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Cabinet of Curiosities

Andy Haigh
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Cabinet of Curiosities

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This latest installment of overlooked films is a selection of low budget gems which contrast starkly with the overblown blockbusters which squander hundreds of millions. A good script, committed cast, some creative flare and time honoured low budget filming tricks can make for a memorable experience. One genre which has historically impressed on a low budget is horror, in its myriad forms.

BavMed_Tattoo_ProdBlatt_RZTattoo (2002) 

Minks (Christian Redl) is a veteran homicide detective, Schrader (August Diehl) a rookie blackmailed by Minks into transferring into homicide rather than the desk bound computer crimes unit, is his partner. Together they are investigating a series of grizzly murders, with skin being removed from the victims. This leads to the shady underground world of the literal skin trade, tattoo collectors. With the help of the beautiful Maya (Nadeshda Brennicke) the pair try to track down the killer responsible.

Writer/ Director Robert Schwentke’s ‘Tattoo’ is a grim, gritty gem of German cinema with a more than a touch of neo- noir. The opening scene, a shot of a naked woman stumbling down an inky black road, blood dripping down her legs from a gory wound on her back before getting rammed out of shot by a truck, sets things up in a short, sharp, shock manner. Things don’t get any lighter either, the almost omnipresent night and hammering rain make for an oppressive and chokingly bleak atmosphere which manages to out do even David Fincher’s Seven. Redl’s Minks is a grizzled and haunted individual and Diehl’s Schrader is seriously out of his depth away from the comfort of his office as the pair try to unravel the nightmare they’ve walked into. One scene with Schrader stumbling blindly through a pitch black sewer tunnel with his flash light the only source of light will make your skin crawl. Brennicke stands out like a beacon amidst the gloom and almost constant darkness. It’s interesting that such an oppressively bleak and dark film would come from the director of The Time Traveller’s Wife which is a profoundly stark contrast .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4Oc1KV_IC8

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American Mary (2012)

Mary Mason (Katherine Isabelle) is a medical student on her way to becoming a surgeon. The path to living the American dream is strewn with obstacles though as her financial woes are not only distracting her from her studies bringing conflict with her tutor Dr Grant (David Lovgren) but also mean the bills are piling up. Taking on a job as a dancer through sheer desperation she meets club owner Billy (Antonio Cupo). A chance to make some quick money using her skills patching up a torture victim in the basement of the the club is further compounded by a brutal and disturbing encounter at a party. Mary soon finds opportunities for both work and revenge in the body modification community, and is soon altering her aspirations whilst altering her clientele and taking Dr Grant’s lessons to heart.

Katherine Isabelle already known to fans of cult horror for her role as Ginger in the memorable Ginger Snaps films eclipses her previous character here and is sure to be remembered as ‘Bloody Mary’ from now on.

With an endearing and powerful performance Isabelle’s Mary starts off a naive student desperate to please. Whether it’s her Nana who is constantly calling Mary for updates on her progress, unaware of the bleak reality of her financial hardship or her tutor the arrogant Dr Grant (an antagonistic and callous turn from Lovgren). As the story unfolds Mary becomes something entirely different.

With her sheer black hair, bright red lipstick and ice-cool demeanour along with her fetish inspired wardrobe it’s not hard to fall for Mary and Cupo’s Billy quickly becomes enamoured – but doesn’t act on it through fear, as Mary asks him over a drink at the bar one night “People say I scare you is that right?”

There’s more going on besides body horror though with some black humour to be found, one scene has a client in Mary’s apartment/bodyshop stating “I want something unique I think I’ll get some piercings and a tribal tattoo” prompting her to have him thrown out and also being justified in her actions by hulking doorman and muscle Lance (Twan Holliday) relating a tale of how a relation was callously murdered and how he wishes he knew Mary back then.

Shot on a low budget but still looking slick and polished there’s shades of Takashi Miike’s Audition, Mitchell Lichenstein’s Teeth, Mary Harron’s American Psycho and David Cronenberg’s body horror all shot through with the Soska twins aesthetic vision.

 The Devil’s Rock (2011)MV5BMTM0OTMyMDk2NF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwMzcwNDM5Ng@@._V1._SX640_SY948_

On the eve of D-Day Allied commando’s Captain Ben Grogan (Craig Hall) and Sergeant Joe Tane (Karlos Drinkwater) are on a covert mission to the Channel Islands to sabotage a German gun emplacement. Whilst carrying out their mission, part of a plan to distract Hitler’s forces in time for the Normandy assault, they unwittingly stumble upon a Nazi plan to use occult forces to win the war.

The Debut of director and co-writer Paul Campion is a taught, tense, atmospheric and grimy example of how low budget horror films can be vastly superior to their big budget counterparts.

Hall and Drinkwater are instantly likeable and believable as WW2 commando’s and their banter is natural and really sells the idea that they’ve been through plenty of scrapes side by side. When the pair find themselves having to traverse a mine field despite it only being minutes into the proceedings there’s a palpable feeling of tension and that tension only escalates as they go about their mission.

 The pair split up with Hall’s Ben wanting to investigate eerie moans emanating from the tunnels of the emplacement. Thinking them to be the cries of allied soldiers being tortured and wants to do the right thing ,whilst Drinkwater’s Joe wants to get the hell out of there after completing their mission.

Shot primarily on location at Wrights Hill Fortress (a 1940’s coastal artillery battery in Wellington, New Zealand) with it’s numerous underground tunnels and rooms making for an ominous and atmospheric environment. Which is only amplified by the ruined bodies and occult symbols daubed on the walls amidst the Nazi propaganda.

As a counter to Hall’s engrossing turn as Captain Ben we have Colonel Klaus Meyer an equally impressive Matthew Sunderland. The sole survivor of the encampment who doesn’t take kindly to Captain Ben’s appearance tying him up. Then interrogating him in a rather twisted manner by burning his only photo of his dead wife Helena.

The final character is played by Gina Varela, who is a demoness summoned by Meyer’s squad using a book they found whilst waiting for supplies to turn up. Meyer underestimated her ferocity and power and before long the whole squadron is dead . The demoness has been feeding on the corpses of the dead thanks to Meyers help takes on the appearance of Ben’s dead wife, Helena. Then begins to try to seduce and confuse him into freeing her from the iron shackle she is trapped in.

It’s this triangle that makes up the absorbing core of The Devil’s Rock with Hall’s Ben caught between the metaphorical rock and a hard place.

Varela stands out in her portrayal switching between malevolent, seductive and helpless, seamlessly. Credit must given to the Weta Workshop team for the amazing prosthetics seen when she adopts her true guise. Despite Varela being half or fully naked for the entire running time there’s no element of exploitation here. Campion is not interested in pandering to the horny teenager demographic instead opting for close up shots and concentrating on her devious portrayal of emotion.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EllR0Y995E

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Dread (2009)

A group of students – loner Stephen (Jackson Rathbone), Quaid (Shaun Evans) and Cheryl (Hanne Steen), set out to research fear and what causes fear conducting numerous interviews with various people. Among the many people interviewed by the team is Abby (Laura Donnelly) who suffers from crippling insecurity due to a birthmark covering half her body. Stephen and Cheryl are happy with the project. However the eccentric and unstable Quaid isn’t happy at all and wants to get serious about things with unpredictable and disturbing consequences.

 This is one of a number of films based on the short story’s by master of the macabre Clive Barker (in this case “Dread”). A gripping and disturbing psychological horror which definitely isn’t for the squeamish. With solid performances from the cast Evans does a good job portraying the enigmatic but unhinged Quaid. Whilst Rathbone’s Stephen is disturbed by the darkness in his new friend. Steen’s Cheryl sees Quaid for the parasitic menace he is with all her warnings falling on deaf ears. Donnelly’s Abby, while essentially a supporting character, is one of the most interesting. Quaid’s “experiment” with Cheryl really shows his disturbing intent. Following Cheryl’s earlier confession of being abused by her father after he returned from his shifts down at the local meat packing plant putting her off meat for life; he resorts to locking her in a room with no food besides a prime beef steak sat in the middle of the floor, as an enraged Stephen watches the video footage with disbelief Quaid calmly looks on as the distressed Cheryl regresses more and more.

Focusing on a distinctly more human element of horror and therefore more disturbing. Writer/director Anthony Diblasi doesn’t shy away from the brutality of Barker’s source material with Evan’s Quaid a spine chillingly sadistic sociopath.

 

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Fritt Vilt (2006)

Friends Janicke (Ingrid Bolsø Berdal), Morten Tobias (Rolf Kristian Larsen), Eirik (Tomas Alf Larsen), Mikal (Endre Martin Midtstigen) and Ingunn (Viktoria Winge) journey into the mountains for a snowboarding trip deliberately avoiding the popular tourist spots. After making their way up into the mountains to take advantage of the virgin snow and fresh powder one of the group injures themselves after a jump goes wrong. Up in the mountains with no signal for their phones and several hours trek away from their car. They take refuge in an abandoned hotel nearby and then things start to go very wrong.

Aside from scenery and setting, which is a breath of fresh air, the huge difference between Cold Prey and so many other slasher films is it takes time to establish it’s characters. With two couples and a odd man out, making up the group of friends. Building up a creepy atmosphere and tangible feeling of tension that doesn’t go away. Director Roar Uthuag doesn’t linger on or show too much of the killer. This isn’t gore for it’s own sake and has a very restrained approach not relying on blood and viscera filling the screen (in a refreshing change to the norm for contemporary horror) but rather a vicious cruel streak. As demonstrated in one scene where two of the friends look on helplessly from the hotel as one of their friends is overpowered and has their neck snapped in a cringe inducing manner – out in the snow after making a run for their gear to make an escape.

World cinema has long been a place which rewards those willing to look and this Norwegian entry into the slasher sub genre (which spawned 2 sequels in a classic slasher manner) is one of the best examples of this.

 

Remember, Wear Goggles: The Haberdash Steampunk Shop

LadyNoctis
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Remember, Wear Goggles: The Haberdash Steampunk Shop
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Artwork by Heather Smith

So I had a chat with Avon Taylor, the gentleman and inventor behind The Haberdash Steampunk Shop, and here is what he had to say…

The Haberdash grew, and continues to do so, in stages. Originally started as a hobby with spare parts from clockwork repair, as a way to pass time between volunteer shifts after losing my job. From there it moved into jewellery, then customisation of items and eventually prop production, rentals and events. When I started, I was met with a lot of enthusiasm for a steampunk specific event- many friends and people were already interested in the culture (even if they’d never given it a name), and word spread.

We’ve always sought to promote a community as well as a business, and seek not only to keep our own prices as low as we can, but also to promote work of other people in the field. Our original philosophy had two points: we might not be the top end today, but we won’t be the bottom end of the market either; and if we can’t do something justice we will always recommend to the customer someone who can. We’ve been fortunate to have a lot of support from people in the steampunk community, whom we’ve been lucky to work alongside, such as Professor Elemental and Metropolis.

There’s been a lot of changes over the years, trying to ensure a growing customer base and event attendance, but our heart will always be in steampunk- with a twist of horror.

Carnivale: Bedlam marks our second major Halloween event, following the success of Project: Bedlam last year. Taking the steampunk concept of mad science, we considered the idea of an asylum filled with dangerous but gifted minds looking to showcase their ideas. Of course, given the time of year it all goes wrong, and at some point before the symposium itself a mysterious character calling himself The Warden overthrows the real powers that be, and releases all the nastiest and most disturbed evil types.

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Artwork by Mr Picto

This year we see their return, alongside some new faces, following their escape and having created their own carnival as a chance to wander the country, finding like minds and victims for their terrible experiments. We’ve been most happily contracted by a local venue –Lofty’s Cocktail Emporium– to create their Halloween show alongside our own. This allowed us to return to Bedlam’s roots on November 1st, with the carnies putting down their balloons and juggling balls and once again picking up their scalpels and saws to bring a classic style of horror to Preston.

To our knowledge, we’re the only dedicated interactive nightclub experience of this sort- live actors alongside props and decoration for entertainment purposes. The concept appears well-received and we aim to continue building on it, not just in horror or steampunk but in cyberpunk, dieselpunk and similar avenues. Though our main focus is now events (and Halloween), we’re still happy to take queries, talk steampunk and, if folks are interested, take commission work on props. Again, if we don’t feel we can deliver a high enough standard at the right price, we’ll gladly recommend one of our colleagues in the field.

As for the business owner, myself, there’s not a lot I can really say. I found when I used to have a steampunk shop with a friend, that a lot of customers would say “I wish I could wear this or that, but I’m scared of people being rude or violent”. From this, I created the Wear Goggles promotion- if everyone who says such a thing started wearing what they wanted it would no longer stand out to people looking to be negative about it. Even if it’s as small a thing as wearing goggles, or a cool hat- it’s a start. Having just returned from Asylum with the wonderful V.S.S., the only thing I saw of people not in steampunk was them complimenting and asking to take a photo.

The events and productions may be my business, so I want in that sense to appear in many places, but most importantly I want this alternative culture to spread. I want a world where spats, hats and cravats are as equal an option when popping to the shops as jeans and t-shirts. If my shows allow this to become more prevalent, then I’m truly doing what I consider my job.

Remember, Wear Goggles!

Grand Theft Auto V Review

Sai Mealing
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Grand Theft Auto V Review

“This guy Trevor, he’s hell on Earth. I mean I’m no angel but once you’ve met Trevor then you’ll think I’m an angel”.

Michael looks into Franklin’s eyes with genuine fear. Bruised, exhausted and shivering in only an undershirt, he knows that his retirement is finally over and he’s back in the game. Worse still, so is Trevor and that’s what really frightens him. Franklin stares back with eyes emotionless and confident. He may not be ready for what’s about to unfold but this rich white dude is his best chance at getting out of the Los Santos hood forever. He can’t quit now.

After years of painstaking anticipation, the most hotly anticipated entertainment title in years has arrived at last. Whisking us back to the glorious south eastern state of  San Andreas, Grand Theft Auto V does away with series tradition to tell the story of three protagonists brought together by a complex web of history and circumstance.

To ease any temptations to jump straight to the bottom of this review, I will answer the first question that almost everyone reading this will be asking right now. Grand Theft Auto V was so worth the long wait that after 5 minutes of  the game you will likely have forgotten that any wait even took place.

With an unfaithful wife and kids who don't appreciate him, Michael is forced to take solace in a self-indulgent therapist.
With an unfaithful wife and kids who don’t appreciate him, Michael is forced to take solace in a self-indulgent therapist.

Back in the game

After possibly the best opening to any game in years, the story starts with Michael, a retired thief living in opulence after striking a shady witness protection deal with the Federal Investigation Bureau. Franklin is a two-bit gang banger working dodgy repossession and intimidation jobs to make ends meet.

After a series of unfortunate events involving an idiot son, a credit scam and some spousal infidelity, the two are thrown together as an unlikely duo to quickly enhance their fortune and add some much needed direction back into their lives.

Rockstar North have done a fantastic job at creating an immediate and believable bond between these two characters which remains throughout most of the phenomenal 25 hour story.

Just as genuine and believable is Franklin’s sense of plight and desperation. Dissatisfied with a life of struggling to pay the bills and reluctantly living with his aunt after losing his Mom to the crack pipe, Franklin is just looking for a way to escape the hood and a group of friends who always seem to find new ways to get him in trouble.

Whilst Franklin’s background may be reminiscent of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas’ C.J., Michael adds an all new layer of depth as an old-time career criminal out of place in the modern high tech world. Bored with drinking whiskey in the sun all day and without the respect of his wife and kids, Michael longs for the world that he once knew before social networking websites and tennis clubs took over everyone’s lives.

Trevor is the final playable character to be introduced and within the first few moments his psychotic tendencies are quickly revealed. After moving to a trailer park up in the sticks to run a meth empire, hunt with neighbourhood yokels and deal weapons to the Mexicans, a well-timed news bulletin and some local gang warfare hastily bring Trevor back to the Los Santos streets where he can wreak his unique brand of havoc on city dwellers once again.

The true extent of Trevor’s massively unhinged mind is illustrated by occasional bouts of madness where he will go on a timed rampage against whichever local gang have managed to push him over the edge. Despite these worryingly frequent acts of violent behaviour, there are some moments when Trevor’s humanity and loyalty shine through to reveal a genuinely tortured soul.

A tragic creature with hopes and dreams but absolutely no understanding of normality or acceptable human behaviour. Trevor is the kind of man who’s only choice is a life of crime and dishonesty in a world which will never be able to really understand him.

Trevor is as psychologically unstable as he is violent but does a tortured human being lie beneath the surface?
Trevor is as psychologically unstable as he is violent but does a tortured human being lie beneath the surface?

This is legitimate business

After introductions are complete, the three characters are selectable almost at will although the game provides a perfect guide when playing through missions where the three need to work together as a team.

In addition to a level up system for various skills like driving and firearms, each character has a special unique ability that players will sometimes need to use to accomplish a specific task or escape a tight situation.

Character selection is managed via a control wheel and a masterfully crafted teleportation sequence is initiated when switching takes place across the game’s gargantuan landscape.

I don’t think it can be stressed just how vast and technically impressive this game world is in sheer scale alone. Los Santos seems to live and breath and the more rural areas of San Andreas hark back to Red Dead Redemption whilst the glorious Mount Chiliad constantly looms on the horizon.

Meanwhile all of this is beautifully animated with visuals that could easily pass for next gen by current standards and the mandatory install on both the PS3 and Xbox 360 ensures that frame rate and screen tearing problems that plagued Grand Theft Auto IV are kept to an absolute minimum.

Throughout our playthrough for review there were some extremely occasional instances of low draw distance and missing textures but these occurred so infrequently that they were barely even worth worrying about and it’s self-evident that Rockstar North have done their absolute utmost with the Rage development engine and ageing hardware available.

Also, as in Red Dead Redemption, animals feature for the first time and seem to fit so perfectly into the world that playing any previous episode in the franchise after this is likely to feel odd by comparison. Attack dogs can be called in to assist with certain missions and players brave enough to venture out into the wilderness on foot after dark may find themselves at the nasty end of a vicious coyote attack.

The world of San Andreas seems almost like a character in of itself and it’s difficult to explain how well each square mile of it seems to live with or without your presence. Whilst most games seem to be designed only to react to the actions of the player, Grand Theft Auto IV makes you feel you a certain level of insignificance that you can feel as the non–playable  characters continue running their businesses, making their daily commutes and just generally go about their lives.

Franklin is a opportunist and bored wannabe gang banger just waiting for his big break
Franklin is a opportunist and wannabe gang banger just waiting for his big break.

Radio Ga Ga

In true GTA form the soundtrack is just as impressive as the visuals with a combination of some great licensed music that blends perfectly with the surroundings and a level of voice acting and written dialogue that puts most Hollywood movies to shame.

The three lead characters in particular are superbly voiced and the overall quality of the non-playable characters is remarkably high to a point where it never gets dull or repetitive and you want to relish each cutscene and conversation.

On a few occasions I actually found myself parking up at a destination and then sitting in the car to listen to the end of Gin ‘n’ Juice or the latest Weasel news bulletin on the radio. Radio stations, like the weapons and character switching, are controlled using a scroll wheel which is a massive improvement on the previous games and also allows for the current artist and song title on each station to be displayed at that given time.

When not playing through the main missions, shopping or visiting Michael’s therapist, players are free to explore the world and the epic number of side quests that are available. It is through these smaller missions and chance meetings that we can really get a glimpse into the lives and personalities of Micheal, Franklin and Trevor as each one has their own unique set usually rooted in a pre-existing relationship from their past life.

As I got to know each character I also found myself interacting with them in different ways. When controlling Trevor especially, I was guided into committing some acts that made me feel genuinely sick to the stomach. However, even presented with an open choice of direction, I made some really despicable choices as Trevor that I wouldn’t have even contemplated whilst playing as Franklin.

My job, my score

Choice plays a huge part in how some of the bigger missions are played out. Strategic planning and recruitment of crew members of paramount for each heist if you want to get the job done right. Going in guns blazing or choosing a less experienced team may save time or money but also risks the whole thing falling apart with everyone either dead or arrested.

The stealth controls work brilliantly for pacifists or those who just generally opt for the more quiet and skilful route. If a player is struggling on a mission then there is an option to skip straight on to the next one although I personally avoided this to create as complete an experience as possible.

Topless bars can provide a welcome break from the action but may be a bit too much for some players and the mainstream media.
Topless bars can provide a welcome break from the action but may be a bit too much for some players and the mainstream media.

Overall, the game controls impeccably with a massively improved driving system compared with Grand Theft Auto IV’s notorious wheel-spinning shenanigans and the weapon play feels tight when either in free roaming or cover. The sheer number of vehicles and weapons available as well as customisation options are huge and it probably won’t take long for most players to find their personal weapon of choice.

The underwater and flight sections are particularly astonishing and planes and boats can be used strategically to give your crew the edge in some of the larger heists. The swimming and diving sections have to be seen to be believed as I doubt that anybody could have predicted these kinds of water effects on the Xbox 360 or PS3.

If you get bored of running errands for your friends or breaking the law then there are numerous recreational pursuits available right from the start including cycling, golf and tennis or practicing shooting at the Ammu-nation firing range.

Playing sports will increase character attributes such as driving ability and stamina although the RPG elements are not as intrusive as in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas and players will not lose anything by skipping most of these sections. To dodge all of them would be a shame though as these simulations are actually manage to accomplish what they do better than many modern dedicated sports titles.

For those into the more darker pursuits there are also strip clubs and prostitutes eager to entertain and relieve for a fee. This was probably the game’s biggest issue for me as the hooker mini-game in particular, if it even qualifies as a mini-game, doesn’t leave a lot to the imagination.

Sexual acts are also depicted in much stronger detail during parts of the main story so it is not really possible to avoid this content completely.

Aside from the completely topless lap dancers, the strip club mini game is fairly tame by comparison and is focused mostly on the usual ‘look but don’t touch’ rule of those types of establishments. Impress the lady well enough and a happy ending might just follow.

Whilst I’m certainly not arguing that sex has no place in game like this that is admittedly only meant for an adult audience, I have a feeling that these parts of the game may cause some controversy in the coming weeks. Detailed scenes of drug use also feature although these are mostly optional and are not heavily glamourised in any real way.

The size and scale of areas like Mount Chiliad are absolutely astounding
The size and scale of areas like Mount Chiliad are absolutely astounding

Final thoughts

On the whole this is a game which has obviously been crafted with care and intricate attention to detail. Day progresses into night naturally and the magnificent  level of detail and characterisation create a world unlike anything I have ever experienced before.

As the most expensive video game project in history, a certain degree of polish is to be expected but this is a game where those behind it seem to have thought of everything and barring a couple of sections where a path seemed non-obvious, at no point during my playthrough did I find myself bored, lost or frustrated.

Rockstar North have listened to fan criticisms of the last game and fixed all of the technical and pacing problems to create an interactive experience like no other. The writing is exceptional with some plot twists and an ending that could only be rivalled by the likes of Silent Hill 2 and Bioshock.

This is an utterly mind-blowing piece of work with such awesome production values that I can’t see how any other game is going to be able to surpass it for the foreseeable future and that includes those on the next generation of consoles.

The decision to give any game the top score is never taken lightly but to give this game anything less would be making light of it’s monumental brilliance and truly unprecedented level of achievement. In years from now, Grand Theft Auto V will undoubtedly be remembered as not only the single greatest video game of this generation but also as one of the most well constructed video games of all time.

As the current era of consoles comes to a close, nobody could have asked for a greater swan song. A true pinnacle in the history of the interactive entertainment which everyone will owe it to themselves to experience.

 

Grand Theft Auto V will be available for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in Europe and North America on 17th September 2013.

Please note that this review covers the single player mode of the game only as the multiplayer mode and social networking features will not be available until 1st October 2013. We will publish a second review for the multiplayer mode after that date.

 

 

 

‘Glee’ Actor Cast as the Flash in upcoming Episodes of ‘Arrow’

LadyNoctis
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‘Glee’ Actor Cast as the Flash in upcoming Episodes of ‘Arrow’

 

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Grant Gustin, best known for his role Sebastian on “Glee,” will play Barry Allen aka The Flash, in the second season of Arrow. Gustin will be appearing in three episodes – eight, nine and twenty; and it shall serve as a backdoor pilot to a possible spinoff Flash series.

“Arrow” star Stephen Amell offered some helpful advice and congratulated Gustin via Twitter on Friday, as did co-star Colton Haynes, another recent addition to the series:


So what does everyone make of this new announcement? 

Detective Comics #23.2 – Riddler #1 review

LadyNoctis
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Detective Comics #23.2 – Riddler #1 review

bm_23-2_riddlerThe story is written by Scott Snyder and apparently Ray “Fakwes” an error that was overlooked in proof reading one can only assume. It should actually say Fawkes… (just saying DC).

So far, out of the comics I have read from Villain’s month this is one of my favourites; also if you enjoyed Year Zero then I believe this is one you will also enjoy. The Riddler is portrayed perfectly throughout this comic, he brings riddles to the table that play a vital role within the plot line; and he is his usual arrogant, intellectual with a grudge.

I recommending trying to solves his riddles yourself before you turn the page it’s a good bit of fun; which is capturing the traits of Riddler perfectly for the readers. You’ll see Fawkes has integrated the riddles flawlessly into giving us the villain’s evil masterplan!

The Riddler’s story is laid out perfectly from start to finish, we get a brief flashback to when Nygma was punished for contraband by an Arkham Guard four years prior.

So after the opening sequence which gives us the back story, we are shortly brought forward to present day to the post- Forever Evil world where all the villains have been set free. Though there are a few flaws regarding this, surely Gotham should be in a dire state by this time? The few resident of Gotham that are on hand are not looting, vandalizing or even forming gangs, they’re just stood behind a blockade in front of Wayne Enterprises protesting an SEC filing/misconduct scandal. In fact, we learn that the only reason the mob gathered on the Wayne Enterprise steps in the first place is because the Riddler wanted them to do so. All this being said, I must ask..

Why isn’t Gotham in shambles? How long exactly after the Arkham break-out did the city fall to ruins? What’s the timeline during this chaos? Seems like we’ll have to wait for Forever Evil: Arkham War for information.

Right, so back to the comic at hand…

So we get to see Riddler casually stroll into Wayne Enterprises… apparently one of the most guarded buildings in the world. Seemingly not the case if our villain here can just waltz on through.

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The artist working on this comic is the newly announced artist of Batwoman, Jeremy Haun; with colourist John Rausch working alongside him to illustrate this issue. I personally really like the artwork in this, I think is captures a great sense of moment, and the colour palette beautifully correlates to the mood of the story and the character (though some panels could do with a little bit extra, just to give them that extra pop!). You get a great sense of what is going on throughout the comic without even having to read a word.

What stands out for me the most is the plot line, it’s beautifully executed and makes for a good read. It doesn’t go off from what we all know about this character, it sticks to the core components of this villain.

 

Night Gathers; An interview with GoT star Luke Barnes

TinkerTonks
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Night Gathers; An interview with GoT star Luke Barnes

This past weekend, a rather snazzy event called TitanCon took place in Belfast – and I, being an avid follower of all things Throne related, jumped at the chance to interview one of the show’s stars: Night’s Watch brother, Luke Barnes.  Like any true corrupter of crows, I was completely unprepared for such a feat, but unlike his onscreen persona of Rast, I can safely say Luke was more than happy to humour me for a few questions! 

So, I hear you’ve been writing. 

Yeah; I’ve spent the last two or three years, the last two writing – y’know, it’s something I’ve been doing most of the time. I mean I’ve been really lucky the past few years, I’ve done a few other TV things but it’s been a great three years. 

Was that one Eisteddfod? 

Yeah, that was a small play,  but I’d better take you through the history of that. My first play was Chapel Street that started in 2011 and then went on tour and that finished about twelve months ago. The second play was called Bottle Neck last year, that  was on in Edinburgh last year then toured in London and once again, so that’s finished two or three months ago as well. And now I’m just working on stuff for next year, I’ve got a couple of TV pilots and things, and um I’ll hopefully do a bit more acting things so we’ll see. 

So where does the inspiration from all your writing come from?

 I dunno really. Real life? I think most things just come from chatting with your mates down the pub! Haha. Nothing else. 

Rast alongside his Night's Watch brothers in HBO hit Game of Thrones.
Rast alongside his Night’s Watch brothers in HBO hit Game of Thrones.

You do such a good job of being evil though and you’re just so nice! 

Haha! Thank you very much! It’s a good part though, Rast is my first job since drama school,  and it’s the same for some of the others. I think for me and Mark & John (That’s Grenn and Sam) it’s just been a baptism of fire, like on the first day we were working with people like Owen Teale and Peter Dinklage, which is  ridiculous! Yesterday I was in Forest Hill in London and today I’m here, man. It’s a great part as well, I mean he’s sort of got more interesting as the years have gone by. And next season some really cool stuff happens, which I can’t tell you about. But what they’ve done – what they’ve done is absolutely awesome. 

Do you think Rast is inherently evil, or like a lot of villains, just somewhat misunderstood?

I’ll throw this out there. I think Rast is the only person that has done nothing wrong, for the whole season and the whole story. Haha. He’s done nothing wrong. He picks on Sam because he’s told to. In season 3, he’s starving and dying and he’s sitting there while there’s food available and he’s being told no. I think he’s a good person. 

 It’s human nature, I s’pose. 

 Exactly! It’s the situation he’s been put into. So really, the actual bad guy is Mormont. Think about, he is the bad guy. 

Strong word choice! I wouldn’t say ‘bad’ exactly, more misguided maybe? 

Misguided probably. Yeah. But Rast is a good person, but in bad circumstances. Samwell’s the worst! He hasn’t done anything, he does nothing. He just fucking bumbles around fucking everything up. He couldn’t even send the ravens! 

Poor Sam. 

Do you know what happens to him in the story? What happens to him? 

Yeah. 

He goes on the long wall doesn’t he? On a trip or something? 

He goes with thingie-ma-jig that I can’t remember the name of. 

Gilly and the baby and all that. 

I sort of want him on the throne!  Sam for king! 

It could happen! It’ll probably happen. 

And Hot Pie can be his hand!

 Is he alive still? 

I think he is. We haven’t seen him die…so…

Didn’t he stay in Harrenhal? 

He stayed behind to be a baker. 

Someone asked me, if I were to be cast as someone else in this, who would it be? So I said Hot Pie. It’s good casting right? 

For everything!

Hot Pie’s awesome. 

He’s so underrated. 

Isn’t he? He’s just another guy that’s a good guy. 

Sod Gendry, Hot Pie’s where it’s at! 

But yeah, it’s been great. I couldn’t have asked for a better job to start off with. It’s a fucking brilliant job. 

Luke as he appears in Game of Thrones.
Luke as he appears in Game of Thrones.

Costume wise, if you could pick anything else from the series, anything at all to commandeer and give to Rast, what would you choose? 

Oooh. Let me think. It’d be pretty awesome to have some of the gold cloak stuff, or Khal Drogo’s outfit! Slightly less glamorous…

As long as you’re not still filming in the cold!

I mean, a lot of the night’s watch’s stuff is pretty similar.

Black, Black and more Black!

 Black and it’s the capes that get you with all that stuff. These massive, massive fur things that weigh like three stone! So it’s like an entire bear skin. 

 Do you ever get too warm in them? Even when you’re out on location?

Yeah. All the time. I mean, we’re filming now, somewhere in five layers, wearing this fucking coat thing, and a little bit of armour, but it’s ridiculous. You’ve got to look like you’re freezing, but obviously in Summer, we’re fucking hot.

It’s a testament to your acting then!

It’s just a bit of a weird sort of place. If you go up there, and see it’s all covered in fake snow, you feel cold, because you’re mind just goes ‘Oh it’s cold’ and makes you feel that way. It fucks with your head a bit, because you’re still really hot, but it’s great. I’m having a great time and can’t complain at all. 

How do you think Rast’d fair if he were a wildling? 

Rast? He’d die! 

You don’t think he’d manage to go all Jon Snow on anyone?

Nah, Rast is…he’d get really cold, complain about it, and get his head cut off. Ha. He’d probably lose his temper and then just get killed. I don’t think they’d take much shit up there, those wildlings. But yeah, I’ve loved every minute of it. 

You have one of the best jobs then, basically!

I’ve loved it. I’ve loved everything. I’ve loved it man. 

Is there anything you haven’t liked? 

Nah, I’ve had a great time!

Not even the early morning starts? 

Yeah. The half five starts are a bit difficult, but it’s worth it, y’know what I mean? It’s worth it. I feel really privileged  to be a part of it.  I think the best bit about it is that people like it! It’s long days, bit it’s worth it for the product at the end. And meeting those guys man, it’s been awesome! We’ve only done one scene with women in, only one female in the entire thing.

Testosterone overload then? 

It’s just been really weird, being loads of lads all the time. 

I s’pose that’s sort of the thing that works though. The whole dynamic of the Night’s Watch is to be a brotherhood.

Do you like the show? 

Yeah. 

What’s your favourite bit of the Night’s Watch stuff then? 

Erm…I love the training scene when they’re beating up Sam. 

Oh, yeah, yeah!

I tend to favour more of the Northern stuff than the Wall itself. 

Oh really? Thanks. Haha. 

You know what I mean! I’m not the biggest Jon Snow fan so I steer clear of the Wall a bit,  I prefer Ygritte, not Jon.

Oh really? “You know Nothing Jon Snow!” So do you still like the Night’s Watch?

I do! I just think they’re deluded. 

Oh yeah, massively so. 

They get points for trying! And I like it when they’ve gone past the Wall, and out into the North.

So you know what happens with the big thing then? That’s going to be fucking awesome. 

I swear my heart’s going to bleed through the next season.

Yeah. It’s going to be awesome. But you like all the Craster’s Keep stuff then?

Aye. I like when the Watch has gone beyond the wall, and they’re exploring everything and still being mean to Sam. That’s sort of a running theme and I feel really bad for it. 

But he’s such a dick. 

Yeah, he brought it on himself!

He should’ve sent those Ravens, and then it would’ve been okay. Fuck him. Jon’s nice though. Funny guy. I haven’t seen him, which is a shame. 

My friend’s really, really obsessed with Kit. 

It’s fucking ridiculous! He’s a really sound, friendly, great looking guy. But he’s brilliant, he’s a really cool guy. He’s got a really level head, for someone so popular.

What do you think you’ve learned the most from the role? 

I’ve learned what it’s like to be around people like Peter Vaughn and Owen Teale, and James Cosmo who are like proper actors. Me and Mark who are like the same age, we’re just learning what to do, and they’re just so relaxed about it! You learn more just being around them on set than anything else. They’re so positive and so supportive and you learn so much. 

Do you still get a bit star struck on set then? 

Not really, I mean like when I first started – yeah. The first thing I ever did professionally, and I was so nervous. I only had like three lines, and it started. Actually, the other day I was. I can’t remember who it was now. You know Little Mix? I saw the girl from Little Mix the other day, the one with the round head, I saw her and bumped into her – and that was the only time I’ve been properly starstruck! I’ve obviously met a lot of cool people, but I was absolutely star struck!

I never would’ve expected that…

Oh my god. She was just like: What do you want? And I’m all: nothing! We both went for the door at the same time and it’s like: Sorry! Haha!  But on the show like, Sean Bean obviously, and Peter Dinklage. When you spot him, he’s just such a nice guy. Who else? Of all the people I’ve worked with, James Cosmo the first time, and he’s an imposing figure anyway, but the nicest person I’ve worked with, only briefly, is probably Peter Vaughn. He plays the Maester of the Night’s Watch, he was amazing. He’s such an old, old man, 

He does seem really nice!

He’s like: ‘Do you want to sit down?’ To you. And it’s like you can’t make me sit down, when you’re that old. Hehe. I’ve been so lucky, because they’re all such nice guys. John Bradley, Kit Harington. Kit, Kit, Kit…He’s the nicest bloke I have ever met. I mean, he’s got so many reasons to be a Dickhead, so many reasons, he’s obviously massively successful, but so down to Earth. It’s been a real joy. 

Have you all sort of bonded together then? Like a proper Night’s Watch. 

Yeah. The first season we did, and I didn’t do season 2, but then I came back and we went to Iceland for two weeks. We did four long days and spent a lot of time in the hotel, but yeah we spent a lot of time together and really like them. They’re dead sound and it’s great to be around them.

 

Luke will be returning as Rast for Season 4 of Game of Thrones next year, but if that’s too long to wait for your latest fix, check out SkyAtlantic where all three series are being aired from the very beginning; Sunday nights at 9pm! 

 

 

Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel & Faith Season 9 – 8 GPPs

Owen Duncan
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Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel & Faith Season 9 – 8 GPPs

Times have been tumultuous for the long-term Joss Whedon fan. I should know, I can sing the backing harmony parts for ‘Once More With Feeling’ (if you don’t understand, please don’t ask). Once our favourite characters, be they Slayers of the Vampyr or Space Cowboys, have left our screens, we cannot help but wonder where they ended up after.

Buffy and Angel have both lived on in comic book form. Throughout Buffy’s run on TV, there were comics that ran alongside the series. These filled in plot-holes, gave back-story to characters and embellished on themes from the series. In 2007 a canonical 8th series began that carried on 40 issues until 2011 when the 9th series was announced.

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SPOILER WARNING: Overview of Buffy Season 9

Buffy Season 9 follows on directly from the Seed of Magic being destroyed and Rupert Giles’ death. With no more magic, Willow is seriously peeved, all newly sired vampires are mindless, rampaging “Zompires” and we are introduced to a bevy of new characters. We meet Billy the Vampire Slayer, the gay teenage boy who learns to fight to defend himself against homophobic school bullies. When his town is attacked by zompires he uses his skills to defend his friends and gains a “Watcher” in the form of his classmate and long-term crush, Devon. 

In the meantime, Willow goes on an interdimensional hunt for a way to bring magic back to our world. Spike gets seduced by a succubus on a spaceship full of talking cockroaches. Dawn and Xander settle down to a quiet home-life together. Buffy meets Severin, a man who can drain what is left of the magical energy in the world to make him stronger and a San Fransisco Police Officer called Robert Dowling who is, essentially, useless.

Angel & Faith follows on from Season 8 also and directly ties in with the events in Buffy Season 9. Angel and Faith LeHaine team up to fight evil. It is soon revealed that the “cases” that Angel is following are preparing them both for the task of resurrecting Giles from the dead. They soon find themselves in London and introduced to Pearl and Nash, two super-powered vampires who were allies with Angel in Season 8 and are after blood, as Angel betrayed them when he swapped sides (again). Returning favourites include Whistler, Angel’s mentor, and Drusilla, Spike’s ex. 

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The Considerably Less Spoilery Bit

After Buffy Season 8, fans were left very divided. Joss Whedon and other long-time Buffy writers were involved throughout and felt that they could explore stories that would have never worked on a small-screen budget. This allowed them to:

  • Turn characters into giants, centaurs and creepy dolls
  • Give Spike a spaceship.
  • Have aerial witch battles
  • Have aerial slayer battles
  • Summon gods
  • Pit slayer armies, demon armies and armies of…the Army against each other.

Fan reaction was brutal, although many were happy to see the Scooby Gang back in action, the writers received so many complaints that the overblown action detracted from the character development and the idiosyncratic dialogue that they vowed to “reel in the crazy”.

This fan displeasure led to a complete turnaround for Season 9, focusing a lot more on characters rather than action. The action is on a smaller scale but there is still plenty of it, with vampires initially the biggest problem. Even so, the series starts slowly, focusing on Buffy, her fairly forgettable housemates, her new forgettable police friend and a gay teenager who dubs himself Billy the Vampire Slayer after protecting his hometown against vampires. 

Joss Whedon and Andrew Chambliss seem to put a lot of time into establishing these new characters into her life, while the usual show favourites are sidelined. Xander and Dawn are quickly paired off out of the main storyline, Willow goes on her own solo adventure, Giles is out of the picture and Spike leaves to get over Buffy. In this time, the Buffy series still felt listless and boring. 

There are a few interesting themes tackled. The Buffy abortion storyline gained the most media attention and acclaim. When approached about this, Joss Whedon had this to say: “It’s a very difficult decision for her, but she made a decision that so many people make and it’s such a hot button issue with Planned Parenthood under constant threat and attack right now. A woman’s right to choose is under attack as much as it’s ever been, and that’s a terrible and dangerous thing for this country. I don’t usually get soap box-y with this, but the thing about Buffy is all she’s going through is what women go through, and what nobody making a speech, holding up a placard, or making a movie is willing to say.”

Fans of Joss’ decision to tackle such a touchy subject were incensed when it was revealed that Buffy could not have been pregnant in the first place (read it to find out why). Many felt that this revelation made her choice completely futile, depowering the pro-choice message while others felt it did not matter as it was the choice itself that carried the most meaning.

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Another of the interesting themes was the saga of Billy the Vampire Slayer. It tackled themes of homophobia that Joss had already investigated in the TV series with Willow and Tara but felt very natural, shifting focus from Billy and Devon’s gay relationship to whether a man could be a Slayer. The sentiment was one of acceptance and moved the feminist metaphor of empowered Slayers to and more wide-spread egalatarian stance; although it was an involving and touching tale, it felt like a detached aside from the main story-arc.

Eventually the series picks up pace, especially when the gang are reunited against a “Big-Bad” and have to save Dawn from peril (just like old times!) with a big reveal ending that leads the reader curiously into the impending Season 10.

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Spike and Willow both got a 5-issue mini-series. Spike adventures off on a brooding quest in his spaceship while trying to move on from his feelings for Buffy, angering Spuffies (fans of the on-screen chemistry between Spike and Buffy) everywhere. He meets a succubus and lives to tell the tale, moving over to the Angel & Faith series. It is worth mentioning that the character licence for Angel recently reverted from IDW comics back to Dark Horse. This is great as it allows for the free-roaming of Angel characters to crossover to the  Buffy titles (also Dark Horse) and vice-versa. 

After a brief appearance in Angel & Faith, Willow sets off on her own journey. Her mystical journey brings her back in contact with characters from the Season 8 comics and the TV series on a wonderfully illustrated, lush world full of beauty, horror and Gaiman-esque creatures and goddesses galore! Written by Jeff Parker and Christos Gage and pencilled by Brian Ching it is a pleasure to read and by far the most rewarding part of Season 9 apart from Angel & Faith. 

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Angel & Faith

NOW we’re talking! Angel & Faith is a fast paced romp and a half! Angel did something very, very bad at the end of the last season and now, he and Faith are trying to put it right while facing many larger than life foes. Their escapades are reminiscent of a buddy film with an undercurrent of Angel’s trademark atonement. The best additions to the cast are Sophronia and Lavinia Fairweather, Giles’ great-aunts (originally intended for a Ripper TV series, focusing on Giles’ time in the Watcher’s Council and before, and were to be played by Anthony Stewart-Head’s two daughters). The dialogue between these British, sarcastic, anti-heroines and the jaded and blunt Faith is often hilarious, and juxtaposed perfectly with Angel’s renewed purpose and stoic single-mindedness.

Angel’s plan to redeem himself goes awry with results that have huge impact on the overall Buffy mythos, both hilarious and touching, as Giles’ story arc is brought full circle. The dialogue is spot on, invoking the original cast members perfectly, and the action leaps off the page. Where the Buffy title seemed wandering, Angel & Faith kept me turning pages rabidly with a perfect ratio of action to character development that managed to explore the insecurities of the main characters. It concludes with a huge stand-off between all of the main players of the season with a plot to bring magic to London that is dark, grim and lends itself to some fantastic artwork.

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If you are a hardcore Buffyverse fan then I would recommend both series. If shelling out on both series and the two spin-offs is a bit much then stick to Angel & Faith and the Willow spin-off as they contain more than enough of all the key elements of Joss Whedon’s great story-telling and enough plot twists and cameos to keep long standing fans interested. If you are new to all things Buffy then you should start watching now and you may have caught up by the time Season 10 is on the shelves.

Slasher Saturdays – An Introduction

Michael Dodd
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Slasher Saturdays – An Introduction

Slasher Saturdays

If you’ve been following my Free Film Friday blog then you know that I am seriously in to cinema. There isn’t really anything that I won’t watch, and what I do like I follow obsessively. One area which has always intrigued me is the horror film, and in particular the slasher sub-genre.

I wanted to start another weekly movie blog discussing the slasher film, and I am very grateful to the wonderful folks here at Geek Pride who have allowed me the opportunity to do so. This one is going to be a little different to Free Film Friday, and as an introduction I would like tell you what this feature is going to be all about, and why I am going to be focusing on this particular brand of shocker.

Michaelmyers2I never gave much thought as to why the slasher film always had such appeal to me. Like many movie-goers I’ve always been drawn to horror because of the unique cinematic experience it can offer, that of being terrified and entertained at the same time. The fright-fests that can truly do that are a rare breed, but I nevertheless increasingly found myself returning again and again to the slashers in particular, even if what I was watching didn’t scare me in the slightest.

Slashers are no different from other brands of horror in the sense that a true masterpiece only comes along once in a while, and the prolific output in the meantime is often derivative and frustrating. But there is something special about the slasher film to me, and I have only recently discovered why. 

TomAraya_1329351788_crop_550x375You see my other specialist area is heavy metal music, and just as with the horror movie what I enjoy the most is a prolific sub-genre; thrash metal. I have been writing a book about this extreme variant of metal music, and in doing so I have realised that both it and the slasher film appeal to me for the same reasons. To me, both are a wonderfully expressive self-contained world of excess within the artistic mediums of which they are a sub-genre.

The subject of the book is the year 1986, and an examination of whether it was truly the greatest year of thrash metal. It’s a year every metal fan is familiar with because of three classic thrash metal albums which were released by Metallica, Slayer and Megadeth. What I am trying to do in writing the book is delve further into that year, and the extreme form of music which links all three bands, to examine the iceberg of which these three albums are the tip.

Prom_night_film_posterSimilarly, even a casual horror fan is familiar with the slasher film because of three master works; Halloween, Friday the 13th and A Nightmare on Elm Street. And just as in the book, what I am attempting to do with this blog is explore the genre that three great works represent.

Starting from the very beginning, way before Halloween, I am going to each week discuss a chapter in the slasher story, examining what it is about this at times controversial, sometimes laughable, but always entertaining horror sub-genre that just keeps us coming back for more.

I hope you enjoy the adventure.

I would like to thank my colleague Lady Noctis for designing the banner you see at the top of this article. You can find more of her work here: 

https://www.facebook.com/LadyNoctisOfficial

A retailers perspective on DC Comics

Andy Haigh
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A retailers perspective on DC Comics

 DC Comics has come under fire for numerous things in recent times. The latest being the furore over the departure of the creative team on Batwoman and an ill thoughout 400872_3357680155402_784861965_ncompetition involving Harley Quinn. Whilst these well publicised events may incense fans it’s rare for retailers (the owners of the multitude of comic shops catering to those fans) to get involved. That changed with DC’s much maligned Villain Month and it was this which lead to Jared Myland owner of OK Comics, in Leeds,England to write an open letter to DC Comics on the retailers perspective of their events. Raising several points which highlight some of the problems that comic retailers face, particularly when it comes to promoting a title or organising an in store event, but also points out problems which affect fans too.

 

Dear DC Comics,

I thought you’d welcome a retailers thoughts on DC event months.

I understand the importance of keeping DC Comics fresh and exciting for existing readers, as well as inviting to potential new readers. Having a special month every year to promote the whole line is a great idea.
At my store, OK Comics in Leeds, England, we’ve had great success with the launch of DC’s New 52 and, a year later, Zero Month.
Villains Month has not been so successful, for many reasons.
Hopefully DC will continue to see September as a jumping on point. If that’s the case, next year this is what, from a retailers perspective, I’d love to see:-

– 52 (or however many series there are) different comics promoting the current ongoing range of comics.

– An enticing price reduction. Producing the comics with a $1.99 or even a $1.00 price will encourage people to try something new, and maybe even see retailers giving them away to hook in new readers!

– Content should be relevant for existing customers, and potential new or lapsed readers; perhaps two stories in each comic, one establishing the character and one continuing current storyline.

– Over-print, rather than under-print. Make sure there’s enough stock for people who want them and extras available for people who don’t yet know that they want them.

– Make sure the best writers and artists are working on them. Don’t view it as a fill-in month.

– Make sure the naming and numbering of the series isn’t confusing. Don’t make it difficult for retailers to predict what quantities they’ll require. The comics should fit in with the ongoing sequence.

– Allow retailers to promote your comics in a way that suits them and their customers. I recently requested authorization to host a midnight launch party for Superman Unchained, but was denied permission. I know a launch event would have had a positive effect on sales at my shop.

 

Detective Comics #23.2 – Harley Quinn #1 review

LadyNoctis
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Detective Comics #23.2 – Harley Quinn #1 review

DC_23-2-HarleyQuinn001fWhere shall I begin, I think I should start off with some form of a disclaimer. I am not a fan of the New 52 variant of Harley Quinn. Those of you who know me are well aware that I have a penchant for the original Quinn; that loveable psychotic jester. This characterisation that has been forced upon us, in my eyes is Hardley Quinn. 

Before you go any further if you intend to read the comic, tread the rest lightly as it may contain spoilers; also if you haven’t read it and are a fan of the original Harley… I wouldn’t bother.

I’ll admit I had low expectations; however I had faith in Kindt’s work, but what did we get? We get a regurgitation of Suicide Squad #7! They decide to go down the origin route (again), but with some added details of how she pieced her “costume” together and the methods of psychoanalysis she used during her time as a psychiatrist at Arkham. This was somewhat different from what we read in Suicide Squad…

So DC, before I go any further, why do you feel the need to continuously change and adapt a perfectly formed origin story (and character) that we all experienced and loved within “Mad Love”? Her origin story had no flaws, was perfectly understandable for her psychosis and her character development.   In the addition to her origin in Suicide Squad #7; whereby she fell into a vat of acid a blonde and climbing out with her perma-red and black split hair, now Harley chooses to dye her hair those colours prior to diving into an acid bath; which happens makes those colours set permanently…. Totally makes more sense DC…

There was little need to explain her origin as it was dealt with just over a year ago and the details that are added are no great revelation to her character development; which kind of made the comic a little bit redundant.

HQUINN_1_11_600_JPEGThe artwork which is done by Neil Googe, is actually quite nice, it’s got a lovely expressive style, is quite cartoonish which you’d think would be perfect and fitting for a fun, loveable, and most of all comedic Harley Quinn. However, this comic lacks true Harley Quinn traits. There should always be a great deal of humour within Harley’s stories; look back at what Bruce Timm and Paul Dini created. What we see today in the New 52 is irredeemable; she’s a mere a shadow and, in my eyes, she cannot even be correlated to the same character anymore.

The Joker’s presence in Harleen’s life is barely even there in any part of the New 52. What happened to her gradual obsession with the Prince of Crime? It’s non-existent. Harleen became Harley because she succumbs to the Joker, she allows her obsession with him to consume her.  Her mere existence is purely for his own amusement. So within this comic, Harley takes a very unusual, some would even argue unorthodox, approach to psychology when dealing with the Arkham Inmates. She decides to disguise herself as an inmate, as this will apparently make her understand them better; in order help them. The Joker is even giving free time in the asylum yard around other inmates (which really does not seem like privileges he’d be granted). However, it’s during this time Harley is able to approach him, this all seemed rather unnecessary and I found this “origin” story all a bit insulting to the original birth of her character.

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Shortly after this we get that brand new information about how she gets her “costume”; which let’s be honest it’s widely hated. It’s a costume that has certainly over-sexualised the character, and the ironic aspect is a part of the costume came from a prostitute. Once she has gathered her costume together, this is where we’d expect to see some character development between her and the Joker right?? WRONG! These days seem to be long behind us within the world of Quinn, she no longer has her “pudding”.

This comic makes me question whether Harley and Joker even had a relationship at all; this has been completely missed.  Where is the history between them? Harley has become numb, she has no purpose within her world now, she has no Joker and is no longer part of the squad; she is suffering from disassociation. The comical side of her is gone, the character we see now is far from the same villain we’ve all read about countless of times; and fell in love with in Batman: The Animated Series.

This character is dark and violent, and at the end of this comic seems to actually be killing countless numbers of children, why?? She’s lost purpose, she appears to have given up. There are a few panels where you get that glimmer of the cheerful character we once knew, whilst she’s handing out these explosives to children disguised as gameboys – but that’s all we get a slight glimmer of the Harley we all previously knew before the New 52. For me personally, I did not enjoy this, the changes of origin again, the appearance of the character, her lack of character development. It’s just not the same anymore. Bruce Timm and Paul Dini got it right, so why change that?

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