August 2021

Review – Free Guy (2021)

14th August 2021

SUMMARY Ever wondered when you’re playing Grand Theft Auto just what that NPC you just ran over with your car and robbed is up to these days? Well his name is Guy. He lives in the Free City, works at a bank, has a goldfish named Goldie and he’s about to change the gaming landscape and the world all in the name of love! Groundhog Day meets Grand Theft Auto with Ryan Reynolds as a concept being the magnetic pull between them. CINEMATOGRAPHY The cinematography is versatile throughout the film, offering an array of shooting styles for whatever the occasion requires. There is perhaps an overdependency on slow motion which is used quite indifferently all over the film, like a throw it at the wall and see if it sticks mentality. An interesting but sure to be divisive element of the CGI is the perception of the video game in the real world. When the scene is within the game it’s characters are fully live action and appear as if they are from the real world, however from the outside looking in, Free City becomes computer generated like that one Red Hot Chili Peppers music video. As I say, this will divide viewers but I believe it is is justified. WRITING Not even a minute in we are presented with a Tim-Milleresque sandbox of nihilistic chaos while the dissonant and unforgiving innocence of Ryan Reynolds monologues about the film your now laughing hysterically at. To say this is the whole plot would be correct but inaccurate as laced throughout this certified action comedy is Levy’s brilliant satire on AI and modern society. With it’s setting based in the world of video games both literally and professionally, there are a tonne of fan service with references to games like Halo, Half-Life, Portal and Grand Theft Auto as well as real world gaming culture like Let’s Players, technological advancements and loads of appropriate terminology, all treated and delivered with passion and understanding. If you don’t know what an NPC is however, those references will be lost to you. Fear not as there is more than enough fun to be had throughout the film. OVERALL In conclusion, Free Guy is a tremendously fun and excitingly wholesome film. What the film lacks in gripping dramatic stakes is made up for with insane action set pieces and blisteringly accurate social commentaries all delivered by a top notch cast just having fun with each of their roles. What could have been a throw away Non Replayable Film turned out to be the hero we need and the the video game film we deserve! It was a surreal experience walking out of the cinema and into the real world again, all I could think about was that I was in Free City without sunglasses! It takes a special kind of film to change your perception of the real world. It’s not a good film…it’s a GREAT film! [yasr_multiset setid=2] [yasr_visitor_multiset setid=2] Let us know in the comments your thoughts on Free Guy (2021), your favourite video game adaptation and don’t have a good day…have a GREAT day! Buy tickets for BGCP Comic Con in and around Glasgow Scotland – BUY TICKETS Check out all of our Comic, Movie, Television and Videogame Reviews HERE and our Podcasts/Interviews HERE If you want to be part of the BGCP community, Join us on Discord, Twitter, Instagram etc then click HERE

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Creator Interview – Chris Evenhuis

19th August 2021

Introduction Hey folks and welcome to the first ever written BGCP creator interview. We are lucky enough to be chatting today with Chris Evenhuis. Chris Evenhuis is an incredibly talented artist from the Netherlands. He has worked in the comic book industry since the late 1990s. His credits include: Darkness: Resurrection Wynonna Earp Monstro Mechanica GI Joe And concept art for Overlord 2 As well as multiple other cool titles that you can find over on his socials: Insta: https://www.instagram.com/chris_evenhuis/?hl=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chris.evenhuis Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChrisEvenhuis?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor Interview BGCP: Hi Chris, thank you for taking the time to speak with us. Would you mind starting off by telling us a bit about yourself, your educational background and your career? Chris Evenhuis: Hi there, I’m Chris Evenhuis and I’m a comic artist and illustrator based in The Netherlands. My education wasn’t art-related (I started out as an Environmental Scientist), so as an artist I’m self-taught. BGCP: How did you go from studying Environmental Art to becoming a full time illustrator? CE: I’ve been drawing comics ever since I was a kid and had some indie shorts published by age seventeen. However, teachers convinced me to also pursue a ‘real job’, something with better career prospects. So, I ended up graduating as an Environmental Scientist instead. But by that time, the social climate in The Netherlands had shifted and jobs in that field kinda dried up. This meant that I ended up mostly jobless anyway. Thankfully I was able to move on to video games, where I worked as a concept artist for several years. Until I moved on again to Franco/Belgian comics, and eventually US comics as well. BGCP: Who are your main influences when it comes to your art? CE: This one’s difficult to answer because for a large part it depends on what type of project I’m working on. I do tend to see influences from Alphonse Mucha and Steve Dillon in my own work, but I’m not sure others would agree? BGCP: You have a really distinct art style in all of your work. Did you intentionally hone this style or is that how you have always drawn? CE: Thank you so much, that’s one of the nicest things I could hope for as an artist. It’s a combination of gradually developing a style that all at once feels natural, tells a clear story and helps making deadlines. Over the years I’ve found myself mostly looking for things to remove from my rendering, trying to find a style that has the least amount of ‘distraction’. It used to have a lot more details and cross-hatching, things like that. Lately my focus has shifted more to bold lines and shapes, and clear movements and emotions. It’s an ongoing process which I really enjoy. BGCP: Do you have a favourite part of the illustration process? CE: My favourite parts are coming up with ideas and then at the end, finishing them. Everything in between is usually a terrible struggle and oftentimes almost like solving math problems. BGCP: I have always been amazed at how talented comic artists like yourself are able to capture detailed expressions and convey complex emotions in a still frame. How do you go about tackling this? CE: Thank you! This is possibly my favourite aspect of drawing comics. First of all, I’ll ask the writers I work with as many questions as feels appropriate about what their characters are like other than what the scripts says about them. Anything could be helpful: favourite breakfast, pet peeves, weird habits, taste in music, type of friends etc. Everything else I will then make up on my own. So I’ll just imagine how each individual character would move and react to different situations. Sometimes, I’ll physically act out scenes on their behalf to figure out the expressions, gestures, movements across a sequence of panels and such. What I’m hoping to achieve by this is to create characters that – just from the way they look, move and express themselves – reveal parts of their personal stories on top of the one that’s in the script. BGCP: Out of the multiple different comics that you have worked on, which was your favourite? CE: I’ve been lucky enough to have worked with some of my favourite writers in the industry. I’ve gotten the chance to work on some of the most fun books I can imagine. I have loved every single one of them, and also did some of my proudest work in each of them. Especially Wynonna Earp and GI Joe, but overall my favourite is probably still Monstro Mechanica. This is my creator-owned series with G.I. Joe writer Paul Allor and colour artist Sjan Weijers. The series is about Leonardo da Vinci, his female apprentice and their wooden robot bodyguard. There’s something special about getting to create every single thing from the ground up. BGCP: When it comes to working on a licenced comic such as GI Joe, do you have to stick to a certain art style, or is your own unique art style embraced? CE: The art style can be pretty flexible; GI Joe had already seen quite a diverse range of styles throughout its different runs at IDW before I came on board. The most important thing is how well the art and writing style mesh together and I think Paul and I make a pretty great team in that regard. BGCP: Are there any comic book titles that you would like to work on in the future? CE: I’ve always felt Paul and I would do a killer Rocketeer run. Another dream project I can think of would be a licensed comic series based on the 2001 video game ‘Clive Barker’s Undying.’ BGCP: You have also worked as a concept artists on a couple of videogames, how did that come about? CE: I had made a few friends in comics who later started a game developing studio and were looking for artists. Both the comics and games

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Review – Suicide Squad: Get Joker #1

5th August 2021

Suicide Squad Get Joker! Issue #1 Writer: Brian Azzarello Artist: Alex Maleev Colours: Matt Hollingsworth Letters: Jared Fletcher Publisher: DC Black Label Release Date: 4th August 2021 Variant Cover Artist: Jorge Fornés The Joker Must DIE Tasked with ending the trail of broken, bloody bodies left in the Clown Prince of Crime’s wake, Amanda Waller’s Suicide Squad – now led by the Red Hood – must hunt down Batman’s greatest foe in the hopes of putting him six feet under. The former Boy Wonder and current Red Hood, Jason Todd, agrees to help track down the Joker out of both duty and a lust for revenge against the monster some think killed the second Robin. Now side by side with some of the world’s most ruthless villains – including Harley Quinn, Firefly and Wild Dog – the Red Hood must decide who he can trust and who’s really pulling the strings of the Squad once the Joker turns the tables on Task Force X. Writer: Brian Azzarello With the recent release of James Gunn’s “The Suicide Squad” in cinema’s, DC Black Label has decided to add another layer of marketing in comic form with Suicide Squad: Get Joker! I’m a sucker for an anti-hero and Suicide Squad has always filled that niche nicely. It calls out to the deep, hidden caveman section of the old reward pathway. Now, pair that with what some would consider the most tragic of anti-heroes, Jason Todd and you can count me in. This issue sets the scene nicely, leaving the majority of the violence for the last quarter and opening with a 10-page monologue that helps fill in the gaps for new readers without overstaying its welcome. I’m under the impression that pacing can make or break a comic and even though this isn’t as action-packed as some might hope, every panel has a purpose and Azzarello is tying the strings to make the marionettes dance later down the line. The issue concludes with some good old DC Black Label ultraviolence, a foreboding cliffhanger and a rather strange realisation that the Clown Prince of Crime has the words to Milli Vanilli’s 1989 hit “Blame It On the Rain” memorised… weird. Art/Colour: Alex Maleev/Matt Hollingsworth Alex Maleev’s art in this book is very clean and easy to follow. Coupled with Hollingsworth’s colouring, it helps pull readers into Gotham City with the familiar cold and grimy aesthetic. There is one section in particular, with a neon-lit bar and a little mindless violence that shines through. The dreary backdrop of the city streets steps back, allowing vibrant colours and a more bombastic, stylised few panels that help portray the intensity of the situation the Squad find themselves in. All in all, this is a Gotham story. Darkness and shadows are key, but they can get a little depressive and monotonous. I had hoped for more flashy, colourful segments in future issues to keep the eyes entertained. In Conclusion… If you are looking for a book that will have you pondering life’s big questions, this may not be for you. Suicide Squad has always been about having fun with the characters and this seems no different. Although there is nothing out of the gate that has me wowed, it’s been absurd enough that I’m interested to see where Azzarello’s Squad end up and I’ll be picking up issue #2 when the time comes. [yasr_multiset setid=1] [yasr_visitor_multiset setid=1] Look out for this comic at your Local Comic Shop Buy tickets for BGCP Comic-Cons in and around Glasgow Scotland – BUY TICKETS Check out all of our Comic, Movie, Television and Videogame Reviews HERE and our Podcasts/Interviews HERE If you want to be part of the BGCP community, Join us on Discord, Twitter, Instagram etc then click HERE

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Review – Fear Street Trilogy

15th August 2021

Review – Fear Street Trilogy Directed by: Leigh Janiak Produced by: Peter Chernin, Jenno Topping and David Ready Screenplay: Phil Graziadei, Leigh Janiak, Zak Olkewicz and Kate Trefry Cast: Kiana Madeira, Olivia Scott Welch, Benjamin Flores Jr., Julia Rehwald and Fred Hechinger Release Date: July 2021 Based on the source material of R.L. Stine’s Fear Street books, the Fear Street Trilogy of moviesis the latest offering from Netflix to combine angsty teenage characters with horror, gore and ameshing of subgenres which will delight and potentially frustrate fans alike. Let’s take a deepdive into the three films and find out what everyone’s talking about. I’ll talk about eachinstallment and then give you a wider overview of themes and where it could go next, bewarned this may contain some spoilers – I have tried to avoid this but it’s tricky so if youhaven’t seen all three be aware! Fear Street Part One: 1994 We begin with a brutal murder in the town of Shadyside, where centuries of horrific eventscaused by a witches curse have plagued the town’s residents and affected everyone’s lives forgenerations. Locals believe they are to blame in some way for the bad happenings, and are atodds with the folks living in neighbouring Sunnyvale, who prosper with their white mansionsand manicured lawns. Our Scooby-like gang is soon drawn into the murders, when Sam (OliviaScott Welch) has a vision of the witch Sarah Fier and becomes a target for all the previouskillers spawned by the curse who are apparently indestructible and out for her blood, literally.Sam’s brave girlfriend Deena (Kiana Madeira), her brother Josh (Benjamin Flores Jr.) and theirfriends scramble to escape the killers, hatch a plan to end the curse and save the town. Ithoroughly enjoyed this, from the gory killings we get to see onscreen (you’ll never look atsliced bread the same) to the chemistry between the cast – this is a great homage to 90’s greatssuch as Scream and there’s a lot of nostalgic fun to be had in revisiting 90’s internetconnections, sensibilities and soundtrack. Director Janiak knows exactly when to nod and winkto the audience with jet black humour and when to take a step back and allow the actors toprovide us with emotional moments to invest in the characters. The plucky teens soon realisethe witches curse will not be lifted so easily and it’s up to them to continue the fight and solvethe mystery. Review – Fear Street Trilogy continues below Fear Street Part Two: 1978 Having survived the events of the previous movie and with noted casualties, the remainingmembers of the group discover that there was a survivor to a massacre in the 70’s and seek herout to try and find out what to do next, as Sam is possessed by evil. The first large chunk of thefilm is told in flashback by C. Berman, who we discover survived at summer camp using herwits and with a little help. The film presents us with new characters, a psycho killer who givesthe actual creeps and ties in some more background story linking one of the killers from the1950s. Two bickering sisters at camp try to get along when the killings strike, but just who ifeither of them survived? Who is C.Berman? We also get to meet a younger incarnation ofSheriff Goode and the first hints for those paying close attention, that the curse is not all itseems. Taking horror tropes from movies like Halloween and 70s slashers this was myabsolute favourite of the three. At one point, 3 female characters sit together to problem solvetackling the killer and this might not seem something significant, but it’s so rare to see thiswithout the discussion being about boyfriends or makeup and it definitely passes the Bechdeltest. The female characters really give us strong heroines to root for and plenty of tension infollowing who’s slaughtered next. Let’s just say those virginal pure types are not necessarilyrewarded over the teens who decide to partake in drugs and sex! The ending leaves us with yetmore questions as Deena scrambles to use what she learned about camp nightwing. Fear Street Part Three: 1666 In attempting to reunite Sarah Frier’s hand with her remains, Deena is on a quest to help Sam(who’s still thrashing against a radiator Exorcist style) and finally lift the witch’s curse forgood. Transported back in time to, yes you guessed it :1666, Deena experiences what happenedto Sarah and the events that lead up to her being put to death by the townsfolk. Actors reappearto play additional roles and have great fun with this, although the period accents are more thana little ropey from some. Is that meant to sound Cornish? Welsh? Shakespearean?. A visceral,immersive world is created and you can practically smell the horse manure, (everyone’s) BOand the local drunk/conspiracy theorist ‘Mad Tom’ – played with absolute relish by McCabeSlye. After being caught making out in the woods with the local pastor’s daughter, Sarah isaccused of witchcraft as the homophobic and pitchfork weilding locals think she hassummoned the Devil and caused the contamination of the water supply and farm animals toturn cannibalistic. As Sarah is hanged from a tree (now the site of the Shadyside mall), shevows never to forgive those responsible and haunt them forever. As the truth unfolds, itbecomes clear that the history of Shadyside is all connected by Satanic rituals and an obsessionwith power. A classic team up at the mall brings us the final showdown. Keep watching for themid credit scene that gives us a glimpse of how the story could continue. Overview of the trilogy & themes At the heart of all the movies is teenage life and all the self-discovery, angst and difficulties weall remember. A strong theme of oppression and overcoming prejudice is there too with thecentral queer love story perfectly framing idea that being ‘different’ can be dangerous & evendeadly. Director Janiak provides us with a feminist perspective and this is very satisfying, thereare no final girls or damsels to be rescued here and the female characters are all fleshed outand given their own motivations for their

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