Winter Soldier 4: The Electric Ghost

What a fortuitous event to have found this at Book Sale yesterday after coming out of the cinema following my first day viewing of Captain America 2: The Winter Soldier.

While the movie deserves more than a two thumbs up and certainly ups the ante for Marvel in terms of their Cinematic Universe, reading this volume as a part of a bigger and collective work pertaining to the ever unfolding events of the Winter Soldier himself, make me regard the book as something that is best read in its entirety along with the other volumes. This being Volume 4, after all and collects Issues 15-19. This then had me for a mad scramble to look for the first 3 volumes.

Hope other Book Sale branches would have them. Wish me luck.

This 4th volume marks the departure of Ed Brubaker from the creative team and has Jason Latour at the helm. Reading this certainly makes me even more curious for the other compilations and henceforth with this volume, I will certainly be on the lookout for more. Winter Soldier, or he who I will not name (don't want to spoil Muggles), has gone thru a lot and I wait for more compilations to turn up to further enhance my history of this tragic and broken character.

Redemption is indeed possible. That is is if one is aware on how to tread the road for it and if one is brave enough to get on it.

And while you are at it, go catch the Winter Soldier currently playing in local theaters now. Let's see if this whets your appetite for curiosity. :)



If you're happy with that, here's the official first 4 minute preview. Then we talk. :)

Geeking over Thor 2: The Dark World teaser

Everyone who knows me know how much I loved Thor 1. It was a movie that made me love Asgard and all its glory and one that had elements of life and paternal obligations that are very close to my heart.

Given its success despite what some others may thought to be a clunky movie, I knew that a sequel was inevitable and it would be only a matter of time, when I shall re-visit the Asgardian contingent and be swept away once more.

The entire cast returns for a second outing inspite of the changes made from the director to the eventual casting of Fandral.  Doctor Who veteran, Chris Eccleston is set to play the Dark elf, Malekith, who is this movie's Big Bad. Directed by Game of Thrones director, Alan Taylor, I am sure that he will bring a new dynamic to the movie.

Here is the teaser trailer for the sequel that will open in November. Time to geek out. I know I did! :)

    

Utopia- Dark Avengers & Dark X-men

The vision or dream of Utopia itself apart from a fleeting one, is truly ambitious. But to collect several issues of Dark Avengers and Uncanny X-men in the hopes of establishing coherence in one continuous read is definitely no easy feat either.

This graphic novel collects Uncanny X-men #513-#514; Dark Avengers #7-8; Dark X-Men The Beginning: #1-3; X-Men Legacy #226-#227; Dark X-men: The Confession and material from Dark Reign: The Cabal.  This collection released last year 2010 and written by Matt Fraction brings together the 2 most popular superhero teams of the Marvel universe, namely The Avengers and The X-men. But for uninitiated readers who will dive into this seeking current and updated clarification, they may be confused as the heroes they knew have taken not only a dive but a 180 degree turn.

Here’s the lowdown.

At this point in the story, the Avengers have disassembled and Tony Stark, aka. Iron Man has been deposed from leading the Avengers following his debacle in handling events concerning the Skrull infiltration of superheroes in the Marvel event, Secret Invasion, which if I may add was brilliantly conceived by Brian Bendis. The current hero of this tale ironically became Norman Osborn, aka. Green Goblin. Yes, the Spider Man villain killed the Skrull Queen and became a hero. Fast forward, he now leads the Avengers and is the darling of the US govt in all things “mutant”. To this he has re-shaped the Avengers and used the symbolism that our heroes represent and warped it into his own. In replacement of Iron Man, he took Stark technology, crafted himself an armor and calls himself Iron Patriot. He then hired Daredevil nemesis, Bullseye, and had him become Hawkeye. Venom was recruited to take the place of Peter Parker, aka. Spider Man while Daken, Wolverine’s son became the adamantium wielding hero and Dr. Karla Sofen who has the powers of flight, intangibility and energy blasts, became Ms. Marvel. Add to this roster the presence of the godlike superhero but psychotic Sentry and Ares the God of War and you have the New Avengers.

Onto our favorite Mutants this time, Scott Summers aka. Cyclops is now the leader of the X-men with Storm now based in Wakanda and living the life of queen and wife to Black Panther. Former villainess and now teacher, Emma Frost, aka. The White Queen is now with the X-men and  2^nd in command in addition to being current love of Cyclops’s life. Unfortunately Beast and Professor Charles Xavier have been captured by Osborn and is currently being forced to take part in an experiment to drain mutants of their powers to feed his other team member of the Dark Avengers, Michael Pointer, aka. Weapon Omega. The experiment is funded by Osborn and headed by (don’t hold your breath), Beast or should I say Dark Beast as he is an evil Dr. McCoy from another timeline. (now scratch your head and say, Huh?)

Our compilation opens with riots in San Francisco being led by Simon Trask. Yes, we remember him from Sentinel days of early X-men and has been causing a lot of anti-mutant sentiment around the area. Cyclops although trying his best to contain the incident by having other X-men members take care of it has not been successful and was branded as “incapable” by the media to govern and police mutantkind. On top of that Osborn has just come in from New York, in line with the rumors that San Francisco is about to be “federalized”. Needless to say Osborn has his Dark Avengers in tow and is encroaching upon X-men territory. The clash between two teams ensues as it is unavoidable and leads to both betrayal and deception on Emma Frost’s part to form her own team of X-men to handle the rising threat of anti-mutant sentiment and superhero withdrawal from the populace.

With the X-men team divided and Osborn’s Dark Avengers looking united and certainly a force to be reckoned, how can resolution be achieved? Of course, with utmost planning and some trust along the way.

My friend lent me this compilation and promised me all out action. Indeed I was and am happy for it. Just like my other favorite Marvel event, Siege, this compilation was indeed energy blasting-knuckle punch action all the way, with more intricate power playing and secret hiding along the way for proper garnishing. Not everything is what it seems in his story and although you would applaud Scott Summers’ plan after reading, you may just applaud Emma Frost’s nerve and will as well when you get to the end. Betrayal is trust, is certainly a operative word phrase in this storyline.

But alas the Utopia storyline itself is only a little half into the entire book and others are more side stories that we never got to see or as other readers complained, need not see as it was pointless and didn’t really drive the narrative forward. True, the back stories about the X-men villain, Mimic, and how he got drafted to join Osborne as well as Raven Darkholme, aka. Mystique, plus Cloak and Dagger as well as Daken and how Emma convinced Namor to join her cause as the ace up her sleeve may be well and good and certainly gives readers a deeper look. But frankly I never liked Namor and so skipped his story. Don’t necessarily see the bond that he and Emma have, much less the “he smells like fish” reference in Cabal is equally off putting for me. Would you sleep with a superhero who smells like that? LOL!

Ok digressing but all in all it was an ok read. I still rank Civil War, Secret Invasion and Siege as my favorite all time Marvel crisis stories and hoping for a good one when the current Fear Itself storyline is compiled. Here’s to a good attempt Matt Fraction but here’s to more Brian Bendis for me.

Secret Invasion: Infiltration

Most would take from history lessons learnt in order to understand the present, internalize the mistakes of the past and synthesize both for usage & safekeeping of the future. But at times, what we don't count on are the truths we uncover & the lingering effect it has on us.

Secret Invasion: Infiltration traces & collects several issues of different Marvel titles dating back from the 1962 issue of Fantastic Four, to the more recent issues of Mighty Avengers, The New Avengers featuring The Illuminati comprised of Iron Man, Professor X, Reed Richards, Black Bolt, Namor & my favorite Dr. Strange to the events following Civil War & the death of Captain America as depicted in Avengers Initiative Annual #1.

While it doesn't require one to read it to know & understand the intricate & main plot of Secret Invasion, it does help one to appreciate the length & scope of the Skrull invasion & the implications to the Marvel universe; as well as the hard work Brian Bendis had put on to create a scope of an event which was nothing short of kick ass & monumental.

To Be or Not To Be....Thor

It seems I may have to recant my earlier statement in a blog about Lightning never striking in the same place twice. In my case, most recently in the most recent viewing of the movie version of Thor, based on the Marvel comic superhero, I gladly put myself out there to be struck again, again and again.

The summer movie has obviously begun and Thor, among other Superhero films was just one of the films that had a lot going for it, much less the anticipation of the treatment much lauded by initial articles chronicling the journey of its making by Shakespearean veteran actor and director, Kenneth Branagh.

Prior to the film, I already did my homework by getting whatever material, meaning graphic novel I can in order to know more about this iconic Marvel character. To label him as such & to attribute some groundbreaking element to the character by Marvel may be somewhat misplaced as Thor is an actual character, depicted in the mythical stories of the Viking lands. Yes, he is that same Thor in Norse mythology.

Like the original source material, the movie does introduce Thor aptly as a God. He is the son of Odin, the all father and Nordic counterpart of the Greek god Zeus and the Roman counterpart. Although he is not explicitly addressed as the God of Thunder, there really was no need to.

But what actor/director Kenneth Branagh seems to find and deem necessary was to make this God relatable to humans. Given his Shakespearean background, he was the best director needed to introduce Asgard and all its glory. Like most, my initial reaction to Hemsworth’s casting as the lead was that he was not accurately chosen and when the first still shots were released, I found Thor to be too scruffy and far from the clean cut Viking that we all have grown up with. There were also leaked preliminary pictures of the costume that had loyalists criticizing the make and the changes that were made as compared to the comic books. But in spite of the “minor” changes, Thor still had his golden mane going for him; which is why he is fondly called “Goldilocks” by the members of the Avengers in the comic books.

The still showed him to be far from the image that we all grew up and perhaps it is this dated image of Thor that Branagh consciously stepped away from in order to make him relatable to modern audiences.

Another decision of Branagh that I liked was how he humanized Thor and given these Gods human qualities and tribulations, which was my issue with Thor from the beginning and never warmed up to his characterization even during my initial “research”. I felt that these Gods were already developed as they were, inwardly and out. What more could they yearn for. What more could they work towards to. If we were a physical embodiment and representation of gods on earth, might not they be a reflection of us as well?

The film begins with Jane Foster, played by Natalie Portman, now an Astrophysicist, as opposed to a nurse in the comic books, is in the Nevada desert searching for weather pattern anomalies and the existence of wormholes together with her colleagues, Dr. Erik Selvig (Stella Skarsgard), Darcy Lewis (Kat Dennings). Much to her delight and surprise an anomaly occurs, which she investigates and documents only to find Thor in the center of the maelstrom disoriented and oblivious to where he is.

But Thor has more than a good reason to be so. In fact, he has just come from an ordeal and cast out of Asgard by Odin following his impulsive decision to attack the world of Jotunheim, inhabited by his father’s arch enemy, Laufey, King of the Frost Giants.

This decision stems from an earlier and covert attempt made by Laufey’s minions to steal the Casket of Ancient Winters within Asgards vault. That attempt disrupted Thor’s ascent to the throne of Asgard and prompted him to retaliate and attack the Frost Giants along with The Lady Sif (Jamie Alexander), the Warriors Three, Volstagg, Hogun as well the dashing and debonair Fandral; and finally Thor’s own scheming brother, Loki, brilliantly played and perfectly casted by Tom Hiddleston.

Tom’s initial casting was the one thing I liked early on and was thus rewarded in the film. Apart from Hemsworth groupies, I have no doubt Hiddleston’s minions are gathering as we speak. And from the looks of it, I would be enrolling myself in both camps, willingly.

As seen in the trailer, Thor’s journey to being a better king involved him being cast out from Asgard by his Father Odin and it is here on Earth that he truly finds his potential and purpose. He learns that part of being royalty is not just rushing into things, demanding they be fixed through swift action and likewise deliver results but also in pacing oneself and seeing the wisdom in each and every act knowing that the act itself prefigures results, if not consequences.

While others may find the film “clunky” at times, I did not get such an impression and it is to Branagh’s directing that he is able to pace the story and slowly reveal the twists and history of the characters as the film progresses as opposed to the standard linear presentation of a story with the back-story starting things off and working its way to resolving conflict in the present. The score by Patrick Doyle also soars and complements the action and introspective moments of the film. And while it may not have the memorable and recurring themes of Middle Earth as done by Howard Shore, it still gives us the viewer the sense of urgency of the politics and grandeur of Asgard and the journey that this Asgardian must take to attain proper godhood.

Being Wiccan, I certainly got a kick out of it when the symbols of the Triquetra were prominently seen on the golden columns in the walls of Asgard. It was also seen on Thor’s hammer and would magically appear whenever it is in search of the “worthy” one. It was great for Branagh to observe and include that. Of course, I couldn't help but tweet about it when I went to see the film of the first day. And we are only three in the cinema! Talk about early!

Some of the film’s emotional moments that I felt relatable to me and surprisingly got choked up and teary eyed were Thor’s discovery upon trying to lift his mystical hammer, Mjolnir; his guilt at having been the cause of Odin’s fate as presented by Loki and his own admission for the lesson that Odin had sought to teach him and thus be vindicated and recognized in the end. My friend told me that I had parent issues. Perhaps I do. It will be close to 4 years since my father had passed away and not a day goes by that I don’t thank him for the life I have and how profoundly his decisions have shaped and changed my life.

While watching the film, I felt as if I was seeing my own trial as a son working his way to seek his father’s approval, but then again don’t we all? And when we are finally left with the prospect of deciding for ourselves after being made worthy to do so, we still seek the comforting and reassuring hand of a parent on our shoulder telling us that we are on the right track and that they are proud of what we have accomplished and of the journey that we have taken thus far.

So watch it and know how it is to be struck by lightning. And like me should you find yourself wanting to be struck again, know this. You are not the only one.

For Asgard!!!

(originally posted June 1 at http://wiccanvampiremusings.blogspot.com/)

To be or not to Be...Thor

It seems I may have to recant my earlier statement in a blog about Lightning never striking in the same place twice. In my case, most recently in the most recent viewing of the movie version of Thor, based on the Marvel comic superhero, I gladly put myself out there to be struck again, again and again.

The summer movie has obviously begun and Thor, among other Superhero films was just one of the films that had a lot going for it, much less the anticipation of the treatment much lauded by initial articles chronicling the journey of its making by Shakespearean veteran actor and director, Kenneth Branagh.

Prior to the film, I already did my homework by getting whatever material, meaning graphic novel I can in order to know more about this iconic Marvel character. To label him as such & to attribute some groundbreaking element to the character by Marvel may be somewhat misplaced as Thor is an actual character, depicted in the mythical stories of the Viking lands. Yes, he is that same Thor in Norse mythology.

Like the original source material, the movie does introduce Thor aptly as a God. He is the son of Odin, the all father and Nordic counterpart of the Greek god Zeus and the Roman counterpart. Although he is not explicitly addressed as the God of Thunder, there really was no need to.
But what actor/director Kenneth Branagh seems to find and deem necessary was to make this God relatable to humans. Given his Shakespearean background, he was the best director needed to introduce Asgard and all its glory. Like most, my initial reaction to Hemsworth’s casting as the lead was that he was not accurately chosen and when the first still shots were released, I found Thor to be too scruffy and far from the clean cut Viking that we all have grown up with. There were also leaked preliminary pictures of the costume that had loyalists criticizing the make and the changes that were made as compared to the comic books. But in spite of the “minor” changes, Thor still had his golden mane going for him; which is why he is fondly called “Goldilocks” by the members of the Avengers in the comic books.

The still showed him to be far from the image that we all grew up and perhaps it is this dated image of Thor that Branagh consciously stepped away from in order to make him relatable to modern audiences.

Another decision of Branagh that I liked was how he humanized Thor and given these Gods human qualities and tribulations, which was my issue with Thor from the beginning and never warmed up to his characterization even during my initial “research”. I felt that these Gods were already developed as they were, inwardly and out. What more could they yearn for. What more could they work towards to. If we were a physical embodiment and representation of gods on earth, might not they be a reflection of us as well?

The film begins with Jane Foster, played by Natalie Portman, now an Astrophysicist, as opposed to a nurse in the comic books, is in the Nevada desert searching for weather pattern anomalies and the existence of wormholes together with her colleagues, Dr. Erik Selvig (Stella Skarsgard), Darcy Lewis (Kat Dennings). Much to her delight and surprise an anomaly occurs, which she investigates and documents only to find Thor in the center of the maelstrom disoriented and oblivious to where he is.

But Thor has more than a good reason to be so. In fact, he has just come from an ordeal and cast out of Asgard by Odin following his impulsive decision to attack the world of Jotunheim, inhabited by his father’s arch enemy, Laufey, King of the Frost Giants.

This decision stems from an earlier and covert attempt made by Laufey’s minions to steal the Casket of Ancient Winters within Asgards vault. That attempt disrupted Thor’s ascent to the throne of Asgard and prompted him to retaliate and attack the Frost Giants along with The Lady Sif (Jamie Alexander), the Warriors Three, Volstagg, Hogun as well the dashing and debonair Fandral; and finally Thor’s own scheming brother, Loki, brilliantly played and perfectly casted by Tom Hiddleston.

Tom’s initial casting was the one thing I liked early on and was thus rewarded in the film. Apart from Hemsworth groupies, I have no doubt Hiddleston’s minions are gathering as we speak. And from the looks of it, I would be enrolling myself in both camps, willingly.

As seen in the trailer, Thor’s journey to being a better king involved him being cast out from Asgard by his Father Odin and it is here on Earth that he truly finds his potential and purpose. He learns that part of being royalty is not just rushing into things, demanding they be fixed through swift action and likewise deliver results but also in pacing oneself and seeing the wisdom in each and every act knowing that the act itself prefigures results, if not consequences.

While others may find the film “clunky” at times, I did not get such an impression and it is to Branagh’s directing that he is able to pace the story and slowly reveal the twists and history of the characters as the film progresses as opposed to the standard linear presentation of a story with the back-story starting things off and working its way to resolving conflict in the present. The score by Patrick Doyle also soars and complements the action and introspective moments of the film. And while it may not have the memorable and recurring themes of Middle Earth as done by Howard Shore, it still gives us the viewer the sense of urgency of the politics and grandeur of Asgard and the journey that this Asgardian must take to attain proper godhood.

Being Wiccan, I certainly got a kick out of it when the symbols of the Triquetra were promimently seen on the golden columns in the walls of Asgard. It was also seen on Thor’s hammer and would magically appear whenever it is in search of the “worthy” one. It was great for Branagh to observe and include that. Of course, I couldn’t help but tweet about it when I went to see the film of the first day. And we are only three in the cinema! Talk about early!

Some of the film’s emotional moments that I felt relatable to me and surprisingly got choked up and teary eyed were Thor’s discovery upon trying to lift his mystical hammer, Mjolnir; his guilt at having been the cause of Odin’s fate as presented by Loki and his own admission for the lesson that Odin had sought to teach him and thus be vindicated and recognized in the end. My friend told me that I had parent issues. Perhaps I do. It will be close to 4 years since my father had passed away and not a day goes by that I don’t thank him for the life I have and how profoundly his decisions have shaped and changed my life.

While watching the film, I felt as if I was seeing my own trial as a son working his way to seek his father’s approval, but then again don’t we all? And when we are finally left with the prospect of deciding for ourselves after being made worthy to do so, we still seek the comforting and reassuring hand of a parent on our shoulder telling us that we are on the right track and that they are proud of what we have accomplished and of the journey that we have taken thus far.

So watch it and know how it is to be struck by lightning. And like me should you find yourself wanting to be struck again, know this. You are not the only one.

For Asgard!!!

New Avengers: Illuminati

Got this graphic novel compilation for the fact that my favorite Marvel character, Dr. Strange figures prominently in it. And to have other Marvel heavy hitters like Iron Man, Professor Charles Xavier and Reed Richards in it was just too tempting to pass up.

Verdict?

I wouldn’t say that it was a must read but given that it prefigures into the reason behind the Secret Invasion, I say that that alone was price of admission.

This edition collects Illuminati 1-5 and shows the collective force of Dr. Strange, Mr. Fantastic, Iron man, Namor, Professor X and Black Bolt of the Inhumans and how they operate along the sidelines, if not, behind the scenes at some of the cataclysmic Marvel events and how they were able to do some damage control thereby proving to be a worthy force to be reckoned with. And reckon with and deal with extraterrestrial events this secret group sure did; from handling the Infinity Gems of the Gauntlet (love that the Gauntlet resurfaces albeit briefly), the encounter with the Beyonder during the Secret Wars saga of the 80’s, to the “reforming” of Captain Mar-vell and more recently, the discovery of the Skrull presence on Earth.

But as such with power come both the responsibility in wielding it and the line that one has to draw to prevent such wanton misuse and thereby blurring that same line and changes the hero from champion into a walking power hungry ego with legs and superhuman ability.

The Civil War penned Bendis storyline has shown that our heroes aren’t perfect and are subject to the same flaws and judgement-error phases that ordinary people go through and this compilation is no different. Is that credit to Bendis’ writing? Perhaps. Or is it the natural progression of heroes nowdays in Comics to embody their real life reader counterparts and be given angst, pride, distrust and all other emotional facets that make us tick.

So did the compilation do its trick or job to clue me in? It didn’t exactly tick me off and made me conclude that it would be a useless gesture to read this because it doesn’t supplement or create more depth to the Secret Invasion. But what it did show me that this Marvel crisis was something that was painstakingly planned well. The foundations were certainly laid down well and justified the progression of the Skrull crisis.

For an added history lesson into that crisis and ties to the Skrul-Kree dynamic and how they relate to Earth, then yes read it. But if you don’t really want to know the laying-in of bricks and mortar to the whole scene and would just want to stroll into the building itself and get to the heart of the conflict, then by all means, walk along and go straight to Secret Invasion.

But then again a little more knowledge never hurt anyone. So still try it out. Who knows you may like it and appreciate Secret Invasion. I know I did. Only after reading it a second time. I may even have appreciated it the first time, had I read this first.

 

Catching up with SEIGE

Finally catching up with the Marvel event that shook the Marvel Universe, I must say that this is another must collect event from Brian Michael Bendis.

Following events from Secret Invasion, Dark Reign, Civil War and the recent return of Thor courtesy of J.Michael Strazynski's run, this hardcover collection comes in the heels of mixed opinions regarding the presence of Asgard in Midgard. In the vernacular, it means that THOR has revived his kingdom of Asgard and had it floating atop the plains of Oklahoma and this in turn doesn't sit well with Norman Osborne, aka GreenGoblin and now head of H.A.M.M.E.R., an organization that replaced Nick Fury's S.H.I.E.L.D. following the events of Secret Invasion and Civil War.

Just when you think that it couldn't get any worse (for the characters) and any better (for us readers), Bendis just gives us another event to die for and worth collecting.

Osborne has made a deal with Thor's duplicitous brother, Loki, to "remove" Asgard from Earth and has agreed that Osborne's forces will do the deed as it will be also to Loki's benefit to return Asgard to its rightful place, minus THOR, who currently was in exile following his actions in his own title, and thus leaving Balder his brother to rule Asgard in his stead and fully receptive to Loki's suggestions.

And this is where you get your bucks worth of the Bang you have come to enjoy since Bendis has written event after event for Marvel. Expect Superheroes like Iron Man, Thor, Captain America and other Avengers fighting to counter the attack on Asgard made by Osborne in his own iron suit.

Who wins? Well, both sides suffer losses for sure but not for naught.

Read on to know what SIEGE is all about as we anticipate the next MARVEL event to be collected, which is currently running called, FEAR ITSELF, and features the machinations of the Red Skull and appearance of the God of Fear!

Thor: To be or Not to be...

It seems I may have to recant my earlier statement in a blog about Lightning never striking in the same place twice. In my case, most recently in the most recent viewing of the movie version of Thor, based on the Marvel comic superhero, I gladly put myself out there to be struck again, again and again.

The summer movie has obviously begun and Thor, among other Superhero films was just one of the films that had a lot going for it, much less the anticipation of the treatment much lauded by initial articles chronicling the journey of its making by Shakespearean veteran actor and director, Kenneth Branagh.

Prior to the film, I already did my homework by getting whatever material, meaning graphic novel I can in order to know more about this iconic Marvel character. To label him as such & to attribute some groundbreaking element to the character by Marvel may be somewhat misplaced as Thor is an actual character, depicted in the mythical stories of the Viking lands. Yes, he is that same Thor in Norse mythology.

Like the original source material, the movie does introduce Thor aptly as a God. He is the son of Odin, the all father and Nordic counterpart of the Greek god Zeus and the Roman counterpart. Although he is not explicitly addressed as the God of Thunder, there really was no need to.
But what actor/director Kenneth Branagh seems to find and deem necessary was to make this God relatable to humans. Given his Shakespearean background, he was the best director needed to introduce Asgard and all its glory. Like most, my initial reaction to Hemsworth’s casting as the lead was that he was not accurately chosen and when the first still shots were released, I found Thor to be too scruffy and far from the clean cut Viking that we all have grown up with. There were also leaked preliminary pictures of the costume that had loyalists criticizing the make and the changes that were made as compared to the comic books. But in spite of the “minor” changes, Thor still had his golden mane going for him; which is why he is fondly called “Goldilocks” by the members of the Avengers in the comic books.

The still showed him to be far from the image that we all grew up and perhaps it is this dated image of Thor that Branagh consciously stepped away from in order to make him relatable to modern audiences.

Another decision of Branagh that I liked was how he humanized Thor and given these Gods human qualities and tribulations, which was my issue with Thor from the beginning and never warmed up to his characterization even during my initial “research”. I felt that these Gods were already developed as they were, inwardly and out. What more could they yearn for. What more could they work towards to. If we were a physical embodiment and representation of gods on earth, might not they be a reflection of us as well?

The film begins with Jane Foster, played by Natalie Portman, now an Astrophysicist, as opposed to a nurse in the comic books, is in the Nevada desert searching for weather pattern anomalies and the existence of wormholes together with her colleagues, Dr. Erik Selvig (Stella Skarsgard), Darcy Lewis (Kat Dennings). Much to her delight and surprise an anomaly occurs, which she investigates and documents only to find Thor in the center of the maelstrom disoriented and oblivious to where he is.

But Thor has more than a good reason to be so. In fact, he has just come from an ordeal and cast out of Asgard by Odin following his impulsive decision to attack the world of Jotunheim, inhabited by his father’s arch enemy, Laufey, King of the Frost Giants.

This decision stems from an earlier and covert attempt made by Laufey’s minions to steal the Casket of Ancient Winters within Asgards vault. That attempt disrupted Thor’s ascent to the throne of Asgard and prompted him to retaliate and attack the Frost Giants along with The Lady Sif (Jamie Alexander), the Warriors Three, Volstagg, Hogun as well the dashing and debonair Fandral; and finally Thor’s own scheming brother, Loki, brilliantly played and perfectly casted by Tom Hiddleston.

Tom’s initial casting was the one thing I liked early on and was thus rewarded in the film. Apart from Hemsworth groupies, I have no doubt Hiddleston’s minions are gathering as we speak. And from the looks of it, I would be enrolling myself in both camps, willingly.

As seen in the trailer, Thor’s journey to being a better king involved him being cast out from Asgard by his Father Odin and it is here on Earth that he truly finds his potential and purpose. He learns that part of being royalty is not just rushing into things, demanding they be fixed through swift action and likewise deliver results but also in pacing oneself and seeing the wisdom in each and every act knowing that the act itself prefigures results, if not consequences.

While others may find the film “clunky” at times, I did not get such an impression and it is to Branagh’s directing that he is able to pace the story and slowly reveal the twists and history of the characters as the film progresses as opposed to the standard linear presentation of a story with the back-story starting things off and working its way to resolving conflict in the present. The score by Patrick Doyle also soars and complements the action and introspective moments of the film. And while it may not have the memorable and recurring themes of Middle Earth as done by Howard Shore, it still gives us the viewer the sense of urgency of the politics and grandeur of Asgard and the journey that this Asgardian must take to attain proper godhood.

Being Wiccan, I certainly got a kick out of it when the symbols of the Triquetra were promimently seen on the golden columns in the walls of Asgard. It was also seen on Thor’s hammer and would magically appear whenever it is in search of the “worthy” one. It was great for Branagh to observe and include that. Of course, I couldn’t help but tweet about it when I went to see the film of the first day. And we are only three in the cinema! Talk about early!

Some of the film’s emotional moments that I felt relatable to me and surprisingly got choked up and teary eyed were Thor’s discovery upon trying to lift his mystical hammer, Mjolnir; his guilt at having been the cause of Odin’s fate as presented by Loki and his own admission for the lesson that Odin had sought to teach him and thus be vindicated and recognized in the end. My friend told me that I had parent issues. Perhaps I do. It will be close to 4 years since my father had passed away and not a day goes by that I don’t thank him for the life I have and how profoundly his decisions have shaped and changed my life.

While watching the film, I felt as if I was seeing my own trial as a son working his way to seek his father’s approval, but then again don’t we all? And when we are finally left with the prospect of deciding for ourselves after being made worthy to do so, we still seek the comforting and reassuring hand of a parent on our shoulder telling us that we are on the right track and that they are proud of what we have accomplished and of the journey that we have taken thus far.

So watch it and know how it is to be struck by lightning. And like me should you find yourself wanting to be struck again, know this. You are not the only one.

For Asgard!!!

Thor- Latverian Prometheus

There's a frequently used or heard saying that Lightning never strikes the same place twice. In this case, having been "burned" by expecting a lot from my current catching-up reading of Thor, I've learned not to expect anything and surprisingly I got more out of it.


Perhaps I'm bound to compare it with my love for Green Lantern. But then again he's human with alien powers and this one is a god exiled and having to live with humans. Nonetheless after finishing the 3 compiled books by Straczinsky with the promise of more conflicts and Loki-infused treachery, I just had to prep myself up to be struck by the Thunder god and get this edition that collects, Thor #604-606 and Sif #1.

Surprisingly I enjoyed it more than the last compiled book as it showed how brutal and Machiavellian Dr. Doom really is (ha, as if I suspected otherwise); forging an alliance with Thor's evil brother Loki only to further his own nefarious purposes.


Won't say what it is, should you decide to check it out on your own. But suffice to say that it is a process that Doom ambitiously hopes to master and allows for the fusion of both science and magic. I felt this continuation had a good balance of action and heart as Thor and Balder struggle to fight against "former" Asgardians in a race to save the goddess, Kelda, mortally wounded in the previous collection and to give Doom a lesson he so deserved.

For now, I'm content that I'm at least updated a bit in the goings on of our Asgardian heroes as this collection prefigures another crisis in the Marvel Universe which is SIEGE. After Civil War, House of M, Secret Invasion, I think I wanna take a breather and check out what's going on the DC Universe. :) 

Of Strange and of Fate- My 2 New Doctors

Twas my day off yesterday and hard as I could I couldn't resist the temptation to drop by Fully Booked Bookstore at the Fort and check out their stocks of Graphic Novels.

Ever since I started rediscovering Green Lantern, I have been collecting graphic novels left and right. Anything that has do with my our favorite Green hero, count me in.

But prior to him, my favorite marvel hero, Dr.Strange takes precedence and when I saw the new Doc novel, I just had to get it.

For those in the know, the good Doctor has been "dethroned" and stripped of his title as being Sorcerer Supreme and it's now Brother Voodoo who wears that distinction, including his magical amulet, The Eye of Agamotto.

After purchasing the New Avengers issue where Doc relinquished his position, I wondered if we would ever hear from him again. Lucky for us Strange fans, there was a new series on Doc's life after that relinquishing.

The new novel is called Strange: The Doctor is Out.

This is a must read and collect for all Dr. Strange fans and it follows his life after being stripped of his title and how the taking of a new apprentice seems to make up for the damage that the Doctor has caused in his misuse of magic.

No Orb of Agamotto here but still enough magic and good writing as well as drawing to keep a fan coming back and hoping for more. :)

And in my search for my doctor, I find myself getting acquainted with another one; from DC this time.

May the best Doctor win. :)

Was able to collect loose issues of these back in the days but


 when the compiled version came out, I just had to have it.

What could be better than my favorite


 Marvel Character Dr. Strange and 


duking it out with my favorite 


supernatural being. ;)

MOVIE CASTING News

Egads! Gadzooks! or simply just a breath of relief for rumors spinning about since the movie's planning stages but Robert Downey Jr, has finally bagged the title role of Tony Stark, millionaire playboy/superhero for the movie adaptation of  Marvel's comics superhero, IRON MAN. No other casting news has been released but I am equally waiting in baited breath for the casting of Iron Man's arch nemesis, The MANDARIN, who is a Fu ManChu lookalike and wields rings of power in each finger. Take that, Sauron!

With Ghost Rider out and several sequels for previous hits out like Hulk, Fantastic Four and even (gasp), Daredevil, we can only wait and hope for the best. And by that time let's hope that Buffy creator, Joss Whedon has finally casted the role of another hero, or should I say heroine, who's been waiting for her movie for the longest time. Yupes, its Wonder Woman.