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26th April 2024

Superheroes

Civil War II – The Accused #1 (review)

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Civil War II – The Accused #1
Marvel Comics
August 10, 2016
Writer: Marc Guggenheim

“The Accused” is a standalone tie-in to American publisher Marvel Comic’s annual crossover event, this year entitled “Civil War II”. This cross-promotional publication event is, in essence, a marketing ploy to encourage readers of Marvel Comics to buy additional titles, as a consequence of being introduced to those characters through the tie-in.

In this event, Marvel Comics’ major characters are being divided over what to do with a new character that has the ability to predict the future. One side chooses to exploit the character’s gift by being proactive (apprehending criminals before crime is committed). The other side considers a reactive approach to be more ethical. Marvel Comics has actively explored the consequences of time travel in recent years, in both “The Avengers” and the “Uncanny X-men” titles, and in many ways this concept is an extension of considering the Butterfly Effect upon its continuity.

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Captain Kid #1: Make it Beautiful

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Captain Kid #1 (review)
Aftershock Comics
(July 2016)
Writers: Mark Waid & Tom Peyer

“Captain Kid” is a superhero comic book published by Aftershock Comics, with scribes Mark Waid and Tom Peyer serving as co-creators and co-writers.

Without taking away anything from Mr Peyer, who is a well-known comic book writer, fans of the American genre will immediately know the influential body of work of Mr Waid. More recently Mr Waid has proven adept at creating works that take established mainstream superhero franchises and grounding them in reality, without being spiteful of the suspension of belief inherent to the genre.

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Justice League #1 Rebirth (review)

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Justice League #1 Rebirth (review)
(DC Comics, September 2016)
Writer: Bryan Hitch

Writer Bryan Hitch has a better reputation as an artist than a writer. As a consequence of his efforts on a number of titles, Mr Hitch has developed notoriety as a “widescreen” artist, someone who draws blockbuster movie style action in comics.

“Justice League #1 Rebirth” features American comic book publisher DC Comics’ ensemble of most of its top tier superhero character properties. In this issue Mr Hitch has the superheroes gather to fend off a an immensely giant monster, which straddles Manhattan like a fly on a speck of blood. The creature is called a Reaper and it uses parasites to take control of and bring into its body the citizens of New York City. Some of the superheroes penetrate the body of the creature in an effort to stop it. One of them, Superman, uses his powers to cauterise some of the Reaper’s brain. The monster flies off into space. The comic evokes the kaiju genre of Japanese manga, of which we have spoken recently.

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Imaginary Stocks To Buy (a musing)

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Imaginary Stocks To Buy
An investment review of the fictional corporations of comic books and manga
DG Stewart, 18 July 2016

In 2011, Forbes, a business magazine, listed the twenty-five fictional companies out of the realm of comic books and manga, there were only three that made the cut in Forbes’ list:

a. Wayne Enterprises (published by DC Comics), partly-owned by Bruce Wayne (also known as Batman), worth $31.3 billion and number 11 on the list

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b. Stark Industries (published by Marvel Comics), partly owned by technological savant Iron Man (Tony Stark), at number 16 on the list, worth $20.3 billion

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c. Oscorp, owned by one of Spider-Man’s many adversaries (published by Marvel Comics) valued at a mere $3.1 billion and ranked at number 23 on the list.

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But this review omitted many companies that would be worthy of investment if they were actually in existence. Some of these are very large indeed and would appear to be trading very profitably by one means or another.

The list below assumes that you have an appetite for investing in weapons manufacturers and high tech companies. If you are looking to diversify your imaginary stock portfolio into agribusiness or into property developers, then this selection of fictional corporate behemoths probably is not for you.

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