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ComicMix Six
ComicMix Six.
News Articles Featured in ComicMix Six
Sat Oct 18, 2008 — by Ian Bonds
Comic Mix Six - The Six Worst Comic Book Video Games
The Worst of the Worst
Comic books, admittedly, don’t have a great history when itcomes to video game adaptations. Hell,most games based on licensed properties have a certain stigma about them. It probably stems from the fact that theyfeel like a cheap cash-in…a way to make a quick buck on a popular fad such asmovies, TV shows, and yes, comics. Now,that’s not to say ALL comic book games are bad, no; but the genre does have itsshare of stinkers. Out of all thepossible crap-fests out there, these are the top six games that should never beallowed near your console of choice…EVER.
Marvel’s Uncanny X-Men– 1989: NES
Back in the heyday of the Nintendo Entertainment System,they were making games for EVERYTHING. At the time, publisher LJN held the rights to the Marvel license, andsadly, churned out turd after turd. Oneof their biggest steaming piles was this mess, based on Marvel’s MightyMutants. What made this game sobad? Well, sadly, the technology of theday seems to be the biggest culprit. Thegame took a top-down view of the action, and since there was only so much youcould show in 8-bit, character details were pretty much non-existent. That, combined with the muddy, dirty colorsof the backgrounds and you were lucky you could see anything at all, let alonewhich character you had selected. Nothing was recognizable, despite the fact that it had a decent sized rosterselected from the books. Thankfully, it’sone of the few bad marks on an otherwise mostly successful game franchise.
Fantastic Four – 1997:Playstation
Ugh. When you talkabout ugly games, two system generations ago, we had some DOGS. 3D graphics were all the rage, and polygoncounts were climbing higher and higher. Sadly, they still couldn’t figure out that muddy background thing, andso stuff tended to blend together - badly. At least this time you could see what was happening…but it wasn’tpretty. Take a tried and true gameplaystyle, affectionately known as the “beat ‘em up”, and add comic’s firstfamily. What could go wrong? Well, how about poor control, terrible plotand just plain shoddy gameplay? First,the game is about the Fantastic FOUR…so you have Mr. Fantastic, InvisibleWoman, Human Torch, The Thing and…She-Hulk? Wouldn’t that be FIVE? Then, you have repetitive, lazy combat (anormal pitfall for the “beat ‘em up”) of miscellaneous enemies that are largein number and small in variety. Add to thatthe poor hit detection, lousy control response and just a general sense of “whybother?” and you 
have this mighty gem. Fantastic,indeed.
Continue reading Comic Mix Six - The Six Worst Comic Book Video Games ›
Mon Sep 15, 2008 — by Alan Kistler
ComicMix Six: Embarrassing Deaths
Sometimes it doesn't pay to put on the costume.
The world of comic book super-heroes and costumed villains is a dangerous one. And sometimes, you don't make it out alive.
We all remember the tragic loss of Bucky Barnes when he was blown up while trying to disarm a bomb (although he turned up alive again as a cyborg a few years ago). We can still recall the tragic loss of Oliver Queen, the Green Arrow (who was literally resurrected not too long ago). We've reminisced about the sacrifice of Barry Allen, who became one with the universe even as he saved it (and who returned from the dead a couple of months ago). And it was literally front page news when Captain America was assassinated (and he's actually still dead).
But not all deaths in comics are noble moments you want to remember. Some are just down right ... silly. So here are six of the most embarrassing deaths. NOTE: this is focused on super-villains and super-heroes, not just any characters in comics in general. Otherwise we would just be talking about Preacher all day.
Fri Sep 12, 2008 — by Alan Kistler
ComicMix Six: Super-Heroes on Television
Because 'Heroes' and 'Smallville' deserve some company.
There have been some sad attempts at live-action super-hero shows over the years. On the other hand, Smallville has done pretty well for itself, going strong for eight seasons now. Heroes on NBC has made many TV fans question what may have been a dismissive attitude towards super-hero stories. And shows such as Buffy, Angel and The Dead Zone have shown that many folks out there enjoy stories about people who have unique abilities and fight evil.
So we at ComicMix pondered "what other super-heroes could work if brought to life on the small screen?" Personally, I think there are tons that could be great. But because none of us have that kind of time, we stuck by our habit of keeping the list down to six.
Tue Aug 26, 2008 — by Alan Kistler
ComicMix Six: Batman's Super-Powers
Some interesting times when Bruce Wayne became more than mortal
There's an upcoming story in the Superman/Batman title that will involve our long-eared Dark Knight getting superhuman abilities (albeit, temporarily). Writers Michael Green and Mike Johnson have been doing great work on the title, so this promises to be an entertaining tale.
But did you know that this won't be the first time Batman has been given super-human talents? Oh, yes. You see, although hailed for his keen intellect, strategic brilliance and Olympian athletic prowess, there have been times when Batman, through accident or design, has aquired superhuman traits. More times than we can put on this list, frankly.
So here are just some of the more interesting adventures that have occurred when Bruce Wayne wound up gifted with "power and abilities far beyond those of mortal men."
PLEASE NOTE: I am not including times where Batman used technology to help him out, such as a suit of armor or a rocket pack or New God weapons. Nor am I including times when he got powers for only a few pages, such as when he borrowed Hawkman's wing-harness and Nth metal belt (which grants accelerated healing, increased strength and flight) or the time that Hal Jordan let him try on his Green Lantern power ring for a minute. Those times may have been cool, but they lasted for only a scene rather than a fully story. Likewise, I am not including any Elseworlds tales.
Fri Jul 25, 2008 — by Arthur Tebbel & Christopher Toia
ComicMix Six: Six Groups of People to Kick Out of San Diego Comic-Con
... and stay out!
[EDITOR'S NOTE: As San Diego Comic-Con gets crazier and crazier, so does the mood of some of our ComicMix contributors. Case in point, the following ComicMix Six list that appeared in the queue earlier today from contributor Arthur Tebbel, who I've only managed to glimpse as he sprints from one panel to the next throughout the weekend. Here, Arthur offers up his thoughts on the six groups that he could do without at this year's Comic-Con. -RM]
THE SECURITY STAFF: The assembled masses at any comic book convention are probably too meek to takeover a Starbucks, so why do we need what appears to be thousands of volunteer security guards to give us conflicting information and, most importantly, prevent me from being where I need to be to do my job. If these guys got drunk on as little liquor as they do power they would be in the emergency room after two beers.
STORMTROOPERS: Thank God we aren’t trying to run a Death Star, because we would be dramatically overstaffed. How did we get to the point where people go through all this trouble to express themselves in exactly the same way as everyone else? We respect the effort but… no, actually we don’t respect the effort. Try harder.
PEOPLE WHO BRING BABIES TO A PANEL DISCUSSION: Your baby won’t appreciate the discussion and, thanks to them, now I won’t either. Hire a babysitter; the convention will even look after your kid for you. If your child is too precious to part with for even an hour, go to the park instead.
PEOPLE WHO START THEIR PANEL QUESTIONS WITH "I DON'T READ/WATCH [PANEL TOPIC], BUT...": These questions are always embarrassingly bad. What happened? Do you have some compulsion that makes you go up to any open microphone? Next year, we will most certainly go to a Battlestar Galactica panel and ask, “I don’t watch Battlestar Galactica but why aren’t there more tits in it?”
JESUS FREAKS: Okay, these guys weren’t in the convention exactly -- but I could really do without people telling me how much I’m going to hell for my choice in media. Furthermore, this inspires legions of fanboys to trot out the same tired comebacks about how much they worship Satan or some such. No you don’t, Hell doesn’t have a basement you could live in.
ABOUT 20% OF THE ATTENDEES: Sometime before the show begins they need to assemble all of the con-goers for that day and someone (we’ll volunteer, in fact) will walk through the crowd and eliminate 20 percent of the people. These people will have their money cheerfully refunded and they can try again next year. Next, we’ll do this for the exhibitors.
Want more ComicMix Six? Check out the ComicMix Six Archive for previous editions of CM6.
Wed Jul 16, 2008 — by Alan Kistler
ComicMix Six: Greatest Joker Victories
The Clown Prince of Crime's greatest hits!
Sometimes the villain wins.
Sure, you might stick them in jail -- or an asylum -- for what they've done. You could even throw them off a rooftop, leaving them paralyzed for life. But that won't change the fact that they already did it. They scored a victory, even if it was short-lived.
The Joker is definitely a villain with a better track record than most. Lex Luthor may have become President and nearly destroyed Superman a few times. But he never killed Lois Lane or tortured Ma and Pa Kent. The Clown Prince of Killers, however, has had quite a few shining moments. In the crossover Underworld Unleashed, the villain James Jesse (AKA Trickster I) actually admitted that when supervillains in the DC Universe want to scare each other, they often tell "Joker stories."
What drives this evil mass murderer? Some have claimed the chemicals which altered his pigmentation also damaged his brain. Some have claimed he suffered such psychological trauma and simply snapped. Some believe his brain actually acts on a higher level of perception, forcing him to operate with a logic we simply aren't equipped to understand.
The Batman himself has often spoken his belief that half of the Joker's craziness is just an act to convince people he's out of control, to hide the fact that he is a calculating psychopath so that he can be sent to lower-security asylums rather than prison or death row. Considering how the Joker always acts more serious and collected when he and Batman are alone, this last idea has a lot of merit. Half of his crimes seem to be a way of trying to bring Batman to his own way of thinking, that there is no hope in the world, only chaos.
The fact that we can argue about the Joker's sanity (or lack thereof) is part of what makes him so interesting. And so, with the release of The Dark Knight -- and the Joker -- looming near, we've sifted through the long and bloody history of the Harlequin of Hate to find those victories which stand out above the rest. Steel your nerves and enjoy ComicMix Six: The Six Greatest Joker Victories.
And if you're interested, you may want to check out our related article, 11 Batman Stories to read before The Dark Knight.
Wed Jul 9, 2008 — by Van Jensen
ComicMix Six: The Best 'Hellboy' Stories
Rating the top moments for Mike Mignola's demon
In previous editions of ComicMix Six, we've rounded up everything from Political Campaigns in Comics to Celebrity Team-Ups. This Friday marks the newest milestone for Mike Mignola's Hellboy franchise, with the movie sequel Hellboy 2: The Golden Army hitting theaters, so this week's list focuses on Mignola's most popular creation.
The evil-fighting demon named "Hellboy" has been one of the most successful new superheroes introduced in the past 20 years, first appearing as a joke illustration from Mignola in the early 1990s and then evolving into his current incarnation to debut in a full-fledged Dark Horse comics series.
Now the Hellboy world is huge, comprising several Hellboy books, the B.P.R.D. line, video games and the Hellboy movies.
Picking through all those 15-plus years of content, here are the six very best Hellboy stories, from epics to little fairy tales, from Cavendish Hall to Hell on Earth, and everywhere in between (Note: Only Hellboy-specific stories are included in the list).
Read on for the ComicMix Six: Best Hellboy Stories.
Wed Jun 4, 2008 — by Vinnie Bartilucci
ComicMix Six: Celebrity Team-Ups
Witness the power of the cameo!
[EDITOR'S NOTE: In previous editions of ComicMix Six, our contributors have given you their lists of comics' top political campaigns, the best and worst movies based on comics, and even a few reasons why a Skrull invasion isn't anything to worry about.
This week, we have a special guest contributor, Vinnie Bartilucci, whose name can often be seen in the comment sections here on ComicMix. We thought he had a great idea for this week's list, so without further introduction... Take it away, Vinnie! -RM]
Comics work fine all by themselves, in their own little universe. But at some point, just like on television, someone always says, “Hey, let’s bring in a guest star!”
Maybe it’s because the star in question is a comics fan, or they thought it’d bring the book some publicity if the star help it up on The Tonight Show, or any of the other inspirations that come after a late night of pacing the floor with a stomach full of pastrami. But the real world and the world of comics clashed a lot of times over the years.
Sure, comics creators would often put themselves in the books – Julie Schwartz made more than a few appearances in the DC titles after the discovery of Earth-Prime, and Stan Lee almost deserves his own ComicMix Six for all the times he appeared in the books. Bob Hope and Jerry Lewis even had their own titles for many years. But it’s the one-shot, “Hey, did that just happen?” crossovers I'm honoring in this article today.
So here they are, in no fixed heirarchy, my ComicMix Six list of the The Best Celebrity Team-Ups in Comics:
SUPERMAN AND ORSON WELLES: One of the earliest examples I’m aware of, the creator of Citizen Kane and later spokesman for the Paul Masson Wineries Orson Welles appeared in Superman #62. While working on his latest film, Black Magic, Welles accidentally stumbles across the launch site for an unmanned rocket to Mars, and while exploring the ship, it varooms off to the red planet, not as unmanned as previously presumed.
On Mars, he is confronted by the Martian’s tyrannical leader, “Martler.” Martler had taken that name because of his admiration of the Earth Dictator, and patterned his armies after the Nazi example. Apparently he didn’t get the last few news items… Welles naturally refuses his offer to become propaganda minister of Earth, and forces them to show him how to broadcast to Earth. He beams an impassioned plea home with news of the coming invasion, but you guessed it, thanks to his little prank a few years earlier, people don’t believe him this time. Well, nobody but Superman.
Superman arrives in the traditional nick of time and helps stop the “Solazi” invasion fleet, while Welles keeps the soldiers on the ground spooked with a few cheesy magic tricks, a skill that would serve him well later in life on Merv Griffin. He eventually knocks out Martler, and using him like a puppet, fakes a broadcast (irony!) to the people of Mars telling them to stand down. Martler is banished to an unpopulated asteroid, where we must assume he remains to this day.
Wed May 28, 2008 — by Martha Thomases
ComicMix Six: Biggest Tease in Comics (Male)
There's nothing worse than a superpowered tease!
[EDITOR'S NOTE: In previous editions of ComicMix Six, our contributors have given you their lists of comics' top political campaigns, the best and worst movies based on comics, and even a few reasons why a Skrull invasion isn't anything to worry about.
This week, ComicMix Media Goddess Martha Thomases ranks some of comics' most desirable -- but unattainable -- men, and the reasons why they always remain just out of reach. -RM]
Some of us yearn for a man’s touch. Sometimes, that man refuses. The very beauty that drew us to him now taunts us.
Here are the worst offenders, in no particular order, for my ComicMix Six list of The Biggest Tease in Comics (Male):
6. MORPHEUS: The Sandman only comes to you when you’re already asleep. This limits how much fun you can have, and more important, how much fun you can remember.
Continue reading ComicMix Six: Biggest Tease in Comics (Male) ›
Wed May 21, 2008 — by Chris Ullrich
ComicMix Six: The Best Movies Adapted From Comic Books
From 'Batman Begins' to 'Sin City', these films are the best of the best
In a previous edition of ComicMix Six, I set forth my picks for The Worst Movies Adapted from Comic Books. Now, because a "worst" list is nothing without a "best" list, I've assembled another one for you. This time around, I'm casting the spotlight on the opposite of bad movies and highlighting The Best Movies Adapted from Comic Books.
In contrast to the worst films, these stellar examples of cinematic goodness are not only great comic book adaptations, they're great movies, too. From brilliant direction, exciting visuals that enhance rather than obscure the story, to compelling peformances, these six films deliver in a big way.
They alse showcase adherence to, and reverence for, their source material and represent what happens when talented people who appreciate comics get together to make a movie. Plus, they're just plain fun to watch.
So now, without further ado and in no particular order, here is my ComicMix Six list of The Best Movies Adapted from Comic Books.
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Wed May 14, 2008 — by Alan Kistler
ComicMix Six: The Worst Supervillain Names in Comics
Oh, no! It's the... Rainbow Raider?
A while back, I gave you "The Worst Superhero Names in Comics," but now it's time for the other end of the spectrum. Yes, it's time to give the supervillains their due. (Well, those of them with horrible names, that is.)
Oh, and before anyone mentions folks like "Mr. Banjo" and "Captain Nazi," I didn’t include those characters because they were created to fight Captain Marvel back when that character's adventures were still very much aimed at younger readers - so I consider them to be an entirely different animal. The same goes for any villains created with intentionally silly names (i.e., Howard the Duck's nemesis, "Dr. Bong").
Ready? Okay, then I give you the ComicMix Six list of The Worst Supervillain Names in Comics...
6. BUSHMASTER: Yeah, I know it’s the name of a deadly snake. But honestly, guys and gals, when you see Wonder Woman (of all people) fighting a telepathic character called "Bushmaster," and then you read her thought bubble proclaiming, “Great Hera! I -- I cannot resist the telepathic commands of the evil Bushmaster!” … Well, you can’t help but laugh and cringe at the same time -- which is painful, believe me.
Congratulations, Bushmaster. You just barely edged out "The Growing Man" and "Bi-Beast" in the award for names with ridiculous innuendo.
Continue reading ComicMix Six: The Worst Supervillain Names in Comics ›
Tue May 6, 2008 — by Chris Ullrich
ComicMix Six: The Worst Movies Adapted From Comic Books
From 'Ghost Rider' to 'Catwoman' - six films that are the worst of the worst
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It should come as no surprise that Hollywood studios often turn to the pages of comic books and graphic novels for source material -- especially for action-packed summer releases like Iron Man.
Some of these films, such as Iron Man, Batman Begins
Unfortunately, there are also those other comics-to-film adaptations that disappoint critics, mainstream audiences and comic book fans alike. These films, whether due to bad writing, inept direction, gross miscasting, or a combination of factors, are often not only bad comic book adaptations, but bad movies in general.
Yet, even with Iron Man's phenomenal success, it's important to remember these bad films. These particular movies occupy a special place in the hierarchy of bad filmmaking and deserve to be highlighted -- especially so you can avoid seeing them if you haven't already.
Here then, in no particular order, is the ComicMix Six list of the Worst Movies Adapted From Comic Books.
Continue reading ComicMix Six: The Worst Movies Adapted From Comic Books ›
Thu Apr 24, 2008 — by Alan Kistler
ComicMix Six: The Worst Superhero Names in Comics
Remember: The first alias you think of isn't necessarily the best!
You know you've talked about it with your friends. "Mr. Fantastic? He's got, like, 17 doctorates... Shouldn't he be 'Doctor Fantastic' by now?" And let's not forget "Captain Marvel, Junior." Captain Marvel's not his father. What gives? And what's the deal with that Golden Age aquatic hero who called himself "The Fin?"
No matter how much we love comics, there are some superhero aliases we just can't get behind. So we did our best to compile some of the worst superhero names in existence.
By the way, members of the Legion of Super-Heroes have been omitted from the list, because... well, it's just too easy to pick on Matter-Eater Lad and Bouncing Boy.
6. KID MIRACLEMAN: In the U.K., he was originally called "Kid Marvelman." That doesn't change the fact that it's a lame name. Why?
KID MiracleMAN.
You can use the word "kid" in your name or you can use the word "man," but you can't use both! With the power of contradiction comes great responsibility!
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Thu Apr 17, 2008 — by Martha Thomases
ComicMix Six: Top Political Campaigns in Comics
You think your Campaign '08 options are bad? Check out these candidates from the world of comics!
It happens every few years, just like the Olympics or locusts: People lucky enough to live in democracies hold an election.
Sometimes they're voting for a President or a Congressman, and sometimes they're voting for a mayor or dogcatcher. People in comics vote, too, and their choices are often as stupid as ours.
That's why, with primaries on the horizon and campaigns dominating the headlines, we've decided to take a look at some of the most notable attempts (successful or otherwise) at obtaining political office in the comics world... in typical ComicMix Six fashion.
*Sigh* If only it were that easy to ret-con a disappointing election in the real world...
6. Myra Fermin, Mayor of Hub City (DC): In the most corrupt city in the DC Universe, Myra ran on a platform promising to clean up the mess. And she won, because there had to be a reason she couldn’t sleep with the Question.
5. Gary "The Smiler" Callahan, President (Vertigo): This mayoral candidate gave Spider Jerusalem a lot to write about in Transmetropolitan. At first, Spider liked him more than his predecessor, "The Beast." And then, Spider learned the truth. Basically, The Smiler was sort of like Rudy Giuliani, but without the combover.
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Wed Apr 9, 2008 — by Alan Kistler
ComicMix Six: Why Marvel's 'Secret Wars' Was Better Than 'Civil War'
Whose side are you on in the battle of Marvel crossovers?
[EDITOR'S NOTE: In last week's edition of ComicMix Six, we told you why the Skrulls' "Secret Invasion" probably isn't worth losing sleep over, given our list of the worst moments in Skrull invasion history. This week, we're playing in the sandbox of big events yet again, with a list of reasons why Marvel's recent Civil War event doesn't stack up against one of its popular predecessors, the 1984 series Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars. -RM]
Just over a year ago, Marvel shook up their universe with Civil War, a series-spanning event wherein the U.S. government decided, after a tragic accident involving super-powered heroes and villains, that anyone with superhuman powers would be required to register and become official federal operatives. Costumed crime-fighters picked sides, Marvel picked a slogan ("Whose Side Are You On?"), Spider-Man unmasked, and Iron Man's pro-registration camp hunted down the anti-registration crowd led by Captain America. In the end, Cap tearfully surrendered, only to be "killed" for his troubles a few issues later.
Throughout the series' seven issue (and countless tie-ins), the Merry Marvel Marketing team hailed Civil War as the most mind-blowing storyline since, well... ever.
Here at ComicMix, we're not quite sure we agree. After re-reading Civil War and comparing it to one of the first epic Marvel crossover events, the '80s action-fest Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars, there's a good argument to be made for the superiority of the earlier project.
Oh, and remember, what's being discussed here is the 12-issue Secret Wars series, published by Marvel in 1984 (and featuring the first appearance of Spider-Man's famous black costume), not to be confused with Secret War, the 2004-2005 five-issue series written by Brian Bendis.
Got it? Good. Now let's begin...
6. REMEMBERING THE LESSONS 'SESAME STREET' TAUGHT THEM: In Civil War, heroes who fought alongside each other for years decide that the best way to debate the merits of a new law is to spy on one another and brawl at each and every opportunity. In Secret Wars, heroes who don't necessarily trust each other decide that, despite their differences, teamwork and cooperation will improve their situation.
Sure, Spider-Man had a skirmish with the X-Men and the Hulk was shouting at everyone, but they still came together in the end. Wolverine and Captain America shared a heart-to-heart, and the heroes even accepted Magneto's help, knowing that the greater good was more important than issues of mistrust.
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