Review for Scooby Apocalypse, Vol. 1 by Keith Giffen

Fred. Daphne. Velma. Shaggy. Scooby-Doo. Roaming the globe in their lime-green Mystery Machine, they've solved countless crimes and debunked dozens of sketchy supernatural shenanigans.

But what if the horror was real?

Something terrible has transformed our world, turning millions of people into mindless zombie hordes.

And only five people--well, four people and one mangy mutt--have the smarts, the skills and the sheer crazy courage to stare down doomsday.

Can these pesky kids and their canine companion--using every incredible contraption in their arsenal--defeat the evil that has overwhelmed planet Earth? We've got only one thing to say about that: ZOINKS!

From comics mastermind Jim Lee and the superstar creative team of Keith Giffen (JUSTICE LEAGUE 3001), J.M. DeMatteis (JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK) and Howard Porter (JLA) comes SCOOBY APOCALYPSE, a whole new spin on the most beloved paranormal investigators in history. Get ready to give Scooby Snacks a whole new meaning! SCOOBY APOCALYPSE VOLUME 1 collects issues #1-6.

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As a fan of Scooby Doo and the gang from their very first incarnation throughout their evolution from cheesy goodness to romantic and angsty situations, I've always found comfort in the essential foundation of four friends and a dog solving mysteries.  There was always a sense of homecoming in the subtle humor and villains that were easy to identify that made everything right in my world.

With this modern take on the Scooby Gang almost everything is turned upside down as this unlikely team races to save the world from a virus run amok.  These characters have little similarity to their past incarnations as they're edgier and angrier.  From the very start they're at odds with one another, suspicious of Velma, and reluctant to count on each other to find a cure to the human mutations running rampant.  This time around Daphne's no longer "danger-prone" but more of a kick-ass heroine full of suspicions trying to resurrect a journalism career that had her falling from grace.  Fred's still enamored with her though and protects her every step of the way though he's not as physically capable as her. Unfortunately he doesn't have traps to count on in times of need, but he has another quirk just as endearing.  Velma's still the "smart one" here but is weighed down by depression, insecurities, and a desire to leave her mark on the world.  She's lonely, doubts that anyone could be her friend, and her life-long isolation had my heart aching for her. Shaggy's still portrayed as a hipster but with a harder edge courtesy of multiple tattoos.  He's a kindhearted soul, good with dogs and an asset to the government's program to turn canines into vicious weapons.  From the very start Shaggy becomes Scooby's guardian angel as Scooby's seen as a failure, too tender-hearted to be a killer canine.  What he does have though is nanotech that enables him to talk (which gives fans a clever reasoning behind his lifetime of being able to talk) and has him becoming a vital member to this ragtag group's journey through the zombie apocalypse.  Even the Mystery Machine is back, albeit in a much more militarized way.  It all adds up to a delightfully nostalgic wink to the past while setting itself firmly in the here and now.

This graphic comic is visually appealing with its blend of a dark landscape and bloody and gory creatures of the night.  Daphne's still dressed in purple and is a warrior woman full of anger towards Velma that got a bit old after awhile.  Just when you thought she formed a tenuous friendship with Velma she would once again rage. Fred's a good guy who finds himself forming a bond with Shaggy as they're both goofy and charming and they luckily have Daphne there to protect them.  Everyone's ultimately lucky to have Scooby as he's smart, strong, and not afraid to fight those creatures looking to harm his newfound friends.  This comic's main theme of a mutated virus creating flesh-eating creatures is one we've seen before and is handled well here, keeping me on edge with danger coming from around every corner.  The mystery behind who dispensed the virus, and if there's a cure, hangs over the entire story and drives the gang on while ramping up the suspense.  The villainy is not only relegated to those who dispensed the virus though, but also to a character familiar to long-time fans which was a clever twist that had me smiling.  It further puts the gang in jeopardy at a time where their burgeoning friendships are on fragile footing.  All in all I found this a captivating read, visually stimulating, with a modern storyline that kept me furiously turning the pages and desperate for more as readers are left hanging after a jaw-dropping reveal.

My rating for this is a B+/A-

*I got this graphic comic from NetGalley for review in exchange for my honest opinion.

Review for Star Trek:The Next Generation/Doctor Who:Assimilation 2 Volume 2 by Scott Tipton, David Tipton, et al.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard faces one of the most difficult decisions of his life, but the fate of the galaxy may depend on it! Can the Doctor convince him to make the correct choice?

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The story continues in this second installment of the Doctor Who/Star Trek:The Next Generation crossover as the battle against the Borg and the Cyberman (two of the memorable villains from each series) gets underway.  After a brief alliance, the Borg realize the Cyberman aren't to be trusted and do the unexpected by joining forces with the good guys.  As a fan of both of these shows I found their pairing to be very natural. The interactions between the characters were entertaining and reflected each character correctly.  The storyline itself was clever with a nice bit of action that kept you on the edge of your seat.  Events that happened on the television shows were also seamlessly incorporated into the story and was a special treat to fans.

As to the artwork, I felt most characters were perfectly represented, particularly The Doctor and Captain Picard. Amy and Rory however didn't fair as well.  They say that the camera adds ten pounds and in this case it's the drawing that does.  Their speech also felt a bit off. The witty banter they're known for was missing. Though I didn't get the chance to read the previous installment it was easy to pick up on what happened previously.  It was easy to jump right into the action without missing a beat.

As this story ends with a cliffhanger I'll definitely have to pick up the next story in this series.  Overall, I'm impressed with the characterizations and the pulse pounding storyline.  The creators have much to be proud of as this is a delightful treat to fans and non-fans alike.

My rating for this is an A.

*I received this from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Review for The Avengers (2012 movie)

After many weeks of waiting for the crowds to die down, I finally went to see The Avengers and what a rip roaring, action packed, fast paced, cinematic extravaganza it was!  Under the masterful directing hand of Joss Whedon, the coming together of each superhero is nicely and quickly handled with each character getting time to show their personality as well as their powers.  With so many larger than life superheroes battling for top dog status, there were many moments of humor amongst the testosterone, mostly courtesy of Iron Man/Tony Stark (played by Robert Downey Jr.).  He's just as snarky working with a team as he is on his own.  I enjoyed seeing a romantic side to him though in his scenes with Pepper Potts (played by Gwyneth Paltrow) and their playfulness with her standing up to him and hope to see their relationship expanded.

Captain America (the eternally boyish Chris Evans) still represents the triumph of the underdog in America and definitely acts as cheerleader throughout the movie.  Thor (that sexy Adonis Chris Hemsworth) is still arrogant with his god-like nature and seemed to be the one having the hardest time being a team player.  His showdown with Iron Man not only showed off some cool special effects but some exciting action sequences as well.  The Hulk (the surprisingly good choice of Mark Ruffalo) finally lives up to the hype after his two previously disappointing movie incarnations.  I enjoyed his take on it being a totally separate entity within him that even he is somewhat afraid of.  Once the Hulk actually emerges it's to very human-like facial expressions and actions.  His fight with the villain Loki is both humorous and to the point.  The two new additions to the Marvel movie world, Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) and Hawkeye (the ruggedly sexy Jeremy Renner) are intriguing and easily meshed with the rest of the team.  They have a history just hinted at in this movie, and as a newbie to the comic world, I'm dying to know more about each of them.  Black Widow makes for a worthy heroine, and without a Wonder Woman movie on the horizon, I admired her battle scenes and her ability to keep up with the boys.

Amongst so many worthy heroes, it's imperative that there be a worthy villain.  Once again Loki (played with unapologetic glee by Tom Hiddleston) brings the bad as he tries to subjugate Earth using a massive alien army.  His scenes are over the top fun and there's true enjoyment radiating off him as he chews through each of his scenes.  I definitely hope this isn't the last we've seen of him as I'd like to dig deeper into the complicated brotherly relationship between him and Thor.

From start to finish this movie gives viewers everything they'd hope for in a summer movie.  Great action sequences and special effects, likable characters worth rooting for, and a tantalizing teaser to keep people talking for months until the next installment from the marvelous Marvel superhero movie franchise!  This is one geeky gal who cheered, laughed, and squealed with joy throughout the movie and isn't ashamed to admit it!

For those who still haven't seen the flick, or those wanting to relive the joy, here are some clips......

My rating for this movie is an A!

Review for Angel: Omnibus

I was a huge fan of the tv show Angel.  I loved the idea of a vampire with a soul doing good deeds to make amends for all the wrongs he did early in life.  When it went off the air it was a sad day indeed.  That's why I was excited to come across the Dark Horse Comics release of a collection of the Angel comic books released to date and focusing on the first two seasons of the television show.  Conceived by show creator Joss Whedon, Brett Matthews (Serenity, Those Left Behind), Christopher Golden (Baltimore), Tom Sniegoski (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), and David Fury (Buffy the tv show, Lost, 24) this collection features the characters of Angel, Cordelia, Wesley, Gunn, Doyle, and Kate.  Within the pages of this compilation Angel faces demonic rats, Hollywood demons, zombies, and vampire hookers along with many other dangerous creatures.

I was impressed by the collection of creatures and otherworldly elements Angel and his crew fought in this collection.  The creatures were unique and drawn in an appealing and eye-catching way and kept me eagerly turning the pages.  The core group of characters were visually appealing too with their strong lines and bold looks.  The images didn't have much resemblance to their television counterparts which was a bit of a let down and a reason why I first picked this up.  Their language though was very reminiscent of their characters and brought out a chuckle from time to time.  From the stuttering uncertainty of Wesley to the slight arrogance of Cordelia, their speech certainly brought back fond memories.

I haven't read many comics but was impressed on a whole by the intriguing storylines and eye-catching visuals.  There was high action mixed with bits of humor and each story was more entertaining than the last.  Those familiar with the show, and those new to the world of Angel, will both find something to like.  I truly enjoyed my revisiting of Angel and his crew and will definitely search out more comics based on tv shows in the future.

My rating for this is a B+.

*I received this from NetGalley for reviewing purposes.