Guardians of the Galaxy: New Guard: Emperor Quill Review

Finished reading Guardians of the Galaxy: New Guard: Emperor Quill, returning to the Marvel cosmic team after the events of Secret Wars as a lot has changed in the mouths since as the Guardians' leader Peter Quill is now the successor of his father's role of the leader of Spartax, which has given Rocket Racoon the perfect chance to become the team's new leader with a couple of new members joining the team as well. The book opens up with former Fantastic Four member, the Thing stealing an item from the Chitauri with the assist of a jetpack of Rocket's. After defeating the Chitauri, the team try to figure out what's inside the item. Not wanting to blow themselves and finding out that the item is boobytrapped, the team head to Spartax to meet with Peter for help, only for a beaten Gamora to fall out of the sky by a Kree Accuser named Hala who has come seeking revenge on Peter and the Guardians for the destruction of her home world during the Black Vortex event. Overall this was a good book as writer Brian Michael Bendis begins a new Guardians series from the wake of Secret Wars on a strong start as the team's former members are brought back into the fray along with a couple of new recruits. The villain Hala gets a great amount of character development straight away which helps to make her extremely sympathetic and her motives extremely understandable. While the character of Yotat returns after appearing in the Guardians Secret Wars tie in is use to better affect her and his vendetta against Drax make a lot more sense that previously. The art by Valerio Schiti is great as the different locations of Spartax and Knowhere are brought to life extremely well as a great amount of detail in the locations, while the explosive action and character's emotions and expressions, even though are a little cartoonish fits the book perfectly. 7/10.

Amazing Spider-Man: Worldwide Review

Finished reading Amazing Spider-Man: Worldwide, writer Dan Slott continues his run with the character as Spider-Man is now a worldwide superhero as in the months since Secret Wars, Parker Industries has been able to rebuild and grow into a global company that even supplies S.H.I.E.L.D which new technologies. The book opens up with Spider-Man and Mockingbird in the middle of a car chase with a couple of members of Zodiac who have stolen equipment from the Parker Industries building in Shanghai. After capturing the villains Spidey takes Mockingbird back to his offices for a press conference before he has to head to San Francisco for a wedding with his former colleagues for Horizon Labs which is interpreted by another group of Zodiac members who steal Peter's Webware device that leads to him and Prowler to track down were his device is which leads to the two discovering other Zodiac bases and with Spider-Man and S.H.I.E.L.D hoping to use this information in bring an end to the organisation. Overall this was a great book as it gives Spider-Man a new status quo as a business CEO and a worldwide hero but doesn't take away any of Spider-Man's character traits. There is an amazing amount of comedy throughout the book which constantly hits its mark thanks to Spider-Man's interactions, the way the villainous Zodiac organisation are and the way the the book is structured as it sometimes randomly cuts to an advert selling Parker Industries products which is an example of the great timing the comedy has. Giuseppe Camuncoli art is great as not only does Giuseppe Camuncoli showcase some great action and even some great emotion in parts. But the art does a great jobs in bringing to life the multiple cities that is strengthen thanks to the rest of the art team. 8.5/10.

Split Film Review

Finished watching Split, directed by M. Night Shyamalan and staring Haley Lu Richardson, Jessica Sula, Anya Taylor-Joy, Neal Huff, James McAvoy and Betty Buckley. The film opens up with teenage girls Claire (Haley Lu Richardson), Marcia (Jessica Sula) and Casey (Anya Taylor-Joy) are leaving to go home form Claire's birthday party as her farther (Neal Huff) offers to take Marcia and Casey home when the group are kidnapped by a strange man (James McAvoy) who has multiple personalities, takes the three girls and locks them up in a cellar, for his new personality when it finally comes into being. Overall this was a decent film as the film has an incredibly interesting premise which makes the film very unpredictable, however it does leave a lot to be desired. The secondary story of set around psychologist Karen Fletcher (Betty Buckley) is great as it allows the film to give more context to the workings of James McAvoy character's psyche which makes the character more interesting. While the other story surrounding Casey's past which helps to give the character some great development, however it does feel a little out of place in the film. James McAvoy does a great job in bring his character who has multiple personalities to life as each identity has its own characteristics that help to separate one another which is a credit to the script along with James McAvoy's portrayal which helps to bring some tension to the film with how each personality that control. 6.5/10.

The Astonishing Ant-Man: Everybody Loves Team-Ups Review

Finished reading The Astonishing Ant-Man: Everybody Loves Team-Ups, relaunching Marvel's Ant-Man series in the wake of Secret Wars as writer Nick Spencer continues his run with the character as Scott Lang is still trying to make a living in Miami only for things to constantly become more and more complicated. The book opens with Scott Lang along with his employees Grizzly and Machinesmith in a local bar when they hear news of Hank Pym's apparent death at the end of the Avengers: Rage of Ultron. This leads to Scott to mourn his predecessor by remembering their last team-up together to fight against Giant Man villain Egghead. The next story set just before the final incursion that lead to the events of Secret Wars as Ant-Man is hired by his investor Mary Morgenstern to steal an artefact form drug lord the Slug, to allow the residents of the residential home to have their youth back for one last time before the world ends. While Scott ends up drowning his sorrows in a local bar after being unable to reconcile with his daughter before the end of the world. The rest of the book jumps to eight mouths after the events of Secret Wars with Scott reflecting back on the events that have transpired over the past few months as he has found himself back in prison, while in the past Scott is still try to get a contract of work for his security firm which he eventually gets from his ex-girlfriend Darla Deering, and is also still try to avoid his daughter Cassie in hope that it would keep her safe for any super villains. As all of this is going on in the background tech entrepreneur and super villain the Power Broker who has made his own app called Hench which allows for people to call upon a super villain who as been matched by an algorithm to face a hero. Overall this was a great book as it continues to make Scott Lang feel very much a relatable character with how he try's to make it through life thanks to the way he is portrayed and how everything around him affects his life. The comedy is great as writer Nick Spencer use of lower tier Marvel super villains as a great source of comedy form the antics of villains using the many phone apps in hope to make it big, which the bring back the current Beatle who steals every scenes she's in as the way her and Scott interact between each other is completely hilarious. The art by Ramon Rosanas throughout the book is great as the action scenes are drawn incredibly well, while the art also complements the books comedic tone greatly. Additionally the art of the flashback team-up by Brent Schoonover has a classic vibe to it with Egghead's robot version of an older Avengers roster looks as if they have been ripped out of a classic story. 8/10.

Uncanny Inhumans: Time Clash Review

Finished reading Uncanny Inhumans: Time Clash, renewing Marvel's Inhumans series post Secret Wars as writer Charles Soule continues his run with the Inhumans as they face a threat from the time traveling villain, Kang the Conqueror. The book opens up in Rio as a group of bandits who have been hired to retrieve Inhuman cocoons as Black Bolt intervenes and stoping the group as he takes a sample of the Terrigen mist that he later uses on his son Ahura who has been living with Kang since the events of Infinity, and with the threat of the incursions that lead to the events of Secret Wars Black Bolt makes a deal with Kang to take Ahura to ancient Attilan to keep him safe form the end of the multiverse. Months later after the events of Secret Wars Black Bolt along with Triton and Reader have tried and failed to retrieve Ahura form Kang, which leads to Black Bolt going to his estranged wife and queen of the Inhumans, Medusa who is currently in a relationship with the Human Touch. In hope to find a way to successfully retrieve their son, only for Beast to lucky notice that Inhumans are beginning to disappear due to Kang attempt to rid the throughout time. Overall this was a great book as it's a story that has incredibly high stakes with writer Charles Soule being able to turn this into an extremely and intriguing personal story. The art form artist Steve McNiven is great as each character's designs and powers are brought to life very well along with the characters emotions also being draw extremely well which makes these moments even more impactful. Additionally the short stories within the book are great as not only are they fairly standalone but also do a great job in caching up with characters over the time jump from Secret Wars. 8/10.

Live By Night Film Review

Finished watching Live By Night, Staring director Ben Affleck, Remo Girone, Robert Glenister, Sienna Miller, Brendan Gleeson. The film opens with small time thief Joe Coughlin (Ben Affleck) who's making a name for himself within the criminal world of Boston. One day the boss of the Italian Mafia Maso Pescatore (Remo Girone) finds out about Joe's relationship with rival gangster Albert White's (Robert Glenister) girlfriend Emma Gould (Sienna Miller) and uses the information to try and get Joe to kill Albert. Not warming to this idea Joe plans to run away with Emma without any bloodshed only for a bank robbery to go horribly for him when a policeman is killed in pursuit. When the police finally catch up with Joe, he is sent to prison on a suspended sentence after his father the police captain Thomas Coughlin (Brendan Gleeson) pulls a few strings. Once out of prison Joe finds out that his farther and Emma have died during his sentence and is shortly recruited by Maso to over see his assents in Florida which are under threat by Albert, who Joe has a vendetta against after he was the reason he went to jail and Joe blames him for the death of Emma. Overall this was a good film as it dives into the world of prohibition America through the eyes of Joe Coughin who goes form being a small time thief to having a major role within the mafia which makes the story very personal with how different events affect Joe's life. The narration parts of the film is great addition as it allows for Joe to tell what has happened during different time jumps helps to continue the story without having to dwell to much on things that have transpired within the time jump. The (asterisk)of prohibition America is brought to life extremely well as the costume department and set designers do a great job in bringing this world to life. 7/10.

Star Wars: Han Solo Review

Finished reading Star Wars: Han Solo, writer Marjorie Liu brings to life Han Solo's own story as the famous smuggler puts the Millennium Falcon name on the line as Han not only has to safely transport a group of rebel informants to Leia but also prove that the Falcon is not just the bucket of bolts the people clam it to be. The book opens up with Han having a bit of a dilemma with how he's taking smuggling jobs when he notice a couple of people form the last planet he visited, who tune out to be rebel informants with a message form Princess Leia who wants to borrow the Millennium Falcon. Angered at this Han storms to Leia's current location where he states that only him and Chewie are allowed to fly the Falcon. Which leaves Leia no choice but to have Han pilot his ship to gather a group of rebel informants who are being hunted down by imperial forces on planets that are on the planets that the Dragon Void race goes to. Along with the Falcon being the perfect ship to run it as it makes for the best cover for an important rebel mission. Overall this was a great book as it brings Han to the forefront of his own story as writer Marjorie Liu crafts a fast paced story that slows down in the right paces that allow for some great character moments. The other contestants in the Dragon Void race and the rebel informants get a nice amount time to develop, with the history of the Dragon Void being told through Loo Re Anno as her people founded the race which leads to a great pay of for the character as the book progress. While one of the rebel has ties to Han and Chewie's past makes for some great entertainment with how some of that past is revealed. The art by Mark Brooks is amazing as the different character and spaceship designs fit in to the world extremely well while the whole race is consisted of breathtaking imagery and the way the paneling of the book helps to build the feel and tone of the race incredibly well with how some pages transition between the race and each ship's cockpit. 8.5/10.

Star Wars: Darth Vader: End of Games Review

Finished reading Star Wars: Darth Vader: End of Games, concluding the series as writer Kieron Gillen wraps up the series as Vader deals with all of the people that he has meet over the course of the series. The book opens up with Darth Vader meeting with the Emperor on a new Super Star Destroyer where he is giving the mission to find and deal with Cylo and his cyborgs. Before Vader find Cylo he travels to Anthan 13 to meet with Inspector Thanoth who has information on the whereabouts of Doctor Alpha and then uses the information to order the droids BeeTee and Triple-Zero to bring her to him while he's off dealing with Cylo for the Emperor. Overall this was an amazing book as it brings an end to the series in spectacular fashion as not only does the book wrap up the series but also delivers on some amazing character interactions and even takes a trip into Vader's psyche which is a very intriguing sight. The side story featured within the book are great as the first one spends some time with the droids BeeTee and Triple-Zero as they get some upgrades. Which the second is a silent story that shows how Vader's presence on Tatooine has effect the Tusken Raiders. The artwork throughout is great as artists Salvador Larroca designs some breathtaking locations and fight scenes thanks to the amount of detail that goes into these scenes. 9/10.

Assassin's Creed Film Review

Finished watching Assassin's Creed, directed by Justin Kurzel and staring Michael Fassbender, Essie Davis, Brian Gleeson, Brendan Gleason and Marion Cotillard. The film opens up in Spain during the Inquisition as assassin Aguilar de Nerha (Michael Fassbender) is pledging his allegiance to the Brotherhood as he is give his first mission. The film that transitions to the present after a flash back of Callum Lynch (Michael Fassbender) seeing the murder of his mother (Essie Davis) at the hands of his farther (Brian Gleeson and Brendan Gleason), as Callum is being set to a room in a prison to be executed for murder. However after being pronounced dead scientist Sophia Rikkin (Marion Cotillard) takes Callum to the Animus project within the Abstergo Foundation where he discovers to be alive as Sophia hopes to use Callum in order to see the memories of his ancestor, Aguilar de Nerha to find an artefact known as the Apple of Eden. Overall this was a decent film as it takes a very style over substance approach as the different locations and the extremely well choreographed fight scenes are great. However the story while being very interesting doesn't contain enough character interactions or development to further the story for the characters as the film focuses more on its spectacle. The aesthetic of inquisition Spain is great as a lot of detail went into its design and pays of incredibly well which the addition only Spanish being spoken during the time the film is in the setting helps to show how much work went into make the world feel very authentic. 6/10.

Batman: Epilogue Review

Finished reading Batman: Epilogue, bring an end to DC's Batman series that started with it's New 52 Publishing line as the book caps off the series as writers Scott Snyder and James Tynion IV tell the last stories from the series that haven't previously been collected together. The book opens up is the world of DC's Futures End as a more older and broken Batman is trying to continue his fight against crime by making clones of himself only for it to not work which leads to Batman breaking into Lexcorp to find the one thing that will make his cloning machine work. The next story is set during the time Bruce Wayne forgot that he was Batman as the head of the Powers International, Geri Powers invite Bruce back to Wayne Manor to sign papers that will give the house back to him instead of it continuing to be the residence of Arkham Asylum however three of the manors previous residents have other ideas. The third story caps off Scott Snyder's run on the series by revisiting familiar foes that Batman has fought since the beginning of the series as Batman try to uncover what has caused a city wide blackout in Gotham. The penultimate story takes a look into Batman past as he chases down a bank robber with phasing and teleporting technology who has stolen a safety deposit box that contains a book that help Bruce deal with the loss of his parents and he kept during his travels around the world that made him Batman. The final story sees Duke Thomas coming to Wayne Manor to meat with Bruce Wayne about his offer to join him when Bruce became Batman again. At the same time Batman is dealing with the Calendar Man who makes Gotham go through all four seasons within a week with the Calendar Man being show as a more horrifying character with how the seasons affect him. Overall this was a great book as it showcases a handful of great standalone Batman story's that don't need too much context to read which is good for anyone who what's an assessable and well written group of Batman stories while also pleasing long time fans. The artwork throughout the book is great as each story's art team accompanies the tone and feel to their respective stories incredibly well. 8/10.

The Flash: Full Stop Review

Finished reading The Flash: Full Stop, concluding DC's Flash series that started at the beginning of the New 52 publishing line as writer Robert Venditti and Van Jensen closes the series with Flash having to deal with being the Central City Police Department's most wanted. He book opens up with police captain Darryl Frye bring Barry to meet with the Rouges who have been hired to help the police in capturing the Flash after is image was tarnished by Professor Zoom earlier in the series, as the police are using drones can detect wherever the Flash is when he's using his powers. While the Flash is dealing with being a wanted man, Wally Wast is slowly discovering that he has got similar powers as the Flash after being hit by lightning for Zoom's machine earlier in the series. The final part of the book features the first part of the next Flash series from DC's Rebirth publication line as the story sets up the next series and haw it links to larger events for the future. Overall this was a good book as it wraps up the series with the Flash having to try and clear his name while also dealing with the Rouges and Batman villain, the Riddler which makes for a very intriguing story. The development of Wally with him finding out that he has super speed is good and doesn't feel to out of place even though it's almost it own story. The artwork throughout the book is good as the action and character emotions are showcase very nicely. What lets the art down though is that the constant changing art work leads to some inconsistencies in some character designs and the tone of the colour palette. Additionally the DC Rebirth part of the book is a great sets up of the next series which looks to be extremely interesting. 7/10.

A Monster Calls Film Review

Finished watching A Monster Calls, directed by J. A. Bayona and staring Lewis MacDougall, Felicity Jones, Sigourney Weaver and Liam Neeson. The film opens up with Conor O'Malley (Lewis MacDougall) who helps his terminal ill mum, Lizzie (Felicity Jones) while also dealing with trouble at school of being bullied. One day when he gets back home Conor's grandmother (Sigourney Weaver) tells Conner that she will be taking care of him for a while as Lizzie goes back into hospital for more treatment. While all of this is going on a tree next to a local church which can be seen from Conor's bedroom comes to life revealing himself to be a tree like being (Liam Neeson) telling Conor that he has been summoned for Conor to tell him his story after the monster has told Conor three stories. Overall this was a great film as it deals with a very real world topic with Lizzie's illness and the monster's used with in the film makes perfect scenes after a couple reveals later in the film that makes his role even more impactful. There is a great amount of emotion that is conveyed by some stellar acting and a just as stellar script that makes each character's interactions extremely relatable and understandable. The watercolour animation used for the Monster's stories is breathtaking in places thanks to the amount of detail that goes into the animation while the design of the monster himself is designed just as good. 8.5/10.

New Suicide Squad: Kill Anything Review

Finished reading New Suicide Squad: Kill Anything, writer Tim Seeley brings an end to the series as a smaller Suicide Squad hope to escape form Amanda Walker's control only to find themselves in a much more trouble than they first thought. The book opens up shortly after the Squad's mission in Russia at the beginning of the series as two aid workers named Adam and Seraphine come up with the idea of getting their own version of the Suicide Squad. While in the present Amanda Waller is giving a tour of Belle Reve to Dorian Ashemoore who has have come to the prison in hope to see how the Squad works and hope to implement a similar task force in Britain. The team is shortly dispatched to Hong Kong on a mission to prevent an assassination only for the mission to go south with the team being seemingly killed at the scene. The team's death quickly turns out to be a ruse as the aid workers from the beginning of the book helped the Squad to escape from Amanda Waller and takes them to a castle in Germany where the Squad meet with a group of mercs that got them out of the mission in Hong Kong. While in another room overseeing the whole castle Adam reveals himself to be a member of the death cult the Fist of Cain by killing Seraphine and opening the floodgates and allowing the whole cult to storm the castle in hope to kill the Suicide Squad and the team of mercs in hope to gain the most points in the cult. The second story see's writer Sean Ryan come back for a short story the peels behind the layers of Harley's psyche in quite an intriguing way. The last part of the book helps to set up the next Suicide Squad series as writer Rob Williams brings back recurring Suicide Squad character Rick Flag who has not been seen since before DC's New 52 reboot as Flag is back as the field leader of the team. Overall this was a great book as it brings an end to the series with an action packed story at has a great amount of comedy throughout the main story. While the addition of character like the head of the proposed British version of the Suicide Squad, Dorian Ashemoore and the group of mercs helps to bring an element of surprise and unpredictability to the book as writer Tim Seeley gives a couple of these characters an nice amount of development that makes the just as interesting as the main cast members of the book. The artwork throughout the book is great as Juan Ferreyra's art is fantastic as the fight scenes are action pack and have some shockingly great moments. While the paneling in some place are amazingly designed as not only is each character's interactions as show but behind all of the panels is an image of the location which helps to give some perspective of where everyone and everything is. Additionally the rest of the art is good as it captures the tone and feel of the rest of the book. 8/10.