Is The Lone Ranger the New Batman?

We've heard quite a bit about Disney's long-awaited adaptation of The Lone Ranger -- mostly in regards to the film's storied production issues. However, the film's star Armie Hammer recently offered a bit more insight into the title character, which he describes as a vigilante comparable to Batman and, to a lesser extent, Spider-Man. Here's what the actor had to say (from Empire Magazine via ComicBookMovie):

"It's the rock 'n roll Lone Ranger, actually. Our take is darker and more complex, more action-packed and more badass than the old TV show. It's a 21st century version of the character you know. There's a little of the Dark Knight in him. There's less moral ambiguity, but there are definite similarities. They're both vigilantes who feel they have to wear a mask to serve justice because the people who are supposed to be doing it aren't. I think The Lone Ranger will always resonate with people as a seeker of justice in the same way Spider-Man or Batman does. And I think we're doing a great job of making the character accessible to everyone, from the seven-year-old kid who brings his cap gun to the theatre to the 80-year-olds who remember the original radio show."

The Gore Verbinski-helmed project is currently slated for a July 3, 2013 release.

Max Nicholson is a writer for IGN, and he desperately seeks your approval. Show him some love on Twitter and IGN.

Source : ign[dot]com

Revival #4 Review

The best thing about Revival is that it's four issues and it is still nearly impossible to tell where the story is going. Is it a horror story? Kinda. A murder mystery? Kinda. An alien, demon thingy, monster tale? Sorta, yeah. It's got a great mix of elements that will keep you guessing. This issue doesn't give any more answers than the previous three, but that doesn't make it any less captivating. I may have no idea where the hell Revival is going, but I know I want to be there when it finally arrives.

Tim Seeley does a great job of dangling threads in front of you. He gives you just enough questions and not enough answers. You keep turning the page hoping for a big reveal, and we are all kinda secretly happy when it's not there. Don't worry, you'll still get your violent horror fix in this issue. Guts are spilled. The only problem this issue has is there is simply not enough of Dana Cypress. She's more interesting than any of the other characters in the book.

The art by Mike Norton is the same great quality we have come to expect. Lots of detail, especially when it comes to the aforementioned gut spilling. This is character driven though and Norton gives the characters' expressions and emotions lots of heft. It looks great. Mark Englert's color work adds to the books dull, snowy grey look. Revival is a book to keep your eye on. Wherever it's going, it's someplace awesome.

Benjamin is the mayor of Awesomeville. Follow Benjamin on Twitter @616Earth, or find him on IGN.

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Team 7 #1 Review

Two issues in and Team 7 isn't doing much to justify its existence. It's not a bad book, there are funny beats here and there, some nice action moments, but it feels kinda pointless. Honestly, there are better DC books out there for your money. Team 7 just treads water, pretending to be important but never being anything more than “oh, that's was okay.”

Justin Jordan is at least having some fun. The highlights of this issue are the characters' quips and dialogue. Most of it is pretty light-hearted and funny. The story itself is not particularly interesting so far, though. Maybe, once this “Secret history of the New 52” finally rears its head, this book will be worth its cover price. Right now, three bucks for a few giggles is not exactly a great trade off.

Jesus Merino's art is all over the place in this issue. Some panels are finely detailed and look great. Others look rushed and lacking a polish. Overall, it gives the book a lackluster feel. The biggest art problem, however, is the overall design and look of the book. The characters look silly; the furthest thing from cool. Everything is battle armor and pouches. Seriously, if you didn't know better, you could easily mistake this book for a lousy title from the 90s. It has the all bad hallmarks, but none of the over-the-top fun. None of the heart. In short, the only thing that Team 7 has revealed about the history of the New 52 is that it's a time that is better off forgotten.

Remember that time on the beach when there was only one set of footprints? That was because Benjamin carried you. Follow Benjamin on Twitter @616Earth, or find him on IGN.

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Voodoo #0 Review

Like Resurrection Man #0, Voodoo #0 is one of those Zero Month issues that simultaneously serves as a flashback tale and a series finale. One thing Voodoo has going for it that Resurrection Man didn't is that the ongoing plot threads will be continued in the pages of Grifter, meaning Josh Williamson isn't forced to tie up all the loose ends in the span of 20 pages. The result is a very straightforward but competently executed finale that offers readers no real surprises.

This issue opens as Priscilla finds herself a Daemonite captive and doesn't stray far from there. There are the obligatory scenes of confusion and Pris coming to grips with her newfound powers. Williamson does little more than elaborate on details that were already reasonably well developed earlier in the series. The dialogue is sort of a mixed bag. While Williamson relies heavily on Priscilla's internal narration, there's really no other way to convey her jumble of thoughts and emotions in such a sparsely populated comic. The stilted Daemonite dialogue is more of a chore, though at least one of the characters pokes fun at them at one point.

One area this series deserves ample praise for is the art. Sami Basri holds the distinction of being one of the very few artists to remain on the same New 52 title for these past 13 months. Through it all, Basri has delivered consistently clean, attractive work with a strong sci-fi flair. I can only hope DC has future plans for Basri that will result in an equally long stint. Maybe an ongoing WildCATs series?

On that note, though Williamson has few surprises to offer here, he does effectively pave the way for the Grifter/Voodoo partnership and helps transition readers into that series. All signs seem to be pointing to a full WildCATs reunion down the road. It may be that Voodoo functions better as part of a team than on her own.

Jesse is a writer for IGN Comics and IGN Movies. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following Jesse on Twitter, or on IGN.

Source : ign[dot]com

Channel Surfing Podcast, Episode 181

Welcome back to Channel Surfing, where I'm joined by guest host Jenna Mullins from E! this week.

First though a warning: We've got… audio issues this week! Yay! And unlike the infamous recent Skype-cast with Matt, I don't even have a good explanation for this one. Jenna and I were sitting in IGN's LA office, recording on the same equipment we always use, but something went wonky and while you can hear us, we sound oddly distant. And not just emotionally. Let's see if the Podcast lords are kinder next week, but my apologies. Channel Surfing: Always the top of the line in audio!

But let's get onto our topics this week, shall we? Jenna and I discuss this past weekend's Emmy awards and what we thought of the winners, including Homeland dominating and Mad Men being shut out. On the news front, we discuss J.J. Abrams and Alfonso Cuar¿n teaming at NBC, Ron Moore guiding A Knight's Tale to ABC and FX developing Fargo and The Strain as a TV shows. And we also chat about TV ratings from the past week and why CBS had a lower than expected Monday, while NBC Thursdays are looking dire.

We also discuss many of the season and series premieres airing this week, including How I Met Your Mother, New Girl, The Mindy Project, Ben and Kate, Last Resort and Vegas.

Lastly, reader email brings us queries about Attack of the Show and Glee.

Hey, why not follow us on Twitter?

Eric Goldman: @EricIGN

Jenna Mullins: @JBomb11

IGN.Com's official Twitter feed: @IGN

Channel Surfing Podcast, Episode 181
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The Mighty Thor #19 Review

After two full issues and a prologue chapter, it's clear that Everything Burns is not overly friendly to Thor fans who have only been reading The Mighty Thor. This crossover is building on seeds laid mainly in Journey Into Mystery, to the point where many of the key developments in this chapter might go completely over the heads of those who haven't been reading JIM. And it certainly isn't welcoming for those hoping to dive into the Thor franchise head first. That said, the crossover is a thrilling read for the initiated and an example of how to handle event-level storylines. And really, if you haven't been reading JIM before now, you deserve whatever miseries life chooses to heap upon you.

The previous chapter of Everything Burns set the stakes marvelously high, as it seemed Loki and Thor were untied against the entirety of Asgardia. Kieron Gillen and Matt Fraction step back from that ledge somewhat, allowing Thor to play the diplomat for once. That's not to say the writers don't deliver some enjoyable moments of Thor beating on his allies, but the focus quickly shifts towards mounting a united assault on Surtur's forces. I didn't mind the change of focus, except that the overall sense of plot progression is a bit lacking compared to the previous two chapters. Also slightly disappointing is that the writers gloss over the battles raging across the Nine Realms, with many only unfolding across a single, hurried panel.

Regardless, there's plenty of juicy material to dive into with this chapter. A new flashback scene explores the fallout of Odin's arranged marriage ad how it didn't exactly patch up relations between the Aesir and Vanir as planned. There's also some more heart-wrenching interaction between Thor and Loki. As much as this material might be redundant in light of the previous chapter's Thor/Loki scenes, their bond really forms the heart and emotional center of this storyline. And then there's the twist ending. This image sums up my reaction best:

As before, Alan Davis is the artist tackling the Mighty Thor side of the crossover. Unfortunately, the transition from Davis to Carmine di Giandomenico and back is less than smooth. I really wish the editors could have found two artists whose styles are more of a match. Still, it's hard to complain about seeing Davis tackle the Thor universe again, even if it's only for half of a story. He captures all the emotional drama and epic action the writers throw at him. This is the best The Mighty Thor has looked since Olivier Coipel helped launch the series.

Jesse is a writer for IGN Comics and IGN Movies. He can't wait until he's old enough to feel ways about stuff. Follow Jesse on Twitter, or find him on IGN.

Source : ign[dot]com

Action Comics #0 Review

If this month's #0 issues are all about looking back and shedding light on the origins of various heroes in the New 52, where does that leave Action Comics? Grant Morrison's relaunched series has essentially been one big origin tale from the start. Luckily, Morrison finds room before the events of issue #1 to explore Clark Kent's very first adventure as Superman and the theft of his indestructible cape. While Action Comics #0 doesn't really need to exist in the larger context of this run, it delivers enough memorable character moments that it's well worth  read regardless.

The best compliment I can give this issue is that it feels more consistent and cohesive than the majority of Morrison's previous issues have been. The plot is relatively simple by Morrison standards, so rather than cutting between scenes and points in time intermittently, Morrison is able to follow the journey from point A to B in a more methodical manner. Issue #0 opens where one of the recent backup stories left off, with Clark ordering his first batch of Superman T-shirts. From there, we see him settle into his role at the Daily Star, interact with Jimmy Olsen, and put his growing abilities to the test for the first time as Metropolis' new defender.

Again, it's the character work that makes this issue. Morrison once again shows how easy it is to craft a compelling Clark Kent -- one who is both human and relatable yet also powerful and noble. Clark enjoys a definitive Superman moment in this issue that pays homage to his Golden Age, "man of the people" roots. But Jimmy Olsen also has a strong showing in this issue. Morrison sheds a great deal of light on what drives the character in the New 52 universe. The result is a more down-to-earth and independent-minded take on Jimmy than the flamboyant globetrotter Morrison wrote in All-Star Superman.

Issue #0 doesn't add much to the greater picture. The script acknowledges the recent revelations about Cark's landlady and her 5th Dimensional origins, but apart from that the book could just as easily have shipped a year ago to kick off Morrison's run. The subplot involving the stolen cape doesn't amount to much. What this conflict does accomplish is reminding readers that Morrison's Superman is as concerned with the individuals of Metropolis as he is with alien invasions and Justice League matters. It takes a deft hand to pit Superman against a child abuser and not have the results turn out hokey or preachy, but Morrison manages it.

Issue #0 benefits from a much more consistent visual style than the series tends to offer. Ben Oliver fills in for Rags Morales this month. While there's a certain sterility and coldness to Oliver's work (some of the smaller details Morales worked into his panels are sorely missed), there's a lot to be said for clean lines and an overall much smoother presentation.

Sholly Fisch delivers another backup feature to complement the main tale. Interestingly, this story delves into Morrison's ongoing mythology much more than these backups have tended to in the past. Fisch doesn't focus on Superman here, but rather the origins of the Captain Comet/Neo-sapiens subplot from recent issues. Again, this material isn't necessarily that vital, but it adds a bit of color to previous stories. It's nice to have one issue that slows down the breakneck pace of the series and focus on the characters before Morrison begins his final push.

Jesse is a writer for IGN Comics and IGN Movies. He can't wait until he's old enough to feel ways about stuff. Follow Jesse on Twitter, or find him on IGN.

Source : ign[dot]com

Green Lantern #0 Review

While most of the other zero issues are serving to reflect on the past of its titular characters, Green Lantern #0 is instead looking at the future. Here, Geoff Johns introduces us to the mysterious new Green Lantern of Earth, Simon Baz. Happily, Johns builds a fantastic new representative of Sector 2814, constructing a stellar issue that uses the modern socio-political climate as a way to showcase Baz’s ability to overcome great fear. This issue is a triumph of not only character building, but turning a negative of the real world into an inspirational positive.

We’re introduced to Baz and his family as they are being persecuted for being Muslim in the wake of 9/11, and later, Baz himself accused of being a terrorist. This is, of course, untrue, but he falls deeper and deeper into the interrogation rabbit hole. Johns showcases Baz’s strength of character by allowing him to admit that he is, in fact, a criminal (he was stealing a car), and that upon learning the car he jacked carried a bomb on board, he had heroic intentions. Johns is able to rely on the very real climate of a post-9/11 America to let readers infer certain aspects of Baz’s younger years, leaving him ample space for a well-written interrogation scene that reveals more about both Baz and the agents interrogating him.

Green Lantern #0 is another example of Johns taking his epic Green Lantern run in a wholly unexpected direction that also serves as a stellar jump-on point for newbies. Though it’s only been one issue, I fully expect Baz – if he survives for a while, of course – to become another successful addition to Earth’s Green Lanterns. For continuing readers, yes, there’s also a brief one-page look at just what the hell happened to Hal Jordan and Sinestro in Green Lantern #12.

Dough Mahnke delivers a solid issue, and gets to explore some different territory outside the norm of his usual Green Lantern work. This is a book filled mostly with real-world situations (predominately the aforementioned interrogation scene), and Mahnke really gets to show off his knack for hitting dramatic beats and constructing solid facial emotions. Johns has an uncharacteristically dialogue-centric script, but Mahnke does a stellar job of pacing his pages so the visuals are still just as interesting as the words, where a lesser artist would struggle to make talking heads as dynamic as this.

As much as I’ve dug the buddy cop elements of Green Lantern as of late, Green Lantern #0 seems to be pushing the boundaries of the mythology much like the early days of the War of Light did a few years ago, but from a very new and very specific character-centric approach. Welcome to the DCU, Baz.

Joey is IGN's Comics Editor and a comic book creator himself. Follow Joey on Twitter, or find him on IGN. He loves superhero pets so hard.

Source : ign[dot]com

The Amazing Spider-Man #693 Review

After two issues, Alpha isn't exactly proving himself to be a memorable addition to the cast of Amazing Spider-Man. The idea of Peter Parker mentoring a young hero with plenty of power but no sense of responsibility is perfectly sound. The problem is that the execution feels half-baked. Like the debut chapter, issue #693 spends plenty of time telling readers how powerful and important and special Alpha is without actually proving it. Meanwhile, Alpha's personality is lacking, and the character is almost wholly unlikable at this point. Looking at Joshua Fialkov's backup feature from issue #692 and certain portions of AvX, it's clear that pairing Spidey with a young, inexperienced foil can yield great results. But not in this case.

Another element that drags this arc down is the return of the Jackal and his science projects. Dan Slott put the villain to perfectly good use during Spider-Island. However, nothing in this story suggests he needed to return to menace Spider-Man so soon. Jackal's latest plot seemingly begins and ends in this issue, and it just reads like a lump of poorly paced filler material that doesn't do much to grow the relationship between Spidey and Alpha.

Humberto Ramos' artwork is at least reasonably well suited to the tone of the story. His rendition of Alpha is brimming with energy, and he delivers some more creepy Spider clones. As usual, it's really the civilian characters who suffer. Aunt May and Mary Jane are too stylized to be convincing, with the former sporting some wonky facial work and the latter taking on an overly masculine appearance at times.

There's some decent character work to enjoy in this issue as Peter interacts with Max Modell, his family, and various superhuman allies. Sadly, none of it involves Alpha himself. As poorly executed as these two issues have been, my enthusiasm for the series and the build-up to Amazing Spider-Man #700 is beginning to wane.

Jesse is a writer for IGN Comics and IGN Movies. He can't wait until he's old enough to feel ways about stuff. Follow Jesse on Twitter, or find him on IGN.

Source : ign[dot]com

Outrun Stormtroopers on the Aerofex Hoverbike

Resurrecting a 50-year-old design that was abandoned for stability issues, the engineers at Aerofex have built a working hoverbike prototype.

The stability fix Aerofex came up with is an elegant solution: knee-level control bars let the pilot manipulate roll by leaning, leaving the handlebars to control pitch and yaw. The system is purportedly intuitive enough that anybody with good enough balance to handle a motorcycle can pilot it without training.

The current prototype limits altitude to 15 feet and speed to about 30 mph - but those limits are cautionary. An older version could reportedly fly as fast as most helicopters.

Unfortunately, Aerofex isn't planning to release the manned version of the hoverbike anytime soon. They're focusing instead on developing an unmanned drone version, which they expect to be testing by the end of 2013.

Jon Fox is a Seattle hipster who loves polar bears and climbing trees. You can follow him on Twitter and IGN.

Source : ign[dot]com

The Avengers #28 Review

The past couple issues of Avengers have focused mainly on Noh-Varr's role in the events of Avengers vs. X-Men, which didn't end so well for him. And with issue #28 promising to depict Red Hulk's "last stand," is he going to fare any better? Brian Michael Bendis doesn't utilize the character as effectively as he did during last year's Fear Itself tie-in, but Red Hulk fans will still be able to take some enjoyment out of this standalone chapter.

Bendis chronicles Red Hulk's clandestine mission to assassinate Cyclops. The opening pages where Red Hulk monologues abut his ability to do what men like Captain America can't are a little hackneyed, but most of the blame lies on the decision to rely on a mix of prose and silent panels where traditional pages probably would have been more effective. The issue picks up immediately once Red Hulk undertakes his mission and the prose approach vanishes. Another nice quality is that he remains in General Ross form for much of this sequence, which may well be a first for this series. It's fun to see one angry, mustached soldier get the drop on an entire island of mutants, if only briefly.

The subject matter isn't necessarily the best use of Walt Simonson's larger-than-life pencilling style, as much of this issue plays out like a grim espionage tale rather than a superhero brawl. By and large, Simonson rises to the challenge. Though his figures are occasionally too flat, his storytelling is impeccable during the Utopia infiltration. The opening pages are less so,particularly the splash page that features a caption plastered directly on Red Hulk's forehead for no apparent reason.

Ultimately, a story like this is always limited by the need to fit within the confines of the main event. And so there's little in the way of consequential plot progression or character growth. But if nothing else, Avengers #28 proves that Red Hulk still has a place among Earth's Mightiest Heroes.

Jesse is a writer for IGN Comics and various other IGN channels. Follow Jesse on Twitter, or find him on IGN.

Source : ign[dot]com

Japanese Agency Investigating Severely Overheating PlayStation Vitas

It appears that some gamers are having overheating issues with their PlayStation Vita handhelds, and now an independent agency sanctioned by the Japanese government is looking into the matter. Andriasang reports that Japanese newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun has an article discussing the inquiry, which is being conducted by Japan’s National Institute of Technology and Evaluation.

The overheating problem, which has only been reported a total of 31 times to Sony, appears to happen when gamers recharge their Vitas. Twenty-three of the 31 reported issues occurred in Japan; the remaining instances happened in Sony’s other three major markets: Australia, North America and the UK.

Sony is fully cooperating with the National Insistute of Technology and Evaluation; Andriasang notes that “Sony sent a detailed listing of the various incidents” to them. “In all cases,” the article goes on, “the problem involved the connection slot between the charging unit and the Vita burning during charging. There have been no reports of injuries.”

Yomiuri Shimbun has spoken to Sony’s Japanese PR department and received word that there will be no recall of the PlayStation Vita , as apparently the handheld itself isn’t to blame. Rather, Sony “believes that the problem is with people having liquids or other objects inserted into the connection.”

We’ve reached out to Sony for further comment and clarification, and will update when we hear back.

Colin Moriarty is an IGN PlayStation editor. You can follow him on Twitter and IGN and learn just how sad the life of a New York Islanders and New York Jets fan can be.

Source : ign[dot]com