Cyclops and Storm Lock Lips On The Cover of "Astonishing X-Men" #44

Wow. What happened here? Did Cyclops break up with Emma or somethin'? And why is Storm back with the 80's mohawk?

Its a nice cheesecake cover, but I'm damn sure Cyke and Ororo swapping saliva's doesn't have to do anything with the story inside the comic. That's the trend nowadays guys, get used to it.  Gone are the days where the actual cover is not only awesome, but is actually something relevant to the actual plot of the book. God, I miss those days.

And just for the record, Cyclops has been a jerk ever since. Maybe that's why he's my favorite X-Man. Yeah that's it! Its not because of his stupid mutant powers... 

It's because he gets to stick his dick with all the hottest ladies in the mutant world. Lucky basterd.

The Weekend Recap - 08.09.2011 - Booze, The Hangover Part 3, and Running With Batman

This fucking photo says it all.

Saturday... Sunday: The past 2 days was a complete blast! I had my birthday last Friday (August 5), and then me and my friends followed it up with a cool party... filled with great laughter and of course... TONS of booze. 

Tequilas all over the place, food, more tequila, then finished it off with some 100% pure Russian vodka that had everybody going crazy sh.it all night.

The next morning most of my guys can't remember what they did, and everybody had the worst hangover in their entire drinking lives. 

I wanna do it again. 

-----

Monday: I don't know what hit me, but I bought a DVD collection of all the Batman movies, right from the Tim Burton classics starring Michael Keaton, to the horrible Joel Schumacher films with Val Kilmer and George Clooney with the Bat-nipples, up to the greatest superhero movie Batman Begins and the smash-hit The Dark Knight by Christopher Nolan.

Up to this day, I still find the first two Batman movies (Batman and Batman Returns) really enjoyable, and will forever be two of the best Batman films ever.  I believe that those two set the standard for the "dark and gritty" trend in superhero movies today. Everybody wants to make something dark and edgy, and the aforementioned films truly symbolized that style. I guess we could all give Tim Burton the credit.

Not to mention that familiar Batman theme we all grew up with. Its one of those epic musical scores that epitomizes the character, just like John Williams' Superman theme. 

This scene still sent chills down my spine.

And you just can't beat the tandem of Keaton/Batman + Nicholson/The Joker (still one of my all time favorite portrayals, but I believe Heath's Joker was the best). Its damn unreal. I also love Danny DeVito's Penguin (he was born to play that character), and Michelle Pfeiffer's Catwoman (who would even forget that "meow" + explosion part?). These villains we're perfectly portrayed and used in the movies.

I refuse to comment on the Joel Schumacher films. They're all forgettable. Those movies we're a disgrace to the Batman mythos. I gotta admit though, Val Kilmer was quite an interesting Batman, I think even better than George Clooney. But still, they all suck, and they will be remembered for that.

The only thing those movies got right for me we're Nicole Kidman, Alicia Silverstone, and Uma Thurman. 

And the nipples on Batgirl's costume. Lovely. 

First time I saw this as a kid, I knew I love Batgirl.

Finally, if you're going to ask me who's the best Batman? I would still go with Michael Keaton anyd ay of the week. You could say that's because of the nostaglic effect, but I'll stick with it. Don't get me wrong, I like Christian Bale, but there's just something about Keaton that got the whole Bruce Wayne/ Batman dichotomy right.

Now if you'll excuse me... I've got to catch up with reality and work. No comic book reviews for i-don't-know-how-long.

'Threesome Art' - 08/05/2011 - Phil Noto Barbara Gordon/Oracle Tribute

By now most of you probably know about DC's New 52, and that our beloved Oracle will be back as Batgirl with fan-favorite Gail Simone writing her new #1 which is out soon in September. So as a tribute to one of the most beloved characters in comics, I have decided to feature three Oracle/Batgirl art courtesy of Phil Noto.

Phil Noto is one of my favorite comic book artists, and he draws so well that its such a joy to read every comic book that has his name on it. His illustrations are so good that I'm having trouble explaining it. So with that said...

I'll just let his art do the talking. Enjoy!

Only a half-faced Batgirl? No problem. Phil still shows great dynamic and story by using a simple gesture: gearing up and getting ready to kick some ass.

I'm such a sucker for "pin-upy" artwork involving females. Asides from Adam Hughes, Phil Noto is one of those guys who can create such sexy female art without getting overly sexy. Sophisticated I should say. And this image of a smiling Barbara, posing at the camera is such a mushy one that I can't help but smile back.

 

Finally, the ultimate "goodbye Oracle" image. 

Simply put, this image of Oracle in her wheelchair - waving goodbye to everybody with that almost painful smile on her face - is just the perfect send-off. Anybody who loves Oracle  will not be able to hold back their tears when they see this. Everything about this image is fully executed to perfection by Noto, and I won't have it any other way. 

First Photo Anne Hathaway As 'Catwoman' In 'The Dark Knight Rises

Everyone is still talking about the first image of Henry Cavill in the Superman costume that was released yesterday, and now people have more to talk about with the release of this exclusive photo of actress Anne Hathaway  mounted on the bad-ass Batpod.

The costume is a little bit different from what we see in the comics, but it doesn't mean that it sucks. It looks awesome, especially with that high-tech goggles. Question is, if this is the final costume?

What do you think? 

[via IGN]

Winners Of The 2011 Eisner Awards [List]

Here is the list of the winners for this year's awards,considered as the "Oscars" of the Comic Book World. This is the best of the best right here, and some of my favorites won like Daytripper, American Vampire, and Mouse Guard in their respective categories. 

I'm a little bit disappointed though that Pinoy komikero Gerry Alanguilan (Superman: Birthright, Superior, Elmer,) didn't win the Best Graphic Album category for his amazing work with Elmer, considering that there were two winners in that one category.  Still, I'm happy for Gerry for getting nominated in this year's Eisners. Its a remarkable feat. Just goes to show that there's life in Pinoy Komiks.

Congratulations to all the winners!

Best Short Story
"Post Mortem," by Greg Rucka and Michael Lark, in I Am an Avenger #2 (Marvel)

Best Single Issue (or One-Shot)
Hellboy: Double Feature of Evil, by Mike Mignola and Richard Corben (Dark Horse)

Best Continuing Series
Chew, by John Layman and Rob Guillory (Image)

Best Limited Series
Daytripper, by Fábio Moon and Gabriel Bá (Vertigo/DC)

Best New Series
American Vampire, by Scott Snyder, Stephen King, and Rafael Albuquerque (Vertigo/DC)

Best Publication for Kids
Tiny Titans, by Art Baltazar and Franco (DC)

Best Publication for Teens
Smile, by Raina Telgemeier (Scholastic Graphix)

Best Humor Publication
I Thought You Would Be Funnier, by Shannon Wheeler (BOOM!)

Best Anthology
Mouse Guard: Legends of the Guard, edited by Paul Morrissey and David Petersen (Archaia)

Best Digital Comic
Abominable Charles Christopher, by Karl Kerschl, www.abominable.cc

Best Reality-Based Work
It Was the War of the Trenches, by Jacques Tardi (Fantagraphics)

Best Graphic Album—New
Return of the Dapper Men, by Jim McCann and Janet Lee (Archaia)
Wilson, by Daniel Clowes (Drawn & Quarterly)

Best Graphic Album—Reprint
Wednesday Comics, edited by Mark Chiarello (DC)

Best Adaptation from Another Work
The Marvelous Land of Oz, by L. Frank Baum, adapted by Eric Shanower and Skottie Young (Marvel)

Best Archival Collection/Project—Strips
Archie: The Complete Daily Newspaper Strips, 1946–1948, by Bob Montana, edited by Greg Goldstein (IDW)

Best Archival Collection/Project—Comic Books
Dave Stevens' The Rocketeer Artist's Edition, edited by Scott Dunbier (IDW)

Best U.S. Edition of International Material
It Was the War of the Trenches, by Jacques Tardi (Fantagraphics)

Best U.S. Edition of International Material—Asia
Naoki Urasawa's 20th Century Boys, by Naoki Urasawa (VIZ Media)

Best Writer
Joe Hill, Lock & Key (IDW)

Best Writer/Artist
Darwyn Cooke, Richard Stark's Parker: The Outfit (IDW)

Best Penciller/Inker or Penciller/Inker Team
Skottie Young, The Marvelous Land of Oz (Marvel)

Best Painter/Multimedia Artist (interior art)
Juanjo Guarnido, Blacksad (Dark Horse)

Best Cover Artist
Mike Mignola, Hellboy, Baltimore: The Plague Ships (Dark Horse)

Best Coloring
Dave Stewart, Hellboy, BPRD, Baltimore, Let Me In (Dark Horse); Detective Comics (DC); Neil Young's Greendale, Daytripper, Joe the Barbarian (Vertigo/DC)

Best Lettering
Todd Klein, Fables, The Unwritten, Joe the Barbarian, iZombie (Vertigo/DC); Tom Strong and the Robots of Doom (WildStorm/DC); SHIELD (Marvel); Driver for the Dead (Radical)

Best Comics-Related Periodical/Journalism
ComicBookResources, produced by Jonah Weiland (www.comicbookresources.com)

Best Comics-Related Book
75 Years of DC Comics: The Art of Modern Mythmaking, by Paul Levitz (TASCHEN)

Best Publication Design
Dave Stevens' The Rocketeer Artist's Edition, designed by Randall Dahlk (IDW)

HALL OF FAME
Judges' Choices: Ernie Bushmiller, Jack Jackson, Martin Nodell, Lynd Ward
Elected: Mort Drucker, Harvey Pekar, Roy Thomas, Marv Wolfman

Russ Manning Promising Newcomer Award:
Nate Simpson
Bob Clampett Humanitarian Award:
Patrick McDonnell
Bill Finger Excellence in Comic Book Writing Award:
Del Connell, Bob Haney
Will Eisner Spirit of Comics Retailer Award:
Comics & Vegetables, Tel Aviv, Israel - Yuval Sharon, Danny Amitai

[via ComicCon]

Exclusive Photo Of Henry Cavill As Superman... In Costume!

Been busy these days so no comic book reviews as of now, but I'll definitely get back to it some time. For now dig yourselves on this photo of the new Superman:

Click for full size image

Right now I've got mixed reactions to the costume, but I really like the foldings on the cape and how long and big it is. Made him a little bit badass. As for the tights, I'm sure that the red underwear is gone for good.

Only issues I have so far is mainly the "S" shield. It looks like the old-school 50s crest used by George Reeves (may God bless his soul), and finally what's up with the hair? No spitcurl? Somebody get this guy a good hairdresser!

Man of Steel is slated for a summer 2013 release and stars Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Diane Lane, Kevin Costner, and Russell Crowe. Directed by Zack Snyder (300, Watchmen).

[via ComicBookResources and every other comic book site]