Nick Davis's Blog, page 115

First Look – The Avengers outfit concepts – Hawkeye, Black Widow & Captain America

After the buzz generated by the Captain America movie we now have the long wait until May 2012 for The Avengers. You can check out full images of the concept art for the Avenger outfits for Hawkeye, Black Widow and Captain America after the jump.

Review – Captain America The First Avenger movie

I watched Captain America, the First Avenger movie at the midnight showing. This is the first time I've ever caught a movie I've wanted to watch this way; normally I wait until the second week so I am not watching it with a crowd and I can really settle down and enjoy it. Some how this time, that didn't feel right to do with a movie I've been waiting to see for over a year now. Before I get into the meat of this review I want to mention I saw the normal movie version of Captain America, not the 3D IMAX version, I figured if the story cannot hold together then fancy gimmicks would not save it.

Okay, I feel with all movie adaptations as long as it stays true to the spirit of the source material it will work. And I am very happy Captain America does that job very well. This is a Captain America comic book movie, it does everything is says on the tin, does not pretend to be any more than what it is.

Captain America fans will not be disappointed in this movie, while a couple of things are moved around it makes sense in terms of presenting Cap to the movie going audience. He is still created from the scrawny kid with the big heart and stays relatively true to his comic book origins during the war. It is after all an origin story and a war movie.

You will have no fear with Chris Evans playing Cap, he isn't the cocky Johnny Storm, he plays the role fairly straight with a slight nod and wink at the audience when he is doing the cheesy USO Bond drive shows. He manages to convey Cap's deep seated convictions, he was Cap a very believable Steve Rodgers.

Hugo Weaving is a pitch perfect villian with his portrayal of the Red Skull, and he just chews up the scenery. Tommy Lee Jones puts in a typical Tommy Lee Jones performance as Colonel Chester bringing much needed dry humor in a movie that is at its base is a war movie, and is largely humorless. Sebastian Stan is a good Bucky and while I hear the cry he isn't the teenage Bucky in the book you can see some of the grimness that becomes the Winter Solider in the later stories, and that works.

Hayley Atwell as Agent 13 or Peggy Carter was a good choice and the interaction between her and Steve was maturely done, no simpering love, just moments that could of dived into cheesy love interest, and instead gives us an almost melancholy longing, a regret that their jobs do not allow them to get closer. This I really liked because that could of so easily gone the other way, and I feel added a level of realism.

At the core this is a war movie, and you can see shades of Bands of Brothers direction in it, it is grim, it isn't choppy or set to a rock sound track like Ironman. This movie has a different pacing, a washed palette of colors like we are looking at the past. In terms of movie quality it is much better than Thor, it isn't the classic comic book movie that Ironman is, but I don't think it could of been. My only moan is I wish I saw more of Cap in action before we got the finalle, it felt like that was hurriedly done and there was more movie here than they could show.

If you are a Captain America fan this movie will not disappoint you, every base it is supposed to hit it hits well and does it in the spirit of his books. If you are a casual movie goer then this is a good solid movie, not outstanding, but a nice popcorn fest that doesn't insult your intelligence while watching it. For me, I enjoyed it, the movie felt right and I saw Captain America on screen, doing all the things that Captain America should do, and doing it right.

Because I am a Cap fan it is hard for me to score this movie so my final rating is a little biased. I highly recommend sticking around to the end of the credits because you will pop big time at what you see.

Four thumbs up out of five

Captain America the movie released today!!! Celebrate with Cap Propaganda Posters

Mondo is celebrating the release of Captain America with Six Captain America Propaganda posters by three difference artist. Above is Eric Tan's Cap poster, after the jump is his Red Skull interpretation. These posters are going to be available at SDCC and most likely on their website MondoTees after the convention.

The next set are by Tyler Stout

The final two are by Olly Moss

First Look – Dredd the movie promo pictures featuring Judge Dredd and his Lawmaster

I think I might be the only one who thought the Stallone Judge Dredd movie actually wasn't that bad, they certainly got the look and scale of Mega City One right, just a shame everything else went to crap. Now we have reboot and the movie just called Dredd and starring Karl Urban as the legendary Judge Dredd. I've been looking at the online set pics and other promotional pictures (like the one above), and it looks like they've given the movie a noir gritty urban 5 minutes into the future look; which in the case  of Judge Dredd I think will work just fine. Remember not all adaptations have to be literal, they just have to capture the tone and feel. Anyhow check out the rest of the Judge Dredd pictures, including first look at the Lawmaster after the jump.

Inside the Box – Captain America #1, Shinku, Alpha Flight, Red Wing and Ultimate Fallout

Welcome to my bi-weekly look into my comic box at my local comic book store Chuck's Comics. As ever I had two weeks worth of books waiting for me to read and judge worthy to stay in my box. The last couple of weeks has seen some interesting new releases and continuance of new series that hooked me with the first issue. So lets take a look at my books in the order I read them in.

Captain America #1 – Brubaker & McNiven - Captain America begins again and Steve has put the mask back on (just in time for the movie). Good solid opening story as an old menace from Cap's past appears. The book works well as an reintroduction of the Cap to first time readers as we step into his world. I would of loved to see a resolution to Bucky's death, but like Fear Itself is it possible it feels like a non-event? Anyhow, its going to take a lot for this book to be removed from my box.

Alpha Flight 2 of 8 – Fear Itself Tie In – Van Lente, Pak, Eaglesham, Hennessy, OBack – Still firing on all cylinders and the best team book on the rack at the moment. Alpha Flight gets taken down, we learn a little more about Vindicators motivations why she joined Unity and we see the return of Puck – who is loopy as a loopy thing that is very loopy. I cannot recommend this book enough and it remains in my box.

Avengers #15 – Fear Itself Tie In – Bendis, Bachalo – Talking heads talking about an event that has already happened to build a sense of  foreboding. Didn't they do this in the last issue? I did like the cuts in dialogue between all the characters, and we see some action as Spider-Woman goes toe-to-toe with the Hulk. It was too little action and maybe too much talking. Still no reason to remove it and a good superhero yarn.

The New Avengers #14 – Fear Itself Tie In – Bendis, Deodato, Beredo – Talking Heads talking about an event that has already happened to build a sense of foreboding. Hang on? Didn't that happen in the other Avengers book? Ermm… Some surprise news as Spidey goes all FF and leaves the team. Bobbi (Mockingbird) tests out the effects of being injected with a super-soldier serum and takes down an exo-skeleton mech thing by herself. Action felt a little muddled and did we need talking heads as plot device again? Fun seeing Bobbi jump around, Spidey quitting was well done and we can only go up from here once Fear Itself is done. This book is staying put, but less talking heads please?

Shinku #2 – Marz, Moder, Waite, Atiyeh – The anime Vampire hunting action continues in this book as Shinku infiltrates her enemies hideout and things get bloody fast. Shinku is cold and emotionless, Davis (the american comical side kick) feels out of place as I still trying to figure out why he is staying with her. We learn a little more about Shinku's ancestors and a tradition she aims to pass on. I enjoyed it, visually very nice and solid pacing. Stays in the box.

Spider-man 3 of 3 – Fear Itself Mini Series – This has been the most solid and well done mini-series tie in I've read to date. The actions of Spidey actually felt like they mattered in the event he is caught up in and all the motivations are real. For all his indecision the web-slinger goes one on one with the Worthy Thing, doing what Spidey does best, protecting the weak. Well written, nice artwork and a realistic thought out arc that worked within this screwed up Fear Itself framework. This was worth keeping in the box search it out.

The Red Wing 1 of 4 – Hickman, Pitarra – Time traveling is the new way of raging war, as the pilots of Red Wing take on an unnamed enemy to save mankind through the ages. Hickman gives us a good grounding in what is going on and Pitarra's artwork is really nice. Even though I don't agree with the whole no paradox approach this tale has only just begun and I think its going to get good. Get this book and put it in your box.

Ultimate Fallout #1 – Bendis, Bagley, Lanning, Ponsor, Martin – You will never believe a comic book would move you, but this one will. There is one moment in this book that will give you that ole'Yellow Bambi lost his mother feeling. This is what story telling in comic books should be and I hope it all stays together through this final tour of what the Ultimate universe really should of been. Well done, heart wrenching and will leave you going wow. I am going to cherry pick this mini-series just out of fear it could so easily go off track. Not in the box, just pulling it direct from the rack.

Fear Itself – The Home Front 4 of 7 – I'm just getting this for the Speed Ball story at the beginning which I am really enjoying, without that this Fear Itself tie in would of been a miss.

Transformers #22 – Roberts, Milne – Now this is what I've been waiting for. After two issues of confusing story telling we get a character driven piece as Optimus and Megatron get the bottom of why they have been fighting for so long. Gripping, well done and added a new layer to the Transformers mytho' s that was long missing. I don't think this is going to keep up, but this one is why I keep this book in my box.

No real stinkers this week, nothing that is teetering on the line of being removed. The awful Deadpool and Fearsome Four Fear Itself tie in I've removed from my box, and I am really approaching each tie in book with trepidation. Something has gone wrong with this event and I don't think its going to find its feet again.

Well that's it for now, we take a look inside my box in a two weeks from now.

21st Century Sand Shark Studios presents Adam & Eve Bizarre Love Triangle in the Zombie Apocalypse Video Trailer

One from the mind of Dan Nokes of 21CSS which I believe is going to be his best work to date, this is his video trailer to Adam & Eve, Love Triangle in the Zombie Apocalypse his mega-graphic novel he is debuting at Baltimore Comic Con. Check it out and you can find a online preview here.

Hello to all my new Alt World subscribers, glad you could make it and how are you doing?

Been an odd couple of days here on Alt-World, yesterday was our busiest traffic day ever as I received numerous hits over my essay about Captain America, My Exposition book and the latest Wonder Tales – The Princess Archer. Along with this traffic surge came a new set of Alt World Subscribers!

Hello, very glad to see you here, please introduce yourself here and thank you for signing up to my website. I am still working on features for my Subscribers which will include a Forum and other fun Web 2.0 stuff. Until then, please do not be shy this website can only get better through your feedback

Arigato,

Nick

Why I like Captain America and what he represents to me

I've been asked if you are from England why do you like Captain America? That question is not easy to answer, nor could I ever give one that would satisfy everyone will read it. It is what Cap or I should more correctly say Steve Rogers represents, a nobility, a kindness and devotion to an ideal of what this country, what we all can be. To be great, to be a beacon of light in the darkness.

Don't ever confuse the Captain's kindness with weakness, he has a steely nerve and is hard when the need calls for it, he is after all a Soldier, although quiet and unassuming in his role as one.  Captain America is not right wing, he isn't left wing, he isn't a political or a representative of the process. He is loyal, brave, honest, the holder of the American Dream, a representation of personal freedom, the symbol of what we can all be. This is what he protects, this is what he expects in us all, no matter what color, what creed… To be the best that we can be and to help each other up if we fall. To uphold our right to freedom and to live without fear. This is what Captain America is to me.

I wish I could say I've lived to all these ideals, but we are all flawed. Everyday though I try to be the best that I can be. We must constantly strive to move onwards, to better ourselves no matter what life throws at us; we are all on the greatest adventure ever and we must meet it with our heads held high. Thank you for listening, be gentle with the earth now.

The Wonder Tales #7 The Princesss Archer is available now on the Kindle, Nook and Smashwords

Very happy to announce the seventh story in The Wonder Tales series – The Princess Archer now released as an eBook for the Kindle, Nook and in multiple eReader formats over on Smashwords.

The Princess Archer

by Nick Davis – The Wonder Tale #7

The Princess Gwendolyn is as kind as she is graceful, with emerald eyes and bushy red hair. Sent by her father to marry the King of the Coastal Kingdom. Her procession is betrayed and ambushed in the Tangled Woods. Saved by her secret Guardians, then helped by the Archer and his Horse Keshi. The Princess begins an adventure that will take her to a distant land far, far away…

The Princess Archer available for $0.99 in eBook format on the Apple iBookstore, Kindle, Nook, Kobo and Smashwords Multi eReader Formats.

To learn more about The Wonder Tales and all the stories that make up this all ages fantasy adventure series check out http://www.thewondertales.com

Fabula Zero – Exposition full Nine Page Preview & Preorder News

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Exposition Page One

I am very proud to present a nine page preview for Fabula Zero – Exposition my long rumored and talked about mash-up up of comic book and prose story telling. This book is a 48 page mash-up of comic & prose story telling. This graphic novel will be released on August 20th 2011 and will be debuting at Baltimore Comic Con for only $4.99.

Exposition is the story of Jack, a comic book writer with an extreme case of writers block. Having landed the writing gig for the flagship book Captain Avenger try as he might he cannot put a story together. Cracking under the deadline and with no sleep for days Jack suddenly finds himself experiencing moments of pure comic book peril, from being chased by Giant Robots, taking part in a surreal dance number and being attacked by Ninjas.

As Jack goes further down the rabbit hole the lines between his comic book and real world reality start to blur. The question is; is Jack on the verge of a monumental nervous breakdown? Or are these events more real than he realizes…

You can view Fabula Zero – Exposition Preview in PDF format here.

Or click the images in the Preview Gallery below.

PREORDER YOUR COPY NOW ONLY $4.99!

Fabula Zero – Exposition is a 48 page mash-up of comic book & prose story telling. This graphic novel will be released on August 20th 2011 and will be debuting at Baltimore Comic Con. Exposition is only $4.99 and is available to PREORDER if you reserve your copy now, you will receive a signed copy of Exposition and the Exclusive Exposition Comic Con Broadsheet Comic. Click the Paypal link below to reserve your copy today.

 

 

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