Comic Review: Iron Man #1 and other stuff

Warren Ellis has taken over writing everyone's favorite armored Avenger as Marvel "reloads" Iron Man.

The "Extremis" storyline introduces yet another modernization of a superhero's origin. Now, Tony Stark got impaled by shrapnel from an exploding landmine during a Taliban attack, all revealed through an interview/flashback. Meanwhile, someone's stolen a experimental something that's called Extremis and it's been injected into someone, causing a most disturbing metamorphosis...

I like this story, though not much really happens during this initial issue. But it does a good job of introducing the tortured Tony Stark, trying to make up for his past designing weapons for the military. It sets up the story pretty well, and I am eager for future issues to find out what this Extremis is all about.

Adi Granov's digital art looks almost cinematic at times, like on page fifteen. I recommend this to all Ellis fans and Iron Man fans alike. The only real drawback of this issue is its $3.50 price tag.

In other news, Marvel released a Handbook of the Dead 2004, listing all of the dead characters. Bucky was fortunately still listed as dead. I was surprised to find Thor listed as dead, but that explains why there's a new young Thor prequel comic book out. I found it comical (no pun intended) that Phoenix was listed as dead, even though a new miniseries is being made to bring her back after only being dead for what, a year at the most. (See previous discussion of using death as a marketing tool.)

Also, the newest issue of DC's Identity Crisis miniseries seems to be indicating that Ray Palmer, the Atom, is the serial killer who's going after superheroes' family members. (Remember the other day when I was saying about heroes being turned into villains for shock value? Anyway, they should have learned from Hal Jordan.)

Ultimate Kylie

Kylie Minogue is going through the inbetween-albums blues. So to cheer herself up, she's releasing a two-disc "best of..." including two brand new songs. It's called "Ultimate Kylie."

There's also supposed to be a "Ultimate Kylie" DVD coming put with all of her music videos on it. Reading about it on a fan site, I found two things about it I didn't like:

1. The release date for it in the UK, Australia, Canada, heck everywhere except the U.S. is the end of November, while it'll be released here sometime in February 2005.

2. It's technically not a complete set of her music videos. If the listing on the fan site is correct, the DVD will not have the music videos for "Where is that Feeling?," "Some kind of Bliss," and "Cowboy Style." All cool songs from my favorite era of Kylie.

It's true that I got this from a fan site, so I shouldn't just readily believe it, but it seems typical that when making room on the DVD, they'd start cutting off the bits I'd like.

Ultraman Nexus Update

I have just learned that Japanese composer Kenji Kawai will be writing the music for the new television series, Ultraman Nexus. Kawai's famous for his work with anime director Mamoru Oshii, composing for the Ghost in the Shell movies, all things Patlabor, and the live-action Avalon.

There's supposed to be a soundtrack released at the end of November, but how will I get my hands on one? It also wouldn't hurt if someone started importing Nexus to the U.S.

Elektra Movie Update

I was impressed by Jennifer Garner's protrayal of Elektra in the Daredevil movie, so I've been keeping a close eye on the new spin-off movie, hoping it doesn't end up like Catwoman.

The new movie site, elektramovie.com, has just opened this week, with a synopsis, wallpaper, and video clips. The American synopsis is pratically useless, mainly namedropping who's in the cast, though it mentions that Elektra has "kimagure," the limited ability to see into the future. (What?)

The European synopsis actually says a lot more of the actual plot. Elektra's haunted by the death of her parents as well as her own death, and becomes an assassin to sate her rage, but she needs "something more than a reason to kill... a reason to live." It also mentions Typhoid Mary, but I doubt she'll be anything like DD's schizoid nemesis.

There's been very little hype or advertising out yet for this movie, despite it coming out in January. The costume looks okay, but I liked the DD costume better. I remain optimistic and hopeful that the movie will be cool. Just think: Terence Stamp as Stick!