Best. Pizza. Ever.

So earlier today I was doing some online homework, which means that I have spend a minimum of 60% of that time looking at random stuff across the internet.  Most of it is useless, but every once in a while I'll find some gem, some glorious little marvel that makes jeopardizing my future worth the effort.  Behold!

It's....Iron Man....and pizza!  Someone took the two most wonderful things in the world and put them together!  I'm just feeling so many emotions right now!  Wonder, awe, and most of all a nagging hunger for pizza.  Whether you love Iron Man and want to celebrate his everlasting glory in pizza form, or hate Mr. Stark deeply and want to go all Mandarin by literally devouring him, this entree has something for you.

Oh, damn, and is that an onion as an arc reactor? 

Henry Cavill Cast As the Man of Steel

Today Zack Synder and Warner Bros. announced that they had finally found their new Man of Steel.  British actor Henry Cavill will be play Superman in the upcoming reboot.  Cavill is one of those actors whose name has been thrown around by fans for years now, so it was kinda surprising to see him actually be picked.

Cavill is best know for his performances in... okay, listen, I'm going settle with you guys.  I really don't care.  I'm not a Superman fan, and just don't have any real interest in the upcoming reboot.  I'm not saying it will definitely be bad.  For all I know, it could be the greatest superhero movie of all time.  But for right now, it's just a Superman movie, and that simply doesn't interest me.  The character has always felt incredibly flat to me, and a little to perfect for his own good.  Now, if instead of Henry Cavill they had went with Jon Hamm, then I would be excited.  I'm a colossal fan of Mad Men, and if Don Draper was picked to be the next Superman I would be at the midnight showing.  It's clear they went with a very different direction and much younger Clark Kent, which is fine, but since Don Draper is basically a Superhero already I would have strongly preferred to see that.

Fantastic Four Casualty Review

Better late than never I suppose.  In my earlier post you may have read about me going all Peter Parker and whining about not having the latest issue of Fantastic Four.  Well, yesterday I got my hands on it.  And after re-reading it five or so times, all I can say is that Jonathan Hickman is a terrible human being who will surely be spending the rest of his days being taunted by Mephisto and upset fans alike.  That, and bravo good sir.  Bravo.

At this point, the review is going to get spoiler-ific (and how!), so if you don't want to know who bit the dust in this final issue, this is your last chance.  But odds are you've seen dozens of sights out there who have already spoiled it for you, so I'm sure I won't be the one to ruin your experience.

Ready?  Good.

The issue is essentially the end of Hickman's first act on the Fantastic Four.  While many of the intricate plot threads are still far from resolved, this issue is obviously a colossal turning point for the team in many ways.  The team finds itself facing a variety of huge challenges from the Negative Zone, Atlantis, and the now destroyed Nu World.  And they're going to have to face those obstacles without the irreplaceable Human Torch.  Yeah, Johnny Storm made his final stand against Annihilus' unstoppable hordes, saving the lives of the Richards kids and the Thing in the process.  Truly, the team won't be the same.  How can Reed possibly muster the optimism and hope needed to build a better future after such a loss?  Johnny's limitless energy is going to be sorely missed with all these challenges, and his death will definitely advance the story in some interesting ways.


But while this issue moves the plot forward, it's on the emotional level where it really excels.  Almost every character gets a moment to shine in their individual crisis, and Susan bitch-slapping Namor was downright legendary.  I can't remember the last time she did something that cool, or anything cool for that matter.  However, it goes without saying that the final scene with Johnny was the most memorable.  Him and Ben have always shared a somewhat antagonistic relationship, but as family this practically comes with the territory.  The previous issue where Johnny took a human-form Ben for a night on the town highlighted just how special a relationship the two have.  With the portal to the nightmarish Negative Zone needing to be closed, it was clear that Ben would be the first to volunteer to stay behind and stand strong.  And then Johnny comes in, doing exactly what Johnny does.  Something childish, brash, impetuous, and yet undeniably selfless and heroic.  I can't decide what I loved more, Johnny's final words as he charged into the incoming Annihilation wave, or Ben's broken response of "Oh god John".  Steve Epting's artwork was just alright in the issue, but man did he capture that final scene perfectly.

Alot of commentators are saying this is just an attempt to boost sales.  Well, I can't prove them wrong, and the huge amount of interest the comic has received certainly paid off.  But what I do know is that the issue packed enough emotion, and has such an important role to play in both Hickman's ongoing saga as well as the entire Fantastic Four mythos that this wasn't just some gimmick.  Now, the issue wasn't perfect.  I would have preferred that Johnny got a bit more time in this issue since it was his last, but I can't blame the writer for that when he had to make room for the entire team.  But the emotional goodbye serves as a perfect example of why the death of a character can be so powerful, and reminds us why we love these characters so much to begin with.  Maybe it's because they've been with us so long that it has such an impact when they finally go.  Say what you want about the future, but this one story is not to be missed.

The Return of TV's Greatest Show

Tonight, at 10 PM, you are going to watch FX.  Why?  Because of Archer, the most spectacular, amazing show on television.  After a truly wonderful first season, Agent Sterling Archer of ISIS (Codename: Duchess) will continue his ascension into animated comedy greatness.  Voiced by the eternally funny H. John Benjamin and supported by all an star cast, the series shows us the complexity of being the world's greatest spy.  Not only does Archer have to deal with international terrorists, but also human resources, his ex girlfriend, paternity suits, his own sex-crazed mother (who happens to be his boss), even a crisis with the identity of his father, who may or may not be the head of the KGB!

The show is endlessly quotable, and hasn't had a bad episode yet.  Season 1 left more than a few loose ends in the finale, and I'm dying to see how the plot is moving forward.  So if you're a fan of rapid fire dialogue, risque jokes, or have any sense of humor whatsoever, don't miss it.

So Who On the Fantastic Four Died?!?!

Let me set something straight right now: this article is 100% spoiler free.  In fact, that's kinda my problem.  See, the landmark issue for Marvel's First Family has already hit the stands.  The problem is that as a college student, I can't get my hands on it till Friday!

So right now, the suspense is killing me.  I haven't gone anywhere near a comic book website for fear of spoilers, and only have to last 24 more hours before I can finally read it.  I've had this problem before.  Websites had spoiled the death of the Wasp in Secret Invasion and Ares in Siege, but I swear I'm not going to let the interwebs ruin the Fantastic Four for me.

Now, every time I tell my friends about this, they generally respond in the same way.  They're comic books, and the character will probably be around in a year or so.  And sometimes this is true.  I've read stories where a character died, only to be revived the very next issue (cough:BlackestNight:cough).  But I've read almost everything Jonathan Hickman has written at Marvel, and he doesn't strike me as the kind of guy who approves of the revolving door afterlife.  In other words, this death will probably last for quite some time.

Even then, does that matter?  We know most characters will come back to life if there is fan and/or writer interest.  Still, if a death is well written, it should impact you regardless.  So, just one more day of not going on comic websites.  Let's hope I can last.

Thundercats On The Loose Once More

Thundercats is one of those rare shows with an adamantly vocal cult following that somehow translated into being a badge of honor for those seeking nerd cred.  But if the show was known for something other than Cheetara's breasts and the most epic 80's theme song of all time, it was the fact that the show was freaking terrible.  I went back to look at some old episodes, and they're kind of atrocious in most ways.  The first episode alone punches logic in it's smug little face more times than the live action GI movie.  But the show had more than it's fair share of charm, and nostalgia seems to keep bringing people back again and again.  And now, we have a new series.

Look!  It's Panthro!  And that Tygra!  And who could forget Cheetara!  And...wait, what the hell, since when was Cloud from FF7 a Thundercat??

I'm telling you, the spiky hair is a dead giveaway

So other than the heavy dose of manga influence, I would say it's fairly loyal to the spirit of Thundercats.  Some fans will obsess over this and endlessly compare it to the original, since fighting off nostalgia is like the Kobayashi Maru, it's a no-win scenario.  And last time I checked, this adaptation of the Thundercats didn't have Shatner in it.  Although if it did, that would make for one wonderful show.

5 Reasons To Be Excited About Bane in Batman 3

So Tom Hardy will be playing Bane.  For those you of in doubt, this is a very good thing.  Not only is Bane the best choice for a villain, Tom Hardy is about as great an actor as we're going to get.  But ff you wanted a version of Bane completely loyal to the comics, you're out of luck.  Nolan's universe has no room for the Venom induced Bane that was the size of a truck.  Still, here are five reasons to be excited for Bane in the next Batman movie.

Exhibit A, Bane riding a dinosaur.  Case closed?

1. Tom Hardy
If you saw Inception, you should know about Tom Hardy.  He played the most fantastically flamboyant mind-criminal of all time, as well a complete badass.  So right there, we know we won't have the same mentally incompetent Bane from the Schumacker days.  No, this version of Bane will be just as cunning at the Dark Knight, as it should be.  And Hardy is no stranger to playing highly violent criminals.  In the movie Bronson, the actor put on some incredible bulk and was all sorts of crazy.  The result?  Someone who can combine the brutality and intelligence needed for Bane.  Sure, he won't have the Hispanic accent, but this is about as perfect a casting choice for a Batman villain we can ask for.


2.  A return of the League of Shadows?
Although they were the absent from The Dark Knight, Bane couldn't potentially bring the League of Shadows with him to Gotham.  The League was Ras Al Ghul's army of killer ninjas that Bruce Wayne manhandled in Batman Begins.  In the comics, after Bats refuses to be Ras' heir, the position is passed on to Bane.  Could we see Bane take up the legacy of Ras Al Ghul?  I doubt it, since Nolan tends to make each movie stand on its own and Ras was never even mentioned in TDK, but it's a fun thing to consider nonetheless.

3. The One Who Broke the Bat
Most of Batman's villains are little more than eccentric psychopaths.  They make for interesting characters, no question, but few can realistically take on Batman in a straight fight.  Bane is very much the exception to this rule.  Not only is Bane a match for our hero, he infamously broke Batman's back.  I don't think we'll see quite such a debilitating injury, but expect to see Batman get his shit rocked.  I'm hoping for the most brutal, bone crushing fights of the trilogy.

4.  A Dark Batman
The greatest Batman villains are the ones who act as dark reflections of Bruce's own personality in some way.  Scarecrow and Batman's use of fear, the Riddler and Batman's intellect, the Joker and being just about the polar opposite of Batman.  Nolan did a wonderful job of portraying Two-Face as the fallen White Knight to Bruce's Dark Knight.  Think of Bane as the corrupted Dark Knight.  He's someone who has been hardened by trauma, and has the exact same drive and commitment as Batman.  But while experience drove Batman towards justice, it's driven Bane towards destruction.  While Bane's exact motives are subject to change in the movie, think of him as Bruce Wayne without hope in humanity.

5. Believability.
Arguably the most important quality for Nolan's villains, the villain has to be both realistic and believable.  Ra's Al Ghul was just a man who excelled at deception, the Joker was a guy with makeup and scars, and Two-Face was a burn victim.  All of these were both possible AND believable.  I mean, the stupid junk fans come up with to justify some villains.  Killer Croc being someone with a rare skin disorder, Mr. Freeze being a scientist who invented a temperature changing beam weapon.  Yeah, neither of those are "impossible", but you don't actually see any of them in real life, do you?  All you need for Bane is a man with a mask who knows how to fight.  Now in the comics, Bane frequently uses a compound known as "Venom" to reach superhuman levels of strength and size.  Surely, this won't do.  But there is an easy solution to that one.  Just don't include the drug.  Simple enough.  He can still be a dangerous fighter without resorting to imaginary scientific breakthroughs, and the inclusion of Venom isn't important for the story.