Review by Christopher Guzman-Pastrami Nation Writer: Joe Casey Artist: David Messina Publisher: Image Comics (www.imagecomics.com) The Bounce Book Two continues to please. Joe Casey and David Messina continue to bring the intrigue of their anti-hero Jasper Jenkins as more is revealed in another great issue. More is revealed about our building bouncing hero as we take a deeper look into […]
By Nolan P. Smith-Pastrami Nation (Victorville)— If you take a beloved franchise, one that has transcended various mediums of entertainment since 1933, and try to bring it to today’s audience, it will obviously be a challenge. Add in the whirlwind of negative press and the less than thrilling numbers at the box office, and some would say that Disney’s The […]
By Nolan P. Smith-Pastrami Nation The rumors and buzz that have been swirling around World War Z are hard to ignore. The Brad Pitt action film once had cast Ed Harris as the lead, then Bryan Cranston, but both left due to prior commitments. It is said that a third of the movie was re-shot due to poor test screenings, […]
Review by Chris Guzman-Pastrami Nation Writer: Joe Casey Artist: David Messina Publisher: Image Comics (www.imagecomics.com) A whole new vibe is bubbling from the underground. Our drug fueled super hero is bouncing from one reality to the next in the new series brought to light by Image Comics, The Bounce. Seasoned veterans Joe Casey (Ben 10, Uncanny X-Men, Adventures of Superman) […]
By Nolan P. Smith-Pastrami Nation (Victorville)— Seth Rogen has brought the world some of the best in rated-R comedies. Superbad, Pineapple Express: they are among some of the best comedies to hit theaters in years. Rogen and his usual suspects have brought about laughs for years. This time, they bring about the end of the world playing the toughest roles […]
By Nolan P. Smith-Pastrami Nation (Victorville)— In 2001, Pixar unleashed a powerful, amazing animation called Monsters, Inc. It was different, it was fun, and it had heart. In those years, Pixar has cemented itself as a master of meaningful animations, with Brave, Cars, Wall-E, and many more to their credits. Now, Disney/Pixar brings the world a sequel many have been […]
Review by Nolan P. Smith Publisher: Self-Published Release May 2013 Website: http://www.godhatesastronauts.com/ You might notice that there is a publisher missing above: well, that’s because this amazing hardcover collection of God Hates Astronauts: The Completely Complete Edition, is self-published by the writer/artist/creator Ryan Browne (his work on Image Comic’s Bedlam is pretty amazing). Though the website Kickstarter, Browne collected his […]
By Nolan P. Smith-Pastrami Nation You’ll believe a man can fly: that was the tagline to the now classic 1978 Superman film starring the late, great Christopher Reeve. Bringing the iconic DC Comics character to life is no easy feat, as the weight of the DC Universe’s cinematic fate rests on his cape. The 2006 Superman Returns tried to capture […]
Writer: Various Artists: Various Publisher: Black Mask Studios Remember when the whole “Occupy Wall Street” stuff was all plastered across the television? The 99% against the 1%? I’m not big on politics, but I remember the argument, I remember what both sides were saying. So, now let’s take a literary and visual look at the situation through the Occupy Comics […]
By Nolan P. Smith (Victorville)—It was one of the funniest movies in recent memory: The Hangover was a hit, no doubt about it. Then, with the anticipation for the sequel reaching an all time high, the series failed to deliver. Instead of everything we loved in the first film, we got pretty much the same film, but much darker, and […]
By Nolan P. Smith (Victorville)—Fast cars, fast action, furious explosions; these are all aspects we have come to love about the Fast & Furious series. What started in 2009 as a pretty cool flick with Vin Diesel, Paul Walker and some amazing cars has now become a full-fledged film franchise. With this being the sixth film in the series, does […]
By Nolan P. Smith-Pastrami Nation (Victorville) To boldly go where no one has gone before: that is tagline that everyone remembers. Star Trek, created by Gene Roddenberry, has stood the test of the time, with plenty of memorable moments, both on television and on the small screen. In 2009, the Star Trek brand was reimagined for a new generation, with […]
Review by Nolan P. Smith-Pastrami Nation Fans of anime and manga know all too well what Cyborg 009 is. Created by Shotaro Ishinomori, Cyborg 009 has been a manga, and anime, and a pop culture icon since it’s inception in 1964. This year, the property is becoming a comic book, straight from Archaia Entertainment. Now, when I say comic, I […]
By Nolan P. Smith-Pastrami Nation When we last saw the armored Avenger, Iron Man, he was fighting side by side with the likes of Captain America, Thor and the Hulk as they fended off aliens and a god. That was what cemented the new cinematic Marvel Universe as a household name. With Phase 2 comes sequels’, starting off with the […]
By Nolan P. Smith-Pastrami Nation (Hesperia) In 2009, a childhood property came steamrolling onto the movie scene, and many of us had high hopes for the return of G.I. Joe. Unfortunately, the film had only a few bright spots, not enough to redeem what many saw as a train wreck. A sequel was green lit, G.I. Joe- Retaliation, at it […]
Review by Nolan P. Smith-Pastrami Nation Writer: Frank J. Barbiere Artist: Chris Mooneyham Publisher: Image Comics Once in a while, a comic comes out that just blows you away. It happened almost a year ago with the now classic Saga #1, it happened with The Strange Talent of Luther Strode, and now, for 2013, it has happened with Five Ghosts: […]
Review by Nolan P. Smith-Pastrami Nation Writer: Brian K. Vaughn Artist: Fiona Staples Publisher: Image Comics FOR MATURE READERS In case you haven’t jumped aboard yet (why wouldn’t you???), Saga is Image Comic’s space faring epic about a forbidden love that springs forth a new life, and all the craziness in between. In the last issue, it ended on a […]
Written by Jimmie Robinson Art by Jimmie Robinson Published by: Image Comics Website: www.imagecomics.com By Nolan Patrick Smith High school can be tough enough on a teen. Those awkward years that go in to trying to obtain that almighty diploma and get the heck out as soon as possible are years we all remember, and maybe shutter at. But what […]
Review by: Nolan P. Smith Developers: Ninja Theory Publisher: Capcom Genre: Action Rating: M for Mature In 2001, the gaming world was introduced to a game that literally bursts with style: Devil May Cry. The adventures of the red clad demon hunter Dante wowed fans for four games, but by the forth game the formula had become a bit tiresome. […]
Review by Nolan P. Smith Writer: Brian K. Vaughn Artist: Fiona Staples Publisher: Image Comics Website: www.imagecomics.com As the poet Robert Frost once said, “nothing gold can stay.” A truer statement couldn’t be said, especially when looking at Saga #10, by Brian K. Vaughn and Fiona Staples. The tension builds, the chess pieces are all in place: now, it’s time […]
Review by Nolan P. Smith-Pastrami Nation Writer: Joshua Dysart Artists: Mico Suayan and Pere Perez Publisher: Valiant Entertainment We are a product of the world we live in: nothing is clearer than that after reading the epic zero issue for Valiant’s Harbinger. Toyo Harada is one of the most powerful and influential men in the world, as well as being […]
Review by Nolan P. Smith Writer: Andy Diggle Artist: Jock Publisher: Image Comics Website: www.imagecomics.com It’s a pretty typical occurrence: finding someone’s cell phone. The temptation to keep it is there, as is the thrill of looking through the lens of someone’s private life. But what if you find something that you can’t take back? Something that changes your life […]
The Parker series of novels by Donald Westlake are some of the most entertaining books out there, which is without a doubt. The film Parker is based on the book “Flashfire”, one of over twenty Parker tales in existence. With such a legacy behind it, how does this 2013 Jason Statham vehicle measure up to it’s printed word predecessors? Directed […]
Review by Nolan P. Smith Writer: Robert Venditti Artist: Lee Garbett Publisher: Valiant Entertainment Website: www.valiantcomics.com The Valiant universe came back in 2012 to a extremely strong showing. X-O Manowar led the charge, showing the world why the gold and blue hero has remained a pop culture icon since the previous Valiant run. This current run has reintroduced the world […]
Review by Nolan P. Smith Writer: Brian K. Vaughn Artist: Fiona Staples Publisher: Image Comics Website: www.imagecomics.com Saga has been, hands down, a runaway hit. From the first issue in early 2012, the book has showed originality at its finest. Brian K. Vaughn and Fiona Staples have created a book that continues to get better and deeper with each passing […]
Review by Nolan P. Smith-Pastrami Nation Writer: Michael Avon Oeming Artist: Michael Avon Oeming Publisher: Dark Horse Comics Website: www.darkhorse.com This series has been building to a boiling point, and with the last few issues it’s been going at light speed. Now, with the big finale for this mini series, how does Oeming’s The Victories end? Liked it started: with […]
By Nolan P. Smith-Pastrami Nation When writer/director Quentin Tarantino makes a new film, the masses usually take notice. The man who brought the world Kill Bill, Pulp Fiction, and most recently Inglorious Basterds is back, and back with a bang. Django Unchained brings the over the top violence that fans have come to expect, but how does the rest of […]
By Nolan P. Smith, Pastrami Nation (Apple Valley) The Lord of the Rings film trilogy brought the literary masterpiece by J.R.R Tolkien to a new audience, an audience that was blown away by the epic nature of Middle Earth. Now, in 2012, the world is once again invited back to the world filled with dwarves, wizards, and, of course, hobbits. […]
Fans of Robert Kirkman’s The Walking Dead: you have no excuse not to try his superhero epic, Invincible. Heading towards its 100th issue, the world of Mark Grayson, aka Invincible, looks to be ready for another massive shake up. Issue #98 is the first in the new story arc, The Death of Everyone, so you know this is going to […]
Last year, the world was introduced to the world of Luther Strode. The Image Comic series was a critical hit, as it was the perfect blend and violence and intrigue, with an ending that left readers in awe. Justin Jordan and Tradd Moore had created something special, something we wanted to revisit since we all first saw the teaser at […]