Editorial: Kill'em All Dead...

There is an old saying...

"The Lord Giveth and the Lord taketh away. 

Blessed be the name of the Lord."

This is Marvel comics today in a nutshell. For every Agent Carter, Avengers 2: Age of Ultron and Unbeatable Squirrel Girl,  you get a company that is very fast and harsh at taking away from the fans. The first family of comics is getting axed, Wolverine is dead and X-Men books are becoming a rarity. And earlier this week I found out that the merc with a mouth is next up on the chopping block, Marvel has decided to kill Deadpool. Arguably the most popular character in comic books today, another series and character that is getting the plug pulled (or pool closed in this case...cause you know Deadpool) because movie rights. And please, just own up to it, you want all your properties back, just say it. I am sick and tired of hearing that these decisions have nothing to do with the movie properties and rights, stop pissing in my ear and telling me it's raining! Marvel is ruining years of stories and characters, for what? Another million on top of that billion dollar box office sales. For crying out loud, Ant-Man is going make you a million dollars! The guy who rides ants is going to make you money! But fuck it, what do fans know? What do I know? I bought AXIS...all nine issues. If disappointment was made into a comic book.

And this is also coming off the news of a Deadpool movie announcement, filming will be in Vancouver later on this year and according to sources, Ryan Reynolds is back as the loud mouth assassin! That is really cool, if they can confirm a rated R rating, I think we can safely say that we will be set. 

Marvel has revealed as well what is going to be going on in the upcoming Secret Wars event. Think multiple universes brought into one world, every single version of all of our favourite heroes, and then they all duke it out until one remains. Like Highlander, there can only be one! Like Royal Rumble, 30 men in the ring and only one gets to main event at Wrestlemania (Let's go Cesaro)! Or like my personal favourite, Lemongrab...

Here is hoping that I am wrong, that this is all smoke and mirrors to a bigger plot secret. While I am not exactly counting down the days to be reading Secret Wars, I will probably be picking it up as it comes out, mainly on pure curiosity of the whole show. Who knows, it could be a beautiful oblivion. And I can guarantee you that it won't be anywhere near as bad as AXIS, you can't even try to be worst. When I read a comic as rushed and as messy as AXIS, trust me, I will let you know. In the meantime, Remender, quit your day job or go back to writing Uncanny X-Force...that was actually a pretty awesome team. 

So I don't know about you, but this bitter sweet pill is getting harder to swallow. But hey, maybe I am old. Perhaps a bit jaded. Or both. Regardless, let me know what you think about the news from Marvel this week, what did you think about all this? Also Deadpool fans, if you've got the Marvel App on your smartphone, they have the first issue of Deadpool Kills Deadpool up for FREE. A really fun and bloody good time, and at no costs a great time to go back and read it up! Going to be drawing a lot this weekend, I am also looking for more work in general. Things are looking bleak if we are talking about my bank account and all the money that isn't there. But I am going to be fine, come hell or high water, I am going to find a way through all of this. Thanks for taking the time to read this up, until the next one, keep chasing the storm. 

Game Ender: Super Kumite

Thanks Loot Crate for the exclusive variant!

Hey there storm readers, so just a quick heads up before I start this review off, this is a look at Batman #36 and part 2 of the Endgame storyline. I just wanted to give a heads up that there might be a few spoilers here and there, so if you haven't read this one by now, go out and get going on this run of Batman. A lot of surprises are coming to the Dark Knight and you don't want to miss it! Also, I took a look at the first part of Endgame, you can read that review right here. But come back and see my take on everything that went down in this issue.

That said, round 2, fight!

So after the cliff hanger ending in issue 35, we start off this issue with another round in the Batman vs Superman chronicle of fighting. And I am guessing that maybe a few, not everyone, but a few fans of comics could be sick of this idea by now. Don't get me wrong, but this scene was done and done brilliantly in the classic Frank Millers The Dark Knight Returns. You see a Batman that won't go down without a fight, we see Superman get his pretty perfect face turned to pulp and an overall classic fight that is part of comic book history as we know it. And it really did capture the hearts and imagination of many, people arguing this fight up and down. Not to mention DC Comics trying to find new and different ways to have these two, really good friends, go at it time and time again. Why can't they just be friends? Well not here, we have the Justice Buster ready Batman against an unhinged killer Superman. A lot of great things displayed here in this quick fight between the dark knight and the man of tomorrow, the idea that under the influence of someone as twisted as Joker, Superman is not going to care much about city damage and body count. This isn't Man of Steel Superman here, the Superman most of us knows to take the fight outside or to space, he is always aware of the little people. So that idea of making him a pure unstoppable killing machine, yeah that is something to worry about. But the best point and maybe the most important is a line Batman says as he and Superman fall down from the sky after using some hidden kryptonite; who wins in a fight between Batman and Superman...? No one does. And when you think about it, yeah, it's true. Regardless who wins, you have one really important hero out of the picture. You have a hollow victory over a friend, and an opportunity for all your real foes to come and pick off the bones. These guys make a way better team then they do as enemies. 

With the Justice League and Superman now out of the fight and healing up, Batman is now desperately trying to find Joker. Taking over all his friends and team mates, Joker has displayed that no one is out of his reach of influence and corruption, that Gotham will be taken over in a snap if Batman can't stop him. So on the hunt for the clown prince of crime, we see Batman back in the old Arkham Asylum at the old cell of his nemesis, looking for any hints or clues. And in comes Eric Border. A pretty recent new character, a medical staff of the new Arkham Asylum, always seemed like a pretty tame character, he would always say that everyone can be saved and such. Jokes on you...

Well played Joker. And well played Mr.Snyder. 

And God damn it, I hate to say it, but this a really awesome intro and design for Joker. I feel like this character gets enough air in his tires, but holy crap was this really great. Batman falls into the Jokers trap and we get a very creepy explanation to his latest plan and his reasoning, if we can even call it that, this guy is a psychopath after all. The best part of it all, this is only the beginning. The devil is here and is going to turn this city into his own kingdom of hell. Get hyped people, get hyped.

We also get more of the back story going on as well with the Arkham patients who have been looking for Joker, each with their own disturbing story in which the Joker has appeared before them as something more then human, a powerful influence of evil. But Joker is just a crazy guy...right? How much do we know about this guy anyway? Maybe that is the biggest joke of them all. There is more backstory as well in Batman Annual issue 3, so be sure to check that out and see how this all plays out in the Endgame. 

Okay so needless to say I am really looking forward to this storyline and see how it all plays out. While issue 35 gave us a big fight with heroes turned crazy, the reveal of Joker was really well played and makes me really excited to see what is going to happen next. The absolute landmark title for DC Comics right now, Batman is the series you want to be following issue per issue. As far as the mainstream big hero goes, you can't go wrong here. And you know I will be looking at all the rest of these issues as well, so come back and join in the conversation, what do you think about issue 36 of Batman? What do you think is really going with the Joker? Leave a comment below and let's talk about this. And be sure to check out all the other comic book related blogs and reviews coming up and already posted, until then keep chasing the storm! 

Try Not to Make a Nut Pun for this Blog Title...

Which was my mind set going into writing this up in the first place. I mean how do you not? I was thinking about calling it, "A Nut Shot to the Mainstream" or something in that vein. But it's not about the title that we are here, we are here to hear my thoughts and takes on comic books, the ones I love and the other ones that I send to relatives in Chile, so they can be used as fuel for the stove ovens. I am pleased to say there will be no book burning here today, no Jeph Loeb off his rocker here, no today, I would dare say, we got a gem. Out of recent, when I think Marvel, I think of a disappointing and messy cross over event that didn't do anything but magic wand the history of some characters and make others "good". And sure I signed up for Secret Wars, but I am very worried and scarred that this is all leading into a massive big restart on everything. I would rather see Marvel vs DC, Death of Superman and Spider-man Clone Saga again then do another massive restart. The worst thing though is how there is little to no regard for some of the smaller titles, which also happens to be Marvel best work, books like Daredevil, Elektra and Ghost Rider. I get that the Avengers are money makers, but if you ask me, it's the smaller heroes who really make some the best and fun reads every week. And we got a new one, and I hope this series goes to the moon and beyond, we need more series like this, we need more Squirrel Girl. The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl to be exact, by writer Ryan North and artist Erica Henderson! Leave your continuity and canon at the door. 

The short story, this book is a great fun read and if you are looking for some sunshine from your books, then pick this book up. And get the variant covers as well, hell get all the variant covers! Be sure to sign it up to your local store pull list if you can. Let the big wigs at Marvel know that you want more and more books like this! 

The book brings us up to speed with Doreen Green, the Squirrel Girl, who I think was last seen in the pre Marvel Now New Avengers series, so it's been a few years since we have seen her in any of the books, though I could be wrong. She moving out of the attic and going to school, to get an education and make some non squirrel friend. All the while making the grades and fighting bad guys, Squirrel Girl decides to separate her lives and create a secret identity, along with a fancy new theme song to boot. It's has a colourful and upbeat feel to it all around, from panel to panel you just start to fall in love with this book. And does Squirrel Girl look crazy, sure, I guess but it's crazy in a lovable way. While she may not have that supermodel Black Widow or Emma Frost look, you know that Squirrel Girl would actually be tons of fun to hang out with. She is the kind of person who parties all night and goes to Denny's at 5 AM for the grand slam meal. And who wouldn't want a grand slam meal? 

The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl feels like a great indy book, and it is even more incredible that is a title from Marvel comics. It pokes fun and some the silliness of past comics and tropes as well, it pokes fun at college student life, it is overall just a great title and I will be damn disappointed if this series gets cancelled or doesn't get the love it deserves. So go out and get that Squirrel Girl! 

That was my Marvel comic for this week, and let it be known that this one beat out a lot other books I wanted to recommend like Daredevil and All-New X-Factor (get those ones as well, they're really good). But I will be posting up later on in the week my DC Comic review which most likely be Batman or something Batman related. Then an update on Glass Prison and how that is coming along, then a look at an indy or smaller publisher comic, might do Wytches or Bitch Planet. And then Friday an editorial about something, not sure yet, I could write something about hockey or wrestling, who knows. But that's all the time I got for now, be sure to like, comment, repost, tweet and all that good stuff, any and everything helps and is very much appreciated. Also check out all the links below, these are different pages with my and my friends works, so check it out you beautiful people you! Until then, keep chasing the storm!