The Next Level

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Monday, February 6, 2012

YES! I'm still alive!

Long story short, all my staff quit on me. And as a result, I was kinda burnt out. But now, I'm recharged, and ready to bring The Next Level back to greatness again!

A small post will follow later during the week, reviewing the Dark Angel Saga from Uncanny X-Force, followed by a larger post spotlighting another series that's getting the Marvel Omnibus treatment: the AGE of APOCALYPSE!

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What do you think? Thoughts? Questions? Feedback is always welcome. Leave a comment or email nextlevelstaff@gmail.com

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Parallel Level - Anime Update (2011 Season)

Good evening Ladies and Gentlemen, and Welcome to The Next Level. We are your source for comic book opinions and debates. I’m your host Stefan, and I’ll be here with you discussing Comic Books, Video Games, and other items of note. Please note, for a purely gaming blog, I'd recommend Pwning Pat's Game Blog. The Next Level would also like to thank Jackie Fong for designing our logo.

This post (notice that I've removed the references to "weekly postings", as we no longer have any semblance of time for that) will focus on the Fall 2011 Anime Season, regarding the shows that I like, and do not like. Toward the end of the season, I'll post up another entry examining how I felt each of the below series unfolded.

Disclaimer: I'm currently watching Kyoukai Senjou no Horizon, C³, and Fate/Zero in addition to the two series profiled below, but since I've only gotten through one episode of each, I didn't think it would be fair to review them as of yet.

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Mobile Suit Gundam AGE

Gundam AGE is a paradox. On one level, it's the logical extension of the Gundam universe, expanding it into areas that previous series' had only slightly considered. However, on the other level, the expansion into these areas is done by looking backward and adopting a far more PG-oriented stance on the series.

The plot of the series shows humanity under attack by the U.E. or the "Unknown Enemy". These forces (seemingly Alien in nature) are facing off against the forces of the Earth, bolstered by the help of a young boy named Flit Asuno. Flit built his own Gundam and is using it to fight the enemy.

In General, this feels like a poor follow-up to Gundam 00. The animation quality is lower, the quality of the storytelling is severely dumbed down, and the realism present in 00 is non-existent here. However, I'm interested in the fact that we already know that Flit will fail against the UE, as the story has already been announced to take place over three generations.

Verdict: Tentatively Sticking With It.

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Guilty Crown

At first, I watched this series thinking to myself, "Well, I need something a bit more mature than Gundam Age. Something like...Code Geass maybe." After hearing that some members of the Geass team were involved with this show, I strengthened my own resolve. I'm very glad I did.

Guilty Crown revolves around Japan in 2029. The country is under quarantine by a stand-in for the World Health Organization (in this show called the GHQ) due to a viral outbreak ten years ago. The GHQ effectively runs the country, and a group of Japanese Nationalist Terrorists called "Undertaker" or "Funeral Parlour" (depending on your translation) seek to reclaim their nation. Integral to this plan is the Void Genome, a genetic weapon that just happened to fall into the hands of an unwitting student, who is now caught up in the rebellion.

Every single major criticism I have about AGE is missing in Guilty Crown. The animation is fantastic, the storytelling is tight and concise, and the realism in terms of human conflict is played up. The major selling-point of the series involves the Void Genome weapon allowing the protagonist to draw out "Voids" (items that reflect a user's personality, like a sword, some pliers, or even a refrigerator) from people and using them. Each episode ends well, leaving me hanging and interested in what happens next.

Verdict: CONSISTENTLY WATCHING

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What do you think? Thoughts? Questions? Feedback is always welcome. Leave a comment or email nextlevelstaff@gmail.com

Sunday, October 2, 2011

Level Up - The New 52

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I'm going to ask a simple question of those of my readers who have been following the New 52: Did this change anything for you? Before any major details of the relaunch had been publicly revealed, I was skeptical. But as I learned that the New 52 was acting as a sort of "soft-reboot", I made the decision to withhold all criticisms until after the first round of 52 issues had been released. Now that they have, I'm free to ask my question:

What was the point?

At it's core, the New 52 was designed to draw in new readers, and entice older readers to pick up new series outside of their regular comfort zone. I've taken the time to evaluate how this event has affect myself, and other members of the Next Level Staff.

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Prior to the New 52 Relaunch, I was reading 4 DC Comics titles: Green Lantern, Green Lantern Corps, Green Lantern Emerald Warriors, and The Flash. Heading into Week 1 of the New 52, my Pull List stood at 10 titles:

Justice League
Aquaman
Flash
Wonder Woman
Captain Atom
The Fury of Firestorm
Green Lantern
Green Lantern Corps
Green Lantern New Guardians
Red Lanterns

This would seem like a sizable increase, but in fact it is not. The four Green Lantern-related titles and the Flash would have remained in my pull list anyway. In addition, I'd been waiting for Aquaman and Firestorm's titles since the end of Brightest Day. In truth, I added three books to my monthly pull list. So, what did I think of the relaunch itself?

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I am proud fan of the Geoff Johns-inspired reinvention of the Green Lantern mythos over the last 7 years. While I enjoyed each of the four Green Lantern related books, they showed no sign of being affected in the slightest by the relaunch. If a new reader had picked up any one of these four books, it would have turned them off right way. Every element of each book was based on past experiences between characters, or plot elements established from Blackest Night.

I did not enjoy the Flash first issue, but I am willing to stick it out for at least the first arc. This issue was at least able to bring in new readers, and was far easier to understand with no preconceptions of the Flash. The Justice League issue was similarly insignificant. The issue was decent, but decompressed. I will be returning to these two issues next month however.

Wonder Woman and Captain Atom were the two largest failures of the DCnU to me. I'd always been interested in both of those characters in principle, and was waiting for a moment to jump onto them. However, each of their first issues were paper-thin, relying on extremely simplistic plot devices and clichés. I will not be picking up Wonder Woman next month, and I'm giving Captain Atom one more chance.

Aquaman and Firestorm represent two sides of the same dilemma: each character had serious issues to be dealt with as a result of Brightest Day. In Aquaman, the issues are side-stepped but approached in such a manner that we know they will be addressed shortly. In Firestorm, the consequences were far more serious, but also completely ignored. In the final issue of Brightest Day, it is revealed the Firestorm Matrix is damaged and will destroy the world in 90 days. In addition, Jason had just come to terms with the murder of his girlfriend at the hands of Ronnie, whom he must merge with to become Firestorm. In the new series, the two people dislike each other because of RACE ("Why don't you have Black friends?" "I have Black friends!"), and the impending destruction of the Matrix is completely ignored. Despite these shortcomings, I will be returning to Firestorm and Aquaman next month.

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Truthfully, my dear readers, I'm going to be picking up two books more than I had been in the previous month. For all the hype, I'm going to classify the New 52 as: MORE OF THE SAME.

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What do you think? Thoughts? Questions? Feedback is always welcome. Leave a comment or email nextlevelstaff@gmail.com

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Level 2.2 - Redefinition

New Avengers Annual #1

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New Avengers Annual #1

This issue begins with a Wonder Man (Simon Williams for those keeping track at home) narrating what he believes to be the Avengers five biggest failures: Ultron, Scarlet Witch, the Civil War, the Incredible Hulk, and the Dark Avengers. Shortly after this, he gives his team a small pep talk, and tells them that the Avengers as a concept is wrong. His teammates agree with him, and they lay siege to Avengers Mansion.

The battle itself is frantic, and furious. Wonder Man himself engages Ms. Marvel high in the skies, while the remaining New Avengers are trounced handily (while the Revengers clearly show some expert planning and some sort of skill). As Anti-Venom defeats Spider-Man, and Goliath defeats the Thing, Ms. Marvel crashes to the ground beaten, as Wonder Man declares Avengers Tower as his next target.

Overall, the issue felt the the start of a longer story (which at least turned out to be the case thankfully). The art was absolutely amazing, as Dell'Otto knocked it out of the park. However, I was really disappointed that we didn't get to see more of the interaction between Ms. Marvel and Wonder Man. After their many years working together, I would have loved to have seen more than was shown. Maybe it will come in the Avengers Annual later on. I give this issue: 6.5/10

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Thoughts? Questions? Feedback is always welcome. Leave a comment or email nextlevelstaff@gmail.com

Sunday, September 4, 2011

Level 2.1 - The Rebirth

Ultimate Hawkeye #1

Over in the Southeast Asian Republic (SEAR), a revolution is underway. Officially, the rebels only occupy a small amount of territory, but everyone can see which way the wind is blowing. Hawkeye receives his marching orders from Nick Fury, who instructs him to support the government of the SEAR, despite the protests of many SHIELD agents who believe the rebels are being supported from within the government. At this moment, the Triskelion in the SEAR is attacked by superhumans.

A flashback then kicks us back a full month, with members of the SEAR military explaining to the Chancellor their Plan: a virus designed to wipe out the X-Gene. Once this virus is fully deployed, the military would distribute a serum to create an artifical X-Gene within certain soldiers, to create a superpowered army. The flashback ends, and Hawkeye fights off the attack on the Triskelion (having a pretty bad-ass moment in the process), and reports in to Fury. Fury after mulling over the options briefly, orders Hawkeye to get the serum.

This issue acts as sort of a companion piece to last week's Ultimate Comics Ultimates #1. On the whole, I enjoyed this issue. I've always been a big fan of political dramas, and seeing one play out in comics has always appealed to me. However, I did find the flashback sequence a bit too long. Generally, I think this issue speaks very well for the interconnected nature of the new Ultimate Universe. If you had not read Ultimates #1 last week, you didn't miss anything. However, if you did, you begin to see a more complete, cohesive picture of the direction of this universe. I give this issue 7/10

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Flashpoint #5

The issue opens up with Flash confronting Zoom about the Flashpoint Universe, asking how he changed time. Zoom, however, hits Flash with the truth: It was the Flash who had created this alternate timeline, not Zoom. Zoom explains that after standing at his Mother's grave (Flash #12), Barry went mad with grief, and ran back in time to stop Zoom from murdering her. However, by stopping Zoom, Barry's brazen actions acted as a bullet hitting a windshield: shattering time itself.

A fight ensues between the Flash and Zoom, ultimately ending with Thomas Wayne killing Zoom, and convincing the Flash to run back and stop himself from stopping Zoom. Barry tries to run into the past, but is instead pulled toward his mother. After explaining the situation, he pays his respects, and travels back and stops himself. In the end, Barry is able to stop himself, but a strange woman appears, and uses Barry's Speed Force energies to reintegrate three distinct timelines into a unified one. In the new timeline, Barry remembers everything, and tells only Batman.

I'm not going to lie, I was quite disappointed with this book. I'm not upset about the DCnU reboot, I'm just not sure I like the execution. There are more than a few contradictory story elements within this issue alone, but since I know this story will be more or less forgotten, I'm going to be a bit more lenient. I give this issue 5/10

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Justice League #1

This issue opens up with police trying to apprehend Batman, who in turn is trying to apprehend a very strangely dressed criminal. Batman corners the criminal, who promptly breathes fire at him, causing Green Lantern to swoop in for the save. After a small "Wait, you're real?" segment, Green Lantern and Batman attempt to chase the criminal, who perpetrates a suicide bombing in the name of Darkseid.

Immediately afterwards, Green Lantern and Batman decide that this being (who was extraterrestrial as identified by Hal's ring) may be connected with the rumours they've been hearing of a "Superman" in Metropolis. They decide to confront him. The scene then shifts to high school football star Victor Stone, who is angry with his Dad for not showing up to his game, as he works for an extraterrestrial branch of the government. The scene then switches back to Green Lantern and Batman finding Superman, who clearly is not impressed by the duo.

This issue was solid, but ultimately suffers from decompression. The book is called Justice League, but only three members are shown (four if you count the future Cyborg). In addition, this book isn't really as new-reader-friendly as I would have liked. That said, I have a personal rule of giving new books up to the end of the first story arc to entice me, so I'll wait. One final note: the scene with Green Lantern questioning Batman's "powers"? Priceless. I give this issue 6/10

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Thoughts? Questions? Feedback is always welcome. Leave a comment or email nextlevelstaff@gmail.com

Sunday, August 28, 2011

Next Level Relaunch

Good evening Ladies and Gentlemen, and Welcome to The Next Level. We are your source for comic book opinions and debates. I’m your host Stefan, and I’ll be here with you discussing Comic Books, Video Games, and other items of note. Please note, for a purely gaming blog, I'd recommend Pwning Pat's Game Blog. The Next Level would also like to thank Jackie Fong for designing our logo.

The last four months have been absolutely ridiculous for us here at The Next Level. Unfortunately, I was faced with a decision regarding the status of this blog. To avoid a total shut down of this blog, we decided to take an extended hiatus.

But now, this hiatus is over, and I owe my readers a status report. The Next Level will resume reviews as of September 4th, 2011. We shall endeavour to keep our readers as informed as possible. As for our upcoming relaunch? Be prepared...