Reviews 9 - The Malta Comic Con

The Avengers – Kree/Skrull War review by Raphael Borg

Comics, ReviewsApril 3, 20210Comments

One of the original "event comics", the Kree-Skrull war penned by Roy Thomas and the rotating art team of John and Sal Buscema and the spectacular Neal Adams, is however not an easy read. Roy Thomas's deeply melodramatic writing is very much of its time, very much bombastic and over the top, but to me that…

Godzilla Vs Kong – Film review by Raphael Borg

Movies, ReviewsApril 2, 20210Comments

Definitely a step up from Kong: Skull Island (which I truly liked) and Godzilla (so and so), but a step lower from Godzilla: King of Monsters (which I REALLY liked), the movie has a better story than some of its precedents but what stops it short from being excellent is two major things: some things…

Wonder Woman: Earth One Volume 1-3 review by Raphael Borg

Comics, ReviewsMarch 22, 20210Comments

While I normally find Grant Morrison's work thoroughly thought-provoking and compelling (and often migraine inducing), the three volumes of Wonder Woman: Earth One proved a much more of a slog to get through, ironically enough. That is not to say it is bad per se - by any extent of the imagination, it is would…

Batman V Superman film review by Raphael Borg

Movies, ReviewsMarch 16, 20210Comments

The notoriously divisive Batman v Superman suffered a great disadvantage when it was released in the form it did in mainstream theaters; not that the ultimate cut was perfect, but some glaring plot holes were smoothed over far better in such a way that most fans - myself included - refuse to watch it in…

Man of Steel review by Raphael Borg

Movies, ReviewsMarch 14, 20210Comments

In the run-up to the release of the much-anticipated Snyder Cut of the Justice League, I will be rewatching the movies preceding it from the DCEU related directly to the movie (i.e. MoS, BvS and the Joss Whedon cut) to celebrate and MAYBE the others from the same universe. Rewatching it the 8th (or so) time,…

Avengers: Rage of Ultron review by Raphael Borg

Comics, ReviewsMarch 14, 20210Comments

I have been waiting for a book like Rage of Ultron for a long, long time. Aside from the stellar, anatomically pleasant and dynamic artwork by Jerome Opena and Pepe Larraz, and aside from the poignant writing by Rick Remender, I felt part of the story. I am not an objective reviewer by any extent of the…

The Kingdom review by Raphael Borg

Comics, ReviewsMarch 12, 20210Comments

When Mark Waid wrote Kingdom Come with Alex Ross, it must be said that he had written himself into somewhat of a corner as a very tough act to follow. Indeed, there have been sequels and spiritual sequels even over the bridge at Marvel. This is very evident in his own written sequel in "The…

Wanted reviewed by Raphael Borg

Comics, ReviewsMarch 10, 20210Comments

I have expressed my discomfort with Mark Millar's writing when he's "off the leash", so to speak, before, and, while I still hold on to that notion, credit must be given where credit is due. While Millar has a tendency to drop the story at erratic places, leaving a sense of whiplash during an average…

JLA/Avengers review by Raphael Borg

Comics, ReviewsMarch 9, 20210Comments

Although the narrative is relatively simplistic - two factions caught in a game brought about by two gambling entities from opposing universes - Kurt Busiek and George Perez's JLA/Avengers four-issue miniseries delivers a crossover between the DC and Marvel universe in a way the actual DC versus Marvel failed to deliver. While the latter was…

Grant Morrison’s New X-Men review by Raphael Borg

Comics, ReviewsFebruary 23, 20210Comments

If there is anything that fascinates the celebrated comic writer - and one of my favorites - Grant Morrison, is an exploration and meta commentary on existence and the psyche. Although revamping the X-Men for the 2000s as a vehicle for this may strike as odd at first sight, what transpired is a landmark run…

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen review by Raphael Borg

Comics, ReviewsFebruary 22, 20210Comments

Having spent a significant part of my childhood using grandad's library as my personal playground, when I first got to know a movie with an ensemble cast of most of the characters on Grandpa's bookshelf coming together I was fascinated. The movie isn't great - although I d struggle to call it the worst…

Iron Man: Extremis review by Raphael Borg

Comics, ReviewsDecember 3, 20200Comments

I must admit myself guilty of overlooking most, if not all, Iron Man comics for the simple reason that my brain simply rejects it on account of the main character being a capitalist torchbearer. It has, in fact, been sitting on my bookshelf for YEARS. However, I stand corrected and have largely misunderstood the complete…