Gamers
Written and Directed by Christopher Folino
Starring Kevin Kirkpatrick, Kevin Sherwood, Scott Rinker, Dave Hanson, Joe Nieves, Michael Bell, William Katt, John Heard, Beverly D’Angelo, Kelly LeBrock
Release Date: May 6th, 2008
87 minutes, Unrated

First things first, I have to admit that the title of Gamers kind of fooled me because my initial thought was that this was going to be a movie about video game freaks, not pen and paper, RPG nerds. My guess is that the misleading title is intentional to “bait and switch” goofballs like me. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve played a great many pen and paper RPG’s in my time and have a great affinity for them. But nowadays, “Gamers” has a completely different connotation in my mind and in the minds of many others, I’m sure. Using that title here just smacks of shameless commercialism, which pisses me off.

Dan Dare
Free Comic Book Day Edition
Created by Frank Hampson
Script by Garth Ennis
Art by Gary Erskine
Colors by Parasuraman A.
Letters by Rakesh B. Mahadik
Virgin Comics

Man, do I love me some Garth Ennis. Garth Ennis could turn mind-numbing drivel like Jane-fucking-Eyre into a comic and it would rock out with its cock out, I’m sure. So, Dan Dare may as well be called “Garth Ennis” as far as I’m concerned because I’m already digging this preview on strength of Ennis’ name alone.

That being said”¦

Dan Dare is Virgin Comics’ revival of the classic, 50’s British pulp hero of the same name. I wouldn’t worry if you don’t remember him because I don’t think too many people on these shores do. To our friends across the pond he’s an amalgam of our Captain America, Batman, and Superman. And, regardless of what I wrote in my first paragraph, this title does have potential for reasons other than Ennis’ involvement alone. The art of Gary Erskine evokes, in my mind, the work of Steve Dillon and I’m sure that’s not just a happy coincidence after the successes Ennis and Dillon shared on Preacher and in the revival of Marvel’s Punisher.