Comic Book Review: Onyx

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Hello Enthusiasts,

Today's review is of IDW's "Onyx", the story of an alien warrior out to either save the Earth, or destroy it. This isn't a long running series, there's only one volume and it doesn't look like any other issues are being released.

Story wise, this book isn't really too spectacular. An alien race that spreads like an infection goes from planet to planet, decimating the worlds. The hero, Onyx, is trying to stop this from spreading from world to world, but is always too late. At that point, Onyx instead has to kill the infected to keep it from spreading to other planets. The next target for the infection is Earth of course. Very basic, with a few twists that are pretty predictable. Not bad, but not original either.

The humans that Onyx works with are all two dimensional, not really providing much other than exposition. Which brings up the dialog, which is really rushed and dry. However, I don't blame the rushed feeling on the writers as much as I normally would. IDW does not have a DC or Marvel level budget, and I think the writers knew that they would only get a few issues to get their story out. It could have been handled a little better, a bit less on-the-nose, but they didn't have a lot of time to work with.

Where this book really shines is in its artwork, especially in the design of Onyx's armor and hard-light weapons. Onyx's movements and attacks are all clean, and it really carries the book. The look of the alien infection is less original, but still well done. I felt that the wildlife on Earth that became infected and started to attack had a nice hybrid look to them as well.

Overall, I enjoyed this comic for the fairly creative designs and artistic execution, but the writer didn't seem to stray too far from the beaten path. The sub-par story certainly benefited from the artwork and designs, but it wasn't enough to bring this up to a must-buy. I feel that that could have been greatly aided by a DC or Marvel budget, as having more time to reveal the details of this story would knock this title up a few notches.

I give IDW's Onyx a 4 out of 10

Sincerely,

The Bored Enthusiast

Board Game Review: Superfight

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Hello Enthusiasts,

Up for review today is the board game Superfight. While really more of a card game, this follows a style similar to Cards Against Humanity, which has taken the world by storm. In Superfight, each player puts down a noun card (white cards) with a couple of strengths and weaknesses (black cards), and then they debate who would win in a fight. A player could, for example, play the white card, "Brown Bear", with the black cards, "With Laser Eyes", "Drunk", and "Wearing Rocket Powered Roller Skates". In my experience, I've always found it more fun to randomly draw the third black card and have to argue something you weren't expecting.

There are also several expansion packs that add different scenarios, locations, different objectives than just winning a fight, and so on. So maybe than it being a straight fight between the contestants, maybe it's a battle of the bands in a trailer park. This ends up adding even more fun an causes players to create very different arguments. While my brown bear from before may have destroyed the other player in a fight, they could argue that my bear can't play an instrument.

The only problem with this game is playing it too often with too few people takes away some of the fun. Eventually, you will run out of cards that you haven't played before, and even the ever changing scenarios and expansions don't add too much life to this experience. This is the same problem that the aforementioned Cards Against Humanity faces, but playing with large groups will add some diversity to the cards each player gets to use, and will add to the life of the game.

Despite the issue with replay value, I definitely recommend this one to anyone looking or a new party game. While I'm not one to generally suggest too many expansion packs for games, I think it's well worth the money here. It's a lot of fun, a lot of laughs, and it's pretty simple and straight forward.

I give Superfight an 8 out of 10.

Sincerely,

The Bored Enthusiast

Comic Book Review: Suicide Squad (New 52)

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Hello Enthusiasts,

For those who are familiar with DC's "New 52" lineup, you know that it was mostly received with negative feedback. Storylines for Deathstroke, Green Lantern, and the Teen Titans certainly left something to be desired. However, this time frame for DC also had a few gems, such as Aquaman and Batman (Scott Snyder's run). One series that was met with mixed reviews was the reboot of the Suicide Squad.

Now for those that saw the movie of the same name that came out in the summer of 2016, this is where we get a lot of that lineup, as none of the classic comics included Harley Quinn as a member (primarily because the Batman animated series hadn't invented her yet). There were some changes in the film, like putting in Killer Croc instead of King Shark, but it was essentially the same lineup.

For those who aren't too familiar with the story, the Suicide Squad is a top secret team (officially referred to as Task Force X) comprised primarily of DC villains, all led by Amanda Waller. They cooperate with Waller to reduce their prison sentences and because each of them has a small bomb planted in their neck. The lineup does change for various reasons, but the New 52 lineup is primarily as follows:

-Harley Quinn
-Deadshot
-King Shark
-El Diablo
-Captain Boomerang
-Black Spider

First, the positives. The New 52 series of Suicide Squad shines when it is evaluating its characters. We get a good look at King Shark's origin story (as well as a good look at his dad), the story of why Deadshot never wastes a bullet, and how AmandaWaller started to become the cold-hearted leader that she is. The story arc also covers Harley's relationship (or lack there of) with the Joker, whose manipulation and abuse of Harley Quinn is showcased, especially in volume three. The comics show these characters in both a sympathetic light, as well as detailing how each of them can dominate in their own way. The artwork ranges from decent to excellent throughout the run as artists switch around on some issues.

On the negative side, the missions that the Suicide Squad are sent on can be forgettable. I recall more of what the characters were saying to each other than I do their objectives. Also, outside of a few scenes, these villains being forced to complete such and such objective tend to not act very much like villains. Maybe you could attribute it to the bombs in their necks, the fear that stepping out of line would cause some unwanted explosions. However, that idea seems flimsy given that they do sometimes act villainous and get to live. This series also made the strange change with Amanda Waller, who used to be more stout and seemed to be one who frequently stayed behind a desk barking orders. For the New 52 run, they made her thinner, more of a soldier than a leader. This didn't really hurt the story, but I did think it to be an odd choice when DC was deciding what changes to make.

If you have yet to read anything from the New 52, I wouldn't suggest starting here. As I mentioned earlier, the Aquaman series and Scott Snyder's Batman have received great reviews for a reason. However, if you've read the big titles and you're looking for something else to grab your attention, you could do worse that pick up a volume of Suicide Squad from your local shop.

I give this run of the Suicide Squad a 6.5 out of 10

Sincerely,

The Bored Enthusiast

Book Review: Child 44

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Hello Enthusiasts,

Child 44 is a historical thriller written by Tom Rob Smith, set in Stalin's Soviet Union. The story follows Soviet operative Leo Demidov as he attempts to solve the murders of several children. However, Soviet Russia refuses to acknowledge that their society is anything less than perfect, so even admitting that there's a murderer out there would be to go against the State. Leo decides to pursue this on his own and ends up having to face some serious consequences from the State. Without giving anything away, there's a good twist as to who the killer ends up being.

This is actually the first book in a series of three, and it is by far the strongest title. Smith's writing is engaging, and I was surprised by the historical accuracy. As an agent of the State, Leo isn't really a police officer, since the State is so perfect nobody would want to commit crime (that's the company line at least). Instead, his job is to find westerners and those who have been corrupted by western influence. Those that he catches, and he catches almost everyone he pursues, end up facing torture before execution. I found this set up to be particularly clever, as it allows Leo to be an officer of the law, despite there not being the same kind of formal police force that readers might be familiar with.

I would say that one of the best aspects of this book is how it captures the paranoia of Stalin's Soviet Union. Anyone in the story will turn on anyone else and call them a traitor if there's any evidence to support it at all. The government encourages people to keep an eye on their neighbors and to report them, with the possibility of some reward for doing so. The reader can almost feel the fear that everyone must be living in within the society. This fear is best represented by Leo's wife, Rita, though to go into the details of why would give away a little too much of the story.

While the book is overall a page-turner, be ready for some chapters that are straight exposition. The crashing halt of action and detective work really slows the momentum that Smith works to build. The exposition is far from useless, a lot of it ends up greatly altering the course of the story, but the dialogue is dry.

When it's all said and done, Child 44 is an interesting story with a compelling mystery and surprising historical accuracy. There is a film adaptation of this book as well, though I have yet to see it, but I can only hope it holds up to the book. While it's not flawless, I would still recommend this to anyone I could see enjoying a historical thriller.

I give Child 44 an 8 out of 10

Sincerely,

The Bored Enthusiast

Movie Review: Sleepwalk With Me

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Hello Enthusiasts,     

While I don't regularly do movie reviews, this is one I felt I needed to cover. Sleepwalk With Me is a 2012 Sundance Award winning film from stand-up comedian Mike Birbiglia. As you can guess, it is a comedy, but there's a good deal of drama involved as well. The film can be funny at times, and almost heartbreaking at others.

In being up-front, I have a strong bias for this movie. I have been following Birbiglia for a while now and I attended the limited theatrical release for this film.

The film follows Mike Birbiglia (named Matt Pandamiglio) as he strives to become a successful stand-up comedian, while dealing with other stresses in his life, such as getting engaged (without getting engaged). This strain ends up leading to Matt sleepwalking, a problem which he consistently puts off dealing with. The movie is based off of a stand-up special that Birbiglia performed, the book to go with it, and all of that is based off of his real-life experiences.

Again, I have a bias, but I know I'm not the only one who really enjoyed this film (hence the Sundance award). Every character, especially our main character Matt, is flawed and human, nobody is that perfect person who has the right answers. The idea of chasing your dreams, no matter how rough the road is, can be powerful. However, the movie addresses not pushing yourself recklessly forward, or else you too may end up mostly-naked on the lawn of a La Quinta Inn in Walla Walla, Washington. The acting is outstanding, it all seems very sincere. Matt is not exactly a great guy, but he's relatable. I think we've all had those nights where we're eating a pizza, watching the news, talking on the phone, and checking our emails simultaneously until late at night.

Now, this is an independent film, and it does show. Not a lot of money was able to go into this production, but it luckily didn't need too much, and it uses what it has well. However, there are some scenes that don't deliver on the comedy or the drama, it's just characters talking about everyday stuff that doesn't really contribute to the overall story. While I understand and can appreciate normal conversations in films (I like Tarantino films too), I feel like this can seem a bit out of place with the rest of the movie. However, these scenes don't usually last too long, and the movie falls right back in to its rhythm.

If you're someone who finds awkward situational comedies to be more uncomfortable that funny, I would say that you may want to steer clear of this one, as Birbiglia is generally just an awkward guy all around. However, if you have 81 minutes free and want to watch a lesser-known comedy, Sleepwalk With Me might be just what you're looking for.

I give Mike Birbiglia's Sleepwalk With Me a 9 out of 10

Sincerely,

The Bored Enthusiast

Top 5: Comic Book Events

Hello Enthusiasts,

Today I will be listing off what I believe to be the top five events in Marvel and DC comics. These events involve (and often spread across) several different titles and usually have a decent amount of build up. Criteria wise, I use three for determination; impact on the universe, user friendliness, and how well written the story is. I won't be giving away too much of the stories below, just the necessary points.

5) DC's "Crisis on Infinite Earths"

If this list was based on impact alone, this one would be at the top, hands down. Everyone gets involved in this, stories open up across the universe, and (without giving away too much for those who haven't read it) at least two major heroes die within this event, thanks to the Anti-Monitor. However, it's at the bottom of the list because it definitely fails when it comes to user friendliness, as you will encounter a lot of lesser-known heroes here. Also, the writing can be a bit on-the-nose at times, but this is the oldest event listed, so it does get a bit of a pass.

4)Marvel's "Secret Invasion"

This event was fantastic, particularly  in one aspect; nothing was really revealed to the reader until the end. With so many stories including the reader in on the antagonists plan, it's nice to be kept in the dark like the heroes. We have no idea as we go through the story who is a Skrull and who isn't, which keeps us turning the pages. This one is well written and does spread across the universe, with a few effects from the invasion holding past the end of the event. It too can be a little deep for the casual reader, but not nearly to the level that number 5 is.

3)DC's "52"

52 weeks without the DC Trinity. No Batman, no Superman, and no Wonder Woman. You also get some really neat time travel, and a berserker of a Black Adam (more so than usual). There is also a great subplot where the mantle of The Question gets passed down, along with about a dozen other subplots. It can get convoluted, but most of the stories involve characters of moderate fame. It shines in that it is expertly written and really brings in the whole universe, though not exactly for one fight. More importantly are the lasting effects after the end of the event, which last some time, not the least of which is DC's never-ending  love of the number 52.

2)DC's "Infinite Crisis"

Writing-wise, I would put this as number 1. This story follows years after Crisis on Infinite Earths, and it has a lot going on. I surprisingly found all of the subplots incredibly interesting. This event is also where we are introduced the Superboy Prime as a villain, and what a villain he is. This story shares a lot with the crisis it follows, with several key characters dying and an all-star cast facing off in just a few different theaters of war. However, also like its predecessor, it can be difficult for the casual fan to pick up and read, though not nearly to the same extent.

1)Marvel's "Civil War"

This is not at the top of the because of the great film that Marvel released of the same name, as that had little to do with the actual comic. No, this one is at the top because it hits every note very well. This event was built up over a decent period of time, and nearly every title in Marvel got their own "Civil War" issue. This comic tackled the concern of vigilante justice, the choice people should have with their powers, and the idea of really standing up for what you think is best. An amazing cast of characters, almost all of whom are very well known by their audience. Not to mention the ramifications of the Civil War, which were felt in Marvel comics for years to come. This was an event that only Marvel could pull off, and that's why it is at the top of the list.

Honorable mentions: Marvel's "Infinity War", DC's "Blackest Night", and Marvel's "Original Sin", all of which are excellent story arcs, but just didn't match up in the criteria I listed. For example, "Infinity War" certainly left on mark on the Marvel universe, but it was about as user-friendly as "Crisis on Infinite Earths", but with less of an impact and with a less engaging writing style.

Did you think something should be listed that wasn't? Want to put me in my place about my opinions? Please leave a comment and I will try to address it in a timely manner.

Sincerely,

The Bored Enthusiast

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Video Game Review: No Man's Sky

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Hello Enthusiasts,

Today we will be reviewing the game "No Man's Sky", the non-AAA game with all of the AAA hype.

I fully admit that I, like almost everyone else, got really excited by the announcement of No Man's Sky. This almost looked like Minecraft 2.0, with harvesting, exploring, trading, and fighting off carnivorous monsters, all with a beautiful landscape, and in space! And while the game does off everything I listed above, it lacks the magic that Minecraft had.

First, the positives. This game is beautiful, with pretty dynamic planets, as well as some fairly creative wildlife to see as you race through the universe. The soundtrack also matches the game well, providing a background music that helps you get into the game and feel like an explorer on these planets. No Man's Sky also has some fun mechanics to it, mostly with your spaceship though. I felt awesome the first time that I really took off in my spaceship, like I was an adventurer discovering new planets. And the feeling does last for the first planet or two that you explore; you really feel invested in discovering the outposts and collecting materials. There's even a mechanic to start to learn the languages of some of the other aliens you will encounter, which will highlight as a familiar word when you speak with them. So normally you would speak with an alien and the text box would show, "salifo mantogia bradflether condormusoni fesra dusace tamorandato", but after learning the new word it will alter a little to be more along the lines of, "salifo mantogia engine condormusoni fesra dusace tamorandato". While this seems inconsequential, there are times when knowing one or two words can assist you in making the right choice when responding.

However, it's not too long before the game's faults begin to show through. At its core, the game is repetitive. The goal is to get to the center of the universe, and there are small goals along the way. Mostly, they consist of creating more fuel for your warp drive, which requires you to go from planet to planet, harvesting raw materials (or purchasing them for outrageous prices). This wouldn't be terrible if not for the games most annoying flaw, your inventory. It is so frustrating to have a meager five or six inventory spaces on your person, with another seven or eight on your ship. What's worse, modifications and improvements to your ship will take up some of these spaces. Now you can also buy other, larger ships that may provide an additional couple of spaces, but they will require you to spend a lot of time earning credits first. It is aggravating to say the least, especially when there's no way to craft any additional storage.

Which leads into the games other issue, crafting (or lack there of). One of the things that really got people on board with Minecraft was the aspect of crafting and building. While No Man's Sky does allow you to craft components, it ends there. With your raw materials you can either:

A) Craft some fuel or part
B) Repair or replenish equipment
C) Sell it

Those are the options. And the "parts" I speak of aren't new weapons, or a better suit, or anything. They're things like a warp drive, which is a quest all in itself.

One of the big causes for excitment in the game before it released was the ability to discover new things and name them whatever you want, which did end up as a feature in the game. However, I see a lot of the same "new" flora popping up on each and every planet I go to, and I can rename it on each planet. I have "discovered" and named the same giant flower a couple dozen times now, and I am running out of things to call it. Also, what's the point of naming the things you find if nobody else will ever see them? No Man's Sky is not a multiplayer game, you will never encounter anyone else as you travel through the universe and no other player will ever step foot on your planet.

But perhaps the most disappointing part of the game is the "ending". Now for those who want to work for it I won't spoil it here, but suffice to say that it is not worth the time you will put into the game. For those who want to know what they're working towards, just go to YouTube and look up the "end" of No Man's Sky to learn why I put the quotation marks around it.

Overall, this game is not what we hoped, and it is not worth the $60 it was going for when it was released. Perhaps if it didn't build up the hype it did and was released for a more reasonable price, this review (and others) would not be so harsh. However, I'm not telling everyone to boycott this game. It does have its own charm, and I feel that it can be enjoyable in short bursts. I would recommend renting the title or maybe buying it pre-owned.

I give No Man's Sky a 4 out of 10 for not being terrible, but not being the great event we were promised.

Sincerely,

The Bored Enthusiast