A little while back, Steff and I participated in the World’s Biggest Brain Scan. We strapped these fancy headsets on while scientists tracked our brain activity while we watched commercials. At the end of it, we got paid for our time in cash. With 401 Games just around the corner, guess where our brain scan money went?
My Comic Book To-Read List – X-Men: Battle of the Atom
I’ve been reading Marvel Now’s All New X-men, Uncanny X-Men and X-Men over the last few months, and I’ve reached the point where they all converge in X-Men: Battle of the Atom. This crossover event happens across all three of the X-Men books that I’m currently reading, as well as Wolverine and the X-Men, which is one I haven’t tried yet. These issues are not included as part of of their respective trade paperback sets, but you can get them all in one hardcover or trade paperback compilation.
Steff Plays South Park: The Stick of Truth
A few days back, I got cozy on the couch and watched Steff play South Park: The Stick of Truth. It’s one that she’s had some interest in for quite some time and one that she pulled recently purchased. Due to the franchise’s poor history with video games, I had concerns that this one would be another bust. Thankfully, from the few hours I saw of the game, it looks like the South Park game that we’ve all been waiting for.
Wonder Woman Vol. 3: Iron Review
To say that Zola’s baby had a rough start to life sure is an understatement. From the moment the baby was born on Olympus, it was immediately stolen away from its mother by Hermes, who we thought was one of the good guys. Now in Wonder Woman Vol. 3: Iron, she must track the tiny tot down before something terrible happens. Along the way, she meets even more members of her complicated family tree and something new is brewing in Antarctica.
Boss Monster Review
Playing to one’s nostalgia can go a long way. Case in point: Boss Monster. Driven by a Kickstarter campaign, the cross-section between video game and board game players donated a remarkable $215,056 when the game only had a $12,000 goal. While I didn’t even know about the game until I saw someone’s copy of it at Snakes and Lattes, it immediately piqued my interest with its evocative box art. Clearly there’s excitement around this game that I – or many others for that matter – couldn’t resist. Does this physical game based on digital themes make for a product worthy of a high score?
Uncanny X-Men Vol. 2: Broken Review
Of the modern X-Men books I have read so far, Uncanny X-Men is the series that has the most upside. Centred around a strong-willed, yet misguided Cyclops, he and his band of fugitive mutants are in the midst of starting a mutant revolution while squashing anyone that may try to stop them. The base premise and all of the nuances around it make for a compelling take on this anti-hero/villain group. Unfortunately, I think most of Vol. 1: Revolution‘s potential is squandered on idle chatter and exposition.
With most of the table-setting out of the way, Cyclops and the gang can move the story forward in a meaningful way. First stop: Limbo.
Yomi for iPad Coming out on April 17th
First announced over a year ago, Yomi, is finally headed to the iPad on April 17th. This card game that aims to simulate the one-on-one fighting game experience is one of my favourites, though finding the opportunity to play my physical copy has proven difficult to say the least. While the game is set to come out at the cost of $9.99, which may be high for some, this is a steal compared to spending $100 for the physical set. Also, for an additional $9.99, you’ll get access to the 10 new characters that have yet to receive a boxed release.
Batman Vol. 2: The City of Owls Review
An uncharacteristically stubborn Bruce Wayne refuses to believe in the existence of a shadowy organization that has run Gotham for over a century. He sure did pay for it in Vol. 1: The Court of Owls, as Batman narrowly escaped death at the hands of the Talons. But what can he do when a gang of Talons get the drop on Bruce in Wayne Manor while the rest of their army terrorize Gotham?
Pick-Up Post: April 2014 Reading Material
All is more or less still quiet on the video game front, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Having that extra free time has been beneficial for going to the gym or playing hoops. Hopefully, I’ll be able to turn some of that extra free time into a better body, but I certainly wouldn’t turn down any hot video games if there were any of interest coming my way.
In the meantime, things are only heating up on the comics side. April has been a great month for expanding my collection with back catalogue books while sampling some of the newer stuff that’s outside of my current reading list. With May being the month for the next installments of Batman, All New X-Men, Uncanny X-Men and X-Men, things are only going to pick up from here. Check out the April stash below!
Batman – Detective Comics Vol. 3: Emperor Penguin
Had I not bought the first three volumes of Detective Comics in one shot, I would have stopped after the second one. The first showed potential, yet had a few glaring holes, while the second only made things worse with a droning story that didn’t go anywhere. I picked up Vol. 3: Emperor Penguin with the mindset that I would just plow through to get it over with, but then I noticed that the names on the cover were completely different.
Kudos to Tony Daniel for all the work he’s done in the past. I think his art in Detective Comics is great. I even liked his writing in Savage Hawkman #1. But as far as his work with this series, it really fell off a cliff. With a new creative team at the helm, this may be the kick start it needs to get back on track.
In Third Person 