Now, this annual event is a great opportunity to sample some of those harder-to-find titles by up-and-coming indie creators. So, while your eye might go right to the Hellboy and Superman books, why not help out the little guy by trying something really new? So, what did I get?

I got a great stand alone X-Men comic book drawn by one of my favorite artists Greg Land, the aforementioned HellBoy and Broken Trinity. Simply because it had a pretty cool kick ass cover. So go out there today to a comicbook near you while supplies last.



A few weeks ago, a couple of the folks on the nightshift mistakingly thought that my birthday was in April and they got me a Dark Knight movie poster like the one below. They didn't get me the poster because I'm such a fan of the Batman movie franchise (which I am), but because of the catch phrase that is going along with this sequel. "WHY SO SERIOUS?" is a phrase I use from time to time, or any variation thereof when I think that people are being too uptight.

Are you listening ABW? (smile) And then it hit me. I haven't offered my summers list of movie events for this year. This is usually an annual event for a brotha. So, in response to Nikki's question in my comments box in the previous post, I thought I'd lay out this summer's superhero movies that Hollywood has lined up. Unfortunately, none of them is my movie (Luke Cage), but that doesn't mean that it's going to be a lackluster time at the box office. Summer 2008 is being dubbed the year of the superhero movie.

With the obvious money to be made in this genre, production companies are buying up and churning out as many big-screen adaptations as they can. And some with skill and respect for the source material, some with hasty disregard for anything than can be remotely described as quality.

The very good include Spider-man, Hellboy, X-Men & Sin City to the downright embarrassing and awful; Catwoman, Tankgirl, Elektra, (geez, they haven't done the ladies any justice huh?), Steel & the 1994 Fantastic Four (not the '05 version with Jessica Alba, although not that good is far from the worst thing put out comically) - but let's be real.

There's simply no shortage in new material. Here are what I'll be looking out for this summer and a mild rundown of what you can expect to see (or avoid) this summer. Enjoy!!!

title: IRONMAN

Release Date: NOW PLAYING!

The Gist: Billionaire Tony Stark is injured, kidnapped, and forced to build a weapon for extremists in Afghanistan, but instead builds a powerful suit of armor that both gives him super abilities and keeps him alive. Upon returning home to America, he becomes "Iron Man" while his political and business.

I wasn't big on Iron Man as a kid and even less as an adult. I simply saw a guy in a souped up body armor who just so happened to be a very wealthy alcoholic. I actually found Tony Stark more interesting than his alter-ego bodyguard. Still though, I plan to see it, but I'll wait a bit before I parachute down to my favorite box office. And expect a cameo from Samuel L as Nick Fury. Yeesss!

title: The Incredible Hulk

Release Date: June 13

The Gist: After the poor reception Ang Lee's Hulk (2003) received, Marvel decided to reboot the series in a new direction. Isn't that like the ultimate diss? It says a lot about the film when the series is given a reboot in half the time it took DC to recover from DC's own mess, Batman and Robin.

I like Ang Lee, but he simply forgot people who were fans of the character (me) wanted to see "Hulk Smash!" and not "Hulk" has unresolved issues with his poppa, and gamma irradiated pooches and whatnot. And Banner's struggling to understand himself as well as his powers.

So, before folks could say puny human, Marvel quickly hit the reset button. The new film totally disregards the first film (and the entire cast - this seems to be the current trend. See the Sarah Connor Chronicles to get my gist on that comment) entirely and follows Dr. David Banner (portrayed by Ed Norton- one of the main reasons I'm seeing this film) as he searches for a cure for his condition.

Banner must simultaneously battle his own condition while facing the threat of Emil Blonsky (Tim Roth), a former KGB agent who transforms himself into The Abomination via the same gamma radiation that created The Hulk. Expect tricky camera angles and plenty of CGI. Lets get ready to RUMMBBLLEEE!!!!!

title: WANTED

Release Date: June 27

The Gist: Wanted is a creator-owned comic book miniseries, consisting of six issues written by Mark Millar with art by J. G. Jones and published by Top Cow as part of Millarworld. It features an amoral protagonist who discovers he is the heir to a career as a super-villainous assassin in a world where such villains have secretly taken control of the planet.

The series is very adult in nature, similar to more grown-up "super-hero" titles such as The Authority. Like the Authority or the Squadron Supreme, several characters are based on DC Comics characters and super-villains. Rumour states that the series was originally supposed to be a revamp of the Secret Society of Super-Villains.

The series also bears resemblance to the 1999 films Fight Club and The Matrix as it is about a despondent man in an unfulfilling white-collar job who finds a new lease on life but becomes extremely violent and marked as outside of "normal" society.

I'm looking forward to this movie because the comic book was simply kick ass, and it also stars Morgan Freeman and everyone's favorite full-lipped white girl Angelina Jolie.

title: HANCOCK

Release Date: July 2

The Gist: Will Smith is Hancock, a superhero who has seen better days. He's not the public superstar he once was, and has turned to booze and womanizing to dull the pain. While trying to regain some of his prior glory, Hancock must deal with his personal demons, which include having an affair with a married woman (Charlize Theron). Directed by Peter Berg. I'll see it because it's got my man Will Smith and Will doesn't disappoint. Heck, nothing more needs to follow okay?

title: HELLBOY II: THE GOLDEN ARMY

Release Date: July 11

The Gist: Hellboy, the demon raised by humans who works for a secret government organization to combat the supernatural, is back for more. This time, the Earth is threatened by the old gods and supernatural creatures of the old world, the world we have long forgotten.

But in order to take back the world they once controlled, they'll have to get through Hellboy and his friends. I loved the first film. It was the first time I saw a movie adapted from a comicbook, without being a fan of the comic book itself.

I then went back and collected a couple of the graphic novels that included Hellboy in it. Not bad stuff at all, and I expect more movie magic both in the flick and at the box office for this sequel. Directed by Guillermo del Toro.

title: THE DARK KNIGHT

Release Date: July 18

The Gist: The sequel to Batman Begins (2005), the immensely successful reboot to the Batman series. Picking up where the first film ends, Bruce Wayne / Batman (Christian Bale with his on again, off again lisp-lol) battles the world of organized crime in an effort to save Gotham City.

The mob is in disarray after Batman's efforts to take down mob boss Carmine Falcone. The ensuing underworld chaos gives rise to the Joker (Heath Ledger), who looks to seize control of the city's crime syndicates.

Meanwhile, Batman works with Lieutenant Gordon (Gary Oldman) and District Attorney Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart) to maintain order and take down the criminal mastermind. Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine will be back to reprise their roles. Absent this time is Mrs. Tom Cruise. (thumbs up! Geez, she was annoying)

Now to me, there is really no good reason for me NOT to see this on opening night. After all, it's Batman. And it follows after that great first movie. The only thing that I feel may work against this movie may be Ledger's untimely death.

That was bad enough, but if you read the blog blurbs and early initial reports, a lot of pressure was already mounting on Heath Ledger's portrayal of one of the most famous comic book villains in history and doing it in the shadow of Jack Nicholson.

I don't know how true it is, but talk began well before Ledger's death that he sounded like he was trying to imitate Nicholson's performance. It’s likely some fans will not like his performance regardless of how original it may be.

Even if the remaining aspects of the film are strong, the flick's reception will probably be based on Ledger's performance. Ever dance with the devil in the pale moon light?

title: PUNISHER: WAR ZONE

Release Date: Sept. 12

The Gist: Even though this film is officially a sequel to the 2004 film, none of the original cast members are returning, including Thomas Jane as Frank Castle/The Punisher. This time around, Frank Castle (Ray Stevenson) is at war with organized crime in New York City, pitting him against disfigured mafia assassin Jigsaw (Dominic West).

Plans for a sequel were announced before the original hit theaters, and Jane was attached to the project until early 2007, when he left citing creative differences. Jane originally turned down the role as well a part in the X-Men series, reportedly because he didn't feel he fit the superhero archetype.

Come on man, you was aight in the first film. But what I do love about this movie, and my buddy Jdid will appreciate this as well is we were both huge fans of ROME (HBO series) After all, the Punisher is being portrayed by RAY STEVENSON! (Titus Pullo if any of you among us are ROME fans)

Even with the loss of Jane as Castle, Stevenson's talents have been showcased before besides Rome and he definitely looks the part. The inclusion of Jigsaw will likely give the the series a boost with two arch-enemies combating one another.

So, I've shown you mine. What movies are you looking forward to this summer? Oh by the way, I WILL be seeing the Sex and the City movie as well okay? What? Any problems? ;)