A New Talon

Darth Talon has been quite popular ever since her debut in the Star Wars: Legacy comic book series a number of years ago.  I've drawn her only 3 times over the years with this marking number 3.  Her tattoos are always a chore to do, but they ultimately help sell the final image. 







 

What A Mess: Batman vs Superman

Batman vs Superman ended up being such a colossal mess and it's such a shame because it could've been the movie to establish WB/DC as major players in the cinematic universe genre, a spot which Marvel has owned for almost a decade now.  However, it ended up playing more as an expensive example of what not to do.

The theatrical cut of the film clocks in at a hefty 2 hours 33 minutes.  It's about the length of what one expects from big budget movies these days.  The time isn't its biggest problem.  The biggest problem with Batman vs Superman is that it bastardized all the key characters, was poorly edited and overstuffed with subplots that really shouldn't have made it past the conceptual stage. 

Supposedly, there will be an extended cut of the film that clocks in at 3 hours on the home video release (and rumored to be a possible theatrical release, too), but I don't see how adding in another 30 minutes would help a story that is already overstuffed with filler (what was the point of the bullet subplot?).  

The worst sin in Batman vs Superman is that it shits all over the characterization of its 2 leads.  Batman is just a meathead on a violent crusade, not the World's Greatest Detective.  His beef with Superman is ultimately resolved because they have mothers with the same name and not because they realize they're the only true checks on each other.

Superman is moping, pitiful and glum, a complete 180 from where he was at the end of Man of Steel and with no real reason within the story for him to be so.  The public is worried about what threats he may pose given his God-like abilities, but they also built him a freakin' statue! 

The movie is visually stylish and Wonder Woman (played in her limited screen time by Gal Gadot) is in many ways the only redeeming aspect of this movie.  Batman vs Superman will make money and it will ultimately be a huge box office hit, but I and many others can't help but feel stung at what could've been and what ultimately is. 
 

Dawn Chronicles: Legacy

Laurel doesn’t know how special she is until one fateful Halloween night unleashes a dark truth: She is the last known survivor of the werewolf Dawn family. This fact puts her square in the sights of Michael Lobos, leader of the nefarious Lobos clan. Michael believes Laurel is the key to survival in the coming war between humans and werewolves.

Now, Laurel must fight for her life against not only Michael, but the demon that lives inside her. With the stakes high and the price of failure higher, Laurel will have no choice but to embrace her legacy... or die trying.

Legacy is the first book in the thrilling Dawn Chronicles trilogy. This edition also includes the short story Code: Silver featuring the debut of Carey Caden, star of the forthcoming Seraph series.

Check out the trailer below and purchase the book from Amazon here! 

 

Arrow and Flash: Legends of Tomorrow Crossover

I've been watching CW's Flash and Arrow almost since they originally debuted.  I didn't catch on to Arrow until I binge-watched the first season on Netflix shortly before the second season was to begin.  After that, I was hooked.  For Flash, it took me a few episodes to warm up to it, which was fitting since the show itself took a few episodes to find its footing.  After the proper introduction of Reverse Flash, Flash put the pedal to the metal and has been racing ever since.

That said, the first crossover event between Flash and Arrow during Flash's debut season and Arrow's third season was lackluster.  The two episodes really had nothing to do with each other.  While it was fun to see the two series crossover, it wasn't much in the way of a continuing event.  This year's crossover is an actual two-part event, but it's also functioning as a backdoor pilot to a third series, Legends of Tomorrow.

None of that is my biggest problem.  My biggest problem was with the portrayal of this guy: Vandal Savage.  My issue isn't with the character himself as I'm not really all that familiar with the comics, but I am concerned with how he's supposed to be the primary villain on his own show when he wasn't all that intimidating here.  He didn't have the gravitas of Damien Darhk nor the subtle danger of Malcolm Merlyn.  He came across as a bit campy and not in a fun way.  Maybe that's intentional and he'll be edgier in Legends of Tomorrow. 
 

Final Fantasy VII Remake Trailer Footage

At the 2015 Playstation Experience event, Square Enix showed off the first gameplay footage of the Final Fantasy VII remake.  It looks incredible, which I already thought it would.  They're doing away with the old turn-based combat system from the original and switching to a more action-style system.  That's fine with me.  They didn't show how that would affect boss fights.  With the Shinra soldiers and similar characters, that would make sense to have a sweeping combat area.  Not sure about boss battles.

I'm liking the character redesigns though.  Barrett's design here is much better than his Advent Children model.  Cloud looks kinda lanky and ill, which might be intentional.  Can't wait to see what Tifa, Aeris, and Red XIII's models will look like.

Another interesting detail about the remake is that it will apparently be a "multi-part series."  That heavily implies that it will be more than one release, but the question is how many and at what price?  Will it be episodic like The Walking Dead games or Resident Evil: Revelations 2-style?  Or multiple games telling one story a la Mass Effect?  Only time will tell.