Marvel character highlight #09: Cable

Posted on January 1, 2012 by Administrator

REAL NAME: Nathan Christopher Charles Summers

AFFILIATION: X-Men, New Mutants/X-Force, Six Pack

SPECIAL ABILITIES: Telekinesis and telepathy. Enhanced eyesight through his techno-organic eye and enhanced strength and durability in parts affected by the virus. Cable is also proficient in most weaponry created.

BACKGROUND: Cable is the son of Scott Summers (the X-Men’s Cyclops) and Madelyne Pryor, a clone of the X-Men’s Jean Grey. When Cable was born, Pryor tried to sacrifice the child who was already supposed to be a weapon for Mr. Sinister to use against Apocalypse. Sinister had created Pryor to continue his manipulation of the Summers bloodline. Shortly after Pryor committed suicide, Cable was infected with a techno-organic virus by Apocalypse. To save the child, Cyclops sent him to the future with the Clan Askani, headed by a future version of Cable’s sister, Rachel Summers or Mother Askani.

While in the future, Mother Askani did two things: First, she halted the spread of the virus so that it is just on the left side of Cable’s body; and two, she created a clone of the child. This clone, later stolen by Apocalypse, was raised to become Stryfe. Once the child was healed, and had been raised by Scott and Jean in the future, he defeated Apocalypse and Jean and Scott returned to the present time. Cable later was framed for an assassination attempt on Professor Charles Xavier by Stryfe, who lead a rebel group against him. Cable married and had a child, Tyler, but his wife was killed by Stryfe. Cable then traveled to the 20th century when Stryfe fled there. He founded Six Pack and reformed the New Mutants into X-Force. He also destroyed the present-day Apocalypse and rescued and cared for the mutant messiah infant Hope.

RELATIONSHIPS: Madelyne Pryor (Goblin Queen), mother; Scott Summers (Cyclops), father; Jean Grey (Phoenix), mother; Rachel Summers (Phoenix), sister; Alex Summers (Havok), uncle; Christopher Summers (Corsair), grandfather; Katherine Summers, grandmother; Gabriel Summers (Vulcan), uncle; Nate Grey (X-Man), genetically identical alternate reality version; Stryfe, clone; Aliya, wife; Tyler, son; Hope Summers (adult), wife; Hope Summers (infant), adopted daughter

FIRST VERSUS GAME APPEARANCE: Marvel vs. Capcom 2

APPEARANCES IN OTHER MEDIA: X-Men the Animated Series (television), X-Men Legends II: Rise of Apocalypse (Sony PSP), X-Men 2: Game Master’s Legacy (Sega Game Gear), X-Men: Reign of Apocalypse (GameBoy Advance); Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 (multiplatform)

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Top 5 on The Strip: WTF lines from Ultimate Avengers

Posted on January 1, 2012 by Administrator

BY JAMIE MOSLEY/Gaming Insurrection

Is there anything better than watching your favorite superheroes using their superpowers to save the world from certain doom? The answer: Yes, listening to those same superheroes deliver some of the best and memorable lines you will hear at some of the best moments in Marvel’s Ultimate Avengers animated film. This quarter, we salute the Avengers crew’s witty delivery in the face of danger.

Tony Stark (to Black Widow): “I’m free for nightcaps later. Interested? You can bring your gun.”

A billionaire by day and Iron Man by night, Stark is known to have a soft spot for the ladies. He has never met a woman who has resisted him or that would ever turn him down. So, when the Black Widow meets Mr. Moneybags and undresses him using her gun, the billionaire isn’t turned off, making him more hardcore than that other billionaire who wears a cape.

Bruce: “Any questions?”

Lab workers raise hands

Bruce: “Any questions not about the Hulk?”

Lab workers lower hands.

This genius is known for his brilliant mind and his hulking desire to destroy when he is angry. He is willing to do whatever it takes to be with the love of his life, Betty. That includes leading a lab trying to redevelop the Super Soldier Serum. Sometimes, people in his lab just ask too many questions.

After taking a beating from Hulk, Captain America walks up to the Hulk.

Captain America: “Hey! We are not done yet!”

Captain America then punches Hulk in the face … twice.

This all-American soldier is known for inspiring everyone — team members and readers alike — to be the best person you can be. But Cap also practices what he preaches.

Thor: “… and though we are but peaceful protesters, do not assume that we cannot be provoked.”

Whale hunter shoots at Thor

Thor: “ Like that.”

Lightning and wind batters the hunters

The son of Odin is no pushover. But, he doesn’t openly look for fights; he fights for only what he believes in. So, Thor, who, is from Norway — one of two countries that still hunts whales — is helping a group of people protect the whales from whale hunters. A noble cause, indeed. And all protests are peaceful unless he is provoked

Giant Man (while holding Hulk in his hand): “You’re still a little man, Banner. Now, knock it off or I’m gonna squish you.”

Hulk breaks the hold and grabs Giant Man by the neck. Hulk then punches Hank in the knee, breaking it.

The Hulk doesn’t have to speak for you to understand what he wants. You just know when he looks at you to either run or hope that Hulk is distracted by the time he gets to you. In fact, Hulk is the only person on the list who doesn’t have an actual spoken line. Hardcore.

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Strip Talk #09: Let’s end the bashing of direct comic book films

Posted on January 1, 2012 by Administrator

Lyndsey Mosley, editor in chief

I don’t know where the inclination to bash a direct comic book movie has come from in recent years, but it honestly needs to stop.

I don’t know about the various movie critics out there, but I love a good comic book movie. And, if it just so happens that to achieve this rare feat someone must copy a comic panel by panel, then so be it.

That’s much more preferable than watching some mangled chop job by a director hack who doesn’t “get it.”

Take for instance “Sin City.” Every time I turned on the TV or read a review, someone was bashing the film because it was “too close to the comic.”

You’ve got to be kidding me. It was perfect. Everything that I knew about the comic actually came from the movie and inspired me to pick it up, not the other way around. So what if it was lifted nearly word for word? I’d rather have that than a butchered idea based on something that might resemble a video game movie (see: every Batman film after Returns and and Super Mario Bros.).

Another example? “Watchmen.” It, too, was criticized because of its close proximity to the comic book, and yet, what some critics didn’t realize was that the movie changed some key elements.

If they’d actually bothered to read the comic AND watch the movie, they would have known that. But somehow, it was too abstract and “comic-like” to do well. Damned if you do, damned if you don’t. If it hadn’t been just like the comic, someone would have criticized the movie for straying too far from its roots. But because it was identical to the comic in nearly every respect, it was deemed too close to its source.

Really, movie critics, throw me a bone here.

As a comic book fan, I’m glad we’re moving past the point where movies based on properties are garbage adaptations that have nothing to do with the characters’ past or present activities and don’t make a drop of sense. If someone wants to give me exactly what I can pick up a book and read, more power to them. In an analogous school turn, I’d rather they study and do their homework than to not do the reading.

Lyndsey Mosley is editor in chief of Gaming Insurrection. She enjoys direct panel lifts at gicomics@gaminginsurrection.com

Podcast: Download (Duration: 42:47 — 38.4KB)

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Strip Talk #08: Equal representation in comic books

Posted on October 1, 2011 by Administrator

When it comes to race and comic books, there should be equal representation for the readership

Lyndsey Mosley, editor-in-chief

When I was growing up, I was told to be mindful of the content of folks’ character, not the color of their skin. It’s a paraphrase of the late and great Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and as I moved out and about in the world around me, I learned to expect things of people not because of what they looked like, but by how they acted.
At the same time, I taught myself that while race isn’t always important, there should be equal representation. And one place I wasn’t getting that was in my comics.
OK, so in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles there were green people who practiced the ways of the Far East. That may not be the best example, but I often thought about the fact that there were no black superheroes in whatever else I was reading. That was so until I got to the X-Men. What I loved about Marvel and Stan Lee and Jack Kirby at the time was that they didn’t ignore their surroundings when they created different characters.
Instead of shying away from the issues at the time, Lee and Kirby adapted them and made them easy for anyone to relate to.
So, there was discussion about race in my comics but Marvel really had the only discussion. I often wondered why there weren’t more mutants who were considered minorities. I mean, you have Storm, Forge, Black Panther, Sunspot and Silver Samurai right off the top, but where are the rest, especially in DC?
Things have gotten better over the years, actually. I can now expect to see more minorities in the core stories and there are better roles for them than just background or sidekicks. I’m not one to harp on race matters, but I feel like my comics should look like me and draw me in. I am part of the comic readership base and deserve to have a superhero who accomplishes just as much as others.

Lyndsey Mosley is editor-in-chief of Gaming Insurrection. She keeps an eye on equal representation at editor@gaminginsurrection.com

PlayPlay

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:21:21 — 75.1MB)

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Marvel character highlight #08: Marrow

Posted on October 1, 2011 by Administrator

NAME: Sarah; last name may be Rushman

AFFILIATION: Morlocks; Weapon X, X-Men, Gene Nation, S.H.I.E.L.D.

SPECIAL ABILITIES: Rapidly re-grow the protruding bone spurs that protrude from her body, and which she uses as weapons. She also possesses two hearts and enhanced durability, making her difficult to kill.

BACKGROUND: She was a young mutant who left her normal life behind to journey into the sewers controlled by the Morlocks. Marrow survived the Mutant Massacre, which killed nearly all of them. After a number of encounters with the X-Men, Marrow joined with the group. However, her fiery personality and natural savageness meant that she never fit in at Charles Xavier’s school, and she left under mysterious conditions. More recently, she was recruited by the newly formed Weapon X program, who have boosted her mutant powers so she has control over her appearance.

FIRST VERSUS GAME APPEARANCE: Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes

APPEARANCES IN OTHER MEDIA: X-Men Legends (multiplatform)

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Top 5 on The Strip: Unknown black superheroes

Posted on October 1, 2011 by Administrator

By Jamie Mosley, Gaming Insurrection

This quarter, I would like to pay tribute to those superheroes who usually do their jobs with little fanfare or fame. Of course, all superheroes, receive fame. But these heroes are the ones you don’t hear about often. They do their job and most are in a supporting role. But support or not, these five deserve their spot in our hearts. Here are cheers to those tanned super ones that always come through in the end.

James Rhodes / War Machine

JAMES RHODES

What can I say about the man who was Iron Man when Tony Stark had some “issues” to attend to? Rhodes was the one that put Iron Man in the West Coast Avengers. In many cases, Tony Stark has stated that James Rhodes’ Iron Man was the type of superhero that he strives to be like. Rhodes’ Iron Man gained many fans, but it wasn’t until he received the War Machine suit that the fan applauded. War Machine was the hero that you called in to either stop a war from starting or to start and finish a war. In other words, War Machine can talk the talk and walk the walk all while buffing the scratches off his shiny finish.

John Stewart / Green Lantern

JOHN STEWART

Selected as a back up for Hal Jordan, John Stewart showed that he didn’t just want to save lives; he wanted to change them as well. He is the kind of hero that knows that he is a role model to someone even if he hasn’t even met them. He understands that being a public superhero means you must think from all angles. Although Jordan disagreed with the Green Lantern Corps’ decision to make Stewart a member of the group, he later realized that Stewart is just what they needed. A smart, cunning guy with a belligerent attitude that wants to make a difference in the universe. Could you ask for anything more from a person who can create green creatures to fight and protect others?

Jill Carlyle / Crimson Avenger

JILL CARLYLE

OK, so Carlyle is more like an antihero, but she still saves the day all the same. Carlyle as the Crimson Avenger is the spirit of vengeance. Anyone who received an unjustly and ill-timed end knows that Ms. Carlyle will be there to avenge them. Although she must experience the death of those she receives as assignments, she will do whatever is necessary to complete this assignment. This includes defeating other heroes. Her guns have wounded Superman, Power Girl and Captain Atom. She is immortal, intangible and has a constantly bleeding gunshot wound to the chest. She sometimes fights against heroes or with them, but the end result is still the same: The bad guy loses to her.

Misty Knight

MISTY KNIGHT

This former NYPD officer is the kind of hero that we all read and hear about in the news. She solves those cases that no one seems to be able to solve. And, after Tony Stark gave her a bionic arm that allows her to lift 800 pounds, solving cases becomes a lot easier for her. Misty is one of the world’s best detectives. I don’t know about you, but I would sleep a lot better knowing that people like her are out there working.

Sineya / The First Slayer

THE FIRST SLAYER

If it wasn’t for the daughter of Sineya, would we even know who Buffy Summers is? It is written that the First Slayer was tied down against her will and shamans implanted the essence of a demon into her. This allowed her to gain strength, stamina and animal instinct. This spirit now mainly offers aid to slayers through wisdom. She once told Buffy that death was her gift, which caused Buffy to later sacrifice her life to save millions. When Buffy was campaigning against the First Evil, the First Slayer told Buffy that her current efforts weren’t enough. So Buffy made more Slayers to defeat it. If it wasn’t for the First Slayer, we all either would be sucking blood, demon food or food for a giant insect creature.

*All photos courtesy of the DC, Marvel and Top Horse comics wikia.
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Property review: Watchmen (film)

Posted on October 1, 2011 by Administrator

WATCHMEN

Warner Bros., 2009

Who watched the Watchmen? Sadly, not many

When you have a successful and highly regarded graphic novel as a basis for a movie, there shouldn’t be problems with the resulting product. And yet, Watchmen didn’t exactly set the world on fire. Maybe the movie-going public is or was tired of superhero flicks at the time, but “Watchmen” should have done better at the box office because it’s a fantastically made film.

The color choice and set pieces are amazing, and the atmosphere of slowed violence in motion will make your jaw drop. It’s visually striking in just about every take and coupled with smart, tight writing, the movie moves along at a decent clip. It is slightly too long but at least the story told within will more than keep your interest. This is a film that needed to be experienced on the big screen, and thankfully, that’s how we learned about it.

The tale of an alternate timeline of costumed superheroes, the continued Cold War and Richard Nixon managing the White House through the ’80s is a fantastic one, and we couldn’t help go in curious as to how it would all work. Having never read the original Watchmen graphic novel, we reserved judgment until after reading it and seeing the movie. It’s easily become one of our favorite comics since and with good reason: It’s smart, it’s gorgeous and it’s believable. The movie continues in the same vein and had most of the tools to succeed such as recognizable names attached to the project and established story.

The acting and casting isn’t necessarily the draw here but it’s serviceable. Everyone gives the same vibe off: They know their character and how that person or being fits into the larger scheme of storytelling. In particular, we salute the acting chops of Jeffrey Dean Morgan, who played The Comedian, for his ability to steal the scene in all of his appearances. He is one of the true draws here, and he gives you your money’s worth and then some.

There’s several minute changes overall that mostly the diehard fans will immediately notice, but to the standard moviegoer, it’s nothing that will make you stop watching. If you know nothing about the graphic novel, the movie will, if anything, create some curiosity for the original. Much like it’s earlier-reviewed brethren “300,” “Watchmen” lifts nearly every scene directly from its source material.

Some people have an issue with that, as it doesn’t exactly inspire creativity on the part of the director, but we disagree. This is one of the few instances where we’d rather have the graphic novel told directly with little to no changes than the translation screwed up (see: most video game movies).

If you’re looking for something a little different than the Dark Knight or mutants solving world crises, we suggest looking at the tale of non super-powered heroes who are just fighting for the right to exist. This one’s a gem.

How we grade

We score the properties in three categories: Casting (or voice acting in cases of animated), plot and similarities to its source material. Each category receives points out of the maximum of 10 per category and 30 overall. The percentage is the final score.

Casting: 8/10

Plot: 9.5/10

Like the comics?: 9.5/10

Overall rating: 27/30 or 9.0

 

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Otaku #07: Devil May Cry 3 Vol. 1

Posted on October 1, 2011 by Administrator

Devil May Cry 3 manga a great start for Dante

Brandon Beatty, contributing editor

In this issue’s Otaku Corner, I’m taking a look at manga based on popular video games. One of these manga is based on the third installment of Capcom’s best-selling game “Devil May Cry,” which allows DMC fans, for the first time, to experience the fast-paced action of the game series in graphic novel format in English thanks to the good people of Tokyo Pop Inc.

In the first volume of DMC3, everybody’s favorite demon slayer/bounty hunter Dante is unemployed and bored until his trusty manager Enzo sets him up with a missing person case with a reward of $4 million. All is not as it seems as Dante not only takes the job, but also faces a surprise attack by unknown demons that leads our hero on an adventure beyond his wildest imagination.

When I read the first edition of “DMC 3” from start to finish, I felt that I was on a nonstop thrill ride from the opening page to the last. Author Suguro Chayamachi did not take the

Devil May Cry 3 Vol. 1 / photo courtesy of Amazon

DMC3 saga lightly and perfectly mixed great art and story plot with the elements of a high-octane game. All of Dante’s swagger and cool gun/swordsmanship came intact as he flows through each page proving that he is worthy to be among the greatest video game characters of all time.

Tokyo Pop deserves a ton of the credit as translator Ray Yoshimoto and English adaptation writer Aaron Sparrow fluently brought DMC 3 to life without a hitch. Truly, Capcom did try a new method of bringing a popular franchise to fans without the usual hitches that most companies experience. Overall, I find DMC3 Volume 1 worth re-reading, guaranteeing absolute satisfaction.

Devil May Cry 3 Volume 1 is a perfect addition to any DMC’s fan collection. Dante retains the skills that make him the living nightmare for all demons and succeeds in his first travel though manga format thanks to creative collaboration between Capcom and Tokyo Pop.

This is a bold and trailblazing move for video game developers to make on their franchise knowing the risks. Keep reading Otaku Corner for more reviews of this series as we give gaming’s elite demon slayer five-star treatment in the world of Japanese comic art.

Brandon Beatty is contributing editor of Gaming Insurrection. He can be reached by email at brandonb@gaminginsurrection.com

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Top 5 list: Worst comic book movies

Posted on July 2, 2011 by Administrator

Chances are, if you’re comic book fanatics like we are at Gaming Insurrection, you’ve seen one of the movies on this list. If you soak up overacting, tired drama and nonsensical plots with hamfisted writing, you’ve seen everything on this list and probably have them memorized. These are five of the worst comic book movies ever made. This list is also not definitive because there are more where these came from.

 

Vincent Perez and Mia Kirschner star in The Crow: City of Angels.

The Crow: City of Angels (1996)

You know how the first Crow movie was awesome because Brandon Lee was in it and seemed to embody Eric? Unfortunately, someone thought making a second movie and continuing the franchise after the death of the star was a good idea. It wasn’t. Not only did the filmmakers manage to besmirch the memory of Lee with a terrible, unattached story, but they also made a mockery of the original screenplay and concept, which came from the pain of a tragic event in author James O’Barr’s life. And don’t get us started on the ridiculous acting from Vincent Perez, who has managed to ruin another favorite series of ours, too: Queen of the Damned.

 

Alicia Silverstone, George Clooney and Chris O'Donnell star in Batman & Robin.

Batman & Robin (1997)

The fourth Batman movie is among the list of the worst movies overall ever made. Nothing makes sense about the movie. Between Uma Thurman and Arnold Schwarzenegger overacting and George Clooney underacting, nothing works. Even though we’re fans of Alicia Silverstone, an “it girl” of the day, she really didn’t do much for the film, either. Most tellingly, Clooney is NOT Batman. He’s not Batman material, and he never will be. As a matter of fact, we’d venture to say that this is the reason for the Batman reboot with Christian Bale. Clooney, an OK actor otherwise, will forever be known as the man who ran Batman into the ground.

 

Jennifer Garner stars in Elektra.

Elektra (2005)

If you can watch a trailer and nothing in those 30 seconds makes you want to watch a movie, you know it’s doomed to fail before it even gets started. That’s the case with Elektra. Jennifer Garner can’t act. That’s a fact, plain and simple, and she looks nothing like the Marvel character whatsoever. So, Elektra was a waste. And you know Hollywood knows it because there hasn’t been a sequel. At least she and her husband, Ben Affleck, have something in common: Both starred in bad comic movies.

 

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 3 was released in 1992.

TMNT 3 (1992)

We’ve covered extensively why this movie was a failure on all fronts, but it bears repeating: The movie sucks. It has nothing to do with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in any way, shape or form. Lyndsey really did sit through the movie in theaters in 1992 when it was released and at no point in the first 20 minutes did she think she was in the correct movie. While we’re delighted with the return of Casey Jones in the film — after he was strangely missing in the second movie — there should have been something better for him to return to.

 

Halle Berry, Patrick Stewart, Hugh Jackman and Ian McKellan star in X-Men: The Last Stand.

X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)

Gaming Insurrection as a whole doesn’t get mad at movies often, but X3 managed that feat about half the way through. Nonsensical plot points, altered established canon, blink-and-you-missed-it character cameos and a disjointed focus make for one of the worst comic book films ever. We’re not asking for much, but DO NOT change character backstory for the sake of a lead actor. That is a cardinal rule for movies based on established properties, and the X-Men have a well-discussed history that should not be changed in a penultimate film. We love Hugh Jackman, but no. Double no for making a relationship that never happened in the comics a prominent focus of your film. And triple no for screwing over Professor X. Director Brett Ratner should be left atop an ant mound covered in sugar for the travesty that is X3.

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Marvel character highlight #07: Magneto

Posted on July 2, 2011 by Administrator

Name: Unrevealed; uses the name Erik Magnus Lehnsherr

Affiliations: Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, Charles Xavier, the X-Men, the New Mutants

Special abilities: Ability to manipulate magnetism and all forms of electromagnetic energy

Background: Little is known about the origins of the master of magnetism. What is known is as a boy, he was imprisoned in the Nazi death camp in Auschwitz, Poland. Sickness and malnourishment prevented his mutant powers from emerging at that time. Though his family perished there, Magneto managed to survive. After World War II, Magneto wed Magda, and they had a daughter named Anya. When Anya was trapped in a burning building, a crowd prevented Magneto from rescuing her. Enraged, Magneto attacked the crowd with his powers. Afraid of her husband’s display of force and super abilities, Magda fled from him without telling him that she was pregnant. Magda gave birth to twins, Wanda and Pietro, and she was presumed dead. Feeling mistreated his entire life, Magneto subscribes to the theory that mutants can only be free if they enslave the rest of the human race.

Relationships: Magda (wife), Scarlet Witch (Wanda, daughter), Quicksilver (Pietro, son), Vision (son-in-law), Rogue (Anna Marie, wife in alternate reality), Charles (son in alternate reality)

First versus game appearance: X-Men: Children of the Atom

Appearance in other media: Marvel’s X-Men (NES), X-Men (arcade), X-Men (Sega Genesis), X-Men: Children of the Atom (arcade), X-Men 2: Clone Wars (Sega Genesis), Marvel Super Heroes (arcade), X-Men vs. Street Fighter (arcade), Marvel vs. Capcom (arcade), Marvel vs. Capcom 2 (arcade), X2: Wolverine’s Revenge (multiplatform), X-Men Legends (multiplatform), Marvel Nemesis: Rise of the Imperfects (multiplatform), X-Men: The Official Game (Nintendo DS), Marvel Ultimate Alliance (multiplatform), Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 (multiplatform), Marvel Super Hero Squad (multiplatform), Marvel Super Hero Squad: Infinity Gauntlet (multiplatform), Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds (multiplatform), Spider-Man (TV series), Fantastic Four (TV series), Spider-Man (TV series), Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends (TV series), Pryde of the X-Men (TV), X-Men (TV series), X-Men: Evolution (TV series), Wolverine and the X-Men (TV series), The Super Hero Squad Show (TV series), X-Men (film), X2: X-Men United (film), X-Men: The Last Stand (film).

 

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