Bloodborne #1 Review

21 Wednesday Feb 2018

Posted by Paul Bowler in All, Titan Comics

Tags

Ales Kot, Bloodborne, Bloodborne #1, Bloodborne #1 review, Bloodborne The Old Hunters, Bloodborne Titan Comics, Brad Simpson, comics, Horror, NCBD, Piotr Kowalski, Titan Comics, Yharnam

Bloodborne #1

Review by Paul Bowler

Get ready to delve into the dark world of Yharnam once more in Bloodborne #1: The Death of Sleep, from Titan Comics, written by Ales Kot (Generation Gone, Zero), with art by Piotr Kowalski (Wolfenstein, Dark Souls).

A nameless Hunter awakens in a foreboding, ancient, city, a place gripped by a horrifying epidemic. Here, terrifying monsters are waiting to strike at every turn and the streets are awash with blood. Into this nightmare the Hunter seeks a way to escape the seemingly endless Night of the Hunt that has damned Yharnam There is only one hope left and the Hunter must set out on a gruesome, blood-soaked quest to bring this nightmare to an end once and for all…

Based on the best selling videogame world of Bloodborne and its expansion DLC content The Old Hunters, Bloodborne #1: The Death of Sleep will mark a welcome return to Yharnam for fans of the gory, tough-as-nails game. Indeed, writer Ales Kot ensures this first issue includes all the familiar Bloodborne tropes – and then some! From the lone Hunters introduction to his initial encounters with the beastly horrors stalking Yharnam’s shadows, Kot quickly sets the scene. One particular narrative thread – the pale blood – is a mystery that was never really fully explained in videogame itself, and as such it provides a rich vein of drama for Kot to tap and facilitate key plot developments in the issue.

Piotr Kowalski’s artwork brings every visceral, blood-drenched moment of Kot’s intense script to life while the gorgeous colors by Brad Simpson adds vivid clarity to the flesh-rending carnage. If you’ve played the game, you’ll know how hideous and grotesque the monsters in Bloodborne are, and Kowalski’s art impressively recreates the distinctive look and feel of these monstrous creatures. As you’d expect, the action is slick and brutal too, and like the games unforgiving nature that all-too familiar “You Died” moment is something that surprisingly feels almost serene here – rather than the almost throwing the controller across the room rage that the Bloodborne game often made you feel when your Hunter met a grisly end.

While obviously aimed at fans of the Bloodborne game, there’s plenty of mystery and terror for horror fans to enjoy as well without any prior knowledge of the game. Boasting a striking cover by Jeff Stokley, along with a choice of three variant covers, the strong story and impressive art in Bloodborne #1 gets this new Titan Comics book off to a great start and I’m eager to see where the Hunter’s quest takes him next.

Publisher: Titan Comics.

Writer: Ales Kot / Art: Piotr Kowalski.

Colors: Brad Simpson / Lettering: Aditya Bidikar

Cover: A Jeff Stokley, Cover B: Game Cover, Cover C: Potr Kowalski & Brad Simpson, Cover D: Andre Lima Arujo & Chris O’Halloran.

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Black Panther Film Review

17 Saturday Feb 2018

Posted by Paul Bowler in All, Film Reviews

≈ 34 Comments

Tags

Andy Serkis, Black Panther, Black Panther film review, Black Panther movie review, Chadwick Boseman, Erik Killmonger, Killmonger, Letitia Wright, Lupita Nyong’o, Marvel, Marvel Comics, Michael B Jordan, T’Challa, Ulysses Klaue, Wakanda

Black Panther Film Review

Review by Paul Bowler

Marvel studios kicks off 2018’s plethora of superhero blockbusters with Black Panther! Chadwick Boseman returns as T’Challa, the Black Panther, to his homeland of Wakanda in Africa to become king after his late father’s demise during the events of Captain America Civil War (2016). The reclusive African nation of Wakanda is secretly a technologically advanced marvel, crafted and powered by the metal vibranium – the same substance utilized by T’Challa in his armoured Black Panther suit and high-tech gadgetry.

As T’Challa prepares to inherit his throne, old enemies return, and soon T’Challa must confront a threat that will test his strength both as king and the Black Panther when he faces a conflict that puts Wakanda and the entire world at risk!

Based on the Marvel comic book character Black Panther (created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby) introduced in 1966, Marvel’s new blockbuster Black Panther, from Director Ryan Coogler and his co-screenwriter Jo Robert Cole, is probably one of the most hotly anticipated Marvel films to date. It’s a radically different kind of comic book film in many respects from the other seventeen movies in Marvel’s juggernaut superhero franchise.

This is an origin story that celebrates the Black Panther and his nations proud heritage, it firmly establishes Black Panther’s place in the MCU, boasting an impressive cast, strong female characters, and the fictional nation of Wakanda itself is breathtakingly realized on screen with its futuristic buildings and floating hovercars.

Marvel certainly have another winner on their hands with Black Panther! Chadwick Boseman is on fine form as the erstwhile heir of Wakanda, his portrayal of T’Challa has steely resolve and emotional vulnerability, and the characters enhanced physical prowess and suits abilities really get a chance to shine in the films elaborate action sequences. The screenplay from Ryan Coogler and Joe Robert Cole offers an engaging multifaceted plot that deftly balances the superhero action and strong characterization together with pertinent social, political, and contemporary issues to make Black Panther a richly textured and vibrant cultural experience.

As this epic, generational saga plays out, the extremely talented cast of Black Panther really comes to the fore, especially with the strong female characters in T’Challa’s life. T’Challa’s sister is the amazing scientist Shuri (Letitia Wright), the cheeky Q to T’Challa’s Bond-like vibe who designs all of the Black Panther’s nifty gadgets and weaponry. Angela Bassett stars as his widowed mother, Ramonda, Okoye (Danani Gurira) is the head of the Dora Miaje (The Royal Guard), and Nakia played by Lupita Nyong’o is a Wakandan agent and former lover of T’Challa.

The transition of power will soon test the young monarch as T’Challa must choose between maintaining Wakanda’s traditional ways of protecting its technology and maintaining his nation’s isolation, or adopt a more modern approach, as well as a challenge to his leadership. Other integral characters to the plot include the shaman-like Wakandan elder Zuri (Forest Whittaker), the border tribe chief W’Kabi (Daniel Kaluuya), and the rival tribal leader M’Baku (Winston Duke). Martin Freeman plays Everett Ross from the CIA who inadvertently gets caught up in the Black Panther‘s mission to Busan, and subsequently ends up taking an enlightening trip to Wakanda as a result.

As for the villains, T’Challa must contend with the South African criminal Ulysses Klause (Andy Serkis) and his scheme to seal the precious vibranium, and the Wakandan exile Erik Killmonger’s (Michael B Jordan) plot to overthrow the throne! Superbly played with charismatic swagger by Michael B Jordan, Killmonger’s new vision for Wakanda poses the biggest threats to T‘Challa‘s homeland, and Jordan makes a perfect foil for Boseman’s noble T’Challa.

The slick direction by Ryan Coogler ensures the pace hardly lets up for a moment. The film has numerous exciting plot twists and spectacular set-pieces – a visit to South Korea, featuring a casino and an high-speed car chase, is just one of the films many highlights – that will keep you riveted to every scene, whilst also effortlessly immersing you in the beautiful African landscape and culture of Wakanda to make this easily one of the most unique and richly crafted locales that we’ve seen so far in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

King of all it surveys from its scene setting opening prologue to its frenetically staged climatic battle between T’Challa and Killmonger, Ryan Coogler’s film is action packed and lots of fun. A game-changing afrofuturist superhero movie in more ways than one, with a great cast, beautiful scenery, and spectacular action sequences Black Panther is an exciting 134 minute thrill ride that delivers on every level!