Marvelous Monstruous Mayhem: Monsters Unleashed #1

The following is my review of Monsters Unleashed #1, which was posted on PopMatters.com.

It says something about the current state of superhero comics when the idea of superheroes not fighting each other seems like a novel concept. It may seem like such a long time ago, but there was once a time when superheroes primarily fought villains, criminals, and monstrous manifestations ripped right out of old Roger Corman movies.

It's getting harder and harder to remember those times. These days, it seems every major superhero team, in both Marvel and DC, can't go a year without fighting one another. Cullen Bunn and Steve McNiven clearly remember those simpler times and if Monsters Unleashed #1 is any indication, they remember them fondly. The challenge for them is to remind readers that there's still a place for stories that don't involve superheroes fighting each other.

It's one of those concepts that shouldn't be such a challenge, but between Civil War II and Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice, it may as well be a chess match with Dr. Doom. Bunn and McNiven are getting back to basics, having Marvel's premier heroes take a break from clashing with each other to confront a new threat. The end result is an over-the-top, action-packed thrill ride that pits iconic heroes against giant monsters. It's as basic a formula it can possibly be without Deadpool making a poop joke, but it works.

The story doesn't try to be overly complex or nuanced. Monsters start falling from the sky in cities all over the world. Marvel's various superhero teams, including the Avengers, the X-men, the Inhumans, the Champions, and the Guardians of the Galaxy, all get to step up and fight some monsters. There's no elaborate exposition. There is some mystery, but Bunn never lets it get in the way of the spectacle of heroes fighting monsters.

He seems to understand the audience. He knows there's too much entertainment value in giant monsters. It should be as obvious as a temper tantrum by the Hulk, but it still feels refreshing in that it provides a simple, entertaining story that allows heroes to just be heroes. Nobody has to worry about characters acting strangely, timelines being tampered with, or reputations being ruined. It's just heroes fighting monsters. No fan need agonize over their favorite characters and in at a time where Captain America can be a Hydra agent, that counts for something.

That's not to say that the narrative in Monsters Unleashed #1 is overly simple. It does have some refinements that make it more engaging than a typical Power Rangers rerun, although not by much. While Bunn does make it a point to emphasize the battles between heroes and monsters, he does squeeze in some mystery behind the wanton destruction.

The details of that mystery, which involves a kid who enjoys drawing monsters more than fighting them, are somewhat ambiguous. It involves Elsa Bloodstone and another dime-a-dozen doomsday prophecies, of which there are plenty in the Marvel universe. It's not nearly as engaging as seeing the Hulk punch a giant eye monster, but does add a sense of purpose to the hero vs. monster clash. There is a larger story behind it, even if that story offers as few hints as necessary. At the very least, it ensures that Monsters Unleashed #1 never devolves into a glorified Michael Bay movie.

The main appeal of the story is still its simplicity. McNiven's art further supplements that appeal, providing rich and colorful battles that give a diverse cast of heroes plenty of opportunities to shine. These are the kinds of scenes that will never make it into a Marvel movie, if only because even Disney's pockets aren't bottomless. That helps add to the overall spectacle in Monsters Unleashed #1 and in a story that involves giant monsters, that's saying something.

There's something to be said about the overall context of this story. In real estate, it's all about location. That's the key to making a project work. In comics, the closest equivalent is timing. While some stories are indeed timeless, as those of Superman and Captain America have proven, work best when the time is just right in both the real world and the fanciful world of comics.

Stories like the Phoenix Saga and the first Civil War have an impact because they reflect a certain time and sentiment with the audience. Monsters Unleashed is one of those concepts that could be shrugged off in the extremes of the '90s, the macho grittiness of the '80s, or the psychedelic mindscape of the '60s. However, its presence in 2017, a time when audiences are burned out on superheroes fighting each other, feels both right and overdue.

Comics don't need to blow minds, break hearts, and shatter spirits every other week. They just need to entertain. Bunn and McNiven succeed in delivering just that with Monsters Unleashed #1. They go out of their way to avoid complicating the plot. They also avoid crafting a story that devolves into shameless disaster porn as well. There is story. There is mystery. Some details are lacking, but it still works. No major characters are getting reinvented, retconned, or replaced by clones. In this particular era of comics where everything gets shaken up every other year, that counts for something.

Monsters Unleashed #1 is not a story that's going to get anyone thinking too hard about real-world parallels or blurred lines between good and evil. It's not going to reinvent an entire genre either. This story caters to the kid in everybody who plays with action figures, imagines giant monsters attacking big cities, and comes up with over-the-top battles full of fiery explosions and crumbling buildings. Anyone's inner child, especially those that pestered their parents for action figures every Christmas, will be thrilled with this story.

Final Score: 7 out of 10

Marvel Heroes Review - A Truly Marvelous MMO

I don't attempt to hide my appetite for various vices on this blog. I don't shy away from fucking up various organs if it means I can get a good buzz and maybe get laid. But I know my limits. I know there is only so much shit the body and brain can take. That's why I have avoided getting hooked on a massively multiplayer online game, or MMO as they're called. I've heard many a horror stories about people treating MMOs like crack to the point where they would gladly blow their own grandfather to help them level up their character in World of Warcraft. While crack is nice and all, I haven't completely shied away from the world of MMOs. I have just been waiting for that one awesome game to come along that will make me put down my bong, drop my boner, and plant my ass in front of my computer to the point where moss starts forming in my ass crack. And with the recent release of Marvel Heroes, I think I've found that game.

For years now, Marvel has been developing an MMO with Gazillion Entertainment. They already got the ball rolling with the Super Hero Squad MMO, a game that is mostly for kids and won't excite Marvel fans that aren't still wearing diapers. Marvel Heroes promised to create a massive Marvel universe where fans could actually play as their favorite characters, explore a wide range of worlds, and generally become one with their own Marvel universe. It's as close as any fans will come to actually having sex with Stan Lee's genius and without spoiling too much, this game fucking delivers and here's why.

Gameplay

First and foremost, the setup is pretty simple. You don't get to customize your characters like World of Warcraft. You just get to select from one of 22 major Marvel characters. But you only start out with 5. You can unlock others as you play through the game or you can just bite the bullet and buy them, which is brilliant on the part of Marvel's part while frustrating on the part of the player. But whatever character you choose, the gameplay is fairly similar.

Like most MMOs, you start out with a few basic abilities and a simple power. From there, you beat the shit out of waves of enemies that include AIM agents, Hydra agents, Kingpin thugs, ninjas, and killer robots to help you level up. The skill system isn't as complex as a Final Fantasy game, but it does allow players to customize their character to a unique style. You can be the Baltimore Ravens and have a defensive character or be the New England Patriots and play offense. The game works so that both methods will help you win a Superbowl and every character has their own way of contributing. There are certain limits to leveling up at the moment, but I'm sure Marvel knows that once fans treat their characters like extra limbs they'll be able to shell out more cash for expansion packs.

If you can click a mouse, you can use your character's power. Right click does one move. Left click does another. And as you gain more moves, you can add them to your keyboard to mix things up. There's no complex motions or button combinations. This isn't Mortal Kombat or Street Fighter. If you can push buttons, you can play this game. It may be overly general for some, but the strategy and the diversity of moves allow players to use as much or as little brainpower as necessary.

Mastering Storms's power with a mouse is even better than you think it is.

And once you get this basic system down, you're off and running through a wide array of environments. Want to visit the Rock? Or the Avengers Tower? Or the Savage Land? Dr. Doom's backyard? Or even the Jersey docks? Those are all locales in this game, taken right from the pages of the Marvel universe. These worlds are big and there's a lot of shit in them that blows up. So you can just run around and go nuts or you can actually play through the story. Either way, it has a lot to offer and nobody has an excuse for being underwhelmed.

Story

In terms of story, you're not going to find any high-res cut-scenes like Injustice Gods Among Us or any elaborately rendered teasers like the opening for a World of Warcraft expansion. In fact, the entire story plays out mostly as a motion comic, which is pretty damn cheap on the surface. However, it does still convey a detailed story, which was penned by Brian Michael Bendis, who has a solid reputation of giving Marvel comics fans plenty to jerk off to.

The story itself focuses on Dr. Doom, who is the one that kick started the events that triggered this game. He's got a raging hard-on for the Cosmic Cube, which anyone who saw the Avengers movie (ie everyone) knows can tear the universe several assholes when in the wrong hands. And there are few hands more wrong than Dr. Doom.

Giant Robots. The envy of every tyrant.

Over the course of the story, he interacts with numerous other villains like Hydra, AIM, and the Purifiers. They all get roped into a battle that spans those many Marvel locales I mentioned. So it isn't just a case of Marvel creating these worlds and throwing the characters into it. They actually do factor into the story, albeit on a very basic level. But that basic kind of storytelling is part of what makes the game so accessible. You don't need to be a hardcore Marvel fan to understand it. You just need to know that Dr. Doom is an asshole him having the Cosmic Cube is like North Korea having an unlimited supply of weapons grade plutonium.

But still, some fans may be disappointed by the basic story and its linear nature. This isn't the kind of game where fans can sort of craft their own story like Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic or Dragon Age. There really isn't anything you can do to change how it turns out. That may be disappointing to some, but it still gets the job done in terms of making this feel like a real Marvel universe.

Graphics

And since gamers are like stoners in that they can't get enough pretty pictures, I'll say that the graphics of Marvel Heroes are average to somewhat above average. Make no mistake, this game will not blow anyone away with deep rendered characters where you can count the number of hair follicles on Wolverine's beard or see the split ends of Thor's golden locks. But it will still create visually appealing worlds with plenty of detail. It also helps that you can blow up a lot of the shit in those worlds, as I mentioned earlier.

Also, if you want to play this game, make sure you got a decent graphics card. I had to update the drivers on mine because there were times when animations would get choppy and the sound wouldn't line up with the actions. It was like the lip motions of an old Jackie Chan movie that was badly dubbed in English at times. However, those times were fairly rare. The animations themselves were fluid for the most part. You could also zoom in and see more of the intimate details of the characters, but not to the point where you can look down Black Widow or Miss Marvel's dress I'm afraid.

It's still hot enough for most fans.

Now maybe it's because my computer isn't built as one of these custom gaming computers. I've seen some MMO fans treat their computers the same way NASCAR drivers treat their cars. I don't know why my computer needs a fucking racing stripe or more lights than a Christmas tree, but I don't see how it would help make any of the graphics in Marvel Heroes much better. It's not a game where detailed graphics are the focus. It's a game where you get to play as your favorite character and kick ass with a wide range of powers.

That said, the motion comics that play out the story still come off as a cheap cost-cutting measure that Marvel and Gazillion agreed on. There aren't any cut scenes that are nicely rendered where you can get that extra level of detail that you can't get from the comics. Since there are a number of MMOs that put some serious gold into giving needy gamers something pretty to look at, Marvel Heroes feels like it's behind the curve. But like I said, that doesn't take away from the gameplay or the enjoyment factor.

Overall

Perhaps there's another reason why the gameplay is basic and the graphics are not over-the-top. Marvel Heroes is a free to play MMO. Yes, you heard right. Marvel Heroes is FREE. Somewhere out there Mitt Romeny is shitting himself. For a game that's free to play, you get a ton of shit to enjoy with Marvel Heroes. You don't have to buy the extra costumes or characters. You can, if you're patient, get all this shit by playing through the game. Years of weed has killed my attention span, but that may not be the same for others so they may not give as many fucks about the shortcomings. Like free pizza you find in a dumpster, you get what you pay for.

If you're a Marvel fan of any level, you'll find something to enjoy about this game. Whether you've only seen the movies or have collected every comic and worship Stan Lee as the second coming of Christ, you'll find a lot to enjoy about this game. Even if you generally don't give a shit about computer games, you'll be able to play this one and enjoy it to the point where you'll gladly waste hours of life and productivity in this immerse Marvel universe.

Where else can you play as Squirrel Girl and Not Get Criticized?

Between the gameplay and the story, the overall package of Marvel Heroes is worth its weight in Wakandan vibranianm. It's fun. It's addictive. It's diverse. It's basically everything Republicans tell you is bad for you. That alone should give some people sufficient reason to try this out. I give Marvel Heroes a 4 out of 5. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to get back to leveling up my characters, kicking Dr. Doom's ass, and saving enough gold to buy sexy Jean Grey's Black Queen outfit.. Nuff said!

A Message From Joe Quesada

Well yesterday marked a milestone in my life with X-men Supreme. For over six months now I've been developing this fanfiction series, trying my hardest to set it apart from regular fanfiction. Already, it's been successful in a way I did not expect. My website has registered over 2200 hits and the feedback I've gotten while not very big in volume (although I seriously hope that changes *hint hint*) has been positive. But part of my goal wasn't just to create the most awesome fanfiction series in the history of X-men. I wanted this series to be special in that one day it would be recognized by Marvel.

I've already done a great deal of work to set X-men Supreme apart. I have spent time and hundreds of dollars of my own money putting this together. The art I've commissioned and the web services I've purchased are not cheap and I have absolutely no means of making that money back without getting into certain legal issues regarding copyright laws. How many other fanfiction writers can say they're that dedicated? Furthermore, how many other writers work hard to ensure that the series is updated biweekly like a real comic? It is because of this I hoped that somehow X-men Supreme would get an honorable mention as a legitimate expression of X-men.

To do this I sent an email to Joe Quesada himself, thanks to an email address provided by a very dedicated and awesome fan (you know who you are). This is the letter I sent:

Dear Mr. Quesada,

Greetings, I hope you are well and congratulations on your recent promotion at Marvel. You have a lot to be proud of and I have nothing but the utmost respect for you and what you've accomplished. I've long dreamed of one day joining Marvel and contributing my own creative works and recently I have begun something I hope will demonstrate my dedication and passion for comics.

First off, let me start by saying I'm a huge X-men fan. X-men has long been a favorite of mine since the days of the X-men Animated series. So last year I was deeply disappointed to see Ultimate X-men get canceled in wake of the events of Ultimatum. This comic had been my favorite for years. It was a fresh alternative to 616 and one I found more interesting in a number of ways. Luckily, 616 has really gotten more interesting since House of M and I've been avidly following the Second Coming crossover. However, I still feel like there's a void in the X-men universe. Now there is no real Ultimate style alternative. With so many big name X-men dead in Ultimate, it's impossible for it to carry itself as it once did. Other series like X-men Forever are still heavily based on 616 and aren't really full alternatives. So with no further outlets, I took it upon myself to create one for me and X-fans everywhere.

On the January 1st, 2010, the first day of the new decade, I launched my own website entitled X-men Supreme.

X-men Supreme Homepage

This website is a hub for a brand new Marvel Universe that I have created myself. I call it Marvel Universe 1015 (which is actually reflective of my birthday October 15th). On this site I act as though Marvel has employed me to write a new X-men series from the beginning, sort of like how Ultimate started. I started the same way Stan Lee did, using the Original Five and going from there. Since I cannot draw very well, I've done it in the format of fanfiction. But I try not to treat it as such. I have a strict schedule to work by and I call the new chapters 'issues' and not chapters. I also have a regular update schedule that I follow rigorously. Every two weeks on Friday, I add a new issue to the website that continues the unfolding saga of X-men. In the week prior to the update I offer previews as Marvel does before each release. So far I haven't missed a deadline nor do I intend to. Each issue is self-contained and I try to make it work and feel like the issue to a real comic series. They aren't short, spotty, and unrefined. I've summoned my years of writing experience to make this look professional and clean both in terms of style and characterization.

So far the site has been mildly successful. I have a hit counter on the site and it recently passed 1700 unique hits. I've even gained a small following and I've been listed on several fanfiction rings and I've been ranked on various search engines. But I have a strong desire to make X-men Supreme something more than regular fanfiction. I know Marvel by rule does not accept unsolicited work and I'm not asking that X-men Supreme be an exception. But is it at all possible that I can somehow get it recognized as a real series? By real I mean something that Marvel acknowledges in a creative context? Could I get X-men Supreme listed in the Marvel wiki or maybe get a link on your main website somewhere?

Please understand that I know all about copyright issues. I've cited copyright laws on my website stating that I make absolutely no money. In fact, this website has cost me a great deal of money to put together. I even had a title piece commissioned from www.comiconart.com to act as a centerpiece to my series. I've even had some inquiries from fans who want to contribute art of their own. I do not intend to profit from this venture at all. I only wish to gain some level of recognition as a passionate fan trying to contribute to Marvel and the X-men franchise. I would be more than willing to allow Marvel to advertise on my site and I would be more than willing to make adjustments per Marvel's request. If my small site can somehow help Marvel and X-men, then I am more than content with that. I know I can't be an X-men writer at the moment, but this is the closest I can get and I want it to be more than mere fanfiction.

I am a passionate comic fan and X-men Supreme has become part of that passion. I love what I do and I have enough stories with this website to update biweekly without interruption for the next three years. I could go much longer and I would love to do so with the knowledge that such passion is recognized by Marvel. Please don't think this is just me saying I think I know how to handle these characters better than writers like Matt Fraction, Chris Claremont, Zeb Wells, and Peter David. I know I have a long ways to go to reach their legend, but I would like to offer my take to the greater Marvel community.

Please let me know if this is possible in any way. Is there any way X-men Supreme can become special in the annuls of fan dedication? I understand that you're a busy man and if there's someone else at Marvel I need to discuss this with, please let me know. Thank you for your attention and your generosity. I deeply appreciate it and I wish you and your family nothing but the best. Keep up the good work and keep making Marvel as awesome as it can be.

Regards,
Jack

Now I'll be the first to admit I didn't expect a response, even if it was negative. However, just yesterday I got what I consider to be 4th of July present to remember. Mr. Quesada actually responded! This is what he said:

Jack sorry to say that there is no way that we would ever be able to sanction content that we not only don't create or control, but content that we did not solicit.

Sorry to be so blunt but I'm just trying to be honest. But also let's look at it more pragmatically. What about some other writer who is wither launching or has his or her own fan fiction site, are we to sanction all of these?

While I appreciate and understand your passion there really isn't anything I can do.

Beat

JQ

Granted, it was not the response I hoped. But I knew from day one that what I was asking for X-men Supreme would be a long shot. I had every indication that my request would be outright ignored. But Mr. Quesada did take the time to read my letter and acknowledge my passion. That in and of itself has to account for something and for that I deem it awesome.

So it does not look like X-men Supreme is going to get any kind of sanction or recognition. It's somewhat understandable. I'm just a fan who writes shit that may or may not be very good. If they recognize me then that creates a precedent that may be too cumbersome to handle. That could distract from Marvel's primary goal, which is to make awesome comics. And no honorable fan should want that.

I guess X-men Supreme is not going to be as big as it is now. It was a long shot and while my proposal was rejected, it was a shot worth taking. I guess the only thing I can do at this point is keep writing, making sure that X-men Supreme is still the greatest, least terrible fanfiction series on the web. I hope that one day this will change, but for now X-men Supreme is what it is. For what I've put into this, I'm okay with that. Nuff said.

Deadpool 22 Review - Small Town Awesome

Lately, it seems Deadpool comics are the only comics that offer pure entertainment rather than complex serious plots involving traditional superheroes. Not that there's anything wrong with those stories, but between stories like Siege and Second Coming there aren't too many comics that just make fanboys smile and laugh with pure awesome. It's all world ending emotional strain and heartfelt character deaths that tug at the heart of fans and creators alike. Granted, our arteries are hardened from years of awesome, but we do have our limits. There are times when we need the kind of crazy fun you can only get from a wise-cracking psychopath who can have a heart of gold along with balls of adamantium. Deadpool is one of those comics and issues like Deadpool #22 show why these comics are so much fun and give our hearts and arteries a much needed break.

Deadpool #22 is a departure from the previous few arcs where Deadpool has tried to join the X-men and Spider-Man. His efforts to be more 'heroic' have so far had mixed results at best. He still shoots, kills, and maims his way through ridiculous situations and cracks jokes about it in the process. The setup for this issue was not too elaborate. He was traveling on a bus through a small town in Georgia daydreaming about fighting Thor when the bus got pulled over and robbed at gunpoint. Leading the pack was your typical hillbilly stereotype with a special kick. He was able to blast Deadpool Electro style with a suite made up of car batteries. It's the kind of thing that only works in Deadpool's world.


So what does Deadpool do? While he rarely does the most logical thing in response, here it's a bit less crazy than usual. He goes to the police station only to find out the police were in on the attack and weren't going to do anything about it. Deadpool being Deadpool he took matters into his own hands and took over the station, naming himself sheriff in the process. It's a title that shouldn't mess well with his character, but he makes it work.


As usual, a pretty girl enters the picture who works for the Sheriff and helps Deadpool to take on White Lightning and his gang. She's unusually helpful and by unusual I mean she actually encourages Deadpool to find them and kill them. That should be a red flag. In comics, like life, whenever something looks too good to be true it probably is. Deadpool finds this out the hard way and gets set up when he takes down White Lightning. The Feds then show up and by traditional government logic, they go after the guy in the mask with the guns and the history of blowing stuff up. Only Deadpool could be so deranged that he would have the government actually act logically.

But authority figures are not without their redeeming qualities. Even though Deadpool is a wanted man, they actually listen to him (reminding readers once again that impossible things do happen in comics books) and he takes them to the police station where they end up arresting Deadpool's female ally. In exchange they conveniently stand by while he goes on his merry way. Again, only in comics will government be that reasonable.


So overall, does it work? Deadpool comics are one of the few comics writers have to actively try to make suck. Deadpool is an easy guy to write. He's nuttier than squirrel turds and he's hard to write out of character because pretty much anything goes for someone that crazy. That being said, this one-shot was a nice read. It wasn't quite as engaging as the previous issues involving other Marvel heroes. There were also scenes where it kept going back and forth to what was happening presently and what was happening in the past. That got pretty confusing after a few pages and became an outright distraction. It was basically the equivalent of trying to solve a crossword puzzle with one and a rubix cube with the other. That's not the kind of complexity you want in a Deadpool comic.

This series is always good for a solid read and this issue gets a 3.5 out of 5. It's definitely worth picking up. You'll get to enjoy a nice stand-alone story and if your from the south, you may just get a little offended in the process. So overall, Deadpool #22 is a good time and offers plenty of awesome.