What Is Techno Again?

Bad, Comic, Bad: Heroism

There are two main things vintage comics are good for: history and stupidity. And since we already have Sounds of Nostalgia, I figured we’d highlight the stupidity. That’s always fun.

Reading takes you to fabulous places, tickling your imagination … blah, blah. We all know the routine. But did you know that reading is also dangerous? That avid readers develop a ninja-like focus that also causes them to ignore, or become oblivious to, the goings-on of daily life? It’s true! The power of books can be deadly, and whatever that strange, green “funny odor” is, there’s a good chance it won’t lead to deliciously harmless apple pie.

That kid looks like he’s been in bed for awhile, and judging how he apparently doesn’t know his hair looks like a leopard died on it, there’s no prying him away from his gripping book … about heroics.

Tags: Bad Comic Bad, Heroism
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Sounds of Nostalgia: Legend of Legaia

Do we need an excuse to play old games? Hell no! But sometimes music from OSTs can inspire us to try new ones or revisit past loves like dirty, secret affairs.

Before Sounds of Nostalgia ends on an indeterminate hiatus, I thought it would be best to leave things on a carefully chosen note. This time, I’m highlighting one of my favorite games of all time—and one that’s underrated at that—Legend of Legaia.

In the days when all I seemed to have a taste for were RPGs, Legend of Legaia made more than a passing blip on my radar. Its unique storyline captivated me, inspiring me to pour in hour upon hour of my time into the game, which follows a trio of very different heroes who are forced to band together to save the world from the dark grip of the monster-bathed Mist. From the enigma surrounding the story to its memorable characters, I was hooked—for better or worse. Legaia deserved the patience required to raise each party member’s levels, especially when gameplay became grueling during the bread-themed quest in Sol’s dizzying heights—filled with both entertainment and, on its lower levels, a gamble with death. Boss battles amounted to truly fearsome challenges (holy shit minotaur), and oftentimes I found myself running about areas like a chicken with my head cut off (or maybe just with a Chicken Guard) in the hope of gaining precious experience.

Despite the game’s labors, the thrill of seeing Juggernaut for the first time, hearing the energetic theme of Drake Kingdom, and kicking Songi’s ass is something I’ll never forget. No RPG has worked its way quite so deep under my skin before, and it earned every inch. What Legend of Legaia lacks in PS1 visuals and mercy for weak-hearted gamers, it makes up in a moving soundtrack and a fantastic, visceral adventure dripping with humor as well as heart-pounding moments. Most importantly, the game teaches the sometimes much forgotten value of what, “I just beat the damn game!” should mean to a gamer.

“Young Nobleman of the Mist” is one of the OST’s longer tracks, but “The Misty Nest” (Mist Generator theme) easily reigns as my favorite. After all, it was the only happy side to having to venture into one of those evil fortresses again.

Don’t forget those Doors of Light, and remember—say “no” to sequels, and no matter how hard you cuss at Songi, he’s not going anywhere for awhile. (Bastard.)

Tags: Legend of Legaia, PlayStation, Sounds of Nostalgia
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Batman: Arkham Asylum Interview Pt. 3

Talking with voice actor Kevin Conroy and writer Paul Dini about Batman: Arkham Asylum was fantastic, but the roundtable stepped down to earth when I got the chance to interview developer/game director Sefton Hill. From gameplay to inspiration, Hill broke the game down to its pixels, giving us a verbal walkthrough of what we’ll experience when playing Arkham Asylum tomorrow.

You can read my final B:AA interview over at the Girls Entertainment Network.

Tags: Batman: Arkham Asylum, San Diego Comic-Con 2009, Sefton Hill
Posted in Comics/Manga, Exclusives, Girls Entertainment Network, Video Games, Writing | No Comments »

Showcase: Green Lantern, The Man Who Laughs, and All-Star Superman

It’s official! I’ve been writing for Impulse Creations for 50 weeks now. Yeah paid freelancing milestone!

Anyway, this month’s Showcase article is up now, highlighting Green Lantern: Rebirth (thanks, Jill bot!), Batman: The Man Who Laughs, and All-Star Superman Vol. 1. Here are some teasers:

“… Green Lantern: Rebirth excels as a solid, entertaining read. It’s certainly not lacking of flashy explosions, that’s for sure.” - Green Lantern: Rebirth

“Mahnke’s sketchy art might not be for everyone, but it does a good job at presenting a gritty Gotham turned grotesque by the Joker. Not to mention the contrast of glaring yellows and whites against dark shadows and black capes on stormy nights never fails to impress.” - Batman: The Man Who Laughs

“With Frank Quitely’s uniquely colorful yet distinctly strange art to strengthen the tale, All-Star Superman sweeps in like a bird, a plane … no, Superman.” - All-Star Superman Vol. 1

Tags: All-Star Superman Vol. 1, Batman: The Man Who Laughs, Green Lantern: Rebirth
Posted in Comics/Manga, Impulse Creations, Reviews, Writing | No Comments »

Bat-Reviews: Batgirl #1

No more secrets. No more hiding. The first issue of Batgirl (written by Bryan Q. Miller) reveals the new Batgirl in Gotham and explains what happened to Cassandra Cain. So does the Bat-family have a new professional crime-fighter on their hands, ready to help clean up Gotham, or is the gig already blown?

SPOILERS!

How do you safe-guard a review when the warning is a spoiler in itself? That’s right, the latest Batgirl is none other than Spoiler, aka Stephanie Brown. Brown may have hung up the hood of the Spoiler, but that black and yellow symbol has an allure she just can’t resist. Living a normal life and going to college like people her age are expected to doesn’t exactly appeal to a girl who knows the thrill of flying high above Gotham and punching some thugs where it hurts.

Batman and Robin first notice they’re not the only ones taking up a different mantle when Brown makes a mess out of stopping a street racing group that’s been leaving tire marks on the pavement for weeks. Stephanie’s not the best at covering her tracks, and she knows it’s only a matter of time before she’s busted—either by her mom, the cops … or Gotham’s other costumed heroes. And what Batgirl-themed title would be complete without the inclusion of the iconic Batgirl, Barbara Gordon? Oracle has sunk into a dark place, and when Dick Grayson alerts her about the newest Bat on the Gotham scene, she’s not about to stand idly—especially after Brown haphazardly saves one of GPD’s rookies.

I wasn’t terribly impressed with Batgirl #1. Although I like the character—she does share my first name, after all, and therefore is cool in my book—it’s hard to get behind someone as reckless as her, especially when Brown’s nightly activities endanger others. Lee Garbett’s pencils, Trevor Scott’s inks, and Guy Major’s colors make a good combination for the comic, though. The almost simplistic, adventurous art style reflects the story well, and the shift to the flashback with Spoiler and Batgirl (Cassandra)—which I particularly enjoyed—acts as a well-illustrated contrast against the book’s present events. However, at this point it’s unclear where the comic will be going, and or if the character will take a perhaps much-needed change of pace.

Recommendation: Chow down on some waffles while you read this. It might make the book a little more substantial.

Tags: Bat-Reviews, Batgirl #1, Bryan Q. Miller, DC, Lee Garbett
Posted in Comics/Manga, Reviews | 4 Comments »