By Todd Matthy
There’s a lot of negativity about Green Lantern. Some deserved, some undeserved. It didn’t help that a trailer was released before the effects were done. But, comparisons to Jonah Hex are a little unfair. The cast is great, the effects are breathtaking, and the story’s clear. However Green Lantern has one major flaw, it’s reverence to the source material. (more…)
By Todd Matthy
As many of you now know DC Comics has announced they are renumbering their entire line in September. The renumbering is supposed to reflect significant changes to their continuity. While I’ll wait and see before I pass judgment, right now I’m not excited.
Don’t get me wrong, Geoff Johns and Jim Lee on “Justice League” is a dream team, it’s about time Grant Morrison got to write a Superman ongoing, Brian Azzarello’s “Wonder Woman” has me interested, and Geoff Johns faces his greatest challenge when he and Ivan Reis revive “Aquaman.” But still, there is something missing. After thinking about it I realized what the reboot is missing: new voices and perspectives. (more…)
By Todd Matthy
Between the Thor’s, Green Lantern’s, and Captain America’s of this summer it seems a new X-Men movie has been overlooked. After two blockbusters, an average third installment, a prequel some consider a disappointment, and the lack of “big name” X-Men like Cyclops, Storm, and Wolverine, it’s easy to see why many have written off X-Men: First Class before they’ve seen it. So does X-Men: First Class save the franchise or bury it? The answer is it does. (more…)
If you’ve seen Iron Man, Iron Man 2, Incredible Hulk, and Thor you know there is a thread connecting these movies together in the form of a clandestine government organization called S.H.I.E.L.D. To promote Thor, Acura teamed up with Marvel to produce the “S.H.I.E.L.D. Assessment Kit,” a mock attaché with various tests to see if you’re worthy of becoming an agent. I was lucky enough to receive one of these kits in the mail. So what’s it like? Does it provide any hints about the upcoming Avengers movie? I think so. Click below to find out more. (more…)
By Todd Matthy
Marvel’s done it again. Since the appearance of a hammer after the closing credits of last summer’s Iron Man 2, anticipation has been high for the arrival of a certain god of thunder to the big screen. So does Thor live up to the hype? Thanks to a charismatic cast and the direction of one Kenneth Branagh, it does.
The story of Thor is a story about a father and son. Thor begins in the past with Odin (Anthony Hopkins), King of Asgard, narrating to his young sons Thor and Loki, the story of how he defeated the Frost Giants and brought peace between the mythical realms of Asgard and Jotunheim. From there we move to the present where during a lavish ceremony, Odin proclaims that Thor (Chris Hemsworth) will inherit his throne. Unfortunately, the ceremony is interrupted when a group of Frost Giants infiltrates Asgard and attempt to steal an ancient weapon called the Casket of Ancient Winters. His big day ruined, Thor and his friends Sif (Jamie Alexander), and the Warrior’s Three, Fandral (Josh Dallas), Hogun (Tadanobu Asano), and Volstagg (Ray Stevenson) go to Jotunheim to confront the Frost Giants. After being called a princess, Thor attacks their leader, Laufey (Colm Feore), with his hammer forcing Odin’s intervention and reigniting an ancient war. Angered by his son’s arrogance and foolishness, Odin banishes Thor to Earth, casting an enchantment upon his hammer that none may hold it unless they are worthy.
By Todd Matthy
As someone whose thesis was about Superman embodying America, I felt I should comment on this. To celebrate the 900th issue of Action Comics, Superman has renounced America. Or at least that’s what Batman Begins screenwriter David Goyer would have us believe. The nine page back up story revolved around Superman participating in a non-violent protest against the Ahmadinejad regime in Iran. An action the petulant dictator called an “act of war” because he believes Superman to be an instrument of U.S. Foreign Policy. The state department gets miffed and Superman decides he will clear up the confusion by renouncing his U.S. citizenship declaring, “truth, justice, and the American way-it’s not enough anymore. The world’s too small, too connected.” I wondered why DC would make such a drastic move and I realized it boils down to the phrase, “truth, justice, and the American way.” (more…)
Art by Olivier Coipel.
By Todd Matthy
Ralph Macchio is not the “Karate Kid.” He is a Senior Editor at Marvel Comics who oversaw Frank Miller’s run on “Daredevil” and Walter Simonson’s run on “Thor.” In addition to these acclaimed runs, Ralph edited the wildly successful “Ultimate” line, which re-launched Marvel’s greatest heroes for modern times, and Stephen King’s “Dark Tower” comics. Today, Ralph has returned to an old friend, who happens to be Marvel’s next movie star, Thor. Ralph is editing the upcoming “Mighty Thor” book and “Journey into Mystery.” With the impending release of the movie, I talked with Ralph about Thor, why he’s important, why you should see the movie, why you should be reading Thor, and what it’s like to return to Thor after such a lengthy absence. (more…)
Today I decided to repost something. I recently made a compilation of my favorite comics from both Marvel and DC. I’ve decided to repost the links so you can decide which set is better. Let me know by posting a response below.
My Favorite Marvels
By Todd Matthy
Cobra Commander is dead!!!!! Long live the Commander…or whom ever is under the helmet. (Killed in GI Joe: Cobra #12) IDW Publishing’s version of Cobra is far different then the Cobra I grew up with. And Cobra Commander, lets just say the one who’s six feet under is not the first to hold that title and at the end of IDW’s “Cobra Civil War” someone new will be stepping into that title. But who? IDW Senior Editor and Comics Experience founder Andy Schmidt knows, and I attempt to pry it (and information about the Transformers “Chaos” event out of him in six questions.
To get the answers, and learn more about Comics Experience, click below.
Todd Matthy.com 
Review: Transformers: Dark of the Moon
Posted: July 5, 2011 in Cartoons, Celebrity, Comics, Commentary, Movies, Reviews, Science Fiction, TransformersTags: Bumblebee, Carly, Frank Welker, John Tuturro, Leonard Nimoy, Megatron, michael bay, Optimus Prime, Peter Cullen, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Sam Witwicky, Shia LeBouf, Starscream, Transformers
By Todd Matthy
Friday was my birthday and a tradition I have is seeing a movie with my Mom. This year my Dad had the day off so he came to. I decided the most appropriate movie for us to see was Transformers: Dark of the Moon. After all, the original, animated movie was always a favorite of family movie night. (At least for me) So was it the fun, family outing we used to enjoy during my youth? I thought so. (more…)