2023, Sorry for the Delay
A little late, but a buddy of mine told me he wanted my opinion on what I thought of 2023, in terms of films and comics. And I had to really sit and think about it. 2023 felt like it blew by so fast but then I found myself googling to check whether a movie came out in 2022 or 2023. I had to double check the release dates of the comics I had bought every Wednesday from my LCS. Could it be i just forgot them because nothing stuck to me? Maybe I just lost interest and didn’t pay attention to the thousands of media we can consume at our fingertips at our whim. I mean, I always feel stumped when picking a show or movie to watch while I eat some take out. i just scroll, and scroll, and wonder if any of these choices ever get watched. Could be all of these things or could be none.
But I do find it interesting how physical media is being cycled out, and we can no longer own these pieces of commercial art, but we can subscribe to a platform (who may or may not have the show/movie you want to watch or can take it off whenever they give a damn) and now we have more options than ever but I watch less, and catch myself going back to things I love like Avatar: The Last Airbender, Batman theAnimated Series, or The Sopranos. Is this a reaction to how the film and comic industries market their products and perhaps I’m not the market being target anymore? I do feel that they do use the ol’ nostalgia trick to get millennials to try anything.
Which ultimately feels like the moment when the music you listened to in your teens is now on the oldies station.
Jeez, Talk About Starting the New Year on a Downer
Hey it’s not all bad! Maybe like 87%! Give or take.
Anyway.
I was caught up with a few personal things during 2023, so I regretfully didn’t get to watch/read/play all the things I wanted to that year. So this list won’t have all the things I want to watch that I hear are great (Killers of the Flower Moon, Past Lives, Dream Scenario, The Creator, Iron Claw, and The Holdovers to name a few I’m desperate to watch).
BUT I did get to watch the few things below, and thought very highly of them. Let’s get into it!
Honorable Mention
Asteroid City And Roald Dahl Shorts
It’s fun, meta, and stylistically gorgeous to look at. Is it my favorite work of his? Nah. And I’m a big Wes Anderson fan. I did enjoy the Roald Dahl stories he adapted for Netflix. I felt those were a bit more tight, obviously because they were shorts, but I think the paced better. I see his inspiration of plays in these two works of his, and I’m here for it, it’s fun to watch and fits his eye for symmetry. You can see this influence create a stronger presence gradually in his work. I do rather hope he switches it up on the next one though.
Top Whatever, You Count Them
What a Dick.
Sorry¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Blue Eye Samurai
Now this shit was my jam. The premise is it’s a badass samurai revenge, but the way the show delves into gender roles and race by using the Eco period as the setting and the customs of the Japanese people of the time to build this well thought out world. I don’t want to spoil so much because it’s integral to the growth of the main character Mizu, who is a total badass with their blade. Each character has their time to shine and is complex with never ending motivations. This character-driven show will have you fully invested in each of their stories, whether you like them or not. And that brings me to the action. Just wait for the scene when the Japanese cover of “For Whom the Bell Tolls” cover by Eli Meyer. 10/10.
Spider-Man 2 for PS5
Poster for Spider-Man 2 PS5 game
I preorder this and waited like Scott Pilgrim did by the door. Had to get the Physical copy too! I’m not much of a gamer but I appreciate the hell out of a well crafted game with a great story behind it. I love how this Sony universe takes everything we love form the comics/films/cartoons and weave them into its own continuity that hits all the emotional beats, rewards fans with easter eggs, and still create something that feels fresh in the 60+ years of Spidey tales. The gameplay is fun, and what’s great is how you can switch between Peter and Miles Morales, and they really do feel like different characters by how they move, swing and fight. All I can say is I can’t wait for the next installment! (No Spoilers!)
Godzilla Minus 1
Never really watched the OG Godzilla flicks by Toto, but I knew about them and respected the lore. However this is a good as a “requel” as they come. They provide and show a young Godzilla, then quickly gloss over the nuclear radiation that enlarged and strengthened him more. From my Understanding, the older flicks dealt a lot with the fears of nuclear war in a post WW2 era. This is set right after WW2, and follows a failed kamikaze pilot. It’s a story more about the grief, guilt, and pressures of war as well as its effects on not just the soldiers but those left behind at home. It’s a character driven film that puts Godzilla in the backseat. And I was truly invested in the story at hand, whereas on the other films I’m always like “When do the monsters fight?”, this was a total different approach the franchise and it’s something I hope they can continue going forward.
Wonder Woman by Tom King and Daniel Tampere
Wonder Woman Issue #4 Giving Diana a daughter? That sounds interesting! There’s an evil King of America who pulls all the strings? A great idea for a villain! Then pitting Wonder Woman and the other Amazons against the U.S. Army? YUP! It’s like The Parallax View meets the DC Universe in this run, and I’m here for it. I wasn’t sure I was going to enjoy this book (I always questions a Wonder Woman book not written by a woman), but I wanted to try just because it’s Tom King and I love his work. And he hits the mark with his introduction of a new Wonder Woman villain who is older than America and is the true mastermind behind the nation and it has influenced every aspect of its history. Also the art its perfect! Sampere draws faces as if molded by clay and his action looks dynamic like a movie storyboard. The idea of the Amazons be enemies of the state is not new, neither is Diana investigating the conspiracy behind the aggression of the U.S. against her people. But Trinity, Wonder Woman’s daughter sure is a new addition to the lore! And she’s a delight, especially in the back-ups which show Damian Wayne And Jon Kent baby sit her at different ages. Tom king understands Diana, and more importantly has found a fun new voice for Trinity, daughter of Diana, that will surely be around for years.
Miracleman The Silver Age by Neil Gaiman and Mark Buckingham
Cover to Issue #5 of Miracleman the Silver Age Finally it’s out! Neil Gaiman continues and intends to finish his run on the Miracleman character after an over 20 year hiatus due to legal issues. A sequel to the revered Alan Moore run, it’s just as good if not better. I do think it has a bit to do because Gaiman has aged and evolved as a writer and can really sit down and workshop his pages and words and Buckingham even shows previous layouts form decades ago and they are nothing like the product now! They have both stepped up their game and evolved with their art and it’s shown on how well these issues are made. They’re beautiful to look at, long and entertaining to read, and more importantly, each issue reveals something about the Society, or the characters in a very emotional way that has me waiting for the next issue. It deals with science fiction and mythology, memories and dreams, desires and needs, and all feels very ethereal each time I sit down and read it. However, I hate that delays have ruined the flow of this one. And they are still delayed now as it comes out what feels like every other month. But it’s the book I can’t wait to pick it up from my LCS when it’s out. I mean, any month when a new Gaiman book is out isa good month, am I right?
That’s it!
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