No Ordinary Family
1x20 No Ordinary Beginning [series finale]
Thank God that's over! Though after a typically dreadful episode they managed to find a cliffhanger-ish ending that made the next series look almost enticing. That said, while the potential new direction had promise, they'd probably have fluffed it in their usual fashion. It's no loss.
Thursday, 21 June 2012
Articles
Andrew Sarris and the “A” Word
by Richard Brody (from The Front Row at The New Yorker)
American film critic Andrew Sarris died yesterday. To be frank, I'd never heard of him. This tribute explains why I really should have, as well as discussing his abiding influence on all English-language film criticism. I have mixed feelings when it comes to auteur theory, but this piece almost convinces me I should just go along with it.
Hollywood: A Love Story
by Clive James (from the Atlantic)
Clive James is in the news at the minute because of his terminal illness. Related to that, someone posted this article by him on twitter, as proof that reviews/criticism can be art in themselves. It's a very lengthy read, but you can see what that tweeter meant. Partly it's because the piece is not merely a "should you buy this?" review but also a riposte to the book it's covering. It works for the reader because, even if you've not read the text it comments on, it has something new and interesting to say.
by Richard Brody (from The Front Row at The New Yorker)
American film critic Andrew Sarris died yesterday. To be frank, I'd never heard of him. This tribute explains why I really should have, as well as discussing his abiding influence on all English-language film criticism. I have mixed feelings when it comes to auteur theory, but this piece almost convinces me I should just go along with it.
Hollywood: A Love Story
by Clive James (from the Atlantic)
Clive James is in the news at the minute because of his terminal illness. Related to that, someone posted this article by him on twitter, as proof that reviews/criticism can be art in themselves. It's a very lengthy read, but you can see what that tweeter meant. Partly it's because the piece is not merely a "should you buy this?" review but also a riposte to the book it's covering. It works for the reader because, even if you've not read the text it comments on, it has something new and interesting to say.
Wednesday, 20 June 2012
TV
8 Out of 10 Cats
13x08 (15/6/12 edition)
I gave up watching 8 Out of 10 Cats (for the second time) about 18 months ago, but I needed something funny to watch and this was the best thing on offer that I hadn't seen. And it wasn't too bad, though having people from TOWIE or Made in Chelsea or whatever didn't do much to convince me to become a regular viewer.
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
No Ordinary Family
1x19 No Ordinary Future
Oh. Dear. God.
But it's nearly over... nearly over...
Playhouse Presents
1x04 King of the Teds
aka The One With Tom Jones. He did a pretty good job.
Pointless
6x36 (1/5/12 edition)
13x08 (15/6/12 edition)
I gave up watching 8 Out of 10 Cats (for the second time) about 18 months ago, but I needed something funny to watch and this was the best thing on offer that I hadn't seen. And it wasn't too bad, though having people from TOWIE or Made in Chelsea or whatever didn't do much to convince me to become a regular viewer.
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
No Ordinary Family
1x19 No Ordinary Future
Oh. Dear. God.
But it's nearly over... nearly over...
Playhouse Presents
1x04 King of the Teds
aka The One With Tom Jones. He did a pretty good job.
Pointless
6x36 (1/5/12 edition)
Tuesday, 19 June 2012
TV
Just Good Friends
3x07 The Wedding [series finale]
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
21x12 Episode 12 [2nd watch]
No Ordinary Family
1x18 No Ordinary Animal
Oh yes, that's right! Six months after I last watched it and a year or more since it was cancelled, I've returned for the final three episodes of this. I will finish it, goddammit.
It's even more laughable than I remembered. Which is probably to the benefit of Once Upon a Time, because for all that programme's numerous faults, it is better than this.
3x07 The Wedding [series finale]
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
21x12 Episode 12 [2nd watch]
No Ordinary Family
1x18 No Ordinary Animal
Oh yes, that's right! Six months after I last watched it and a year or more since it was cancelled, I've returned for the final three episodes of this. I will finish it, goddammit.
It's even more laughable than I remembered. Which is probably to the benefit of Once Upon a Time, because for all that programme's numerous faults, it is better than this.
Articles
League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen: Century 2009: The Bleeding Cool Review
by Rich Johnston (from Bleeding Cool)
Looking forward to this. It's the third and final volume of Century, and I've been saving up the other two ever since they were published to read it all in one go (and the first was released in May 2009!) After several days of having it locked into "dispatching soon", Amazon sent mine this evening. So only a couple of days to go...
by Rich Johnston (from Bleeding Cool)
Looking forward to this. It's the third and final volume of Century, and I've been saving up the other two ever since they were published to read it all in one go (and the first was released in May 2009!) After several days of having it locked into "dispatching soon", Amazon sent mine this evening. So only a couple of days to go...
Monday, 18 June 2012
TV
Just Good Friends
3x06 Employment Prospects
After nearly a year it seemed like a good idea to finish this. (That's nothing compared to Gilmore Girls, mind.)
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
21x10 Episode 10 [2nd watch]
21x11 Episode 11 [2nd watch]
More quite-old-repeat viewing courtesy of Dave. I've very definitely seen this series. My favourite bit was the band I've never heard of who the NME said were going to be big in 2008 (the year these first went out). Clearly, they were very wrong.
Playhouse Presents
1x03 Nixon's The One!
15th April, 19th May, 18th June -- I'm watching these pretty precisely at once a month. Ought to step that up considering there's 11 of them.
This one was... weird. Not sure what to make of it, to be honest. Is it really based on real tapes (which they reiterated twice with no kind of retraction note at the end), or is it a complete spoof? I couldn't be sure. It wasn't especially dramatic, but I didn't really laugh either. And it's getting a full-series spin-off too! Bizarre.
Silk
2x05 Episode 5
Despite starting this significantly through its run, I've now caught up -- because it's great. The finale's on Wednesday, which means if you haven't watched it yet the whole series will be available on iPlayer for another nine days.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
3x06 Employment Prospects
After nearly a year it seemed like a good idea to finish this. (That's nothing compared to Gilmore Girls, mind.)
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
21x10 Episode 10 [2nd watch]
21x11 Episode 11 [2nd watch]
More quite-old-repeat viewing courtesy of Dave. I've very definitely seen this series. My favourite bit was the band I've never heard of who the NME said were going to be big in 2008 (the year these first went out). Clearly, they were very wrong.
Playhouse Presents
1x03 Nixon's The One!
15th April, 19th May, 18th June -- I'm watching these pretty precisely at once a month. Ought to step that up considering there's 11 of them.
This one was... weird. Not sure what to make of it, to be honest. Is it really based on real tapes (which they reiterated twice with no kind of retraction note at the end), or is it a complete spoof? I couldn't be sure. It wasn't especially dramatic, but I didn't really laugh either. And it's getting a full-series spin-off too! Bizarre.
Silk
2x05 Episode 5
Despite starting this significantly through its run, I've now caught up -- because it's great. The finale's on Wednesday, which means if you haven't watched it yet the whole series will be available on iPlayer for another nine days.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Sunday, 17 June 2012
TV
Mock the Week
11x01 (14/06/12 edition)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Vera
2x04 A Certain Samaritan [season finale]
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
11x01 (14/06/12 edition)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Vera
2x04 A Certain Samaritan [season finale]
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
Articles
The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Harry Potter, The Anti-Christ And The Independent On Sunday
by Rich Johnston (from Bleeding Cool)
Oh dear.
by Rich Johnston (from Bleeding Cool)
She then talks about the likely reaction.
"The headlines almost write themselves – “Alan Moore says Harry Potter is the Antichrist!” – yet they miss the point."
...The editors at the paper, however, have run a separate more prominent piece by one Paul Bignell, playing up the more salacious aspects of the story, just as Laura suggested they might. Their headline?
"Revealed: Harry Potter is the Antichrist!"
Oh dear.
this week on 100 Films
Saturday, 16 June 2012
TV
Episodes
2x06 Episode 6
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
How I Met Your Mother
7x17 No Pressure
Just as I thought, "oh good, they've finally put the Ted-Robin thing to bed forever, finally", they went and had that final scene with Marshall. Dammit.
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
A Short History of Everything Else
1x01 Episode 1
New kinda-HIGNFY-ish panel show about past news. I liked it.
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Silk
2x04 Episode 4
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
2x06 Episode 6
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
How I Met Your Mother
7x17 No Pressure
Just as I thought, "oh good, they've finally put the Ted-Robin thing to bed forever, finally", they went and had that final scene with Marshall. Dammit.
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
A Short History of Everything Else
1x01 Episode 1
New kinda-HIGNFY-ish panel show about past news. I liked it.
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Silk
2x04 Episode 4
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Films
Bad Day at Black Rock (1955)
[#47 in 100 Films in a Year 2012]
The Beast Stalker (2008)
[#48 in 100 Films in a Year 2012]
[#47 in 100 Films in a Year 2012]
The Beast Stalker (2008)
[#48 in 100 Films in a Year 2012]
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
HMV's 20% off Blu-rays offer last weekend saw plenty of stuff ordered by yours truly. Most of it was pre-orders (why not take advantage for stuff you're going to end up buying anyway, eh?), but a few things already out, which have naturally turned up in the intervening days. The 43 TV episodes are courtesy of a complete Press Gang box set from Network's Jubilee sale.
And just in time for a running time update too. How exciting.
Number of titles in collection: 1,493 [up 5]
Of which DVDs: 1,156 [up 1]
Of which Blu-rays: 337 [up 4]
Number of discs in collection: 3,703 [up 12]
Number of films in collection: 1,580 [up 4]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 5,532 [up 43]
And this week's running time update...
Total running time of collection (approx.):
265 days, 1 hour, and 57 minutes.
(Up 1 day, 20 hours, and 19 minutes from last month.)
See you next week, faithful reader.
HMV's 20% off Blu-rays offer last weekend saw plenty of stuff ordered by yours truly. Most of it was pre-orders (why not take advantage for stuff you're going to end up buying anyway, eh?), but a few things already out, which have naturally turned up in the intervening days. The 43 TV episodes are courtesy of a complete Press Gang box set from Network's Jubilee sale.
And just in time for a running time update too. How exciting.
Number of titles in collection: 1,493 [up 5]
Of which DVDs: 1,156 [up 1]
Of which Blu-rays: 337 [up 4]
Number of discs in collection: 3,703 [up 12]
Number of films in collection: 1,580 [up 4]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 5,532 [up 43]
And this week's running time update...
Total running time of collection (approx.):
265 days, 1 hour, and 57 minutes.
(Up 1 day, 20 hours, and 19 minutes from last month.)
See you next week, faithful reader.
Friday, 15 June 2012
TV
It is, quite by accident, season finale day!
Have I Got News For You
43x09 (8/6/12 edition; extended repeat) [season finale]
[Watch the extended version (again) on iPlayer.]
Mad Men
5x13 The Phantom [season finale]
Alongside episode 12 I posted an interview with series creator Matthew Weiner in which he not only discussed the season so far but promised to talk to them again after the finale. And he did, and that's here. There's also Digital Spy's verdict on the finale here.
As various people have noted, this a very low-key finale, but still high-quality. Less of a cliffhanger ending than they've made the last few years, but I'm always excited for more Mad Men anyway.
Romanzo Criminale
1x12 Episode 12 [season finale]
Or as I like to call it, the Romanzo Crimfinale! ...I'll get my coat.
Helluvan ending, though. Even more excited for the second series now.
Have I Got News For You
43x09 (8/6/12 edition; extended repeat) [season finale]
[Watch the extended version (again) on iPlayer.]
Mad Men
5x13 The Phantom [season finale]
Alongside episode 12 I posted an interview with series creator Matthew Weiner in which he not only discussed the season so far but promised to talk to them again after the finale. And he did, and that's here. There's also Digital Spy's verdict on the finale here.
As various people have noted, this a very low-key finale, but still high-quality. Less of a cliffhanger ending than they've made the last few years, but I'm always excited for more Mad Men anyway.
Romanzo Criminale
1x12 Episode 12 [season finale]
Or as I like to call it, the Romanzo Crimfinale! ...I'll get my coat.
Helluvan ending, though. Even more excited for the second series now.
Trailers
For the BBC's forthcoming adaptations of Shakespeare's Richard II, Henry IV Parts 1 and 2, and Henry V, which look bloody awesome.
From Bleeding Cool, where there are several more clips.
From Bleeding Cool, where there are several more clips.
Thursday, 14 June 2012
TV
The Graham Norton Show
11x02 (20/4/12 edition)
Well, now I know who Nicki Minaj is. Thanks for nothing, Graham.
Once Upon a Time
1x09 True North
An episode about Hansel and Gretel. You can tell because they suddenly call each other by name when the writer decided it was time for the reveal. That's just one of an endless stream of unintentionally laughable moments this episode. After quite liking the last episode, this is crashing back to the series' usual standard. Below it, even.
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
Pointless
6x35 (30/4/12 edition)
Resuming the series that stopped on 30th March. Why they switched to repeats just through April, God only knows.
Romanzo Criminale
1x10 Episode 10
1x11 Episode 11
I nearly gave up on this, when it had been over six months since I watched an episode and there was 10 hours of it filling needed space on my V+ box; but I'm glad I chose to watch it rather than just delete it, because it's bloody good stuff. Now I'll join the ranks of people (see the comments at the series link above) hoping Sky Arts show the second (and final) series before too long. After I've watched the last episode of this one, of course.
11x02 (20/4/12 edition)
Well, now I know who Nicki Minaj is. Thanks for nothing, Graham.
Once Upon a Time
1x09 True North
An episode about Hansel and Gretel. You can tell because they suddenly call each other by name when the writer decided it was time for the reveal. That's just one of an endless stream of unintentionally laughable moments this episode. After quite liking the last episode, this is crashing back to the series' usual standard. Below it, even.
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
Pointless
6x35 (30/4/12 edition)
Resuming the series that stopped on 30th March. Why they switched to repeats just through April, God only knows.
Romanzo Criminale
1x10 Episode 10
1x11 Episode 11
I nearly gave up on this, when it had been over six months since I watched an episode and there was 10 hours of it filling needed space on my V+ box; but I'm glad I chose to watch it rather than just delete it, because it's bloody good stuff. Now I'll join the ranks of people (see the comments at the series link above) hoping Sky Arts show the second (and final) series before too long. After I've watched the last episode of this one, of course.
Wednesday, 13 June 2012
Comics
Batgirl
#7 by Gail Simone, Ardian Syaf & Alitha Martinez
#8 by Gail Simone, Ardian Syaf, Alitha Martinez & Vicente Cifuentes
So, #7 was a bit blah -- talky talky middle; ongoing plots treading water -- until a helluva twist at the end. Simone seems to specialise in those -- there's another biggie at the end of #8 for starters. That issue's better, dealing with the ending of #7 giving it more of an emotional kick, not to mention backstory-mystery-solving kinda stuff.
Grotesque is a wasted villain though -- he's a good idea thrown away as background for a story about his henchman. Still, maybe someday someone will dig him out and do something with him -- that's what happens in the never-ending serial of interconnected superhero comics, right?
Also, it's a nice touch of the series that people keep calling her "Batwoman". Clever.
DC Comics - The New 52: FCBD Special Edition by Geoff Johns, Jim Lee, Ivan Reis, Joe Prado, Kenneth Rocafort & Gene Ha
DC's primary book for this year's Free Comic Book Day, containing a 14-page Justice League story written by Johns and illustrated by about a dozen different pencillers/colourers/etc. Well, it's kind of a "whole DCU" story really, but that's essentially what Justice League is, so it counts as that. It's all tease and setup and backstory, but I imagine what it sets up will be Very Important sometime next year.
The comic is fleshed out with 12 pages of previews for the six new books in The New 52's second wave. That just means a couple of excerpts, which is better than the usual issue-one-cover-plus-release-date that DC uses for adverts at the minute, but doesn't amount to much content-wise.
Justice League #8 by Geoff Johns & Carlos D'Anda with Ivan Reis & Joe Prado
A one-and-done (before next issue starts the next Big Story). Well, I say one-and-done -- more one-and-stop-quite-abruptly-without-really-concluding. But it will have cheered up some diehard fans wondering why Martian Manhunter isn't on the team, so at least they'll be appeased. Shame that the sudden end undercuts it though, because everything up to that point is good fun. And I must say, I like D'Anda's art better than Jim Lee's. I'm beginning to concur with those who say he's overrated.
Plus the second part of dull backup strip Shazam!, written by Johns and drawn by Gary Frank. 10 pages of domestic drama -- what?
Suicide Squad #9 by Adam Glass & Fernando Dagnino
Resurrection Man #9 by Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning, Jesus Saiz & Andres Guinaldo
Here's a weirdness: regular Resurrection Man artist Dagnino draws the Suicide Squad half of this two-part crossover, while Resurrection Man gets some other people. Maybe they regularly draw Suicide Squad and it's a deliberate switcheroo, I dunno.
Still, it's a solid crossover: lots of fighting, some plot developments. The first issue is mostly the former, the second issue more the latter, making it the better half. It ends up with the Suicide Squad having Mitch's right hand (while he's grown a new one, of course) and his current ally Kim Rebecki having a Suicide Squad-controlled bomb placed in her neck for future leverage. What's unclear is if these are future plot points for Resurrection Man or Suicide Squad or both or neither. Hopefully the solicitations will highlight it if there's going to be relevant crossover again...
#7 by Gail Simone, Ardian Syaf & Alitha Martinez
#8 by Gail Simone, Ardian Syaf, Alitha Martinez & Vicente Cifuentes
So, #7 was a bit blah -- talky talky middle; ongoing plots treading water -- until a helluva twist at the end. Simone seems to specialise in those -- there's another biggie at the end of #8 for starters. That issue's better, dealing with the ending of #7 giving it more of an emotional kick, not to mention backstory-mystery-solving kinda stuff.
Grotesque is a wasted villain though -- he's a good idea thrown away as background for a story about his henchman. Still, maybe someday someone will dig him out and do something with him -- that's what happens in the never-ending serial of interconnected superhero comics, right?
Also, it's a nice touch of the series that people keep calling her "Batwoman". Clever.
DC Comics - The New 52: FCBD Special Edition by Geoff Johns, Jim Lee, Ivan Reis, Joe Prado, Kenneth Rocafort & Gene Ha
DC's primary book for this year's Free Comic Book Day, containing a 14-page Justice League story written by Johns and illustrated by about a dozen different pencillers/colourers/etc. Well, it's kind of a "whole DCU" story really, but that's essentially what Justice League is, so it counts as that. It's all tease and setup and backstory, but I imagine what it sets up will be Very Important sometime next year.
The comic is fleshed out with 12 pages of previews for the six new books in The New 52's second wave. That just means a couple of excerpts, which is better than the usual issue-one-cover-plus-release-date that DC uses for adverts at the minute, but doesn't amount to much content-wise.
Justice League #8 by Geoff Johns & Carlos D'Anda with Ivan Reis & Joe Prado
A one-and-done (before next issue starts the next Big Story). Well, I say one-and-done -- more one-and-stop-quite-abruptly-without-really-concluding. But it will have cheered up some diehard fans wondering why Martian Manhunter isn't on the team, so at least they'll be appeased. Shame that the sudden end undercuts it though, because everything up to that point is good fun. And I must say, I like D'Anda's art better than Jim Lee's. I'm beginning to concur with those who say he's overrated.
Plus the second part of dull backup strip Shazam!, written by Johns and drawn by Gary Frank. 10 pages of domestic drama -- what?
Suicide Squad #9 by Adam Glass & Fernando Dagnino
Resurrection Man #9 by Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning, Jesus Saiz & Andres Guinaldo
Here's a weirdness: regular Resurrection Man artist Dagnino draws the Suicide Squad half of this two-part crossover, while Resurrection Man gets some other people. Maybe they regularly draw Suicide Squad and it's a deliberate switcheroo, I dunno.
Still, it's a solid crossover: lots of fighting, some plot developments. The first issue is mostly the former, the second issue more the latter, making it the better half. It ends up with the Suicide Squad having Mitch's right hand (while he's grown a new one, of course) and his current ally Kim Rebecki having a Suicide Squad-controlled bomb placed in her neck for future leverage. What's unclear is if these are future plot points for Resurrection Man or Suicide Squad or both or neither. Hopefully the solicitations will highlight it if there's going to be relevant crossover again...
Articles
Tynion Snatches a Talon from Batman
by Jeffrey Renaud (from Comic Book Resources)
Interview with James Tynion IV, writer of the forthcoming Batman spin-off Talon, which could be rather good. It's one of four new titles DC are launching in September, and while I'm interested in all of them for a change, this looks the most promising to me.
by Jeffrey Renaud (from Comic Book Resources)
Interview with James Tynion IV, writer of the forthcoming Batman spin-off Talon, which could be rather good. It's one of four new titles DC are launching in September, and while I'm interested in all of them for a change, this looks the most promising to me.
Tuesday, 12 June 2012
TV
Mad Men
5x12 Commissions and Fees
Another incredible episode. Personally I've enjoyed the entire season (as I was saying last time), but it really feels like they're pulling out all the stops towards the end.
Now that I've reached the penultimate episode, I'll also share this spoiler-riddled interview with creator Matthew Weiner, which looks back at the season so far and explains some things. Very interesting stuff for fans, but if you're even further behind than me do beware -- it has huge spoilers for this episode.
Romanzo Criminale
1x07 Episode 7
1x08 Episode 8
5x12 Commissions and Fees
Another incredible episode. Personally I've enjoyed the entire season (as I was saying last time), but it really feels like they're pulling out all the stops towards the end.
Now that I've reached the penultimate episode, I'll also share this spoiler-riddled interview with creator Matthew Weiner, which looks back at the season so far and explains some things. Very interesting stuff for fans, but if you're even further behind than me do beware -- it has huge spoilers for this episode.
Romanzo Criminale
1x07 Episode 7
1x08 Episode 8
Comics
Daredevil #10.1 by Mark Waid & Khoi Pham
Marvel's semi-controversial Point One series reaches Daredevil. It's designed to present potential readers with a standalone jumping-on point and taster of the series, but has been criticised for producing books that are inessential, too essential, or don't actually reflect the regular series very well. You can't win I guess.
This one... well, it's certainly not a one-and-done, being very much the next step in Daredevil's ongoing storyline about a harddrive containing vital information on all five of the Marvel U's biggest criminal organisations. It begins with some new-reader-friendly recaps, but nothing more than you could put in a regular issue -- this is Daredevil #11 in all but name; a regular issue with a number that highlights they've made concessions to allow new readers to begin here. Which I suppose makes sense really, though wouldn't they have been better off playing the "jump on here!" at the end of this big arc?
Other than that, I'm no fan of Pham's art. It just doesn't work for me. The book's regular pair of pencillers had been doing good, if kind of simplistically old-fashioned, stuff all run; Pham seems to be in the same ballpark, but it's kind of rougher in a way that doesn't click for me. Unfortunately he's back in a bit for the pivotal #13.
The Omega Effect
Avenging Spider-Man #6 by Greg Rucka, Mark Waid & Marco Checchetto
The Punisher #10 by Greg Rucka & Marco Checchetto
Daredevil #11 by Mark Waid & Marco Checchetto
A three-part crossover spanning... well, the above books. Despite ending with Daredevil, it's actually the next step in that book's ongoing story, related to the harddrive I was on about above.
It's a proper epic-feeling crossover, justifying the use of three heroes and the (apparent) climax to Daredevil's big plot. Checchetto's art is awesome too, even in spite of some copy-and-pasted panels and an unclear ending to The Punisher issue. Though even he can't make the cheap-'50s-sci-fi-B-movie-style costumes of the criminal organisations look any good. Nonetheless, more from him, please... but I think he's the regular artist on Punisher, so I guess I won't get it. Hey-ho.
For more detail on the thinking behind this crossover, see the two-part pre-event interview with the writers from Marvel.com: first Mark Waid, then Greg Rucka.
Marvel's semi-controversial Point One series reaches Daredevil. It's designed to present potential readers with a standalone jumping-on point and taster of the series, but has been criticised for producing books that are inessential, too essential, or don't actually reflect the regular series very well. You can't win I guess.
This one... well, it's certainly not a one-and-done, being very much the next step in Daredevil's ongoing storyline about a harddrive containing vital information on all five of the Marvel U's biggest criminal organisations. It begins with some new-reader-friendly recaps, but nothing more than you could put in a regular issue -- this is Daredevil #11 in all but name; a regular issue with a number that highlights they've made concessions to allow new readers to begin here. Which I suppose makes sense really, though wouldn't they have been better off playing the "jump on here!" at the end of this big arc?
Other than that, I'm no fan of Pham's art. It just doesn't work for me. The book's regular pair of pencillers had been doing good, if kind of simplistically old-fashioned, stuff all run; Pham seems to be in the same ballpark, but it's kind of rougher in a way that doesn't click for me. Unfortunately he's back in a bit for the pivotal #13.
The Omega EffectAvenging Spider-Man #6 by Greg Rucka, Mark Waid & Marco Checchetto
The Punisher #10 by Greg Rucka & Marco Checchetto
Daredevil #11 by Mark Waid & Marco Checchetto
A three-part crossover spanning... well, the above books. Despite ending with Daredevil, it's actually the next step in that book's ongoing story, related to the harddrive I was on about above.
It's a proper epic-feeling crossover, justifying the use of three heroes and the (apparent) climax to Daredevil's big plot. Checchetto's art is awesome too, even in spite of some copy-and-pasted panels and an unclear ending to The Punisher issue. Though even he can't make the cheap-'50s-sci-fi-B-movie-style costumes of the criminal organisations look any good. Nonetheless, more from him, please... but I think he's the regular artist on Punisher, so I guess I won't get it. Hey-ho.
For more detail on the thinking behind this crossover, see the two-part pre-event interview with the writers from Marvel.com: first Mark Waid, then Greg Rucka.
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