» May 2006 Archives
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
» Alternate Cover - 29th May 2006
Much like Seb's finding in his column, I'm getting an odd sense of a week gone terribly, terribly right. Though I wasn't too keen on New Avengers. With Civil War out of the gate, the Civil War tie-ins start trickling down in the form of She-Hulk and Wolverine, and you should all know I'm a sucker for a crossover (or rather, in this case, a crossunder). On the other hand, Daredevil keeps himself to himself, and that's fine too.
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
» Lost - Season 1 (DVD)
WARNING: THE COMMENTS TO THIS ARTICLE CONTAIN MAJOR SPOILERS FOR SEASON 2
Before I begin reviewing this boxset, I'll state that I will be revealing absolutely no spoilers from any episode. Aside from the premise of the show, nothing of the plot will be revealed to allow any of you who plan to catch up any time soon to do so at your leisure. However, for anyone reading this now that’s not yet invested in this TV show then take this bit of advice from someone who has just finished watching the season 2 finale - Watch it. Watch it right now.
» Panel Beating - 30th May 2006
A busy week - but a good one - sees the return of an old favourite villain in Green Lantern, an interior duologue in Batman, and sheer unadulterated brilliance in Powers. Plus a roundup of New Avengers, Blue Beetle, Hellblazer and the ever-present 52...
» Wholly Stereotypical Headline, Batman!
It never ceases to amuse me when I see BBC News stick a piece of comics-related news on the site (last time prior to this was, I think, the Holy Terror, Batman! non-story that the media picked up on), but I can't remember the last time such a thing actually appeared on the front page, Alex Ross concept sketch and all.
Nice bit of 52-related publicity for DC there, though - to think all it took was putting a lesbian in one of the Bat-costumes. And the character hasn't even appeared yet...
Monday, May 29, 2006
» Doctor Who - The Idiot's Lantern
Like some people, I've been watching this series of Who with a vague sense of disappointment, tinged with guilt. With the exception of the superb The Girl In The Fireplace, I've found each episode great fun, well worth watching, and amongst the best British TV has to offer at the moment... but ultimately slightly hollow. It's less that I think the episodes aren't as good as this year, and more that we've simply got higher expectations. It may sound ungrateful, but what it comes down to is: great, Who is back. Now, show us what the programme can really do. We've had glimpses, certainly - I will never forget the conversion scene in Rise - but apart from TGITFP, we've not the sustained brillance we know the show is capable of (Father's Day, Bad Wolf, The Parting Of The Ways). So - a Mark Gattis episode? A 50s set historical story? The televisual revolution? Surely this will be the second breakout episode of the series?
Sunday, May 28, 2006
Saturday, May 27, 2006
» Hwyl Fawr I Pawb
For years there's been a small faction in and around music that would tell anyone who'd listen that Gorky's Zygotic Mynci - a band that everyone knows the name of, as they've become a byword for obscure indie - were the best undiscovered band on the face of the planet, and that anyone who took the time to listen to a song of theirs would surely see their greatness.
Well, now they've bloody split up, after fifteen years of never-quite-making it (despite having all the love in the world showered on them by people like Peel and Lamacq). So if you've ever thought about getting into them but never quite bothered, you owe it to them to start hunting down their back catalogue now. The late-middle era albums Barafundle, Gorky 5 and Spanish Dance Troupe are a good place to start, as they represent the poppier, more accessible side. Cracking, gentle, beautiful, tuneful, completely bonkers folky indie, often sung in Welsh. What more could you want?
Thursday, May 25, 2006
» Big Brother's Little Tosser - Day 8
Well, it's been an eventful first week. Two people have left already, and in both cases, we're not entirely sure whether they jumped or were pushed. We've seen some pretty bizarre and disgraceful behavior, from both sides of the Shahbaz vs The World battle. There's been a brand new spin-off show launched, and apparantly there's an eviction on tomorrow. Where shall we start...?
» Sony shoots self in foot. Again.
As if Sony's handling of the Playstation 3 couldn't get any more cack-handed, Games Radar have just reported this:
High street games shops have been told by Sony that there will be no PS3 pre-owned sections in their stores as it will be illegal for customers to sell any next-gen PlayStation games that they've bought, retail sources have revealed to GamesRadar. It seems that Sony is planning to adopt a licensing system that will mean gamers won't own the PS3 titles that they've paid money for. Instead, they will only be purchasing the licence to play the game and that the software itself will still be Sony property - meaning that the disc won't be the customer's to sell.
Yes, you heard right. Any games bought for the PS3 won't actually be yours to own, they'll belong to Sony. At the moment, it's not quite clear how far this new licensing extends. For example, would it also apply to ebay sales of PS3 games? Not that it would stop anyone I'm sure, but the fact that it might be illegal to sell on your unwanted games just beggars belief.
It's like Sony are committing ritual suicide before our eyes. Almost as if they just don't want anyone to buy a PS3.
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
» All-Star Superman #1-3
In the absence of Panel Beating this week, have this instead. Three issues in, and Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely's All-Star Superman is already meeting - if not exceeding - the incredibly high expectations that greeted its arrival. Here, then - admittedly somewhat late given how long ago issue #3 came out - is my overview of the series so far. Warning : may contain hyperbole.
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
» Alternate Cover - 23rd May 2006
After weeks of Brian Wood-less comics, I'm glad to see him back on the racks with DMZ #7. There's also my latest favourite superhero comic, Ms. Marvel #3, and mainstay X-Men #186 However, variety is the spice of life, so I've picked up the new "all-ages" comic, Marvel Adventures Avengers #1. Traditionally, this kind of comic is invariably gash, but will MA:A buck the trend?
» My Eyes! My Eyes!
Peter Kay. In Doctor Who. As the Abzorbaloff.
Warning : Not suitable for those who've just had their tea.
Monday, May 22, 2006
» United 93: Too Soon? Too Much?
The concerns are obvious; is it too soon? If not now, when? If now, why? What is there to gain? What are the moral implications of making (and profiting from) a film about other people's tragedies? Especially when those tragedies continue to affect so many first-hand?
And I will touch on those concerns, as will every other review that has been and will be written about United 93. But going into the theater I had a different question in mind, one that has not had nearly as many column inches devoted to it: is the movie actually good?
» Doctor Who - The Age of Steel
A few months ago, when the Noise to Signal team first started to think about how we would cover the second series of New Who and this review structure was decided upon, I would never have thought in a million years that five weeks in to the run we'd still be waiting for our first 5 Star episode. So, will this week's conclusion to Tom MacRae's two part story be the first to get the five stars of solid approval?
» New Super Mario Bros.
It's been 15 years since Nintendo released Super Mario World, a game which, at the time, many people considered it the finest example of the genre, nay, of gaming itself. New Super Mario Bros. is the first time Nintendo have dared bring Mario back to a fully original 2-D platformer in 15 years. Is it as good as we're all hoping? Will Nintendo piss on your childhood memories? Can Mario go home again? And, most importantly, why are you still reading these pointless rhetorical questions!?
Sunday, May 21, 2006
» Eurovision Song Contest 2006
As a child, I spent many a happy Eurovision Song Contest night sitting with the family in front of the telly, pad and pen in hand, making sarky comments about the acts and songs, frantically scribbling down my reactions as 'reminder' notes and marks out of 10. Of course time has moved on apace, and instead of sitting with the family and a pad and pen I now watch with my boyfriend (hereto referred to as 'Sam', for that is his name) and a laptop, and share my wibblings with anyone who is interested enough to read them online. I've been kindly invited to share this year's wibblings with the good people of NTS, so here they are - pretty much unedited, so please excuse a) the length of it (but hey, it was a long night!) and b) any errors!
» Big Brother's Little Tosser - Day 4
Noise To Signal readers, this is Little Tosser. You are reading the first edition of weekly-ish column that will run throughout the 92 days of this year's UK Big Brother. Please do not swear. Let's kick off with my first impressions of the housemates, with a few predictions, a bit of conjecture and some other waffling.
Friday, May 19, 2006
» Judge Dredd Megazine #245
One month into a seemingly drastic relaunch, the all-new Megazine comes out fighting. Following on from the rather insubstantial April issue, new editor Matt Smith's "mostly killer, some filler" approach presents us with a line-up that displays more potential than actual greatness, but one that will hopefully give it's readers something to look forward to in the coming months.
Thursday, May 18, 2006
» Oh yes oh yes oh yes
This is ridiculous. I'm not a particularly big fan of Superman (in that I don't read the comics or own DVDs and suchlike), but I can't remembered the last time I looked forward a new film so much as Superman Returns.
I saw this for the first time today, and it literally gave me shivers down my spine. I blame that Seb Patrick.
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
» Panel Beating - 16th May 2006
A quiet week in terms of new comics bought for me - although one high in quality thanks to Superman and Ex Machina (warning, the latter contains a massive spoiler), while the first week of 52 cannot, of course, pass by unregarded. Also this week, a brief and not-particularly-insightful report from Bristol Comic Expo, the UK's biggest comics event.
» Erm...
Sorry BBC News, but this isn't new. Admittedly Yahoo! are overhauling My Yahoo!, and putting it as their front page (from the looks of things) rather than something you click through to, but it's been in existence as an option with the various customisable boxes and things since long before Google created the "personalised homepage". I know, 'cos I've used it. It wasn't very good, but it was there.
That article seems to be making out that Google started this, and the others are following with Yahoo! the last to catch up; when what's actually happened is that Google have done their usual thing of taking an idea someone else has already done, doing it better, and then having the others catch up. But to suggest that a personalised, customisable front-page portal is something new to Yahoo!, when they were probably among the first to do it, seems like some woefully inadequate reporting...
» Dark Season and Century Falls...
...are finally to get a DVD release!
http://play.com/DVD/DVD/4-/1020931/Dark_Season/Product.html
http://play.com/DVD/DVD/4-/1020927/Century_Falls/Product.html
Now, how about Moondial, Earthfasts, The Gift, etc? There's surely a goldmine of top quality CBBC drama waiting to be exploited, if only someone would.
» Alternate Cover - 16th May 2006
It's all go for Thunderbolts #102, all stop for Uncanny X-Men #473, and all X-Rated in American Virgin #3! Read the reviews here, IF YOU DARE.
Monday, May 15, 2006
» Doctor Who - Rise of the Cybermen
It's always been somewhat "trendy", when discussing Doctor Who villains, to say "Oh yeah, the Daleks are good, but come on, the Cybermen are much cooler." To be honest, I think most of the people who say that only do so to try and sound like they know what they're talking about - because, come on, you really can't beat the Daleks in the monster stakes. That said, I do also bloody love the Cybermen, so as you can imagine, I was looking forward to Rise quite feverishly. Took them long enough to turn up, though...
Sunday, May 14, 2006
» "...in this isolated internet age..."
This phrase was actually used in the otherwise-quite-good-fun Machine Men: Time Shift yesterday.
How the bleeding cunting hell does the internet make people isolated? Clue: my girlfriend of four years sleeping in the room next door is someone I met on the net. It brings people together - not isolates them.
FFS.
Thursday, May 11, 2006
» Oh...
As was stated at the time the accusations were originally made, there's a world of difference between being questioned over something, and being charged with it. Right now, though, things aren't looking particularly good, are they?
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
» AAAAAAAAAARRRRRGGGGGHHHHHH
ALEXEI SAYLE'S STUFF - THE MAKING OF.
YES! Stuff is such a brilliant show - and the first two releases were disappointingly short on extras. Finally, they've realised that the show deserves a nice in-depth Making Of...
Full Frame, SERIES 3 EPISODE 6
WAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.
» Ooo, aaa, Rory McGrath
I saw the bearded tit filming a link for an unknown TV show right outside the window of my train carriage yesterday. Does anyone know what train themed show he might be involved in at the moment? I wouldn't mind seeing it.
I was in one of the old GNER 125s, so I'm assuming it's about their retirement and imminent replacements. As it happens, I'm sad enough to be very interested to see what he was making.
Tuesday, May 9, 2006
» Alternate Cover - 9th May 2006
Following a decidedly shaky set of lead-ins (The continuity patches of NA: Illuminati, the fanfare-less return of Doom in FF, and the wealth of contradictions by Stark in ASM) Civil War #1 finally ships, though let's face it, we've all probably seen the lead pages of the issue (featuring the New Warriors) plenty of times already, so it's just nice to get the rest of that story. There's also a double-dose of Spider-Man, though in many ways that's not quite as good as it sounds. Still, I'm duty bound to review, so...
» Channelchooser
This is too good to last, surely?
Watch out especially for the adult channels from 63 onwards. Although the quality is to say the least variable. Some of it's fine, but others... well, call me old-fashioned, but I like women to look like they're enjoying sex. And preferably not choking, either.
Monday, May 8, 2006
» Doctor Who - The Girl in the Fireplace
I was getting worried there, for a minute. Doctor Who was beginning to feel like a bit of a letdown; what was going on? That’s all changed, though: Who is back!
» Panel Beating - 8th May 2006
As one mega-hyped crossover ends, so another begins - in a startling piece of timing, issue one of Marvel's Civil War finally hit this week, coinciding with the final issue of DC's Infinite Crisis. I'll be taking extended and spoiler-heavy looks at both issues, with a quick roundup of some of the other books out this week.
» Blimey!
Just... beautiful.
Saturday, May 6, 2006
» Simpsons Comics #117
In the past, the Simpsons comics have been considered little more than an odd curio by the majority of the Simpsons fanbase. With the Simpsons cartoon firmly entrenched in its creative nadir, I buy my first issue in over 4 years to see if that the page can provide what the screen is failing to.
Thursday, May 4, 2006
» You are, Number Six
So, The Prisoner is being remade by Sky One, and Christopher Eccleston is being heavily linked with the title role.
But I have to admit, it beggars the question... why? If it's an actual remake of the original story, then what's the point? The original series was so good that it's really quite difficult to improve upon it if all you're doing is retelling it. Now, if Eccleston (or whoever) was playing a new character in a different situation, and McGoohan's character was involved somehow... that would be interesting. If he's just playing Number Six, however - as good as he would be in the role - then there really doesn't seem to be a point.
The new series of Doctor Who, for example, isn't a remake. It's a continuation, and that's why it works. The last time something like this was attempted was Randall & Hopkirk... Deceased, which was without neither merit nor flaws, but which certainly wasn't a "success" by any means. The Prisoner was an extremely complex, carefully-constructed entity as a whole, and it's hard to see how a "reimagining" can truly work.
Now, if you ask me, a property from that wonderful era that could do with a revamped, twenty-first century version is The Champions. You could even do it in a way that included the original actors...
Wednesday, May 3, 2006
» Dirty Pretty Things - Waterloo To Anywhere
It's highly unlikely that Pete Doherty and Carl Barat ever sat down in the office of a high-powered lawyer and thrashed out a divorce settlement following the messy split of the Libertines, but listening to the debut album from Barat's new band Dirty Pretty Things, at times that's what it feels like.
Continue reading "Dirty Pretty Things - Waterloo To Anywhere" »
» Look, up in the sky...
They had to do the "bird/plane" gag, didn't they?
Seriously, though, Superman Returns - full-length trailer in Quicktime and WMV - really is looking quite terrific. With a proven superhero movie director in Singer, the most wonderful piece of casting in Spacey-as-Luthor, a reverence and respect for the original films (and Superman is arguably the only superhero franchise that has a genuine, lasting legacy in movies, to the extent that the John Williams theme is utterly inspiring even if you've never picked up a comic before), and Christopher Reeve's clone cast as the big guy himself, it's hard to see how this one can go wrong. This trailer only adds to that feeling. Fantastic.
Tuesday, May 2, 2006
» Doctor Who - School Reunion
You'll really believe a tin dog can make you cry. Or something. No, but seriously - K9 wasn't ever this good when he was in the original series, was he? Why don't we give him his own spino... oh. Never mind.
Monday, May 1, 2006
» Alternate Cover - 1st May 2006
More Marvel mayhem from Alternate Cover as I go a second week without any token indie book. This week, New Avengers Annual #1, Astonishing X-Men #14, The Sentry #8, Incredible Hulk #94 and X-Factor #6
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