2012 Recap: Top 5 movies of 2012

Like everything on this site it is my opinion so don't be mad if any movie on this list isn't the same as your list.

5. Cloud Atlas: Just an amazing film combining 6 different genres into one fantastic film that crosses time, gender, and race. With a handful of key cast members that keep the movie pulled together. It's a 3 hour movie, and for me, the first hour I was left wondering what's going on, second hour was 'okay, I get whats going on, but how does this all connect?', and the final hour of the film I was left thinking 'wow they made this work. This is just freaking amazing. Bravo!'

4.Moonrise Kingdom: Now I'm a sucker for Wes Anderson films, and this one is no exception. It is an adorable story that makes you feel like a kid in love for the first time again. Adorable, quirky, and full of heart. A must see, and easily one of my top Wes Anderson films too.

3. The Dark Knight Rises: Now I know that some critics are saying that this isn't a good movie, and that I say "you're effing crazy!". The Dark Knight Rises is a compelling conclusion to the Nolan Batman trilogy that ties in aspect from all the films and brings in the most continuity from the comics that we have seen thus far in the Batman movies. Further it was a great coming home story that bring Bruce Wayne's life full circle. Very few expected to see this movie do better than The Dark Knight (and from a box office stand point it didn't) but from a story aspect it did. At no point in my multiple views of this film did I ever think that the movie was 45 minutes too long, a complaint I have found to be quite common with The Dark Knight.

2. Dredd 3D: This has to be the first 3D movie I have ever enjoyed having seen it in 3D. This was a movie that made me go out and get the collected editions of Dredd just so I could get more of the character. Honestly this was a balls out amazing action film that is only surpassed by one other movie this year. As well as being an amazing action movie it has decent story, and has to be the best comic book adaptation this year.

1. Django Unchained: This has to be my top movie of the year. With over the top action and violence and taking on the subject matter of pre-cival war slavery issues in the south done with humour and humanization of all the characters I say bravo Quentin Tarantino. They casting was amazing and calls for multiple Oscar nominations for the lead cast. This was a movie that knocked it out of the park and everyone should see.

2012 Recap: Top 5 Titles of 2012

So the year is coming to an end and it time to look back over the year and see what new released titles of 2012 I really enjoyed. So lets start this off with...

5. Batman, Incorporated (DC Comics): Now this is kind of a cheat, and we wont see it on many best of lists for the year because it is the second volume of Grant Morrison's Batman, Incorporated work. I know I have said this time and time again, but I'm a big fan of Mr. Morrison's work (especially with Batman), and if I was doing a top 10 list we would see his dive into creator owned with with Image's Happy. This Batman title is continuing with a lot of what he did back in the pre-New 52 relaunch. The inclusion Chris Burnham art has just made the title ten times better. It's great and I can't wait to see this collected with the first volume of it.

4. Thor God of Thunder (Marvel): This isn't a title I've talked a lot about on here, but it is one of the most amazing and well plotted titles of Marvel NOW. The idea of watching Thor from three points in time (youth, present, and all father Thor) just strikes a cord with me. How will the events with the Butcher lead to Thor being the last in Asgard? Jason Aaron over the last 2 years has become one of my favourite comic book writers, and here he is bound to deliver an amazing story.

3. The Manhattan Project (Image): 2012 was the year of Image. They just knocked it out of the park with their twentieth anniversary of the creator owned publisher and some of the most amazing titles to come out in years. One of the titles being The Manhattan Project by Jonathan Hickman, an alternate history of the Cold War arms race is giving us an amazing story with aliens, cyborgs, alternate earths, and so much more. This is a must read title.

2. Avengers (Marvel): So far we have only seen two issues of this title, but both of them were just amazing. I am more placing this title here for the potential it has with Johnathan Hickman helming the title, and after seeing the expansiveness that he gave us in Fantastic Four and FF as well as his work over at Image this is going to be a title to watch in 2013 as it is bound to give us some amazing story telling.

1 Saga (Image): I've already spoken on 2012 being the year of Image, and that just is made more clear by the amazing title that is Saga. I really don't know how to put in words how great the BKV space Romeo and Juliet story has been., and it is just complimented by the beautiful Fiona Staples art. I've said this so many times before, but get your eyes reading this asap. This wasn't even a title I was going to read originally, but I tried it and I was hooked.

Top 5 Comics (12-12-12)

Been awhile since I've done one of these, it has been some crazy times for me since I last did a top 5 comics list but enough of this crazy nonsense lets get to some comics.

5. Scarlet Spider #12 (Marvel Comics): It's the beginning of a new story, with the events of Minimum Carnage behind us what does this mean for Kain? With it being the beginning of a new story this should be a great hopping on point for the comic. It has been one of the more fun titles of the last bit, and if you haven't been reading it do yourself the favour and check it out.

4. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #17 (IDW): This title has been on my list several times in the past, but not so much lately, but not for it dipping in quality I just have been back burnering it since it is one of those titles I really enjoy and so I've been savoring the read. So now that I'm all caught up times look exciting and interesting for the Turtles.

3. Batman #15 (DC Comics): This is the only DC Comics title I'm picking up this week. The Death of the Family story has kind of been a miss for me, but I'm still interested in how it plays out. Scott Snyder does has an extremely creepy way of writing the Joker which I do like, but over all the story since the last two issue of Court of Owls has been kinda not as exciting as I would hope. Maybe the problem is more with me and a general feeling of blah with DC in general, and thus making it hard for me to enjoy much of anything from them.

2. Avengers Assemble #10 (Marvel Comics): SCIENCE BROS!!! This is the second issue of Kelly Sue DeConnick on Avengers Assemble and if her first issue (and work on Captain Marvel) is any indicator of what to expect from this title I'm going to be on for the long haul of the title. It has just been filled with fun little character pieces that give us something exciting and fun.

1. Iron Man #4 (Marvel Comics): Iron Man has been one of my favourite titles to come out of the Marvel NOW relaunch. Up until now I've never really read any Iron Man stories out side of the Avengers titles, and now I look forward to every issue of this title that comes out. New suite and equipment every issue to help Tony hunt down Extremis. Go to your lcs or comixology and get caught up on this title, it is pure wonderful comic book story telling.

A Funko Fanboy's Dream

There are few things in pop culture and geek culture that haven't already received the Funko Pop vinyl figure treatment. DC and Marvel superheroes started this great trend off, which was made its way into Star Wars, Disney, and so much more. Now it's starting to make its way into more wonderful franchises, like; The Walking Dead, The Hobbit, Adventure Time, Sponge Bob, Game of Thrones, and even He-Man and the Masters of the Universe. So today I am going to go over some franchises I would love to see get the Funko Pop vinyl figure treatment.

So to start this off I want to talk about the franchise that inspired me to write this article, that being the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. What I would give to see the Turtles as cute little vinyl figures, but it could go on to be so much more than just our four favourite pizza eating shelled heroes. I would love to see a whole series done with Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello, Michelangelo, Splinter, Shredder, Krang, April O'Neil, Casey Jones, Bebop, Rocksteady, and a Foot Clan Ninja. Of course I would expect these to be broken up over two waves of figure release, but I would still buy up every single one of them. This would also give them plenty of other characters to use for Con exclusives like, Miyamoto Usagi, Leatherhead, Hamato Yoshi, and Venus to name a few.

Another franchise I would love to see get this treatment is of course Ghostbusters. Of course we would have Peter Venkman, Ray Stantz, Egon Spengler, and Winston Zeddemore, but as well as Slimer (which is totally do able just from looking at the Lumpy Space Princess figure), Stay Puft Marshmallow Man (giant size or regular sized), Zuul and Vinz Clotho (both in human possession forms and in demon forms), and of course Gozer. Again this would be a series that I would buy up every one of the figures.

The final series I would like to see is one already coming, but would love to see have more built onto it. That series being the aforementioned He-Man and the Master of the Universe franchise. There are so many great He-Man characters for them to come out with, I would love to see. Unlike the other two franchises I've mentioned I'm not going to list off any characters that would make for great vinyl figures, since we all know that all the characters have made for great action figures and the vinyl treatment would just make them all cuter. But I will end this by saying they better make a Orko figure eventually.

Top 5 Comics (Nov. 14, 2012)

I'm back with the Top 5 Comics list, been going through some crazy stuff in my lately, but now I'm back to work on things I truly enjoy... that of course being comics. Hopefully this means me putting out more posts more often with more content. Anyways lets get to the comics.

5. Avengers Assemble #9 (Marvel Comics): This is the start of a new creative team on the title, and the new writer for it is none other than Kelly Sue Deconnick from the fantastic Captain Marvel ongoing series. I'm very excited to see where see is going to take this team, and what will transpire between them in the new Marvel NOW setting. If the cover is any indication of what is to come we can expect a change up in the Avengers Assemble team, and hopefully a further development of the Marvel NOW universe.

4. The Amazing Spider-Man #697 (Marvel Comics): Concluding the Danger Zone story as our favourite web head goes up against both the current and original Hobgoblin's. Can the wall crawler make it out of this with his Spider Sense pushed to the max? How will all this lead into the next and final story line of ASM as we ramp up to its finale in issue 700?

3.Thor: God of Thunder #1 (Marvel Comics): Jason Aaron on Thor, do I really need to say more? This promises to be interesting story with all the great story telling that we've come to expect from Jason Aaron. This is the first time I've picked up a Thor title (besides the amazing Journey into Mystery) so I'm curious to see how I click with the character outside of Avengers titles. So lets see if I continue with this, but if Aarons Hulk run is any indication of what we can expect from this I will be all over it.

2. Batman #14 (DC Comics): Continuing the Death of the Family story, in this issue we get to see the start of what the Joker has planned for the caped crusader and his family of heroes. The first issue of this was so dark and frightening that I can't help but wonder how this will play out. Scott Snyder even back on Detective Comics just seemed to give us the darkest Joker imaginable, and that is even more evident in this storyline. Though I have complained about these constant Batfamily crossovers I'm still excited to see this plays out, even though  am only picking up the Batman title for this event.

1. Saga #7 (Image Comics): This amazing Brian K. Vaughan series returns after a few month break, and now is the perfect time to jump on. A few weeks ago we saw the release of the collected trade of the first six issues so there is no excuse. This is bound to go down as one of the best comic book titles of all time, not only for the great story but also for the beautiful Fiona Staples art. Do your eyes and mind a favor and pick this up.

No Top 5 Comics this week

Just not a whole lot out this week that I'm excited to be reading unfortunately. But if you want some quick things to check out; Batman Incorporated, A-babies vs. X-babies, FF, & National Comics: Madame X

11 Years Gone, But Still Missed

Hard to believe he’s been gone for 11 years now. I still remember being woken up that night in the hospice tv lounge to hear my Grandpa was dead. Still shocking. 4am being rushed to his side to say farewell, grabbing his hand & feeling the gone from his body. Just thinking about it now makes me tear up a bit. He was the closest thing to a father I had, and though in the years since his passing I’ve found out some less than favourable information about him he will always be my hero. That’s the reason I wear my ram pendant every day, out of love, respect, & memory for my hero my grandpa.

Top 5 Comics (October 17, 2012)

It's Wednesday and you know what that means... New Comics! This week I'm going to pile you down with Marvel comics, but unfortunately I don't have a ton of non-big two titles on this list either. But anyways lets get to the comics.

5. Daredevil #19 (Marvel Comics): This title has be constantly solid in both writing and art. With a gripping story dealing with psychology of Matt Murdock and what happens when those who are close to him think he's losing it again.

4. DC Universe Presents #13 (DC Comics): Black & Blue starts here, with this issue we are getting the New 52 versions of Black Lightning & Blue Devil. Yes they may have more points on them than graph paper, but these are two of my favourite B list heroes, and so I'm looking forward to seeing how this story plays out.

3. Sword & Sorcery #1 (DC Comics): I loved the zero issue, and with that I'm very excited to see how the Amethyst story plays out. The backup story I'm kind of cold to, but the main story keeps me coming back for more.

2. Marvel NOW Point One (Marvel Comics): Our preview book of whats coming up in the new Marvel NOW! universe. I'm looking forward to this taster of the these stories, currious if I have made good choices in what I'm planning on ordering in.

1. Wonder Woman #13 (DC Comics): Another just solid title in both art and writing. This is leading up to Wonder Woman coming face to face with the New Gods (and if you know me I have a soft spot for the New Gods). As well as the possible idea of Wonder Woman god slayer or god of war has me very curious too.

Top 5 DC Heroes

A few weeks ago I did a Top 5 Marvel Heroes and that was fun, so I felt it was time to do a Top 5 list of DC heroes. I'm going to first say that this list will contain no Batman or Batfamily heroes, That can be done another time. This list is to look at some heroes I really like that I may not talk about as often as I do Batman. So lets start this off.

5. Blue Beetle (Ted Kord): Ted Kord is the comedic equivalent of Batman. Love the character in Justice League International, and the whole buddy comedy aspect between him and Booster Gold was just priceless. He's also one of those dead characters that I miss. Even though he was already dead when I started reading comics I have a soft spot for him. One of the proudest collections I have of comics is owning the complete 80's Blue Beetle solo series staring Ted. Just wonderful fun comics, and a wonderfully fun character that we don't get to see all too often in the dark serious world that comics currently take place in.

4. Brainiac 5: From the Legion of Super Heroes comes our number four spot hero Brainiac 5. Descendant of the super villain Brainiac we get one of the coolest members of the LoSH line up. Brainiac 5 was always a cool character to me with him being the descendant of a villain, a Superman fanboy, and eventual lover of Supergirl. Everything with him just seemed cool to me. I also have a big soft spot for Brainiac 5/Supergirl since they were one of the first couples I ever shipped.

3. Mister Miracle: Champion of the New Gods Scott Free is one of those characters that just screams awesome to me. I know a lot of people harp on the goofy colours used for his costume, but I dig it. He's the greatest escape artist ever, and pared up with his lady love Big Barda you have an unbeatable team. My first introduction to this character was the through Justice League Unlimited, then when I started reading comics one of the first series I read was Justice League International. The character just kept on showing up in ways I love, and eventually when I got my hands on the Jack Kirby Fourth World books I knew that he was a favourite character of mine.

2. Superman: The big blue boyscout himself is Superman. The character that started off the Super Hero craze and an icon that will out live us all. Superman is that ultimate presence of what is good and altruistic, his presence in Metropolis strives humanity to be better. As much as some people like to bring him down or darken him he is still going to be that shinning beckon to the rest of the world. You can't help but appreciate him more as a character while listening to either Grant Morrison or Michael Bailey talk about him. And his importance will always ring through to me from when I was a kid and my mom sat me down and told me to watch Superman II when it was on CTV one Sunday, and made it clear how important and amazing this movie is, that will always be associated with Superman for me.

1. Martian Manhunter: J'onn J'onzz the Martian Manhunter was always my favourite character in the Justice League and Justice League Unlimited cartoons. He just had so many cool powers, with a tragic back story and cool calm demeanour. You toss in that one of the first comic stories I read was New Frontier, and how important Darwyn Cooke makes him in that just sealed the deal on him being my favourite DC hero. 

Top 5 Comics (October 10, 2012)

NOW is the time for us to Marvel at this weeks Top 5 Comics! Okay bad puns aside this week is the start of Marvel NOW, and yes that first title is on this weeks list. Now lets get to it, yo! (That was weird).

5. Red She-Hulk #58 (Marvel Comics): Stemming out of the Hulk title that starred Red Hulk from issue 1, we now see his daughter the Red She-Hulk take over the title. It is also good to see another female lead title at Marvel, and I really hope that this title gets the support it deserves.

4. Batman #13 (DC Comics): It's the start of the Death of the Family event. Scott Snyder's second story arc in The New 52 Batman universe, which sounds interesting. The Joker is back and he is out for blood. The only problem I have with this event is that I think it's getting a little tiring to have every story in the Batman title cross over with all the other Bat-Family books. Making you buy 11-12 books just to get the complete story might seem like a great business idea, but for the average consumer it could really drive them off. In fact it has caused me to consider dropping all the Bat books.

3. Creator Owned Heroes #5 (Image Comics): Always a must buy for me. The comic magazine from Image Comics is just a wonderful piece of insight into creators that I really enjoy. Tie-in to great comics into it and you have a monthly must read for me.

2. Fantastic Four #611 (Marvel Comics): DOOM IS GOD! This is the final issue of Hickman's run on Fantastic Four, and with it we see him wrapping up loose end as we see what happens with Doctor Doom stuck in the council chamber of the Reed's. What happens when Doom has the power to create a universe, and what happens when that universe is made in the image of Doom? Find out here, and look out for what is planned at the end.

1. Uncanny Avengers #1 (Marvel Comics): Marvel NOW! begins here, and what a beginning. Opening up with lobotomy, suicide terrorism, prisoner of war Scott Summers, and the Red Skull. This looks to be an interesting series, and I plan to continue reading this for the long haul.

Top 5 Comics (Oct. 3, 2012)

It's a new week and a new month for comics. Out with the Zero issues and in with the end of Marvel PRESENT. That's right it's October and as much as that screams ghosts and goblins we also have the end and beginning of event comics. Today's list we have some event comics.

5. Amazing Spider-Man #695 (Marvel Comics): Start of what could be the final story arch of Amazing Spider-Man, or at least this volume of it, ending with issue 700. Today's issue we see the return of the Hobgoblin. This looks to be an exciting event leading to end.

4. Animal Man #13 (DC Comics): The start of the Rot World event, and this is the Red side of Rot World. From what I can tell from the cover we will see Animal Man looking for what happened to his family in the year he was gone, and will have to face off against other DC heroes that would be connect to the Red now infected by the Rot. Animal Man has been a solid read so far, and this event should hopefully be a fun read.

3. Swamp Thing #13 (DC Comics): More of the Rot World event, but this time from the Green's perspective. How will Deadman and Poison Ivy help Swamp Thing in his fight against the Rot, and where is Abby? Again another solid series, and both Animal Man and Swamp Thing have been building towards this for over a year with their issue ones, so I'm excited to see how this plays out.

2. Minimum Carnage: Alpha #1 (Marvel Comics): The start of the cross over event between Scarlet Spider and Venom, how is this dynamic duo going to fare against Carnage (but apparently not our classic Carnage Cletus Kasady).

1. Avenger Vs. X-Men #12 (Marvel Comics): Well Marvel's block buster summer event comes to its conclusion with this issue. Dark Phoenix Cyclopes faces off against what seems to be all of what's left of the Avengers and X-men. What role will Hope play in the end of this series, and how does this lead into Marvel NOW?

Top 5 Comics (September 26, 2012)

It's that time of the week were I look at the top 5 comics of the week that I am looking forward to reading. So enough of the preamble lets get to some comics.

5. Wolverine and the X-Men #17 (Marvel Comics): Jason Aaron, Michael Allred, and Doop, what more do you want? This has been one of Marvels best titles since it start with its fun tongue and cheek approach with throwbacks to many ideas brought up in Grant Morrison's New X-Men.

4. Captain Marvel #4 (Marvel Comics): This has been an amazing title for its first three issues, and it is bound at continue. If you aren't reading this you should start, your local shop should still have all the prior issues and see for yourself how good this is.

3. FF #22 (Marvel Comics): Concluding the story from the last issue of Fantastic Four what will we see happen with Bentley 23 after his reunion with his father? This is the second last issue of Johnathan Hickman's time on this title before marvel NOW and I a so curious to see how it all wraps up.

2. Batman, Incorporated #0 (DC Comics): This issue we get the New 52 origin of Batman Incorporated. How is this going to be different from how it originated pre-New 52? I guess we will have to read and see.

1. Happy #1 (Image Comics): Grant Morrison first creator owned series in a long time. I'm very curious to see how this plays out, especially with the talks of Mr. Morrison leaving DC come January. I'm hopeful for this new series since I'm a big fan of Grant Morrison's work.