Reading

Another “Nothing Planned Saturday”

Sometimes you have those weekends where you have plans. Music festival, beer fest, comic cons… And then you have those weekends, where beside one or two smaller things, you have nothing planned. What do you do? Besides training runs, here’s how my weekend turned out:

Splatoon

Splatoon
Don’t know what it is about online multiplayer games and shooting things, but I love it. Even more so that I’m a squid that can swim through ink and hit people with paintballs and paint rollers like a ninja. I have been told I have an addiction with this game, and it didn’t help that this weekend was Splatoon’s Art vs Science Splatfest. Sorry Billy Nye, but I pick Art class over Science any day.

Spoiler alert: Art won.

Mistborn - Hero of Ages

The Hero of Ages (Mistborn)
After settling down from our move, I was finally able to make it to the library and picked up Hero of Ages, the final book in Vin’s story from Brandon Sanderson. So far I’ve made it to chapter three and have already read through some events that make me fall in love Sanderson’s writing even more. With it being the last book with Vin, I already know there will be plenty of feels to the end of this story.

How I Met Your Mother

How I Met Your Mother
How I Met Your Mother has been an on and off series for me. There are times where I sit down and watch four-five episodes, and then I can go several months without watching it again. Despite that, the characters in this show all have their own quirks and characteristics that make you feel an attachment toward each of them. There’s also some great life lessons included as well.

“If you’re not scared, you’re not taking a chance. If you’re not taking a chance, then what the hell are you doing?”

Mistborn

I enjoy reading Young Adult as much as the next person, but the past several books I picked up from the library were let downs. The heroine fell in love with the “bad boy”, the story didn’t have much plot… I could go on and on.

Where’s the strong heroine? The plot twists?

That’s when I did some research and decided to try the Mistborn series by Brandon Sanders after seeing several good things about it online.

And I’m very glad I did.

Mistborn

Here’s the first book’s description:

“In a world where ash falls from the sky, and mist dominates the night, an evil cloaks the land and stifles all life. The future of the empire rests on the shoulders of a troublemaker and his young apprentice. Together, can they fill the world with color once more?”

If you enjoy magic, these books include that as well. Allomancy is the magic of metals in the book. If you digest a certain metal, you get an ability power from said metal. (It actually reminds me quite a bit of Alchemy from Fullmetal Alchemist.) Abilities from metals include: strength, far sight, manipulating one’s emotions, and more.

Mistlings are born with a single ability they can use.

Those who were born Mistborn can use any ability in Allomancy.

The first book, The Final Empire, follows two characters’ point of view: Kelsier, a free-spirited rebel whose out to change the world even if everyone else thinks he’s crazy, and then there’s Vin, an orphan whose timid yet wise beyond her years and thrown into Kelsier’s insane idea after certain events unfold.

Keisler by marcsimonettiTypical Kelsier.

While each book is pretty lengthy (about 700 pages per book), the plot keeps the reader engaged. I began reading the first book and was being lead one direction in thinking how it would end, and then read events that had said plot go a complete different way. Plenty of mystery to keep you turning the pages.

The character development… There is a lot of character development. I don’t want to spoil the book for anyone who will read the book (which you should), but all of the characters, especially Vin, change due to events in the story.

I just finished the second book, The Well of Ascension, and enjoyed it as much as the first. There is a third, The Hero of Ages, that concludes the first story, and then a fourth that continues the magic of Allomancy, but in Western times.

If you’re looking for a good read that will keep you engaged through mystery and magic, check out Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanders. I can pretty much promise you if you enjoy those elements in a story, the book will not disappoint you.

Broken Cupid: When the Relationship Ruins the Show

Wednesday night. Sitting on our couch in front of the TV, I was hopeful and excited to see the season finale for Arrow.

By the end, I was tweeting with frustration my feelings on said finale.

My feelings on the pairing of Oliver/Felicity are pretty well known (to people who know me anyways). Felicity has been a fun, witty character throughout the series who I have liked. When the writers of Arrow started hinting romance between her and Oliver (the Arrow for those who did not know), I started being filled with dread. Their banter and conversations felt more brother/sisterly to me, and less like a good, solid couple. Then they started changing the characters themselves. Felicity by the end of this series was being less smart, and more demanding and thoughtless about what she did before she did it. Oliver, spoiler alert, left his life to become some guy driving off in a car NOT protecting his city that he had been swearing to do ever since episode one.

Oliver & Felicity

While I’ll probably give the next season a chance, for reasons like to see what happens with Laurel Lance/Black Canary, I’m disappointed. This show use to be more about action/adventure/mystery, and less about drama and relationships. Since they gave Oliver and Felicity feelings for each other, there’s been way too many dramatic verbal fighting and pouting between the two then I can stomach.

There are several shows that have been like this for me growing up. For example, manga/anime wise, Vampire Knight: childhood friend, Zero, was a much healthier match for the heroine, Yuki, and they ended up sticking her with the dramatic and brooding Kaname. Naruto, they stick the heroine with the guy who has beat her up physically AND mentally the past 200 episodes and they put the hero with a girl he never showed romantic feelings for until the show shows them married. Vampire Knight was ruined for me because Yuki was changed into a different, apathetic, uninteresting character. Naruto was ruined because… Seriously, putting someone with an abuser, both physically and mentally? Not only that, but the once strong female character is turned into a housewife.

While it’s not bad enough to kill the series for me, especially with how great the rest of the storyline has been going, The Flash’s Barry and Iris drama has me rolling my eyes. Growing up in the same house is one thing, and not that huge of a deal, but Iris has pretty much told Barry “no” to being in a relationship several times, yet keeps the other girls from dating him through manipulation. It’s twisted, and I really hope the writers fix Iris’ character before developing this relationship any further.

Barry & Iris

I’m not the kind of person to stop watching a show because two people I thought should be together, don’t end up together… I am, however, the kind of person to stop watching a show when the writers change characters so they do end up together.

Do you have any TV shows you stopped watching or started disliking because you disliked what they did with the characters and relationships?

Spider-Gwen

Spider-Man has always been a thing. I remember being younger and singing “Does Whatever A Spider Can” while swinging on the swings back in elementary school.

At some point last year, I started hearing about ‘Spider Gwen’ and seeing her pop up around the internet. The first thing that really got me was her costume, created by Jason LaTour, Robbi Rodriguez and Rico Renzi. The design was very creative and bright compared to all of the other Spider-Spin-offs I’ve seen. Not to mention, it’s Gwen Stacy, same girl (SPOILER ALERT) who was suppose to be dead.

Spider-Gwen Design

Now, I was not a huge Spider-Man fan. I liked the character, but didn’t necessarily follow along in the comics. I very much enjoyed watching The Amazing Spider-Man movie with Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone, and thanks to the internet, was spoiled about Gwen Stacy’s demise after looking into the series. Gotta love the internet.

So other then watching both movies, I didn’t get a whole lot into the Spider-Man universe until I found out Spider-Gwen was getting her own series. I went out and bought Spider-Gwen Issue #1 when it was released. Read through, loved the art, but wasn’t instantly drawn in by the story line. It felt a little slow to me… Still decided to give it a shot and collected the next two when they came out.

Spider-Gwen Covers

Glad I did.

Spider Pig Cameo

Gwen Stacy’s sarcastic-humor is a nice touch to her character as well as the add-in of Spider-Pig in the second issue (thank you The Simpsons). Like I said before, the first villain, the Vulture didn’t seem like much of a threat at first, but I liked how the progressively built his character and pitted him against Gwen.

Gwen Stacy

Gwen’s character design is also interesting enough as well. The fact they decided to give her shorter hair than her original counterpart was a nice touch, and the fact that they give her moments of mourning for her universe’s Peter Parker is a good swing in the right direction in character development. I look forward to seeing what happens to her guilt for Peter Parker’s demise in future issues. Not to mention she was a drummer for The Mary-Janes.

P.S. – I wasn’t much of a fan of Mary-Jane in the first place, but Spider-Gwen’s version of Mary-Jane really makes me not like her. Can’t understand why Gwen stuck around with her for so long.

Looking forward to seeing where Latour, Rodriguez and Renzi take Spider-Gwen next (as well as really wanting some cool Spider-Gwen gear).

That’s No Moon

Marvel announced last year that they were going to be releasing not just one, BUT THREE new Star Wars comics, and being a huge Star Wars fan myself, I was fairly intrigued by the idea even though I hadn’t been into comics for the last several years. Over the last few months each of Star Wars, Darth Vader, and Princess Leia has come out and I’ve managed to snag a copy of each one so far. The only bump in the road I’ve hit was having to pick up a copy of Star Wars #1 off eBay as my local comic book shops sold out in a few hours. Apparently there was a lot more demand for that one than I anticipated. Or at least more jerks buying multiple copies to re-sell at a higher price.

STAR WARS #1 & #2
StarWars1

As expected, this comic follows the entire group as they attempt to keep the momentum of their biggest strike against the empire (blowing up the Death Star) going. I love the fact that the reader is immediately thrown back into the thick of things with the crew on another action packed mission to weaken the already loosened grip of the empire. To no one’s surprise, things don’t go quite as planned and they have to improvise to keep the mission alive. I’m not going to spoil anything, but it’s been pretty fantastic so far. I also really enjoy the art style as it has a lot of detail to it which makes it feel realistic, and really helps draw you into the world. They definitely spent some time on it and I can really appreciate the effort. Of the three comics, this is the one I’m enjoying the most, but that’s because it reminds me of the movies, which I love.

DARTH VADER #1 & #2Darth1

These comics follow Darth Vader after his greatest failure yet, the destruction of the Death Star. Due to his failure Darth Vader has been pushed out of the emperor’s inner circle and now has to report to General Tagge instead. The interactions between the two are excellent, as Vader is still intimidating and acts inconvenienced more than anything. The story is focused on him trying to secretly figure out what the emperor is up to, as well as attempting to track down the young rebel pilot responsible for blowing up the Death Star. It has been less action packed and more dialogue driven, but the writing is superb and it easily keeps my attention. Plus it does have exciting moments from time to time. The art style once again has that realistic detail, but with a slightly darker feel. I’ve got no complaints with it at all. The Darth Vader comics have been a great ride so far.

PRINCESS LEIA #1leia

I know there have been other Leia focused stories in the past, but this is the first one I’ve picked up, and was really looking forward to it. I was not disappointed to say the least. This story starts exactly where Episode IV left off, so you get to see what happened directly after everyone left the award ceremony for Luke and Han (still waiting for Chewbacca’s medal, damn it!). As would be expected, the leaders of the rebellion are all busy with getting the base on Yavin evacuated and finding a new planet suitable for their needs. Nobody wants Leia to go anywhere or do anything as she is wanted by the empire, but she isn’t having any of it. With the help of a rebel pilot named Evaan (also a female!), she sets out to find and protect the remaining citizens of Alderaan. Both Leia and Evaan come across as strong, bad ass characters which should make for a great adventure and story. The only problem I have with this comic is the art style. It’s not as sharp and has more of a cartoon-ish look than the other two, and I just wasn’t super impressed. It’s not bad by any means, and it’s certainly not going to stop me from buying the next issue.

Overall, I’ve been really pleased with Marvel’s latest foray into the Star Wars universe. I’m going to be picking up each of these from now on and I couldn’t be happier about that fact (although my wallet might be a tad bit sad). I highly recommend checking them out if you have the chance!

The Walking Dead: TV vs Comic

The Walking DeadWhen I first found out about The Walking Dead it was at my first office job, and the TV show was the first thing everyone talked about on Monday morning. At that point, I honestly wasn’t interested and tuned it out. It wasn’t until later on, when I was ‘forced’ by a friend to watch it, that I became addicted. I binge watched The Walking Dead on Netflix until I caught up with AMC (thank God for Netflix).

I had heard it was a comic before I started watching the show, but really didn’t think I would be able to find a way to read it so didn’t pay it much thought. It wasn’t until we borrowed the Compendium One of The Walking Dead from a friend that I gained a bit more interest in reading it.

I will admit, I am nowhere near where the TV show is comic wise, but have noticed quite a few differences in the two versions of The Walking Dead.

They both started at about the same point. Rick wakes up in a hospital, has no idea what is going on, and finds out about the Walkers (TV)/Roamers (Comics) not too far afterward. He leaves the hospital meets up with Morgan and Duane and finds out about what’s happened since Rick was in coma.

Rick Grimes Wakes Up - Comic vs TV

However, there was not the high intensity scene of Rick meeting up with Glen, Andrea, Meryl and T-Dog (Wow, had to look that name up. It’s been awhile.) and the others and trying to make their way out.

  • rickgrimes-twd-comparisonComic Rick in the beginning was way more of a trusting and nice guy then TV Rick ever was. Everyone Rick ever bumped into he seemed to explain his whole life story. I could understand Morgan, especially with just getting out of the hospital and in shock about the zombie apocalypse, but Comic Rick bumped into more people than TV Rick, and felt the need to let the world know his backstory. I was done with it after the third time I read it. We get it Rick, you woke up and the world was a much different place. I don’t think everyone you run into needs to know that. They’ve been dealing with it themselves.
  • Comic Rick has also been more trusting than TV Rick ever was. Now I’m only on Chapter 5 of the comic, and he is finally getting the hang of simply telling strangers, “We were just traveling around and noticed…” but TV Rick seemed to at least understand the idea of ‘Hey, this is an insane world I’ve woken up into. Should probably keep an eye out.’ Instead of Rick Grimes - comics
    ‘Hey, you! I like you. Want to join our group? Oh yeah, don’t let me forget to tell you my backstory!’ I hear Comic Rick gets even better though, so I won’t hold it against him too much.
  • Comic Lori is… Wow. A breath of fresh air. Where I wasn’t an exact hater of TV Lori, I didn’t find her the most useful either. Yes we get it, you thought your husband was dead and so you shacked up with his best friend who was looking out for you. Comic Lori did it once and decided she didn’t find it kosher. TV Lori seemed to enjoy her relationship with Shane until she found out Rick was alive, and then dumped him and caused more drama then needed.
  • Comic Carl grows up much slower than TV Carl. I can understand why that is for TV, since Carl’s actor is getting older, but I also enjoy the fact that I feel like we get to live through Carl’s innocence a bit more.
  • Shane was… Well, Shane. I was a bit shocked when he died so quickly in the comics (I like that the TV and Comic series both had it to where Carl finished him.) but the comic also moves quicker then the show has for the past several seasons.
  • Comic Carol… Wow. She has a different backstory and didn’t start out with an abusive husband. Right now in the comics she seems to be falling off the deep end after her break up with Tyreese (Didn’t see that one coming. The relationship or the breakup.) and has a different personality from her sharp edged TV persona.
  • Tyreese - The Walking Dead comicSpeaking of Tyreese… Wow. I like Comic Tyreese. He’s a dynamic character who doesn’t start of scared of the world around him like his TV self. He is a big help to the group and kicks some series butt. I know on the TV show he was surrounded by zombies and finally broke through on his own, but in the comic he was locked in a GYM with them over night. And survived. Kick. Butt.
  • It’s interesting not having Daryl and Meryl around. I knew they were TV only, but they added a different dynamic to the show. It’s odd not having the hunters… And not having the budding bromance of Rick and Daryl.
  • Governor - The Walking Dead ComparisonI just got to the Governor, and where I have heard he does much worse things in the comic, I’m trying to get over the fact of how different he looks in the comic.

I’ve enjoyed reading the comic, and like how the art style has changed over time. It started off looking very “indie” and new, but now has a much more rugged feel. It could be the artist, Tony Moore, changing over time, but I can’t help but wonder if that’s suppose to symbolize the group’s experience?

The Walking Dead - Art Style Variation

I look forward to Sunday’s mid-season start up of Rick and his Ricktatorship posse… But am also going to continue to enjoy the comics.