New Man of Steel trailer released, and it's pretty epic

With the countdown to Man of Steel coming to a close, you can expect a big increase in the amount of promo and trailers the film will be getting soon. Today, Nokia released their exclusive trailer for the new Superman film, and I have to say, I'm impressed.

I feel like the music doesn't quite fit the footage in time, but it's an awesome trailer none the less.

I'll be seeing Man of Steel in iMax the day it's released. Then I'll probably watch it again, then again, and again, and again and I think you get the picture. Basically, it's going to be good!

Man of Steel is released on the 14th of June 2013, directed by Zack Snyder and starring Henry Cavill as Superman (Or Clark Kent/ Kal-El), Michael Shannon as General Zod, Amy Adams as Lois Lane, Russell Crowe as Jor-El and many more.

Review: Kick-Ass 3 #1

Spoilers for the issue below!

I'd never read an issue of Kick-Ass before this, I'd heard a lot about the two previous series and it's something I'd been wanting to try for a while. I felt that with the launch of the third and final instalment of the main Kick-Ass  story it was a good time to give the book a shot, so I did, and I loved it.

I  think that Mark Millar has come up with a really interesting idea with this series, it's definitely a different type of book compared to all the others on the shelves right now. I was expecting the same sort of Comic book that you see all the time but it just feels different. At the start of the issue a group of heroes team-up to break Hit-Girl out of prison and they straight up get scared and admit they're nowhere near ready. They run away. That's not what you see in many comics, if any, and it's my favourite scene from this entire issue, maybe out of all of the comics out this week.

This book shows just how good a writer Mark Millar can be, it's a unique book and has a really different feel to it, you get the feel that these are real "street-level" characters, not like how characters like Batman are, they're actually walking down the streets. They're literally Street-Level, I really loved that aspect of the book.

I also love the interaction between the characters, especially between Kick-Ass and his friend, Todd. They act like proper teenagers towards each other, I love that aspect of the issue, they act like what I imagine a teen in this situation to act like.

The only real complaint I can find for the story is that despite this being an issue 1, it's not the best place for new readers, I knew I'd be a  bit lost going into it since I haven't read any Kick-Ass before, but I was a bit confused by something. I definitely recommend reading the first trades before this, or watch the films. At the very least, read up on the plot on the internet, I think you'll really benefit from that if you're getting into the story with this issue.

Just one last point on the story, there are references to comics in the issue. It was a shock to see Batman and Fantastic Four references in this issue, it's yet another thing you don't see in other comics, and it really adds to Kick-Ass and Todd's characters to use these, considering they work in a comic book shop.

Now to the art by John Romita Jr. I'm a big fan of Romita Jr's work on Amazing Spider-Man and was looking forward to his work on the issue. I enjoyed it but feel this wasn't his best work; At times, the faces looked a little off and there were a lot of times where the characters looked a little younger than they should have. Apart from that, I really enjoyed his art and think he draws a Kick-Ass Kick-Ass! (Sorry, had to).

In conclusion, a great issue and a good start to the final instalment of the Kick-Ass story. Amazing writing and good art, worth picking up! But you would benefit from reading the first trades before this one.

Rating: 8/10

Review: Age of Ultron #8

Age of Ultron has been quite disappointing of late, but I think it's gradually building up to a good standard which will hopefully be reached by the finale in issue #10. Now back to reviewing this issue...

I think the word that sums up this issue overall is "alright", I didn't hate it, I didn't love it, it was just alright. However, that's not really what I look for in a comic, I want to really enjoy it, so I felt a little disappointed with this issue.

That being said, I think the art was brilliant and the opening double page spread was pretty amazing.

I don't really have much to say about this book because I feel that I've gone through most of my thoughts there, but just one last thing, the one scene that I actually, properly enjoyed from this entire issue was the scene between the two Wolverines, that was actually quite good.

Overall, I feel this was an okay issue, but not particularly impressive. It did, however, have some great pages of art and one scene that I felt was pretty good.

Rating: 6/10

Review: Green Lantern #21

Usually when a creator change takes place on a big title like Green Lantern I'm a little hesitant about the next writer's run. That wasn't the case for Green Lantern #21, I'd spoken to new writer, Robert Venditti, before and was certain he would do well on this issue, I wasn't disappointed at all.

I'm not going to spoil the issue, because I think you should go out, pick it up and enjoy it as something completely new, without any real knowledge of what's going to happen. The issue has a brilliant start that really gripped me and made me want to keep on reading the issue, then it jumps to a different part of the story, the suspense of seeing the opening scene really keeps you interested right through the entire issue.

Venditti has shown how good a writer he is with this issue, he's shown a clear understanding for all of the characters and respect for the finale of Geoff Johns' run and yet put his own spin on it and make it really interesting.

He's managed to write a brilliant book here and has really built off of the final issue of Johns' run and made it into an interesting new story for Hal Jordan. Another thing I love about this issue is the inclusion of so many characters from the Green Lantern universe, I won't go into specifics but I think Venditti really understands who the Green Lantern fans want to see in the series.

Now onto the art, by Billy Tan. I think Billy Tan is a fantastic artist and did really well on this issue. However, one slip-up did keep jumping out at me throughout the issue: There are quite a lot of pages where the Lantern characters don't appear to be wearing their rings yet are still using them. I know this might seem like a minor problem but this did really stand out to me while reading the issue. Apart from that, I really enjoyed Tan's art in this issue.

In summary, a great beginning to this new era of Green Lantern comics, the Lanterns are shining brighter than ever before with Robert Venditti on board!

Rating: 9/10

Review: The Superior Spider-Man #11

Minor Spoilers for the issue below!

Superior Spider-Man has been quite a good series overall, I have to say, this issue wasn't the best., there were a few exciting moments but I don't feel it was as good as some other of this series' issues.

Just a brief summary of what this issue is about, Otto Octavius, along with J. Jonah Jameson, Glory Grant and Norah Winters travel to the supervillain prison, the Raft, for the execution of the Spider-Slayer, A.K.A. the man who murdered Jameson's wife. I have to say, I wasn't particularly excited by the premise of this issue, I think this is because I don't really care about Spider-Slayer as a villain, he's just not too interesting in my opinion.

This issue was Co-Written by Dan Slott and Christos Gage, and they did do a good job on the issue. Basically, this issue did have good writing, I just wasn't too keen on the plot. The scripting aspect of the issue was good, and I really enjoyed one little scene between Otto and Norah Winters while on the raft and the college scenes on the first few pages, I just don't think the overall plot was as good as some other issues.

Now that I'm done talking about the writing, onto the art! The penciller for this issue was Guiseppe Camuncoli, who is a brilliant artist! He is one of three rotating pencillers for this series and his issues are some of the best in recent Spider-Man comics. He draws a really different Spider-Man to the other artists on the series, he appears more muscly and Camuncoli draws that well.

Another point on the art, the colours. The current Spider-Man colourist is Edgar Delgado, who has done all of the Superior Spider-Man series and a lot of the previous title, Amazing Spider-Man. He is a very good colourist and I think his issues with Camuncoli are the best for both of them. Camuncoli's pencils and Delgado's colours work together really well, and it makes some really good art.

Overall, this issue had an alright plot, good writing but brilliant art.

Rating: 6.5/10

DC Comics' "Green Lantern" solicits for September 2013, Villains Month

Below are the solicits for the four issues of Green Lantern being released in September 2013, also known as "Villains Month" for DC Comics. What this means is every series in the New 52 released that month will be taken over by one or some of the series' villains.

"Green Lantern: Relic" #23.1

Written by ROBERT VENDITTI
Art by RAGS MORALES and CAM SMITH
3-D motion cover by BILLY TAN
On sale SEPTEMBER 4 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T
Who is Relic, and why must he kill every being in the universe who might wield the light of the emotional spectrum? Relic’s power could be the most formidable force the Lanterns have ever seen! This issue’s story incorporates Rags Morales’s recent variant covers from GREEN LANTERN, GREEN LANTERN CORPS, GREEN LANTERN: NEW GUARDIANS, RED LANTERNS and LARFLEEZE, now with inks, full color and script!

 "Green Lantern: Mongul" #23.2

Written by JIM STARLIN
Art by HOWARD PORTER
3-D motion cover by BILLY TAN
On sale SEPTEMBER 11 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T
Deep in space, an unstoppable force is committing genocide on a galaxy-wide scale, and only the strongest will survive! Be warned, because nothing can prepare you for an all-new Warworld under the absolute rule of the tyrant called Mongul!

 "Green Lantern: Black Hand" #23.3

Written by CHARLES SOULE
Art by ALBERTO PONTICELLI
3-D motion cover by BILLY TAN
On sale SEPTEMBER 18 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T
In a world with no heroes, death lies behind every turn! Black Hand arrives to take advantage of Forever Evil, and he may be the most dangerous player yet! And when last we saw him, Black Hand was a pile of dust in the Dead Zone! How did he manage to return?

"Green Lantern: Sinestro" #23.4

Written by MATT KINDT
Art by DALE EAGLESHAM
3-D motion cover by BILLY TAN
On sale SEPTEMBER 25 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T
Years ago, Sinestro used his Green Lantern ring to utterly dominate his home planet of Korugar, all in the name of "protecting" his people. It's the mistake that turned his name into a curse, and brought down the greatest Green Lantern of them all… but one never-before-seen moment from those dark days holds the key to his future!

(Source: MTV Geek)

DC Comics' "Teen Titans" solicits for September 2013, Villains Month

Here are the solicits for the September issues of Teen Titans from DC Comics, September is villains month for DC so every title in the New 52 is being taken over by one of it's villains, for most titles more than once, there being two issues of Teen Titans that month.

TEEN TITANS #23.1: TRIGON

Written by MARV WOLFMAN

Art by CAFU

3-D motion cover by EDDY BARROWS and EBER FERREIRA

On sale SEPTEMBER 11 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T

He is the ruler of six kingdoms of pain, suffering and agony—but the one world that

evades Trigon is Earth. Trigon’s influence has been spread across worlds by his sons, but it wasn’t until he conceived a daughter of Earthly origin that the monster finally had an heir who could aid his quest. Now, with all the world’s heroes missing— is this the final victory of Trigon?

 TEEN TITANS #23.2: DEATHSTROKE

Written by COREY MAYS and DOOMA WENDSCHUH

Art by ROBSON ROCHA

3-D motion cover by EDDY BARROWS and EBER FERREIRA

On sale SEPTEMBER 18 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T

One of the deadliest men in the world has a secret: his family. Slade Wilson lives to kill, but can even Deathstroke the Terminator balance his home life with a complicated hit?

(Source: Comic Vine)

I have to say, I was expecting Teen Titans to take a  month off for September considering the huge amount of multiple issue books DC are putting out for that month, but I'm glad it's not if Marv Wolfman, writer of New Teen Titans and creator of Trigon, is writing it. I haven't been enjoying Lobdell's titans of late so this should be a good issue!