BEFORE WATCHMEN by DC Comics:

Whether Alan Moore likes it or not DC Comics finally busts the Watchmen dam open and will make new material on the property.

Could these limited series just be the beginning of an ongoing exploration of this world?

I guess the final sales will determine what happens next.

Anyway, expect these to hit starting in the Spring or Summer season.

RORSCHACH: Writer: Brian Azzarello. Artist: Lee Bermejo                                                   NITE OWL: Writer: J. Michael Straczynski. Artists: Andy and Joe Kubert                         OZYMANDIAS: Writer: Len Wein. Artist: Jae Lee                                                                   SILK SPECTRE: Writer: Darwyn Cooke. Artist: Amanda Conner                                               DR. MANHATTAN: Writer: J. Michael Straczynski. Artist: Adam Hughes                                   COMEDIAN: Writer: Brian Azzarello. Artist: J.G. Jones                                              MINUTEMEN: Writer/Artist: Darwyn Cooke

These comic book versions look great.

http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/22002.html

Great Interview talking about Valiant Comics.

It seems that they are giving a sincere push to make this a long term company.

DC Comics will be using a new company Logo soon.

At first I did not like it, but the use of various colors has made it look better.

Still, I’m not to sure I like it so much.

It clearly looks like a Photoshop designed idea.

Where the D symbol is being peeled back to show part of a C letter.

Style wise it might confuse some.

Marvel Comics big crossover this year is the X-men vs Avengers.

The art to this cover image was by Jim Cheung and the first issue will hit the comic shops on 04/03/12.

Why is Hawkeye going to shoot Iron Man in the back of the head?

http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/21823.html

I read that writer Gary Friedrich lost his court case to own the Ghost Rider rights. And I’m actually glad how it turned out.

He signed away his rights and then complained later cause he wanted a better deal.

Reading the following text from the book Ghost Rider The Ultimate Guide.

It is clear Mike Ploog and Roy Thomas contributed far more to Ghost Rider, then Gary Friedrich did. And yet if Gary Friedrich he would have done an injustice to them. Heck he did not even have a say or create the classic visual images. Those were not his ideas.

And if anything a comic character is a visual far more then it is just a name. 

Read the true Ghost Rider origin.

Emma Stone looks adorable as Gwen Stacy.

Kristen Dunst was miscast in the original Spider-Man trilogy. She was never pretty enough to play Mary Jane.

At least this reboot got and cast the right type of woman for the leading lady.

Emma Stone hot, sexy and cute all rolled into one.

A shame this movies costume stinks compared to the original trilogy version.

I’ve been following the recent Spider books since the One More Day / Brand New Day storyline and have a feeling of “Why should I care as a long time reader anymore?”

If they can erase the Spider marriage and all the strong emotions, connections that brought about. Why should you buy the new Brand New Day books and invest emotions with these characters and situations? When clearly the rug can be pulled out from under the reader at the whim of Marvel.

One thing that made the Spider books great was the realistic setting and actions having consequences. The Brand New Day reboot showed that consequences can be erased like they never happened.

It feels like I’m reading 1970′s era Spider-Man again. Harry Osborn (who conveniently returned) doesn’t know Peter is Spider-Man, and likes Peter but hates Spidey. Spider-Man accused of crimes he didn’t commit. Spider-Man living with the threat his secret identity might be revealed.

For me as a long time reader it all feels like a case of “been there, done that”.

The new characters they’ve surrounded Spider-Man with feel like a cast that in a few years only a handful will still be around. The rest will fall by the wayside. And again a case of “seen it before”.

And back to my main point of, the books feel hollow to me now because of the above seen it all before ideas, and why invest emotional attachment to the books now, when clearly the reset button can and will be hit in the future. And real life don’t work that way. And sure it’s only a comic world where anything can happen, but as mentioned above the Spider books were mostly real world settings and magical resets where not what this character and book was about.

An old post I wrote somewhere else and adding to archive here.

Thursday 8 January 2009 @ 3:12 am

I’d like to start by saying sure their have been exceptions, and some great Spider-Man comics, and mini-series as a whole.

But in general and the overall look of things, I don’t think Spider-Man books have been good for many years now.

I think for me, the start was “Maximum Carnage”, back in the early 90′s. This story was one big fight, with very little real content.

Around then we had the fake Peter Parker’s parents horrible storyline idea. If they were real, it would have been too origin changing for his status as a character.

Soon after we got the whole Clone Saga, and Ben Reilly Spidey as the “real deal” concept.

Which led to Peter Parker returning, and the terrible idea of bringing Norman Osborn back.
Now it seems Gwen’s killer has escaped justice.

Soon after we got John Byrne who gave us the horrible Chapter One idea, and the equally terrible issue numbers reboot. Plus throw in Howard Mackie writing in their as well.

We eventually got JMS on Spider-Man. And the truth is, I never liked Straczynski’s run or his take on the character. We got his story of the Green Goblin defiling Gwen. The terrible concept of Gwen having kids with Osborn. Originally Peter in the JMS idea. Like this would have been a good idea? It should have been nixed by the editor on the spot.

We got the terrible magic induced stories JMS kept using in Spidey, like that totem garbage. Here is a hint, magic is not a good fit for the Spidey series, it never has been.

Now we got perhaps the ultimate terrible idea of the One More Day / Brand New Day. Which was nothing less then a reboot, and the book to me reads like it’s out of the 1970′s storyline ideas.

We have Harry Osborn back and in his 70′s role of hating Spider-Man. Peter back with Aunt May. His identity hidden from all, and his marriage wiped out. And thus rewriting history as we know it, because you cannot change one thread of history, without changing all events thereafter.

If you’ve read this far, perhaps you get what I’m trying to say.

Overall I just don’t think Spider-Man books have been good since the early 90′s.

Sure their have been great issues, and mini-series as I stated. But as a general whole? It’s been one bad idea after another. And that is a shame.

Plus in the books now with the reboot, why should you care? They’ve played with the whole his identity may be exposed card. Yet it’s already been played just recently and we know that won’t happen.

We got Peter’s tension with Harry about Spidey. But we’ve seen this all before.

We got Peter’s romantic life, but we know it will never lead to marriage, or that topic ever restored.

Basically we have books now, that to me read like, been their, done that and more importantly why should the reader care anymore? Cause as One More Day proves, Marvel can pull the rug out from under you whenever they wish. Continuity really does not matter anymore. And it really is the illusion of change at Marvel, but nothing really ever progresses. At least not anymore.

An old post I wrote somewhere else and adding to archive here.

Wednesday 16 April 2008 @ 12:11 am

MAJOR Spider-Man Spoilers on the Brand New Day comic

I just read the Spider-Man comics called One More Day that ended with Amazing Spider-Man issue 545.

And YES F’n Marvel Editor in Chief Joe Quasada got his forced wish and removed the Spidey marriage. It is COMPLETE crap!

Also Peter Parker’s exposed public identity was erased from the minds of the world. As for the unmasking to the public last year in Civil War, I figured this whole reset One More Day story was planned since then. That’s why the unmasking bit didn’t matter and they went with it.

Peter and Mary Jane make a deal with Mephisto, who is the devil like character in Marvel Comics, to save Aunt May.

This story called One More Day was a magic reset button. And magic in this title should not affect a character in a permanent change like this. It’s just wrong on this type of books real world premise.

Just some points wrong with the One More Day I found:

1. What happened to Aunt May was a natural part of life. Who is Peter to F’ with the cosmic circumstances and mess with natural law? What gives him that right?

2. Making a deal with a devil? Do you even have to go any further then that. To know it’s wrong.

3. When the devil mentions God, don’t you think: Hey, if the devil wants to strike out at God and use me to do so. Maybe I shouldn’t interfere with what God wants. Much less side with the devils goals and his plans.

4. What gives Peter the right to tamper with the WORLDS memories? What gives him that responsibility? That is the OPPOSITE of being responsible. And what about papers and videos and all that? Even if the worlds minds were erased what of media and disks? What of beings like androids remembering the truth?

Either: Spidey History from a certain point was changed from what we know and all went differently. Or history happened and retroactive it was changed. But then that would mean you would have to wipe out all video and such evidence.

Plus isn’t it Dr. Strange’s goal to stop such things happening in this realm? Where is he to protect Earth? Or the other cosmic mystics to prevent changes like this? Should not there be consequences and a need to set things right on the cosmic balance?

5. Let’s see the choice now: Save an old aunt who will eventually go. Or give up the love of your life, and you future with her? Plus if Aunt May knew what was happening, don’t you think she’d choose to go cause it’s her time. Knowing he’s in good hands with MJ his wife and to bless their future together.

6. This choice just goes against the mindset of Peter Parker as a character. It is not logical his choice and actions. And way out of character. And speaking of out of character, Peter to reveal his identity public was Way out of Character. It’s just not something he would.
7. Is Peter still so immature and can’t control his emotions, that he has not grown up and realized when it’s time to let go? Doctor Strange’s speech to Peter earlier in the story was right on the money.
In the end OMD Peter, should have been tempted and then decide not to, cause it was not right and against the natural laws. Sure he might, in a what if type desire to stop what must be, but that’s all he’d do. And sure he’d cry and all that, but in the end know he chose the right path.

But let’s face it, THE TRUTH as many have said: It’s crap and this is CLEARLY a story and idea that was FORCED by Quasada to do. He’s for years publically stated how he wanted the marriage gone.

I used to like him as Editor In Chief but this story is another example that shows his time is done. It’s clear to me at least that Marvel needs a new EIC in charge cause Quasada is done and needs to go.

I also read the first issue of Brand New Day, the new Status Quo there making up. And it looks like they deaged him. Peter appears in his 20′s just out of college, and living with Aunt May again. Harry Osborn is alive again, and doesn’t know Peter is Spidey and hates Spidey. He seems like the movie version Harry Osborn.

Their hanging out in a club and got something like 3 new girls they hangout with.

It really is a de facto: Reset Button hit.

As I read on wiki:

“The reset button technique (based on the idea of status quo ante) is a plot device that interrupts continuity in works of fiction. Simply put, use of a reset button device returns all characters and situations to the status quo they held before a major change of some sort was introduced. Often used in science fiction television series, animated series, soap operas, and comic books, the device allows elaborate and dramatic changes to characters and the fictional universe that might otherwise invalidate the premise of the show with respect to future continuity. Writers may, for example, use the technique to allow the audience to experience the death of the lead character, which traditionally would not be possible without effectively ending the work.

The term may be based on the reset button found on a video game console or computer. When pressed, such a button automatically restarts the machine, losing any unsaved data.

The danger of the reset button is that the audience will become frustrated and cynical because they are expected to suspend disbelief and emotionally invest in the characters, yet know that anything the characters do to improve their selves or their world is destined to be futile, since a change in either would require the show to have continuity rather than be stand-alone episodes. Audiences are forced to conclude that it is too painful to care in the first place about the characters or their world, so why bother watching the show at all?”

Also since all strings are connected the whole continuity is F’d up.

Example is ASM issue 299 Mary Jane first met Venom and told Peter. Who then went to investigate. Without MJ there, no one tells Peter and the whole issue of how he learns or meets Venom is messed.

Or for that matter just about any and every storyline. Cause without MJ there, his reactions would have been different and stories changed, or events did not happen as they have.

But really, I think it’s clear to say that Marvel now, and has for the past 5 to say 10 years shown it’s true colors of a corporate entity and that’s all these characters are. There is no heart there anymore.

As a business first, this Spidey example shows, that in comics there is only the “illusion of change”, cause with corporate owned characters the reset button will EVENTUALLY be hit, no matter what anyone else may say. New management will see to that.

From the Marvel website showing the new villains. It’s like people FORGOT how to make cool characters. All the visuals suck and none will be the next Venom or even Carnage. A character with a cool visual and design that lasts.

And while the “Illusion of Change” is a concept in comics I heard a lot. This really does ring true. As does the end of the Wiki quote. Why Bother with Spider-Man books anymore?

It really DOES NOT matter. They have in effect reset the book to a 20 something Peter and you know the relations can never lead to marriage. And you know the status quo and developments of the characters are all in effect going nowhere and can’t progress farer then we saw. My example I thought of is this:

You see a magic trick, then you are showed how it’s done. You can’t go back to seeing the magic trick again cause it won’t surprise or intrique you anymore. Same goes for Spidey now.

You saw the behind the scenes, the development of the chraracter. Now Marvel is trying to show the magic trick again and pull the curtain in front of you. But it won’t go with me or other long time fans, cause we’ve seen what’s behind the curtain and the magic trick revealed. Trying to fool us into making stories we chould care about, on a deaged Peter and his world put back into Status Quo of decades ago. Won’t matter anymore. The books are not written for us anymore and that’s okay with me.

And in a way it’s funny they had to go to the extremes of using a magic way out and rewriting history to end it. They had to use a reset button extreme to get what Quasada wanted. And as said, it really doesn’t matter. You make and read matter the stories you like, and the history thereof from the creators you like. The rest can really be deleted crap cause it’s from another creative team who is following their own ideas and not related to the team before them.

This won’t stop me from enjoying the trades and Essentials I get, currently reprinting 70′s material.

Rant over, thanks for reading hope it made sense.

I wonder what you think of in regards of Amazing Spider-Man shipping three times a week. With a different creative crew handling chores the next week. Basically, one creative team picking up the story of the team before them.

Personally I think it sucks. This so reminds me of the 90′s Superman books. Where the books had a continuing story, yet the creative team was different each issue.

And this happened a lot in the 90′s with comic books. I think in the last few years , especially for the trade paperback market. We the readers WANT TO SEE, a stable creative team handling one book uninterrupted.

A revolving team handling the same story makes for a disjointed feel. And the flow is made all jagged as a result.

The end quality work is a mix of good and bad, the narrative seems off and the books feel is not smooth at all.

I hope this Amazing Spider-Man idea is dropped soon. Make a new series and keep a stable crew in each book. And make them tell different stories without one being tied to the other.

What’s next? Will we have a big crossover and the usual revolving door artist take over if a book is behind schedule?

You may not know it but Jack Kirby burned his bridges at DC in the 1950s and that’s why he went to Marvel. It was his only other option for a big publisher.

Plus if Jack stayed at DC as I theorized, I recently read a long time Kirby associate wrote a similar piece on what I thought about.

He basically said Kirby wouldn’t be famous much at all if not for Marvel. Back in the 1950s DC put Kirby on a book or two and as just an artist.

What I think now and in my view:

All those 60s ideas? Never would have happened.

Why?

Cause Jack followed orders. He didn’t volunteer much in ideas. UNLESS he had a collaborator, or was given an idea to run with.

That’s what Stan Lee did, he collaborated with Jack and they worked on their Marvel stuff together. Plus Stan was the one starting off ideas and passing it to Kirby saying stuff like:

Let’s get a new villain for the FF to fight, here is his name, and this is what he does. Then Kirby runs with it.

Or Jack gave ideas to Lee and worked it with Lee.

BUT he followed orders! For example when DC told him to stop making 4th World comics, it was over. He didn’t make any more 4th World pages.

DC treated Kirby like: Here is your book. Here is your script. And turn the pages in on time.

DC focused on the writers. And not so much collaboration with the artist. Rather, it was: Follow these orders and draw what we tell you.

Much less creative working environment for Kirby.

I noticed Kirby ideas with DC in the 1950s are not exactly remembered for the lasting characters. Why is that?

It’s the same creator.

It’s cause he wasn’t pushed to be creative at DC, until Stan Lee worked with him.

As for the Joe Simon and Kirby team? Their only remembered character is Captain America and Bucky. Yet as I pointed out, Cap was just a cloned copy of the patriotic hero the Shield who was published a year earlier. And Bucky is just Robin, nothing more.
They did not start Cap as an original idea, rather just a copy. Hardly a very creative Kirby effort if you look at it that way.

And it was mostly Joe Simon in terms of ideas and who designed most of the costume.

As for 4th World?

I’m sure after working in the 1960s with Stan Lee, some ideas and story structure had to rub off on Jack.

It’s not like Kirby started at DC in the 1970s a clean slate? He took what he learned at Marvel with him.

And DC well they dropped the ball again!

They cancelled most of his New Gods and the 4th World stuff after about 11 issues.
Imagine that, having Kirby and they basically shut the books down, cancelled it and got rid of his ideas.

That’s why the New Gods really don’t succeed far?

Why?

Cause Kirby only had about 11 issues to develop the characters.

And all the creators since then are only working with ideas those 11 or so issues had.
That’s why the creators can’t reach farer with Kirby’s characters in 4th World because not enough content is there to work with.

And if they create new ideas, it won’t seem in tune to what Kirby created.

Now what would have happened at Marvel if they had 4th World?

What Stan Lee did when Hulk was cancelled would happen.

Stan put the Hulk in crossovers and other books to pop up in.

But he did not forget them. And that’s how 4th World would be handled.
DC well they just cancelled it and never used 4th World again for years.

Kirby did not last long at DC in the 1970s and returned to Marvel, not cause he wanted to but cause it was the only option in town.

He didn’t want to work much in his old books and he didn’t want Stan Lee then to work with.

I think people whispered into Kirby’s ear too much and that changed his view about Lee and Marvel for the worse.

But even then the 70s Kirby at Marvel was not a success.

Why?

Cause it’s the saying "you can’t go home again". I don’t abide by that law as an absolute, and think it’s only mostly true.

But in the case of 70s Kirby the saying is spot on.

The new Marvel workers of the 70s had no close connection to Kirby. And the all new staff were not there with Kirby in the 60s.

And the 70s Marvel had a much bigger staff of people. All with their own agenda and books.

Kirby was not the top man, or even close to it at 70s Marvel.

PLUS my theory of the 1960s MARVEL magic of the right creators at the right time idea?
Well by the 1970s that time and opportunity had passed.

Kirby was a creator who was not at the right time or place to be working at Marvel, much less again.

Most of his books didn’t produce outstanding results. It just was not the same as before.

After the 70s he had other runs at DC and independents, but it just wasn’t the same anymore.

A shame image comics and the creative diversity we have now didn’t exist then, otherwise creators like Kirby could have published their ideas and kept the copyright to their work. And in turn financially benefit from it.

Just some thoughts I had about the situation. Agree or disagree? Informative?

Let me know.

Comic Collection video peek.

By far it’s not all of them, but these are some books worth mentioning. Hope you like it.

Justice League #4 will show Darkseid as redesigned by Jim Lee.

Originally a Jack Kirby creation, Darkseid can arguably be called Kirby’s greatest creation in the DC Universe.

DC Comics was sorely lacking a universal villain that could fight anybody, and Darkseid filled that role.

What’s happened to Jim Lee’s design sense? First we had some redesigns of classic costumes, that are nothing spectacular. And in truth, many are not as good as the originals.

Now a classic villain, with a classic look gets redesigned. And he sort of looks like a copy of Marvel Comics Apocalypse x-villain.

Well at least this being comics and all, I’m sure this design won’t last. And Darkseid will eventually get his classic look back.

Avenging Spider-Man #2 in stores December 7, 2011

It’s great to see some comic book work by Joe Madureira again.

As always Joe Mad’s style is uniquely his own.

His rendition of Spidey is amazing. But check out that Red Hulk. Fantastic, or should I say Incredible?

Hey all,

Yeah Comic Con really took it out on me the past week or two. Well that and getting ready for it. And overall other things making me more busy then usual.

Unfortunately it made me lose focus on some things. But I’ve got this blog running well again now.

Though I’m still planning a page redesign at some point. Plus a possible comic strip?

Hey all,

I know I have not updated my blog much in recent days.

That’s because getting ready for and being tired after New York Comic Con 2011 really took a lot of time away from all my online activates.

It was a great show!

And I’m back working on my blog now.

Amy Adams as Lois Lane, what happened? She has looked better in other movies.

Now look at Henry Cavill as Clark Kent.

The more I see and hear about this movie, the more I lose faith that it will be any good.

But then again, it can’t be much worse then Superman Returns.

Anyone else think HAWKEYE in the Avengers Movie looks rather plain?

The costume looks boring.

The actor looks old.

Even the face of the actor looks like a drunk.

And there just is no spark to him.

Even the Youtube guy who plays Hawkeye on the Avengersweb channel has more of a spark then this guy.

Now take a look at the Avengersweb Youtube guy. Who at the very least has more spark in his personality.

http://www.newsarama.com/comics/kirkman-the-walking-dead-comic-novel-show-111007.html

Good interview and worth reading. Especially with Season 2 of the AMC show starting this month.

Can’t wait for the start of it. Season 1 was great and hopefully this will continue the trend.

Nrama: With season two of The Walking Dead underway, have you found a rhythm to balancing all the different aspects of being the creator of The Walking Dead?

Kirkman: Yeah, and that’s how Skybound comes in. I have people working at Skybound to handle the licensing stuff. If they say “Oh, we’re going to do a lunch box!” all I have to do is look at a few files and provide some input; that’s pretty much all I’m doing. I make sure it’s not a cheap lunchbox but something neat I’d want to have, and then move on from there.

I’ve definitely hit a rhythm working on the show while also keeping up with writing comics. I’m not going to lie to you: it’s difficult at times, but it helps that it’s something I love doing. There’s rarely a time in the day that I think I’d rather be doing something different.

On the left you can see what S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Maria Hill, played by actress Cobie Smulders will look like in the Avengers Movie.

The movie will be in theaters May 4, 2012.

Marvel Comics announced that people who buy the Avenging Spider-Man #1 in comic stores will receive a code to enter.

This code allows the reader to download a Free digital copy of the comic book. You can use the Marvel comics iOS app or Chrome store to get your copy.

This looks like Marvel is testing the digital comics audience with a new direction. I wonder if they are planning for the day when digital comics sales can significantly rival regular comic issue store sales?

http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=34815

The retail book giant Barnes & Noble has removed from their stores 100 DC Graphic Novels.

This includes classic books like Watchmen and Sandman.

The reason?

DC Comics will publish these 100 books Exclusively for the Amazon Kindle Fire in digital format.

Barnes & Noble stated that they want their books offered to customers in both forms. As physical books and as digital books.

Since they cannot access the digital books anymore to sell, they have removed the physical books.

Those are the stated reasons, but I wonder if it is to punish DC Comics for going exclusive with a competitor?

Marvel Comics released the image above.

It looks like Bucky as the Winter Soldier will return.

I’m actually glad to see this, because I did not like him wearing the Captain America costume.

I think he makes for a better Winter Soldier, then he did a Captain America.

Plus with the red star, a symbol he wore when he was evil. Maybe they will turn Bucky bad again?

Actually I hope they do! As a villain the Winter Soldier works better as a Captain America foe.

Why?

Simply because of the emotional complexity that gets added to their battles. Plus Captain America needs more villains to fight.

Back in the early 1990s Valiant Comics had a great comic book called Solar Man of the Atom.

It’s star character could manipulate and control energy in a variety of forms. And the first twenty issues made for fabulous stories.

I was recently looking through a box of issues I had and realized that this series really was good.

Unfortunately for fans today, I don’t think this series from Valiant Comics can ever be reprinted.

Why?

It’s a tangled web of an answer.

The primary reason is that Valiant NEVER owned or created the character.

Solar is a 1960s creation owned by then publisher Gold Key comics.

In the 90s the character was licensed to Valiant. Along with Magnus and Turok.

Now the company that is called Valiant is trying to start up again with new owners. But they cannot publish Solar.

The Solar character is on license to Dark Horse.

Yet his Valiant stories no longer count, and the Dark Horse version is a different character.

So basically I think the Solar Valiant Stories are in a state that no one can publish. Not even the license holder.

Why?

Because the Valiant Comics version of Solar, had story characters and elements that Valiant does own.

So the point being, if you go to a convention or a comic store and see in the cheap bins the first twenty or so issues of Valiant Comics Solar, I highly recommend you get them because they will probably never be reprinted again.

And quality comics deserve to be read and enjoyed.

Two of comics great artists still showing that they got it. Talent this good is a gift. 

Joe Quesada draws the cover above for Avengers: X-Sanction #1 on sale 12/14/2011

J. Scott Campbell draws the cover below for Avenging Spider-Man #1 on sale 11/9/2011

http://marvel.com/avengers_movie/

The Avengers Movie has officially launched a website. Check it out. As the movie gets closer to release, I’m sure it will be updated a lot more. The release day for the movie is on  May 4, 2012.

Kevin Feige the head of Marvel Studios, announced in the recent issue of Entertainment Weekly that Guardians of the Galaxy and The Inhumans are being discussed as possible movies.

Now this is not to say they will get movies. But really, as a comic book fan did you ever think you would see the day that obscure comic book teams like this would possibly get movies?

Both the GOTG and the Inhumans are far from top tier books at Marvel Comics. Yet the fact that these books are even discussed as movie material? Well that’s something to think about.

Either they are confident they have some type of story idea they can work with, or they are scraping the bottom of the proverbial barrel for ideas?

Russell Crowe will play Superman’s father, Jor-El in the new Superman: Man Of Steel movie.

How come the more I hear about this movie, the more dread I feel that this movie will stink?

Casting Russell Crowe in this film does nothing to ease that concern, in fact it makes it worse.

Crowe has not made a film of quality in years. Everyone talks about Gladiator, which was a great film. But that was a long time ago. 

Will this new Superman be a hit? Too soon to tell. But my spider sense is tingling.