Guardians of the Galaxy 2 is here and this week’s Small Screen Heroes is filled with all things Guardians. Batch is joined by Logan and the two have a spoiler filled discussion about the film. Batch also drops Batch bombs galore about the comic origins of Ego the living planet, Mantis, and the original Guardians of the Galaxy.
There’s no way can Stallone pull this outfit off as Starhawk in Guardians 3.
Did you love Guardians 2 like the rest of us? Let us know in the comments below!
Monty Python, Sons of Anarchy, Birdman and Guardians!!!
Occasionally, time seems to fly by. The past week definitely feels like it was gone in a blink, but in some ways that was a great thing. While I didn’t see too many new flicks, I got a chance to catch up on a show I’d been putting off for some time, level my toons in Diablo 3 and properly enjoy my one theatrical visit of the week.
I’m not going to mince words here; you should know who these guys are. For those of you that don’t, that is (from left to right) Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones, John Cleese, Michael Palin, Graham Chapman and Eric Idle, all six of the members of Monty Python, arguably the most influential comedy sketch group in history. I’m not going to recount the history of the Pythons, but I do understand their humor isn’t for everyone, I just don’t want to know those people. Anyone who doesn’t laugh within the first three minutes of the Holy Grail is either soulless or a ginger.
Anywho, the Pythons ended their career quite unceremoniously with 1983’s The Meaning of Life, an odd but overall successfully funny film that audiences didn’t exactly embrace upon the release. I will admit my first viewing left me less than impressed, but it seems like over time this film just keeps getting better, with sketches like Mr. Creosote being one of the standouts. In 1989 Graham Chapman died and the group didn’t do anything else up until this year. As a farewell to the fans, the Pythons held a limited stage production at London’s O2 Arena called “Monty Python (Mostly) Live: One Down Five To Go”.
I can’t imagine how expensive tickets might have been but I would have loved to have been there. Thankfully, the event was televised and as a result, I was able to catch it. Ever wonder how awesome it would be for guys like Michael Jordan or Larry Bird play on the Harlem Globetrotters? That’s what watching this show was like. This show was the Pythons’ way of taking a victory lap and saying goodbye to the fans properly. The Pythons put on a comedy clinic, offering the audience essentially a greatest hits of some of their most popular sketches. While a few were omitted (how could there not be, too many greats), the show was, in my opinion, a rousing performance, offering a rare glimpse into these guys’ comedic process through a few flubs throughout. There was something very bittersweet about the whole thing, seeing Gilliam and Cleese do the “Crunchy Frog” sketch for the last time and absolutely nailing every punch-line. If you guys are fans of the Pythons, get on this, it was incredible and a fitting conclusion to an amazing career.
Ammon, if you’re reading this, consider this my confirmation that yes, I completed my TV homework and caught up to Sons. My verdict? Well overall, this show is just way too complicated. I honestly hate how much loyalties shift and twist throughout this show. One minute Jax is clearly playing somebody, the next he’s on the other team, fighting for them. That, coupled with the fact that I find the idea of a motorcycle club doing the shit they do in this show ridiculous, and I think I can safely say this show is mediocre at best. Some episodes were decent, but overall I don’t give a fuck about anything to do with this show. That being said, I’ll be watching Season 7. Also, why doesn’t everyone love Happy the most? He’s way more badass than Tig, hands down.
Birdman looks like it will be a combination of several things I love, the most obvious being Michael Keaton. This guy is having a nice little career resurgence and I am all for it. Also, I don’t know if you were aware, but he was fucking Batman, so, you know, I’m down. The trailers make this look like the film is shot all in one take which looks like a blast. I love when filmmakers use a technical style to add extra dimensions to a story and if these trailers are to be believed this flick looks like it will, at the very least, be intriguing. Here’s hoping this gives me something entertaining when it comes out.
Finally, I have to talk about what may very well end up being my favorite film of the year, Guardians of the Galaxy. This movie exceeded expectations by delivering something fun, hilarious and surprisingly adult. The cast nails it, the special effects are incredible, and despite still suffering from the weak villain syndrome so many Marvel movies can’t seem to remedy it still works like a charm. However, the absolute best part of this film is the inspiring soundtrack. Every couple years a soundtrack comes along that so fittingly complements the film it is a part of that it elevates the movie into the spectrum of greatness. From Redbone to The Raspberries, this soundtrack is unique, fun and makes sense in the context of the story. Guardians is an easy 9.5/10 for me, and I love the fact that at this point, Marvel’s subsequent releases all become their best film. Here’s hoping the trend continues.
Above is the Tyler Stout Mondo poster for Guardians, an incredible piece of movie art. I’ve just got to say my piece about Mondo’s website here: it sucks major ballsack. I was online and ready with my credit card info for two hours the morning this dropped, but as soon as it was available, the website slowed down. I managed to get the poster into my cart but while checking out I was told it was sold out. This is easily the most defeating, upsetting and frustrating thing about their website. The art is worth the wait but their website fucks you out of the best posters. Over the year I have gotten lucky and bought a few, but this one slipped through my fingers. I know the world isn’t fair, but these assholes really should get their shit together. Have any of you had this problem before?
If you take anything away from this week’s blog, it should be how much I can complain at times. What can I say, if I have a captive audience, I will exploit that. Does that make me a douche? That’s for you to decide. Enjoy some classic comedy below and Binge On!
PLOT: There’s a new rule in the galaxy: No one touches Earth! But why has Earth suddenly become the most important planet in the galaxy? That’s what the Guardians of the Galaxy are going to find out! Join Star-Lord, Gamora, Drax, Rocket Raccoon, Groot and – wait for it – the Invincible Iron Man as they embark upon one of the most explosive and eye-opening chapters of Marvel NOW! The secrets these galactic Avengers discover will rattle Marvel readers for years to come! But while London deals with a brutal invasion by the Badoon, the fate of the Guardians may have already been decided millions of miles away! Why wait for the movie? It all starts here! Collects Guardians of the Galaxy (2013) #1-3 & #0.1 and Guardians of the Galaxy: Tomorrow’s Avengers #1.
REVIEW: In preparation for the new movie, I am reading through some Guardians of the Galaxy graphic novels to further my knowledge. I was not familiar at all with the group of superheroes until recently, so all of this is very new to me. As some of you know, I’m not much of a fan of the titles in Marvel NOW! except for a few. Granted, I wasn’t a fan of many Marvel titles previous to the major reboot, but I thought I would pick up a few more favorites during the NOW! initiative. This was one of the late books to come out of it, and I was so surprised that this was the real winner of the running titles. I’ve read everything from X-Men to Avengers, and Hulk back to Iron Man, Cap, and Thor. This Guardians of the Galaxy book has it all, and is probably one of the more, if not the most, complete book or first volume I’ve read from the reboot group. Thor may be at a tie with it, but it doesn’t quite have the “fun factor” this book has and while it does not suffer for it, it’s just an element of a comic that you sometimes want to have. This book also includes a large collection of cover variants and such in the back, so don’t forget to leave the book open after the last page of the comic book itself. Some of the Deadpool variants are fantastic. As you can see on the front cover as well, Iron Man is in this book too for added shenanigans and laughs.
Cosmic Avengers’ strength though is that it is extremely funny and the equivalent of a blockbuster popcorn flick in book form. It presents an intergalactic story with new characters (for some) and does it all within four issues which is really spectacular. Most volumes or collections of comics have at least five issues in them to tell a story, and sometimes the introductory volumes can be even larger. What this book accomplishes in four issues is amazing, and that is why I would recommend this book to anyone, whether you read comics or not. It is the total package, and it starts with one of my single favorite issues in the Marvel NOW! era. The first issue is #0.1 and is the story of how Star-Lord a.k.a. Peter Quill came to be, and it is done so well. It captures you interest from the get-go, and that issue leads right into the current story with the Guardians and holds you all the way until the end. This book will make you laugh, as Groot saves the day and Rocket “Blam! murdered you”’s everyone. This book will make you cry (if you’re weak like me), as Groot saves the day and Peter grows up without a father. This book will make you read and pay attention to every detail, because the Guardians of the Galaxy are awesome and Brian Michael Bendis is one of the Marvel masters behind this book. A must read for fans and outsiders alike, and an excellent introduction to a new favorite group of heroes come August 2nd.
PLOT: Launching out of Annihilation: Conquest, Marvel’s sci-fi heroes unite to protect the cosmos. Back-to-back Annihilation wars have weakened the boundaries of our universe. Dark gods and monsters are seeping through the cracks, reigning horror upon those still reeling from the recent calamities. In the face of terror, who stands to defend a desperate universe? Star-Lord and his squad of butt-kickers – the modern day Guardians of the Galaxy. You’ve heard that Annihilation: Conquest rocks – the guy at the comic shop keeps telling you to try Nova – well, now’s your chance to experience the glory that writers Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning, and artist Paul Pelletier can unleash. All this…plus a wise-cracking raccoon and a telepathic dog. C’mon, people, time to lock and load Collecting Guardians of the Galaxy #1-6.
REVIEW: So it probably doesn’t help that I read the Marvel NOW! Guardians title first, but I didn’t enjoy this book nearly as much as that. I was disappointed because I purchased this one to brush up before the movie, but the other I borrowed from the library. I’d like to trade this one in for the other, but this book is not without its plusses. I think one of the major reasons this wasn’t entertaining for me is that I have not read the event that took place before this book to kind of set it up. The Guardians team assembled in this book is also a little different than that of the movie coming out, or in the NOW! team. All of the normal people are there, but there is also Quasar, Warlock, and a telepathic dog. Yeah, a telepathic dog. It’s definitely on the spacey wacey type of mojo that typically dominates older Marvel titles, which is yet another reason I’m more of a fan of the DC Universe. However, I did mention those plusses and it would be fair to share those too before the book has been completely ruined.
As usual, Rocket Raccoon dominates every frame and page he’s on. His humor in these books is just so doom and gloom, but with a hint of sarcasm to make it hilarious. He’s really much funnier in the newer books, but he had a great running joke throughout the second issue of this book. While they are trying to figure out their team name, he can be spotted every other frame or two suggesting names and bugging the other team members. Eventually they just give in to get him and shut up, but its his persistence despite the team’s reaction to him that draws the laughs. The main plot really isn’t as great as in Cosmic Avengers, but from what I’ve read there seems to be some basis in here for the movie coming out. I’m not sure what they’ll use, but I’d imagine if anything it will probably be very lightly lifted from this book. I think the new book benefits from the existence of the movie, as it was created after the movie’s inception. This volume of Guardians of the Galaxy by Dan Abnett is hard to find right now, but it appears that it will be published in trade paperback for the release of the new film. It’s a pretty well-reviewed volume or Marvel stuff, so if space, time, and superheroes in the Marvel Universe is your thing, I’d still give this a shot. I’m just not huge on the extraterrestrial realms of Marvel, and I think that is why the NOW! title exceeds this one because it is accessible to any reader unlike this one.
