SPOILERS - Earth 2 Annual # 2

There's a lot to take in from this year's Earth 2 Annual with regards to the identity of the new Batman. For starters, it's Thomas Wayne behind the mask.

The book begins with Earth 2 Batman solving the mystery surrounding the death of Joe Chill, the man who gunned down his parents in Crime Row. Batman tracks down the mastermind but gets trumped by a masked man. He tracks said mystery man and has a confrontation with him. The man is revealed to be...

In this issue we find out that the Earth 2 version of Thomas Wayne had a criminal side job which ultimately led to the murder which orphaned Bruce Wayne and created Batman. Wayne survived and became a recluse...

He also tells Earth 2 Red Tornado aka Lois Lane and Hawkgirl that he's been shadowing Bruce ever since that time. He was present during the wedding of Bruce and Selina Kyle, the birth of Helena (who becomes the New 52 Huntress) and many more.

The issue was written by Tom Taylor with pencils by Robson Rocha.

Do you like how this plot point played out? Honestly, NO.

Amy Adams, Not Your Usual Lois Lane in "Man of Steel"

Four-time Academy Award-nominee Amy Adams stars as the comic book world’s most famous newspaper reporter, Lois Lane, in Warner Bros. Pictures' and Legendary Pictures' new action adventure “Man of Steel.”

In the film, just as Clark Kent (Henry Cavill) is beginning to discover the secrets of his birth and decide which course he must follow, he meets a woman who could have a good deal of influence over the choices he makes, and who has the power to turn his world upside down: investigative journalist Lois Lane.

“Part of Clark’s journey is finding acceptance,” Adams notes. “He’s running from it, hiding from it, because he hasn’t come to terms with who he is, and that makes for a lonely existence. He’s had to work hard not to expose his abilities, but he’s made some mistakes there, and that has made him extremely intriguing to someone like Lois, whose job, whose very nature, is about uncovering—and exposing—the truth.”

As an anonymous drifter, Clark leaves an unintentional trail of courageous, seemingly impossible and equally inexplicable acts behind him. Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Lois Lane of The Daily Planet is on assignment in the Arctic when she witnesses firsthand Clark’s extraordinary powers. Lois is convinced she is onto the story of the century. Her investigative skills are admirable, but Lois is blind to the consequences her revelations may have for her mystery man.

Lois Gives New 52 Superman a Super Friendzone in Action Comics # 21

More reasons for the Lois Lane hatred for the New 52 is the fact that she constantly friendzones her one-time husband. Take this week's Action Comics issue.

Read that particular page after the cut.

Non-Spoiler Man of Steel Review

Zack Snyder and Christopher Nolan brings us THE ultimate Superman movie which is worthy of following the footsteps of Richard Donner's original Superman movie in MAN OF STEEL.

If there's anything that sets the movie apart from it's predecessors is the cool visual effects, something that Snyder brings into the table. The movie never skips a beat in telling us the origins of Superman from his parents' sacrifice to send the infant Kal-El to Earth all the way to the climatic and slam-bang finale where we see Superman unleash his full anger on a not-so-helpless General Zod (Michael Shannon).

Thanks to the great writing done by writer David S. Goyer,we're treated not just to a really satisfying Superman movie but also a movie that tackles topics such as alienation and isolation and destiny and family.

I advice you to catch MAN OF STEEL on IMAX as it fully does justice to the movie. As an artform, the film is exceptional in terms of pacing and eye popping visuals. You might want to keep your eyes peeled for awesome moments in the movie such as the Kryptonian battle scene at the beginning, the Smallville fight and the big key scene where everything just crumbles apart.

While Snyder took his sweet time in developing a really likeable Superman/ Clark Kent, it was all worth it as it provides us with a grounding and likeability for the Clark persona. Those earlier scenes of Superman's childhood also gives us a chance to see Kevin Costner as Clark's father Jonathan Kent, the man who made a huge impact in the young Superman's life. During these moments, I can't just help but think about the already-ended SMALLVILLE TV series starring Tom Welling.

Other cast members also held up their roles fine. Laurence Fishburne's Perry White is smart and smug and looks wiser for his years. Russell Crowe also OWNED his role as Superman's biological father; it's as if he's already asking for forgiveness for his take as Javert in Les Miserables [although I never disliked his take on the classic villain].He also kicks ass as never before, betcha Marlon Brando's Jor-El wouldn't have fought the way he did.

After seeing the movie, I'm still not sure whether or not I like Amy Adams as Lois Lane. There's like a half dozen actresses who played Lois Lane in both TV and movie adaptations but it's still Margot Kidder who's doing running in my head as the definitive Lois Lane. But Adams is definitely part of the upper bracket. She's lacking on sass department but she is spunky once in awhile. She's also an active participant and a source of a couple of quips.

The villains were also impeccable. Antje Traue is a beautiful, cold, hard bitch as Faora. She's merciless and full of hatred but at the drop of the hat she turns into this loyal fanatic in General Zod's insane quest. The armor design for Zod and the rest of his crew is also something to behold. It's also got a lot of nods to Nolan's last foray into the DC Universe [The Dark Knight trilogy].

If you're paying to see Superman fly, crash, punch, kick and heat vision his opponents, then you'll definitely go home with a smile plastered in your face as Snyder made it possible to do so. There's a lot of scenes in the film that showcases just how powerful the Man of Steel really is and it's done in a variety of ways. In costume, off costume, with his shirt on and with his shirt off. That in itself is worth the admission for the ladies in the audience.

Keep your eyes peeled for a couple of easter eggs here and there. It's not really much at the moment but you'll be pleased with all the stuff that's hidden and tucked away neatly behind, in front or even above the characters.Then there's also the fabulous world of Krpyton where there are a lot of fantastic beasts roaming around. 

Snyder took a couple of liberties in delivering the story, I really don't want to spoil what they are but I can predict that you'll go from, 'what the' to 'ohhhh good one'. 

I'll probably cut this review short in order to pave the way for a more spoilerific review. If you want my rating for this one, here's the verdict:

10/10

Special thanks to Warner Bros. Pictures Philippines for the invitation by the way. MAN OF STEEL opens June 12, 2013. 

P.S. i find it cool that I got to watch a Superman movie with Batman and Catwoman sans costume beside me and a very inquisitive Pam on the other side. 



 

Heat Vision and Mountains of Skulls in Man of Steel Screenshots

Here are a couple of screenshots from Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures including Superman buried a pile of skulls and General Zod using heat vision.

These screenshots of course came from the recent Zod-centric trailer for Zack Snyder and Christopher Nolan's vision for Superman.

More photos after the cut...

10 Thoughts on Justice League # 15

DC Comics has released parts 1 and 2 of the crossover arc "Throne of Atlantis" which pits The Justice League against Atlantis with Aquaman caught in the middle. Here's a look at the first part which is Justice League # 15 written by Geoff Johns with art by Ivan Reis. 

Also Jim Lee departs from the book that he started but he did leave a nice variant cover...

Check out my thoughts on this book after the cut. 

Superman is Chained and Arrested in Man of Steel Teaser Poster

Henry Cavill's Superman is chained and dragged away in this new poster for Zack Snyder's Man of Steel.

I've heard reports of this scene as early as SDCC 2012 but I wasn't counting on this being the first promotional poster for the movie. Anyway the new Superman movie from Warner Bros. will also star Amy Adams as Lois Lane, Michael Shannon as General Zod and is produced by The Dark Knight Rises director Christopher Nolan.

Here's what our friends from Warner Bros. Philippines official statement for this new poster: