Hello and welcome to the 08/14/2016 edition of The Comic Shop Blog!
I can’t even really pretend to tell you that I’ve kept up on comic related TV, comic, or movie news for the past few weeks as I have found myself busy with life & life associated nonsense.
That said I have dropped some disposable income on some comics recently. I’ve been pulling Nightwing, Titans, & Captain America: Steve Rogers and I also picked up the Suicide Squad Rebirth & 2 Deadshot trades (Bulletproof & Most Wanted). I have not read the Deadshot trades yet; however, I will say that I have found everything else to be quite enjoyable.
• Nightwing – This series has not (to this point) explained how Dick Grayson put the secret identity genie back in the bottle, but it has been very entertaining. I think part of the creative problem over the years has been that they do not know what to do with Dick to give him a better sense of purpose with this new series he has a big mission that impacts the entire DC universe as he has joined the Parliament of Owls in an attempt to bring them down all over the world. This fits in narratively as Dick was a child in a traveling circus growing up so it makes more sense for him to be a nomadic character rather than having a city to defend.
• Titans – Wally West made his triumphant return in the pages of “Rebirth” and now has returned to his old friends the Titans (Nightwing, Donna Troy, Arsenal, & Others) this is a monthly and is only 2 issues in, but it has already tugged on the humble blogger’s heart strings. This is the book that will ultimately bring the DC universe in contact with the author of their pain Doctor Manhattan, so I’m really looking forward to that.
• Captain America: Steve Rogers – This may be the most beautiful comic I have ever purchased. The artwork is phenomenal and the story is incredibly engaging. I had lost interest in Cap comics after the outstanding Ed Brubaker run came to a close, but this iteration has got me right back in. Despite the controversial reveal in the last panel of the first issue this has been a solid restart to the Steve Rogers version of Captain America.
• Suicide Squad: Rebirth – This issue is just setting the table for what is to come for the titular Squad. I don’t have a real opinion on it yet, but I’m interested enough to see where it goes from here.
THE Belated Suicide Squad Review – The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly (SPOILERS)
The Good:
Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie) – I just want to get this out of the way first because I’ve seen other reviewers say that she dipped in and out of accent, and said that in a negative light. My perception is that it was a conscious decision by Robbie to illustrate just how bat sh!t crazy Harley is. I could be wrong, but that was my take away. While I do not like the tattoo motif for her or Joker it was a fresh take on both characters, & we got to see an ever so brief glimpse of the classic Jester costume. I thought Robbie stole the show in a way that I was doubtful she could, and while it could be a little much at times it was some much need levity in the WB universe.
The Intros:
I really did not want to like the origin stories for each character, but it ended up being one of the stronger points in the movie for me. While it borrowed a bit from “Guardians of the Galaxy” it was actually better done IMHO. I will get into this more later, but after thinking about it a bit I thought Joker would’ve been better served to have just been in the flashback & the very end.
THE FUN:
This is the first WB movie with an actual sense of levity, and a diverse & bright color palette. It’s amazing how such subtle aesthetic changes can affect my opinion of a movie, but that’s how I roll. I thought the humor was good, and mostly well timed. I also thought that the frenetic pace of the film kept it from seeming like a long, tedious watch.
THE ACTION:
David Ayer starts giving us action as soon as the movie gets the initial set-up underway, and that was a much needed and welcome change after the tedious pace of “Batman vs. Superman”.
Amanda Waller (Viola Davis)
Davis was about as perfect as Waller as I could ask for outside of CCH Pounder. She was cold and calculating, and absolutely on point.
Other random goods: I said briefly on Facebook that this was the first movie I remember enjoying Will Smith in since probably “Men in Black”, and I honestly meant that. While it wasn’t the traditional Floyd Lawton death wish Deadshot of the comics I thought his turn as a parent trying to gain custody of his daughter through all this crazy mess was remarkably relatable and human. I think he has two of the best action scenes in the whole movie also. I thought the soundtrack was good if not a little on the nose at points, but it was a welcome change from Zimmer-drums.
I loved the bromance between Kinnaman’s Flagg & Smith’s Deadshot. It was a very subtle & well executed show of respect between the two characters that came from different worlds.
Jay Hernandez as El Diablo was pretty damn intriguing especially as we got further into the film. For the little CGI used on this film it was used well & for good cause.
THE BAD:
The stereotyping: This movie was so lazy with the stereotyping. Katana I mostly give a pass, but Croc puttering out monosyllabic “black guy” dialogue & asking for BET as a reward for saving the world was just so stupid. Not to mention Captain Boomerang with his cans of Fosters that he magically has. I’m surprised he didn’t ask someone if a dingo ate their baby. It’s just stupid, lazy, and unacceptable in 2016.
The Cuts: There was clearly stuff left on the cutting room floor once again so the studio could put in what they wanted, and once again it hurts the storytelling. I have to see it again to come up with specific examples, but as I said the frenetic pace is a good and bad thing for this movie.
Joker is marginalized & a love-sick teenager: So Joker should’ve been the villain here. That’s all I really need to say. He is a MAJOR character in the DC universe and he is relegated to a side plot to get back his girlfriend. THAT’S IT. THAT’S the reason he’s in the movie. An iconic character is reduced to a weepy tween in an effort to appease the Hot Topic crowd. I liked Leto, but I felt that his characterization was off in this regard. As I’ve said before these films are open for the director/writers/producers to interpret the characters how they want, but it seems like a waste to me. Joker would’ve been better suited to be limited to the intro to Harley & the last scene he’s in in the movie.
Rick Flagg is marginalized & a love sick teenager: Flagg a bad ass special forces dude is also bit by the Romeo & Juliet bug as his whole reason for going through with the mission is to free his beloved June (Carla Delevingne) from the grips of The Enchantress. He was literally better written in the Suicide Squad: Rebirth #1 than he was in a major motion picture. While I’ve enjoyed Joel Kinnaman before (on House of Cards mainly) I thought his turn as Flagg was uninspired and uninterestingother than the earlier mentioned bromance.
THE UGLY:
The Script: Good lord I can’t imagine David Ayer (Training Day, End of Watch, Sabotage, etc.) had a hand in writing this. There is literally a scene where they cut out a character’s heart then Flagg & Lawton look at one another and say “Her heart’s out”. That magical moment left me sitting in my seat saying “no shit Sherlock we just watched it”. Smith’s Lawton has some really bad dialogue in which it appears that Ayer wanted him to channel the Fresh Prince in his speech.
The Villain: Hmmm let’s cast an Oscar Award winning actor to play one of the DC universe’s most iconic villains, but then subject him to a role in a subplot. THEN we will cast a model/actor (not the other way around) to be the big bad that is bad for reasons. All kidding aside I’m glad that WB went full rip-off of “Guardians of the Galaxy” with a bland and uninspired villain.
I don’t have much more to say. On a scale to 10 I give it about a 6.5 or 7. I thought it had some problems and it doesn’t match up to the fun I had watching “Civil War”, but it was one of the best WB movies to date. (BTW I won’t be calling them DC movies anymore because I don’t want to embarrass WB with that comic shit, since that’s their concern).
I would still say Marvel & “Civil War” won summer movie season 2016, but I think WB has some strong offerings in the future based on the strength of the “Wonder Woman” trailer & the “Justice League” tease.
That’s all for today, happy reading, and I will see you next time at The Comic Shop!
