Annihilators: Earthfall #2 (of 4)

The fight that was promised to us at the end of the first issue is delivered in full here as the team of Annihilators (Gladiator, Quasar, Ronan the Accuser, Beta Ray Bill and Ikon the Space Knight) throw down with the Avengers (Iron Man, Captain America, Spider-Man, Wolverine, Ms. Marvel, Valkyrie, and the Thing) who have shown up to stop the alien invaders from leveling a Colorado town... by creating more violence and further leveling the Colorado town.

On the plus side the huge amount of property damage eventually reveals the Universal Church of Truth's secret base. The teams come to a temporary ceasefire as they are attacked by the Church's zealots and warriors protecting a secret deep within their once hidden base.

Chuck Versus the Zoom

As the show returns for its fifth (and sadly final) season we catch up with the newly created Carmichael Industries. Our spies have left the government and set up their own shop as high-priced spies for hire who, as they put it, are still working out some kinks. But that's not the only change as Chuck (Zachary Levi) is still dealing with the fallout from last season's finale which saw him stripped of the Intersect and, even more shocking, saw it put in his best friend.

A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas red band trailer

Harold (John Cho), Kumar (Kal Penn), and Neil Patrick Harris are back to save Christmas with babes, dudes, sex, violence, drugs, claymation, Jews, Mexicans, and Jesus Christ. Paula Garcés, Isabella Gielniak, Eddie Kaye Thomas, David Krumholtz, Bobby Lee, Thomas Lennon, Danny Trejo, and Patton Oswalt (as Santa Claus) also star. A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas opens everywhere on November 4th. NOTE: The Red Band trailer is NSFW.

Comic Rack

It’s a new week so it must be time to talk about comics! Welcome to the RazorFine Comic Rack boys and girls. Pull up a bean bag and take a seat at feet of the master as we offer you this quick list of all kinds of comic book goodness set to hit comic shops and bookstores this week from all your favorite publishers including DC, Marvel, Dark Horse, Archie, Dynamite, Image Comics, and others.

This week includes Action Comics, Amazing Spider-Man, Animal Man, Detective Comics, G.I. JOE, Hulk, Infinite Vacation, Invincible, Justice League International, Moon Knight, The Rinse, Stormwatch, Transformers, Usagi Yojimbo, X-Men, the first issues of 7 Warriors, Betrayal of the Planet of the Apes, Blood Red Dragon, Dark Shadows, Heart, Jack Avarice is the Courier, Pilot Season: Misdirection, Six Guns, Thor: The Deviants Saga, and the final issues of Crysis, Flash Gordon: Invasion of the Red Sword, Hack/Slash/Eva: Monsters Ball, Mystic, and Witch Doctor.

Enjoy issue #152

Batman: The Brave and the Bold - Crisis: 22,300 Miles Above Earth

Much to Guy Gardner's (James Arnold Taylor) chagrin the JLI hosts a special meeting with the Justice Society of America aboard their satellite. The gives Fire, Ice (Jennifer Hale), Captain Marvel (Jeff Bennett), Captain Atom, Aquaman (John Di Maggio), Booster Gold, Blue Beetle (Will Friedle), Martian Manhunter (Nicholas Guest), and Guy Gardner the opportunity to mix with Jay Garrick (Andy Milder), Alan Scott (Corey Burton), Hourman, Doctor Fate, Wildcat (R. Lee Ermey), Doctor Midnight (Burton), Hawkman, the Spectre, Sandman, Mister Terrific, and Starman (Bennett).

Secret Avengers #18

This month's issue is a fair bit better than last month's disappointment as Steve Rogers, Sharon Carter and Shang-Chi travel into a Bad Continuum (a malformed dimension of a Multiverse) trying to stop agents of the Shadow Council from removing transmatter from the dimension which could be used as a terrible weapon in the Marvel Universe by transforming the Earth into a sun.

Aside from feeling far more like an Authority story than an Avenger story, the comic is pretty good including a well-designed M.S. Escher like world for our heroes to battle the members of the Shadow Council.

Writer Warren Ellis even gives us an appearance by Arnim Zola (a perfect villain for this type of story), the return of the Beast (who is given most the of monologue necessary to explain the situation), and a fun cameo by Reed Richards which allows the comic to end with Steve Rogers delivering a joke. Worth a look.

[Marvel, $3.99]

Person of Interest - The Fix

Reese (Jim Caviezel) takes the job as the driver for a fixer (Paige Turco) whose number has come up. When she's asked to retrieve a recording of an affair by shady businessman (Tim Guinee) she uncovers far more than she bargained for and puts both of their lives in danger.

The Mentalist - Where in the World is Carmine O'Brien

The murder of a local sheriff (Claudia Wells) leads the CBI to begin an investigation which uncovers three suspects: a wealthy businessman (Carlo Rota) who enjoys sexually assaulting young women (Fernanda Andrade), an embezzler on the run (Todd Eric Andrews), and a local kid with a drug problem. The case gets far more complicated by the arrival of Lisbon's (Robin Tunney) brother Tommy (Henry Thomas).

The All-New Batman: The Brave And The Bold #12

I'm not sure why many of DC's best comics come from their kids line or why it's so hard for comic book shops to stock these, but when I find one I make sure to grab it. The latest issue of The All-New Batman: The Brave And The Bold features Batman and Zatanna and a whole host of cameos from lesser known DC heroes and villains who fit perfectly into a Halloween tale.

Batman calls on Zatanna to help him track down the person responsible for breaking into the House of Mystery and turning Abel into in a tree. Their search for the magic users responsible leads to battles Doctor Destiny and Mr. Mxyzptlk before the true culprit is unmasked.

The final battle gives us a super-sized throwdown between the conjured up villains (Man-Bat, the Monk, Dala, Blockbuster, Solomon Grundy, werewolves, monstermen) and Batman, Zatanna, and their friends (Deadman, the Spectre, Etrigan, Blue Devil, Swamp Thing, Tomcat). However, victory isn't won with fists but with words as Batman starts to understand how to use the rules of magic to his advantage. Best of the week.

[DC, $2.99]

The Big Bang Theory - The Good Guy Fluctuation

Halloween brings amusement for the entire gang at Sheldon's (Jim Parsons) expense as Leonard (Johnny Galecki) is faced with a moral quandary when a beautiful girl (Courtney Ford) hits on him at the comic book store. As Leonard's struggles over his loyalty to Priya (Aarti Mann) and his infatuation with an attractive girl who likes, and writes, comic books Sheldon plots his revenge.

The Rum Diary

In the 1950's Hunter S. Thompson would pen a novel that wouldn't see the light of day for more than 40 years. Its path to the theaters wasn't much smoother as it languished in development hell for the better part of a decade before writer/director Bruce Robinson and Johnny Depp (Thompson's original choice for the role) were attached in 2009. The story follows the exploits of Paul Kemp (Depp), a struggling novelist, who leaves New York to accept a job no one else wants at The Daily News in Puerto Rico. The film also stars Amber Heard who the camera doesn't so much love as continuously lust after in every scene she appears.

The film follows the misadventures of Kemp including his friendship with the paper's lead photographer (Michael Rispoli) and his reluctant involvement in a land grab scheme by a buisness man named Samuelson (Aaron Eckhart). Kemp's part in the scheme is made more difficult by his inability to stop drinking and his instant fascination to Samuelson's girl, Chenault (Heard). Did I mention how pretty she was?

Psych - This Episode Sucks

Strange things are afoot on this year's Psych Halloween episode as Shawn (James Roday), Gus (Dulé Hill), and Juliet (Maggie Lawson) investigate a murder where the victim's body was drained of all blood and Lassiter (Timothy Omundson) meets an alluring woman (Kristy Swanson) who takes an immediate attraction to him before disappearing and become a suspect in the murder investigation.

Captain Atom #2

The comic opens with Captain Atom bombarded with "wave transmissions from all across the human spectrum." Unable to deal with the overwhelming amount of information attacking his brain the hero retreats to the Continuum where Dr. Megala helps him regain control.

The second part of the comic is a little weird as it's so obviously a Ray Palmer Atom story. Concerned with a dying boy in Kansas City, Captain Atom shrinks himself down to a microscopic level and erradiates the tumor growing in the boy's brain.

Thankfully, the one part of the story I was dreading (the mutated dog creature) is given little more than a cameo here on the comic's final page. I know we'll get to that story at some point, but I hope it's put off as long as possible.

Writer J.T. Krul continues to explore the limitations and abilities of the new Captain Atom. I'd still like a little of the old Captain to shine through this Dr. Manhattan makeover, but as long as that dog story is kept on the back burner I'll keep giving this one a shot. Worth a look.

[DC, $2.99]

Hawaii Five-0 - Ka Hakaka Maika'i

While investigating the murder of a local restaurant owner and searching for a local band of home invaders the team finds itself immersed in the world of MMA looking for a murderer in one of the kids the victim helped get off the streets. The episode ends with McGarrett (Alex O'Loughlin) locked in the cage trying to hold his own against a professional MMA fighter for a charity event.

Red Hood and the Outlaws #2

Issue #2 of Red Hood and the Outlaws gives us a little more back story into the New 52's version of Jason Todd. Not only to we get an appearance by Talia al Ghul, but we are given a flashback to Todd's introduction to the All Caste and his thoughts on his resurrection.

Writer Scott Lobdell seems be using the beginning of Judd Winick's Red Hood: The Lost Days where Todd was brought to life in a zombie-like state and later regained his faculties by a dip in a Lazarus Pit. How he was brought back to life without Superboy-Prime's reality punch (remember none of DC's Crisis series happened in this reality) has yet to be explained.

I was a bit confused given the rewriting which allows Roy Harper and Starfire to accompany the Red Hood on his journey (it's obvious he left for the quest alone at the end of the first issue). It's a litle confusing. However, those who were up in arms over the first issue's deception of Starfire should be a bit molified that she's been toned down in this issue. Worth a look.

[DC, $2.99]

Robot Chicken DC Comics Special Sneak Peek

Robot Chicken has released the first clip for their upcoming DC Comics Special which was announced at New York Comic Con. In the clip Sinestro takes his rivalry with the Green Lantern a little too far. Caution, the clip is NSFW.

Birds of Prey #2

When last we left the new Birds they had just gotten a reporter blown up in broad daylight in the middle of a crowded airport. After escaping the airport Black Canary and Starling collect the third member of their team and look for answers.

Issue #2 introduces the New 52 version of Katana who it appears is more than a little unhinged in this version of the DCU. Katama is still deadly with a sword but this one talks to her death husband who she believes resides spiritually inside her sword. Yeah...

Anyway, the trio look for answers regarding the invisible terrorists and the dead journalist which leads them to the fourth member of their team - Poison Ivy. Okay, stop the bus; I need to get off.

This isn't a bad issue, and the art by Jesus Saiz is more consistant this time around, but this team of Birds is getting farther away from the team Gail Simone made popular (Poison Ivy, really?). Aside from Black Canary these aren't characters I really want to spend time with every month (especially for $3 a pop). Hit-and-Miss.

[DC, $2.99]

Castle - Demons

"I ain't afraid of no ghosts."


This year's Halloween episode gives us a ghost hunter (Philipp Karner) found dead in a haunted house with long history of murder. Since the early 20th Century eight people had been murdered in the the McClaren House. Things get even more interesting when Castle (Nathan Fillion) and Beckett (Stana Katic) uncover the fact that their ghost hunter, as a child, may have witnessed the most recent murder in the house 20 years earlier.

Chuck versus the Season Five preview

It's finally here! Okay, we still have a couple of days, but on Friday night Chuck Bartowski (Zachary Levi), Morgan Grimes (Joshua Gomez), Sarah Walker (Yvonne Strahovski), John Casey (Adam Baldwin), Ellie (Sarah Lancaster), Awesome (Ryan McPartlin), and Jeffster (Vik Sahay, Scott Krinsky) return for their fifth, and final, season. Check out this preview for the season premiere only if you've watched all of Season Four (check out the DVD review) as there more than a few spoilers in store.

Batman: Year One

The latest straight-to-DVD animated release from DC Comics and Warner Premiere is extremely faithful adaptation of Frank Miller's retelling of Batman's origin and the early days in the careers of Batman (Ben McKenzie) and Jim Gordon (Bryan Cranston).

Batman: Year One is a good, not great, entry into the DC Animated universe. It isn't a success in terms of Batman: Under the Red Hood or Justice League: The New Frontier. However, it works better than the Superman/Batman animated films or Wonder Woman. In terms of a mixed success I'd compare it to Green Lantern: First Flight, and Green Lantern: Emerald Knights.

The film does a good job and capturing the look of David Mazzucchelli's art from Frank Miller's Batman: Year One, although it does have a decided Japanese animated look and feel. With a couple of exceptions, including the opening shot of Bruce Wayne returning to Gotham and Gordon unburdening himself to Essen in the diner, the film follows the comic nearly as closely as Sin City.

Bad Movie

I like Cameron Diaz. I enjoyed Bad Santa. Hell, I even like Summer School. However, I don't like all those ingredients thrown into a blender with the barest attempt at originality and the lack of any real laughs.

If you take Billy Bob Thornton's character from Bad Santa and put him into Mark Harmon's role from Summer School, then make him an aging blonde hottie obsessed with getting a boob job and tricking some rich dullard into marriage you have the script for Bad Teacher, not just the premise mind you, the entire script.

Writers Gene Stupnitsky and Lee Eisenberg (the comedic geniuses who are responsible for Year One) waste another talented cast by phoning in yet another suprisingly unfunny comedy. If you know how these guys continue to get work please let me know. (I'm guessing that must have some incriminating pictures of several studio heads.)

Batman #2

Bruce Wayne has been marked for death by the mysterious group known as the Court of Owls. Writer Scott Snyder delivers another strong Batman story that explains Nightwing's DNA at a crime scene, sees Batman run a motorcycle into a helicopter and full speed, and Bruce Wayne survive an attack from the Court of Owls assassin on the observation deck of Wayne Tower.

First, I've got to mention the terrific art by Greg Capullo who really shows off Gotham in this issue as well as give us some great panels of the Dark Knight. The villain (given his look and ability to pop back up from the "dead") reminded me a little too much of Karl Ruprecht Kroenen from the first Hellboy film, but the fight sequence on the top of Wayne Tower and in mid-air between the assassin and Bruce Wayne works well.

I'm also impressed with Snyder's ability to capture Bruce Wayne's arrogance while still being able to present a likable character. Even if he villain isn't a great one Snyder's story about the guardians of Gotham and Capullo's art elevate the issue into one of the best of the week.

[DC, $2.99]

Prepare for the Awesomeness

It seems DreamWorks Animation and Nickelodeon are finally ready to let loose the awesome. After sitting in limbo for more than a year Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness (a new cartoon based on the characters from the hit movie) is set to premiere on November 7th on Nickelodeon. The series is using most of the voice cast from the Kung Fu Panda video game (including Mick Wingert, who does a pretty darn good Jack Black as Po) and will boast several well-known guest-stars in the first season including John DiMaggio, Wallace Shawn, Simon Helberg, Stephen Root, Wayne Knight, and Diedrich Bader. James Hong will appear to reprise his role as Po's father Mr. Ping.

Nightwing #2

Between two battles with the mysterious Saiko (who is hellbent on killing Dick Grayson), Nightwing reconnects with an old friend from the circus and is given a gift he can't refuse. Issue #2 continues to reconnect Dick with his roots in Haly's Circus as well as give Nightwing a new adversary who knows his true identity (which seems like a pattern in the New 52, particularly in the Bat-titles).

Between his battles and inheriting the circus that killed his family, Dick has time to reconnect with a girl from his past aboard one of Bruce Wayne's private jets. And I do mean reconnect.

This issue is still laying the foundation of who Dick Grayson is, but I would have liked a little more fun. We certainly don't need another brooding member of the Bat-Family.

Comic Rack

It’s a new week so it must be time to talk about comics! Welcome to the RazorFine Comic Rack boys and girls. Pull up a bean bag and take a seat at feet of the master as we offer you this quick list of all kinds of comic book goodness set to hit comic shops and bookstores this week from all your favorite publishers including DC, Marvel, Dark Horse, Archie, Dynamite, Image Comics, and others.

This week includes Angel & Faith, Aquaman, Annihilators: Earthfall, Astonishing X-Men, Blackhawks, Cobra, Daredevil, Deadpool, FF, The Flash, Incorruptible, Justice League Dark, Kato, Kirby: Genesis, The Mighty Thor, Star Trek, Superman, Teen Titans, The Walking Dead, the first issues of Avengers: Solo, Helldorado, Incredible Hulk, Legion: Secret Origin, Spaceman, Stitched, Wolverine & The X-Men, and the final issues of Abe Sapien: The Devil Does Not Jest, Breed III, Guarding the Globe, The Mis-Adventures of Adam West, Red Wing, and The Vault.

Enjoy issue #151

Batman: The Brave and the Bold - Powerless!

After making light of Batman's (Diedrich Bader) abilities because of his lack of super-powers the JLI's latest member Captain Atom (Brian Bloom) finds himself stripped of his own powers by his arch-nemesis Major Force (Fred Tatasciore). What's a super-hero to do when he's lost all his powers? Well, if you're like Captain Atom, it involves a lot of crying.

Snake Eyes #6

With the world on the edge of a unstoppable pandemic Snake Eyes and the infected Duke travel to Zimbabwe to track down Dr. Rodrigo Vargas, the Cobra scientist responsible for the Madness Bug, in hopes that he's also created a cure.

Writer Chuck Dixon gives us another issue of Snake Eyes being a bad-ass (which Casey Maloney's art shows off oh so well), and, really, what more do you want? We also see Duke's out-of-the-box thinking to get Vargas to relinquish the location of his cure.

After a bit of a transition issue last month things start to pick up again with the hunt for Vargas and the cure (even if I do still miss Agent Helix and Snake's team from the last story arc). Now we just have to wait and see if Snake Eyes can get his hands on the antidote before everyone infected, including Duke, succumbs to the madness. Worth a look.

[IDW, $3.99]

Person of Interest - Judgement

When the son of a judge (David Costabile) is kidnapped and his nanny is killed (Adriana Gaviria) Reese (Jim Caviezel) must work with the father to track down a group of highly-trained Eastern European kidnappers and bring Sam (Seamus Davey-Fitzpatrick) back alive.

Batman knows...

...the only thing you put on a hot dog is mustard.

The Mentalist - Blood and Sand

When the body of a young woman washes up on the beach of San Felix Island the CBI is sent in to investigate. Although Jane (Simon Baker) finds the the locals charming, the rest of the team finds mostly dead ends with a group of people that don't want to have anything to do with the mainland.

Kung Fu Panda #3 (of 4)

Even if it's far too expensive for a comic aimed at younger readers, I've got to say I enjoyed the hell out of the latest issue of Kung Fu Panda. The main story finds Po and the Furious Five taking on the warriors known as the Five Elements (an ape, leopard, spider, crocodile, and pink flamingo) who have returned as foretold in legend.

We're thrown right into the action as the Five Elements show up to claim their place as the rightful defenders of the valley. Although the first battle doesn't go well for our heroes, they regroup and expose the con artist for what they are.

The back-up story by Deron Bennett gives us another tale of a great Kung Fu master: Master Rhino, Slayer of Ten Thousand Serpents. It's not as good as the main tale but it still works well.

The Big Bang Theory - The Rhinitis Revelation

Laurie Metcalf returns to the show as Sheldon's (Jim Parsons) mother who comes to visit her son for the weekend. The entire episode is basically Sheldon coming to grips with the fact that his mother might rather do tourist activities with Sheldon's friends than spend her time preparing food for her son or accompanying him to a dry scientific lecture. In Shedlon's mind this just doesn't compute.

Justice League #2

Almost without exception the second issues of the DC Reboot have been an improvement. The stories are better written, the art feels less rushed, and the writers more effectively use the characters. I say almost without exception, because the second issue of Justice League feels like a step in the wrong direction.

The first issue did a fair job in introducing us to the New 52 versions of Green Lantern and Batman before promising Batman and Superman's first throwdown in issue #2. Here's the problem, the first fight between Batman and Superman, incomprehensively, takes place off-panel between issues.

That's right, by the time this issue picks up the action most of the Batman/Superman fight is already over. Who at DC thought this was a good idea? And that's not the only problem as most of the takeaways are equally questionable. Batman is pushed around, Superman shrugs off Green Lantern's best constructs without much effort, and we learn that Cyborg's dad is one huge dick. Is this really what I waited seven weeks for?

Supreme (and friends) returning to Image Comics in 2012

Over the last year or so I've myself intrigued by more Image titles than ever before and the news that my favorite Image Comics character is returning from a 12 year hiatus makes me very happy. Along with Supreme, Prophet, Glory, Bloodstrike, and Youngblood will all be returning to Image in 2012 as part of the Extreme Universe. Image currently has a free online look at the Extreme Preview here.

Disney's Sin City

Two words come to mind in this mashup of Sin City using clips of several Disney movies including as Beauty and the Beast, The Great Mouse Detective, and The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Mulan, and 101 Dalmations: Awe-some!

[via You Bent My Wookie]

Darkwing Duck #17

The series-ending "Dark Currency" crossover arc which began last week in DuckTales #5 continues here as Darkwing, Launchpad, Scrooge McDuck and the kids crash into Quackwerks (literally) and begin their search for Gizmoduck.

As you would expect for a crossover event made to send both titles out on top this one is filled to the brim with appearances by Darkwing's rogues gallery (Megavolt, Bushroot, Quackerjack, The Liquidator, Ammonia Pine) all suped-up on the dark magic from Magica and the Phantom Blot (and you really don't want to know its effect on the good guys!).

The writing and art is a little more consistent than in last week's issue (as it falls squarely on the shoulders of the comic's regular team of Ian Brill and James Silvani this time around) and it certainly doesn't skimp on action. One of may favorite panels includes Darkwing and pals looking up at the oncoming storm of some of his powerful villains descending on them. If the point of this crossover was to send both comics out with a big event it's succeeding.

Psych - Last Night Gus

"This is not a joke, Mr. Spencer. That explosion was meant to kill and the killer is still out there. And Henry Spencer, where are your pants?!"

Shawn (James Roday), Gus (Dulé Hill), Lassiter (Timothy Omundson), and Woody (Kurt Fuller) wake up in the Psych offices the night after a retirement dinner hungover and at a loss for what occurred the night before. The discovery that Lassiter's gun was fired three times during the missing hours and a the fact that a man who was seen with the group is dead from three bullet wounds only furthers the mystery.

Luther - Series Two, Episode Four

After helping cover up the evidence of Jenny's (Aimee-Ffion Edwards) crime at the end of the preceding episode Luther (Idris Elba) must get back to finding the twin of the killer in custody (Steven Robertson) who has attacked people in the subway and rush hour traffic. This second killer appears to have the same mental issues as his brother involving his need to act out violence in the real world as if it were a RPG by a role of the dice.

Reason #31 Why I Love DS9 - Section 31

There are many reasons why I love Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and why it remains my favorite of the Star Trek franchise.

Reason #31: Section 31

One concerted effort Rick Berman and Michael Piller had in mind in creating Star Trek: Deep Space Nine was to give fans a little dirtier version of Starfleet than we'd seen in Star Trek: The Next Generation. Yes, Starfleet is still the future to aspire to, but it's still made up of human beings who, no matter how evolved they are, are still human.

Hawaii Five-0 - Ma'ema'e

The death of a volleyball coach (Joe Toro) uncovers a money laundering scheme run by a former cop (William Baldwin) that leaves one man dead and a woman (Meredith Monroe) on the run not realizing the money she took from her husband actually belongs to some very bad men. Kono's (Grace Park) story arc comes to a head with the former police officer finds herself in a getaway car with a man (Gary Price) shot by her former teammates.

The Mild Scent of His Cologne

Taken from 2010's San Diego Comic-Con here's Castle stars Nathan Fillion and Stana Katic, with a dramatic reading of the steamiest scene from Heat Wave. A lot of fun (and bonus points for pronouncing cologne like Zapp Brannigan).

Green Lantern #2

The theme for issue #2 of the new Green Lantern series seems to be Don't Look a Gift Horse in the Mouth. Sinestro offers Hal Jordan his own power ring (or a close approximation of it) and Hal's response is to try and take his former mentor's head off. Classic Hal.

The issue does a good job riding the mutual animosity the two characters have for each other as well as giving us a situation dire enough for them to be brought back together. Hal wants his ring back, and, whether Sinestro wants it or not, the Green Lantern needs Jordan's help to save his home planet of Korugar from his Sinestro Corps.

Honestly, I have mixed feelings about this storyline that seems to continually undercut Hal Jordan's standing in the Green Lantern Corps. Before the DC Reboot, even with his "issues" (you know, killing half the Corps and trying to reform reality in his image), Hal Jordan was regarded the greatest Green Lantern of all-time.

London Boulevard trailer

London Boulevard stars Colin Farrell as newly released ex-con  hired as a bodyguard by a reclusive movie star (Keira Knightley) who he quickly falls for, but complicating things is a dangerous former boss (Ray Winstone) who has more work for him to do and won't take no for an answer. David Thewlis, Anna Friel, Ben Chaplin, and Stephen Graham also star. The film opens in limited release in select cities on November 11th.

Morning Glories #13

I had a definite sense of déjà vu when reading this issue of Morning Glories. The comic replays the conversation between Casey and Hunter before giving us its fallout from another point of view. Even if the comic includes a couple of pages of panels we've already seen this one is packed with pages to spare (30+) which is a damn fine deal for only $3.

As the school gets ready for a mysterious activity called "Woodrun" Casey, Ike and Jade make a run for a secret rendezvous with the school's guidance counselor Miss Hodge. We've certainly seen our share of peculiar events over the course of the series but this one is one of the strangest as a series of shadows on the cave wall allow Hodge and Casey to apparently time travel to a different point along their timeline. As to who they meet, let's just say there's going to be some explaining to do in the next issue.

The issue delivers another solid tale by further the story but still keeping most of its secrets unrevealed. Worth a look.

[Image, $2.99]

SHAZAM! Guess who’s coming back to the DCU!

Although he's not getting his own book, Captain Marvel (the real one - accept no substitutes!) will be making his first appearance in the back-up story of Justice League #5 in January. Now word yet on if any other members of the Marvel Family may make future appearances. C'mon, can't we give Tawky Tawny and Hoppy the Marvel Bunny a little love, too?

Castle - Eye of the Beholder

When a $50 million sculpture is stolen and a museum curator is found dead Beckett (Stana Katic) and Castle (Nathan Fillion) find themselves on the trail of a nefarious art thief known only as Falco. The investigation is complicated by an insurance investigator (Kristin Lehman) who insinuates herself into the case. The fact that she and Castle have a little chemistry doesn't make Beckett happy either.

A World of Pure Imagination

Years ago Willy Wonka (Gene Wilder), the world’s foremost creator of chocolate treats, closed his factory to the public to prevent people from stealing the secrets of his candy making. Out of nowhere the reclusive inventor ships five hidden golden tickets hidden in Wonka bars. Whoever finds a ticket will be allowed to enter the Wonka factory.

The five children include Augustus Gloop (Michael Bollner) who never saw a snack he didn’t eat, Violet Beauregarde (Denise Nickerson), spoiled rich girl Veruca Salt (Julie Dawn Cole), and television obsessed Mike Teevee (Paris Themmen). The fifth ticket is found by Charlie Bucket (Peter Ostrum) who lives in the slums just blocks away from the fatory with his mother (Diana Sowle) and his bedridden grandparents: Grandpa Joe (Jack Albertson), Grandma Georgina (Dora Altmann), Grandma Josephine (Franziska Liebing) and Grandpa George (Ernst Ziegler). Charlie and Grandpa Joe join the others for the tour of the factory led by Willy Wonka himself. Inside they find wonders that they could not even imagine.

Chuck Versus The Fourth Season

Chuck returns for a Fourth Season with Chuck (Zachary Levi) and Sarah's (Yvonne Strahovski) relationship in full swing, a new girlfriend for Morgan, the birth of a new baby Awesome, and the return of Chuck's mom (Linda Hamilton). More than previous seasons, Season Four is geared towards ongoing multiple episode arcs such as Chuck's search for his mother and his battle against Alexi Volkoff (Timothy Dalton) and his a criminal empire, but that doesn't mean there isn't plenty of fun along the way.

The Fourth Season missions include a trip to Milan to take a sexy killer (Karolina Kurkova) during Fashion Week, to prevent a nuclear war Sarah and Chuck play marriage counselors to Costa Gravas' Premier Alejandro Goya (Armand Assante) and his wife (Tia Texada), the team fakes Casey's (Adam Baldwin) death, Chuck goes on a mission without the Intersect to retrieve a diamond in Switzerland, and for Halloween the team takes down a scientist (Robert Englund) with a weaponized fear toxin.

Super Dinosaur #5

If you're not reading this title then there's something wrong with you. Just when you thought Super Dinosaur couldn't get any crazier (it is about a kid and a Tyrannosaurus Rex with a robot exoskeleton fighting evil, after all) writer Robert Kirkman and and Jason Howard prove us wrong by upping the ante of wonderfully crazy awesome one more time.

This issue finds Derek and Super Dinosaur defending their home from evil super-genius Max Maximus and his latest creation: the Mega-Raptor! How do you fight the Mega-Raptor? I'm so glad you asked! You put Derek and Super Dinosaur into giant robots that merge to create an even more impressive super giant robot!

This insane battle wraps up the comic's first story arc and even lays down a little foreshadowing for a possible rift between Derek and his dino-pal. And even in defeat Maximus still manages to get the upper hand by asking Dr. Dynamo about his missing wife. Great art and insane action makes this one an easy recommendation. Best of the week.

[Image, $2.99]

New Avengers #17

With Fear Itself over (at least the tie-ins are done) and the brand new team featured on the cover of the latest issue it seemed like a good opportunity to start picking this title up again. Too bad it's false advertising.

Although both Daredevil and the Thing appear on the cover neither is part of this issue as the same old New Avengers team (including those not showcased on the cover such as Mockingbird) attempt to stop the destruction caused by Ultimo controlled by the newly reconstituted H.A.M.M.E.R, led by the recently escaped Norman Osborn.

The issue isn't a bad one, but I've got admit it's pretty damned unimpressive. Even the trademark dialogue writer Brian Michael Bendis is known for seems strained. If the issue is simply meant to (underwhelmingly) jump off a new story arc this one does the job (but little else). However, if the point of the issue was to draw in new readers with a brand new team it fails miserably and it gives me no reason to pick up the next issue. Hit-and-Miss.

[Marvel, $3.99]

Comic Rack 150

It’s a new week so it must be time to talk about comics! Welcome to the RazorFine Comic Rack boys and girls. Pull up a bean bag and take a seat at feet of the master as we offer you this quick list of all kinds of comic book goodness set to hit comic shops and bookstores this week from all your favorite publishers including DC, Marvel, Dark Horse, Archie, Dynamite, Image Comics, and others.

This week includes Avengers, Batman, Captain Atom, Darkwing Duck, Doctor Who, Herc, Hulk, Justice League, Kung Fu Panda, Near Death, Nightwing, Queen Sonja, Snake Eyes, Supergirl, Uncanny X-Men, Wonder Woman, the first issues of 30 Days of Night, Batman: Odyssey, Cold War, DeadpoolMAX 2, Fear Itself: The Fearless, Key of Z, Mass Effect: Invasion, Monocyte, Star Trek/Legion of Super-Heroes, Xenoholics, and the final issues of 68, All Nighter, Captain America Corps, Fear Itself, and Godzilla: Gangsters and Goliaths.

Enjoy issue #150

Batman: The Brave and the Bold - Bold Beginnings

Three of Batman's pals, Green Arrow (James Arnold Taylor), Plastic Man (Tom Kenny), and Aquaman (John Di Maggio), find themselves captured by Mr. Freeze (Di Maggio). To help pass the time each of the characters recounts an early team-up with the Caped Crusader.

DuckTales #5

The last four issues of Darkwing Duck's adventures in Boom Studio's comics begin here with part one of the four-part crossover between Darkwing Duck and DuckTales. Realizing something is amiss in St. Canard, Scrooge McDuck and his three nephews Huey, Dewey, and Louie, travel to find out what fate has befallen Scrooge's former accountant Fenton Crackshell (the one-time super-hero known as Gizmoduck).

Locating Crackshell proves to be easy, dealing with a city gone mad thanks to the Legion of Eve-il is going to be far more tricky. Magica, the Phantom Blot, and Ammonia Pine have banded together and are magically altering the city into a the stuff of nightmares. Never fear, for Darkwing Duck is on the case!

The story is co-written by Warren Spector and Ian Brill and the art is also divided between Jose Massaroli and James Silvani. For having that many cooks in the kitchen it turns out quite well. I'd rather have a solo Darkwing adventure, but seeing as his days are numbered I'll take all that I can get. Worth a look.

[Boom, $3.99]

Person of Interest - Cura Te Ipsum

When the machine spits out the name of a doctor (Linda Cardellini) in close proximity to a sexual predator (Adam Rothenberg) the path Reese (Jim Caviezel) needs to take seems clear. In some cases, however, things aren't quite what they seem. It turns out the doctor isn't the one in danger; it's the predator whose number is up.

The Mentalist – Ring Around the Rosie

The team gets a new boss in Luther Wainwright (Michael Rady), a young hotshot who seems open (at least initially) to more of Jane's (Simon Baker) antics than his predecessors. I've got to admit I really liked the scenes of Jane and Luther as a pair who respect each other, and even like each other, but don't trust each other.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Nine #2

The Ninth Season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer continues right where the first issue left off (although sadly without the writing of Buffy creator Joss Whedon). Buffy and her pals run into a demon in an alley that's not after dinner, destruction, or mayhem. This one wants money, specifically Buffy's college loan.

It seems in a world without magic all sorts of demons have been trapped in our reality and forced into finding odd jobs to make do. This demon has become a debt collector, and from his frightening visage I'm guessing a pretty good one.

Buffy also has to deal with being hauled in by the police who catch her in the act of staking a vampire. The cops are at a loss as to what to charge her with, but are sure she's guilty of something, but the truth is what they are after is a mysterious young man who is miraculously bringing the undead back to death (so to speak).

The Big Bang Theory - The Russian Rocket Reaction

WHEEEAATOOOOON!!!! After running into Wil Wheaton at the comic book store and earning an invite to his party Sheldon (Jim Parsons) tries to convince his friends not to go to a gather organized by his arch-nemesis. As you might guess, Leonard (Johnny Galecki) has other plans.