Super Mario Odyssey Trailer, My Thoughts

Yesterday, Nintendo did a big presentation of their next console, the Switch. And with it came some teasers for some upcoming games for the system. One of them is of course, a Mario game. It's called Super Mario Odyssey. Here's the trailer!

With a title like Super Mario Odyssey, I can't help but get the idea that maybe this game involves Mario going on an epic journey. The description dos say Mario will go on an epic journey, and this will be a sandbox-style game. A Mario sandbox game. Can't wait to see how Nintendo will pull this off.

The trailer begins with the camera panning over a city. Heh heh, New Donk City. Makes me think that we'll see a giant Donkey Kong climbing the Mushroom State Building with Pauline in his hand. Get it?

The camera then goes down to a city street, focusing on a manhole. A taxi drives over it, the cover twitches, and Mario pops out from the sewers. He probably smells awful after that journey. A smiling Mario twirls his cap in his hand, puts it on, then runs through the city. I have to admit, it is insane to look at.

A nice touch is that the traffic lights look like question blocks. Maybe they are question blocks. Although I can't help but wonder, how do the people in NDC avoid traffic accidents with traffic lights like that? Do the question marks change color? Can Mario get items out of them? And it seems every car we see is a taxi. That's weird.

One bit that made me chuckle is that Mario then jumps on a taxi's hood and bounces off it like it was a trampoline. If Nintendo wanted to make it more realistic, we should hear a driver cursing Mario out for that, ha ha!

Mario shows us he still has his moves, he can wall kick, hang off ledges, all that stuff. I wonder if this city is some sort of hub world, like Station Square in Sonic Adventure. We see Mario do a long jump off a building, and I don't see that ending well.

Mario then gets into a floating airship, leaving New Donk City, and going to a desert. One neat new thing he shown to do is the ability to curl up into a ball like an armadillo and roll down hills. I wonder if that's supposed to be an evolution of the sliding he can do in the 2D games. He rolls into what looks like a possible Western-style town painted by someone with a neon fetish.

One interesting note: He bounces up to a building, and we see Mario on a roof, collecting these purple triangle things. They're arranged like coins are, and they make sounds like coins when Mario collects them. Are these what the coins in this new game will look like? It's an odd change if so.

The trailer next goes from the desert to a jungle, where we see Mario run past these yellow robot watering can-looking things. What are those?! He next runs on a river, and during his running, I noticed his arms were out like he was about to fly. Traditionally, if Mario makes that pose when he's running, that means he's getting ready to fly once he gets the right power-up. Mario may be able to fly in this game, there may be a power-up that can accompany that.

We see some gorgeous scenery, and one sticks out to me: The one world? Level? That looks like a giant fruit bowl. Mario is carrying a turnip on his head. Shades of Mario 2! All that turnip needed was a face on it, like this one.

We see Mario encounter a Hammer Brother, but instead of hammers, it appears to toss frying pans at Mario. Maybe that one ran out of hammers. Those frying pans are poorly constructed, though. They shatter when they hit the ground. Then a pot explodes on a neon volcano. Nintendo's directive to the level designers clearly was, "Go nuts. Go completely nuts."

Mario shivering, Mario jumping rope with some New Donk City citizens, and Mario talking to what looks like a fork in a chef's hat. Yup, the designers were allowed to just go nuts with this game. Dancing with a boombox, burning his butt on what I think is hot soup, yeah, this is crazy.

In Western Town, we see Mario go into a building called Crazy Cap. A billboard appeared of it in the first shot of New Donk. It's important.

Next is Bowser, actually looking quite slick in his white suit and top hat, which he pitches at Mario like Oddjob's bowler from Goldfinger.

We then see that Mario can toss his own hat like a boomerang. I'm guessing this'll be the big mechanic of the game, much like the cat suit in Super Mario World 3D. Got that game for Christmas, a LOT of fun! The mechanic has a practical use, as it seems when he tosses his hat, Mario can use it to jump higher and over longer chasms by bouncing off it. Pretty cool.

Mario rides a lion. That's awesome, but I hope Yoshi doesn't get jealous.

Some gameplay footage, and Mario spots a billboard, Bowser's going to force Peach to marry him. Bowser stomps on Mario's hat. Maybe that's a preview of the final battle?

We get some brief glimpses of what may be new characters in the game, possibly bosses. I wonder if we'll get any previous characters returning. I wouldn't mind seeing some of the Mario 2 bosses making a surprise comeback.

Mario's hat has eyes. It has eyes. Of its own. Maybe that's how Mario can toss his hat like a boomerang? It would make sense.

This trailer was epic. I am excited to get the Switch and this game. I hope that like with 3D World, it'll be one of those games I can't put down. It does look like it. Shame this isn't a launch title, but based on what I saw of Breath of the Wild, I think the Switch will do fine.

Double Dragon IV Teaser, My Thoughts

This year, the Double Dragon franchise is celebrating its 30th anniversary, and Arc System Works plans to celebrate by putting out a new game. Say hello to Double Dragon IV!

The trailer starts with a "Double Dragon 30th Anniversary" card, then the video goes into an effect that resembles the turning on of an old CRT TV, complete with tracking issues. The sequence gives us a glimpse of what we can assume is the game's title screen, which seems to resemble the title screens of the NES Double Dragon games. Interesting.

Then it shows a TV showing footage of the intro cutscene and some gameplay of the original Double Dragon. The music is a slowed-down version of the what I believe is the theme song. The snow hits, and...

It switches to what I think may be footage of the new game. I have to admit, I am kind of disappointed that this new game isn't in the style of Double Dragon Neon, as I really enjoyed Neon's look and soundtrack. However, I'm sure making it look like it the NES will be a nice thing for those who grew up with the series on NES. Neon was the first game in the series I really sat down and played. I do remember playing a little bit of the original in an arcade many years ago, but that was really it with me and the series.

I will admit, that take on the theme is pretty awesome, and the game does look fun. Shame it's only going to be coming to PS4 and Steam.

Action Comics #674 (February 1992)

Yup, it's a comic review! This time, I decided to take a look at an old issue of Action Comics from 1992. On New Year's Day, I went down to the mall to get some winter boots. While I was there, I also got a copy of the trade paperback for the Superman storyline known as Panic in the Sky!

I have to admit, I made a mistake in my last blog entry. When I said I didn't review any comics last year, I goofed. I reviewed six comics: Captain America #372, the 1983-84 Falcon mini-series (Issues One, Two, Three, and Four) and Justice League #221. Give them a read! I hope you enjoy them!

So, as part of my New Year's resolution, I decided to review a comic that was part of this storyline, and what better to start with was the first issue of the storyline: Action Comics #674!

First of all, I have to say, I do like the cover. It is a bit generic, but it is very well-drawn thanks to Dan Jurgens and Bob McLeod's inks compliment it wonderfully.

You may notice the triangle with the number on it. You see, at the time, there were four books focusing on Superman and his friends and enemies: Action Comics, Superman: The Man of Steel, The Adventures of Superman, and just plain Superman. Yup, there literally was a new Superman comic coming out every week. As a result, the creative teams of the books would collaborate to push the story along (They held regular "Super-Summits" to plot out storylines, which helped maintain cohesiveness). The triangles on the covers of the books basically were a little visual aid to readers to help them figure out in what order to read the books. The triangles made a brief return during the whole New Krypton thing a few years ago.

Anyway, let's take a look at the story itself!

"The Past is Prologue"
Writer: Roger Stern
Penciler: Bob McLeod
Inker: Denis Rodier
Letterer: Bill Oakley
Colorist: Glenn Whitmore

We come to the planet Kletus-4. This planet looks kind of like something you would find in Bravestarr or Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers. One of the patrons is getting a little too touchy with a server. However, another patron does not take kindly to it. Who is this patron?

It's someone doing their best Clint Eastwood in the Dollars Trilogy cosplay. It's not bad, but the poncho should not really be that colorful. The Man With No Name would have found that incredibly gaudy.

Mr. Touchy Feely doesn't take too kindly to Clint's objection, and tries to cut his chest. When that fails, a fight breaks out. Clint easily kicks the butts of everyone in the bar, revealing...Superman?!

You may be wondering why Superman seems so...off in these following panels. His costume is gray-and-black. His cape is missing. And he blasts a man out of the bar with his eyes.

Well, minor spoiler alert...that's not Superman. You see, that's Matrix, a shapeshifting lifeform. As for how Matrix took this form,  I recommend you check out my review of Action Comics #644. I chose this issue at random. I swear. Anyway, an alien that looks kind of like a blob in a gray spacesuit finds Matrix and drags Matrix away.

Anyway, the fight is revealed to be a story that a patron is telling to Draaga, an alien warrior Superman fought and defeated recently. If you ever saw the episode of the 1990s Justice League cartoon episode "Warworld", you'd get an idea of who Draaga is. Anyway, Draaga is angry because he had challenged Superman to a fight to the death, and Superman beat him. At the time, Superman was under the mental influence of a Kryptonian artifact, and nearly killed him, before Draaga was rescued. Draaga feels his honor has been insulted, and desires to finish what he started with the Man of Steel.

Draaga finds himself encountering Maxima, who offers to help him with his quest.

The scene transitions to Metropolis, in which Jimmy Olsen is helping Bibbo Bibbowski shovel snow out of the front of Bibbo's bar, the Ace o' Clubs. Evidently Jimmy has lost his job, and Bibbo let him work for him, saying he remembers what it's like himself to be out of work. I like Bibbo. He's a really underrated part of Superman's supporting cast, and it's a shame he's been rather forgotten in recent years.

In a bit of a funny moment, Jimmy accidentally hits a mailman with a shovelful of snow.  Bibbo has a laugh about it and Jimmy is apologetic.

Bibbo checks through the mail and Jimmy gets his pictures back from the developer. It was the early 90s. Jimmy is overjoyed because his pictures he took turned out very well, as he's hoping they will get him his job back.

The scene then transitions to Superman bursting into a warehouse. The men inside exclaimed that Superman shouldn't have been able to find them because the warehouse was lined with lead. However, Superman explains that since the warehouse was lead-lined, it stuck out like a sore thumb from the other warehouses. Whoops.

Superman then easily defeats them, revealing that the men are leftover members of Intergang, a mafia-style organization that used technology from Apokolips for its operations.In a small awesome moment, Superman grabs an Intergangster's gun and crushes it in his hand, making it explode.

Awesome. The Metropolis PD cleans it up, and Supes is on his way. I'm beginning to think that the creative team of Superman: The Animated Series were big fans of this era of Superman. Dan Turpin, Intergang, Bibbo, all appeared in the series. Anyway, we then get a brief cameo of the Hellgrammite, who is observing this, biding his time so he can assassinate Lex Luthor.

Superman then encounters Jimmy Olsen, who is celebrating how his pictures turn out. We then go to space, where an alien tries to remind Matrix of a previous adventure, thinking the alien is Superman. Matrix tries to explain that her memories are intertwined with Superman's, but the alien is not getting it. Maxima's ship arrives, and Draaga makes planetfall. Draaga calls Matrix out, thinking she's Superman. Matrix tries to clear things up, but Draaga is having none of it.

The alien tries to get Draaga to stop, but the former gladiator is hellbent on fighting the faux Superman to the death. Maxima watches this from her ship.

Clearly, she finds it more entertaining than her Almeracian soaps. I imagine Almeracian soap operas have lots of brawls and swordfights. Draaga continues the beating, and Matrix decides to turn invisible. Draaga is enraged, telling the alien that if Superman doesn't show himself, Draaga will beat the alien to death to avenge his honor, much to the alien's fright. Matrix then uses her invisibility and psychokinetic powers to get one up on the gladiator, confusing Maxima, because she's never seen Superman use those powers in the past. She reports this to an unknown party, who tells her to keep observing.

Draaga is able to get the upper hand and is about to finish Matrix off, when he shapeshifts into his Supergirl form. Draaga is understandably confused by this. And then Warworld appears.

The artificial planet transports the two into the arena, where a figure in a purple robe announces himself.

Supergirl revives, her eyes glowing green. She then beats the tar out of Draaga, mush to the crowd's joy. They're calling for her to kill the alien gladiator. Maxima and the alien appear next to Purple Robe. Maxima looks annoyed by him, but Purple Robe reminds her that her world is his. Basically, Warworld conquered her homeworld of Almerac and wrecked its forces.

Consider what I know about Maxima, I can imagine her trying to find some way to get some payback. I can't imagine a proud feisty warrior queen like her taking Purple Robe's order-giving for very long...

Supergirl stands triumphant over Draaga, Purple Robe reveals that Supergirl's artificial body makes not just her body malleable, but her mind as well. Supergirl announced to Purple Robe that she has defeated Draaga, and Purple Robe tells her to spare him, as he may still be useful. Purple Robe uses his power to make Supergirl think Superman is her enemy, and he reveals who he is...

...Brainiac. Yup, the metallic mental madman has control over Warworld, and seeks the destruction of Superman. And he intends to use Supergirl and Warworld to do it.

This issue was a rather enjoyable one. It had good action, and some great set-up for the storyline to come. I also thought it cleverly used dialogue to transition to a new character and location. That was one of the best parts of the issue to me. It managed to touch on every little storyline without dragging on, and it referenced past issues in a way that I could understand what was going on. I also thought McLeod's artwork was great. The art and colors were wonderful to look at. It's a setup issue, but it does it rather well.

This was a fun issue and it got me excited to read the next part of the story! If you find this issue somewhere cheap, pick this up. Heck, if you find the Panic in the Sky trade, pick it up to read the whole thing.

Blade Runner 2049 Trailer, My Thoughts

Blade Runner. One of the greats in the sci-fi film genre. Based on Philip K. Dick's novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, The film was a bit of a flop at the box office when it was originally released in 1982. However, after the film's original theatrical run ended, it has become a bit of a cult classic, and has gotten hailed as a science fiction classic. It's been regarded as a highly influential film thanks to its characters and look and mish-mash of themes, and even got inducted into the National Film Registry in 1993.

The film has spawned a small franchise, including games and books. However, it never really got a sequel (the 1998 film Soldier with Kurt Russell was considered a "side-story")...until now. Welcome back to the world of Blade Runner. Welcome to the year 2049. This is Blade Runner 2049.

The trailer begins with a vehicle that is steaming and with one of those scrolling signs warning everyone to keep clear of it. We then hear Harrison Ford's "Replicants are like any other machine" speech from what I think is the first Blade Runner. I admit, I'm not completely sure, as it has been a while since I've seen it. I own the Final Cut on DVD, but the disc is a bit messed up. A man is walking behind the vehicle. I wonder who that is.

We get a brief glimpse of a man walking on what I think is a desert. I think it might be a desert. Let's just say that the environment is not in the best of shape in the world of Blade Runner. We then see the man walk possibly cautiously towards what appears to be the head of a statue? It's a big head with some exposed support wiring. What is that giant head?

The man then walks towards a door of what looks like a large building. He goes inside, and the interior is amazing. It looks like the interior of a fancy hotel. Maybe that's what this building is, or was. I can't imagine it being a private residence. We finally get a decent look at the man's face, and...it's Ryan Gosling.

Yup, Ryan Gosling. According to the film's official synopsis, he plays a character only known as Officer K. Officer...K? Really? Okay, I know there are people out there who like to give their kids unusual names, but seriously! What kind of parents did this man have? What did he do in a past life to deserve being named "K"? I'm hoping it's just a nickname.

Anyway, Officer K is on a little quest. He's looking for the original Blade Runner. One Rick Deckard. You see, ol' Ricky kind of has...well, decided to play magician and make himself vanish for 30 years. Evidently, according to the synopsis, K Gosling has found something that what is left of society did not want him to find. The discovery has caused K to seek out Rick.

Going a bit off topic, I have to give my thoughts on the famous debate on Deckard's humanity. Basically, there has been a debate going among fans whether Rick Deckard is a replicant or not. Ridley Scott said he was one, but Harrison Ford has said he was. Hampton Fancher, one of the writers of the Blade Runner screenplay, has said he wrote Deckard as human, but likes the ambiguousness of the film. Me personally, I consider Deckard human.

Why? Well, I agree with Harrison Ford. The film does need at least one human character the audience can develop an emotional attachment to. And since Rick Deckard is the character who does get the most screen time, it makes sense the audience would attach themselves to him the most. So yeah, when it comes to that debate, I'm with Ford.

Speaking of Deckard, he finally appears. K taps a couple keys on a piano. Evidently, the piano has the power to summon Deckard when it's played, as Deckard appears, pointing a gun at K. Clearly, living in this place for thirty years has addled Deckard a bit. Maybe this hotel is the one from The Shining. That would explain it.

The final shot is of K being shown from behind walking through a crowd of what we can assume is LA, as the first film was set there, and K is an LA cop. The view of the city around him is brief, but it does have that feel of the original Blade Runner, so that's good.

There is a possibility that occurred to me. What if K is there to 'retire' (Translation: kill), Deckard? It's certainly a possibility, considering the first film never outright stated Deckard himself was a replicant, even though the film did leave open the possibility.

This teaser was pretty neat. It doesn't outright reveal everything, and it's gotten me very curious about a lot of things? Who is K? Why is he looking for Deckard? Where has he been for thirty years? What's happened in the world of Blade Runner in the intervening decades? I am eager to find out, and I can't wait for October!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year's Day, everyone!

This is the first blog post of 2017! As such, I thought it would be nice to talk about my plans for this blog in the upcoming year.

First of all, I do want to actually review some old comics. I don't think I did any of that last year. That was the original reason I started this blog in the first place, really. However, it...really strayed from that. I have so many old comics I want to look at.

I don't just want to write about old comics, though. I also want to try and get more timely when it comes to trailers and the like. I don't want to watch the trailer and then type about it around two weeks later. I really want to be more on top of that.

I also want to use this blog more to talk about things in general that I like.

In 2017, I want to be more active with this blog. I hope you enjoy my future entries.

2016, The Positives

2016. Been one heck of a year, hasn't it? The Grim Reaper has been busy, politics have takes a much more right-wing turn, and a lot of people are tired and scared.

However, I fancy myself an optimist. So, for my final blog post of this year, I wanted to show some good things did happen in 2016.

- Sri Lanka is free of malaria. That's pretty awesome. It's great to see that

- Giant Pandas no longer on endangered species list. They technically still are considered vulnerable, but their population is growing. So that's fantastic to see. Giant Pandas are cute. But Giant pandas are not the only animals making a comeback...

- Tiger populations are increasing. This is awesome. I love tigers. It's great to see these majestic animals making a comeback.

- The Juno probe reaches Jupiter. Yup, after five years, Juno has arrived at its destination. It's come to Jupiter, and it's sending information about our solar system's biggest member.

- Tim Peake is the first English ESA astronaut. This is really cool to me as I was born in Great Britain. It's awesome to see an Englishman reach the stars. The Brits are getting back into space exploration, baby!

- India plants 50 million trees. India shattered a world record as part of a commitment to reforestation. This is really neat.

- A solar-powered airplane flew across the Pacific Ocean. This is big. This means that solar power could replace fossil fuels for transcontinental flights in the future.

It's not much, but these are just a few of the really neat things that happened this year. Yeah, a lot of bad stuff happened, but so did a lot of good. And hopefully, 2017 will bring more positive things in the future. Happy New Year!  

The Literary Lair: The Ashes of Eden

When I want to relax, I like to fire up YouTube and watch review videos. I have my favorite web shows, and one of them is Michael Gleason's Literary Lair, a series in which he reviews books. It's a great show, especially if you are an avid reader.

This review, one of William Shatner and the Reeves-Stevens' Star Trek novel The Ashes of Eden, is one of my favorite episodes. I'm not sure why, to be honest. Maybe it was because I have read some of the "Shatnerverse" novels (I think I do own The Return, I'll have to hunt it down), but I have to consider this one of my favorite episodes. I'll have to hunt this book down. Looks like a fun read.

Give it a watch, and check out the rest of his Literary Lair reviews. You can find them here.