Blog Archives

Back Catalogue; A look at Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 9

31/3/2014

Even though we always endeavour not to spoil there may be unintentional spoilers for season 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 or 8. It may be worth your while looking at our synopsis of the first season or better still grab a visual copy of Buffy on DVD, or through Netflix etc and have some slaying fun of course from this point I will also add from Dark Horse Comics as well.. If you don’t mind learning a little more of the comings and goings centred around Sunnydale high then read on McDuff.

At the culmination of Season 8 some odd things were afoot in the Buffyverse, thanks to the destruction of the “Seed of Wonder” magic has now been removed from the world. As usual though things are not that simple as beings infused with magic still retain their powers. This means while Buffy remains the Slayer, Willow is now completely lacking of power. This change in the world resets what we know and helps Season 9 to remove some of the larger plots that weighed down Season 8. The back to basics principle serves Buffy very well and some of the stories in this run are much more human in tone. This is led by an abortion storyline that really shook up the media and readers alike, Whedon’s lack of fear in diving into an extremely sensitive area is one of the highlights in the lore of Buffy.

Image courtesy of Dark Horse

Of course Buffy is still able to handle herself when it comes to dispatching the undead, she does however have a new breed of enemy. Namely Zompires, these new breed of vamps are brought about by the removal of magic from the world. They are a new threat to the world, due to their lack of restraint they are a huge threat to the general population as well as the Slayer. It’s great to see a new enemy to face and the way their formation is brought about shows how well the overall plot is crafted.

Buffy seems to be mostly just trying to survive for the majority of the stories whether that be in battles with the undead or just trying to keep to a semi normal life. With this regard she really needs the help of her friends but due to deaths and falling outs the Scooby Gang is not as large as it once was. We do get friends new and old within the season, their interactions with Buffy lead us to a new battle which takes up the largest section of the end of the season. That is not before Buffy has to deal with the realities of being a former student as her loan is due. However the collector is not a normal collection agent as he introduces himself with the phrase

Buffy Summers, it is time for you to pay....

Much like the previous season this one has multiple arcs and one shot’s that together form the narrative at large. We do get multiple writers throughout the season and all bring their own subtle influences on to the world. This is coupled with more than a few pencillers; the art does feel pretty high throughout the run and some of the covers like the one above by Jo Chen are really something.

The new status quo is set by the end of the season and we can look forward to the continuing Buffyverse growing along these new lines. If we take Season 8 as a bit of a learning curve then this ninth season is the proof that the lesson has been learnt. It felt that bringing Buffy back to more realistic stories (realistic is taken with a pinch of salt), made the narrative have more impact. Season 10 is perfectly set up with more than a few twists in the tail form the ninth, we also have a side running storyline in Angel and Faith add these two together and what you get is a whole heap of Whedonverse goodnes

You can find our review of Buffy Season 10 #1 here

Back Catalogue; A look at Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 8

30/3/2014

Even though we always endeavour not to spoil there may be unintentional spoilers for season 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7.It may be worth your while looking at our synopsis of the first season or better still grab a visual copy of Buffy on DVD, or through Netflix etc and have some slaying fun of course from this point I will also add from Dark Horse Comics as well.. If you don’t mind learning a little more of the comings and goings centred around Sunnydale high then read on McDuff.

Yes you did read the title correctly Buffy has a continuing story thanks to Joss Whedon and Dark Horse Comics. The end of season 7 left a promise of more adventures for the Scooby Gang but most of us expected this to be fan fiction or just imagined stories from Slayer fans. Instead we get a story that follows on from the TV show and builds on many of its key themes and ideas.

TV has its good side but it can also limit a creator as finances have to be factored in when thinking about plots. This is something comics do not have to worry about basically if an artist can draw a writer can plot it. Unfortunately Mr Whedon took this theme a little too far as we get some rather far-fetched plots that remove Buffy away from the relatable ideals that made her so appealing. Its not that its bad it just feels a little off in some section and I think the series really is a peak trough situation. If I was viewing this as just a new comic instead of a continuing series this may not have been so obvious as the stories are strong, but we are dealing with a continuing property.

The series is split into multiple arcs with a few one shot and special issues thrown in, these allow the focus to drift from Buffy and onto other members of the now much extended cast. If you cast your mind back t series 7 Willow had a cast a spell to awaken all the potential Slayers in the world and now we have a sizable Buffy Force all ready to fight evil. The rise of the potentials does give rise to have a number of problems; the most significant is probably one of the more significant themes in the Buffy series Powerful Women. Sometimes this has been hinted at and other times it has been quite overt, in the early skirmishes with the Twilight Buffy voices her dissatisfaction with the usual status quo saying;

Buffy; It's about women. It's about power and It's about Women and you just hate those two words in the same sentence don't you?

This would not be Buffy however unless a few things remained the same and aligned with the female perspective is Joss Whedons love of killing characters off and also having others make a return appearance. Thanks to a world where magic permeates everything although far-fetched most of the resurrection of characters has generally been handled pretty well. However if everyone came back then the deaths would lose meaning, thankfully Joss has not fallen into that narrative crippling device and instead kept death as an ever present feature of the universe.

The trouble with look at a very long series of comics is that there will be occasions where the art will fluctuate. In single issues this can be subtle but when you read an arc in big chunks the deviations can be more jarring. The art is generally good but there are some pretty stellar issues which make the good ones lose a measure of impact. It sounds a little greedy to also want the best but if standards are set high then dropping below that point will always cause a stir. The tone of the art feels a lot more risqué than the show and we do see quite a lot of flesh in the art, Everything is tastefully done but you do get a sense of a mature appeal to the comic. One of the art highlights comes arly in the series when a skinless enemy is back on the hunt for Buffy but accidentally captures one of the gang instead. The depiction of the musculature is great and it the representation has a haunting quality that does stand out.

Overall Season 8 is a strong showing in the Buffyverse the multiple writers led by Joss Whedon went in a few directions that led Buffy from the usual path, but without experimentation we would not know what works in this medium for the franchise. It may not be everyone's taste but I think in the comic format Buffy has found a new home.

Back Catalogue; A look at Buffy the Vampire Slayer Series 7

28/3/2014

Even though we always endeavour not to spoil there may be unintentional spoilers for season 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6. It may be worth your while looking at our synopsis of the first season or better still grab a visual copy of Buffy on DVD, or through Netflix etc and have some slaying fun. If you don’t mind learning a little more of the comings and goings centred around Sunnydale high then read on McDuff.

Image courtesy of Dark Horse

The start of the seventh season sees our team split more than usual, Willow and Giles are visiting a coven in Devon with the hope of restoring our red haired witch back to her old self. As for the rest of the Scooby gang they have either passed on, returned to their former selves or are just going about their normal lives.

This series though is building to something pretty epic the end of series 6 showed that Buffy is not the only all powerful woman in Sunnydale. Driven by hate and grief Willow became the most dangerous witch in the world. However it was perhaps the least powerful member of the Scoobes that saved the day, Xander has been pretty much an ever present throughout the Buffy run. His brand of wit has always been there but it was his tenderness that really won the day.

For the start of the season though we are reintroduced to Sunnydale high and by an odd twist of fate the place where Buffy will end up working. Coupled with this is the deluge of characters who return in this season. The whole season has a reunion feel but thankfully Its handled well. We also have a draft of new recruits to the Buffy Bootcamp but as somethings changes, others will always stay the same

Buffy: Talisman must've been destroyed.
Dawn: How'd you know it was a talisman?
Buffy: There's always a talisman.

We do get an action ramp up with a new breed of enemy to face, its good to see Buffy being in danger and having to rely on her friends. Again it points back to the strength of the gang and the way they all support each other, it has been one of the best things about Buffy in its entirety and in this seventh series we really get to the know the value of a collective.

Ultimately though Buffy is the key to victory and watching her grow as a character over the seven seasons was one of the best televisual experiences in my life. Thankfully watching Buffy back now the show pretty much holds up. The CGI may be a little dated but this show was more than about the way it looked. Its odd to think that over a decade later there has not been a show quite like this. The strong female lead is something we should not need to talk about but far to often girls/women are not portrayed as the carriers of shows. Buffy was a trend setting show but unfortunately TV failed to hang on to the coat tails of the phenomenon.

The end of Buffy was a fitting end, the final season had a lot of depth and some great performances It was a fitting end but like we have seen in the past just because something ends does not mean its finished.

Back Catalogue; A look at Buffy the Vampire Slayer Series 6

28/3/2014

Even though we always endeavour not to spoil there may be unintentional spoilers for season 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5. It may be worth your while looking at our synopsis of the first season or better still grab a visual copy of Buffy on DVD, or through Netflix etc and have some slaying fun. If you don’t mind learning a little more of the comings and goings centred around Sunnydale high then read on McDuff.

Image Courtesy of Dark Horse

Series 5 had a Life and Death theme running through it, we had the introduction of Dawn and the death of Mrs Summers but perhaps the biggest loss was of Buffy herself. Season 6 though is more about a different theme that of coping. From destructive relationship to recovering from perhaps the most scary experience of any persons life (waking up in a buried coffin) the Scooby Gang are put through the mill
The opening of Series 6 though sees an increasingly powerful Willow try to resurrect Buffy, the spell initially seemed to fail but after a while we see Buffy come back. The opening is a double episode and in it Buffy finally ask what we have all been thinking about Sunnydale;

Buffy : Is this hell?

The return of Buffy brings back a number of deeper questions about the afterlife. For a show based around the idea of resurrection this is not a new theme but the last time Buffy came back it was only after a few minutes now though it has been a lot longer. Buffy's loss of herself takes her down roads we would never expect, mostly based a mutually abusive relationship with another recurring character. It is a very clever conceit that eventually will cause a huge amount of turmoil for Buffy but that is not a new concept in Sunnydale.

In terms of emotional impact this series is filled with great moments the stories also see to get back to Buffy at her best. This is exemplified by one of the best episodes in Buffy history, its called Once More, With Feeling and is almost the exact opposite of Hush from season 4. Here we have Sunnydale being overrun with singing and dancing which on the face of it sounds nicer than the usual evilness that goes on in this town but what would Buffy be without a twist.

The ending of this season is especially strong as it has been building for through pretty much every episode, the intertwined story strands end up with an amazing finale where we have friends doing battle and this time the world is in danger. The biggest surprise though is the hero of the piece, the last stand is melodramatic with a great side dish of humour not to mention a big dollop of violence.

The scene is set for Season 7..

Back Catalogue; A look at Buffy the Vampire Slayer Series 5

26/3/2014

Even though we always endeavour not to spoil there may be unintentional spoilers for season 1, 2, 3 or 4 It may be worth your while looking at our synopsis of the first season or better still grab a visual copy of Buffy on DVD, or through Netflix etc and have some slaying fun. If you don’t mind learning a little more of the comings and goings centred around Sunnydale high then read on McDuff.

The Season 4 finale was perhaps my least favourite episode. It felt like a mid season show and did not have the draw of previous end of series hootenanny's. Of course not every show can be a blockbuster but for a show to bring back watchers it needs either a grandstand finish or lots of goodwill. Thankfully Buffy was a strong enough show that many did come back but they were presented with he ultimate Vampire cliché Dracula. It has all the hallmarks of a weak episode with everyone falling for his spell. Well everyone but our newly house trained vampire Spike

Riley: What can you tell me about Dracula?

Spike: Dracula? Poncy bugger owes me £11 for one thing.

Image courtesy of Dark Horse Comics

Of course it would not be Buffy if the usual pattern followed but truthfully this episode does improve but just like the season as a whole its ups are high and up and downs are pretty low. For that its probably the weakest season, there are some interesting new happenings in Sunnydale but they do not really make the season a must watch. Obviously though for completeness the pay off for the season comes in the future especially thanks to Dawn.

We also have a new bad in Harmony, she may seem cute and fuzzy but ultimately this is one vampiress not to be messed with. Sorry I tried but Harmony is a comedic villain and not in keeping with the usual tone of bad.

In Buffy's real life she has a multitude of things taking up her time from college life to a spot of big sistering. However the biggest change really comes via Willow with her powers growing her Witch like capabilities are proving her to be a formidable force. She is still as out there as ever and her light hearted brand of humour is generally a welcome addition especially when compared to Xander's more in your face brand of wit. Of course the powers are not the only change to the flame haired sorceress she also has a new partner in Tara.

The addition of a lesbian character was one of the biggest gambles of the whole Buffy show, it shouldn't have been but even in this day and age it still raises eyebrows when a gay character appears on TV. Thankfully Tara's and Willow's relationship is tender and avoids obvious tropes.

This season will be most remembered for two of the most impactful deaths in TV history. But more of that later.

Back Catalogue; A look at Buffy the Vampire Slayer Series 4

22/3/2014

Even though we always endeavour not to spoil there may be unintentional spoilers for season 1, 2 or 3. It may be worth your while looking at our synopsis of the first season or better still grab a visual copy of Buffy on DVD, or through Netflix etc and have some slaying fun. If you don’t mind learning a little more of the comings and goings centred around Sunnydale high then read on McDuff.

The wonder of television dictates that when your student body reach the age of moving to college that a town can miraculously spawn and support a university. It’s a trait that Buffy holds true to and the elevation of the Scooby from high school seniors to university freshman is filled with the usual level of paranormal mischief. Not that the whole team have managed to get to the halls of higher education, either by not meeting the grade in education terms or even in not quite surviving the horrors of the Hellmouth.

The finale of Season 3 saw a double episode called not surprisingly graduation, the episode saw Buffy kill her first human as she decided to put Angels life over that of Faith. It was a moment filled with relevance and unlike when vamps are killed there was no dust cloud just blood. It was a poignant moment in the series and the fact it was all done in vein gave the story an extra level of drama. Of course in the end Buffy destroyed the Mayor and Sunnydale survived to continue being literally the gateway to hell.

So the move to college obviously allows for new characters and even more importantly new and even more imaginative enemies. This is highlighted best in the Hush episode. It’s a tale literally from the storybooks as a host of fairy-tale creatures steal the voices of the residents of Sunnydale. The whole episode is made even more theatrical by a little girl singing a rather spooky Rhyme which goes;

Can't even shout, can't even cry
The gentlemen are coming by
Looking in windows, knocking on doors
They need to take seven and they might take yours
Can't call to mom, Can't say a word
You're gonna die screaming but you won't be heard.

The episode is probably the high point of the series and is one of favourite 45 minutes of television. Oddly the lack of voice just makes the whole situation feel creepier. Even though Buffy is a show about Vampires I never once felt scared but this is the episode that comes closest to elevating Buffy to a true horror event. It’s also compounded as there is still noise emanating from the rest of the world and environment. The lack of vocalisations does have on benefit for Buffy in terms of a new friend, or maybe this someone can be a little more than that.

On the positive side (maybe) there is an anti-vampire group on campus, the question is are their motives in line with Buffy’s sensibilities. Obviously as the show goes on you get to find out more about the world of the University of California Sunnydale and there are the usual missteps by the Scooby Gang along the way. Especially from Buffy as she finds that her early days on campus are filled with difficulty both in classes and on her nightly adventures.

Back Catalogue; A look at Buffy the Vampire Slayer Series 3

22/3/2014

Even though we always endeavour not to spoil there may be unintentional spoilers for season 1. It may be worth your while looking at our synopsis of the first season or better still grab a visual copy of Buffy on DVD, or through Netflix etc and have some slaying fun. If you don’t mind learning a little more of the comings and goings centred around Sunnydale high then read on McDuff.

Image courtesy of Dark Horse

This Season starts with a hoot and an odd way of slaying vampires, gone is our queen of slaying and instead the Scooby Gang is trying to replace her. This mostly comes about due the fact that the relationships that were being formed in the last season are pretty much broken. Admittedly death caused a fair few relationship breakdowns but so did the truth. Finally Buffy’s mum found out why her daughter keeps on getting into trouble and she did not take it too well. This and the fact that Buffy had to rip out part of her heart (not literally) meant that the opening finds our heroine a little lost, so much so she is no longer in Sunnydale hence the gang needing to go it alone.

We do start seeing other changes like the first appearance of “previously on Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and an upgrade in the visual quality of the filming. Obviously this has a lot to do with technology but the quality is very noticeable between the end of the last series and beginning of season 3. Although the quality remains the changes that the season began with will ebb and flow as the season goes on. We also get the best new character (in my opinion) entering the Buffyverse in the form of a new slayer with the name of Faith. Her entry is interesting and her time spent in Sunnydale is eventful to say the least.

We do get a great moment of slayerhood between Buffy and Faith that shows the sometimes quirky comedy moments the show is built on.

Buffy: Maybe I should introduce you again. Faith, this is Giles.
Faith: I've seen him. If I'da known they came that young and cute, I would've requested a transfer.
Buffy: Raise your hand if eww.

The season schedule was always intertwined with Buffy’s school years, it makes the whole aging process of the actors work and it also moves the story along. Of course she was expelled in the last season but some things do not last forever in the Buffyverse. There is a period mid season where this could not be truer thanks to Cordie and a mischievous demon. It gives the townspeople a chance to see what would happen if the Buffy we know and love never existed, it’s a chance to see alternate reality storytelling and is pretty well done albeit with an expected outcome although there are one or two twists along the way.

As this is senior year the obvious conclusion of the season would be graduation, however would it be a Buffy season without a sting in the tail.

Back Catalogue; A look at Buffy the Vampire Slayer Series 2

21/3/2014

Image courtesy of Dark Horse

A new school year and some problems have gone and some new ones are just beginning for Buffy. She is no longer the new girl on campus but those pesky Vampires are still an ever present threat and they even have a new friend for Buffy to play with in the form of Spike. The blonde haired slayer slayer comes in and takes charge of the job of removing the thorn in the side of evil that is Buffy. He is very resourceful and dedicated as he goes through the entire series finding new and inventive ways to achieve his goal. You get kind of a sense Wyle.E.Coyote vibe with Spike just in a more sinister way.

Perhaps the biggest change we get in this season though is Buffy herself. In the first season the fight choreography wasn’t very fluid. There were constant pauses in the middle of combat however from the first episode of this series we get to see an altogether stronger and more able Buffy. This was more than likely due to extra combat training for Sarah Michelle Geller in the off season but it did bring a whole new level of authenticity to the show. For an action show the violence needs to be created within reason but if it is too slow it would become boring to watch. Thankfully the combat is great to watch and continues on from this point.

However mostly I would say the theme of Season 2 is relationships, whether they be existing or new the ties that bind can sometimes be inescapable. Perhaps the oddest coupling is our bookworm librarian Giles with the Techno pagan Miss Calander (who returns from the first series). Their match of new and old information is vital in helping Buffy understand the world around her but the opposite attract factor is played for laughs at every opportunity. Their relationship is also responsible for the best rugby related lines in television as Giles remarks;

I just think it's rather odd that a nation that prides itself on its virility should feel compelled to strap on forty pounds of protective gear just in order to play rugby.

Buffy has an unexpected new relationship to deal with in the form of Kendra a new slayer; she was activated (so to speak) after the events of the season 1 finale. It’s a great conceit and her introduction again shows Whedon and the creative team have a flare for the dramatic.

Overall the second season of Buffy is a step up from the first. We have more action and character development as well as a growing cast. The wonder of the cast growth is that we get to lose characters along the way meaning no one is safe not even the slayer herself if the finale of season 1 is anything to go by.

Back Catalogue; A look at Buffy the Vampire Slayer Series 1

19/3/2014

Being the new kid in school can always be difficult, however when your school is located at Hellmouth then things may get a little messy. This is where we meet Buffy Summers our reluctant heroine, although she already knows her role as the slayer it does take a little time for her to warm up to the name.

Image courtesy of Dark Horse Comics.

Although when the series launched it was a new TV show, Buffy had already had an outing at the movies. However the tone of the series was similar but with a new cast the question was always going to be can the TV show endure?

Obviously in hindsight this seems like a daft question but a new show being headed by a young relatively unknown actress was always going to be a risk. Add to that the mix of horror, action and teen life and you could be facing disaster. From the first episode I was hooked I was always a vampire fan and this show was bringing a dark side to TV. The fact that Sarah Michelle Geller was an extremely charismatic lead (not to mention I had a huge crush on her) helped the show gain an audience, but it is the shows creativity that kept the audience tuning in. From the very opening of the first episode you are expected to believe in the normal format of a vampire attacking a damsel in distress, but this is expertly flipped around and so Buffy was born.

The first Season starts with a double header and has a twelve episode run; the first episodes are a particular highlight. Instead of rushing our introduction the story plays out over the two episodes, this allows the viewer time to adjust to the world and really starts Buffy off on a strong footing.

In these opening episodes we are also able to meet the Scooby gang as they are affectionately titled (by Xander). Although Buffy is a great central character the team around her are every bit as important in the shows narrative. The rag tag collection of a geeky girl (willow), a Librarian (Giles), a wise cracking want to be cool guy (Xander) and the dark and mysterious Angel. Each has their place of importance to the collective and will be the main stay of this series and some of what follows.

Although Buffy is called a Vampire Slayer she does have the ability to slay pretty much any evil creature and in this first season she will have to face monsters and witches and of course our fang touting bad guys. My personal favourite battle is from the episode entitled the Puppet show, I’ll not spoil the plot for you but the title should give you a pretty good idea of what to expect.

We do have a big bad in this series called the Master and as the name suggests he is the leader of the Vampires and although not in every episode he and his minions are always lurking. The Final episode is pretty epic and we really get see our lead performing at her best.

Ultimately Buffy was a great piece of pop culture. Watching the series again now, it still holds up even though the visuals are a little shaky. We will be taking a look at each season over the next few weeks but for now I’ll leave you with one of the most iconic quotes form the show from Giles

In every generation there is a Chosen One. She alone will stand against the vampires, the demons and the forces of darkness. She is the Slayer.

Random Chat; IT’S BACK TO THE FUTURE FOR THE UK’S FAVOURITE FICTIONAL GADGET

14/3/2014

I will say it came as a surprise to me, the Delorean is a cool gadget but I think of all the Back to the Future Gadgets I think I would have preferred the Doc's Train form the end of part 3 (sorry for the spoiler).
Anyway who am I to argue with the Great British Public?
Below is a full list of the rankings as well as some details about the Gadget Show Live.

Gadget Show Live, 9-13 April 2014, NEC – www.gadgetshowlive.net

The Delorean time travelling machine from the classic 80s film Back to the Future has been voted the nation’s favourite fictional gadget in a poll commissioned by the Gadget Show Live.

Gadget Show Live - running 9-13 April at the NEC - is the UK’s leading consumer technology event. 1,500 gadget fans from all over the UK took part in the survey to name their favourite fictional gadgets from the worlds of movies, TV and literature.

With the invisibility cloak at number four, Marauder’s map at 10 and time-turner at 15, the Harry Potter franchise took top billing for the most gadgets on the list.Star Trek and Despicable Me both featured twice.

Harry Potter wasn’t the only British brand to appear on the list: Doctor Who’s sonic screwdriver took second place and James Bond’s risqué magnetic Rolex scored a ‘respectable’ 14th. The top 20 is listed in full below.

1 Delorean (Back to the Future)
2 Sonic screwdriver (Doctor Who)
3 Teleporter (Star Trek)
4 Invisibility cloak (Harry Potter)
5 Light Saber (Star Wars)
6 Hoverboard (Back to the Future)
7 Neuralyzer (Men in Black)
8 Jarvis (Iron Man)
9 Replicator (Star Trek)
10 Marauder’s Map (Harry Potter)
11 Time travelling dream machine (Inception)
12 Jetpack with machine guns (Kick Ass)
13 Universal remote control (Click)
14 Magnetic Rolex (James Bond)
15 Time-turner (Harry Potter)
16 Fart gun (Despicable Me)
17 Willy Wonka’s glass elevator
18 Lipstick taser (Despicable Me)
19 Proton guns (Ghostbusters)
20 Gadget arms (Inspector Gadget)

Gadget fans were also asked to vote for their favourite fictional heroes and this time everyone’s favourite spy - James Bond - rocketed in at number one.

1 James Bond
2   Tony Stark (Iron Man)
3   Doctor Who
4   Batman
5   Inspector Gadget
6   Dr Spock (Star Trek)
7   Ethan Hunt (Mission Impossible)
8   Harry Potter
9   Austin Powers
10 Peter Venkman (Ghostbusters)

“This survey shows how the British public - kids and adults! - hold a very special place in their hearts for gadgets,” commented Sally Bent, Gadget Show Live event director.

“In the entertainment world, gadgets can make us laugh, inspire us, fill us with awe and engage our imagination to transport us into other lives and other worlds. Who wouldn’t love that?”

Weekly Poser; Has the XboxOne price drop given you a reason to buy?

9/3/2014

Post by Backwards Compatible.

Random Chat; For the love of FFA; Call of Duty Ghosts; Hunted Free for All

6/3/2014

My first look at Call of Duty Ghosts did not go according to plan. I have tried a few times over the last few days to get some footage of this mode but to no avail. So today I changed tact and created a video with the help of a few computer generated helpers. The gameplay is pretty sweet but please be aware I am playing privately with bots.
As always if you like hate or are indifferent to the video please leave a comment or thumb up/down.
I thank you for reading this far and I bid you farewell.

The Weekly Poser; Are Quick unlock packs fair or just a money making gimmick?

4/3/2014

Firstly many aplologus for the delay in getting this week squestion up, I could string a story about why but really real life go tin the way, that and COD Ghosts.

Anyway on with the poser.

With Battlefield 4 and Need for Speed Rivals to name but two titles offering quick unlock packs, I wondered whether these packs were justified in the modern gaming world and how everyone feels about.

As always you can post your response to the Site Facebook or G+. We try hard to make sure we spread the comments over all of the platforms but let us know what your preferred platform is.

G+	Facebook Post by Backwards Compatible.

Random Chat; Why I’m diving into the Sex, trade.

1/3/2014

by Paul Fiander

After almost swearing off Sex for good.

Retired superhero Simon Cooke has returned to Saturn City to live life as a "normal" civilian. Easier said than done! You might've heard about SEX, but nothing beats the real thing!

Before you read on I will just say did you notice the comma in the title. If yes then you realise that this article is not about me joining or partaking in the oldest profession in the world instead, it’s about the Image comic Sex and its trade edition.

Okay first a little bit of background Sex is a story created by Joe Casey and Piotr Kowalski about a retired superhero and his attempt to rejoin normal society. It may sound familiar but the way the story and characters are crafted gives this story a truly astonishing sense of depth.

After many a recommendation I decided this Batman analogue was something I wanted to experience. So off I trotted to my comic book shop and picked up the first issue. Then the troubles began.

I read the first issue and although it was intriguing I could not see the hook so I reread and reread and eventually decided this was not for me.

Then by chance I was listening to Eleven O'Clock comics episode 302 and the subject of Sex came up spearheaded by Jason. At around the 1 hr 17 minute I found I was not the only one who missed out the appeal of the early issue.

Towards the end of the section (around the 1hr 29 point) Vince mentioned that reading Sex 4 to 5 issues at a time was the way to go to really get the point of this story. This prompted me to invest into the Sex trade (which you can see the cover to the left). The Trade collects the first 8 issues and you can get this for a really good price. Its fair to say this has helped immensely and may even change the way I read certain comics (but that's for another post).

I will be doing a full review in time but if like me you have found this a difficult story to get into then I can recommend the trade as the real way to look at this series.

*Obviously the title for this article was a little tongue in cheek but please be aware this is a mature read and those with a sensitive disposition may want to avoid this story.

Back Catalogue; A look at Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 9

Back Catalogue; A look at Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 8

Back Catalogue; A look at Buffy the Vampire Slayer Series 7

Back Catalogue; A look at Buffy the Vampire Slayer Series 6

Back Catalogue; A look at Buffy the Vampire Slayer Series 5

Back Catalogue; A look at Buffy the Vampire Slayer Series 4

Back Catalogue; A look at Buffy the Vampire Slayer Series 3

Back Catalogue; A look at Buffy the Vampire Slayer Series 2

Back Catalogue; A look at Buffy the Vampire Slayer Series 1

Random Chat; IT’S BACK TO THE FUTURE FOR THE UK’S FAVOURITE FICTIONAL GADGET

Gadget Show Live, 9-13 April 2014, NEC – www.gadgetshowlive.net

Weekly Poser; Has the XboxOne price drop given you a reason to buy?

Random Chat; For the love of FFA; Call of Duty Ghosts; Hunted Free for All

The Weekly Poser; Are Quick unlock packs fair or just a money making gimmick?

G+

Facebook

Random Chat; Why I’m diving into the Sex, trade.

After almost swearing off Sex for good.

What this is

Archives

Categories

About Us