Stinger Action Figure Review

As a recent birthday gift, I received the Marvel Legends Ant-Man and Stinger 6-Inch Action Figures 2-Pack which was initially intended as an exclusive release for Toys R Us but apparently saw release through Entertainment Earth after the formers collapse. Not only did I receive the 2-Pack, I also received a loose Stinger figure for display purposes. Today I'll be solely focusing my  review on the Stinger figure.

The Stinger figure comes bundled with a Scott Lang Ant-Man who wears his most recent comic costume. This makes it clear that - despite the MC2 originating the Stinger identity for Cassie Lang and her Main Marvel Universe counterpart recently adopting a version of the MC2 Stinger costume - this particular figure is modelled on the Main Marvel Universe Cassie Lang. This is further supported by one minor difference between Cassie's MMU and MC2 Stinger costume; shoulder pads.

The MC2's Stinger does not wear a costume that feature metallic shoulder pads. In relation to the figure, you'll notice it is barely visible in the picture above, owing to a lack of pain on the shoulder joint. It's a minor issue, but still worth mentioning. More noticeable is the different coloured purple paint on Stinger's legs when compared to the rest of the figure. 

I've checked elsewhere online and this appears to be the case for all Stinger figures, not just mine. It's even visible on the box art. Again, it's not a major issue, but still worth mentioning.

 Much like the Toy Biz Marvel Legends series of old, Hasbro's Marvel Legends are known for their super articulate figures and attention to detail. As for Stinger, the figure boasts amazing articulation, including poseable wings and a head joint that can tilt all the way up, allowing for fun flying poses.

Finishing on a positive note, this figure is a drastic improvement over the Marvel Comics 2 First Appearances set's Stinger figure released in 1999. Not only in size, but in proportions and articulation. The best figures are those that stand under their own power in various poses and that's something the old figure simply cannot do, whereas the new Stinger can be placed in many dramatic poses. The attention to detail is clear, if sometimes unevenly applied. All in all, I'm pleased to see another MC2-related figure following Hasbro's Marvel Legends Spider-Girl figure in 2015.

Until I have another opportunity to talk about a new MC2-related action figure and play like a child again, I remain

frogoat

Spider-Girl: The Complete Collection Vol. 1

A few days ago I received my copy of Spider-Girl: The Complete Collection Vol. 1 and I'd like to talk about it! I won't be going into too much detail about the stories reprinted in this collection, but it comprises What If #105 (not Spider-Girl #0) and Spider-Girl #1-15 as well as Spider-Girl Annual '99 and Spider-Girl #½.

Read as a whole, the individual issues really flow well together and form an overarching narrative, without feeling like they need to be read one after the other like the standard made-for-trade six issue arcs made commonplace in modern comics. This is most evident in the supporting characters and subplots, which weave through several issues and resolve at their own pace instead of being shoved into a set number of issues. In sharp contrast, it has sadly become standard practice nowadays to simply remove supporting characters and their storylines in favour of superheroes talking to other superheroes.

While I am a big fan of the series and I am admittedly bias about the series quality, I was more than happy to purchase this collection. Why? Because even though I own the individual issues and tracked down all the digests that were released, this will be the first time any issues of the Spider-Girl series have been collected in trade paperback form beyond the initial 8 issues. I consider it a major misstep that Marvel didn't release the series in this format until now; 20 years after the series began publication.

Much of the appeal of this release lies in potentially having the entire series sitting on my bookshelf in all it's glossy-paged glory someday soon. In addition, the last 16 pages are dedicated to various 'extras' such as variant covers, concept art and contemporary promotional materials. The most interesting of these for me was an article from the Marvel Catalog: August 1998. I'd never seen this piece before and found it fascinating to read through the article, which includes an interview with Tom Defalco and mentions the creative teams early plans for the nascent trio of titles that birthed the MC2 imprint.

If I had to make a negative comment, it's that the cover's card stock is rather flimsy when compared to other similar recent Marvel collections. While this doesn't really bother me much, it did mean my copy arrived in the post a little worse for wear, complete with a few marks and bends on the front cover. However, the blame for that surely lies with Amazon's frankly abysmal packaging, which consisted of nothing more than a brown envelop without bubble-wrap. Cheers Amazon!


Until I can gleefully announce the next volume of Spider-Girl: The Complete Collection, I remain

frogoat

Captain America: Civil War Movie Review

Being, as I am, an Australian and not an American (nor a Briton, for that matter) has given me the fortunate opportunity to watch the new Marvel film before many others. Hopefully that doesn't come across elitist because really, I'm just stoked that I got to see it so soon. My partner in life and I suited up appropriately, too. I in her Captain America shirt. She in mine. Don't read into that statement too much. Anywho, shall I give you a review? Warning: Potential Spoilers Ahead!

Iron Man 3 Movie Review

Last night I watched Marvel Studios latest film, Iron Man 3 with a group of friends and my partner. Let's skip straight to the bit everyone seems to want to know: No, the post-credits scene isn't integral to any future films, but it is funny....shwarma funny.

Shane Black directs this monster of a film, and the directorial differences between Jon Favreau (the director of the previous two films) and Shane are distinct yet similar in tone. Without spoiling to much in this review, the action scenes, along with some great character work by the cast make this a movie you won't want to look away from, even if you have a strong urge to pee. Which will suck for those with weak bladders, because this movie is great, but still clocks in at over two hours long.

Narrated by Robert Downey, Jr. in-character as Tony Stark, the film kicks off years before the first film, and ties a few events together, throwing a couple of new comic-concepts into the mix including AIM and the Extremis enhancile and giving us a nice set up for the rest of the film, as well as reminding us Tony can be a bit of dick.

I'll attempt to avoid most major plot points, but I can't review this film without mentioning in passing what a brilliant play on expectations this film delivers with the Mandarin. Ben Kingsley turns in a surprising performance, as do Guy Pearce, James Badge Dale and Rebecca Hall. As a matter of fact, the casting in this film is virtually flawless, and considering this film has an extended period featuring Tony interacting with a child actor (Ty Simpkins), that's impressive.

This film toys with some very dark stuff for a Marvel film, but manages to effectively dance along the edge, throwing in some well timed humor when things get too grim. Concerned with breaking Tony Stark down to his core, this third film really nails some home truths about who he is, with the occasional glimpse of something amiss behind his face and eccentricities. Apparently the events of The Avengers has taken it's toll.

All in all, highly recommended. This film wont change your life, but it's still darn good fun to watch and you'll be riveted to your seat. Until Stan stops making cameos, I remain

frogoat

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Review

Fashionably late, as ever, I deliver unto you, my faithful readers, my review of The Hobbit (well... the first part of a three-part adaption that integrates material from other Tolkien sources to flesh it out further).

Firstly, the film is long. It clocks in at around 3 hours. But don't worry, it will fly by. Peter Jackson's direction gives the film a good pace, with no part of the film dragging nor feeling to short. Obviously, the small fights become gigantic set-pieces for action sequences and I have to say, it's appreciated. After the Lord of the Rings trilogy, it goes without saying that we've come to expect rollicking action adventure in our fantasy films and Jackson delivers the goods with style.

Secondly, I've never read the novel, nor any of Tolkien's work, and I never felt lost or a step behind. The narrative is straightforward enough and the few references I didn't understand didn't amount to any great lose of enjoyment or fits of despair. Always a good sign, surely. At times in the film, however, I did identify that which I believe was clearly 'filler' or, to put it another way, a screenwriter's embellishment or change. This isn't to say the film was made any less enthralling, it's just that the added material was often very noticeable. Certain characters occasionally switching speech patterns, that kind of thing. Again, I haven't read the novel, so feel free to correct me.

Thirdly, the returning cast were on fine form and the new faces were welcome additions. Sir Ian McKellen slides back into the robes of Gandalf with ease, and Andy Serkis is as entertaining as ever as the twisted Gollum. Martin Freeman impressed as a young Bilbo Baggins while Richard Armitage puts in a great turn as Thorin Oakenshield. Special mention, however, has to go to what I believe to be the best piece of character-actor casting in the history of cinema: Sylvester McCoy as Radagast the Brown. I challenge anyone not to play Six Degrees of Separation with this cast...

All in all, I enjoyed this third of the tale. I still don't see this stretching into two further films as smoothly, but I'll reserve judgement for the time being.

Until Gandalf comes out of the Hobbit hole, I remain

frogoat 

The Casual Vacancy Review

Good girl gone bad-

Take three-

Action.

No clouds in my storms...

Let it rain, I hydroplane into fame

Comin' down with the Dow Jones...

I've just finished reading JK Rowling's 'The Casual Vacancy'. I cried. Not ashamed to admit it. This book shook me to my core. It was like reading the inner-most thoughts of my friends, neighbors and fellow small-town residents. It's a simple concept, really: one man dies, leaving a small town without a Parish Councillor. But it's so much more than that. It's about class systems and abuse and the terrible things we do to one another.

I read intently as the little town of Pagford played like a day-in-the-life of all those people in the world, with their little hang ups, their damages, and their pain. I didn't identify with a single character. No, not one. I saw buried within these works of fiction parts of myself. I couldn't stop thinking as I plowed on through this novel, I am everyone of them and none of them. JK doesn't just write silly characters and great jokes, she writes human beings. Real, broken, human's who have all found their own manner of dealing with the world around them. 

If there was a message in all this, it wasn't wasted on me. Trouble is, I didn't feel like a message was being shoved down my throat....no, it crept up on me, like a lurking, horrible realization. These people aren't evil, just people, and if it takes something akin to the events of this book to make the little minds of this world we live in to stir from their self imposed slumber, then consider me terrified.

Pick this up. It's about all of us.

Until I stop having feels, I remain

frogoat

p.s. I realize it's neither a comic nor my usual spiel. Just check it out, you won't regret it.

Veronica Mars

I sat down with some friends recently and we watched Veronica Mars in it's entirety. Veronica Mars is the kind of show that just doesn't come along often enough; here we have smart, snarky female lead who moonlights as a teen detective. The brilliance of the shows premise is in it's approach. It pretends to be yet another teen drama, with all that juicy angst and rich kids brooding and misbehaving. Except it's not. Veronica Mars at it's core is a hardboiled crime drama, straight out of an old black-and-white Noir film.

Season one kicks off with the murder of Veronica's best friend, Lily. Veronica's father, Keith looses his job as Sheriff after accusing Lily's family of the murder. Veronica's mother leaves soon afterwards and Keith takes up as a Private Eye. I won't spoil the mystery for you, but needless to say it's a humdinger. The cast of characters are both well performed and well chosen. We meet the 09ers, the PCH biker gang, the spoiled rich kids and the lower-class kids who all have secrets.

The second season follows a similar formula as the first, this time with a school bus accident making up our season-long mystery. The show fleshes out more of it's supporting cast, with some small parts in the first season, now becoming more important roles. The season length story arc this time doesn't feel as gripping this time until the final third of the season, though we are consistently given clues through the run. I just didn't feel as drawn-in as a did with Lily, possibly because season one used several flashbacks to introduce us to-and make us care about-her character. I wanted to know who would do such a thing, because I liked Lily. The busload of students from Veronica's class never felt quite....for lack of a better term, real to me. Still, Kristen Bell's acting chops manage to make me care enough, and there are a few smaller mysteries that play out through the coarse of the series that help to pique your interest throughout. We care this time around because Veronica and Keith care.

For whatever reason, season three changes the formula. Instead of a season length mystery arc, we get three shorter mysteries: a series of rapes at Veronica's university, the murder of the Dean and the mysterious circumstances surrounding the death of the Coach of the basketball team. I enjoyed the change of pace this season, with the shorter mysteries being a refreshing change. However, it does rob the season finale of a big finish. Instead the last few episodes build up another plot that implicates Veronica and leads Keith to make a compromising decision. Don't get me wrong, the finale is what it should be, I just felt a sense of anti-climax watching it; something I didn't feel at the close of season one or two. It does put Veronica in the place she needs to be, character wise, but I needed more.

Season three would be the last for this critically acclaimed series. Like so many shows I've enjoyed over the years, it suffered from low-ratings. I'd give almost anything to see this show return with new stories for the young sleuth from Neptune with a sharp tongue and a thirst for the truth. If you haven't seen it, you can track down the dvd's for a very reasonable price. I guarantee you won't regret it.

Review: Amazing Spider-man

This is my late review of the new Spidey flick, The Amazing Spider-man. I'm on the fence on this one. I'm genuinely surprised by all the positive reviews, though, I have to say. I watched the film and I kept waiting for it to snatch me away on a web-line and take me on an adventure. Let's start with the good, then, shall we?

 Andrew Garfield is Peter Parker. With his gangly frame, and his delivery of snappy jokes and jabs, he was Spidey, while also demonstrating the angsty emotions and intelligence of that geek Peter I've know much of my life, Peter Parker. Emma Stone shines as a modern-day Gwen Stacy, with her awkward but somehow confident flirting with Garfield and her natural air of intellect and charm make her a worthy companion. Honestly, I felt the entire cast did an amazing job. Heck, the special effects were dang good too.

 The trouble is, the film never goes anywhere. Yes, Uncle Ben dies and Peter attempts to find the killer. Yes, Curt Conners becomes the Lizard. And yes, Captain Stacy even dies at the climax of the film. But it never felt like the elements of the story fitted together naturally. In fact, watching some of the trailers and thinking over what I saw in theaters, I'm inclined to believe several scenes were shoot and inserted late in production, while others were removed from the final product. For example, there is a subplot involving Peter looking into his parents disappearance that leads him to the Dr Conners lab. Only, he never really asks the good doctor anything about his parents, while a clip from one of the trailers depicts the Lizard taunting Peter with this information. Funny, that wasn't in the film. A lot of scenes end up feeling like this; set up, build up, and then dropped. The shadowing villain behind the Ratha fulfills his role by putting pressure on Conners to deliver a...cure, I guess, for Osborn, who we are told is dying. Ratha shows up throughout the film until the Lizard emerges and appears to be hunting him...but then we never see Ratha again. He just disappears midway through the story. I'm guessing another victim of studio meddling.

But honestly, I could have forgiven so much more because, as I said, the performances were all brilliant. I enjoyed a sort-of-homage to Sam Raimi's films with New York workers pulling strings to get Spidey to the location of his big showdown with the Lizard. I hope this review doesn't come off as overly negative, as I found a lot to enjoy in this film, with it's more serious tone and it's mechanical webshooters. I just wish there was more to like. At the end of the day, I enjoyed it enough to walk away happy that they made another Spidey flick, but also wondering how Marvel would have handled it's top hero, given the chance.