High Crimes #2 Review

High Crimes started off simple enough. There are dead bodies on Everest and a man named Haskell will bring them down (or parts of them) for a price. Things go bad when one of these said dead bodies suddenly attracts the interests of some very violent government type folks. The first issue ends a little crazy, but it's nothing compared to how insane things get in this issue. High Crimes is just the right mix of thrills, mystery, and guys in suits who just torture and kill people. Oh yeah, and it's only a buck an issue. You are out of excuses, give it a read, people.

Christopher Sebela writes High Crimes straight forward and seriously, and that's what makes it work so well. There's bizarre moments and funny setups that lead straight into the violent torturing of characters. This series might have an over-the-top story, but it feels one hundred percent genuine. High Crimes is a serious crime thriller with awesome, vivid characters and tons of intrigue. To put it simply, this is a crazy good read.

To go along with the great writing and story is some absolutely beautiful artwork. Ibrahim Moustafa gives just the right amount of life to these broken and beaten characters. The guy does everything here: pencils, inks, colors, and he's good at all of it. There are books coming out from major publishers that don't look or read half as good as High Crimes. This is a title to watch coming from the publisher that everyone should be watching. Seriously, this is what comic books are all about, folks.

Benjamin is handsome and talented. The complete package. Follow Benjamin on Twitter @616Earth, or find him on IGN.

Source : ign[dot]com

FF #4 Review

It's amazing how much fun Matt Fraction and Michael Allred can cram into a single issue of FF. Sure, the universe is in danger and dastardly villains have probably, maybe, wiped out three fourths of the Fantastic Four, but that doesn't mean we can't spend nearly an entire issue on a She-Hulk date. FF #4 is the kind of comic book you read with a smile on your face and a spring in your step (if you walk and read, which is weird if you do). It's quality stuff.

Fraction has turned superhero slice-of-life stories into a fine art. FF, like other series Fraction helms, spends a lot of timing focusing on what these characters do when they aren't saving the world. In this one issue, Fraction gives She-Hulk more depth and personality then she has had in years. The mole kids are great, too, delivering plenty of laughs through out.. This book is like a finely tuned superhero sitcom and that is as high a compliment as I can give.

Of course, what really sells the tone and heart of this book is the art. Michael Allred and Laura Allred make FF a slick treat. This is a character driven book and the Allreds solidify that each and every issue. Again, She-Hulk has so much personality and presence in these pages, and that is largely due to the art. There's times when a joke or a scene is accompanied with a mere look from a character; a sideways glance or a curled lip. These little nuances are a part of what make FF work so very, very well. You'd be hard pressed to find a more fun mainstream superhero book, and why would you want to? FF has everything we're looking for.

Benjamin is blue and square. The heart of the sea and the surety of the sun. (this was written in Hickman speak) Follow Benjamin on Twitter @616Earth, or find him on IGN.

Source : ign[dot]com

All-Star Western #17 Review

The longer All-Star Western goes on, the harder it is to understand why Jonah Hex doesn't pack up, leave Gotham, and return to the lawless frontier from whence he came. This new arc that kicks off in issue #17 doesn't even feel much like a Hex story, as both he and Arkham are little more than quiet supporting players. However, Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray find success in exploring the colorful history of Gotham and the ancestors of contemporary Gothamites.

This issue is notable for bringing Vandal Savage into the picture. This is a far different take on a late 19th Century, Gotham-dwelling Savage than the one seen in Batman: the Return of Bruce Wayne #4. He's a lot more cheerful, for one thing, as well as somewhat more morally ambiguous in the beginning. The writers focus mainly on the first meeting between Savage and Alan Wayne, with an outbreak of cholera in the Gotham slums serving as a backdrop to the conflict. Again, not much of a Hex story, but it's entertaining regardless. And Moritat's artwork is more consistent and detailed than it has been of late.

The main problem with this issue is that both the pacing and writing style are fairly haphazard. Early pages feature an excessive amount of omniscient narration that eventually just vanishes without a trace. Once Hex and Arkham are called upon to carry out their newest mission, the narrative hops all about and fails to provide clear transitions between scenes. Readers are just asked to accept the fact that cholera victims are suddenly behaving like zombies. The latter half of this issue could have benefited from the more methodical pace of the former.

The backup feature is a bit more well-rounded. Here, Palmiotti and Gray introduce readers to the 19th Century incarnation of Stormwatch. The star of this opening chapter is that era's Century Baby, Jenny Future. As much as this backup could be viewed as a rehash of Demon Knights in a different time period, all that really matters is that it offers a fun blend of Wild West adventure and steampunk aesthetic. I'm very much looking forward to seeing this version of Stormwatch take shape in subsequent chapters.

Jesse is a writer for various IGN channels. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter, or Kicksplode on MyIGN.

Source : ign[dot]com

Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel is “The Best Movie of the Year” According to Early Screenings

There are a lot of movies to look forward to this summer, but perhaps none more so than Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel. Comic book movie fans are anxious for each new trailer, bit of footage or marketing release. We all want to know if the Zack Snyder directed, Chris Nolan “grandfathered” and produced film will live up to our expectations for the match.

Though the response to the trailers has been primarily positive, some still feel some concern that the film will be too dark, lack action, fail to capture Supes’ charm or that Snyder will pull a Sucker Punch and disappoint us all. Well, a source over at JoBlo was able to see a very early screening of the film and they are saying that, not only is there nothing to worry about, but this is the “best movie of the year.”

The bullet points review is as follows:

• Imagine a Nolan story with Snyder effects/action.
• It's the best movie of the year.
• There's TONS of action with Superman kicking all kinds of ass in his suit.
• The cape is CG'd most of the time so it can look awesome.
• They have intentionally left out most of the the Super action in trailers to save it.
• It's not nearly as dour and serious as the trailers suggest.
• The movie is complete, minus the 3D post-conversion, which is currently taking place.

“Best movie of the year,” is pretty bold claim, but if this report doesn’t up the ante on the excitement for Man of Steel, I don’t know what will. We’ve all been wondering about the action and the tone of the film, and it seems as though we can (cautiously) put any fears we may have had to bed. It looks like a Syder/Nolan marriage may just be one made in heaven.

We should note however, this is just one person’s take on the film. So, again, cautiously, very optimistic.

Roth Cornet is an Entertainment Editor for IGN. You can follow her on Twitter at @RothCornet and IGN at Roth-IGN.

Source : ign[dot]com

BattleBlock Theater Release Window Revealed

With the BattleBlock Theater closed beta beginning this week developer The Behemoth has finally revealed a release window for its third game. The news comes via the studio's blog in a brief poem and pegs BattleBlock Theater for a Spring 2013 release (that's Autumn for Southern Hemisphere folk).

BattleBlock Theater is a side-scroller game from The Behemoth, the studio behind Alien Hominid and the hugely-popular Castle Crashers. It was announced way back in March, 2009 as simply Game 3 and named nearly a year later, in February, 2010.

Luke is Games Editor at IGN AU. You can chat to him on IGN here or find him and the rest of the Australian team by joining the IGN Australia Facebook community.

Source : ign[dot]com

Michael Bay's Ninja Turtles Gets New Release Date

The release date of Michael Bay's live-action/CG hybrid Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie - now known simply as Ninja Turtles - has shifted.

The film, originally scheduled for release in the USA on May 16, 2014, will now hit theatres a few weeks later on June 6, according to The Hollywood Reporter. It's not a massive shift, but perhaps further cements the project's reality, significant considering the film looked to be in dire straits last year.

The news comes on the back of Bay's recent announcement that Megan Fox will play intrepid reporter April O'Neil.

Source : ign[dot]com

Arrested Development: Michael Bluth's Best Moments

With a fourth season of Mitch Hurwitz' Arrested Development miraculously on its way to Netflix this May, we here at IGN TV thought we'd take the coming weeks to look back at some of the Bluth family's most memorable moments of mirth and misery.

So we'll kick things off with Jason Bateman's eternally dickish Nichael Michael Bluth: The level-headed, responsible son who's constantly caught up in the Bluth s***storm of insanity. Firmly entrenched within a family of criminals, drunks, idiots, never-nudes and, um, illusionists, the candy bean-craving Michael spends every waking moment trying to keep his world from spiraling out of control and the family business from collapsing. It's no wonder he's only had sex four times!

Michael is everyone who's ever dreaded heading home for big holiday family gatherings.  So, you know, everyone.  Here are his best moments:

I Am Yam

Michael, ever so earnest and honest, does his best to raise his son, George Michael, the right way.  But even Michael's no match for his son's horrifically bland girlfriend, Ann Veal.  And so, having grown up with so much judgmental disdain for everyone around him, Michael can barely mask his nauseous disapproval for Ann, AKA "Her?"

Yes, when Michael isn't accidentally referring to Ann as "Yam," "Egg" or "Bland," he's abandoning her in Mexico or brawling with her father, Pastor Veal.  But mostly, he's just trying to hold down his vomit.

Deep down, Michael just wants the best for his son and doesn't want him to waste his time on a girl that isn't dynamically worthy enough.  It's not his fault that he can't help but be an a-hole about it.

Beware the Cornballer!

Every now and again you get a hankerin' for a hot, zesty cornball.  It's only natural.  George Bluth Sr. knew it well.  And so he invented a dangerous deathtrap of a device designed to deliver excruciating pain, as Michael so wonderfully demonstrates.

New Sensation

Ah, a mother's love.  The maternal embrace.  Or as Michael knows it: "What the hell is going on?"

Marta-dom

Although Michael's backstory is a sad one, the fact that he's a widow who's reluctant to date opened up the character for some hilarious arcs involving constantly falling for the completely wrong woman; whether it's George Michael's ethics teacher, the attorney in charge of prosecuting George Sr. or... his brother Gob's hot telenovela star girlfriend, Marta!

The entire saga ended with Michael and Gob brawling on the front lawn of a courthouse and Marta declaring that she didn't want to have anything to do with either man.  Alas, had it not been for Michael's family, he could have possibly grabbed hold of the happiness that perpetually eluded him.  Alas, had he not been... a BLUTH!

Double Blind

Keeping with the theme of destructive dating habits, Michael posing as Maritime Law Practitioner Chareth Cutestory and sleeping with the blind lawyer assigned to prosecuting his father, Julia Louis-Dreyfus' Maggie Lizer, was both inspired and irresponsible.  Of course, this being Arrested, Michael was completely unaware that Maggie was blind until the morning after.

Of course of course, this being Arrested, Maggie turned out not to be blind at all, but merely manipulating Michael to get a leg up in her case.  Funnily enough, even though Maggie didn't turn out to be disabled, this entire story foreshadowed Michael's penchant for not being able to initially recognize disabilities in the women he's attracted to.  But more on that later...

Michael tries to help Tobias with the phrasing of things, plus For British Eyes Only!, on page 2...

Source : ign[dot]com