Review: Djinn Vol. 13: Kim Nelson
When a story ends, we rarely ask ourselves why the protagonist started their journey in the first place. Yes, we get caught up in the action, or the series of interactions, which pushes the story forward. Do we ever ask, why did they agree to it? One of those characters is Peter Quill, the de facto leader of the Guardians Of The Galaxy.
I am particularly referring to the movie origin that fans have come to know. The character was taken by space pirates right when his mother is on her death bed. Anytime after his abduction he could have rebelled against Yondu, found ways to escape. But he persevered and adapted and became Star Lord.
In the final volume of Djinn, we find out the circumstances that lead Kim Nelson from India to Africa and back again, back to the cursed child princess of Eschinapur, to fulfill a vow made by the elusive Djinn, Jade. Kim truly comes into her own, assuming her power as a temptress in the name of justice and vengeance… vengeance always cruel, but always sweet…
The volume is full of villainy with double crosses, hidden treasure, death and destiny. Overall, it’s an engaging final volume that more than lives up to the expectations from everything building to this pint. The creative team has put together a grand finale. The story by Jean Dufaux is action packed, emotional, and ultimately, satisfying. The art by Ana Miralles is graceful and luminous. Altogether, it’s a story no reader will ever forget and will want to re-read from the beginning.
Story: Jean Dufaux Art: Ana Miralles
Story: 10 Art: 10 Overall: 10 Recommendation: Buy
Colonialism is a way for nations, and primarily rulers, ftor make their mark in the world whether or not the residual effects have a horrible impact. Take King Philip of Spain who colonized the Philippines. The influence of the Spanish can still be felt today from the language, which is interspersed with Cattellian Spanish throughout, to the some of the formal wear. In the Spaniards minds, they were bringing civilization to those islands. To many of the natives they brought cruelty and strange customs.
One of the best shows to be on television in the last ten years, was the remarkable Tyrant. The show was on FX and lasted only three seasons and produced by the same people who made 24 and Homeland. The show revolved around the son of a dictator who comes back from America. He must deal with his past and his identity as part of the royal family the rulers of an imaginary nation in the UAE that have been considered tyrants. What the creators sought to do with the show was to see the world through the eyes of people we would only know of in the news. They successfully made us both hate and empathize with them with equal passion. We saw that even with what they have, they were just human.
Films that I watched that capture my attention from start to finish usually become a part of my film collection. The movies I have collected range in genre, years, and run time. I have collected each movie based on my ability to re-watch them and not so much on how critically acclaimed it was when it came out. Some movies resonated with me because it reflected a piece of who I am, like a Bronx Tale.
I remember the first time I saw Ghostbusters, it was on television. Me and my cousins watched it for the first time on our grandparent’s subscription to HBO where the first scene I saw was the guys catching the ghost in the New York Public Library. This said to me, right then, that this was not going to be some mystery movie like Scooby Doo. These ghosts were very much real. Instantly the movie became our favorite film at that time. We became enamored with the characters and the world. It took place in the very same city we grew up in.
Nicole Kidman is an actress who has proved her mettle as a thespian and turned in some excellent roles including the character of Anna in the movie Birth. The movie centers on a woman who loses her husband and after some time moves on with life eventually getting engaged to be married. She gets a surprise, as a ten-year-old boy professes to be the reincarnation of her husband. It’s a lot like the Eidolons in Ancient Greece, where the dead spirits inhabits those who are living. The power of belief is at play here to the point where there is not merely faith but complete trust in what one cannot prove.
The firestorm that Dan Brown’s Da Vinci Code caused when it came out is an example of a book causing controversy which swirled in conversations for quite some time. The book’s connections to history, religion, and unsolved mysteries became a touchstone for many creators as it reignited stories which treated their readers intelligently. It also brought on its fair share of poor imitators, as one can look at the extremely poor adaptation of Clive Cussler’s Sahara, which wasted the talents of its actors and put a black mark on anyone who even tried to do an adaptation of any of his books. A good number of these movies were hit and miss and very few held enough of the public’s attention span to warrant mention.
When it comes to 80s movies, many thoughts run across many people’s heads with numerous adjectives describing the ridiculousness of many of their premises. Who can forget Red Dawn, a film that’s both far fetched and plausible considering the hostile geo-political climate of today’s world relations. Then there is Weird Science, a screwball comedy where two boys accidentally create the perfect woman. Then there is the Tom Hanks fantasy Big, which is both fun and melancholy while not forgetting the innocence of childhood.
I remember the first time I ever watched Raiders of the Lost Ark and the feeling I left the movie theater with. The way that whole movie started with Indiana Jones in the middle of the jungle, trying to retrieve that long lost artifact was thrilling. The whole scenario that played out soon after that was probably the most exciting 10 minutes my four year old self had seen up to that point. At the end of the scene the viewer find out Indiana is more that he seems to be. Instead of a smuggler he’s an archaeologist. The character would go on to three other movies, with a new one the way as well as a television show featuring a younger version of the character.
Legacy is one of those words that carries a lot of weight for many of us, with known or unknown ancestors. Many times, our families’ legacies is so much of us, that we not only carry it in name but also in standings. As anyone who has searched their family history, has found their background is as diverse as America is, and not what some may hope it to be. This world is not monochromatic nor is any family that exists today.