEEK]
COSMIC TREADMILL: 'AVENGERS CONFIDENTIAL: BLACK WIDOW & PUNISHER' (REVIEW) at FORCES OF GEEK
Ramping up for the big Cap movie this weekend got us all excited, preened and pumped for some small screen Marvel action, NOW!
The weekend brought us to the store for a DVD copy of Thor: The Dark World and a stranger, peculiar animated relative (second cousin?) Avengers Confidential: Black Widow & Punisher.
Mixing Anime and the Marvel Cinematic Universe (I think) made for a great sequel to the Madhouse produced Marvel Anime series, but underserved as a rally cry for this weekend’s live-action Winter Soldier. The Cosmic Treadmill ran with this on the HUD, and here’s what worked and what didn’t!
The Punisher, for better or for worse, has always been a favorite Marvel character. I grew up with his War Journals, his Armory, his War Zone and throughout the ‘80s. Artists like Jim Lee Mike Zeck drawing Frank Castle and his family’s murder was my raison d’être! One day, I thought, I’d be rich and sexy enough to buy Amazing Spider-Man #129. I thought wrong!
As for Black Widow, co-star of this movie and The Avengers, I’ve only been interested since Iron Man 2. ScarJo’s stoic yet sexy expressions and her trickery over Loki in The Avengers certainly puts her in the front lines of the squad, but ‘back in my day’ Black Widow was second string. I have more Mockingbird comics in my long boxes than Natasha Romanoff!
The weekend brought us to the store for a DVD copy of Thor: The Dark World and a stranger, peculiar animated relative (second cousin?) Avengers Confidential: Black Widow & Punisher.
Mixing Anime and the Marvel Cinematic Universe (I think) made for a great sequel to the Madhouse produced Marvel Anime series, but underserved as a rally cry for this weekend’s live-action Winter Soldier. The Cosmic Treadmill ran with this on the HUD, and here’s what worked and what didn’t!
The Punisher, for better or for worse, has always been a favorite Marvel character. I grew up with his War Journals, his Armory, his War Zone and throughout the ‘80s. Artists like Jim Lee Mike Zeck drawing Frank Castle and his family’s murder was my raison d’être! One day, I thought, I’d be rich and sexy enough to buy Amazing Spider-Man #129. I thought wrong!
As for Black Widow, co-star of this movie and The Avengers, I’ve only been interested since Iron Man 2. ScarJo’s stoic yet sexy expressions and her trickery over Loki in The Avengers certainly puts her in the front lines of the squad, but ‘back in my day’ Black Widow was second string. I have more Mockingbird comics in my long boxes than Natasha Romanoff!
Either way, story wise, this is a great pairing. You know what you are going to get with Frank Castle. He’s the opposite of Batman—killer, judge, jury, executioner. Black Widow, a former Russian spy, now S.H.I.E.L.D. spy under the thumb of Director Nick Fury (Cinematic, Samuel L. Jackson version) is one who must answer to military protocol and her higher ups.
[READ MORE AT FORCES OF GEEK]
EARTH PRIME TIME: AVENGERS ASSEMBLE FIRST LOOK
Marvel’s Avengers Assemble on Disney XD debuts this Sunday, May 26th. Marvel Television has released the first half of the one hour premier on exclusively on iTunesfor free for fans to get a first look at the show. The cancellation of Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes last November made some fans upset, but Jeph Loeb and the Man of Action Team have set us up for another smash hit. We’re guessing the 2009 Disney buyout of Marvel is finally flexing that animation muscle.
Marvel TV has released an early preview for Avengers Assemble. This version of The Avengers is more in line with the look and feel Marvel NOW! comics and the Ultimate Spider-Man television series. Costumes are updated to match Marvel’s The Avengers movie as well.
The last episode of Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes was a practical Secret War of guest stars including The Fantastic Four, Wolverine, Spider-Man, Ant-Man and Wasp. The Avengers defeatGalactus and the Earth was saved at the last minute as Iron Man and Thor knocked the planet eater into the Negative Zone.
IRON MAN - Avengers Assemble
Earth’s Mightiest Heroes aligned itself with the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) in a way, based on the Robert Downey Jr. voice clone Eric Loomis as Iron Man, the movie responsible for kicking off the franchise.
CAPTAIN AMERICA - Avengers Assemble
The first season had guest stars and the introduction of deep cut Marvel/Jack Kirby creation Black Panther, and Marvel/Roy Thomas Avengers The Vision and Ms. Marvel.
The show was good, not great. Certainly this is a step up from the young generation Muppet Baby versions of The Avengers in Super Hero Squad.
HAWKEYE - Avengers Assemble
DC took a chance of it’s own on investing in a darker-tone teenage superhero team adventure with Young Justice, existing in a universe all it’s own.
The chance was all too risky, and Warner decided not to renew Young Justice for a third season. Fanboys cried when they also cancelled the strangely CGI animated Green Lantern: The Animated Series Saturday morning show on the same day. From DC, we’re promised a CGI version of Beware The Batman starring Bruce with Katana as his sidekick facing off against villains like Professor Pygand Magpie. Fans of the ’90s Bruce Timm Animated series may have problems adjusting to the look of the show.
[READ MORE at DIGBOSTON.COM]
DigBoston and LeaguePodcast Comic Book Picks of the Week for November 21, 2012
COMICS
Captain America #1 comes out from Marvel NOW! this week, with All-Star scribe Rick Remender (Fear Agent, X-Force) and artist John Romita Jr. Rick is sending Cap into space in his first arc in the The Saga of Dimension Z. … Want more from your super smart “enormous green rage monster”? How about if he’s an of Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.? Mark Waif gives us his Marvel NOW! Indestructible Hulk #1 this week with artist Lenil Yu (Ultimates, Super Crooks), variant cover from Walt Simonson. … Terry Moore (Strangers in Paradise, Echo, Rachel Rising) continues his art educational series with How to Draw - 5 Lessons for the Serious Comic Artist. From pen to PDF, this book is a great gift for anyone interested in drawing comics *hint hint*. … Picks this week from LeaguePodcast.com.
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EARTH PRIME TIME: INTRODUCING THE RED SPIKE SUPER SOLDIERS: INTERVIEW WITH JEFF CAHN
Last week, we picked Image Comic’s Red Spike trade paperback as our marquee pick of the week. After reading the book, our adrenaline spiked higher than our usual caffeine levels and we naturally had to regulate. Writer Jeff Cahn was kind enough to shaman us through the transition and tell us more about his action-packed comic series.
Thanks for hanging with us, Jeff! You’ve got Red Spike from Image/Benaroya collected to trade. Are you excited?
Definitely. It’s my first trade, which is exciting. But I’m also just really excited and proud of the way it turned out. We added a couple extras to it that weren’t in the comics, so I’m glad that people are going to get to see a little bit of new content as well.
Captain America by Jack Kirby, Vol. 1: Madbomb
Captain America by Jack Kirby, Vol. 1: Madbomb by Jack Kirby
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Wow! The Bicentennial run of Jack ‘King’ Kirby on Captain America (with Falcon): MADBOMB has some completely off-the wall bonkers patriotism and comic book fun!
Great extras from Marvel in this book. A/B Kirby’s pencils with fully produced art for most of the covers! John Romita inks the cover of ish #193.
Jim (my good pal lending me all of this bat-koo-koo Kirby stuff) left me a note, “Here is Vol. 1 of Kirby Cap from the 70s - it is insane”.
Hmmm..let me count the ways…
A powdered wig aristocrat plotting to bring back nobility to power (what?), small machines with mind control capability, a BIG-ASS version of those machines, Falcon using the word ‘dude’ every other panel…and a 200 year old ancestral grudge over a pistol duel!
To say I enjoyed this book after trying to make sense of the Fourth World stuff is an understatement. I can connect with Kirby’s Marvel work a bit easier, and this was one story arc with two main heroes.
The production of the coloring in this book and the two Kirby Black Panther books are really nice ‘remasters’ of the original plates and the Kirby crackle pops on the glossy pages.
Thanks, Cap! Make my Kirby Marvel!
Clay N. Ferno on Goodreads
Oddio Comic #29 - Avengers #60 part 1 - "Till Death Do Us Part" feat. Captain America!
Download | Duration: 00:13:28
Oddio Comic #29 - Avengers #60 part 1 - “Till Death Do Us Part” feat. Captain America!
Issue(s): Avengers #60
Published Date: Jan 69
Title: “…Till death do us part!”
Credits:
Roy Thomas - Writer
John Buscema - Penciler
Mickey Demeo - Inker
Stan Lee - Editor
ODDIO Comic Recorded and Engineered by John ‘Awesome” Hunt (colorist).
VOICES:
John Hunt - Cap, Jarvis, Clown, Human Cannonball
Clay N. Ferno - Yellow Jacket, Black Panther, Luigi Gambonno
Yellow Jacket gets PWN’D by my favorite Marvel, Black Panther - John Buscema, pencils
Matt Dursin - Hawkeye, Ernesto Gambonno
Ray O’Hare - Narrator, Vision, The Ringmaster, The Reverend,
Jamie McKiernan -The Wasp, Sue Richards, Crystal, Princess Python
Presented here, in the perfectly Ordinary Oddio Auspices, is the matrimonial tale of the Wasp and Yellowjacket! Who’ll get stung at Avengers mansion, and are we really to believe that Tony Stark is a teetotaler at the open bar? Jarvis has his hands full servicing so many guests! Will the Ringmaster be the ring bearer or the ring stealer? The Ringmaster wants revenge on Thor, but will he have more than he bargains for? Listen to our Oddio Adventure to find out in part 1 of Avengers #60 - Til Death Do Us Part!
Don’t miss Captain America in his very own motion picture film this weekend. Get Tickets below, natch!