[Victoria, BC] Curious Comics Expands for the Summer

Curious ComicsJust when the days of light reading can’t be found, Curious Comics Books & Games in Victoria, BC has a Summer clearance store, aptly named Curious! Too, of all things pop culture to keep everyone sated. Well, that’s until the next Marvel Entertainment movie comes along … in the form of The Wolverine, due in theatres July 26th. There’s also the lesser known R.I.P.D. (Rest in Peace Department), based on a Dark Horse Comics property about a recently slain cop who joins a police department with an undead division. Could the latter be the next Men in Black? Who knows, but readers can find out with old comic books being offered at discount prices; plenty of 3 for $1 deals will be found. Graphic novels will be sold at 50% off cover.

But for the people interested in expressing their inner geek, action figures, t-shirts, posters and other sundries will also be offered.

This place will run throughout the summer from Weds to Sun, 10am-5:30pm and is located on 1319 Broad St. Tourists to one of the Pacific Northwest’s many gems, the garden city of Victoria, may well be able to find a few shining jewels of the geeky variety to marvel at during that journey home.

IMG_0670

Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated Series Analysis and DVD Review

The plots were simple and the latest series, Scooby-Doo, Mystery Incorporated, takes the concept further. Nearly all the cases the Scooby gang investigates are linked in some way.

Scooby Doo Mystery IncorporatedThe concept of having a talking Great Dane as a mascot to a gang of paranormal mystery solving enthusiasts was introduced in September of 1969, and the cartoon Scooby-Doo Where Are You! became a resounding success. The television show underwent many incarnations throughout the years and many kids watched a version of the show before going to school or as part of the Saturday morning routine. The plots were simple and the latest series, Scooby-Doo, Mystery Inc, takes the concept further. Nearly all the cases the Scooby gang investigates are linked in some way. And now it can be enjoyed with the series fully available on DVD. The last set was released in June.

Part of season one dealt with the Scooby gang discovering that they are part of an exclusive club. Apparently there was another group before them who created Mystery Incorporated, and both fellowships shared similar goals. To have this series slowly reveal details about this older group is intriguing and when the current gang discovers a legend about cursed treasure akin to what existed in the movie Pirates of the Caribbean, the stage has been set. The gang slowly finds pieces of an astrolabe known as the Planispheric Disk, and they have to put it together before the coming of Nibiru, aka Planet X.

Continue reading “Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated Series Analysis and DVD Review”

Tron Legacy. The Franchise and The Future in Jeopardy

TRON Legacy expands the original’s digital mythos, exploring the dangers of perfectionism, the consequences of creation, and the search for meaning within a machine-made world. Beneath its dazzling neon visuals lies a story about legacy, responsibility, and the human spirit coded into every program.

Tron Legacy new IMAX PosterThe most enduring gift TRON gave pop culture is its glowing, neon aesthetic. Its CGI style still looks sleek today, and back then, who didn’t want to toss a glow-in-the-dark Frisbee? TRON Legacy takes that iconic look and pushes it even further.

Original creator Steven Lisberger tapped into the same space-fantasy energy that fueled a Star Wars generation. Swap out lightsabers for identity discs, and you’ve got familiar thrills. This sequel puts the spotlight on Sam Flynn (Garrett Hedlund) and his long-lost father, Kevin (Jeff Bridges). When a mysterious page appears on Alan Bradley’s (Bruce Boxleitner) phone, Sam is pulled into the Grid—and straight into his father’s unfinished business.

Inside the digital world, both Flynns wrestle with pride and the fallout of trying to play God. Kevin set out to build a perfect system, only to unleash chaos—a Pandora’s box of his own making. His creation isn’t just rebelling; it craves recognition.

Continue reading “Tron Legacy. The Franchise and The Future in Jeopardy”

Transformers Prime: Losing More than Just a Hand in Minus One

The writing team of Transformers: Prime knew how many episodes they had to work with, so it’s going to be interesting to see how well they can wrap this series up.

Transformers Prime ScreenshotThe writing in Transformers Prime: Beast Hunters continues to be exemplary. Not only was the loss of Ultra Magnus’ hand in the previous episode, “Evolution,” a brilliant foreshadow of things to come, but also the revelation comes to a head when viewers are playing along, wondering who is going to be “lost” in the episode, “Minus One.” This week’s show moves with the pacing of a smart murder mystery. Viewers see the Autobots capture a Decepticon, but as for whether or not Soundwave will divulge any information, the wait is intoxicating. The only letdown is that his silent warrior’s voice does not live up to expectations.

As for who may fail in this episode, the money was perhaps on one of the new characters introduced this season—either Ultra Magnus, Shockwave or Predaking.

Continue reading “Transformers Prime: Losing More than Just a Hand in Minus One”

How to Keep on Selling and Loving How to Train Your Dragon Beyond its Source Material.

Both the novels and animated series in the How to Train Your Dragon franchise can be enjoyed as its own separate entities.

How to Train your Dragon PosterDreamWorks has a solid winner in How to Train Your Dragon. Loosely based on Cressida Cowell’s novel of the same name, the film offers a refreshing spin on dragon folklore. With nods to legends of old, the caricature-driven CGI world here does more than stir the imagination—it hints at a saga in the making. Given the number of books in the series, there’s ample material for future adaptations. Writer-directors Dean DeBlois and Chris Sanders doesn’t seem too concerned about diverging from the source material, and for good reason.

A veteran of the animation scene, Sanders is best known for Lilo & Stitch, and he brings much of that magic to DreamWorks. Look closely and you might notice that Toothless the dragon bears a striking resemblance to the alien Stitch.

Instead of a girl meeting an extraterrestrial, the story ventures into a fantasy realm where a young boy, Hiccup (Jay Baruchel), encounters a dragon. His Viking village is at war with the entire dragon race, and in preparation for the next generation of warriors, Hiccup attends a training school. Instead of following the rules, however, he skips classes to secretly rehabilitate a wounded dragon. The real question becomes: who is training whom? These moments of mutual discovery are among the film’s most engaging, with a few irresistibly adorable scenes as the bond grows—much like in Lilo & Stitch.

When Hiccup and Toothless take to the skies, the aerial sequences are breathtaking, rivaling and arguably surpassing anything in Avatar. Even James Cameron could take a few notes here.

The film’s slightly exaggerated, cartoon-like style makes it more charming than if it had pursued pure photo-realism. At its core is a powerful message: alliances are possible, even between sworn enemies. The story doesn’t shy away from the cost of conflict either; battles leave their scars, lending the film a welcome touch of realism.

The franchise’s reach extends beyond the big screen. The television series Dragons: Riders of Berk has shown that Hiccup, Astrid, Snotlout, Fishlegs, Tuffnut, and Ruffnut can do more than tame dragons—they can work alongside them. The upcoming series, Dragons: Defenders of Berk, will see the heroes face Alvin and the Outcasts. Given the previous season’s cliffhanger, Berk’s residents may be facing a full-scale invasion. Life in their once-secluded village is changing, and Hiccup might soon have to learn what it takes to be a leader—perhaps even a king. While the books have never served as a strict blueprint for the animated series, familiar plot points are beginning to emerge.

Both the How to Train Your Dragon novels and the animated series stand on their own, offering different yet equally enjoyable experiences. For fans awaiting the next instalment—whether in theatres, on streaming platforms, or as part of the live-action reimagining—reading the books is a great way to keep the magic alive. There’s room to expand this world in many directions, from side stories for the supporting cast to deeper arcs for familiar faces, with or without direct ties to Cressida Cowell’s source material. It’s rarely worth reinventing the wheel; new interpretations will come in time. For now, growing the How to Train Your Dragon universe feels like the best path forward.

5 out of 5

How to Train Your Dragon Trailer

 

Transformers Exodus and Exile Examined (with 3rd Book News)

From the first book titled Rebellion to the last, Reconnaissance, publisher Del Ray has changed the formula around by not offering a teasinFg title like “Transformers: Extinction.”

transformers exodusFans of either Transformers Prime the animated series or the Fall/War of Cybertron games are well advised to read the book Transformers: Exodus: The Official History of the War for Cybertron. Written by Alex Irvine, he does a remarkable job in penning the lead up to one of cartoondom’s greatest wars of all time. As most fans know, the conflict is largely centered on a battle of wills between Autobot leader Optimus Prime and Decepticon dictator Megatron.

But for the leader of the Decepticons, there is more to him than meets the eye. He was a nameless factory worker who quite literally fought his way to the top. Domination is all he knew as he fought in the gladiatorial pits of Kaon. Despite his limited dealings with higher Cybertronian society as a whole, he believed they were corrupt. He wanted to do away with the caste system that was eroding the robotic civilization. He took on the name of Megatronus and preached that equity should exist. That is, no social or occupational ranking system is required to determine one’s way of life. Freedom should exist for everyone. Orion Pax agreed with this up-and-coming orator about what needs to be done, but somewhere along the way, a rift between them would form and a war would erupt.

Continue reading “Transformers Exodus and Exile Examined (with 3rd Book News)”