Superhero training

Today I had a prepaid Greater Union movie coupon to be used up by the 24th, so I went off the most convenient of their cinema complexes (Parramatta) to see... whatever was on at a convenient time.

Hard on the heels of "Ironman", I ended up choosing "The Incredible Hulk", a sequel-of-sorts to the controversial (and expensive) flop of a few years ago, "Hulk". I say a sequel-of-sorts because the whole cast has been replaced. While I enjoyed Eric Bana's performance as Bruce Banner in the first film, I really enjoyed Edward Norton in this one! Ditto the new Betty, the former Lady Arwen of "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy, Liv Tyler!

Also excellent were the many cameos and links to previous versions of the Hulk legend: the rejection of some purple pants; a clip of TV's David Banner, actor Bill Bixby, in "The Courtship of Eddie's Father"; the return of TV's Hulk, Lou Ferrigno as a security guard; the cameo and name drop of a university student named McGee; and the poignant "Lonely Man" theme music that played during the TV series. Not to mention the sudden appearance of another Marvel character in the final moments, seemingly a harbinger of an eventual "Avengers" motion picture?

It was a worthwhile few hours spent in the dark.

Maybe I should have considered how wise it was to wear a silver-logo "Superman" jacket to a Marvel film, but I'd quite forgotten what was on the back of my jacket until my courageous rescue of a mother and her baby on the train coming home! When the train pulled into Parramatta Station, several people alighted and new passengers started to get on. Suddenly two women appeared in the vestibule area, essentially blocking my way in, but seemingly ignoring my suggestions that I assist them to dismount the train.

"Do you need help getting out?" I asked again, but no one was answering.

When it seemed obvious at least one of the women was slooooooooooowly attempting to get off the train, I got back on the platform to lift her pram out. Still she wasn't moving - were the two prams locked together? Why was I being ignored?

The guard announced that doors were closing and I had no choice but to lean on the door, keeping it open, and scream out "Two prams coming off!" in both directions, being unsure exactly where the guard's compartment was located on this particular train. After the third announcement, neither woman was making an effort to leave. Admittedly, I was essentially blocking half of the entrance, but that was all that was preventing the train from leaving, and there was still plenty of room to get out... if only someone would move! Eventually, I grabbed the pram nearest to me and pulled it towards me and the open door.

"But I don't want to get off," the owner of that pram said quietly.

"Well, you'll need to get out of the other woman's way," I replied, exasperated.

Finally the other woman allowed me to lift her pram out of the train and the other woman returned to her seat. The train was finally on its way. I guess the woman who wasn't getting off had tried unsuccessfully to get out of the other woman's way as they approached Parramatta, but I was flabbergasted that they had the survival instincts of beached fish. I recall my mother being extremely well prepared for train journeys in my youth, and she was never shy about getting off a train, being ready for her station, and/or accepting assistance from strangers.

As I entered the main compartment to finally choose a seat a disgruntled fellow passenger commented under his breath, "Have you finished holding up the train now? Can we close the doors?"

"Oh," he noticed as I passed (refusing to make eye contact with him and hoping not to exacerbate the situation). "He even has the right symbol..."

Yep, it's hard being a superhero.

Sunday's magic number: 94.0 - and so it goes...

Iron Man and the Dark Knight

I'm hearing nothing but positive reviews for "Iron Man", the latest superhero movie based on the Marvel comic. Robert Downey Jr has been Down Under last week promoting the movie, and he's been on his best behaviour and very charming - and so passionate about the film.

Everyone is saying "Make sure you stay through the credits at the end". I always do, but it's great when you know there's a bonus for the ones who do stay! Can't wait. It opened here last Thursday. I've never really followed "Iron Man" in the comics, but I recall the animated series of the 70s(?) very well, and my younger brother's stunning yellow and red Mego action figure.

Tonight, the TV news shows have been running an intriguing new trailer for "Batman: The Dark Knight", featuring the late Heath Ledger as the Joker. This too looks amazing! A bit longer to wait for this one, though. They are predicting a posthumous Academy Award for Ledger. The media is also suggesting that the regimen (and solitary confinement) the actor voluntarily put himself through, as preparation to get into the Joker's head, is partly to blame for his ongoing problems sleeping, and his dependence on the cocktail of drugs which claimed his life. Sad.

Holy word power, Batman!: recent superhero novels

I've made a point, over the years, of collecting novels and novelizations based on superheroes, particularly DC Comics' "Batman" and "Superman", and extending that interest to other DC heroes, plus Marvel's "The Fantastic Four".

One day, I'll put together my pre-2000 list, but first...

Pocket Books:
"Batman: No Man's Land" comic novelization by Greg Rucka (Jan 00)

Justice League of America original novel mass market paperback (MMPB) series:
"Batman: The Stone King" by Alan Grant (Mar 02)
"Wonder Woman: Mythos" by Carol Lay (Jan 03)
"Flash: Stop Motion" by Mark Schultz (Mar 04)
"Superman: The Never-Ending Battle" by Roger Stern ([Jun] 04)
"JLA: The Exterminators" by Christopher Golden (Jul 04)
"Green Lantern: Hero's Quest" by Dennis O'Neil (Mar 05).

After Pocket fulfilled their contract with DC, the licence passed back to ibooks for five hardcovers, then Chronicle and HarperCollins, Del Rey for "Batman" MMPBs, Warners for "Smallville" TV tie-ins and the "DC Universe" MMPBs, and Ace for two comic maxi-series novelizations.

From ibooks:
"The Forensic Files of Batman, the World's Greatest Detective" by Doug Moench (Jun 04)
"Crisis on Infinite Earths" comic novelization by Marv Wolfman (Apr 05)
Green Lantern trilogy (2004-2005):
"Sleepers, Book 1" by Christopher J Priest & Mike Baron
"Sleepers, Book 2" by Christopher J Priest & Michael Ahn
"Sleepers, Book 3" by Christopher J Priest [& Mike Baron].

From Chronicle:
"It's Superman!" by Tom De Haven (2005).

From HarperCollins:
"The Last Days of Krypton" by Kevin J Anderson (2007)
"Enemies & Allies" by Kevin J Anderson (2009) - Batman, Superman.

The Batman MMPB titles from Ballantine/Del Rey:
"Catwoman" movie novelization by Elizabeth Hand (Jun 04)
"Batman Begins" movie novelization by Dennis O'Neil (2005)
"Dead White" by John Shirley (2006)
"Inferno" by Alex Irvine (2006)
"Fear Itself" by Michael Reaves (2007).

From Warner/Aspect in MMPB:
Smallville original novels:
"Strange Visitors" by Roger Stern (Oct 02)
"Dragon" by Alan Grant (Nov 02)
"Hauntings" by Nancy Holder (Jan 03)
"Whodunnit" by Dean Wesley Smith (Mar 03)
"Shadows" by Diana G Gallagher (Sep 03)
"Silence" by Nancy Holder (Nov 03)
"Curse" by Alan Grant (Jan 04)
"City" by Devin Grayson (Mar 04).

"Batman: Rise of Sin Tzu" game novelization by Devin Kalile Grayson & Flint Dille (Nov 03).

Smallville Young Adult MMPBs from Little, Brown & Co:
"Arrival" episode novelization by Michael Teitelbaum (2002)
"See No Evil" by Cherie Bennett & Jeff Gottesfeld (2002)
"Flight" by Cherie Bennett & Jeff Gottesfeld (2002)
"Animal Rage" by David Cody Weiss & Bobbi JG Weiss (2003)
"Speed" by Cherie Bennett & Jeff Gottesfeld (2003)
"Buried Secrets" by Suzan Colón (2003)
"Runaway" by Suzan Colón (2003)
"Greed" by Cherie Bennett & Jeff Gottesfeld (2003)
"Temptation" by Suzan Colón (2004)
"Sparks" by Cherie Bennett & Jeff Gottesfeld (2004).

The DC Universe MMPB titles, also from Warner:
"Last Sons" by Alan Grant (Feb 06) - Superman, Martian Manhunter, Lobo
"Inheritance" by Devin Grayson (Jun 06) - Batman, Green Arrow, Aquaman, Nightwing, Arsenal, Tempest
"Helltown" by Dennis O'Neil (Nov 06) - The Question, Lady Shiva, Richard Dragon, Batman
"Trail of Time" by Jeff Mariotte (Mar 07) - Superman, Phantom Stranger, Demon, Jonah Hex.

"Superman Returns" movie novelization by Marv Wolfman (Jun 06).

From Ace, Berkley/Penguin:
"Infinite Crisis" comic novelization by Greg Cox (Oct 06) - focus on Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman
"52" comic novelization by Greg Cox (Jul 07) - focus on Booster Gold, Supernova, The Question, Batwoman
"Batman: Gotham Knight" animated movie novelization by Louise Simonson (Jun 08)
"The Dark Knight" movie novelization by Dennis O'Neil (Jul 08) - sequel to "Batman Begins"
"Countdown" comic novelization by Greg Cox (Jul 09) - focus on Jimmy Olsen, Mary Marvel, Troia/Wonder Girl, Robin II, Catwoman
"Final Crisis" comic novelization by Greg Cox (Jul 10) - focus on Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Darkseid, and remnants of the Justice League of America.

From Pocket Star:
"Wonder Woman" animated movie novelization by SD Perry & Britta Dennison (Jan 09).

Although I've resisted getting a lot of the Marvel superheroes when they've appeared in novels, the reputation of Pocket Books, and its stable of "Star Trek" writers contributing to them, made me weaken...

Pocket Star's Marvel MMPB original novel titles:

Fantastic Four:
"War Zone" by Greg Cox (Aug 05)
"The Baxter Effect" by Dave Stern (Jan 07)
"What Lies Between" by Peter David (Jul 07)
"Doomgate" by Jeffrey Lang (Dec 08).

Spider-man:
"Down These Mean Streets" by Keith RA DeCandido (Sep 05)
"The Darkest Hours" by Jim Butcher (Jul 06)
"Drowned in Thunder" by Christopher L Bennett (Jan 08)
"Requiem" by Jeff Marriott (Nov 08).

The Ultimates:
"Tomorrow Men" by Michael Jan Friedman (Sep 06)
"Against All Enemies" by Alex Irvine (Sep 07).

Wolverine:
"Weapon X" by Marc Cesari (Nov 05)
"Road of Bones" by David Alan Mack (Nov 06)
"Lifeblood" by Hugh Matthews (Mar 07)
"Violent Tendencies" by Marc Cesari (Nov 07)
"Nature of the Beast" by Dave Stern (May 08)
"Election Day" by Peter David (Sept 08)

X-Men:
"Dark Mirror" by Marjorie M Liu (Jan 06)
"Watchers on the Walls" by Christopher L Bennett (May 06)
"The Return" by Chris Roberson (May 07).

Pocket Star's crop of Marvel adaptations include:
"Elektra" movie novelization by Yvonne Navarro (Jan 05)
"Fantastic Four" movie novelization by Peter David (May 05)
"Ghost Rider" movie novelization by Greg Cox (Feb 07)
"Spider-man 3" movie novelization by Peter David (Apr 07)
"Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer" movie novelization by Daniel Josephs (Jun 07).

Marvel adaptations in MMPB from Ballantine/Del Rey:
"X-men" movie novelization by Kristine Kathryn Rusch & Dean Wesley Smith (Jun 00)
"Spider-man" movie novelization by Peter David (Mar 02)
"X-men 2" movie novelization by Chris Claremont (Mar 03)
"Hulk" movie novelization by Peter David (May 03)
"Spider-man 2" movie novelization by Peter David (May 04)
"X-men 3: The Last Stand" movie novelization by Chris Claremont (2006)
"Iron Man" movie novelization by Peter David (Apr 08)
"The Incredible Hulk" movie novelization by Peter David (2008)
"Iron Man: Femmes Fatales" by Robert Greenberger (2009).

Onyx:
"Daredevil" movie novelization by Greg Cox (2003).

HarperEntertainment:
"Iron Man" movie teen novelization by Dan Jolley (2008).

Grand Central:
"Iron Man 2" movie novelization by Alexander Irvine (April 2010).

Keith RA DeCandido's Marvel list predates 2000.

Captain's log: Supplemental (Updated: 21st October, 2011)

Spidey strikes again!

I did intend to post yesterday, but I made it home from "Spider-man 3" - screening at the IMAX Theatre at Darling Harbour - with only minutes to spare to change my shirt and go off to a work colleague's 40th birthday party.

If you liked "Spider-man" and "Spider-man 2", then there's plenty to enjoy about "Spider-man 3". I had a few reservations about seeing it in the IMAX format, because the trailer (a few weeks ago when I saw "300") was so busy, but we had excellent seats, right in the middle of the cinema, and the experience was quite impressive.

Topher Grace (of "That 70s Show") is a long-time TV favourite and I was intrigued how he'd go playing the bad guy (Venom) for a change. Thomas Haden Church (whom I knew from "George of the Jungle" and TV's "Ned and Stacey") was also fun to watch as Sandman, and the enigmatic Bryce Dallas Howard, as Gwen Stacy, was also an asset to this instalment.

I worried that a superhero movie with three villains was going to go the same way as the over-burdened "Batman and Robin" (with Batgirl!), where Mr Freeze, Poison Ivy and Bane fought each other relentlessly for screen time. But "Spider-man 3" seems to work well, and Venom, Sandman and the hand-me-down Green Goblin each contributed meaningful scenes to the whole, emulating those fast team-up partnerships that happen all the time in Marvel Comics.

You do perhaps need to leave your brain at the door for "Spider-man 3", and ignore the wacky coincidence of Peter Parker (as Spidey) rescuing his science lab partner from a modelling assignment in a skyscraper, at which her boyfriend, and Peter's rival, stands watching her fall while photographing her for the newspaper, while standing alongside her policeman father.

See, if I hadn't added that paragraph, you'd have believed me that this was a good movie. Go find out for yourself.