 Making a comeback after a long hiatus, it’s my Indie Comic Review Segment! A lot has changed as you know: the ComicBookBoom Blog being no more, putting myself out there as a writer and working on my first full length issue. All this to say that another thing that’s changed is my perspective, especially when it comes to indie comics and the creators behind them. Back then I was wildly critical and unfair at times, having not taken the time to appreciate the astronomical effort required to write and produce a full fledged issue. When you’re indie…you are independent. As in, on your own island putting sweat, blood and tears into making these books. I cringe at most of my old reviews, having failed to give proper kudos to the creators. I’ll do better.
That being said...I’d like to give my first kudos to Derek W. Lipscomb for his enormously ambitious work, The Maroon. Not only has he generated multiple full length issues (14!), he’s done a majority of the work by himself. Writing and illustration, the bulk of work with any comic endeavor. He is supported by the editorial team of Brian & Rose Coles. I applaud Derek for maintaining this passion for a multiple issue run. Meanwhile, I’m sweating over the script of a single issue.
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Hey guys, it's been a while since I wrote a blogpost so I wanted to update you on everything that's been going on. This blog has gotten a bit of a remix. It is no longer the ComicBookBoom blog. I'm actually kind of glad to drop the shoddy generic brand name. As this page explains, I rebranded everything to focus on me as a writer. This website now acts as my landing page and portfolio for all my writing projects including scripts, finished works, and Kickstarters.
That being said, I will still be using this blog page to write about all things comics. I will write about the industry, give my hot takes on the latest movies, and most importantly I will be reviving my Indie Comic Review Segment, which I know is popular. I'm actually working on my next review right now, and we'll post it in the next few weeks. If you have an indie comic that you would like me to review, be sure to drop me an e-mail. While I would love to post on this blog every week, most of my energy is going to be focused on my upcoming book. I'm not going to reveal too much now, but in the coming weeks I will announce the book's title and premise. You will see some teaser images floating around this site. You will also get more details if you sign up for my newsletter. Those subscribed to my newsletter will be the first to get news about the book including its title and the production team. I can't wait to share more with you in the coming weeks. This new chapter for the website is going to allow me to share more about myself and get out from behind the curtain. I'm both excited and terrified. Be sure to send any positive vibes my way, I'm definitely going to need it. Till next time, look to the stars! -AJ  So what prompted the return of Comic Book Boom? It all started with Batman...everything Batman. I found my brothers old PS3 and he had Arkham City. I don't normally play video games because of my bad eyesight but Arkham City is a Free Roam game and damn I just love Batman and his villains. Next thing you know I'm sucked back into the thing that I truly love and missed. After completing the game (minus the dumb Riddler Trophies) a twitter follower recommended I read Batman: Hush. There was just one problem:
 Hey everybody, Sorry for the delay. I was watching the Boston Massacre (Cavs-Celtics) last night and neglected to prep this week’s post. Also, since it's Memorial Day and 84 degrees outside I decided to do a quickie (que Deadpool quip). Who wants to stare at a screen on a day like today? Yeah, I’m talking to you! Speaking of Deadpool, I had the chance to see the Merc with a Mouth Saturday. If you're still deciding whether to spend your hard earned cash on DP2 or Solo, Deadpool is my recommendation. I heard Solo was a flop. Something I think all of Twitter predicted a year ago. The trailer didn't grab me so I opted for a Date with Mr. Wilson. Deadpool 2 had a purposefully restricted budget. The Creative team had a falling out and script duties changed hands after some felt that it should be a dig budget movie, others felt it should stick with its roots. Which, let me tell you, was the right decision. Plus despite being a small budget film, in no way did it feel like one. Was it a little CGI heavy at times? Sure, but Wade pointed it out to the audience anyways so basically the writers own up to it. The humor was on point, I felt like I was watching a 2-hour long Family Guy episode. Sidebar: Can you imagine Seth McFarlene getting a gig on Deadpool? That would be amazing. Throw in Justin Roiland and Dan Harmon for good measure and let's see what happens. At times, the jokes happened so fast that I missed about 25% of them because I was too busy laughing at the other 75%. Not a single dull moment in the film. Plus, Domino was a BADASS. My one criticism is the ending of the film. Where honestly…the writers screwed up a very key detail. SPOILER: CLICK TO EXPAND
In the end, after dying a slow and comical death, Wade finally gets to embrace his girlfriend-whose-name-I-can’t-remember-and-is-to-lazy-to-look-up. Wade gets his closure and the GF tells him that his family still needs him. Touching right? Then Cable goes back in time to save Wade. Here’s the problem. If Cable saved Wade, Wade never dies, meaning he never gets to see his wife and have his closure. The writers fucked up. And technically Wade should still be depressed and suicidal having not seen his wife. Cable shoots/saves Wade and he’s ok now? Nah, the writers fucked up. So in a bid to be moderately sentimental, the ending makes zero sense.
Does anyone care? Probably not, it’s a Deadpool Movie. And a hilarious, entertaining one at that. Have a great day everyone! -AJ  I am on a huge Batman kick right now. It's actually what got me back into blogging. Everything Batman. Movies, games and of course comics. I visited my local shop and was pleasantly surprised to learn about a comic book sale. They had dropped prices for just about everything for "tax refund day." It was then and there I decided to jump back in to the stream. I bought as many "Batman: Rebirth" issues as I could afford. (Rebirth is the most up-to-date run of Batman for those of you that didn't know). So here I am delving into the newest Batman, I started with the hardcover binding of Batman 25-32 which is called "The War of Jokes and Riddles."
After seemingly cranking through it in less than a week. (After just finishing Hush I wanted to see nothing but Bat/Cat Romance), I was fairly pleased with the current run and was glad that I dropped $50 on all the remaining issues...and I'm glad I started a pull list. It seems like Batman is in good hands, with the art looking fresh, crisp and on point. The stories capture the Batman tone, with a perfect blend of detective work, complex emotions tragedy and loony villainy. "The War of Jokes and Riddles" captured all of these (with one glaring flaw, more on that later).  Aw heck yeah, after a year’s hiatus I’m so excited to bring back Indie Comic Review. I love it when indie artist and writers approach me asking for reviews because I never know what I’m gonna get. It forces me to branch out and read something other than the conventional Big Two. And I was more than happy when Charles Stickney introduced me to the best reviewed coal mining, fantasy, horror, forbidden romance comic of 2017*. The art was grabbing so I decided to put on my hard hat and descend down White Ash’s mine.  Wow, just wow. With the return of Comic Book Boom, months in the making, it's a no brainer that the first thing I write about is the recent release of Infinity War, something ten years in the making. The film was excellent and hit on all the right notes. We laughed, we cried. The ending was tragic, but as all true comic book fans know, heroes don't stay dead for long. The fact that Spider-Man and The Black Panther will return in their sequels tells us that the end of Infinity War is not the end all be all. It's appropriate that the remaining heroes who stayed alive are the ones that originally started it all (plus contracts are expiring).
The Avengers: Resurrection (title prediction) will feature a swan song of our classic Phase 1 heroes in a final battle to restore humanity. So while the ending of Infinity War was tragic to watch (Peter Parker made my heart ache) we know that the true tragedy is yet to come. Don't take my word for it, read the latest Time article, which posted my EXACT thoughts and published them, before i could even draw up a draft. So we generally know how Avengers 4 is gonna shake out. No doubt there will be a few unexpected twists but everyone expects to see the latest roster of heroes restored. But what about after Avengers 4? Here's what should happen in the next generation of Marvel movies.  Alas, it's been a year...one year since this project, this labor of love has posted something. It really saddens me that I let this site expire. At one point I had 800 site visitors a week and my very first subscriber (yeah I'm bragging). 800 readers is nothing to turn your nose at and I’m proud to have hit that number. Through a series of events I just couldn't find the time for this project. Work grew tough and toxic, I gained weight and lost focus on the things I cared about. Sure I would read a comic here or there but I just didn't have TIME. A year later I'm in a different place. I lost 40 lbs. and quit that job that was sucking the soul out of me. I went back to school to study stuff that interested me. And now I'm a freelancer, looking towards a summer where I'm in control of my destiny. You might say “well what does this have to do with comics?” The point I'm trying to make is that I’ve decided to take control of one more thing in my life and that's this blog. I'm going to bring it back to life, much like our superheroes who have had multiple resurrections and reboots. Dunk this baby in the Lazurus pit and let's get ready to roll! To the followers, I'm sorry I have forsaken you. I'm sorry you've had to come back and see the same old post gathering digital dust on this same old site. I ask that you give me another chance to win your trust. Maybe I'm being a bit melodramatic but the thing I learned about blogging and content sharing is that winning readers is HARD. The fact that I had gotten to nearly a thousand readers is astonishing. It’s a shame I let this reboot take so long.  Damian Wayne brings back Alfred....you guys are my Damian Wayne Let me reel it back in…
1. I'm sorry I fell off the grid. 2. I hope that it does not happen again. 3. The 90s x-Men Comics were atrocious but they bounced back and people gave them a second chance, I hope you’ll do the same. New things are on the horizon and I am excited to share them with you. Giveaways with no strings attached, cool exclusive products and your same old Joe-Smo blogger trying to win your hearts. I vow to produce more posts on a weekly basis. I'm going to write in advance. I vow to interact more. To all those Indie Comics that have approached me for reviews...I'm gonna make it up to you. All this said and done...I need one thing from you dear reader...and that's a second chance. I ask that you simply join me and read my posts and share with others. I know every Youtuber and blogger says the same thing, but this is me asking you…the reader to bring this thing back to life. Because every time you share, RT and comment...it makes this fun and worth it. I couldn't do this without you and I'm sorry I let this feeling slip away. Will you help me bring this thing back to life? Excelsior, AJ  Too often when I’m writing my reviews I find myself wanting to talk about The MacGuffin. At times, when I read these indie comics I want to point out the writer’s MacGuffin or lack of one. Then I realize that most people would have no idea what I’m talking about. So I decided to devote an article to the MacGuffin so that in future, I can link back to this article and save me the time of explaining this key writers concept. It’s extremely important that aspiring comic book writers understand this concept. It’s also important to point out that there are varying definitions of the MacGuffin. So I’ll begin with my simple interpretation: The MacGuffin is the plot device that the protagonist pursues; it’s an object that drives the story. It takes the form of an object, a person, place or sometimes a concept. My favorite example is the Lost Ark in Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark. Often it is the secret plans that the spy must acquire. It’s the missing jewels the PI must find. It’s the person responsible for the murder. It’s the zombie virus cure, the Maltese Falcon, the Holy Grail and the Infinity Stones. The MacGuffin could be conceptual, such as Superman’s desire for truth, justice and the American Way. According to many, including Alfred Hitchcock, it’s the linchpin of any mystery, detective or suspense story.
Speaking of Alfred Hitchcock, he was the key advocate of the term. Some say he coined it but according to him, one of his screen writers, Angus McPhail is responsible to for the phrase. When asked “what is a MacGuffin?” Hitchcock would share this now famous story (0:38): |
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