a few things
Tv wise- 'Torchwood: Children of Earth' aka the five part mini-series that is Season III is superb. Delivering far more than promised and certainly proving a point myself and some friends have made repeatedly, that Russell T Davies is far better a writer and story-teller when someone reigns him in and actually forces him to write as opposed to rely on a bag of inane cliched and unrealistic devices.
The show itself was perfectly pitched and played great to the strengths of Barrowman and co. with just a few cringy bits but more importantly using the ideas behind the series and indeed the very idea of the Doctor intervening in Earth affairs to make some very interesting and original points. Not only are the regulars all given lots to do but a whole slate of new characters are introduced and a fascinating side story with Civil Servant John Frobisher is given breathing room to play itself out to a chilling denouement.
One can only hope that the new Era of who that will be dawning post-Christmas 2009 will continue on and make it's own inroads in excellence and take the best parts of RTD's who revival and infuse it with the genius of Stephen Moffatt and replace the annoying chintzy elements with tight structured plotting and great characterisation.
HBO's 'In Treatment' is a fascinating series, based on an Israeli tv show, shot in 30 minute chunks and boasting a stellar cast, led by the inimitable Gabriel Byrne and Dianne Weist. Low-key, intelligent and brooding, the show is the perfect antidote to vapid unsufferable noisy trash that far too often thrives in a moronic soup of ratings and low expectations. Thank God for HBO and this show joining previous triumphs such as Entourage and The Sopranos.
Comics-wise, Bob Kirkman is just unstoppable. Such a pure streamlined talent like his is so rare. Kirkman puts himself up there with the best of them with his new Marvel series 'The Destroyer' which shouldn't be anywhere near as good as it is- a beautiful full-throttle piece that focuses as much on the family dynamics as it does on super-spy action shenanigans. Add to this the unparalleled excellence of Kirkman's Image ongoing 'Invincible' and the always reliable 'The Walking Dead' and it's hard to put many other regular writers above him.
Marvel's 'Dark Reign' continues on it's trundly path. It hasn't quite reached annoying overload part yet but it's definitely showing signs of age and over-exposure of certain characters (The Hood, omg, just go away, you half-baked crappy character already) and Marvel would be wise to not extend it much past another six months at the most. Osborn's days have to be numbered. There's only so many stories about virtually every super-hero in the MU wanting to kill old Brillo Pad head one can take before one of them will succeed.
And 'Dark X-Men' ? Yeah, not so sure. It's a bit too much of a retread of 'Dark Avengers' which is fine but now are just spreading themselves a bit too thin with Daken serving on the new Dark X-men and to be honest, Daken was never that interesting to begin with.
DC comics expolode with the re-organisation of the Bat books following Dick Grayson's ascension to the position of Batman, Tim Drake assuming Red Robin's cowl and the remarkably annoying Damian becoming the new Robin. Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely's 'Batman and Robin' is an obvious high point with it's stunning art and typically brilliant writing. Greg Rucka's Batwoman in 'Detective Comics' is also one to watch, with the most high profile lesbian in comics getting to kick some ass AND be dumped by a boring lady lawyer as well as bond with her Marine Corps colonel father who helps her with her Bat related crime-fighting shenanigans.
'Batman' itself also contributes nicely to the new order with Judd WInnick capturing Grayson's batman perfectly and helping the new era establish itself with a lot of fun.
Green Lantern's superb run continues with the creepy and deadly serious 'Blackest night' series launching.
The show itself was perfectly pitched and played great to the strengths of Barrowman and co. with just a few cringy bits but more importantly using the ideas behind the series and indeed the very idea of the Doctor intervening in Earth affairs to make some very interesting and original points. Not only are the regulars all given lots to do but a whole slate of new characters are introduced and a fascinating side story with Civil Servant John Frobisher is given breathing room to play itself out to a chilling denouement.
One can only hope that the new Era of who that will be dawning post-Christmas 2009 will continue on and make it's own inroads in excellence and take the best parts of RTD's who revival and infuse it with the genius of Stephen Moffatt and replace the annoying chintzy elements with tight structured plotting and great characterisation.
HBO's 'In Treatment' is a fascinating series, based on an Israeli tv show, shot in 30 minute chunks and boasting a stellar cast, led by the inimitable Gabriel Byrne and Dianne Weist. Low-key, intelligent and brooding, the show is the perfect antidote to vapid unsufferable noisy trash that far too often thrives in a moronic soup of ratings and low expectations. Thank God for HBO and this show joining previous triumphs such as Entourage and The Sopranos.
Comics-wise, Bob Kirkman is just unstoppable. Such a pure streamlined talent like his is so rare. Kirkman puts himself up there with the best of them with his new Marvel series 'The Destroyer' which shouldn't be anywhere near as good as it is- a beautiful full-throttle piece that focuses as much on the family dynamics as it does on super-spy action shenanigans. Add to this the unparalleled excellence of Kirkman's Image ongoing 'Invincible' and the always reliable 'The Walking Dead' and it's hard to put many other regular writers above him.
Marvel's 'Dark Reign' continues on it's trundly path. It hasn't quite reached annoying overload part yet but it's definitely showing signs of age and over-exposure of certain characters (The Hood, omg, just go away, you half-baked crappy character already) and Marvel would be wise to not extend it much past another six months at the most. Osborn's days have to be numbered. There's only so many stories about virtually every super-hero in the MU wanting to kill old Brillo Pad head one can take before one of them will succeed.
And 'Dark X-Men' ? Yeah, not so sure. It's a bit too much of a retread of 'Dark Avengers' which is fine but now are just spreading themselves a bit too thin with Daken serving on the new Dark X-men and to be honest, Daken was never that interesting to begin with.
DC comics expolode with the re-organisation of the Bat books following Dick Grayson's ascension to the position of Batman, Tim Drake assuming Red Robin's cowl and the remarkably annoying Damian becoming the new Robin. Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely's 'Batman and Robin' is an obvious high point with it's stunning art and typically brilliant writing. Greg Rucka's Batwoman in 'Detective Comics' is also one to watch, with the most high profile lesbian in comics getting to kick some ass AND be dumped by a boring lady lawyer as well as bond with her Marine Corps colonel father who helps her with her Bat related crime-fighting shenanigans.
'Batman' itself also contributes nicely to the new order with Judd WInnick capturing Grayson's batman perfectly and helping the new era establish itself with a lot of fun.
Green Lantern's superb run continues with the creepy and deadly serious 'Blackest night' series launching.