Captain America: The First Avengerβ β β β βBetter than I remembered, Captain America stands out from the MCU both because itβs a war film and because the formula hadnβt solidified yet.
Dark Knights: Metalβ β β ββ
Scott Snyder, Greg Capullo, and Jonathan Glapion The art is great, and the scope is ambitious, but the story follows the same beats as Final Crisis.
Doctor Strangeβ β β β βSurrealism is the best part. Creative use of Escher gravity, portals, astral projection, time manipulation, incredibly detailed alterations to reality, and effects that make it all look incredible.
Doom Patrolβ β β β βAn absurd, character-focused, darkly humorous, psychological take on people with the super-power/body horror combo.
Dr. Horribleβs Sing-Along BlogA campy take on the super-hero genre, from the point of view of a D-list villain trying to make it to the big leagues.
Final Crisis (Audio and Graphic Novel)It actually flows better than the comic book, especially toward the end, when the comic starts fragmenting the narrative.
Final Crisis: Revisiting the Tie-InsSuperman Beyond is essential. Submit and Reqiuem show the street-level perspective. Rogues Revenge is not a good as I remember.
Flash: Stop Motion (Audio)
Mark Schultz The concepts are intriguing, the characters are handled well, and the full cast and sound effects make up for the lack of visuals in superhero novels.
Good Time Travel Comicsβ β β β β Some DC stories I can recommend include DC One Million, JLA: Rock of Ages, Time Masters, and Chronos.
Heroes Volume 3: VillainsI liked the start of the season, but by the end it had gotten to the point where I was alternately ready to jump for joy and throw things at the screen in the space of the same episode.
Justice League: The New Frontier (Movie)β β β β βCookeβs drawing style and the 1950s retro look to the artwork both translate well to the screen. A bit disjointed at first, but settles into a solid story about hope and trust.
The Law of Superheroesβ β β β β
James Daily, J.D. and Ryan Davidson, J.D. A fun read that applies real-world law to comic book tropes. Shape-shifters, alternate realities, resurrections and massive property damage are all explored.
Soon I Will Be Invincibleβ β β β β
Austin Grossman Austin Grossmanβs novel Soon I Will Be Invincible is a fun read for fans of the super-hero genre, an affectionate parody featuring every cliche in the book.
Stan Leeβs Starborn
Stan Lee, Chris Roberson and Khary Randolph An unpublished writer discovers that the science fiction saga heβs been building since childhood is actually very, very real. And it wants him dead.
Superman Returnsβ β β ββEnjoyed it, but no interest in seeing it again. It already felt like deja vu since there were so many references to the first two movies with Christopher Reeve.
Thor: The Mighty Avengerβ β β ββAmazing designs, intriguing concepts, but a plodding plot that tries to be a character piece but is required to be an action film.
Unofficial Trilogy of CheeseThe League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Van Helsing, and Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow should make a trilogy of sorts.
