Wednesday, March 30, 2011

X-23 v3 Issue 8 is Out Today!

As the title says, the issue hit comic shops this morning. I've only had a chance to read the first few pages since I forego reading the previews and all I can say so far is wow.

I loved issue 7 for everything it did, and this one so far does not fail to impress either.

The attention to detail in the writing to even the simplest aspects, and even the artwork both shine bright.

So be sure to pick your own copy up. This issue, and issue 7 are amazing.

I may have to rethink what the pinnacle defining character issues are now because of these two.

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

CBR Interview with Liu and Way, and Preview for Tomorrow's X-23 issue.

CBR has a great interview with Liu and Way up about Daken and X-23. They run the gambit of all sorts of topics including nature vs nurture, as well as upcoming team ups for X-23 after Jubilee.

CBR also has the preview for tomorrow's X-23 issue up as well.
Which you can check out here.

Remember, part 2 of Collision, the X-23 Daken crossover, hits shelves tomorrow in the form of X-23 v3 issue 8!



Friday, March 18, 2011

Daken #7 - Preview

The preview for part 1 of Collision, the Daken X-23 crossover, is up. It's being released on August 23rd.

CBR has the preview up here.

Monday, March 14, 2011

Japan Update 2

As you probably noticed, I stopped the other posts before they went live. Due to the news of troubles worsening for Japan, my attention has been diverted. Continuing celebrations today make me personally uncomfortable.

I'll scatter the remaining posts throughout the coming weeks, so no worries. Instead, what you should be doing is turning your attention to the news. I've had news outlets playing on my TV and PC the last 24 hours over concern for Japan and its denizens during this historic catastrophe. Be careful if you have kids in the house though, as this constant talk of the 5th largest earthquake in recorded history may scare them. While Japan may be pulling all earthquake and tsunami associated material for what seems like the duration of cleanup, USA is not. Cartoons on various networks, such as Tarzan on Disney for example, aired on Monday morning that featuring earthquakes and tsunamis as the primary villians or weapons of the villian. This can be either be viewed as insensitive, or an attempt to educate and reassure children (as Tarzan's case seems to be). Only you as parents can make that call for your kids which it is. It is something to be wary about if the household itself has been in shock over these events.

For right now, we will be returning to running silent as the world watches and prays for Japan. Remember if you want to help, you can donate to legit crisis relief funds. Make sure your money is going to help those that need it and not lining people's pockets who are taking advantage of this tragedy. There are many other ways to help as well. This is not my field of expertise, so please do your due-diligence for how best you personally can help if you are willing to help. As always, don't use your charitable actions as a point to become a bragart. Do or do not, there is no reason to brag in either choice. This includes even humble brags.

Also, ignore the fearmongering, hatemongering, and all around douche behaviour on the internet about this event. Sadly the world we live in is one where by trying to reason with such people, all you are doing is giving them more fuel for their enjoyment. Just let them fade into obscurity as not worth your attention. These kinds of people thrive on the attention these actions grant them.

So in other words? Don't feed the trolls. Feed the relief efforts. Even if it's just through compassion and sympathies. To also take this time to remember that life is fragile and sacred.

X-23's March Madness

This month, one could easily call it March Madness, or just awesome, but X-23 will be getting three issues released this month, as well as an appearance in Daken's comic.

That makes 4 comics for fans to buy who follow her appearances and comics.

Granted one is just a single re-release of issue 1 of her origin miniseries, but the other 3 are all consecutive stories.

First up, of course X-23 v3 issue 7(released last week) where she faces pirates, and makes her way to Madripoor. Next up is Daken issue 7 which kicks off Collision, the multipart crossover that will have Laura and Daken dealing with their family connection and facing a foe that may draw a line in the sand between them. Last up this month is X-23 v3 issue 8, picking up where Daken left off and continuing this story.

A month like this almost makes me wish X-23's comic itself was biweekly, especially after reading the phenominal X-23 v3 issue 7.

X-23 v3 Issue 6 - Review (Spoiler Free)

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know I missed this back in February, but hey I needed some filler for today. Forgive my lack of foresight from not seeing that Marvel themselves were already going to provide that with the re-release of the mini's issue 1, as well as an amazing self contained story in issue 7 of her ongoing. So anyway, let's get this out of the way then to get to the other awesome. Yes, I said other awesome, which means, as you probably suspected, this will be yet another glowing review for the comic.




What can one say about this issue without sounding repetitive to the reviews of other issues? It's a great issue, and a defining issue for Ms. Sinister's personal story, as well as Mr. Sinister's. This issue is written quite well expanding on Gambit and how he interacts with X-23, including ways in which he tests her for how empathetic she is.

The story lays interesting groundwork to be picked up later in comics about Mr. Sinister and Ms. Sinister, and dives into the very nature of how Ms. Sinister became who she is in retrospect.

The artwork is still the same as previous issues, contrasting light and dark rather well to help push subliminally the questions Laura has about herself. It also raises some interesting questions about the recent 'scar' that Laura has acquired and just what it means.

This issue itself raises many questions, yet also builds on ideas presented previously. It gives the reader much to look forward to in upcoming stories.


5 Claws out of 6



Short of 6 claws only because as a single issue it's hard to quantify as meriting that quite yet, but it does show a myriad of ideas starting to come to a head and within grasp of the reader understanding the planned direction this series seems to be treading softly towards in Laura's self-discovery. Something that comes across beautifully in Gambit's little situational test during their escape.

I'd also like to apologize for this moderately crappy review. As I'm writing this I'm being distracted by various, um, distractions.

X-23 Fan Soundtrack - Part 1

So, as I mentioned back on Tuesday, I should probably do an X-23 soundtrack round up. So yup, all credit to this goes to that randomness post for making me think about it. Today just seemed fitting for it. Besides, I kind of did need some filler for celebrations, and what better way than with music?

So keep in mind, these are just the tracks that I'd pick, and do not reflect what would or should actually be used if such a movie went forward.
You know, your typical disclaimer crap.

This list will feature pre-existing music tracks as to imitate what would be perfect for a soundtrack, not an original score(for obvious reasons). Not every song here should be in the movie either. The ones that I feel should, will be accompanied by an explanation of where. Since the readership is scattered around the world, I'll make sure to pick samples that are available to hear around the world too.

The listing is not done in order of preference to each song.

01. The Truth Beneath The Rose by Within Temptation



This song was chosen to kick off the soundtrack because of its overtones. It just screams perfection for choreography with lyrics that evoke a feeling of confusion about one's path and one's choices. It speaks to the modern dilemma Laura faces in her ongoing about her choices and why. With lines as powerfully delivered as "Forgive me my sins," is it any wonder I chose it? The melancholic ending yields a quiet sunrise on life, while the final crescendo beforehand gives off an eratic run down of events all culminating in defining one grabbing the reigns of destiny for themself as the light of dawn breaks over the horizon. Within Temptation is symphonic rock, or so that's the genre they call themselves. This Dutch band outdoes themselves with every album.

02. Monster (remix) by Meg & Dia



I chose the remix over the original because I personally feel it's got a better tempo this way and balances out some of the music types here by using techno. The song itself was chosen for its subject matter. As Dr. Sarah Kinney said in her letter to Laura, her life was defined by monsters. This song evokes just that with what it's about. There is no gentle way to say it, both Sarah Kinney and Laura Kinney were raped of their childhoods. Both of them lost their childhoods and innocence to monsters. Dr. Kinney in how she was sexually abused by her father, and Laura in how they attempted to deny her of all forms of humanity or compassion while growing up.

03. Unbreakable by Fireflight



A great song by Fireflight that expresses determination against those that once held you down. This song has an energy to it that feels perfect for Laura as she pursues her life outside of the Facility and determination never to go back to them.

04. More by Selena Gomez and The Scene



Yes, a Selena Gomez and the Scene song. I know, I know. I've made it no secret that I'd prefer her for the title role of an origin feature, but this song really helps sell the point too. Using this song during the montage of scenes shown in Target X of Megan helping Laura see what happiness and fluffiness life has could lead to a great mish-mash of scenes. Toss in a few scenes of them dancing in a mall with them laughing and Megan spinning Laura in slow motion(with close up), and you'd have a pretty fun set of scenes plus contrast to the horrors that happened in Laura's childhood.

05. Touched by Vast



A song of reflection and conflict, evoking both the time spent with her mother, Megan, and Debbie, as well as Kimura's pursuit. You've got moments of clarity and remembrance hidden amongst anguish and the clashing of wills against the Facility. These Lyrics even speak to the innocence and life Megan had, and how she 'touched' Laura's life. You could easily go from Sarah, Megan, and then Debbie with each 'Like you' lyric, building to the threat that Kimura poses to Laura's life, and how Laura deals with it. Megan herself, could also represent the life Laura wishes she was in before Kimura ripped it away forever. In contrast to the events towards the end of the miniseries in question, you could also use this song with the wolverine battle at the end. The act of her fighting her biggest fear, and yet all her losses in retrospect while fighting with the man who's very existence is the cause creates, well in simplest terms we'll just call it the "Wow, she's pissed" before it leads to the final tears scene and choice.


More surprises for the month yet to come including parts 2 and 3! So stay tuned as the celebration spam posting continues!

Kinney Pride Reaches One Year Anniversary!

Wow, who'da thunk it? We actually made it to one year (and two days) here now.

I honestly never planned on this. This place just seems to have taken on a life of its own.

To be perfectly honest, I had started here for other reasons. I needed a test venue for statistics on an obscure topic, so I chose something I thought would be obscure enough to give me the data I needed, yet wouldn't be missed when I closed it after I acquired said data. Sure there are many more reasons than that for why I chose X-23 to blog about, but the other reasons would rock the foundation too much to bring up.

Well, as you can see since it's lasted this long, that plan backfired. There's actually a consistent readership now from around the world. It's thanks to here that I've met Callie and Tabitha, and it's thanks to here that so many things are moving forward faster than I had ever anticipated or thought possible. (No, not an X-23 movie, but keep your fingers crossed!)

Sure Paper Cuts has been rather mediocre to say the least, there've been some rough spots for a time, and I've personally waivered on wanting to keep this place going. The more I waivered though, the more you, the fans, have shown through the statistics it's well worth keeping alive.

A lot of that should be credited to Marvel as well. If it wasn't for their starting an X-23 ongoing, here may not have lived long at all. If it wasn't for Marjorie Liu weaving such a masterful modern tale about X-23, I wouldn't have anything to review or talk about.

It's also thanks to Marvel, that I get to celebrate today with a review of the very first origin issue of X-23. Coincidentally timed for their re-release, but rather fitting so I'm not going to look a gift horse in the mouth on this. The first post here was a video of Christopher Yost doing a video interview with Sideshow, and what better way to celebrate the one year mark than with the first origin issue he co-wrote with Craig Kyle.

So that'll come later today among many other surprises...

Oh, and yes I know I'm behind on reviews, but schucks, there was a method to that madness and the missing comic strip...

We've had an amazing year here full of surprises, a couple mistakes, lots of luck, and full of just the obscure. So here's to the future! It's looking brighter and brighter everyday. Here's to having another year of wonderment!

Saturday, March 12, 2011

Japan Update

As stated before, the celebrations for today have been put on hiatus as the world turns to Japan to check on their well being.

As such, from now until the 14th, this blog will be running silent to pay respect to those that lost their homes, their families, their loved ones, and some even their lives. This does not mean that the tragedy is over for Japan come the 14th, but it's the longest I can suspend activity here for now, and bring something positive to this blog in the wake of this disaster.

So please take a moment out of your time today and tomorrow to pay respects to Japan. Keep them in your thoughts and prayers as this tragedy continues on.

All planned posts, the missing reviews, comic strips, and more will go live Monday March 14th instead.

For now, please turn to real news outlets to keep up to date on what's happening in Japan. For those who are native speakers but not in Japan right now, there is also Keyhole TV for first hand accounts of what's happening in Japan from japanese news services. Google is also offering their person finder app to help connect people with information in the wake of this disaster as around many are still without power, cell towers, and other luxuries of life we take for granted everyday.

Friday, March 11, 2011

Kinney Pride Anniversary Postponed

Due to the tsunamis and earthquakes in Japan, all festivities here have been postponed about the one year anniversary on the 12th.

Some of the readership here is located in Japan according to the statistics, and it wouldn't be right celebrating at a time when they are in need, injured, or worried about friends and loved ones. It feels too morbid to go forward with what was planned while all this is going on.

My prayers and thoughts go out to all those affected by this devastation.

This hits on a personal level for many people. Many have loved ones, or even namesakes that are currently in Japan that may not have the means to contact and let others know they are okay as yet. I pray that we all can relax with sighs of relief in the days to come as we all hear from various friends or loved ones.

For now, no matter what your beliefs are, whether you're religeous or not, keep Japan in your thoughts and prayers during this hour of need.

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Who says...



I'm posting this video for a couple reasons. The main one being it's just a fun catchy new song. This song would also be perfect for an X-23 soundtrack besides many other songs. Speaking of which, I should someday probably post that just for fun. I might do that later this week, like after or on the 12th...

Besides, who says I can't just post some randomness here occasionally?

February 2011 Sales

X-23 v3 #06
Cover Price: $2.99
This issue was ranked 66 out of 300 according to ICv2 which is based on Diamond U.S. to comic specialty stores. The issue has sold an estimated 27,156 copies to them.

Comics for March 9th, 2011 (Wednesday)

This Wednesday will see the release of two X-23 comics.

One new, the ongoing comic, will have it's 7th issue. An issue that will be moderately self-contained as it brings Laura to Madripoor.

The other comic?

Why none other than issue 1 of X-23's self-titled v1 mini-series re-released. You can pick the first issue up for the low low price of just one dollar! Well, that's before tax. So if you missed this great mini-series before that covered her origin, now's your chance to grab it again. Innocence Lost details how X-23 was created, telling the story mostly through her mother, Dr. Sarah Kinney. So if you missed the TPB or the single issues, be sure to grab issue one this time.

One can only hope that after they do this, they continue the trend of re-releasing the issues without any changes for those that missed out before.

So if you were looking for a place to hop on to collect her comic but were afraid of being lost, this is the time. You can pick up what looks to be a great issue in the on-going alongside the very first issue of her origin mini! If that's piqued your interest, be sure to swing by your local comic shop this Wednesday and pick up both issues.

Thursday, March 3, 2011

X-23 v3 Issue 7 Preview

CBR now has up the preview for March 9ths X-23 issue.

Check it out here.