World Comic Book Review

26th March 2024

Absolute Power: The Unworthy Thor #1 (review)

The Unworthy Thor #1 Marvel Comics, January 2017 Writer: Jason Aaron Over the course of the past four years, comic book writer Jason Aaron has taken a creatively stagnant title, Marvel Comics’ “Thor”, and radically increased sales which, amongst other commercial successes, caused Marvel Comics to engage Mr Aaron on an exclusive basis. The decision … Read more

Dig It! – Cage #1 (Review)

Cage #1
Marvel Comics, October 5, 2016
Writer: Genndy Tartakovsky

“Cage #1” is a new mini-series from American comic book publisher Marvel Comics, featuring the African-American hero named Luke Cage. This is a character that is currently experiencing broad, renewed brand interest due to the launch of a live action Netflix television series (which, at time of writing, is enjoying positive reviews from both fans and critics.) Luke Cage’s defining trait is that he is an ex-convict who volunteered for a government experiment in exchange for freedom, with the experiment resulting in extremely durable “titanium” skin and enhanced strength.

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Star Wars: The Force Awakens #1 (review)

Star Wars: The Force Awakens #1
(Marvel Comics, June 2016)
Writer: Chuck Wendig

This is a six issue mini-series by Marvel Comics based upon the movie, “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” (2015, LucasFilms Ltd / Walt Disney Studios).

“Star Wars” comic book adaptions are very popular, and recent spin-off titles have centred many of the main characters (we have recently reviewed “Vader Down”, by way of one example). Some of these stories are bubbling with creativity, fuelled by the sheer enthusiasm which so many imaginative and ardent writers have for the franchise.

With that in mind, we warn you: Do not buy this comic book if you expect that the title contains anything new.

It does not contain any tangential plot lines arising from the motion picture. It does not contain any new backstory to any of the characters. In promoting this title, Marvel Comics should have (but did not) make it extremely apparent from the copy on the cover that this comic is a very strict film adaption. The story does not deviate at all from the movie, save that it is an edited version of the first few chapter of the movie plot. Here is an example:

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The Uncanny Avengers #10 (review)

The Uncanny Avengers #10
(Marvel Comics, August 2016)
Writer: Gerry Duggan

A visionary entrepreneur and technologist, Elon Musk, the owner of electric car manufacturer Tesla Motors, is worried about artificial intelligence. Mr Musk is reported by Wired magazine to have this year funded $10 million towards AI safety research.

The concept of artificial intelligences seizing control of the planet has spawned very successful science fiction movies. Perhaps the best example is the cold malevolence of the sentient Skynet military system in the “Terminator” movies (1984, 1991, 2003, 2009, 2015). Upon becoming sentient, Skynet decides the best way of dealing with humans is to initiate a nuclear war. The other popular example is “The Matrix” trilogy of motion pictures (1999-2003), where artificial intelligences farm the vestiges of humanity as a type of biofuel, trapping each person’s mind in an illusory reality while their bodies are leached of electricity.

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