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Random Monday : A Selection of Free DC/Vertigo Comics (Debut Issues)

September 28th, 2009

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Just completed reading all the freely downloadable issue #1s (and assorted sample issues) for the comics / graphic novels published under DC Comics’s Vertigo imprint. I’m not a comics person and I don’t understand what gets categorized under graphic novels when both appear to be the same to me, so for simplicity’s sake, I’ll just refer to everything as comics here

Do note that Vertigo caters to adults so graphically violent and/or sexual images are to be expected together in these comics together with usually generous helpings of coarse language. Then again, given the nature of today’s movies and pop culture, it doesn’t really mean a big difference, does it?

Below I feature some of the comics that I particulary enjoyed.

My absolute favourite has to be The Losers : Ante Up written by Andy Diggle – a gang of ex-Special Forces personnel pull off some of the most outrageous heists I’ve ever seen in comics (or books … or even movies ).

V for Vendetta written by Alan Moore – the first comic / graphic novel that sparked my interest in Vertigo’s stuff after watching the movie adaptation. Only a four-page preview of the first issue is available though.

The Sandman : Precludes Nocturnes written by Neil Gaiman – Volume 1 of the Sandman series in which Roderick Burgess, a self-appointed Lord Magus and his cult attempt to summon and bind Death to their whims but captures Death’s younger brother Dream instead. Without Dream, people around the world sleep and never wake up and eventually the tables are turned on his captors themselves as they become increasingly fearful and tormented from lack of sleep. Meanwhile their captive bides his time waiting for the perfect opportunity to exact his vengeance…

DMZ Volume 1 : On the Ground written by Brian Wood – Intern Matthew Roth accompanies award-winning journalist Viktor Ferguson into the dangerous Manhattan DMZ where a ceasefire is being arranged between American troops and Free Army rebels, and gets into the thick of the action on his first day at work.

Northlanders Volume 1 : Sven the Returned written by Brian Wood – bloodthirsty Vikings make bloody good comic material

The Books Of Magic written by Neil Gaiman – Tim Hunter, a bespectacled boy who looks quite a bit like Harry Potter, is shown the ways of magic by characters from the Vertigo universe. Note the distinctive, almost photorealistic art style by John Bolton.

Watchmen written by Alan Moore – I like this mainly for Rorschach, a masked vigilante equipped with good old fashioned brawling and zero superpowers,. I had absolutely no idea how closely the Watchmen movie matched the comic, cell for cell until I read this first issue.

Check out the above comics / graphics novels (click on the titles for the download pages) and others at Vertigo Comics (those indicated with #1 have the first issue free for download).

MORE @ THE DOWNLOAD MUNKEY:
Watchmen Wallpapers (Movie, Comics & Game)
Watchmen : The End is Nigh Demo Impressions
Marvel Official Wallpapers
Marvelous Papercraft – Boxpunx by Harlancore + Friends
The Darkness & Other Top Cow Comics Wallpapers

Wallpapers Wednesday : Top Cow’s First Born Wallpapers

April 22nd, 2009

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A couple of beautifully painted wallpapers for Top Cow Comic’s First Born, a self-contained three issue series which debuted at Top Cow 2007 summer event. Sure, it’s old stuff but these two lavishly detailed wallpapers which happen to be the covers for First Born Issue #0 and Issue #1 respectively, still look fantastic.

Since Top Cow Comics stated this series involves the entirety of the Top Cow Universe, it meant that familiar characters like Jackie Estacado (The Darkness) (below), …

Sara Pezzini (below) from Witchblade …

and Angelus featured prominently in First Born.

Excerpts above are from the first issue of First Born which can be read for free at the official site.

Both the covers above and the comics were painted by Croatian artist Stjepan Sejic and you can see more of his work at nebezial.deviantart.com (definitely a must-visit for fans of Top Cow’s particular brand of art)

Download these wallpapers at www.firstborncomic.com.

MORE @ THE DOWNLOAD MUNKEY:
The Darkness & Other Top Cow Comics Wallpapers
Concept Art of the Dark Side & More!
Marvel Official Wallpapers
Darkwatch Wallpapers
Dark Horse Comics Goodies (V) – Alien vs Predator Wallpapers

Tags: Add new tag Art Artists Comics Wallpapers

Games Thursday : Watchmen : The End is Nigh Demo Impressions

April 09th, 2009

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When you first load up Watchmen : The End is Nigh, the first thing you’ll notice are the visuals – the game paints the world in the way Rorschach would see it – perpetually dark, grimy and thriving with depraved criminals. While it seems like a accurate depiction of Rorschach’s pessimistic ideas of human civilization, it doesn’t necessarily really translate to a believable or engaging world to play in.

Despite my initial skepticism with this game as with every other game spinoff from movies, Watchmen : The End is Nigh does have a few good points. The game delivers visceral action with meaty sounding impacts when your punches connect, especially when playing as Rorschach. His style of fighting is brutal and inelegant, yet ultimately provides more satisfying gameplay as compared to Nite Owl who throws his punches with much more finesse (and as a consequence, feels and sounds weaker).

Speaking of blood, the gory and over the top bloodletting from the movie gets carried over to this game too. I can’t say it’s a good thing but it seems that publishers think that gratitious bloodspilling is a selling point for action games nowadays – must be a sign of the times, eh?

Of course, the game isn’t without its faults. Even though the world is excellently rendered, there doesn’t seem to be any other living soul in there who’s not actively baying for your blood. It doesn’t help that every area that you have to clear for each chapter are populated by the same assortment of thugs.

Despite these flaws, Watchmen : The End is Nigh would be an enjoyable (if mindless) brawler if the enemies employed teamwork or group tactics instead of bunching up together or trying to hem you in from all sides and block your view. Occassionally, swirling melees like this one below do occur

The linear level design ensures you’ll probably only play the game once more as the other character and that’s it (to be fair, most games of this genre are this linear).

Nevertheless, do give the Watchmen : The End is Nigh demo a try if you’re into brawling action – it’s definitely enjoyable for the first couple of runs but the action gets repetitive rather quickly.

Download the The Watchmen : The End is Nigh demo.

MORE @ THE DOWNLOAD MUNKEY:
Lego Batman Demo Impressions
IGWB (I) – Mount & Blade
Legion of Man Demo Impressions

Tags: Comics Games Games Downloads Movies

Wallpapers Wednesday : Watchmen (Movie, Comics & Game)

April 08th, 2009

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Wallpapers for the recent film adaptation of the Watchmen comics. A bit late but better late but never, right?

I quite like the movie but found it to be a bit draggy at 163 minutes and felt that they should have cut out the sappy parts out between Silk Spectre II, Dr Manhattan and Nite Owl since they didn’t add much to the overall storyline (at least for the movie, I haven’t read the comics yet). Oh, you probably know by now that it’s another comic-to-film adaption of Alan Moore‘s graphic novels (V for Vendetta, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen)

Just got to love Rorschach though – it’s fascinating to watch a character so relentless, uncompromising and unflinchingly violent in pursuit of his idealized form of justice. There’s more downloadable movie posters like the one above over at the official Warner Bros site for the movie.

Some wallpapers from the original comics published by DC Comics.

And let’s not forget the unofficial but still very cool Watchmen wallpaper featuring the Simpsonized characters from the comics by Dean Fraser of Springfield Punx.

And while we’re at it, we might as well take a look for the wallpaper(s) for the spin-off game Watchmen : The End is Nigh. Expect to see my impressions of the demo very soon

Download The Watchmen wallpapers from Watchmen movie site, Watchmen : The End is Nigh videogame site (under Media > More Watchmen), DC Comics and Springfield Punx

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Simpsonized @ Springfield Punx
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Tags: Add new tag Comics Movies Wallpapers

Art Friday : Marvelous Papercraft – Boxpunx by Harlancore + Friends

January 09th, 2009

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Don’t know how I missed out on the first series of these cheeky Boxpunx by Harlancore and friends when both series were announced on Cubeelog. The first series by Harlancore + Scorpidio features the X-Men (not too sure about the inclusion of Spider-Man though) and the second by Harlancore + Esteban showcases a selection of 12 other superheroes and villains from the Marvel universe.