Monday, May 19, 2014

Dissecting the New Guardians of the Galaxy Trailer: Ronan, Nova Corps, Carol Danvers, and Thanos' Ship

While I haven't been closely following who has been cast in which roles for MARVEL's next sure-to-be box office smash Guardians of the Galaxy,  I did see quite a bit in the newest trailer that I wasn't expecting. Below I speculate on a handful of frames from the footage.

Ronan The Accuser


Ronan is the Galactic Judge/Enforcer of the Kree Empire, an alien race who is constantly warring with the Skrulls. Take note that Nebula (played by Karen Gillen) hands Ronan his Universal Weapon* which can "disintegrate/transmute/rearrange matter, absorb/project energy blasts, create 'time-motion displacement fields', and achieve interstellar teleportation." *http://marvel.com/universe/Ronan 

Nova Corps / Carol Danvers


This is pretty cut and dry as far as the Nova Corps goes, no surprises here. However, I believe that the woman standing behind Officer Rhomann Dey (played by John C. Reilly) is Carol Danvers, the former Ms. Marvel, aka the current Captain Marvel. My speculation is based on the Captain Stripes on her left label, as is matched by same stripes in the comic panel shown above. Additionally, as focus is made on making sure efforts align in both the comic and movie realms of the Marvel Universe, Carol Danvers is already slated to be teaming up for cosmic adventures with the Guardians in the comics.


Thanos' Ship


This frame comes from the end of the trailer and shows the Guardians in a space ship coming upon... well... this... space... skull...  thing... Again, this is just my speculation, but the space-skull-thing from the trailer is very similar to the ship Thanos piloted in the 1998 Silver Surfer animated series (seen on the right).


With all of this said and done, I need to go take a cold shower... or I might end up in the hospital... I'll let you know in 3-4 hours.


Trent Hunsaker is the owner/operator of Death Ray Comics
Follow him on Twitter: @apartofhim


Monday, May 12, 2014

The Lifeguard | Rating/Review

The Lifeguard

Director: Liz W. Garcia
Writer: Liz W. Garcia
Stars: Kristen Bell, Mamie Gummer, Martin Starr |

A former valedictorian quits her reporter job in New York and returns to the place she last felt happy: her childhood home in Connecticut. She gets work as a lifeguard and starts a dangerous relationship with a troubled teenager.

Although I didn't feel the plot's outcome was... well... the right fit for the story, Kristen Bell, Martin Starr and Mamie Gummer flex some serious acting muscle. They nailed their roles. (And why hasn't Martin Starr won a major award yet? Seriously folks, this is Haverchuck we're talking about here!)

While I was shaking my head near the end of the film, it did move me to a response -- albeit frustration -- evoking emotion, the task of art: to pull us out of the apathetic doldrums of everyday life.

Interesting to note that while busheling only 4.4/10 stars on Rotten Tomatoes, it's carrying 3.5/5 stars on NETFLIX.
Trent's Rating: 3.5/4 ATOMIC BETA MeV's

Sunday, May 11, 2014

Batman: The Dark Knight #22-25 | Rating/Review

BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT #22
Art by: Alex Maleev
Written by: Gregg Hurwitz

Picking up from recent issues of BATMAN, the origin of Clayface is revealed—and a new mystery is introduced!

BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT #23
Art by: Alex Maleev
Written by: Gregg Hurwitz
Batman and Commissioner Gordon are forced into a tight corner as Clayface embarks on a murder spree throughout Gotham City. But hope surfaces when the Mad Hatter emerges as an unlikely ally.

BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT #24
Art by: Alex Maleev
Written by: Gregg Hurwitz
Now that he's locked up in Arkham, Gotham City is safe from the threat of Clayface. But what led Clayface to become the monster that he is? The answers lie here.

BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT #25
Art by: Alex Maleev
Written by: Gregg Hurwitz
Time and time again, Clayface has proven to be one of Batman’s most elusive adversaries. On the loose once more, it’s time for the Dark Knight to call in some back-up! Guest starring Black Canary and Condor!










Trent's Rating: 4/4 ATOMIC BETA MeV's