Justice (comics)

Justice: copyright DC Comics

Superhero comic stories, in general, are structured in a familiar basic form: first, we are presented to the characters, the good and the bad ones; second, some villain(s) makes an evil thing, that affects all the heroes, preventing them of fighting back when all the planet is threatened; third, the good guys (and ladies, if it was the case) must overcome the obstacles to save themselves, and then, defeat the villain(s) to save the rest of the world.

Yes, we may know the start and (great part of) the end of the story, and even some check-points along the way. But it doesn’t matter, because the fun in reading a comic book is to discover how the things happen during the story. In another words, how the plot evolves, the heroes solve the problems, fight the villains, and save the day (again).

In my opinion, the best superhero comic story, which is written in this “classical” way, is called JUSTICE, from Alex Ross (plot and art), Jim Krueger (plot), and Doug Braithwaite (art). The story is centered in the fight of the Justice League against the Legion of Doom, and was published from 2005 to 2007.

Justice Deluxe Edition Cover

Regardless the simple structure, the story is very dynamic. Initially, we are presented to the heroes: Superman, Batman, Wonder-Woman, Flash, Green Lantern, Aquaman, among others. All of them are suffering vision of an apocalyptic future, where the planet is destroyed.

The Justice League, in an amazing picture... I mean, painting

However, the villains had the same nightmare: Lex Luthor, The Riddler, Cheetah, Captain Cold, Sinestro, Black Manta… and they started to make things to turn the world better, as ending wars and giving food to the starving.

The Legion of Doom

Of course, the things could not be that easy. The villains start to attack the heroes, claiming that their slack in fighting the world real problems make them as guilt as the bad guys. And there starts the falling of the Justice League, in the hands of the Legion of Doom.

Legion of Doom vs Justice League

The heroes must overcome all the defeats and difficulties, in order to defeat the villains and really save the world. As I said before, the story is predictable, but the plot is still amazing, with many great turning points.

Even those not used to read DC comics are able to enjoy the story. There are no previous chapters, or past facts that have happen some editions before. It’s like the characters are in the classical comic status quo, where everything is just how we all (or most of us) imagine. For example, Clark Kent is a reporter, and secretly also the Superman, who is weak to Kryptonite, always trying to save her love Lois Lane. Everything is very familiar, and that is perfect to the story.

There is nothing like glasses to change the appearance

Obviously, Alex Ross art could be the best of Justice for itself. His unique detailed “pictures” are famous in all the comics’ universe, making every story remarkable. As his work is complex, full of reference researches and meticulous paintings, his art is only reserved to the best works. Just as Justice.

Even the sketches are amazing

In twelve issues, Justice is able to deliver a high quality superhero plot, with one of the best arts available in the comics. Each number leaves you wanting to discover what comes next, and how the good will defeat the evil. The story cliffhangers are smart, adding some thriller to the adventure, which also has the traditional superhero humor.

We all know that everything ends fine; however, many times you will ask to yourself “will the Justice League be able to defeat the Legion of Doom save the world?” That’s the magic behind a great story: you get involved with the characters and end up hopping for happy ending. Justice has this magic in all its pages, being always one of the best superhero comics of all time.

Back to the Future (Movie)

Back to the Future: registered trademark and copyright of Universal City Studios, Inc. and U-Drive Joint Venture

Every good movie needs a good script, providing a long and well-paved road, where it can drive the characters and tell the story. "Roads? Where we’re going we don’t need…roads", would say Doc Brown with property. After all, this movie didn’t follow a normally paved road: he created new standards, ideas, and concepts, changing the way of filming for all the future (literally).

(This gif doesn't need a legend: it speaks for itself)

With its absolutely unique and fantastic touch, Back to the Future will be forever an epic of world cinema. It is difficult to explain the reasons why this movie is so charming. Or maybe it's not so hard to explain, but hard to number all these reasons. Anyway, the most determining factor is the story: funny, immersive and unforgettable. The premise of the film is relatively simple (with a little bit of imagination): What would happen if you, a teenager, returned to the past, and then met your younger parents at the same age as you?

And if, in addition, all occurred in the same time when they met and fell in love? These are questions that fit almost everyone, who, sometime, got curious about the patents past. Do you know if they were correct or troublemakers? Or if you father were shy and your mother outgoing? To allow this central idea to work during the movie, another concept was proposed.

Discover the changes in the movie city of Hill Valley is also amazing

The possibility of time travel, carried out by car DeLorean model DMC-12. With it, the return to the past became possible, leading the protagonist to meet his parents in 1955, thirty years before the current date. And speaking of the protagonist, the character Marty McFly (played brilliantly by Michael J. Fox) is a classic teenage stereotype, which appeared in the 80’s. Outgoing, cheerful, seeking for success using his talents. It was a generation that began there, and continued until nowadays, making the character so believable and familiar.

DeLorean: you want one, don't you?

In a role almost as important as McFly is his friend Emmett "Doc" Brown (played by Christopher Lloyd in another brilliant interpretation). I believe that we could never find a better “crazy scientist” than Lloyd. Serving as a counselor and companion, the Doctor is a contrast to the young character, adding the tone of seriousness and science to the film, and, sometimes, also providing great laugh moments.

Doc and Marty make a great pair of time travelers

The movie plot focus on two main situations: first, Marty must deal with his parents, and understand their loving relationship; second, but also very important, the time traveler have to find, alongside with Doc, a manner to return to his own time, as the DeLorean has some problems in return home. These two problems end directly related as the movie advances, leading Marty to make important (and funny) decisions to set everything alright.

The clock tower scene is a classical among classical

Inclusive, the movie is able to deliver very different feelings to tell the story, cleverly alternating funny and serious moments. This relation catches your attention, never letting the movie get boring. Join it with great actors, (few, but) well-made special effects, and an engaging soundtrack, and the story turns one of the funniest of all time.

DeLorean going to time travel: great special effects

Besides Marty and Doc, there are other great actors in the movie. The movie antagonist, Biff Tannen, played by Thomas F. Wilson, is a character that we all love to hate. The actor really did a very good job, playing a classical school bully that is always mocking with everybody. Marty’s parents, George and Lorraine, are played by Crispin Glover and Lea Thompson, respectively. Both present a very competent and funny work, especially when played with Michael J. Fox.

Back to the Future had a box office of $383 million, being a complete commercial release in 1985, as the movie cost $19 million. Despite the success, the movie had some problems during the filming. Probably, the most significant is the protagonist change. Despite being the initial choice, Michael J. Fox was not able to play the role due to his participation in the television series Family Ties. So, Eric Stoltz was chosen to plat the main role.

It's difficult to imagine a scene without Lloyd and Fox

However, as the movie advanced, the producer Robert Zemeckis determined that Stoltz should leave the production. He believed that the actor was not meant for the film humor, and again returned to Michael. In a special agreement with the television series, the young actor recorded “Back to the Future” in the “free times”. Nowadays, it’s very difficult to imagine Marty McFly played by a different actor.

And talking about Zemeckis, it’s necessary to remember some others producers of “Back to the Future”. Bob Gale, along with Robert Zemeckis, is the writer of the story, and probably the higher authority when we talk about the movie universe. Steven Spielberg and Frank Marshall worked as executive producers, and Alan Silvestri was responsible of the movie music.

Neil Canton, Bob Gale, Christopher Lloyd, Robert Zemeckis and Michael J. Fox

Yes, the music of Back to the Future is a special part of the movie. Certainly, the soundtrack is one of the most remembered things of the story: all the best scenes are supported by amazing songs, specially the instrumental ones. The Outatime Orchestra is the responsible for the movie classical music, a team with 98 members, headed by Alan Silvestri. The time travel scenes would not be the same if the orchestral music wasn’t there. Of course, we cannot forget the Huey Lewis with “Back in Time”, and “Johnny B. Goode”, by the Starlighters.

Marty playing the electric guitar in the past

The movie final leave us wanting for more, but, at the same time, shows the correct message: the adventure never ends. Of course, you probably know that this movie has two sequences, but the first Back to the Future will always be the better one, where (or when) the franchise universe started and became famous around the world.

We always want to go back for more adventure!

You will find everything that an epic movie needs in the “Back to the Future”: fascinating story, remarkable soundtrack, excellent actors, a solid plot, and, the most important thing, a lot of fun. Join Marty and Doc in the best time travel movie ever, and one of the best motion pictures of all time, now and in the future (with or without flying Deloreans).

Life and Times of Uncle Scrooge (Comics)

Life and Times of Uncle Scrooge: copyright The Walt Disney Company

Several people think that comics are a silly, childish media format. Among many considerations, some say that the art is, usually, too simple; others, that the structures are repetitive and appellative, lacking of historical; others, say that the stories are superficial, and don’t treat philosophical and social questions. I respectfully disagree of these opinions.

Of course, there are comic’s stories with these characteristics. Even the good ones may have a bit of these problems, but can deliver fun and entertaining. Although, the best comics are able to excel at all points, from the art style, to the plot and characters. They are not numerous, but the quality of them is undeniable.

For me, one of the top comics of all time is called: The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck. Written and drawn by Keno Don Hugo Rosa, or just Don Rosa, it has been first published from 1992 to 1994. This work granted to Don Rosa a Will Eisner Award (or the comic’s Oscar) in 1997, and it was reprinted in many “collection edition” along the years.

Life and Times Companion Cover

As the title may suggest, the comic tells the biography of Uncle Scrooge, the well-known Disney characters. For those who doesn’t know, Scrooge is Donald’s uncle, by the mother side of the family, and the richest man of the world (in the Disney’s comics universe, men, ducks, pigs, gooses, dogs, and many others anthropomorphically beings naturally live together). “Life and Times” shows how Uncle Scrooge got his big fortune, though it’s not its main objective.

"King of the Klondike" is one of the key parts of the story

The plot of the comic story, and the reason why it’s one of the best stories of all time, is about Scrooge’s life, family and achievements, both material and personal. The story begins when he was a little duck, living with his poor family in the city of Glasgow, Scotland, in 1877. Besides being poor, Uncle Scrooge is part of the McDuck clan, a very ancient and, in the past, powerful family.

Life and Times shows the past story of Uncle Scrooge

In order to conquer the clan proud, and to give his family a better life, the young duck start to travel around the world to get money. As he travels, Scrooge learns that, most of the times, the experiences lived are far more important than material goods, or that the ends do not always justify the means. The Life and Times ends when the duck turns to how we know him today, but, as Don Rosa does in others stories, with a different motivation: it’s not the amount of money that makes him rich, but the ways of how he get every penny that matters.

Don Rosa self (drawing) portrait - believe me, its equal

The story takes you to Scotland, United States, Australia, South Africa, Canada, among many others places. Each place was researched by the author, to turns the comic’s art a real face of the locations. Don Rosa is able to deliver fantastic environment drawings and fascinating and charismatic characters. Each frame is a well worked painting, which makes you feel as in the story.

The art work is amazing

More than a great art style, the author delivers a perfect plot, showing us the growing of Scrooge as he pass for misfortunes, problems and conquests. There are moments that almost make you cry, as well moments that make you feel angry, curious or impressed. All these feeling are present, with a lot of smart humor and an exciting adventure. Each chapter makes you want for more, as a stingy looking for a penny (literally speaking).

As this Disney comic universe doesn’t have a proper official history, the Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck isn’t a sanctioned biography of the rich duck. However, Don Rosa aimed to build a complete and self-sustained comic, with lots of references to historical facts, locations and people, and also references to his inspiration Carl Barks. For those who doesn’t know, Barks is considered the best “duck stories” artist of all time, being responsible for the most significant stories of Donald Duck and its family, and, inclusive, the creation of Scrooge McDuck.

Carl Barks (1901-2000)

Another great point of Life and Times is the new approach that Don Rosa has given to Scrooge McDuck. Most of the others authors show the duck as a “money hunter”, that looks for riches just to have them, regardless of the adventures or risks involved. For Don Rosa, the richness is not in having gold for itself: you need to deserve it, and never pass through the family, friends or anyone else to get it. That’s why his Scrooge McDuck is more proud of the adventures than the money, and that’s also why his stories are far more interesting. Inclusive, the famous “Number One Dime”, portrayed as the responsible to give good luck to the duck, and help him to be rich, is changed, for Rosa, to a symbol of how the hard work can lead you to anywhere you want, if you never forget your origins.

For Uncle Scrooge, the adventures lived are more valuable than all his money

Probably the best biography created for a comic character, “The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck” is an epic adventure, with incomparable art and plot. Based on citation made for Barks, in his comics, about the past of Donald’s uncle, and also in many real elements, Don Rosa created a forever literature classic. And, after reading, you will want to keep the comic inside a strongbox, safety protected as a treasure. Not because you’re a greedy miser, but because you will want to keep this classic for a next reading, full of adventures, humor, and, mainly, a fascinating and realistic saga.