Polly Pocket and My Little Pony Are Teaming Up to Provide a Nostalgia Overload. Can We Bring Back Mighty Max, Too?

In the 1990's you saw a huge number of kids playing with Mighty Max and Polly Pocket (both owned by Mattel since 1998). Max was geared more towards boys with creepy monster playsets, and Polly towards girls with mansions, boutiques, and such. However, when I was a young warthog ("Lion King," reference), I noticed the figures were about the same size, and I would use my creativity to play with both. I'd have Polly Pocket go explore a haunted mummy tomb while Max chilled by the pool at a hotel. I'd concoct these elaborate stories about them and have a lot of fun with both products. Hence, seeing Polly Pocket back in the news gave me a little nostalgic jolt, and hearing she's teaming-up with, "My Little Pony," doesn't get me too excited, but I'm sure some people who enjoyed both Polly and the Ponies are positively foaming at the mouth hearing about a new playset with the mouthful of a name, "My Little Pony Polly Pocket Compact."

The MLPPPC, for short(ish), is not yet for sale anywhere. You cannot even buy it at Comic-Con International/SDCC, whose announcement it is intended to overlap with. That said, it is on display at the show to build hype for when it does land in stores for a suggested retail price of $30. If Hasbro, the owners of, "My Little Pony," and Mattel (who own Polly Pocket) can team up for this cool collaboration, it isn't that far-fetched to think Mattel can use another of its own properties with Mighty Max and give me an official crossover with Polly Pocket to send my Millennial self into a nirvana of nostalgia.

"Avengers: Armageddon," #2 and, "Captain America," #13 are Two Comics by the Same Writer Yet Have Such a Tonal Difference

Chip Zdarsky is a fantastic writer. There are not too many folks writing comics at Marvel right now I get excited to pick up the work of, but they include Jed MacKay, Jonathan Hickman, and good ol' Chip. Last week, he had two comics come out that take place within the same Universe, a part of the same event (to a degree), and are just so different it is astounding. You've got the second issue of, "Avengers: Armageddon," which is full of geopolitical intrigue, arguments about how to utilize militaristic power in the name of affecting change, and so forth. Then, Captain America was brutally injured by the Red Hulk/Thunderbolt Ross before, "Avengers: Armageddon," and his comic follows him in some surreal iteration of Hell, leading damned souls and some demons to overthrow Mephisto. It's good, but weird.

One comic is doing an interesting take on, "Powerful hero questions why the other heroes do so little," concept, which has been riffed on by everyone from Alan Moore (Miracleman) to your friend who complains, "Why won't Batman just kill the Joker?" This questioning is being done with by a newer character, David Colton, who appeared in the start of Zdarsky's run on, "Captain America," in a flashback arc (to establish he's been around in continuity but just hasn't been seen much) and then got some extra powers due to a magical Origin Box from the Ultimate Universe...yeah, it is a bit confusing, comics can be wacky. It is still interesting and slightly grounded in reality with its exploration of if, "Might makes right," and how much justification America has to put its forces in other countries--be they superheroes or the military.

Meanwhile, we've got the same writer taking the, "Captain America," comic that had the same vibe but suddenly segued us into Hell. As for why Captain America went to Hell, Doctor Doom kinda ended up there too when he died in his recent, "One World Under Doom," comic (he's got some beef with the Devil, as past comics established) and used his magic to get Steve Rogers dragged down there too upon being mortally wounded. This is not a metaphorical or symbolic Hell, either; this is a literal Hell, full of mystical monsters and fire. The shift from, "Riffing on real-world politics with fictional superheroes," to, "Hey, let's take a big journey through Hell," brings some tonal whiplash for sure, but Zdarsky is a skilled enough writer that it isn't too jarring. Plus, again, comics can be wacky! Both comics are great reads, and this isn't a review so much as me discussing how strange comics can get. Chip Zdarsky knows how to spin a good yarn, though, and I congratulate him on his, "Stillwater," comic getting a T.V. series order, as well!

CCI/SDCC Starts Tomorrow with the Preview Night

Starting tomorrow, Comic-Con International/San Diego Comic-Con will have the Preview Night. There are no big panels, but if you bought the special badge that includes it or such, you can enjoy wandering around the show floor and (generally) doing some shopping. Then, once it is Thursday, the show starts in full force with tons of attendees, panels, events, and all that good stuff. I'm sure a large amount of news will emerge from the show about upcoming comics, television shows, movies, games, toys, and anything else in popular culture with a fanbase because this is such a huge event! I know I'll be staying tuned to any news feeds for any interesting updates when I'm not busy checking out some other cool local shows this weekend. It is always interesting to see what ends up being the biggest story of/from the show, that's for sure.

The First Full Trailer for, "Avengers: Doomsday," Appears Nifty

I watched the first (of probably a couple) full trailer for, "Avengers Doomsday." Besides a bit of a teaser here and there, little has been shown/revealed. In the trailer, released yesterday, we hear what sounds like Robert Downey Junior with an accent speaking as Doctor Doom about a major threat. Then, we get a bunch of scenes of much of the MCU gathering together whilst a voice-over from Thor (Chris Hemsworth) discusses how the current threat facing everyone scares him more than anything he'd ever faced--and back then he had other friends by his side too...who died (one would assume this references Iron Man and Captain America, not so much the MCU's Pietro/Quicksilver). Have a look:

The footage gives us a good look at some Multiversal iteration of the Avengers fighting an X-Men team where Channing Tatum's Gambit is present (odd, but I'm not complaining) and Mystique (Rebecca Romijn) wears more clothing (which does have some of the internet that favors a nothing-but-blue-paint-style complaining). I mean, we get more James Marsden as Cyclops, and he's in a comic-style suit, so I'm happy about that and am fine with the other tweaks too--Magneto's got some long locks! I would imagine much of the movie is centered on the Avengers taking on this X-Men-verse as we saw with, "Incursions," when Jonathan Hickman wrote, "Avengers," and, "New Avengers." That eventually ended with Doctor Doom kind of saving the day and creating a new Universe in the 2015 version of, "Secret Wars," which also happens to be the second part of this filmic duology with, "Avengers: Secret Wars." 

The trailer got me curious enough about the movie I'd maybe check it out in theaters, even if the Chris Evans' Captain America return had already been spoiled before the trailer's reveal. I haven't really been able to say that about a Marvel production since the horror stylings of the Sam Raimi-directed, "Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness," got me to buy a movie ticket. If I'm considering seeing this in theaters, I guess mission accomplished? Plus, it gives Marvel plenty to talk about this week at Comic-Con International/San Diego Comic-Con!

"Terminal," #1 Advance Review

The debut issue of "Terminal," arrives in comic shops in two days. Skybound (an imprint of Image), putting out this new series, was kind enough to send digital copies out for the purpose of review more than a month before the book was set to hit stands (with the request that all reviewers wait until the Monday before its release to share their thoughts). Written by Robert Kirkman and Joe Casey, those two names have a lot of skill and a number of hits under their belt. This first issue is illustrated by the also extremely talented Andy Kubert. That makes it interesting that I wasn't disappointed in this first issue, but perhaps one could say slightly underwhelmed with a hint of optimism?

"Terminal," features two secret groups fighting to seemingly either save or doom Earth. The people involved have powers, there are long-lost siblings, weird otherworldly beings, and other concepts you've seen in many other stories. Kubert's art is fantastic, but I found myself waiting the whole time I was reading for the story to really hook me in. Outside of a bit of a twist regarding who I thought would be the main character for the book, there wasn't much meat here. Still, "Invincible," didn't really get going with its reveal about Omni-Man until around the seventh issue and, "The Walking Dead," needed a chunk of issues before really picking up steam. This goes to say that I somewhat expect there is more to, "Terminal," than the first issue indicates. Kirkman is known for his slow-burn style with some stories and Casey is excellent as spinning a yarn full of twists and quirks as well (his, "Uncanny X-Men," run remains underrated and his, "Codeflesh," is a grim and surreal masterpiece). It wouldn't surprise me if, "Terminal," manages to, well, surprise me! For now, it has a good-but-not-great first issue and has me at least a bit curious where things could go next.

3 out of 5 Stars.

I Saw Jim Gaffigan Perform Yesterday and it Was a Hoot!

Samii and I saw Jim Gaffigan perform stand-up comedy yesterday as part of his, "Everything is Wonderful," tour. It was a fantastic show! Gaffigan discussed a variety of topics from some darker humor (a bit about selecting your menu options and filling out a survey for a last meal before an execution had Samii cracking up) to his usual relatable wit about other subjects--he observed when he sees someone running in an airport because they're late he legitmately thinks, "I hope they don't make it so they learn a lesson." I always enjoy comedy shows, and when you know the person performing is going to be hilarious, that's always great as opposed to going to an event where you know little about the act/acts. Jim Gaffigan has been doing comedy since the 90's and remains as engaging in his craft as ever. If you have a chance to see him anywhere else whilst he's touring, I'd encourage you to go!

The First Issue of, "Moonjiggle," is Spicy, Clever, and Hilarious

Space Between Entertainment is a smaller independent publisher I am familiar with, as I've followed the work of creator Pat Shand for years and he does a lot with them--which makes sense as he founded and owns the company! SBE recently released print and digital copies of a new series, "Moonjiggle." It is written by Dave Franchini with art by Bamburat. It is a bit of a tongue-in-cheek satire that heavily mocks concepts of censorship through sci-fi metaphors. A regime dedicated to eliminating concepts of pleasure and free love known as The Puritanus (a bit of clever wordplay with that name), is after a ragtag group made up of sexy (and often horny) space folk due to how they've got an artifact capable of directing the holder to a galaxy full of romance/pleasure/etc. It is a fun parody of old sci-fi that isn't outright pornographic (there are plenty of non-sexual moments and jokes) but has some panels that are definitely explicit. Don't let the action-packed or titillating moments overshadow the fact that this first issue is packed full of clever symbolism, however. One could easily use the lens of our present-day society and its views of sexuality in any form beyond what is heteronormative and, "Traditional/vanilla," as our current-day society has its own, "Puritanus," forces.

Bamburat's art is superb, whether providing readers with quite detailed examples of gentilia, fights breaking out, or spaceships rocketing to safety. "Moonjiggle," is the perfect blend of having a vintage, "Sexplotation," sci-fi vibe (gotta love a classic like, "Barbarella,") mixed with some sharp political satire. Should that sound like a good time, I'd highly recommend getting a copy in digital or physical form for yourself!

5 out of 5 Stars.

Next Weekend Has Two Cool Shows in the Region

Fun stuff happens in this bi-state area!

Much of next week and the weekend will have Comic-Con International/San Diego Comic-Con in the news. A lot of folks will be traveling there and enjoying what is (usually) the biggest comic/television/movie/pop-culture event of the year. However, if you're going to be around my neck of the woods, two cool comic events are happening on the 25th and then the 26th that I'd recommend checking out.

On July 25th, the awesome folks over at Bigfoot Comics and Collectibles will be doing the Airbase Treasure Chest Event. It'll have comics, coins, and all kinds of collectibles. The American Legion Mascoutah will be holding it as the above flyer illustrates. This is the first time it has been held, and it looks to be a lot of fun! I'm not sure I'll be able to make it out there due to some other family obligations, but I'd encourage anyone able to get over ot Mascoutah to head on over.

July 26th will mark the latest Spector Club show. This one is always a fantastic event to find cool comics, and it is continuing to be held at its spacious and very nice new location, the American-Czech Center at 4690 Lansdowne. If you're able to attend both shows or even just one of these, you're sure to have quite a fun time next weekend. It illustrates how you don't have to go all the way to San Diego in July to find some stellar comic shows--even though it might be fun to go out there someday if I can get anyone to cover my travel and lodging expenses to do a write-up!

I Appreciate Joe Casey Discussing Some Companies Generally Paying Less Royalties Than They Should

Marvel seems to do this thing where if you create a character under their work-for-hire system and they use it in a movie/show, they'll give you a check...but are very careful about it. They aren't giving you a royalty; it is $5,000 and an invite to the premiere of the thing with your character...as long as you signed some contracts too, where they're protected from you suing for more money or speaking out about things too much in a critical manner. I mean, Ed Brubaker got more money for filming a cameo in, "Captain America: The Winter Soldier," than what he made on the character being in the flicks (yes, yes, there is some argument about how he took an established character such as Bucky and did Winter Soldier, I know). Joe Casey has done quite well with a number of projects and didn't feel like he needed to sign any paperwork for Marvel using America Chavez in, "Doctor Strange and Multiverse of Madness," or now for William Metzger (being played by Tramell Tillman) in, "Spider-Man: Brand New Day." Metzger was created by Casey and Steve Rude back in the 1999-ish mini-series, "X-Men: Children of the Atom." He just feels that if a character is being used a good deal in a production, perhaps the millions being spent (and made) can have a decent check go to the person who actually invented this (hopefully) profitable property.

Casey isn't outright enraged at Marvel; he still works with them on occasion. Still, Casey feels, "For me, it’s not about money. It’s not even about the respect. I would never expect to be respected by a corporation...If I’m in a position where I can afford not to take their insult of an offer, and be able to talk about it, maybe the next guy — where that kind of money could change their life — would get a fair shot of receiving that money.” An honorable sentiment from a creator who can turn down a smaller check and talk about thanks to other successful projects (he and Joe Kelly did well with, "Ben 10," for sure, to name one thing). It goes to show that when you're doing work-for-hire in the comic industry, you could make something insanely popular and barely see much extra scratch for it. At least if something creator-owned fails to strike a chord in the market, you still have ownership.

Film Friday: "Digger," Looks Intriguingly Unhinged

I've written plenty of times about how I don't much care for Tom Cruise as a person whenever I've read about how he's quite unpleasant, egocentric, and so forth. That said, I will never deny that the man can act. That is quite on display in the trailer for the upcoming dark comedy, "Digger." Cruise plays an elderly and deranged oil tycoon whose company's actions put the safety of our planet at risk, so he's got to save us all from the problem he created. Give the trailer a view:

Cruise is the main attraction, but the supporting cast is nothing to ignore either, with John Goodman as the President of America looking to be a hoot as well. "Digger,' hits theaters October 2nd. Between this, "Street Fighter," and, "Clayface," there are three movies I want to see in theaters that month!