Love and Rockets: New Stories No.1

LOVE & ROCKETS: NEW STORIES No. 1 by los bros Hernandez (Fantagraphics)
Los Bros Hernandez return with the third iteration of their legendary comic book, and while it’s a kick to see Jaime doing superhero stories, I still can’t shake the feeling that the long-peaked Gilbert is making his shit up as he’s drawing it. I’ll wait for Xaime’s collected editions.

Watchmen

WATCHMEN
An acolyte of the source material, I loved this faithful deconstructionist superhero flick, even preferring the movie’s altered climax to the comic’s. But WATCHMEN relies on a dense, hyper-specific frame of reference to fully appreciate its style and substance. If you’re not the slightest bit geek, I’d skip it.

Watchmen: Music from the Motion Picture

WATCHMEN Music from the Motion Picture (Reprise)
Alan Moore did much of the movie’s music supervision when he wrote the comic, as some of the songs on this collection were quoted therein. Some creaky classics (Bob Dylan, Simon & Garfunkel) sparkle with fresh context and Nina Simone’s “Pirate Jenny” alone makes this worth buying for Watchnerds.

Trust Me

TRUST ME
This contemporary MAD MEN is entertaining, but Tom Cavanagh’s hyperactive man-child shtick can be grating and it is impossible to believe that Eric McCormack’s nervous, clueless Mason could even keep his job, let alone be promoted to creative director. Ultimately as realistic as an Axe Body Spray ad.

Bat-Manga! The Secret History of Batman in Japan

BAT-MANGA! THE SECRET HISTORY OF BATMAN IN JAPAN by Chip Kidd (Pantheon)
Just when you think there’s nothing old that’s new in the Batcave, along comes this amazing sampling of rare, original Japanese Batman comics from the 1960s, beautifully designed (of course) and enhanced by awesome and often bizarre images of toys and art from the era when Batmania reigned even overseas.

Forgetting Sarah Marshall

FORGETTING SARAH MARSHALL
Intermittently bits of hilarity (“Boosheet, boosheet, boosheet!”) and refreshingly complex characters (Russell Brand! Who knew?) can’t quite overcome another utterly predictable plotline in this rom-com from the Apatow factory. Jason Segel is cuddly as the schlubby hero, but Paul Rudd steals the show (as usual) as a wasted surf instructor.