Review: Wytches

Looking back at last year, I saw that I covered a lot of different sources of Halloween delight, but I didn't really cover anything from comic books.  Today, that changes, as I actually found a horror comic that's well-crafted, well-written, and well drawn.

The League of Regrettable Superheroes

Superman.  Batman.  Spider-Man.  Captain America.  Deadpool.  Black Panther.  Ant-Man.  Aquaman.  Some comic book characters just have something about them that sticks with pop culture, whether it's something amazing, something refreshing, something real, or something that makes you want to mock them despite how awesome (yes, I'm aware some pictures there aren't loading, no I don't know why) they actually are.

But not every new character succeeds.  Sometimes they're an idea that's been handled better somewhere else.  Sometimes they just don't connect.  Sometimes they're either ahead or behind their times.  Sometimes they're just terrible.  Just so, so terrible.

Thus, we have the book The League Of Regrettable Superheroes, a collection of the weirdest, most misunderstood, and downright worst superheroes (and some villains) who ever existed.

Hostess Twinkie Ads Part One

Everybody knows the standard superhero powers.  You have your strength, your flight, your invulnerability, your ability to shoot lasers from your face, your ability to be a billionaire and afford a whole bunch of neat gadgets in a cave under your house...

But the most powerful superhero ability of all is the ability to summon forth Hostess products.  No super villain can resist them.

You doubt me?  Let's take a look at some classic ads.

Ask Erik: Episode Thirty-Three

Here at Ask Erik we've spent a lot of time reading novels and comic books, playing video games, and watching television and movies in order to amass a deep vault of pop culture knowledge.  While constantly trying to still gather new information, it only seems prudent to share some of what we have learned to help solve some of the world's greatest questions.

What's the best way to eat interesting food on vacation without running the risk of spending half your trip in a hotel bathroom?  How does the credit rating system work these days?  Why do cats chase laser pointers?

Once a week Erik tackles a question asked to him and tries to answer it in a method that handles the topic with the respect and attention it deserves.  Failing that, he'll at least try to make it funny so you don't regret reading it.

Erik Reviews....Seriously?

I own some great comic books.  Certain titles that I think told excellent stories, had amazing art, and could provide a serious look at the world around us while providing some keen insight into society and what's coming.  Granted, I don't own a lot of the "greatest" comics, like Watchmen, V For Vendetta, The Dark Knight Returns, or Maus.  But I've read them, and I think they're great.  Especially Maus.

I also own some comics that are so bad they're awesome (and some that shoot straight past awesome again and go straight back into bad.)  I own comics that are romantic, action-packed, gritty, and hilarious.

And then there are the books I own for a single solitary reason that usually pertains to that one book.  I bought some for a single line of dialogue, a single reference to something happening in the world, or a single spectacular piece of artwork.

And then there's a book like the My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic that I picked up because it has more pop culture references in it than an entire season of Family Guy.  Including, and I'm not making any of this up, one pony giving another pony the "be nice until it's time to stop being nice" speech from Roadhouse, a cameo from Mola Ram (the bad guy who pulled out hearts in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom), and Rule Number One from Anchorman.  Already, we know is is going to be mind-blowing.

Batroc Ze Leapair!

It was just recently announced that UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre will be playing "Batroc the Leaper" in the new Captain America movie.  First of all, this is a superb casting choice, one that would only be made better if Georges already had the epic facial hair that Batroc requires to be "Batroc Ze Leapair."  Now, Batroc isn't a major villain.  He isn't a major character at all.  He's a one-note joke whose only role is to show up, get punched around, and go to jail before showing up to repeat the process all over again.

And god, I love this character so much.