Superman Returns returns with Superman at the end of the financial year. June 29 to be pretty close on the money.

Taking up the newly dusted clean mantle of the man of steel is Brandon Routh to fill the mighty boots and don the red cape.

This will be the fifth starring Kal-El and is basically a continuation of the first two films starring the late Christopher Reeve. Which means the second and third sequels, Superman III and Superman IV: The Quest For Peace, never really happened.

What did happen and while Supes was away, is that Cyclops (James Marsden/Richard White) and Lois were busy raising a baby they made together. Apparently the man of steel went off to check out the remains of Krypton.

Well, now he's back.

 

Forget Mighty Joe Young, those gorillas in the mist, that Orangutan, Clyde (Manis), from Every Which Way But Loose, even the thousands and thousands of monkeys hitting away at the typewriters for Shakespearean flukes. Those primates have nothing over the one true King.

King Kong, Eighth Wonder of the World, back again to the fore of monster lore and living it large. Thanks to the wily efforts of Kiwi directory, Peter Jackson, Kong is out there to clamber atop the buildings to reclaim the crown.

The only one that may possess even a hint of a challenge to the one from Monster Island is Kong Homer.

Himself bearing a stunning likeliness to the King of Kings, Kong Homer is a married ape who is more prone to sleeping and drinking than King Kong. Any match in that case, would be severely handicapped.

Place your bets, place your bets.

 

Gremlins, like any pet that chews holes into budgets and smears its love all over the carpeted areas of the dungeon, need some care. Essential to the domesticity of their kind into being civil citizens of a house are three golden rules.

1. Keep them away from bright light; 2. Don't get them wet; 3. Never feed them after midnight.

All very well and good and transferable to many other species, such as mutants and goldfish. Takes some thought into looking after pets, and humans, and even cars for that matter.

Short of drinking a spiked flask of Dr Catheter's brain formula, there are more than a few ways to work on increasing the nubbly wobbly matter floating in the skull.

Meditation - According to New Scientist, the quiet still of deep meditation can work those brain muscles into throbbing busters of thought and cognition.

The Guarana hit - found in many Brazilian drinks and swimming in the backwash with Vitamin B in some energy drinks. Like drinking brain juice, moderation is key. (Dr Pepper is still hard to find in Australian stores and somewhat irrelevant to this note.)

Mental calisthenics - Crossword puzzles, Sudoku, anagrams featuring Alec Guinness, little exercises that work on the memory and its acuity also happen to stave off Alzheimers. To an extent.

Man With Two Brains - If all else fails, there's the option of swapping brains. Warning, some personality waste may affect as part of any transfer.

 

First person to come to mind when the average passerby is asked about superheroes is Superman. The Last Son of Krypton has got a certain lock on the first port of call in their minds. Clark Kent, front and centre along with "Truth, Justice and the American Way."

A way of life which might be up for serious debate as the definition makes for a touchy subject as the cracker nights drag on. Good times can be had though, these consisting more of nostalgia and the "essence" of a character. Hence, All Star Superman.

DC launches the newest addition to its All Star line of comics -- where the industry's top creative talents refine the iconic focus of the world's greatest super-heroes. Writer Grant Morrison (JLA, Seven Soldiers) and artist Frank Quitely (The Authority, New X-Men) -- the acclaimed team behind JLA: Earth 2 -- are at it once again, this time to strip down the Man of Steel to his timeless, essential elements.

The series kicks off with a 12-issue story arc touching on all the classic aspects of the Superman mythology, starting with a daring rescue of a doomed group of helionauts on the surface of the sun. The massive amounts of solar radiation affect Superman in a way no one could possibly anticipate -- except Lex Luthor!

Back to basics, it's the kind of Superman that the world in general knows more than the regular comic book reading public.

For those interested, the Red Sun crew will be filming some more finishing location shots for Superman Returns in the CBD.

 

Fantastic Four, the new Marvel Comics film starring Iaon Gruffudd, Chris Evans, Jessica Alba and Michael Chiklis, is set to open nationally on July 7. Out now, the comic book adaptation based upon the movie based upon the comic of the same name and fame.

Within the pages of Fantastic Four, Marvel's first family have been known to spot a comic featuring their very likenesses. If the adaptation of the movie of the comic scores a hint too deep in the incestuous conceptual playground, there are other options for the Fan4 fix.

Marvel Adventures Fantastic Four - Fun for all the kids. Contains no traces of nuts and low in GI. Comes with a side of jelly babies. May contain traces of red cordial.

Marvel Knight's Four - Dark chocolate and rockie road. May more may not leave you broke looking for a dessert spoon. The cherry is glazed in rich brandy, evaporated before hit even hits the pan.

Fantastic Four - The original flavour factory. With all the vanilla that doesn't shy away from sprinkles and syrup. Suitable for all ages before the grave.

Ultimate Fantastic Four - Just like New Coke, except without Max Headroom. And possibly without the sugar. Caffeine-free.

 

The renewed hit on the Batman mythos sets out to hold down some real estate, Monopoly-style in the ever-stewing war between DC and Marvel Comics. This year will see the Bats -- created by Bill Finger and Bob Kane -- head up against the Fantastic Four.

With a Year One type story penned by Blade scribe, David S. Goyer -- who could easily pass for Stanley Tucci if Tucci was covered in tattoos -- it returns to the dark and disturbed world of Bruce Wayne and Batman.

Christopher Nolan's Batman Begins explores the origins of the Batman legend and the Dark Knight's emergence as a force for good in Gotham. In the wake of his parents' murder, disillusioned industrial heir Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) travels the world seeking the means to fight injustice and turn fear against those who prey on the fearful.

With nary a mention of shark repellant or barracuda spray, such swinging high flights in the tights of the Schumacher-era are safely a parallel universe away.

Next year, Supes goes against the X-Men. If the X-Mansion can be padded out with a sense of character in time.

 

 

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