Movie Monday - R.I.P.D.

What if you took Ghost and crossed it with Men in Black? Well, you'd get R.I.P.D.




Director: Robert Schwentke

Writer: Phil Hay, Matt Manfredi, David Dobkin

Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Jeff Bridges, Kevin Bacon, Mary-Louise Parker, Stephanie Szostak

Release: 2013

Nick Walker, Boston police detective, has made a few mistakes – namely, taking evidence from a crime scene in the hopes that he might be able to get enough money to live comfortably with his wife, Julia. But when he begins to have second thoughts, his partner Hayes steps in and kills him. That's not the end of Nick, as he gets offered a position with the Rest In Peace Department, the afterlife law enforcement that hunt down the souls of those who have died but refuse to leave Earth. And it looks like Nick and his new partner Roy have stumbled onto something a lot bigger than anyone suspected and it has to do with the evidence Nick got killed for.

THE SQUEE

• Ryan Reynolds is comedic genius, always has been, always will be. He doesn't get to cut loose in this, but it's still entertaining to watch.
• Jeff Bridges chews the scenery like it's going out of fashion – he's over-the-top and almost steals the 'main character' status from Ryan Reynolds. The same goes for Kevin Bacon; he takes a pretty standard role in a sci-fi action movie and makes it fun.
• There are some really solid special effects throughout the film, from the frozen time people experience as they die, to the grotesque shapes that the corrupt dead souls take on. There are some parts that aren't as well done, but those can be ignored easily. It's on the same level as the first Men in Blackfilm.

THE SUCK

• That is actually the major problem with this movie; it's trying REALLY hard to be Men in Black. That's understandable – the source material is incredibly similar to the Men in Black concept but the plot is almost directly comparable. The only major difference is that Nick tries to return to his previous life whereas J pretty quickly gives up his. For the most part, the humour is pretty close to Men in Black too; Ryan Reynolds doesn't quite have the attitude of Will Smith (mainly because his character treats the whole thing as SERIOUS BUSINESS) but he gives it a valiant attempt.
• There are some weak points in the humour too. The running gag of how Nick and Roy appear to the living gets old fast – it's basically one joke (Jeff Bridges looks like Marisa Miller, a Victoria's Secret model!) and it gets used again and again and again for no real reason. I guess it could be to remind the audience that Nick will appear different to his wife now he's dead but that's been done before much better – check out Dead Like Me for a great example.
• The major plot of the film feels incredibly generic. The first third as Nick gets accustomed to his new existence is interesting and then it suddenly falls into a trough where things seem to happen without a great deal of explanation. Yes, everything has a reason, but not a great deal of motivation. It's a shame that they didn't follow the source material where the antagonist are souls escaping from Hell as part of a plot to overthrow Satan.

There's a lot of potential in this film. I think it would have made an amazing TV series (but might have cost a lot of money) but as a movie it's only so-so. I really do recommend reading the stand alone series that Dark Horse produced and that the film is based on.

R.I.P.D. - Peter Lenkov – 9781616550714 - $24.99 – 104 pages

Sunday Spotlight - September Recommendations

Justice League Dark vol. 4: The Rebirth of Evil - Jeff Lemire - 9781401247256 - $24.99  - 192 pages
Wonder Woman requests the aid of the Justice League Dark – the magicians, sorcerers and supernatural heroes of the DC universe to help her find Pandora’s Box, the only item she believes can save the dying Superman. But Pandora’s Box is hidden for a reason, and the Phantom Stranger must race to convince the other heroes that Wonder Woman must be stopped before she releases the evil that Pandora’s Box hides.


Constantine vol. 2 - Ray Fawkes - 9781401247478 - $24.99 - 144 pages
. Things are not going well for John Constantine – his stash of hidden mystical weapons has been stolen and are now being used against him. He must battle the thieves with the most powerful weapon he has left – his mind. John Constantine’s original series, Hellblazer, was one of the longest running comics Vertigo ever had, and now he’s been relaunched in the New 52.


Batman: Arkham Unhinged vol. 3: End Game - Derek Fridolfs - 9781401246808 - $24.99 - 232 pages
Tying in with the bsetselling Batman: Arkham video game series, the Arkham Unhinged books are great side stories for fans of the games. With part of Gotham City walled off by Hugo Strange in an attempt to create a new prison, criminals are free to run wild. But some semblance of society and justice remain, and the Joker has been placed on trial – by Two-face, who is both prosecutor and judge. Batman must make the choice to save his most hated foe or let injustice be done.


Batman: Earth One - Geoff Johns - 9781401232092 - $22.99 - 144 pages
In the same style as the bset-selling Superman: Earth One series, Geoff Johns re-imagines the Dark Knight for a new generation. Bruce Wayne takes his first steps as Batman in a bleak and corrupt Gotham City. His lust for vengeance against the man that killed his parents and the crooked police officers that allowed the criminal to go free may overwhelm him and he must walk a fine line between vigilante and criminal. Aided by his family butler Alfred, Bruce must overcome numerous obstacles in his quest for revenge. But can he contain the anger against a harsh world where retribution may be the closest thing to justice anyone can hope for?


Green Lantern New Guardians vol. 4: Gods and Monsters - Justin Jordan - 9781401247461 - $29.99 - 208 pages
Kyle Rayner is in a difficult situation. The Templar Guardians have recruited him to their cause, despite his reluctance, dragging him to the edge of the known universe, claiming he is the only one with the power to stop the growing threat. But once Kyle gets there, his reluctance may dissolve once he understands the true nature of the menace lurking in the dark between the galaxies.


Trillium - Jeff Lemire - 9781401249007 - $29.99 - 192 pages
Nika Temsith is a botanist in the 38th century, searching for a rare flower on the edge of civilized space that holds the cure to the plague sweeping the galaxy. She has just convinced the indigenous tribe to allow her access to their temple. Stepping through, she finds herself in a strange jungle. William Pike is a WW1 veteran suffering severe PTSD. With his explorer brother, he has ventured into deepest Peru searching for a lost pyramid. After an encounter with hostile natives, William reaches the pyramid, only to find a strangely dressed woman stepping out. Nika and William’s lives are about to cross, but their new-found romance threatens the fabric of the entire universe.


The Flash vol. 3: Gorilla War - Francis Manapul  & Brian Buccellato - 9781401247126 - $29.99 - 176 pages
The Flash is used to dealing with criminals like Captain Cold and the Mirror Master – rogues who are only interested in money but possessing crude cunning. The Flash consistently runs rings around them. But when the army of Gorilla Grodd invades Central City, the Flash finds himself severely outmatched. Grodd is a vicious killer, willing to destroy anyone who gets in his way. The Flash may have to ally himself with the very same villains he’s spent most of his career capturing, if he is going to keep Central City safe. Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato  have had an amazing run on The Flash, combining fantastic art with solid storytelling.


The Flash vol. 4: Reverse - Francis Manapul - 9781401247133 - $39.99 - 176 pages
The mysterious Speed Force killer has left a trail of bodies in his wake, always staying one step ahead of the Flash no matter how Barry Allen tries to track him down. The Flash will have to rely on his allies, including Kid Flash, if he is going to have any hope of facing the killer. But when he does, can he overcome one of his greatest foes – the Reverse Flash? This will be the last volume written by Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato before a new team takes over.


Fables vol. 20: Camelot - Bill Willingham - 9781401245160 - $34.99 - 240 pages
The warriors of Fabletown must set forth on a quest to reassemble the shattered pieces of their once-great community. Rose Red claims the mantle of the Paladin of Hope as a new Dark Age calls for a new Round Table of mythic knights. Drawing on myths, folklore and fairy tales, the Fables series has received 14 Eisner awards over the years and is finally drawing to a close. Great for fans of Once Upon a Time, the series followed the dramas of those Fables who had escaped their homelands and the evil that threatens their continued existence.


Fairy Tail 41 - Hiro Mishima - 9781612624372 - $16.99
After 41 volumes, there’s still no sign of fatigue in the series. Highly enjoyable and great for anyone who wants stories of epic quests in a world of high magic. The titular ‘Fairy Tail’ guild always ends up in intriguing adventures that keep readers coming back. Plots and character arcs have been intricately developed by the creator, which makes this one of the best manga series available.


Attack on Titan 13 - Hajime Isayama - 9781612626796 - $17.99 - 200 pages
The next volume in the phenomenally successful Attack on Titan series. The books consistently top bestseller lists, not only in Japan but also in the United States. With an anime series currently available on DVD and a live-action film in the works, Attack on Titan has become the must-have new title. It is currently one of the best-selling graphic novels in Australia as well. With a heavy mix of drama and action, this series is best for older teenagers who can handle some of the darker themes the series delves into.

Wednesday Weirdness - Pop

Wednesday Weirdness is the day when we remember that sometimes, comics are just downright WEIRD! We take individual panels and present them out of context. If you’ve got a panel you’d like to submit, you can do so here.


Pop #1, 2014, Curt Pires (writer), Jason Copland (artist)

Sunday Spotlight - Buffy Season 8

Buffy the Vampire Slayer was one of the most popular shows when it was on. Seven years of chronicling the adventures of the Slayer and her friends were just not enough, so when it was announced in 2001 that Dark Horse would be continuing the series in comic form, with original creator Joss Whedon producing, fans were ecstatic.



Following the destruction of Sunnydale and the awakening of every potential Slayer on the planet, Buffy Summers has become a leader to the vast army of young women who have suddenly received superpowers. Travelling the world, the Slayer army does what they can to protect the rest of humanity from the demons and vampires that previously only inhabited the shadows. A new threat, known only as Twilight, has risen and is hunting the Slayers down. Buffy must rally her forces and overcome this new foe. She also has to deal with the feelings of her heart, the doubts of her allies and for some reason her little sister is now a giant.

As much as I love the writing from this series, the real highlight is Georges Jeanty's art. It manages to capture the spirit of the actor that originally played the character, as well as their image. While not exact images of the actors, there is enough of a resemblance that they're easily recognisable. The art really captures the mood of each story, sometimes brooding, sometimes light-hearted but always outstanding.

One of the benefits of the story continuing through comics rather than another medium is that there are no budget constraints. There have always been comic tie-in stories to the Buffy series but they were secondary stories. Having the main story now told through this format means that there is a massive scope to use. Entire worlds can be created, invasions and battles and astounding feats of acrobatics all shown that would have been incredibly difficult (and costly) to film. Another strength is the arc format that Buffy has always had – it is quite easy to transfer this format to comics. Each issue is an act, each book is an episode, each arc is a season. Season ten has just begun and is continuing the tradition of great story-telling.

Buffy: the Vampire Slayer Season 8 vol. 1 – The Long Way Home – 9781593078225 - $27.99 – 136 pages

Wednesday Weirdness - Formerly Known as the Justice League

Wednesday Weirdness is the day when we remember that sometimes, comics are just downright WEIRD! We take individual panels and present them out of context. If you’ve got a panel you’d like to submit, you can do so here.


Formerly Known as the Justice League #4, 2003, Keith Giffen & J.M. DeMatteis (writers), Kevin Maguire (artist)

Movie Monday: Superman/Batman: Public Enemies

Director: Sam Liu

Writer: Stan Berkowitz

Starring: Kevin Conroy, Tim Daly, Clancy Brown, Allison Mack, John C. McGinley, LeVar Burton, CCH Pounder

Release: 2009

Lex Luthor has (somehow) been elected President of the United States, building a government-sponsored group of superheroes. Batman and Superman remain distrustful and this is only reinforced when Luthor uses Metallo's death following a battle with Superman to frame the Man of Steel for Metallo's murder. Batman and Superman are forced to go on the run, hunted by both former allies and villains who are eager to collect the bounty offered.

Meanwhile, a kryptonite asteroid gets closer and closer to Earth. Refusing aid from superheroes, President Luthor attempts to use nuclear weapons to destroy it. When this fails, he decides that it will be easier to rebuild civilisation after the asteroid has destroyed it. When Batman and Superman learn of this, they must find a way to stop Luthor, the asteroid and clear their names. But with allies and enemies on their tails, they may not have enough time.

Adapted from the Jeph Loeb story of the same name, Superman/Batman: Public Enemies, the film features the voice actors that had become iconic for voicing the characters in the animated series, but the film isn't directly associated with those series beyond this. Conroy and Daly have really captured the spirit of both Batman and Superman over the years to the point where it seems almost unnatural to hear someone else playing either of them.

The story itself is just as convoluted as the comic it comes from, but it features some great action sequences. As an adaptation, it's superb – save for a few minor changes, it's basically the same story. This is great for people who loved the book and want to see it as a movie, but it's not a perfect jumping off point for newcomers. It does rely heavily on knowledge of the characters from other sources – which to be fair, if you're buying a direct-to-DVD animated movie about Superman and Batman on the run, you probably have an idea who they are.

Honestly, I think this film is better for younger audiences and truly devoted fans. While the acting is amazing and it's great to see well-made adaptations (and all of the DC animated films are amazing adaptations), this is one that it's probably best to just read the book.

Superman/Batman: Public Enemies – 9781401248185 - $32.99 – 336 pages

Sunday Spotlight - Dead Boy Detectives

Originally from the pages of Neil Gaiman's Sandman, the Dead Boy Detectives have previously had graphic novels written about them, and also appeared in the massive crossover Vertigo had, before they decided not to do those any more. Now, Edwin and Charles, the Dead Boy Detectives, have their own on-going series that has recently been released in trade paperback.



Edwin Paine and Charles Rowland are dead. They both died at the boarding school St. Hilarion's – Edwin in 1916 and Charles in 1990. However, Death was a little busy at the time, and so both boys lingered on, travelling the world as ghosts. To occupy their time, they formed a detective agency – the Dead Boy Detectives. Sometimes they find missing cats, sometimes lost objects. But now they've stumbled onto a much bigger case – they foiled a daring art theft and managed to save Crystal Palace, the teenaged daughter of two prominent celebrity artists. Unfortunately, Crystal saw them and realises that they must be ghosts (she's quite taken with the idea, in fact). She decides to head to St. Hilarion's to investigate further. Edwin and Charles follow, well aware of the horrors that lurk in St. Hilarion's halls, since those are what killed the boys so many years before. Now, they must try to protect Crystal – and possibly discover the truth about their own deaths along the way.

I'll admit to being a fan of the concept of the Dead Boy Detectives since I first saw them in Sandman. Two ghostly boys meandering through the afterlife and solving crimes? It's the Hardy Boys with ectoplasm! When I learned that the artist would be Mark Buckingham, I was sold on the new series. I love Buckingham work on Fables, and he brings the same level of quality to this book too. He melds the fantastic and the mundane superbly, making him a great choice to bring Toby Litt's story to life. Speaking of the story, it has a great mix of “boy's own adventure” coupled with some really dark horror themes that work well with the shared universe of Sandman. Edwin, Charles and Crystal don't bother disbelieving that the spirits, demons and magic they face is real – it's clearly real, so they better just get on with it. The adventures themselves follow the classic children's adventures; they're almost Enid Blyton, sometimes, but with a heavy dose of visceral horror.

This isn't a book for everyone. Sandman fans might find it too light, and younger fans could find the horror aspects a little too frightening – there's a couple of sequences of Edwin and Charles returning to their dead bodies that have been illustrated in beautiful detail by Buckingham, but that makes them incredibly confronting. It works wonderfully as a nostalgia-filled adventure, but I think the main appeal will be to those in their mid-teens, around the same age as the characters. The story develops nicely and introduces some good friendship drama along with the mysteries (ghostly and otherwise) that the characters must solve. It's definitely a series that I'm going to keep reading.

Dead Boy Detectives is available now.

Dead Boy Detectives vol. 1: Schoolboy Terrors – 9781401248895 - $16.99 – 160 pages