Gatsby77

Two different pieces detailing how WW84 abjectly failed Cheetah. They focus primarily on her lack of independent agency and depth - esp. relative to her comic book backstory and origin - but to me it was simpler -- she's Wonder Woman's archenemy, the closet analog we have to her version of the Joker, and instead she's relegated to a mere henchman / sidekick to Max Lord - just as Bane was to Poison Ivy in Batman & Robin. I don't understand the writers' logic there - let alone given that one of the writers was none other than Geoff Johns. *Especially* given that Greg Rucka gave us an updated ("Rebirth") origin for Barbara Minerva in the 2016 Wonder Woman run. They literally had the storyboards to do it right...or, at least, do it far less wrong. https://collider.com/wonder-woman-1984-why-cheetah-fails-kristen-wiig/ https://www.vox.com/culture/2020/12/29/22197476/wonder-woman-1984-cheetah-kristen-wiig

Thank you - much like Green Lantern 76, it's the *story* in this book that makes it significant, far more than the cover. It brings Superman into the 1970s, with elements including: Superman shifting from newspaper journalist to TV broadcast reporter Perry White being replaced as his boss by Morgan Edge Superman's powers adjusted down Superman now (temporarily) impervious to kryptonite Moreover, it was *intended* by the editors as a restart of a more modern Superman for new readers as part of the new decade, as laid out (along with the full comic) here: https://50yearoldcomics.com/2020/11/11/superman-233-january-1971/ It's clearly the first "Bronze Age Superman," as significant to that hero as Green Lantern 76 and Batman 217 were to theirs.

Interesting take. I thought Diana’s first overture to her - dinner after discovery that the mystery artifact was just cittroline (sp.) was genuine - and perhaps a bit out of guilt for blowing her off earlier. Either way - agree that the exact joke didn’t matter - it was their dynamic already in progress that enabled the characterization in the lunch scene.

? Just like I - despite your multiple posts to the contrary - never advised people not to see WW84, neither did Silvermane. His opinion’s just as valid as the *many* others on this board who have pointed out the film’s unfortunate mediocrity - and he actually added to the conversation with that post. More than a few folks on Twitter have pointed out how much stronger the film would have been f they’d leaned into the obvious sexual chemistry between Diana and Barbara rather than (as they did) hinting at it and then ignoring it. I’ve said it before, but the choice to relegate Cheetah - literally Wonder Woman’s archenemy - to a mere sidekick / enforcer for Lord rather than the true big bad with agency of her own - was a huge missed opportunity and unforced error.

Because any Smart TV that can support Roku definitionally also gives you direct access to streaming services like Netflix, Disney+, Prime & HBO Max without it as well. in either case, you still have to sign up & pay for the services. So if someone wants to sign up for HBO Max, it makes zero difference whether they’re also a Roku user.

Right. I’m saying, to my knowledge, *zero* Roku members are subscribed to HBO Max by default. So why would Roku integration help increase HBO Max’s subscriber base? I had the option to subscribe to HBO Max directly, via my Smart TV or through Roku. I chose to do it through Roku - but still had to sign up & pay the money. No differently than if I’d signed up via my smartphone & downloaded the HBO Max app.

? I accessed HBO Max via my Roku. As with Disney+, Prime, etc., you still have to subscribe.

Seriously? I *never* advised anyone not to see it. I posted my honest opinion of the film - both positives and negative, but ultimately a view not as negative as at least a dozen other posters here. And you go and liken it to Raiders of the Lost Ark - not only one of the best films of the entire decade of the 1980s, but literally on AFI's list of the top 100 American films ever. And for the record, WW84 wasn't *nearly* as bad as BvS or Suicide Squad.

I dunno - I thought "Tomorrow Never Dies" was an apt comparison (after "Goldeneye"), or...for Indiana Jones, it's far more "Temple of Doom" than "Raiders." As in, a highly anticipated but ultimately lackluster and shockingly mediocre sequel to a masterpiece. And if it's getting this trashed among us - the comic book faithful, who have every reason to want it to succeed, I can't imagine the general public thinking it's much better...

Ouch! Too soon... I mean, to be fair, the Valiant relaunch has lasted longer than the original VH1 universe did. On the other hand, the top-selling book for October, Bloodshot # 9, clocked in at # 163 on the list of best-selling comics.

Metro platform was L'Efant Plaza. It's the only one where the Green/Yellow line (lower level, where they were) intersects with the Blue/Orange/Silver lines (clearly shown in signs leading to the upper level). Of course, the Silver Line didn't exist in 1984 but whatever... I also was perplexed re. how Diana could work as an archivist at the Smithsonian Natural History Museum but afford an apartment at the Watergate.

It should be exhausting to read through, because some of the thread participants actually understood securities law. But some basic issues identified with Rally Road's comic book offerings itself: The IPO price is always 20-30% above FMV. Overpaying by 20% is the same whether you spend $12 on a $10 equity share or $12,000 on a $10,000 equity share. So every "investor" definitionally starts in the hole. Illiquidity - you can only buy or sell shares for a few days every 90 days; otherwise, your money's tied up. Rally Road itself owns at least 20% - but likely 51% or more - of every asset, meaning a hostile takeover and forced sale is impossible - they have total control of the underlying asset - including whether and when to sell. Even worse, their fine print states you are buying the trading shares, but not really shares in the asset - giving you no claim on the underlying comic. There's no equivalent of an opportunity for a proxy vote. Lack of transparency around Rally Road's administrative costs -- including staff, insurance and storage fees - which it takes off the top. Each "comic purchase" is set up as its own separate entity, meaning if things go south, that entity itself could theoretically go bankrupt, enabling them to shaft investors and pocket the difference, while insulating the rest of Rally Rd's assets. In a recent collectible sale (I believe it was the Jordan rookie card), Rally Road itself was the ultimate buyer. Read that again. Rally Road was the (minority owner /)seller, broker (it set the share price) and ultimate buyer. Not just on both sides of the trade, but literally setting the price too. Not. Sketchy. At. All. Lack of transparency re. the relationship between Metropolis Comics and Rally Rd. (In the TMNT 1 CGC 9.8 example, Rally Rd. bought the book from Metro for "$59,000" but really only $7,900 or so down, with the balance due post $65,000 IPO. So Metro's allowing them to acquire books with only 13% down. FMV at the time was just $52,000, or 25% less than the $65,000 IPO) No public transparency re. either comic book expertise or investing expertise on Rally Rd.'s staff. This may seem minor but recall one of the reasons CGC itself was successful was Steve Borock was a known - and trusted - quantity.

I *loved* The Disaster Artist, but I suspect your enjoyment of the film is based entirely on your knowledge of and appreciation for The Room. I mean, it's essentially a documentary, where both James and Dave Franco went full-method actor.

Point of Order - the bulk of the Dark Horse Star Wars books driving sales are from the early-mid 2000s. Much of the 1991-1999 stuff is still worthless - devoid of major first appearances driving TV-related speculation.

I was confused and to Google it too. Apparently "Fresh" is 60% positive and above, but "Certified Fresh" is 75% positive and above. WW 1984 has now fallen to just 66% positive, losing the latter designation.

Here's the original thread. Note that Valiantman is nearly a one-man band here, accounting for 20% of the posts in the early pages as he (ahem!) valiantly tries to defend this dubious "investment" scheme in the face of near unanimous condemnation and ridicule - not on the grounds that "it's new," "it'll never work," etc. but on the numerous red flags laid out in Rally Rd.'s own literature.

There's no need, because at least four of us already laid out several of the ways they could scam folks back in the original "Rally Rd." thread. Do we have to see another 50+ page thread regurgitating the myriad ways this continues to be a bad idea just because Greg decided to pimp it again?

You saw he said Superman III, right?

Unlike the first film, the ending's not the problem with this one - it's more the lackluster overall plot and execution of the middle.

I'm still processing but this seems to sum up my feelings so far. I enjoyed it while watching it, mostly for the joy of seeing more Wonder Woman adventures. But by the end I thought it was merely mediocre - an incredible letdown, esp. after how amazing the first film was. It was equivalent to watching a forgettable Bond film (like watching Quantum of Solace after Casino Royale). I thought the acting by Gal Gadot, Kristin Wiig and Pedro Pascale was phenomenal. But these are all minor plot nits compared to the overall feeling that it was just meh. I expected better, esp. from Geoff Johns.

I also think that most comic collectors (and many on this board) are far too superhero-centric in their collecting, so they have a blind spot when it comes to Star Wars comics (and broader fandom). I've made the argument repeatedly that the original Star Wars # 1 (normal, $.30 edition) is one of the biggest Bronze Age Marvel keys - but its value is held back primarily because of the ginormous print run. I can't think of another Bronze book that sells for $200+ in merely CGC 9.0 when there are literally 6,000+ slabbed copies available in that grade or higher. So it absolutely makes sense that the first comic appearances of characters in far rarer Dark Horse books like Star Wars: The Clone Wars # 1 (1st Ahsoka Tano) command big bucks.

Yeah - it was painful enough watching the AvP movies with their lesser budgets. Who wants to see an Aliens show w/ a TV budget? I mean, I liked the War of the Worlds and V TV shows back in the day, but I was also a child.

I pretty much limit my Pre-Unity collecting to Magnus 0 these days - 30+ copies and 4 slabs (9.8, 9.6 x 3). But then, I also own the world’s best Gold Key Magnus set - 1-46 in average cgc 9.6.

I’d still bet on its being dead. What are we expecting here? A 6-week shoot next fall ahead of a summer 2022 release? Possibly viable only because Diesel’s announced projects (Guardians 3, Fast/Furious 10 and Riddick 4) are all much bigger & likely delayed due to Covid? Either way, jumpstarting a wave of Valiant movies /TV projects seems even less likely. incidentally - the original cover art to Magnus 5 is at auction on Comiclink tonight. Too rich for me ($4,100 last I checked) but the cover to the first Rai is one of my grails...