Supergirl

Supergirl

The second film in James Gunn’s new DCU.  I went into this not expecting it to reach the quality of the source material, Tom King and Bilquis Evely’s phenomenal Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow.  I mean, that’s an insanely high bar to rise to.  But would it come anywhere close?

No, not really.  I enjoyed the first two-thirds of the movie enough, but the final third lost me with a bunch of movie silliness.  The usual list:

What I liked:

1. I’ll put Milly Alcock on this list, but I’m actually still mixed in my feelings.  She’s got a very non-traditional look.  (She really does look like Will Poulter.  Apparently I’m not the first person to say so, but I swear I came to that conclusion on my own.)  But I wanted to reserve judgment until I saw her on screen.  I ultimately liked her performance and her attitude, and I’d happily watch her in this role in future movies.

2. I liked the film’s take on Supergirl’s character.  “You don’t have to be nice, but you have to be good.”  It’s a very clear articulation of a way of thinking that you don’t see with many superheroes.  Well, I suppose you do - Wolverine, Hitman, etc.  But this is a new spin on Supergirl in particular that’s  necessary in order to set her apart from the DCU Superman.  (It’s very different from King’s interpretation, but I’ll allow it.)

3. The VFX of Supergirl flying.  Flying may be my favorite visual effect to see on screen when it’s done well.  I love the exhilaration that I feel when watching it.  

4. The comic did a much better job of conveying the horror of Kara’s time in Argo City, but the film’s version was pretty good too.  

What I didn’t like

1. Krem was meh.  Boring villain.  At least the comic knew not to make him such a focus of the story.  And why would he carry the antidote as a necklace.  Bringing it back further, where did he even get the poison arrow from?  Didn’t his ship and all his belongings get blown up by Ruthye’s father at the beginning?

2. Lobo was completely unnecessary.  Jason Momoa did as good a job as he could have, but it’s a thankless role.  The only time I’ve ever liked him is when Garth Ennis wrote him

3. So when Ruthye brought Supergirl’s costume along, she brought the boots along as well?  Also, when did she find it again?  

4. Was the point at the end that Supergirl already killed people so it was okay for her to do it to Krem?  Her soul was already tainted with the burden of murder?

What this movie really accomplished was to inspire me to read the comic again, which I did today.  God, it’s so freaking good and beautiful to look at.  Run don’t walk to your local comic store and pick up a copy now.

Regret watching: No

Would watch again: No

Would buy on DVD: No

Rating: Nice

Persepolis

Borrowed from the library.

Persepolis

The first volume.  I gave this a shot after reading that Marjane Satrapi had passed away.  I’d heard all the praise and accolades for Persepolis, but it never really tickled my interest.  Turns out my instincts were right.  This didn’t work for me on either an emotional or artistic level.  I intellectually appreciate her sharing a world that I knew little about, but it didn’t reach me on any level. 

New comics

New comics!

Fantastic Four 13

No Humberto Ramos, but Andrea Sorrentino proves to be surprisingly adept at drawing the funny.  He draws a hilarious out-of-his-depth Johnny Storm, whose hare-brained Ghost Rider goes wonderfully awry.  One of Ryan North’s better FF issues.  

Supergirl: Survive 2

I said last issue that this could go in any number of directions.  I didn’t expect either the Rainbow Lantern Corps or the Lobo Bunch to show up, but I wholeheartedly approve the decision by Ethan S Parker and Griffin Sheridan.  It’s lots of fun and makes for a colorful issue, and I totally didn’t see the totally obvious turn on the last page.  Once again, anything can happen in the next issue, and I’m looking forward to it.  

Absolute Martian Manhunter 12

At the end of it all, do I regret buying all twelve issues of this?  Only the reread will tell, but I suspect yes.  Even Javier Rodriguez’s art isn’t enough, as the shine’s finally come off of that apple.  And Deniz Camp’s story stopped being enjoyable or even coherent about six issues ago.  I’m glad that I don’t have to debate whether or not to buy this anymore.

Batman 11

Like Tom Taylor’s Detective, Matt Fraction’s Batman is just good, clean, superhero fun.  Love The Ojo’s visual design.  (By Jorge Jimenez?)

100 Bullets: The US of Anger 1

Didn’t expect to ever see more 100 Bullets, but the original team of Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso are back at it again.  I might be buying this just out of habit, but it’s still entertaining enough.