Let’s take a quick look to see what’s arrived at the Geek Compound.

The Super Hero Squad Show Season 2 Volume 1: The Infinity Gauntlet

Promo copy:

With Galactus defeated and Dr. Doom moping behind bars, Super Hero City is finally safe: that is, until Thanos goes in search of the powerful Infinity Gauntlet! Although they are without their comrade-in-laughter, Silver Surfer, the Super Hero Squad (Iron Man, Thor, Hulk, Wolverine and Falcon) must once again come together to take on any villainy that threatens the peace and safety of the Marvel universe no matter where it might take them!

Featuring the hilarious guest voice talents of Ty Burrell (Modern Family), John O’Hurley (Seinfeld), Stan Lee, Jane Lynch (Glee), James Marsters (Buffy The Vampire Slayer) and Adam West (Batman)!

Meet Monica Velour

Promo copy:

In this irreverent comedy, awkward teenager Tobe (Dustin Ingram) sets off on a road trip to meet Monica Velour (Kim Cattrall), his favorite ’80s porn star, at a rare live appearance hundreds of miles away. Instead of the glamorous sexpot portrayed on film, he finds a 49-year-old single mom living in a trailer in rural Indiana, performing at seedy strip clubs to make ends meet. A starry-eyed Tobe, still captivated by his crush, befriends Monica, further complicating her difficult life. Kim Cattrall gives a career-defining performance in this offbeat love story that appeals to the dreamer — and the nerd — in all of us.

Hoodwinked Too! Hood vs. Evil

Promo copy:

The good… the bad… the Twitchy. The sequel finds our heroine, Red (Hayden Panettiere), training with a mysterious covert group called the Sisters of the Hood. But Red is forced to cut her training short when she gets an urgent call from Nicky Flippers (David Ogden Stiers), the head of the super secret Happily Ever After Agency, aka the HEA. A wicked witch (Joan Cusack) has abducted two innocent children, Hansel (Bill Hader) and Gretel (Amy Poehler), and Nicky needs the whole Hoodwinked gang — Red, Granny (Glenn Close), the ever-clueless Wolf (Patrick Warburton) and his over-caffeinated little partner, Twitchy (Cory Edwards) — for the search and rescue mission.

What started as meditation on historical revisionism in The Planet of the Apes evolved into the full blown article “How Rises messes with Apes canon (and 3 ways we can fix it all)” for Blastr.

I posit three potential solutions to reconcile this issue: Ape Shall Venerate Ape, an Abrahams Conundrum, and a Crisis on Infinite Ape Earths. Check out my Blastr article for all the particulars.

How Rises messes with Apes canon was originally published on The Geek Curmudgeon

What started as meditation on historical revisionism in The Planet of the Apes evolved into the full blown article "How Rises messes with Apes canon (and 3 ways we can fix it all)" for Blastr.

I posit three potential solutions to reconcile this issue: Ape Shall Venerate Ape, an Abrahams Conundrum, and a Crisis on Infinite Ape Earths. Check out my Blastr article for all the particulars.

Let’s take a quick look to see what’s arrived at the Geek Compound.

The Homeland Directive
Written by Robert Venditti
Art by Mike Huddleston

Promo copy:

A new thriller from the author of the New York Times bestseller The Surrogates!

As a leading researcher at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. Laura Regan is one of the world’s foremost authorities on viral and bacteriological study. Having dedicated her career to halting the spread of infectious disease, she has always considered herself one of the good guys. But when her research partner is murdered and Laura is blamed for the crime, she finds herself at the heart of a vast and deadly conspiracy. Aided by three rogue federal agents who believe the government is behind the frame-up, Laura must evade law enforcement, mercenaries, and a team of cyber-detectives who know more about her life than she does—all while trying to expose a sinister plot that will impact the lives of every American.

Set in the Orwellian present, The Homeland Directive confronts one of the vital questions of our time: In an era when technology can either doom or save us, is it possible for personal privacy and national security to coexist?

Vendetti’s first major work since the magnificent Surrogates (don’t hate on it because of the awful movie) is a MUST read. I interviewed Vendetti (along with his The Surrogates cohort artist Brett Weldele) in 2009.

Abattoir #6
Created by Darren Lynn Bousman
Conceived by Michael Peterson
Written by Rob Levin & Troy Peteri
Pencils by Wayne Nichols
Colors by Andrei Pervukhin
Cover by Tae Young Choi

Promo copy:
The mysteries surrounding Jebediah Crone, the eerie old man who has singlehandedly succeeded in destroying Richard’s once-normal life, has all but unraveled . Driven to the edge of sanity, Richard sets out to finally confront Crone in a desperate, last-ditch effort to clear his name of false murder allegations, return to his family and reclaim his life. Will Richard succeed, or will he succumb to the unimaginable horrors hidden within the depths of the Abattoir?

Vault #1
Script by Sam Sarkar
Art by Garrie Gastonny
Cover by Bagus Hutomo

Promo copy:

A small team of treasure hunters struggles to excavate a dangerous and legendary treasure pit before a massive storm hits Sable Island, the ‘Graveyard of the North Atlantic’. Equipped with all the latest technology, the scientists believe they are prepared against all of nature’s fury, but nothing can prepare them for what they are about to unleash from The Vault.

Graphic Novels/Comics received 8/2/11 was originally published on The Geek Curmudgeon

Let’s take a quick look to see what’s arrived at the Geek Compound.

The Homeland Directive
Written by Robert Venditti
Art by Mike Huddleston

Promo copy:

A new thriller from the author of the New York Times bestseller The Surrogates!

As a leading researcher at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. Laura Regan is one of the world’s foremost authorities on viral and bacteriological study. Having dedicated her career to halting the spread of infectious disease, she has always considered herself one of the good guys. But when her research partner is murdered and Laura is blamed for the crime, she finds herself at the heart of a vast and deadly conspiracy. Aided by three rogue federal agents who believe the government is behind the frame-up, Laura must evade law enforcement, mercenaries, and a team of cyber-detectives who know more about her life than she does—all while trying to expose a sinister plot that will impact the lives of every American.

Set in the Orwellian present, The Homeland Directive confronts one of the vital questions of our time: In an era when technology can either doom or save us, is it possible for personal privacy and national security to coexist?

Vendetti’s first major work since the magnificent Surrogates (don’t hate on it because of the awful movie) is a MUST read. I interviewed Vendetti (along with his The Surrogates cohort artist Brett Weldele) in 2009.

Abattoir #6
Created by Darren Lynn Bousman
Conceived by Michael Peterson
Written by Rob Levin & Troy Peteri
Pencils by Wayne Nichols
Colors by Andrei Pervukhin
Cover by Tae Young Choi

Promo copy:
The mysteries surrounding Jebediah Crone, the eerie old man who has singlehandedly succeeded in destroying Richard’s once-normal life, has all but unraveled . Driven to the edge of sanity, Richard sets out to finally confront Crone in a desperate, last-ditch effort to clear his name of false murder allegations, return to his family and reclaim his life. Will Richard succeed, or will he succumb to the unimaginable horrors hidden within the depths of the Abattoir?

Vault #1
Script by Sam Sarkar
Art by Garrie Gastonny
Cover by Bagus Hutomo

Promo copy:

A small team of treasure hunters struggles to excavate a dangerous and legendary treasure pit before a massive storm hits Sable Island, the ‘Graveyard of the North Atlantic’. Equipped with all the latest technology, the scientists believe they are prepared against all of nature’s fury, but nothing can prepare them for what they are about to unleash from The Vault.

Let’s take a quick look to see what’s arrived at the Geek Compound.

Nomads: Orbital Vol. 3
Script by Sylvain Runberg
Art by Serge Pellé

Promo copy:

Caleb and Mezoke are on Earth for celebrations marking the end of the Human-Sandjarr wars, running security for the ceremonies. When an incident occurs between Malaysian fishermen and a nomadic alien species called the Rapakhun, they are brought in to investigate and to lead negotiations. But tensions are high, and something is killing the fish in the mangrove swamp. The two agents will have to contend with the humans’ lingering mistrust towards aliens in their efforts to solve the mystery.

Excellent space opera with beautiful art and intelligent writing. More later on this exciting book.

Valerian and Laureline: The Empire of a Thousand Planets
by J.-C. Mézières & P. Christin

Promo copy:

Valerian and Laureline are exploring Syrte, capital planet of a system of 1,000 worlds. Their mission is to discover whether the Syrtians could present a danger to Earth. What they find is a decaying empire led by decadent aristocrats, a population ripe for revolution, and a mysterious caste of masked wise men who discreetly pull the strings from hidden fortresses. Swept up by the winds of history, the agents of Earth will have to choose a side…

The Morning of the World: Yoko Tsuno Vol. 6
by Roger Leloup

Promo copy:

There is a volcano in Bali, the Agung, called “The Morning of the World” by the locals. And that’s where Yoko meets up with her cousin Monya—who couldn’t resist the temptation to use her time machine again. Her meddling with the past has caused a sacred dancer to be sentenced to death. To save the young woman and make things right, Yoko will have to travel back to 1350 AD and face the terrifying flying demons of the Agung…

Ravages: Orbital Vol. 4
Script by Sylvain Runberg
Art by Serge Pellé

Promo copy:

The unexplained deaths in the mangrove have not deterred authorities: The ceremonies will go on as planned in Kuala Lumpur, despite Mezoke’s resistance and growing disagreement with Caleb. But the official optimism is soon dampened by news of further destruction, closer to the city. And when Nina and Angus return with the identity of the killer, an old enemy of the Confederation, the agents will be forced to act in desperation—and, maybe, to pay the ultimate price.

Graphic Novels received 8/2/11 Cinebook edition was originally published on The Geek Curmudgeon

Let’s take a quick look to see what’s arrived at the Geek Compound.

Nomads: Orbital Vol. 3
Script by Sylvain Runberg
Art by Serge Pellé

Promo copy:

Caleb and Mezoke are on Earth for celebrations marking the end of the Human-Sandjarr wars, running security for the ceremonies. When an incident occurs between Malaysian fishermen and a nomadic alien species called the Rapakhun, they are brought in to investigate and to lead negotiations. But tensions are high, and something is killing the fish in the mangrove swamp. The two agents will have to contend with the humans’ lingering mistrust towards aliens in their efforts to solve the mystery.

Excellent space opera with beautiful art and intelligent writing. More later on this exciting book.

Valerian and Laureline: The Empire of a Thousand Planets
by J.-C. Mézières & P. Christin

Promo copy:

Valerian and Laureline are exploring Syrte, capital planet of a system of 1,000 worlds. Their mission is to discover whether the Syrtians could present a danger to Earth. What they find is a decaying empire led by decadent aristocrats, a population ripe for revolution, and a mysterious caste of masked wise men who discreetly pull the strings from hidden fortresses. Swept up by the winds of history, the agents of Earth will have to choose a side…

The Morning of the World: Yoko Tsuno Vol. 6
by Roger Leloup

Promo copy:

There is a volcano in Bali, the Agung, called “The Morning of the World” by the locals. And that’s where Yoko meets up with her cousin Monya—who couldn’t resist the temptation to use her time machine again. Her meddling with the past has caused a sacred dancer to be sentenced to death. To save the young woman and make things right, Yoko will have to travel back to 1350 AD and face the terrifying flying demons of the Agung…

Ravages: Orbital Vol. 4
Script by Sylvain Runberg
Art by Serge Pellé

Promo copy:

The unexplained deaths in the mangrove have not deterred authorities: The ceremonies will go on as planned in Kuala Lumpur, despite Mezoke’s resistance and growing disagreement with Caleb. But the official optimism is soon dampened by news of further destruction, closer to the city. And when Nina and Angus return with the identity of the killer, an old enemy of the Confederation, the agents will be forced to act in desperation—and, maybe, to pay the ultimate price.

Within reviewing circles, I’ve developed a reputation as a hater of most things. I don’t rely perceive myself that way but rather as a demanding critic. Realizing I might be wrong, I decided to do some research and see where the truth may lie.

This year, I reviewed 16 movies. Eight were good, six bad, and two neutral. Only four of the reviews didn’t match favorably with the metrics at the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes.

My neutral reviews of the flawed but well received The Adjustment Bureau and Limitless garnered 72% and 70% respectively. If 50% is seen as neutral then still not a radical departure.

One good and one bad differed. The over top grindhouser Drive Angry achieved only a 45%. In my review, I called it a “high-octane 3-D love letter to the grindhouse creations of the legendary Roger Corman.”

Despite being mired in “92 minutes of boredom and stupidity,” The Mechanic somehow managed a 53% score on Rotten Tomatoes.

Based on quantity and comparison to the vast majority of reviewers, I’m not much of a hater. Then why the perception?

Perhaps it’s less the quantity of my hatred but rather my often vehement portrayal of it? My opinions are always clear and I do take great pride in creatively ripping inferior, overblown things apart.

What do y’all think?

Am I A Hater? was originally published on The Geek Curmudgeon

Within reviewing circles, I’ve developed a reputation as a hater of most things. I don’t rely perceive myself that way but rather as a demanding critic. Realizing I might be wrong, I decided to do some research and see where the truth may lie.

This year, I reviewed 16 movies. Eight were good, six bad, and two neutral. Only four of the reviews didn’t match favorably with the metrics at the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes.

My neutral reviews of the flawed but well received The Adjustment Bureau and Limitless garnered 72% and 70% respectively. If 50% is seen as neutral then still not a radical departure.

One good and one bad differed. The over top grindhouser Drive Angry achieved only a 45%. In my review, I called it a "high-octane 3-D love letter to the grindhouse creations of the legendary Roger Corman."

Despite being mired in "92 minutes of boredom and stupidity," The Mechanic somehow managed a 53% score on Rotten Tomatoes.

Based on quantity and comparison to the vast majority of reviewers, I’m not much of a hater. Then why the perception?

Perhaps it’s less the quantity of my hatred but rather my often vehement portrayal of it? My opinions are always clear and I do take great pride in creatively ripping inferior, overblown things apart.

What do y’all think?

After last months impressive of Star Treks, Rubber, Mad Men, and Lovecraft, this month’s meager selections are more of sputter than a full blown geekgasm. Given all the controversy surrounding the impending Sept. 1 rate hikes, you’d think Netflix would come out swinging this month.

* denotes streaming for the first time via Netflix.
* denotes streaming in HD

Premiering August 1:
Casper
Cyborg Soldier
Die Hard 2: Die Harder
The Dirty Dozen
Fallen (1998)
*Gothika
Jurassic Park III
*Kiss Me Goodbye (1982)
Lethal Weapon
*Leathal Weapon 2
Misery (1990)
The Mummy (1932)
The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes
*Scream 3
Spaceballs
*The Shaft (aka Down)
Sukiyaki Western Django
Videodrome
*Volcano Disaster
What Dreams May Come

Premiering August 2:
*Maniac! (1980)

Premiering August 5:
*13 Assassins (2010)

Premiering August 19:
*Dumbstruck (2010) A documentary on modern ventriloquists

Premiering August 20:
*Louie (2010) Season 1

Premiering August 25:
*The King of Fighters (2010)

Premiering August 26:
*Alpha and Omega (2010)
*Spirit of the Forest

Premiering August 28:
*The Expendables (2010)

Info courtesy of FeedFliks.

Impending Geekgasm on Netflix Instant Watch – August edition was originally published on The Geek Curmudgeon